But what Jiaqing never expected was that Guangxing's unexpected suspension would cause a huge commotion among many Beijing officials. Especially those Beijing officials who had served in Shandong and Henan, when they heard the news, they quickly

Can't sit still anymore.

"Master Ma, Master Qi, have you heard? Guangxing, who came to us in Henan to extort money from us, was actually suspended from his post by the emperor. Do you think his extortion from us was exposed? This

All of a sudden... Well, we didn't have any money at that time. Half of the gifts we gave him were directly transferred from the treasury?" On this day, several Beijing officials quickly gathered together after they retired.

They discussed the matter of Guangxing together, and the two leaders were Chen Zhongchen and Ma Huiyu, who had given Guangxing a lot of money in Henan. When they heard that Guangxing had made a mistake, they couldn't help but panic.

"Yes, you don't know that when Guangxing was in Shandong, he came to us to ask for money, but one trick after another?" The name of the "Master Qi" next to Chen Zhongchen was Chibson.

, who was originally the chief envoy of Shandong, was also transferred to Beijing as an official at this time: "When he arrived in Shandong, he first said that there was not enough money for carriages and horses, and asked us to withdraw money. He also said that there was not enough pen, ink and paper, and he asked for another sum. After a few

It would be a good idea for everyone in Jinan Prefecture to go and celebrate the birthday of one of their officials. If you don’t give us money, they won’t close the case. What else can they say... What if we don’t fully support them in handling the case?

We are accomplices! You think, this... they did this extremely well, didn't they?"

"Yes, it's the same when Guangxing comes to our Henan Province. Such a scoundrel forces us to pay for hospitality. How can he be a high-ranking official of the imperial court? This... this is simply a jackal!" Chen Zhongchen said,

He also became arrogant and said: "Master Ma, Master Qi, you said that we are all diligent and dedicated people who work day and night for the political affairs of the Qing Dynasty, but what about Guangxing? Ah? We are in the same court with such a jackal.

I am a minister, are the political affairs of the Qing Dynasty still going well?"

"What you said is correct, but the most urgent task is to cut off our relationship with Guangxing." Ma Huiyu thought about Guangxing, but she was decisive and said to Qi and Chen: "If Guangxing accepts

Someone really exposed the matter of property. If all this money is investigated one by one, it will definitely be traced to us? You said that we were forced to have no choice at the time, but...but we also became the general public.

Isn't Xing an accomplice in taking bribes? If this continues, the emperor will not only punish Guangxing, but he will also be cruel to us! So, I was thinking that instead of being dragged into the water by Guangxing, it is better for us to go ashore first.

So giving money to Guangxing is not because we want to curry favor with him, but because he forces us to do it! As I see it, Mr. Qi and Mr. Chen, tomorrow the three of us will explain clearly what happened back then.

It's a knife to raise one's head, and it's a knife to shrink one's head. If we take the initiative to admit these things, we will inevitably be demoted by the emperor, but that is better than Guangxing being investigated to the end, and we will also be confessed. If we don't admit it early, I'm afraid

When the emperor found out about us, it wasn’t as simple as demoting us. He dismissed us from office and sent us to garrison in Yili. Isn’t it that the emperor has never done these things before?”

"Well, Mr. Ma, you are right, but this... I can't bear it." Chibson said to Ma Huiyu with a bitter look on his face: "If it weren't for the case in Shandong, I might do it now.

I'm the governor of Shandong, and I was demoted to the third rank of Jingtang because of this accusation. I can't accept it if I'm demoted again?"

"Master Qi, this tree in Guangxing has fallen. It would be great if we hozens enjoying the shade under the tree can survive!" After saying that, Ma Huiyu had an additional idea and said to the two of them: "I see, it is the so-called Dharma.

I don’t blame everyone. When Guangxing came to hear the prosecution case, which province was not messed up by him? Which of our local officials did not give gifts to Guangxing? When the time comes, we will also go and talk to other people who were extorted by Guangxing back then.

The ministers will discuss it and each of them will hand over a note to the emperor! You say, even if the emperor wants to punish us, can it be that the emperor can just give all of us dozens of people our official positions?"

"Master Ma, this... you are right!" Chen Zhongchen also added: "Anyway, we are all forced to do this by Guangxing. Even if we die, we have to drag Guangxing to be buried with him! I will contact Henan right away.

Prefecture, Mr. Qi, you also say hello to Shandong Prefecture. As Mr. Ma said about this matter, the more of us there are, the lighter the punishment the emperor will give us. As the saying goes...

A strong man cuts off his wrist! Now that things have happened, we have to do this!"

"You! Alas..." Although he was unwilling to do so, Chibson also knew that this was the best way to reduce his punishment.

Sure enough, just three days later, Jiaqing received a memorial from three people impeaching Guangxing. Within a few days, the number of memorials that exposed Guangxing's extortion of property and public bribery to Jiaqing had reached more than ten. Jiaqing saw that

Seeing so many impeachment documents, he was furious, and soon gave an order to Chang Lin and Dai Quheng to search the Guangxing family property. As the number of impeachment memorials increased day by day, even Ruan Yuan and Changling's name appeared.

Within the document, Jiaqing became even more angry when he saw that such a trusted minister would also give gifts to Guangxing, so he also sent an edict to Ruan Yuan and asked him to explain the whole matter of the gift. Ruan Yuan saw Jiaqing's decree and understood the gift to Guangxing.

After all, it was impossible to cover up the old incident of Guangxing, so he had to submit a memorial, explaining the whole story of his gift of one thousand taels of silver to Guangxing, and asked Jiaqing to punish him.

In the next half month, Chang Lin and Dai Quheng also presented the results of the inspection of the Guangxing family to Jiaqing.

"You two are inspecting Guangxing this time. Tell me truthfully how much Guangxing's property is." Jiaqing seemed to be well prepared.

"Back to the emperor, the two ministers inspected the property of Guangxing's family. They found a total of gold, silver and copper coins, about one hundred thousand taels of silver. In addition, Guangxing's family has a lot of land. It is still being counted and needs to be discounted to the market price. The ministers estimate that it is about

It's more than 20,000 taels of silver, so..." Chang Lin was the first to report.

"A hundred thousand taels..." Jiaqing heard that Guangxing was confiscating his house, but he was also quite reluctant to give up. After all, Guangxing made a mistake this time. Jiaqing's original intention was to punish him, and did not want to deal with Guangxing harshly, but he did not

Thinking that in just half a month, there were so many memorials exposing Guangxing's corruption and bribery. For a moment, I still didn't want to believe that Guangxing had indeed asked for bribes, and said to the two of them: "A hundred thousand taels of silver."

, regardless of whether Guangxing is corrupt or not, the Gao family from Gao Bin to Guangxing, and the Xuanhe three generations, can be regarded as descendants. If other sources of these hundreds of thousands of taels of silver cannot be found, can the Gao family be dignified?

My descendants, can’t I even accommodate them with this money? Did you find anything else during your inspection this time?”

"Back to the emperor, if it is only these hundreds of thousands taels of silver, I would also think that the important minister of the third generation of Guangxing has such savings, it cannot be regarded as bribery. It's just..." Dai Quheng hesitated, took out a few silver ingots, and said to Jiaqing:

"The ministers and others also found such silver ingots with the words "Silver for Relief" engraved on them in Guangxing's home. After a detailed inventory of such silver ingots, they found that there were at least thirty pieces, each of which was for official use of fifty taels.

Silver ingots, put it this way, there were more than two thousand taels of silver in Guangxing's family, which was a special fund used by the imperial court to provide relief to the victims! In the 11th year of Jiaqing, the imperial court allocated a sum of silver to Henan for disaster relief. In the 12th year of Jiaqing,

In the year, Guangxing went to Henan for business, so this money..."

"It's so heartbreaking!" Jiaqing listened to Dai Quheng's report, feeling both angry and desperate. Hearing Dai Quheng say that Guangxing had accepted at least two thousand taels in bribes for disaster relief, his previous sympathy for Guangxing no longer disappeared, and he became ruthless.

With a fierce palm, he slapped the imperial case.

"Your Majesty, in fact, I know that with so many memorials impeaching Mr. Guang, there must be people who fish in troubled waters. Therefore, when my ministers searched the family property of Mr. Guang, they counted every piece of silver. These memorials impeached Mr. Guang.

The minister has been asking for more than 200,000 taels of inheritance indiscriminately. I have looked at the accounts one by one, and in fact, most of them are false..." Chang Lin listened to Jiaqing's words and felt something was wrong, and also wanted to help Guang Guang.

A few words of defense.

"If it is true that two thousand taels of disaster relief money were embezzled into his own home by Guangxing, then Guangxing only has two thousand taels, which is enough to be punished with death!" Jiaqing could no longer restrain himself and said to Chang and Dai: "The Qing Dynasty

Do you think I don't know the laws and regulations? If a well-paid official receives eighty taels of stolen goods, it is enough to be considered hanging. Two thousand taels of relief money appeared in Guangxing's family for no reason. Can you still give me an explanation now? If so.

These two thousand taels can be considered as real. In that case...in that case, I will never...can't show mercy to Guangxing anymore."

Chang Lin and Dai Quheng were stunned for a moment. They knew that Jiaqing still wanted to reuse Guangxing. If they really tried to persuade Jiaqing and hoped that Jiaqing would punish Guangxing, they would definitely make Jiaqing unhappy. After Jiaqing vented his anger,

, there were no other words for a moment. If there were only the evidence in front of him, Jiaqing would never be able to save Guangxing's life. The emperor and his ministers were relatively speechless for a moment, until half a quarter of an hour passed.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Jin, the Minister of Punishment, has arrived and said... that Guangxing confessed. Your Majesty, would you like Mr. Xuan Jin to come in?" Zhang Jinzhong's voice finally sounded outside the Yangxin Hall.

"Quickly, Xuan Jin Guangti comes in!" After hearing Zhang Jinzhong's words, Jiaqing also announced the decree quickly.

Soon, Jin Guangti, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, entered the Yangxin Hall. After kneeling down to Jiaqing, he held a memorial in his hands and said: "See Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Guangxing has just confessed. I read Guangxing's confession. The ministers previously impeached him."

According to Guangxing's words, Guangxing has already admitted half of the bribe!" Zhang Jinzhong also hurriedly stepped forward, took Guangxing's confession and sent it to Jiaqing's case.

"This... well, there's no need to read any more." Jiaqing took out the memorial and only saw half of it. His eyes dimmed and he said, "The amount of money Guangxing admitted to asking for as gifts is only half of the memorial."

It has reached the number of fifty thousand taels. From this point of view, there is no need to discuss this matter anymore. Chang Lin, you are now the Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, and Jin Guangti is also in charge of the Ministry of Punishments. How do you think Guangxing should be convicted this time?

?”

"Back to the Emperor, Guangxing is the Minister of Criminal Affairs and the Minister of Internal Affairs. I... I don't dare to make the decision on the matter of conviction." Chang Lin lowered his head to the ground and said.

"Your Majesty, according to the laws of the Qing Dynasty, it should...should..." Jin Guangti didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Forget it, since you don't dare to say it, let me do it." Jiaqing thought that Guangxing was his favorite minister who had been using him for ten years after all. It was not easy to make this decision, but even so, Jiaqing still

He said slowly: "When Guangxing was trying the Beijing control, there were many attempts to extort prefectures and counties and force the localities to hand over legacy. Now it can be confirmed that the number is two thousand taels. Guangxing believes that the amount is no less than fifty thousand taels. According to the laws of the Qing Dynasty,

For example, he should be beheaded. Even if I think about how much he has contributed, and the important minister of Guangxing family for three generations, it is my greatest tolerance to kill him lightly and commit suicide. You must also be thinking that Guangxing was promoted by me.

Emperor Gaozong died. It was he who took the lead in impeaching He Shen. Only then did I have to punish the traitor and bring the country back to the right path. Can I kill such a meritorious official? But yesterday's Guangxing is the person of yesterday, and today's Guangxing

, but we have already repeatedly robbed and plundered. If I continue to indulge in this way, what will be the difference between Guangxing tomorrow and Heshen back then?! Since I took office, I have strived to ensure that all officials are honest and honest, and I will not deal with corruption or bribery.

I have always strictly investigated and dealt with it. If there is evidence, I have always punished severely and showed no mercy. Do you think that today, just because Guangxing has been favored by me, I have to be lenient? If I really favor one and favor others, rewards and punishments cannot be implemented. I

How can I have the dignity to be this emperor?! The laws of the country can no longer tolerate a greedy and indulgent person like Guangxing! The military commander Zhang Jing came in and quickly drafted an edict, and Guangxing... was sentenced to prison.

If he commits suicide, his family property will be confiscated and he will be brought to the government!"

"Your Majesty, in three days it will be the first day of the 14th year of Jiaqing. To punish Guangxing at this time is... an ominous sign!" Dai Quheng knew Jiaqing's words, and it was now difficult to change them.

, just thinking that Guangxing, after all, had been an important minister for many generations, did not dare to decide matters of life and death, so he first advised him, hoping that Jiaqing would be delayed.

"What happened on Yuan Day? Guangxing is so greedy and perverts the law and invades the people of Lingzhou and County. It will be a good omen for me to execute him on any day!" Unexpectedly, Jiaqing was determined to kill him this time, so Dai Quheng had to kneel aside.

, and said nothing again. Jiaqing just thought that the next year would be his fiftieth birthday. If he was really executed at this time, he felt a little unhappy. His tone actually softened, and he said: "Well, this time Guangxing asked for bribes."

This case involves many things, so let’s first deal with the other people who gave gifts and accepted bribes one by one, and then talk about Guangxing. What I mean is that those who take the initiative to donate gifts and use public funds to support Guangxing will be punished severely.

!If you are blackmailed by Guangxing and have to offer money as a last resort, or if you have not used the money in the government's inventory, you should be given a lighter sentence."

Jiaqing naturally knew that if all these ministers were severely punished, perhaps in a short time, no one would be able to use the post of governor...

Within a few days, the punishments for those who had given the legacy were issued one after another. Ma Huiyu, Chibson and others naturally did not escape Jiaqing's severe punishment, but they were only demoted. Everyone also celebrated that they had finally saved their lives.

Because Ruan Yuan was forced to give a gift to Guangxing, the amount was one thousand taels, which was not large among governors and counties, and it was private property rather than public money. Therefore, the punishment was the lightest, just being demoted to three levels and remaining in office.

Ruan Yuan's execution order was sent to Hangzhou in the first month of the fourteenth year of Jiaqing.

However, after this incident, Jiaqing gradually became suspicious of Ruan Yuan's memorial. Ruan Yuan's memorial to defend Liu Fenggao was actually kept on Jiaqing's case. It seemed that Jiaqing had also made up his mind to investigate Liu Fenggao's matter.
Chapter completed!