I embezzled 100,000 taels at the beginning, and the empress begged me to be more greedy

“This is the account book of Anding County.”

The official from the yamen took out the account book and handed it to Liang Ming with great trepidation.

"Well, step back and call the chief clerk of the yamen over."

Liang Ming ordered.

"It's an adult."

Now that so many people are involved in this case, we must conduct a thorough investigation and hold everyone accountable.

His Majesty's edict specifically stated that certain corruption issues in Anding County must be thoroughly investigated. As the presiding judge of this case, Liang Ming dared not be negligent.

What's more, the criminal was once a thorn in his side, so how could Liang Ming let go of this opportunity for revenge?

"Master Ma, please take a look."

Liang Ming did not look through the account book, but instead handed it respectfully to another man.

The unique sword logo on the man's brocade clothes told everyone his identity.

Thousand Cavalry Division, Patrol Auxiliary Division!

The so-called Xunfusi is equivalent to an imperial commissioner. Even if his official rank is not high, his power is far greater than that of most local officials.

Even though Liang Ming was the deputy envoy of Yuzhou, he had to be respectful at this moment.

Ma Hengwei had a dignified look on his face. He was the Qianqisi who read the imperial edict in front of the yamen that day.

In this case, he is ostensibly Liang Ming's assistant, but in fact everyone knows that Qianqi Si is the real presiding judge of this case.

The words of the Qianqi Division are basically the orders of the current emperor.

At this moment, Chen Qingyun, the Queen of Dayan, was sitting quietly behind the door curtain, secretly listening in on Liang Ming and Ma Hengwei's investigation of the "Jiangzuo Case".

Not only did she want to thoroughly investigate Jiangzuo's embezzlement of the imperial relief grain, she also wanted to uncover all the people involved behind the scenes.

No matter in military, economic, or political affairs, anyone who has anything to do with Jiangzuo cannot escape investigation.

"This year, Anding County has 600,000 taels of commercial tax, a number of jewels, thousands of rolls of silk and satin fabrics, 150,000 dan of grain, iron ore, salt mines, weapons..."

Ma Hengwei read the contents of the account book aloud so that Chen Qingyun behind the door could hear clearly.

This exaggerated number surprised Chen Qingyun in the dark.

"Anding County's commercial tax alone is 600,000 taels of silver in one year?"

Chen Qingyun couldn't believe it.

You should know that the court’s annual tax revenue was only more than 6 million taels.

It is incredible that Anding County, a small and remote frontier county, has so much taxes.

This amount does not even include agricultural taxes and the huge amount of silver that Jiangzuo obtained through "fraud" on a daily basis.

"The people of Jiang Zuo are very greedy. This amount is enough to execute them ten thousand times." Liang Ming said on the side.

"I didn't expect that a small county like Anding could have such accounts. Are you serious?" Ma Hengwei was extremely unconvinced.

"Your Excellency, it is absolutely true." Liang Ming continued, "I have just inspected the government treasury, and found mountains of gold and silver treasures. Think about it, how could a small county magistrate in Jiangzuo receive so much gold and silver? It is obvious that it was obtained through corruption."

"Hmm..." Ma Hengwei remained silent and carefully flipped through the account book.

"He stole and sold government grain, and bent the law for personal gain. In my humble opinion, Jiang Zuo should be immediately confiscated and executed. There is no need for interrogation." Liang Ming was extremely impatient, as if he would gain great benefits once Jiang Zuo died.

Ma Hengwei did not respond.

The trial of Jiangzuo will ultimately depend on your Majesty's opinion.

Chen Qingyun, who was sitting behind the door at this moment, had already had the idea of ​​confiscating Jiang Zuo's property, but compared to confiscating his property and executing him, she was more concerned about finding out the bigger backer behind Jiang Zuo.

It is absolutely impossible for a small county magistrate to be so bold as to amass wealth and violate the law without the support of a sufficiently powerful official in the imperial court.

Moreover, Chen Qingyun wanted to find out how the 10,000 dan of disaster relief grain ended up in Jiang Zuo's pocket...

"Sir, the chief clerk of the yamen has arrived."

At this time, the yamen runner outside the door said.

"come in."

As soon as he finished speaking, an old scholar in his sixties came in, knelt down and said, "Greetings, my Lords."

"You are so bold that you are selling the 10,000 dan of disaster relief grain. Don't you know how many lives this grain can save? Do you have the court and the people of the world in your heart?"

The person who spoke was Lord Liang Mingliang. When he was an official, he often secretly colluded with landlords and wealthy businessmen, accepted bribes, and exploited the people. However, he disguised himself well and has not been discovered by the emperor and the Qianqi Division until now.

Now, hearing these words “for the people of the world” come out of his mouth, it is quite ironic.

"You two adults have misunderstood." The chief clerk knelt down and said, "Aren't the disaster relief grains from the court for people to eat?"

"How dare you?" Lord Liang shouted.

"No, no, what I mean is that the people of Anding County and the disaster victims in other counties are not eating relief grains." The chief clerk explained hastily.

"If you don't eat the relief food, what will you eat?"

"We ordinary people eat the food that Lord Jiang purchased from various states in the south of the Yangtze River."

If you think about it carefully, it is true. Even the disaster victims outside the city who were working in exchange for relief were eating white flour buns.

Chen Qingyun's heart began to waver a little.

But if Jiang Zuo is not killed, how can we shock people in the future?

If every county and city official were to deceive their superiors and subordinates and steal and sell disaster relief grain, would there still be any law in this world?

"How funny! Everyone knows that the price of grain in the states south of the Yangtze River is the most expensive in the world. Can everyone in Anding County afford it? Can the victims of today's flood afford it?"

Ma Hengwei couldn't help but question.

His voice was extremely deep, serious yet murderous.

The chief clerk didn't dare to speak for a moment, and lowered his head tremblingly.

After a moment, he replied, "Your Excellency, in fact, the people of Anding County have already escaped poverty. The grain in Jiangnan is indeed affordable for ordinary people like us, and there is even surplus every year. The disaster relief funds allocated by the court have been auctioned because there is no place to store them in the granary. Moreover, the price of the grain sold by Your Excellency is not high..."

"Nonsense!" Ma Hengwei scolded again.

In his opinion, he would never believe these words.

Where in the world can every citizen afford to eat?

Even in the capital, there are beggars, let alone this small county on the border.

At this moment, there were suddenly hurried footsteps heard.

The yamen runner came again to report.

"My Lords, many people have gathered outside the government office, and they seem to be here to seek justice for Jiang Zuo."

"Seek justice?" Ma Hengwei frowned.

He will wait for His Majesty's will.

Chen Qingyun, who had been standing aside for a long time, was a little hesitant at this moment, but his anger towards Jiang Zuo had not diminished.

During these few days, she had indeed witnessed how the people of Anding County lived and worked in peace and contentment, and she had also indeed seen not a single beggar or poor person in Anding County.

Could it be true, as the chief clerk said, that the relief grain was not needed and was therefore sold?

Chen Qingyun pondered for a moment and soon came to another conclusion.

Since Anding County is not short of food, why do you always complain about being poor?

The crime of deceiving the emperor is also punishable by death!

After a long time, she gave the order.

"Bring Jiang Zuo to court tomorrow. I want to hear from him what happened in person..."