Chapter 756: If I approve even one more tael of silver, this official will die!

Leaving the prison cell, Chen Guanlou hurried to the office.

Sure enough, Sun Daojing was already waiting for him in the office, drinking tea.

"Old Sun, what exactly is going on? How did Vice Minister Zuo get arrested and thrown into the Heavenly Prison? Our own people arresting our own people; aren't you afraid of being stabbed in the spine, aren't you afraid that the people below will rebel against you?"

"Is it bad to be imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison?" Sun Daojing put down his teacup, "If not in the Heavenly Prison, should he be in the Imperial Prison, the Supreme Court, or the Imperial Clan Court? Imprisoning him in the Heavenly Prison is the best I can do to protect him. Don't be influenced by that Zuo fellow and be ungrateful."

He had an expression of grievance at being misunderstood.

Chen Guanlou immediately clicked his tongue, "Is it the best decision to imprison him in the Heavenly Prison? You haven't said yet, how did Vice Minister Zuo suddenly get arrested, what is this for? What exactly did he commit? I took a look at the case file, and it only wrote corruption and bribery; nothing else was written. Since when does a mere corruption case send a dignified third-rank high official to prison? When did the court become so clean?"

Full of sarcasm, he was not polite at all.

Low-level officials might be investigated and sent to prison simply because of corruption.

However, a third-rank high official in the court would absolutely not be sent to prison just because of corruption. Even if the Censorate wanted to impeach someone, they wouldn't just talk about corruption; they would definitely find other more critical and fatal charges. For example, forming a clique for private interests; this charge is very lethal.

What is the Emperor most afraid of?

He is afraid of high officials in the court forming cliques for private interests, engaging in factional strife, and excluding dissidents.

Once the charge of forming a clique for private interests is imposed, it will make the Emperor determined to investigate a third-rank high official.

It wasn't written in the case file, which means there was no forming a clique for private interests. It only wrote corruption, meaning a third-rank high official was arrested just because of corruption?

Emperor Taixing wants to rectify officialdom?

Bullshit!

If Emperor Taixing had the determination, perseverance, and means to rectify officialdom, he would really have to look up to him three times, no, ten times!

But observing Emperor Taixing's style of handling things in the past, there is absolutely no such possibility.

"Old Sun, don't stay silent! What exactly happened in the court?"

"What happened, don't you understand?" Sun Daojing sneered, "His Majesty's wings have grown full, and he wants to start clearing out old officials in the court on a large scale. Vice Minister Zuo is one of them."

"Is this how you clear them out?" Chen Guanlou laughed, "The handling is too rough. Aren't you afraid of chaos? Both the north and south are fighting, and you still have the heart to play this set."

"Just ask you if it works?" Sun Daojing asked back.

Chen Guanlou was stunned for a moment, and slapped his own cheek, "It was my superficiality. The Emperor only wants the result, regardless of the process. Although the methods of the people handling the matter are rough, they are indeed effective. Corruption is also a crime; if the court really wants to pursue it, the charge is solid and cannot be denied. It's just that, since it's only corruption, it means there's no need to behead him?"

The charge of corruption is good; it can attack or retreat. It seems rough, but it has been carefully considered, and it also leaves a retreat for the old officials being cleared out.

Corruption, well, the Emperor can pardon it with one word!

After the pardon, consciously go back to your hometown to retire. You still have to kowtow to thank His Majesty for his great grace for not pursuing it to the end.

Tsk!

He even began to suspect, "Could this matter be Xie Gechen's handiwork?"

"Why would you suspect him?"

"Old Sun, don't forget, I dealt with Xie Gechen for a year. When he was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, I talked to him every three days. I dare not say anything else, but I understand Xie Gechen a little bit; he is a yin-yang person. This matter looks like his handiwork; it looks careless, but in fact, everything has been considered."

Sun Daojing smiled, his smile very reluctant, "You really guessed it right. This matter is indeed Xie Gechen's handiwork. Using a charge that is neither light nor heavy to arrest old officials in the court. Afterward, His Majesty grants a pardon. He plays the black face, and His Majesty plays the white face. The monarch and subject are in perfect harmony, cooperating seamlessly. Not only did they clear out the old officials, but it also didn't trigger strong backlash and resistance in the court, and the replacement of the old with the new was completed smoothly."

"So, that Xie fellow will be the next Chancellor candidate; look at how beautifully he handled this matter! The subjects are sent to prison, and they are wronged in the prison cell for a month or two. After the court discusses the result, His Majesty issues an edict to pardon them, perfect!"

Chen Guanlou praised sincerely.

When Xie Gechen was in prison before, he saw that the other party was a top-tier straight-A student and a smart person, a natural candidate for court fighting.

That time with the deposed Crown Prince gave the other party an extremely profound lesson. Since then, he has learned his lesson, summarized his experience, and handled things more and more maturely. In time, he will definitely become the youngest Chancellor to attract the most attention in the world.

Mourn for one second for the rebels like Prince Chu, Prince Cheng, and Guo Dachun.

"Since you already understand the matter, you should know what to do next."

"Old Sun, rest assured, I will definitely keep an eye on Vice Minister Zuo and try my best to satisfy his requirements. When the day of release comes, I will set off firecrackers to send him out of prison."

Sun Daojing laughed, "Setting off firecrackers is not necessary; Vice Minister Zuo doesn't like these external forms. He prefers internal luxury."

"No money!"

Chen Guanlou spread his hands, crying poverty extremely decisively. Rituals don't cost much money, and firecrackers aren't worth much. Internal luxury requires real gold and silver at a high price.

Who doesn't like internal luxury!

He likes it too!

However, it needs money to pile up.

What virtue or ability does Vice Minister Zuo have, why should he spend money? He didn't count on making money from the other party, which was already giving him a pass for the sake of being fellow officials in the Ministry of Justice.

"If there's no money, handle it according to no money." Sun Daojing was also very straightforward; wanting to ask him for money, no way! Crying poverty is useless!

If you don't manage the household, you don't know the price of firewood and rice!

The Heavenly Prison is a revenue-generating unit and can be completely self-sufficient. Running to the Ministry of Justice every day to ask for money and grain, what kind of decorum is that!

Chen Guanlou was furious, "Mentioning money, Old Sun, you change your face; even a chameleon isn't as good at changing as you. Look at how stingy you are; can't you be generous occasionally?"

Sun Daojing snorted coldly, very dissatisfied, "Do the prison cells still need to be repaired? Doesn't repairing the prison cells cost money! Do you think the Ministry of Works will provide labor and materials for free? Dream on! The Ministry of Works didn't take the opportunity to extort the Ministry of Justice; that's already considered polite.

In two days, the craftsmen from the Ministry of Works will come to repair the prison cells; if you have any requirements, tell them. However, be frugal; the approved silver is not much, not enough for you to toss around.

According to this official's meaning, this office of yours can still be used, so don't redecorate it; it's a waste of money. Also, during the repair period, people coming in and out, pay attention to safety. Don't let people take advantage of the loopholes!"

Chen Guanlou:...

The sky is falling and the earth is sinking!

His office renovation plan hadn't even started before it was declared bankrupt.

"Approving a few hundred taels more silver, are you going to die?" He was so angry he questioned directly.

"If I approve even one more tael of silver, this official will die!" Sun Daojing was even more ruthless than him! ===== CHAPTER 757 =====