Chapter 262.2
Thus, after three days, Lin Beifans entourage arrived at Huazhou Prefecture.
The local prefect along with other officials and some common people came to welcome Lin Beifan.
Greetings to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!
Greetings to the noble consorts, may you all be auspicious!
Lin Beifan looked at the young prefect and smiled, You must be Liu Shaocai! I clearly remember, when I first opened the imperial examination three years ago, you participated as an Apprentice Scholar and even ranked in the top ten, very impressive!
The prefect was overjoyed and tearfully bowed, I did not expect that after three years, Your Majesty would still remember this humble servant!
Lin Beifan smiled, Of course, I remember! I will remember every loyal minister who has contributed to Great Xia! Keep up the good work, with your abilities you can still be promoted!
The prefect was extremely excited, Thank you for Your Majestys great kindness. I swear to repay the imperial grace with my life!
On this journey, besides enjoying the beautiful scenery of Great Xia and experiencing the local customs and delicious food, I also want to see the construction progress in each place! Lin Beifan said.
Your Majesty, this way please, your humble servant will lead the way! the prefect said with eager courtesy.
Following that, Lin Beifan began his tour. He admired the most beautiful local scenery, tasted the finest local foods, and also inspected the local construction situation.
It was a busy yet fulfilling journey.
When the local people learned that Lin Beifan had arrived, they all rushed over to watch.
After inspecting three cities in a row, Lin Beifan was quite satisfied.
However, a small incident occurred in the fourth city while he was inspecting the local housing situation.
Suddenly, a dark-skinned old man knelt before Lin Beifan and cried out loudly, Your Majesty, please do justice for this humble commoner, or I truly cannot survive!
Everyones expression changed!
Such an incident during the Emperors inspection was no small matter!
Just as someone was about to step forward and drag the old man away, Lin Beifan stopped them and said, If it werent for a great injustice, who would dare to block the imperial procession? Old man, tell me your troubles, and I will see justice done for you!
Thank you, Your Majesty!
The other party said tremblingly: To report to Your Majesty, I, Wang Gousheng, am a local miner who has always worked hard without complaint or laziness! But the foreman Liu San took advantage of my honesty and embezzled my wages!
I earn 300 wen a month, but he embezzles 200 wen each time! With only 100 wen left each month to support a family of six, how can I possibly manage? I wanted to resist, but he abuses his power and is in collusion with the local officials! Left with no other option, I had no choice but to seek justice from Your Majesty!
Lin Beifans eyebrows knitted together: Are you speaking the truth?
Every word I speak is true!
The old man said urgently: Almost every worker here has had their wages docked! I dare to swear to the heavens if there is any falsehood in my words, I am willing to accept any punishment from Your Majesty!
The temperature at the scene seemed to drop suddenly!
Everyone seemed to sense that Lin Beifan was about to erupt in anger!
Who is the foreman Liu San? Bring him to me! Lin Beifan bellowed.
A somewhat bald, greasy man hurried over and knelt before Lin Beifan: Your Majesty, what he says is utter nonsense and should not be believed!
Who are you? Lin Beifan asked.
Your Majesty, he is the foreman Liu San, the one who has embezzled my wages! Over the last two years, he has docked nearly four taels of silver! Wang Gousheng said bitterly, seeming to fear nothing with Lin Beifan on his side.
Your Majesty, he is completely talking nonsense!
Foreman Liu San said anxiously: I did not embezzle his wages. Its because he was lazy and often came late or left early, so I docked his wages according to the rules, hoping he would learn his lesson! But instead of repenting, he has the audacity to accuse me first. I beg Your Majesty to do justice for this commoner!
Your Majesty, its clearly his nonsense
The two argued back and forth.
Lin Beifan calmly said, Theres no need to argue. I will judge this matter fairly!
Then, Lin Beifan personally reviewed the case and found that both parties were at fault.
Wang Gousheng was not as honest as he appeared, and indeed there were instances of him being lazy and arriving late or leaving early. It was reasonable for the foreman to dock part of his wages according to the rules.
However, the foreman had docked too much, and all the docked money had gone into his own pocket.
Furthermore, the foreman had some familial relations with the local official, leaving Wang Gousheng with no avenue to seek justice.
Both were at fault, but Foreman Liu Sans fault was greater, as he had committed the crime of embezzlement, taking money from the imperial treasury.
Thus, Lin Beifan sternly dealt with Foreman Liu San and the network behind him, cleaning up the local officialdom.
Lin Beifan then continued his northern inspection tour, punishing corrupt officials wherever he went.
In each place, he rooted out all the corrupt officials and made an example of them.
He also showed no mercy to the problematic foremen, dealing with them severely.
The common people were overjoyed and praised the Emperors wisdom.
In this way, Lin Beifan not only gained a good reputation but also cleaned up the ranks of the officials below him.
Using these events as a pretext, Lin Beifan summoned Yan Song and Qin Hui.
Trembling with fear, they said, Your Majesty has summoned us, what important matter is there?
Lin Beifan said expressionlessly, You all should be aware of what Ive been doing these days, right?
We we are aware! Sweat broke out on the faces of the two men.
In recent times, His Majesty had truly been ruthless.
In every city he visited, he would execute dozens of people and punish hundreds, most of whom were officials.
This caused those in the court to be in constant fear, dreading the day when it would be their turn.
Lin Beifan raised his voice and said, Yan Song, as the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Service, you have the duty to oversee all officials! But look at the kind of people you have promoted. How many corrupt officials have arisen under your watchare you blind?
I admit my guilt. Please give me another chance, Your Majesty! Yan Song immediately knelt down, trembling with fear.
Lin Beifan continued to berate, And Qin Hui, as the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, you are in charge of the nations laws. But so many people below you are bending the law for personal gainare you ignoring this?
Your Majesty, your humble servant knows his wrongs, please give your humble servant a chance to redeem himself through meritorious deeds! Qin Hui also knelt down.
Having power does not mean you can act recklessly. Even the emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people! Do you think you can redeem yourselves by simply acknowledging your mistakes? Do you think that I will let you off easily? Lin Beifan said angrily.
Your Majesty The two men kowtowed, shaking all over.
Lin Beifan watched them in silence until blood appeared on their foreheads from the kowtowing. Then he said, Considering the hard work you have put in over the years, I will give you a chance!
Lin Beifan took out a booklet and handed it to them.
This is a list of guilty officials. Deal with them according to the instruction on the list! Ill give them a chance if they cooperate and are willing to reform! If they do not cooperate, then they no longer need to serve in Great Xia!
Similarly, you will have redeemed yourselves if you do well! If not, youll see what happens!
Yes, Your Majesty! They took the booklet with trembling hands.
Upon opening it, their hearts nearly leaped out of their chests, for it was filled with names they knew all too well.
At the top of the list was none other than the emperors current favorite
The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and concurrently the Minister of Works, Heshen!
***
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