Chapter 311

"What?"

"Anti-corruption?"

"Punish corrupt officials?"

The entire hall fell silent for a moment, then everyone erupted. Everyone wore expressions of utter disbelief.

This Liu Zhouzhi...

Actually wants to pick up a knife and strike at his own people?

Since ancient times, it's been said: study well, then serve in office; serve well, then become corrupt. As the old saying goes: three years as an honest magistrate, ten thousand taels of silver in snowflake form. To hold office a thousand li away is only for wealth.

This is nearly everyone's deeply ingrained belief. Who has ever heard of an official not being corrupt? For these common folk, to encounter one who isn't insatiably greedy, who wouldn't even squeeze oil from a stone, would be a cause for thanking heaven and earth.

Who could have imagined...

Fifty taels, death by beheading!

Five hundred taels, execution of the entire clan!

This this this...

Upon hearing this, not only did the common people's faces change dramatically, but so did those of the officials, one by one.

"Shen Xing..."

"This..."

"Is this..."

No one could remain seated.

Even the other Cabinet Members at this moment were drenched in cold sweat.

If this matter isn't investigated, it's fine; but if it is investigated, whose backside is clean?

Shen Xing smiled and said: "Your Excellencies, even if the resolution passes, it will only take effect after being issued downward. So for now, it's a case of past deeds not being pursued. How is punishing corruption not a good thing?"

With that, no one else dared to speak.

How could they respond? Continue to obstruct? That would practically admit they harbor guilt in their hearts. Moreover, Shen Xing has already given them a way out.

No pursuit of past offenses!

Meaning, even if you were corrupt beyond measure before, you won't be held accountable. Once this Anti-Corruption Law is issued, only then will the blade begin to fall. Many people thought to themselves: it seems from now on I must conduct myself honestly.

And Ying Rong, at this moment, was trembling all over with rage.

"Anti-Corruption Law?"

What does this mean!

This is absolutely a purge and challenge to the Liangzhou officialdom! In feudal dynasties, every interest group— which one isn't about interest transfer and interest exchange? For thousands of years, this has become a custom, deeply rooted and tangled, intricate and complex. This is an interest chain, and at this moment, Liu Zheng seeks to sever this very chain!

Ruthless!

He is too ruthless!

"How about it? Your Excellencies, any objections?"

Shen Xing chuckled, handing out the Anti-Corruption Law he had long prepared— one copy per person.

These Cabinet Members, each wearing a bitter smile, had large beads of cold sweat streaming down.

"Good!"

"This is a good thing!"

"Hahaha, the Anti-Corruption Law— these old officials are going to suffer!"

"Prefect Liu, you truly are a benevolent ruler who governs for the people's sake!"

Seeing this scene, the common people burst into applause and cheers, joyous and exhilarated. Under the gaze of all present, the Cabinet Members found themselves in a dilemma— advance or retreat, neither option easy.

Pass?

This will surely trigger a corruption purge across Liangzhou and will surely reshape the officialdom's landscape.

Not pass?

Wouldn't that just say they harbor guilt in their hearts?

The Cabinet's voting system is real-name voting, because within the Cabinet, lively discussion is required. Given today's situation, who dares to disagree?

To disagree— wouldn't that just make one a corrupt official?

How difficult!

Thus.

The nine Cabinet Members, tears in their eyes, all raised their hands in favor.

Boom!

The hall thundered with applause, cheers rose.

Thus.

The first Liangzhou People's Representative Congress, lasting seven days, concluded satisfactorily here. Those who had come earlier to cause trouble, too, left one by one, hearts full of satisfaction, not sparing their praise, hand in hand.

The entire Liangzhou seemed like an ocean of joy.

To describe Liangzhou's current atmosphere with songs and dances is by no means an exaggeration.

"Pfft..."

On the horse carriage returning, Ying Rong spat out another mouthful of blood.

"Your Excellency!"

"Ying Rong!"

Those nearby were frightened out of their wits.

Ying Rong's gaze turned icy: "Prefect Liu, this is to exterminate completely, to wipe out entirely!"

Others were also worried.

One anti-corruption decree, and the entire Liangzhou officialdom would be turned upside down. A cabinet plus an anti-corruption decree—this wasn't just a change of heaven, to them it felt like the sky itself was about to collapse!

"Ying Sir, then we..."

"Are we...?"

A group of people were frightened enough to be sharp-tongued.

Ying Rong coldly snorted: "What 'what'? Should we restrain ourselves a bit?"

"How to restrain? You tell me, how to restrain? Huang Gonggong in the palace—how do we explain the yearly tribute? The offerings to the Third Prince—how do we explain those? The Salt Transport Office in the court—how do we explain that? Hmm? Should we empty out our family fortunes?"

A group of people wore worried and bitter expressions.

Being an official is not easy...

When they were exploiting those lowly commoners, when had they not needed to grease the palms above? With Liu Zhizhou doing this, how are they supposed to grease the palms above now?

Ying Rong chuckled: "Rest assured, the Third Prince's side will surely take action. Liu Zhizhou's doing this will surely offend many nobles. Do you think his grand and mighty Grand Canal project won't be affected?"

Everyone heard this and rejoiced greatly.

"There's no need to restrain..."

"Just be careful."

"Hehe, wait and see the situation—at least for now, this Liangzhou officialdom is still under our control! Understand?"

Ying Rong continued speaking.

A group of people laughed heartily, naturally understanding what he meant.

Continue being negative and shirking work!

Continue stirring up trouble in this Liangzhou officialdom!

Stir it into utter chaos!

Let that Liu Zhizhou know—these natives are not to be trifled with!

Ying Rong suddenly flashed a sharp light in his eyes, smirking sinisterly: "I have a way!"

Everyone perked up their ears to listen.

Ying Rong laughed loudly: "He isn't anti-corrupting, is he? Isn't he planning to execute the entire clan?"

"Gentlemen..."

"You haven't forgotten, have you? Our Liangzhou still has a great deity."

Everyone gasped in shock.

A great deity?

"The Zheng family?"

The Empress's natal family, the Zheng family!

Everyone was overjoyed—yes, if this matter involves the Zheng family, let's see how Liu Zheng handles it! To exterminate the Empress's natal family—do you dare?

Ying Rong laughed: "Go arrange it!"

"Yes!"

"Sir, your wisdom is admirable!"

Returned to his own room.

Jiang Xuan also followed Liu Zheng over.

Liu Zheng laughed and said: "Next, we'll have to trouble you, Jiang Sir."

Jiang Xuan scratched his head, hehe-laughing: "As the young master's command, I cannot refuse. But... young master, executing for fifty taels of corruption, exterminating the clan for five hundred—this this this, won't it be too...?"

Liu Zheng laughed loudly: "What, could it be you also have a prior record?"

Jiang Xuan's face changed drastically: "Young master, even if they beat Jiang Xuan to death, he wouldn't dare! Jiang Xuan is already well-off, hey! Besides, Jiang Xuan is a lone man with no family—what would he do with so much gold and silver?"

Liu Zheng was obviously joking.

As long as they followed him from the beginning, they all have shares in Yintan City—can't say they're the richest in the world, but achieving financial freedom is no problem.

"Anti-corruption work is of utmost importance! Moreover, it will be a long-term, continuous effort! We must strictly enforce it, ruthlessly enforce it! No matter who, as long as they violate the Anti-Corruption Law, they shall be punished according to law!"

Liu Zheng said seriously.

Jiang Xuan trembled all over: "Yes, young master!"