Chapter 1475: It's a voluntary transaction, so where does the talk of extortion come from?

He was originally of the talent of a top scholar, but was named the Third Place Scholar. The world only remembered his beauty, but ignored his talent.

Minister Cao was very angry, yet he could not resist.

No!

He did resist!

It's just that his method of resistance was a bit bizarre.

That was, to groom himself in the direction of being rough and ugly. Tanning, growing a beard, getting fat... the "disfigurement trio"! Plus crude speech and behavior!

A perfectly good handsome man was stubbornly tortured into a rough-looking civil official, which was an eyesore!

Chen Guanlou stared at Minister Cao's face, looking hard. It seemed he wanted to see the handsome Third Place Scholar from decades ago through this dark face!

What a pity, what a sigh!

One could barely tell that his features were very outstanding.

However, because he was old and fat, even the most outstanding features and skin couldn't withstand the ravages of time.

Minister Cao got off the carriage, dressed in his official uniform.

The Minister of Justice, Sun Daoning, coughed lightly and reminded him: "Old Cao, take it off, take it off."

Entering the Heavenly Prison in an official uniform, what kind of decorum was that? Was he questioning the Emperor's decision, or expressing dissatisfaction with the Left Chancellor, Xie Changling?

Minister Cao Song snorted, his face ferocious, his bowl-sized fist seemingly about to land on Sun Daoning in the next second.

Sun Daoning wasn't afraid of him, knowing he was bluffing; he looked like a brainless martial general, but was actually meticulous and brainy. He was a top-scholar talent, not inferior to Xie Changling. It was only because he was too good-looking that he was named the Third Place Scholar!

Given the late Emperor's certain hobbies, Minister Cao's self-destruction of his image was correct.

After all, Minister Cao didn't have the family background of Xie Changling!

Sun Daoning reminded the other party again to quickly take off the official uniform and not cause trouble.

Minister Cao looked displeased, but still obediently took off the official uniform and threw it directly to the Cao family steward on the side.

The Cao family servant hurriedly handed over an outer robe for Minister Cao to put on.

"Are you satisfied now?" Minister Cao asked Sun Daoning unhappily.

Sun Daoning smiled, like a kind old man. "Alright, alright, this is very good! Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, come over here and meet Minister Cao. From now on, Minister Cao will be staying in the Heavenly Prison temporarily, you must take good care of him and not be negligent. If Minister Cao has any needs, satisfy them as much as possible. If there is any difficulty, tell me, and I will make the decision for you!"

Chen Guanlou agreed readily and led the people of the Heavenly Prison to pay their respects to Minister Cao.

Minister Cao was expressionless, full of official authority. "Enough talk, lead the way. I am here to serve time, not to play house."

Sun Daoning smiled. "Old Cao, now that you're here, don't keep a straight face all day. You aren't tired, but I'm tired just looking at you. Besides, with me here, apart from not being free, the Heavenly Prison has no shortage of benefits."

Then, he instructed Chen Guanlou: "Just collect the basic fees, don't engage in extortion."

Chen Guanlou really wanted to complain.

The dignified Minister of Justice, does he know how to talk, does he really know how to talk?

What is called extortion?

There was no forced buying or selling, so where does the talk of extortion come from?

It was clearly market supply and demand determining the price of goods, not something human power could control. This was market behavior, emphasizing mutual willingness!

He couldn't be bothered to explain to Sun Daoning what market behavior was.

Just an old antique who only knew how to say extortion.

Minister Cao snorted. "Your Ministry of Justice has big problems, especially the Heavenly Prison. I heard long ago that the Heavenly Prison is a place for the Ministry of Justice to amass wealth. Absurd!"

"Old Cao, you don't understand the actual situation..."

"How would I not understand." Cao Song refused to accept it.

"Did we eat your family's rice? Did we drink your family's water?" Chen Guanlou really couldn't help it. "Before you curse the Heavenly Prison for amassing wealth, at least make up for the Heavenly Prison's money and grain! You don't give salaries, you don't give grain, and you still make the prison guards work themselves to death; are we born lowly? We are human, not beings who can be full just by drinking wind. If we don't ask you prisoners for money, should we ask the Emperor himself, or should we ask you, Minister Cao? Do you have the money to give?"

"You, you, you..." Minister Cao was furious, never expecting that upon his first arrival, he would be retorted by a small prison warden.

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, say less."

Sun Daoning pretended to be angry and scolded sternly.

Turning his head, he comforted Minister Cao again. "Old Cao, don't lower yourself to his level. He hasn't read many books and only cares about money and food. You also know that the Ministry of Justice is in a difficult situation, and the Ministry of Revenue is always dragging its feet on money and grain. With over a thousand people in the Heavenly Prison including prisoners, we can't all drink the northwest wind. Although there is a suspicion of amassing wealth from prisoners, it is ultimately used on the prisoners. Otherwise, they would all starve to death!"

The words were reasonable and well-founded, clearly standing on Chen Guanlou's side, refuting Minister Cao's assumptions. He had been in a high position for too long and had forgotten how bitter and difficult it was for grassroots personnel!

Everyone eats the court's rice and works diligently; what are they after? Nothing more than a stable income regardless of drought or flood! To have food to eat and not go hungry.

At present, the Ministry of Revenue is in arrears year after year, and wage arrears for grassroots personnel have become normalized. We can't force everyone to steal or rob.

Compared to stealing and robbing, amassing wealth from prisoners is clearly more legitimate, justified, and operable!

Minister Cao frowned. "Alright, I know your difficulties. I'm not really an old stubborn. It's just that your amassing of wealth is a bit too ruthless."

"Not ruthless, not ruthless! Compared to the neighboring Imperial Prison, the Heavenly Prison is already very gentle!" Sun Daoning smiled. "The Heavenly Prison's amassing of wealth has always upheld the principle of voluntariness; apart from basic fees, we never force anyone! Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, am I right?"

"If Minister Cao has any needs, I can show you the price list. We firmly oppose forced buying and selling, firmly oppose intentional difficulty and torture, and firmly oppose rough management!"

Chen Guanlou also laughed along, and while laughing, signaled for the people below to present the price list; he had to let Minister Cao gain some knowledge.

Soon, the price list fell into Minister Cao's hands.

Minister Cao frowned throughout the entire reading of the price list and cursed: "Profiteer!"

"Voluntary, all voluntary!" Chen Guanlou said with a smile. "If Minister Cao has any needs, just say the word, and we will satisfy all your needs as much as possible!"

"I don't need it for now!" Minister Cao was cunning and didn't close the door on the matter.

The small talk ended, down to the prison!

Chen Guanlou led the way in front, Sun Daoning accompanied him on the side, accompanying Minister Cao down to the Jia-grade prison.

Minister Cao should be experiencing prison life for the first time; he was clearly not used to it, but he didn't voice any complaints, so as not to be looked down upon.

Arriving at the VIP prison cell, the prison door was wide open.

Chen Guanlou stood at the prison door and made a gesture of invitation.

Minister Cao looked at the prison cell and sighed inwardly.

Sun Daoning said from the side: "The conditions are just like this, Old Cao, you'll have to overcome it. Don't worry, the prison cell looks dark, but it's only dark. It has long been cleaned inside, disinfected, and the basic furniture is prepared. If you have any other needs, put them forward as soon as possible, and we will satisfy them as much as possible."

"No need, this place is very good! It's much better than the environment I imagined. Officialdom says the Heavenly Prison is the most standardized prison in the capital; I used to scoff at it, but now that I've seen the real Heavenly Prison, I know the words are not empty!"

After speaking, he stepped into the prison door! ===== CHAPTER 1476 =====