Chapter 350: Aftermath of the Guo Huan Case

Zhu Biao turned around, walked back, sat down, looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Second brother, what do you think?"

Zhu Yong set down his teacup and said lightly, "Just handle it according to the Code."

Zhu Biao nodded and told the clerk, "Organize the testimony and present it to Imperial Father."

That night, Zhu Yuanzhang read the testimony in Qianqing Palace and, furious, smashed three teacups.

"Fine, Guo Huan, a few million shi of grain, and he still dares to be greedy! When we were begging for food in Fengyang, we couldn't even get a bowl of porridge all year, yet he greedily took hundreds of thousands of shi!"

Empress Ma urged from beside them, "Zhong Ba, don't let anger ruin your health."

Zhu Yuanzhang paced the hall hands behind his back, his face ashen, and said, "Biao Er, Yong Er, what do you think should be done with these people?"

Zhu Biao stood up and said softly, "Imperial Father, according to the Ming Code, anyone who embezzles more than sixty taels of gold is to be beheaded; Guo Huan stole several million shi, so his crime warrants execution."

"But too many officials are implicated; if we kill them all, the court and the world will be shaken, and the people will be panicked."

Zhu Yuanzhang glared and said, "What, you still want to plead for them?"

"The son is not pleading; I think there should be limits. Guo Huan, Li Yu, Zhao Quande—the principal culprits—should have the Nine Clans exterminated; the others who merely followed should be killed or exiled as appropriate, but the net need not be cast too wide."

Zhu Biao said calmly, without haste.

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at him in silence for a while, then looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Yong Er, what do you think?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "Elder brother is right; the principal offenders must be dealt with, the accomplices lightly. Those small fish and shrimp—whether we kill them or not makes no difference; exile them to Australia or the South Sea, they can add to the population there."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted, "You do have a plan. Fine, we'll do as you say: Guo Huan, Li Yu, Zhao Quande—exterminate their three families."

"The other implicated officials, according to the severity of their crimes, the guilty be killed, the rest exiled."

He paused, then added, "Seize their households; not a single copper coin may be left."

On the third day of the ninth month, Guo Huan, Li Yu, Zhao Quande and a dozen other principal culprits were escorted to the execution ground and beheaded for the public.

The execution ground was set outside Wu Men, and the onlookers formed several layers.

Zhu Yong rode his horse to the edge of the execution ground, watching the executioner hack away blade by blade, heads falling, blood gushing.

When Guo Huan was cut down, he kept shouting, "I'm innocent..."

No one paid him any attention.

Zhu Yong watched the scene expressionlessly, his heart unmoved.

Corrupt officials deserve death; it has always been so. Moreover, Guo Huan stole several million shi of grain—enough to feed hundreds of thousands for a year—killing him a hundred times would not be excessive.

Outside Wu Men, heads fell, and blood dyed the execution ground red.

Among the crowd, some shouted approval, others whispered.

"Well done, these corrupt officials should be torn to pieces!"

"Exactly, several million shi of grain—how many years can we eat?"

"I heard there are many more to be killed; this time we may kill a lot."

"If we kill, we kill; if we don't kill the corrupt officials, we keep them for the New Year?"

Zhu Yong listened to the chatter, turned his horse, and headed toward the Imperial City.

Behind him, the executioner kept working.

At the side of the execution ground, Zhu Gang and Zhu Di were also watching.

Zhu Gang, after watching, clicked his tongue twice and said, "Good boy, with this slash the several million shi of grain are gone; had we known, it would have been better not to be greedy in the first place."

Zhu Di glanced at him and said, "Third brother, what are you saying? If you were greedy, you should be killed; what else is there to discuss?"

Zhu Gang replied sheepishly, "I was just expressing a sentiment; I'm not saying corrupt officials shouldn't be killed."

Zhu Di said nothing more, turned and left.

After returning from the execution ground, Zhu Yong went to Wenhua Hall.

Zhu Biao was still handling the aftermath of the Guo Huan case.

The case file was piled with stacks of documents, all lists of implicated officials and their crimes.

Seeing Zhu Yong enter, Zhu Biao looked up and said, "Is it over?"

Zhu Yong nodded, "It's over; many onlookers said it was well done."

Zhu Biao gave a wry smile, "Well-executed, but this case involves too many people; even seizing their households would keep us busy for a while."

Zhu Yong sat down, picked up a list and looked at it; it was densely filled with dozens of names—some from the Ministry of Revenue, some from Beiping Prefecture, and several local prefects and county magistrates.

"These are all involved?" he asked.

Zhu Biao nodded, "These are the names Guo Huan gave; some truly were greedy, some were implicated, and we must investigate each one individually."

Zhu Yong set the list down and said, "Elder brother, we've investigated enough up to this point; if we go further, the number of implicated people will only increase, and we won't be able to contain it."

Zhu Biao glanced at him, "You think the same?"

"Yes, Guo Huan is dead, the principal offender has been executed; the other small fish and shrimp—those who deserve punishment get punished, those who deserve beating get beaten; there's no need to eradicate them completely."

Zhu Biao was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Fine, I'll tell Imperial Father."

After the Guo Huan case concluded, Zhu Yong rested in the residence for a few days.

That morning, he was sitting in the courtyard drinking tea, watching Zhu Qiongjiong lift a stone lock in the courtyard.

The nine‑year‑old child lifted a 120‑jin stone lock, his face unflushed and breathing steady, more relaxed than an adult.

Zhu Huanhuan sat on the balcony reading, occasionally looking up at his younger brother with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Zhu Yong looked at his son, suddenly remembered something and said, "Qiong Jiong, come here."

Zhu Qiongjiong set down the stone lock and ran over, "Father, what's up?"

"How's your studies lately?"

Zhu Qiongjiong scratched his head, "It's okay; the teacher said my handwriting is poor."

"Then you must practice properly; don't spend all day just playing."

"I wasn't playing; I was practicing martial arts, Father. Didn't you say a true man must be proficient in both literature and martial arts? My martial skills are ready; it's not too late to practice calligraphy." Zhu Qiongjiong puffed out his small chest and said.

Zhu Yong chuckled, "You really know how to argue cleverly."

Zhu Huanhuan whispered beside him, "Father, his studies have indeed improved lately, and the teacher even praised him twice."

Zhu Yong glanced at his daughter, nodded, and said, "Fine, then keep an eye on him and don't let him slack off."

Zhu Huanhuan responded.

Zhu Yong stood up and walked out.

Zhu Qiong Jiong called from behind, "Father, where are you going?"

"Into the palace, to see your imperial grandfather."

"I'll go too!"

"What are you going for? Have you finished your studies?"

Zhu Qiong Jiong pursed his lips and fell silent.

Zhu Yong smiled and strode out.

In Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was reading a pamphlet.

Seeing Zhu Yong enter, he set the pamphlet down, pointed to the chair beside him and said, "Sit."

Zhu Yong sat down and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang.

In the eighteenth year of the Hongwu era, father was already fifty‑six.

His hair had turned quite white, the wrinkles on his face deepened, but his spirit remained fine, and his eyes were still sharp.

"Guo Huan's case was handled well; Biao Er said you advocated punishing only the chief evildoer without dragging too many others, and after thinking it over, you were right," Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Zhu Yong replied, "Father, killing too many people isn't a solution; corrupt officials can't all be eliminated."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him and said, "You really see through it."

"It's not that I see through it; I think that relying solely on killing can't solve the problem—we must make people fear greed, so they won't be greedy," Zhu Yong paused and said.

Zhu Yuanzhang, now interested, said, "Tell me."

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "First, the system: accounts must be clear and mutually supervised. Second, salaries: officials' pay must be enough to support a family; if salaries are too low, an honest man would starve, and who would still want to be an official."

"Third, oversight: there must be someone watching; once a problem is found, it should be investigated immediately."

Zhu Yuanzhang listened, was silent for a while, then said, "You are right; relying only on killing indeed cannot solve the problem. We'll discuss this later with Biao Er."

Zhu Yong nodded.

Zhu Yuanzhang added, "Yong Er, how long do you plan to stay this time?"

Zhu Yong thought and said, "Tie Mu Er's residence has just stabilized; I need to go back and see, but it's not urgent—I'll stay a few more months."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Alright, stay longer; your mother misses you."

Zhu Yong smiled, "I also want to spend more time with mother."

Leaving Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yong headed toward Kunning Palace.

Halfway there, he saw Empress Ma standing at the doorway, looking outward.

"Mother," Zhu Yong strode over.

Empress Ma took his hand and said, "You're here, come quickly; mother has made some tasty food for you, and you can take it to the fief so you won't eat poorly there."

Zhu Yong laughed and replied, "The food is quite good; the dishes over there are different from ours, at first I couldn't get used to them, but later I adapted."

Empress Ma led him inside, saying, "I've simmered some soup for you; drink more of it."

Zhu Yong followed his mother inside, feeling warm in his heart.

No matter how far he went or how old he became, in his mother's eyes he would always be the child needing care.

Inside Kunning Palace, Empress Ma had someone bring the soup, and she sat beside him watching Zhu Yong drink.

"Yong Er, I heard you put great effort into Guo Huan's case?"

Zhu Yong set down his bowl and replied, "It was led by my elder brother; I just helped catch people."

Empress Ma nodded and said, "Your elder brother has been exhausted these days, spending all day in Wenhua Hall reading pamphlets, sometimes not even having time for meals; the Cabinet still lacks people."

"You should advise him to take care of his health."

Zhu Yong responded with a nod.

Empress Ma added, "And you, don't keep running around outside; when it's time to rest, you must rest."

Zhu Yong smiled, "Mother, I'm fine; you needn't worry."

Empress Ma looked at him, her eyes slightly red, and said, "How can I not worry? You've been away for two years and haven't even written a sealed letter."

Zhu Yong felt his heart soften, grasped his mother's hand and said, "Mother, I'll write letters often from now on."

Empress Ma nodded and wiped the corner of her eye.

Leaving Kunning Palace, it was already afternoon.

Zhu Yong walked along the palace corridor, his steps neither hurried nor slow.

The setting sun sank in the west, dyeing the whole Imperial City golden.

In the distance, the roof of Fengtian Hall glimmered in the sunset.

The autumn of the eighteenth year of the Hongwu era was about to end.