Chapter 323: Thorny

These powerful clans.

Each one of them was stunned.

The Liangzhou Army?

Weren't they supposed to have gone on campaign to Chuan Shu?

Why are they still coming back?

However...

Why this question, at this time, is no longer important. Jiang Xuan brought his fifty thousand Liangzhou troops to the scene, and it was like cutting down rotten wood and breaking dry twigs.

Street fighting?

These Liangzhou troops are all from Yinzhou; let alone street fighting, they master all kinds of tactics with ease. At this moment, these powerful clans' private soldiers finally felt the domination of overwhelming military strength. Fifty thousand Yinzhou troops were like a massive war machine.

When they arrived here, it was a suppression of momentum.

In the first round of clash, the crushing began.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

Those powerful clans' private soldiers, upon first contact, were crushed by them; no matter how high your martial arts, no matter how agile your movements. You might dodge the first strike, but you cannot dodge the second.

"This..."

"Run!"

Seeing this situation, the powerful clans dared not stay here, but fifty thousand troops—joking, in this narrow street, it was simply impenetrable, even mosquitoes couldn't fly out, let alone people.

"Capture them!"

Liu Zheng coldly shouted.

In the situation of crushing, many were slain on the spot, and the rest immediately surrendered their weapons. Knowing they cannot win, yet still choosing to fight—what is the point?

Those powerful clans were all bound tightly with ropes.

Ying Rong, moreover, was seized by Jiang Xuan with one hand, riding a war horse to Liu Zheng's side, then flung violently to the ground, coldly shouting: "Ying Rong, you old thief, what else do you have to say?"

Ying Rong knew he could not escape death today, so naturally he would not kneel and beg for mercy, but instead glared at Liu Zheng with hatred, gnashing his teeth: "Liu family brat, you will face retribution, you will surely face retribution!"

"Pa!"

Jiang Xuan dismounted, a single slap sent Ying Rong flying to the ground.

"Escort to the great prison, clean up the scene."

Liu Zheng coldly glanced at Ying Rong, then turned and left.

"Good!"

"Lord Liu Zhou, great goodness!"

"Enlightened ruler!"

"Young Master Liu!"

At this moment, seeing the matter settled here, the onlookers rushed out again, for a time singing and dancing, praising virtues and merits. Although somewhat incongruous with the bloody scene at the site, they were truly happy.

These parasites have finally gotten their retribution!

Moreover...

This looks like Liangzhou Prefecture's Anti-Corruption Law will surely continue. Is this not giving them a clear sky and earth? Liangzhou's future situation is entirely promising!

Half a day.

The entire Liangzhou was once again in chaos. This time, Liu Zheng was serious; anyone involved in embezzling military supplies was all imprisoned in the great prison, regardless of identity or background. In Liangzhou, as long as they were prominent figures of the powerful clans, almost all had their hands in it. These people didn't even get a chance to contact their backers before being arrested by Shen Xing, Jiang Xuan, and the Liangzhou troops they led.

Finally.

The great prison couldn't hold all these people!

As many as three thousand!

This number is absolutely shocking.

This is without counting those who should have their entire families executed and nine clans exterminated... merely the corrupt officials in Liangzhou's upper and lower bureaucracy, as well as the military, already number three thousand!

One can see how deep the corruption has reached in Liangzhou's officialdom.

"How unreasonable, all beheaded, all killed!"

Liu Dahao was also very angry, as if recalling how he had once been forced to donate all his property in a sorry state. At this moment, he appeared even more filled with righteous indignation.

"My lord, my lord, calm down..."

"Lord Liu Zhou, these three thousand people..."

Others, however, were startled and hurried out to dissuade.

These people are the rare clear streams in Liangzhou's officialdom; although they also deeply hate and detest these corrupt parasites, at this moment they said: "Young master, this matter still needs long-term planning! Losing these three thousand officials all at once... this this this..."

This is indeed a headache-inducing matter.

Three thousand people...

Put differently, although these people are all corrupt officials, one cannot deny that they are among the few in society who can read and write... In this era when education is not yet widespread, executing so many people at once would surely cause Liangzhou Prefecture's work to fall into stagnation, and the impact cannot be said to be insignificant.

Originally Liu Zheng thought a few hundred would be about right, and this gap would be easy to fill.

Who would have thought...

It was actually three thousand!

Moreover, these three thousand people involve Liangzhou Prefecture, locality, military, various fields and departments. From the Salt Transport Commissioner, to Counselor, to Executive, then to jail runners, even to gatekeepers, there is embezzlement...

"Kill!"

Liu Zheng flew into a rage: "The Anti-Corruption Law has been promulgated, deal with them according to law!"

He knew that at this moment, he absolutely could not show mercy. Already arrested, those who should die must die! Otherwise, it would be hard to convince the masses. The Anti-Corruption Law would also be seen as a mere empty formality, which is not the effect he wants.

He must intimidate!

He must have an intimidating effect, so that others will take warning and treat the Anti-Corruption Law as a red line.

"Young master..."

"This..."

A group of people saw that persuasion was ineffective, and they all sighed.

"What are you saying? Were you caught?"

At this time.

Jinghua Imperial Palace.

A white-haired eunuch, upon hearing this news, suddenly stood up.

This person is the Deputy Grand Eunuch of the Inner Palace, that is, the subordinate of Eunuch Zhou, Eunuch Huang. In the palace, he also holds a lofty position, and Ying Rong has always paid tribute to him in hopes of protection.

"Quick, quick, quick, send a letter to Governor Liu! You must give us face!"

"No, Eunuch Zhou is also in Liangzhou, send a letter to him, send a letter to him!"

"Yes!"

At the same time.

Not only Eunuch Huang.

Many bigwigs in Jinghua also received this news immediately.

Prince Qin Xie Zhao, at this moment, also furrowed his brow.

"Your Highness, this Governor Liu, what does he want to do... This is not like a flood washing away the Dragon King Temple, where kin do not recognize kin, is it? Your Highness, the Wang family has always... this matter, you cannot ignore it!"

Prince Qin snorted coldly, threw the letter in his hand away, looked at that concubine, and said coldly: "Kin?"

"Who is kin?"

"Are your maternal relatives also considered kin?"

"Pah!"

"I tell you, Governor Liu is kin! Governor Liu sent a letter to me early on in this matter. I have also reminded you before, whoever thinks of your family, greed is not enough to swallow an elephant!"

"This matter need not be mentioned again!"

"Your Highness..."

Zhu Zhen slammed the table with a bang and rose angrily.

"Sir..."

"Sir, this Governor Liu is truly excessive!"

"This this this, is this not draining the pot from under the fire?"

A group of people cursed angrily beside them.

Zhu Zhen sighed deeply.

Draining the pot from under the fire?

So what?

Now they have the Emperor's support, so naturally they are fearless, taking down some collateral branches of the family. In Jinghua, what can he say?

Forget it, forget it.

Let him toss and turn.

"What did you say?"

Liu Zheng had just gotten up when Eunuch Zhou came running in a hurry, drenched in sweat, telling him a piece of news that left him dazed.

"The Zheng family?"

Ying Rong was interrogated overnight yesterday, and actually confessed on the spot that the Empress's Zheng family was also involved. Moreover, Ying Rong insisted that this matter must be personally supervised by Liu Dahao, Governor Liu! If this does not give the people of Liangzhou an explanation, the Liu father and son are deceiving the world and stealing fame!

It is very clear.

Ying Rong, outside prison, still has some remnants helping him.

This matter spread throughout Liangzhou City early in the morning.

And after sufficient buildup.

Many people have already gathered at the gate of Liangzhou Prefecture, angrily denouncing Liu Zheng for picking victims to devour, using the Anti-Corruption Law to eliminate dissidents, otherwise why would he only target the Empress's Zheng family and dare not pursue responsibility?

Unfair!

Hypocritical!

"Indeed so..."

Eunuch Zhou said with a bitter face: "Governor Liu, this matter must be handled with extreme caution, must be cautious! That, that is the Empress!"

Liu Zheng also furrowed his brow, sinking into thought.

He did not expect.

That old fox Ying Rong had left him such a trump card.

Now...

Indeed, it is a bit troublesome.