Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 189 Preparation for the Establishment of the Supervisory Department

Upon hearing this, Li Yi's expression darkened, his eyes filled with boiling murderous intent.

But he suppressed his anger and asked.

"What else?"

Li Liang continued to report.

"The interest group formed by these criminals is not just responsible for the tea seedling smuggling case."

"According to the information we have now, they have carried out dozens of smuggling operations. A large amount of commercial goods have been smuggled in and out of our Tang Dynasty by bypassing customs."

"Its categories include tea, silk, porcelain, cloth, steel, sugar, salt, and even opium..."

As soon as Li Liang finished speaking, Li Yi's eyes, which were originally slightly narrowed, suddenly widened.

said coldly.

"opium?"

"There's opium?"

"What is the exact quantity? How did they distribute the goods?"

If it was the previous tea seedling smuggling, Li Yi would at most just be annoyed and angry.

The goods smuggled by these people actually contained opium, which really touched Li Yi's bottom line.

Upon hearing this, Li Liang thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Your Majesty, according to the account books we seized, the amount of opium they smuggled was approximately 53,000 kilograms, and the goods were distributed to various states through local trading companies and peddlers."

"Then the goods are distributed through local gangs and secret societies in various state capitals."

Ever since the Tang Dynasty began to ban opium, the price of opium within the Tang Dynasty has begun to soar.

As long as something has enough benefits, many people will do it even at the risk of losing their heads.

This is the case with the criminals involved in these smuggling cases!

In order to gain profits from smuggling opium, they even dared to ignore the imperial ban on opium.

Taking a deep breath, Li Yi calmed himself down and then spoke.

"Keep checking!"

"Based on the clues from the tea seedling smuggling case, we will continue to investigate and catch all those who dare to sell and smoke opium."

"Catch all those gangs and secret societies that dare to touch opium!"

"Sentences will be strict and severe, and there will be no leniency!"

Li Liang heard this and said immediately.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I understand!"

Li Yi continued.

"Also, send people to arrest the officials involved in the case and don't let them get away."

Upon hearing this, Li Liang bowed again to show that he understood, then took his leave.

After Li Liang left, Li Yi started thinking about the follow-up matters.

Facts have proved that it is definitely not feasible to expect officials to consciously supervise themselves and not commit corruption or crimes.

Li Yiruo wanted to ensure that the administration of the Tang Dynasty could maintain a certain degree of cleanliness, rather than letting it completely rot and allowing corruption to run rampant.

Then it is quite necessary to establish a supervisory agency to supervise all officials.

After thinking for a long time, Li Yi decided to set up an inspection department under the Ministry of the Interior to specifically monitor all officials.

Do not!
It cannot be placed under the Ministry of the Interior.

Instead, it should follow the example of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and allow it to operate independently.

This will reduce the influence of various departments on the Supervisory Department and ensure that the Supervisory Department can enforce the law impartially.

As for the candidate for the first director of the Supervisory Department, Li Yi is planning to use Du Shun.

The reason is simple. Du Shun was born as Li Yi's attendant. He is loyal and capable.

Li Yi felt more at ease letting him be in charge of the Supervisory Department.

Thinking about these things, Li Yi began to write the establishment charter of the Supervisory Department.

……

Commissioner of Taxation, Yamen meeting room.

On the first day of every ten days, relevant officials from various departments of the Tang Dynasty would gather together for a regular meeting.

Make a brief summary of the work done in the past ten days, and then look forward to the next work goals.

Although it is rather empty and pretentious, holding meetings does play a certain role in rallying people's hearts and establishing a common goal.

Officials at all levels of the Taxation Bureau arrived early, and Director Song Zhengqin walked in from outside with two deputy directors.

Several people sat down, Song Zhengqin looked around and then said.

"Everyone is here, let's start the meeting."

"Today's regular meeting mainly includes the following items."

"First of all, after returning to Guangzhou, the king summoned me to commend my tax department for its tax collection work..."

However, just when Song Zhengqin was halfway through his words, someone knocked on the door of the conference room.

Song Zhengqin looked displeased and was about to ask who was knocking on the door and interrupting the meeting.

At this moment, the door of the conference room was pushed open from the outside.

A team of military intelligence officers dressed in black walked in from outside, and the leader showed his ID to Song Zhengqin.

"I am Zhao Zhong, the head of the Fifth Section of the Military Intelligence Department. Nice to meet Director Song."

Then he turned to Chen Liang who was standing beside him and said.

"The Military Intelligence Department is handling the case. Deputy Director Chen, please come with us."

When Chen Liang heard this, his face turned pale instantly, knowing that it must be his own business that had been exposed.

However, before he could say anything, Director Song Zhengqin at the side spoke up. "Chief Zhao, may I ask what's going on? You actually need the cooperation of the Deputy Director of the Taxation Department?"

Song Zhengqin had no vested interest in Chen Liang, so he stood up for him.

However, this is now the venue for the regular meeting of the Department of Taxation, and he is the director of the Department of Taxation.

Now, the Military Intelligence Department's lackeys want to take away Deputy Director Chen Liang in front of the Taxation Commissioner and his subordinates.

If Song Zhengqin remains silent and pretends not to see it, he will probably not be able to convince others in the future.

So, he had to speak, even if it was useless.

Zhao Zhong was not angry when he heard this. He just showed the arrest warrant to Song Zhengqin expressionlessly and then said.

"Chen Liang, the evidence of your involvement in the smuggling case has been published. Here is an arrest warrant."

"Please cooperate with us, otherwise you will bear the consequences!"

When Chen Liang heard this, he became even more frightened, and his entire body began to tremble noticeably.

Song Zhengqin, who was standing aside, had a dark face, but he couldn't say anything. He could only remain silent.

The other party had already produced the arrest warrant signed by the king himself. No matter how unhappy Song Zhengqin was, he had to endure it.

Chen Liang slumped in the chair, looking very out of control and distraught, and did not cooperate with Zhao Zhong and others.

Seeing that Chen Liang was not cooperating, Zhao Zhong stopped talking nonsense and just waved his hand to order several men to hold Chen Liang on the left and right and walk out.

Before leaving, Zhao Zhong saluted Song Zhengqin and spoke.

"Director Song, please continue. I'll take my leave now!"

After saying this, he turned around and left with his men.

After the Military Intelligence Department left, the atmosphere in the Tax Commissioner's meeting room became silent.

Many people feel the same way!
That was the deputy director of their Taxation Bureau, and he was taken away in the middle of the meeting just like that.

Who wouldn’t be terrified?
Similar scenes did not only happen in the Taxation Department.

It also occurred in the Commerce Department, Customs, Police Bureau and other related departments.

Under the instruction of Li Yi, the Military Intelligence Department specially selected the time when each department held regular meetings to arrest people.

The reason for this, to put it bluntly, is to create deterrence.

Let the officials attending the meeting see that this is the consequence of corruption and breaking the law!
……

In Guangzhou city, Tang Dynasty Navy Headquarters.

Liu Mingqi came to the headquarters with a nervous mood and asked to meet Fang Haiyang, the commander-in-chief of the naval fleet.

"I greet the Marshal!"

Liu Mingqi was taken to Fang Haiyang's office and greeted him respectfully.

Fang Haiyang put down the pen in his hand, looked up and asked.

"Mingqi, do you know why I summoned you today?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Mingqi just shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.

Fang Haiyang snorted coldly, then said.

"Haha, I think you should know it."

When Liu Mingqi heard this, his heart skipped a beat and he realized that something was wrong.

Fang Haiyang summoned me here today, not just to reminisce or report on work.

But Fang Haiyang just continued speaking.

"You've been with me for almost ten years, right?"

"If I remember correctly, you started following me ten years ago. During these ten years, we brothers have been pirates, robbed people on the road, killed officials, and robbed the rich to help the poor more than once or twice."

"It's a good time to eat big chunks of meat and drink big bowls of wine."

"It's just that although life seems carefree on the surface, it's actually like living from day to day without any hope for the future."

"Since we submitted to the king in Guangxi, our lives have been getting better. Official positions, titles, glory and wealth have begun to come one after another."

"Some time ago, we went back to our hometown to visit relatives, and even the elders in our hometown began to be proud of us."

"The days are becoming more and more hopeful..."

"But, you have a good life, why do you want to do such a betrayal?!"

As he spoke, Fang Haiyang angrily threw a document in his hand at Liu Mingqi's face. He was really disappointed with Liu Mingqi.

Liu Mingqi is an old brother who has followed him for so long and is his confidant. Who could have thought that Liu Mingqi would do such a treacherous thing!
The document hit Liu Mingqi's face, making a crisp sound.

But he didn't dare to stop it at all. He just hurriedly picked up the documents scattered on the ground and started to look through them.

As he watched, the expression on Liu Mingqi's face began to turn paler and paler.

Suddenly, Liu Mingqi knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Fang Haiyang.

"General, I know I was wrong."

"Please save me, Marshal!"

Fang Haiyang heard this but said expressionlessly.

"If I had known today, why would I have done it in the first place?"

"I can't save you, so you better fend for yourself!"

After speaking, Fang Haiyang clapped his hands.

Soon the door of his office was pushed open, and several officials from the Military Law Department of the General Staff and a team of military police walked in from outside.

The leading official showed the arrest warrant to Liu Mingqi who was kneeling on the ground, and then said.

"Commander of the Tang Dynasty's Offshore Inspection Fleet, Brigadier General Liu Mingqi, has been investigated by the Military Intelligence Department and there is irrefutable evidence that you have committed treason, trafficking in opium, and sheltering smugglers."

"Please come with us!"

After he finished speaking, several military police came forward and forced Liu Mingqi out.

(End of this chapter)