Crown Prince of the Empire, I quit!

A grain transport inspector from the Censorate was impeaching others yesterday, but was thrown into jail today!

Even several people from the Hanlin Academy, Tongzhengsi and other noble government offices were implicated!

Inside the capital, chaos reigned, and the people were in a state of panic. Prison van after prison van rolled through the streets, carrying prisoners to the imperial prison. House-raiding teams arrived in an endless stream, and the mansions of the once wealthy were sealed in an instant. Cries, pleas for mercy, and shouts of rebuke echoed one after another. At the Caishikou execution ground, officials were guillotined almost daily, their blood staining the earth.

The storm quickly spread from the capital to the provinces. In Jiangnan, the governor of the Grand Canal, the prefects of Suzhou and Huai'an, and dozens of other high-ranking officials were dismissed and imprisoned, leaving the Jiangnan bureaucracy emptied out! The leaders of the Grand Canal Gang were eliminated, and their core members were either killed or captured. The vast Grand Canal transport system was nearly paralyzed.

The entire empire trembled under the will of this iron-blooded emperor, experiencing a pain and cleansing like scraping bones to cure poison.

Every day, new evidence of crimes was uncovered, and every day, new officials were brought down. Qin Ming sat at the center, coldly reviewing the execution lists one by one, dispatching forces from all sides to ensure that this storm swept every corner efficiently and thoroughly, leaving no one to slip through the net.

Half a month later, the trial of this monumental case, which had shocked the world, concluded. The principal culprit, Li Jingtang, died of illness and anxiety in prison (actually a death sentence). Of the over 400 officials implicated in the case, over 100 were executed immediately, while the remainder were exiled or demoted, their property confiscated. The Jiangnan grain transport system was completely reorganized, with officials directly dispatched from the imperial court.

The court was in a state of solemnity, and the atmosphere suddenly became clear. However, after this battle, the imperial bureaucracy was also severely damaged, with many positions vacant and government affairs backlogged.

On this day, there will be a great meeting.

All the officials stood in silence, the number of people was obviously much smaller, and everyone's face was filled with fear and fatigue after surviving a disaster.

Qin Ming sat high on the dragon throne, his eyes swept across the area below, his voice calm but with unquestionable majesty:

"Corruption is like a cancer in the bones; only strong medicine can cure it. While the chronic disease has been eradicated, the empire's body has also sustained significant damage. In future administration, we must remain vigilant and prevent further corruption."

He paused and announced the follow-up arrangements:

"Instruct the Ministry of Personnel to immediately promote talented individuals from among the lower-ranking officials and local officials who have demonstrated integrity and a reputation for integrity during this investigation to fill vacancies. The Hanlin Academy and the Imperial College are to recommend talented and virtuous scholars from humble backgrounds to fill the various ministries and academies after assessment."

"Order the Censorate to revise the Regulations on Inspection and expand the powers of patrol inspections. From now on, any official below the third rank who is found guilty of corruption will be arrested first and reported later!"

"Instruct the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works to thoroughly investigate all process loopholes in engineering and procurement, introduce audits and public disclosures, and eliminate opportunities for corruption."

"I will establish a 'drum for reporting grievances' in the Purple Palace, allowing the people of the world to directly voice their grievances. Any officials found guilty of corruption, abuse of power, or oppression of the people may beat the drum to voice their grievances, and I... will personally review their reports!"

A series of decrees marked not only a reckoning with the past but also a layout for the future. Promoting the humble, expanding oversight, plugging loopholes, and even opening up channels for public opinion... the emperor, with iron-fisted tactics, was reshaping the imperial machinery into a more efficient and ruthless one.

"We obey your order! Your Majesty is wise!" The ministers knelt down, their voices filled with awe and trembling.

After the court meeting, Qin Ming sat alone in the empty Huangji Hall. The light of the setting sun shone through the window lattice, stretching his shadow very long.

A storm seemed to have subsided.

But this is by no means the end. The empire is a vast and complex organism, and when the old rotten flesh is removed, new problems will arise.

The turbulent storm unleashed by the Li Jingtang case raged across the heart of the empire for nearly a month, finally subsiding with the "death" of the principal culprit and the demise of hundreds of heads. Blood washed the bluestone slabs beneath the palace walls, but the stench of blood from Caishikou still lingered in the nostrils of the capital's citizens, a source of both fear and a touch of pleasure. Even within the court, an atmosphere of peril lingered. Officials hurried between ministries, their gazes cast down. Gone were the days of high-flown conversation, poetry, and wine, replaced by a cautious, post-disaster silence.

Grand court meeting in Huangji Hall.

All the officials stood in awe, their numbers noticeably thin, leaving many empty seats, like a jaw with its teeth forcibly plucked out, revealing a sense of forlornness and strangeness. The survivors lowered their heads and eyes, not daring to utter a single sound, fearing that even the slightest movement would attract the attention of the one on the throne.

Qin Ming sat high on the dragon throne, his dark robe making his expression even colder and harder. He calmly swept his gaze over the crowd below, taking in their fear and anxiety, yet remained unmoved.

"The culprit has been executed, and the accomplices have been punished." His voice broke the silence. It was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, with an unquestionable conclusion. "This case is now closed."

These eight simple words finally made many people's hearts settle down, even though the process of falling was still accompanied by twitching pain.

"Yes," Qin Ming changed the subject, his voice suddenly cold, like an icicle piercing a nerve that had just relaxed. "The malpractices of officialdom cannot be eradicated with just one case. The thoughts of corruption are like weeds that cannot be burned out, but will spring up again with the spring breeze."

The ministers lowered their heads even lower.

"I don't want you to be timid and inactive." Qin Ming slowly stood up, his eyes piercing the entire room. "What I want is a cleaner and more efficient court! I will not tolerate corruption or inaction! However, I will also generously reward those who work diligently and effectively!"

He announced a series of follow-up measures, each one clear, ruthless, and efficient:

"Ministry of Personnel, submit a list of candidate officials within three days. Seventy percent of the vacancies among officials involved in this case will be filled by promotions from lower-ranking officials and local officials with a reputation for integrity and outspokenness during this investigation! Thirty percent will be recommended by the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial College for talented individuals from humble backgrounds, who will be personally tested and appointed to office! The old practices of seniority-based promotions and clique-based recommendations are completely severable!"

"The Censorate, revise the Regulations on Supervision! Create the position of 'Inspector Censor' and grant them the power to submit secret memorials directly to the emperor! Any official below the third rank who is found guilty of corruption or negligence will be detained by the Inspector Censor below the fourth rank before being reported to the emperor!"

"The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, in conjunction with the Privy Council, will finalize the 'New Regulations for the Procurement and Construction of Military Supplies' and the 'Engineering Auditing Rules' within ten days! All procurement and construction projects must be subject to three bids, open to public bidding, and subject to subsequent three-party verification! Any fraud will be punished equally by the chief officer and the person in charge, and all property will be confiscated!"

"From this day forward, a 'Drum for Reporting' and a 'Stone for Erecting Reports' will be erected outside the Purple Palace Gate! Military and civilians throughout the land who have suffered injustice or are accusing officials of wrongdoing may do so by beating the drums and erecting the stones. I will personally review these reports regularly! Anyone who obstructs these complaints or retaliates will be charged with treason!"

Each decree, like a heavy hammer, not only shattered the old chains of interests and the hidden rules of officialdom, but also established a more rigorous system of supervision and promotion, one that relied more heavily on direct imperial intervention. Men from humble backgrounds saw unprecedented opportunities for advancement, honest officials felt a strong sense of support, and those with ulterior motives felt the fear of being exposed.