Chapter 1393: The Ministry of Justice has truly begun a massacre

After resting for two days, Chen Guanlou went to the Ministry of Justice to end his leave and, incidentally, to have a chat with Sun Daoning.

As soon as they met, before they could even exchange pleasantries, he questioned him: "You've killed all my people. Do you intend for me to be a warden with no subordinates, or are you forcing me to kill them all over again?"

Chen Guanlou walked into the office carrying a jug of wine. With a *bang*, he slammed the jug onto the desk, showing no courtesy.

Sun Daoning frowned deeply. "I thought you wouldn't be able to come back; you were gone for over a year. Now that you're back, finish your leave and get to the Heavenly Prison to report for duty immediately."

"My people have all been killed by you; what duty is there to report for?"

It was just as Chen Guanlou had expected: after he left, the Ministry of Justice took the opportunity to purge the Heavenly Prison, killing quite a few people. Fortunately, his few trusted subordinates were all fine, and Medical Official Mu was also safe.

The Ministry of Justice also knew how to pick on the soft persimmons.

"What do you mean 'killed them all'? Stop spouting nonsense. That bunch of prison guards in the Heavenly Prison had no discipline; they were colluding inside and out, taking bribes to kill, and helping prisoners escape. Shouldn't they have been killed?"

"They should have been killed! But you didn't distinguish between right and wrong, letting the people below you kill indiscriminately—that was the mistake!"

Sun Daoning was so angry he laughed. He pointed at his own nose. "As the Minister of Justice, can I not kill a few prison guards?"

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow. "When it comes down to it, it's still about power and profit. If you want to kill, fine, but was it necessary to kill over a hundred guards? Killing the guards of the Grade B prison wasn't enough? What did the Grade A and Grade C prisons ever do to you? Making money still relies on those two prisons. If you're counting on that bunch of arrogant nobles and aristocratic families to make money, you're dreaming. How much money can the Grade B prison give the Ministry of Justice in a year? How many times more is the Grade A prison compared to the Grade B one? Old Sun, can you not tell what is important?"

"You are simply being womanly and soft-hearted!" Sun Daoning scolded angrily. "Last year, when Lord Hu was poisoned repeatedly, I told you to adopt strict laws and punishments to kill off the crooked winds and evil spirits. And what was the result? You just used thirty heads to fob me off. I wanted over a hundred heads. If you're worried about having no guards to use, there are plenty of guards sitting on the bench who are ready-made labor, waiting for your orders."

"The Heavenly Prison guards are at least tool-men who make money for you; they can at least be considered 'our own people.' Do you really have to be so ruthless when killing your own people?"

"Who is 'our own people' with them? Ask all the officials in the Ministry of Justice if anyone agrees with your view."

Sun Daoning was exasperated; he believed Chen Guanlou couldn't distinguish between what was important, was womanly and soft-hearted, and had excessive sympathy.

Mere prison guards—what was worth mentioning about them? Let alone dying one or two hundred, even if one or two thousand died, no one would care, and even fewer would ask. What is a lowly profession? This is a lowly profession; whether they live or die, no one cares.

This is why the vast majority of good citizens would rather struggle to survive, living a life of one meal full and one meal hungry, than be willing to become prison guards.

If you kill a good citizen, the government will ask and will open a case. Because good citizens are the subjects of the Son of Heaven.

If you kill a prison guard, the government will not ask, and even less will it open a case! Those engaged in lowly professions, if they die, they die. Just like who would care about the life or death of a prostitute? The government wouldn't even want to take a look.

Discrimination is often reflected at the critical moment of life and death.

"I know no one agrees with my view. But as the Heavenly Jiang Jiang Yucheng, I have the responsibility to ask about their life and death."

Sun Daoning waved his hand, signaling a truce. "You just returned to the capital and have many things to be busy with; I don't want to discuss this problem with you. What has already happened, let it pass. If you are short of manpower, you can recruit as you please; just report the list to me. In addition, I will approve a slip for you, approving the money and grain owed from last year."

This was his attitude, and also a concession, expressing goodwill.

Chen Guanlou rubbed his temples; he didn't want to be aggressive and flip the table on his first day back.

"Also, approve two thousand taels of silver for me. Since people have died, at least give some compensation."

"Impossible." Sun Daoning sternly refused. "They were executed by my order; if I have to give them compensation, is that appropriate? You are throwing my face on the ground and trampling on it."

"In my personal name, but the money must come from the public account. You approve the slip!"

"I won't!" Sun Daoning's temper flared, like a willful old man.

Chen Guanlou smiled. "If you don't approve the slip, I will take the money from the Heavenly Prison's public account and deduct it from your share."

"Utterly absurd. You are messing around; you are creating trouble for the Ministry of Justice."

"You killed my people, and you won't let me create some trouble for you? Old Sun, you are too overbearing! What is the relationship between us? We rely on each other; if you have difficulties, whether it's killing or arson, I'll do it for you without a second word. Now that I want some silver, what's the matter? A mere two thousand taels, is it worth it?"

Chen Guanlou slammed the table and roared.

Sun Daoning rubbed his temples; he had a headache!

What a jinx!

Their horoscopes really do clash!

"Fine, fine, I'll approve two thousand taels of silver for you; let this be the only time."

Chen Guanlou climbed up the pole. "You also must not let this happen again. Next time, don't take advantage of my absence from the Heavenly Prison to kill people wantonly. The lives of prison guards are indeed not worth much, but do you know that cultivating a qualified prison guard also takes time and energy?

The Heavenly Prison is now in good order; do you think I could have accomplished this alone? Without a group of prison guards who understand instructions and have learned to act according to instructions, everything is a castle in the air. Those criminal officials are still eating swill; if you end up in the Heavenly Prison in the future, you will receive the same treatment. Are you sure you want that?"

Sun Daoning almost broke his defense.

You are the criminal official; your whole family are criminal officials.

You are the one eating swill; your whole family eats swill.

He took several deep breaths and finally suppressed his irritable temper.

"Fine, I understand. Next time, I won't kill your people."

"Remember your promise!" After a pause, he asked again: "What exactly is going on with Lord Hu's case? A major case turned into a minor one by the Ministry of Justice, with only a dozen people dead."

Hearing this, Sun Daoning laughed.

"Aren't you very curious why I went on a killing spree and killed one or two hundred prison guards? Lord Hu's death was the excuse. Repeated assassinations and poisonings—do they really think the Ministry of Justice is a soft persimmon, and do they really think my knife isn't sharp enough? I'll kill them to show them just how sharp the Ministry of Justice's knife is."

Chen Guanlou:...

Fine!

He poked a hornet's nest.

He nodded knowingly. "I understand. You were forced; many times you can't make the decisions. I'll invite you for a drink another day, at a flower boat, to take care of your old flame's business."

"Stop spouting nonsense; she is not my old flame. Also, keep the Heavenly Prison in order. If there is another malicious poisoning and murder incident, I will still go on a killing spree."

Chen Guanlou indicated he understood, took the approved slip, and hurried away from the hornet's nest.

Returning to the Heavenly Prison, he was greeted by the heartfelt enthusiasm of the prison guards.

He gave a speech about how the future would be better, then dismissed them. Afterward, he arranged for Qian Fugui to take the slip to collect the money and grain, ensuring that all the money and grain would be collected within the day.

To avoid anyone on the Ministry of Justice side dragging their feet or defaulting on the debt. ===== CHAPTER 1394 =====