NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31
31: Skinning and stuffing with straw to serve as a warning to others.
Zhu Di grinned and said,”We can’t be like Li Zicheng. Gao Yu’s approach is very good. He can solve the problem in the shortest time and quickly shock people. He is worthy of being my son.”……”
Whenever Zhu Di was about to finish his self-flattering words, Zhu Yuanzhang would interrupt him:”It has nothing to do with you. Gao Yu has such ability all by himself. Even if he really wants to make up something, it’s all because of the good bloodline of my Zhu family.”
Facing Zhu Yuanzhang’s bombardment, Zhu Di was furious and felt a little unhappy, but he had no choice. After all, it was his own grandfather who scolded him.
Zhu Di, who had been the emperor for many years, now felt like he could go back to the Hongwu period.
Naturally, Zhu Youjian looked at the three people with envy and wanted to participate.
But at this moment, he also realized that what he had done before was too stupid, and now he should just watch the performance of the three elders.
It just so happens… In this process, he can also learn more tricks that he can use in the future.
For example, just now, Tian Chengzu explained to him the advantage of having a knife in his hand.
After some tricks were implemented, these dog-like things became as obedient as cats and dogs.
“Your Majesty!”Fan Guang came back to wait for orders as soon as he finished his work. He did not speak until Zhu Gaoyu finished his work.”The enemy has been annihilated. Your Majesty, please give us your instructions.”
In the army, military orders are as strict as a mountain.
Zhu Gaoyu’s Imperial Guards follow Zhu Gaoyu’s lead.
This has been deeply engraved in the bones of the Imperial Guards. Without Zhu Gaoyu’s orders, the Imperial Guards are still in combat mode, without any relaxation.
“Search!”
“”Yes, sir!”
The Imperial Guards moved quickly. The moment they received the order, they rushed into the Wei Mansion.
Perhaps it was because they thought the emperor valued them, or perhaps the people in the Wei Mansion were caught hiding their treasures. In short, the Imperial Guards were incredibly fast.
After a while, they returned to the gate of the mansion carrying two boxes.
“”Open it!”
After receiving Zhu Gaoyu’s order, the soldiers opened the box in front of everyone, which immediately caused an uproar.
Silver! White silver!
The people were all miserable. Even merchants rarely saw so much silver…
Imagine the various effects of piles of soft sister RMB appearing in front of people… The reaction of the people on the scene was basically the same.
You know, this Wei Zaode has only been really rich for a year!
In a year, he can get so much money… The people were immediately filled with righteous indignation, staring at Wei Zaode with bloodshot eyes.
We are all human beings. Why can you be an official for one year and replace us for a lifetime?
Is there any difference between us?
Many people can’t figure it out. The huge class gap and lack of imagination shocked them.
It’s not that the people don’t know that being an official is very profitable, but they have never thought… It’s so profitable!
“Ah……”Zhu Gaoyu laughed coldly,”Is this what it means to be incorruptible? If this is how incorruptible people are, then everyone in the world should become an official!”
Zhu Gaoyu gave Fan Guang a look, and Fan Guang understood what he meant. Immediately, a soldier dragged the limp Wei Zaode to the emperors.
“This Prime Minister.” Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Wei Zaode with a half-smile, and a chill hit him.”Can you tell me, according to the Ming Dynasty law, how much corruption can be punished by skinning and stuffing?”
Wei Zaode was already in great fear before he was dragged here.
Now that the legendary Hongwu Emperor asked him in person, he felt a piercing chill from his spine straight to his head, and his whole body felt like falling into an ice cave, with fine cold sweat on his forehead.
His legs were trembling, and under the huge pressure brought by Zhu Yuanzhang, his knees softened, and he knelt on the ground, kowtowing to Zhu Youjian:”Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I have worked diligently this year, but I have only embezzled this ten thousand taels… I have studied hard for more than ten years, and I am really afraid of poverty!”
“I hope Your Majesty will spare my life for my past merits and our old friendship! I am truly an honest and upright person!”
Wei Zaode knew very well that, except for Zhu Youjian, none of the emperors present would allow him to survive.
Emperor Tiancheng acted extremely swiftly and domineeringly, while Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di were both famously strict emperors.
Only with Zhu Youjian could he have a chance of survival!
“Zhu Youjian.” Zhu Di was almost amused by Wei Zaode and directly called out his name:”What do you think?”
“Kill!” Zhu Youjian’s face was ashen, as ugly as it could be,”Corrupt officials and parasites like this should all be killed!”
Zhu Youjian thought about the scene where he wanted to save some face in front of the three elders, but was threatened by Wei Zaode. At this moment, he wanted to strangle Wei Zaode to death with his own hands. How could he be soft-hearted and save this guy?
What’s more, Zhu Youjian was also very clear that in the current Chongzhen Dynasty, he had no say, so it was better to listen to the arrangements of the elders.
The reality made Zhu Youjian understand… If you want to retain the Ming Dynasty, strong medicine is indispensable!
The officials who bowed their heads on the side saw Wei Zaode’s embarrassed appearance, and they were all terrified, with cold sweat crawling down their backs.
An overbearing Emperor Tiancheng, plus Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di… The officials of Shuntian Prefecture will have no peace in the future!
“Drag him away! Skin him, stuff him with straw, and hang him at the Meridian Gate to let the officials of Shuntian Prefecture see what the consequences of corruption are!”
“As you command!”
Hearing the words”skin and straw”, Wei Zaode was so frightened that he peed and farted all over. The scene was as ugly as it could be.
When he was dragged away, he still begged for mercy, but it was a pity that this was doomed to be in vain and would only make the officials at the scene feel sympathetic.
“Good! Well done! This is how corrupt officials should be dealt with!”
“Your Majesty is wise! Long live Your Majesty!”
“The Ming Dynasty is saved, and we have hope for the future!”
“……”
Seeing Wei Zaode’s fate, the onlookers burst into loud applause.
“Did you see that?” Zhu Gaoyu said to Zhu Youjian beside him:”Being an emperor is not only about military and national affairs, but sometimes you have to lower your head and take a look at the people below.”
“Only if you truly understand the needs of the people and know how they live, can you have a direction and understand how to be a good emperor.”
“In fact, the people don’t want much, just to stay alive, plus justice, they are really lovely.”
Faced with Zhu Gaoyu’s teachings, Zhu Youjian was deeply moved and bowed deeply to him,”Thank you for your teachings, Tiancheng Zu, your grandchildren understand……”
On the side, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di looked at each other with relief in their eyes, obviously very satisfied with Zhu Gaoyu’s methods.
After the soldiers dismissed the people, Zhu Gaoyu looked at the officials on the scene, but he did not speak for a long time, which made the officials feel uneasy. What does
Emperor Tiancheng want to do? Is he really going to be so cruel and attack us directly?!
Silent fear began to spread among the officials, and some even fainted from fear because they could not bear the huge pressure.