How can one cultivate immortality without learning modern knowledge?

Chapter 72 The Minister of Works Steps Forward to Protect

Lin Xiangdao was also furious: "Lord He, matters involving the execution of nine generations of a person at the drop of a hat cannot be based on mere rumors or hearsay. A verifiable case must be established before any decision can be made! As a third-rank official, do you know that the laws of the court cannot be disregarded for personal reasons?"

Now, both of them are accusing the other of having ulterior motives.

Prime Minister Du Tiangang frowned deeply, about to speak, when suddenly, his official seal vibrated slightly.

He took out his official seal, and a memorial from Lingnan appeared on it, sent from the Wenyilou in Haizhou.

In the Lingnan region, literature and art were not flourishing, and letters could not be transmitted through official channels or official seals. They could only be sent from the Haizhou post station. Memorials sent by local officials were sent directly to the Secretariat. Under the jurisdiction of the prime minister, the Secretariat could retrieve memorials sent to the Secretariat at any time through official seals thanks to the power of literature and art. This was the "paperless office" of this era.

"Your Majesty, this is Zhou Liangsheng's memorial!" Du Tiangang bowed slightly.

"Report this!" His Majesty was actually full of doubts at this moment.

Lin Xiangdao, the Minister of Works, raised suspicions among everyone in the palace, including His Majesty, who was also eager to know what was going on.

The memorial from the magistrate of Qishan County was undoubtedly the best way to dispel this doubt.

As Du Tiangang raised his official seal, a memorial appeared in the air above the main hall.

"Your Majesty, I, Zhou Liangsheng, the magistrate of Qishan County, Lingnan Prefecture, shamefully report: On the evening of the eighth day of the tenth month, a peasant uprising broke out in the Hexi Valley within my jurisdiction. More than 300 people, armed with firearms, stormed the seven manors of the local wealthy He family in one night, killing nearly a thousand of their servants, burning more than 700 houses, and stealing a huge sum of 200,000 taels of silver. On the same night, another 400 villagers, also armed with firearms, stormed the local sect, Cangshan Sect, killing the sect leader, Li Yuancang, and nearly a thousand of his subordinate cultivators. Furthermore, on the night of the ninth day, they attacked merchants in the county town with guns, looting more than 300 shops belonging to the He and Li families."

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

The shocking and unbelievable case was confirmed by a memorial submitted by the local county magistrate.

This major case really did happen.

Moreover, it is even more serious than what the two vice ministers described.

At least, this adds the two incidents that the vice ministers hadn't mentioned: the armed attack on merchants in the county town that occurred just last night.

He Fang and Li Zhong stared at the newly emerged news, their eyes blazing with anger.

The merchants in Qishan County belong to their family!

This was also the source of their wealth, which sustained their luxurious lifestyle in Luoyang, and it was looted by those rioters—

In an instant, their brains were flooded with blood—

"Your Majesty!" He Fang suddenly knelt down: "Zhou Liangsheng has confessed everything, and the truth of this case is beyond doubt. Please punish him severely!"

His voice was extremely deep and powerful.

"Your Majesty!" Li Zhongze also knelt down: "Zhou Liangsheng has already admitted that it was because his son, Zhou Wenju, privately manufactured weapons and incited the villagers that his crime is unforgivable!"

The two men's accusations were forceful and confident.

Because of their accusations, the Minister of Works, Lin Xiangdao, questioned their veracity, causing everyone in the hall to doubt their authenticity. Now, Zhou Liangsheng's memorial declares that their accusations are entirely true.

They have more confidence now.

However, Lin Xiangdao, standing nearby, shifted his gaze coldly and asked, "Both of you, Vice Ministers, do you both agree with Zhou Liangsheng's report?"

"Zhou Liangsheng is the magistrate of the county where the crime occurred. Doesn't the Minister acknowledge his report?" He Fang suddenly looked up.

"Since both of you acknowledge this!" Lin Xiangdao said in a deep voice, "then please explain why the He family can own seven manors in this remote and impoverished area of ​​Lingnan? Why do they have over seven hundred houses and two hundred thousand taels of silver? Qishan is merely the most remote county town, with probably only four or five hundred shops in the entire county. How come your He and Li families can occupy over three hundred of them?"

He Fang and Li Zhongze were stunned.

Just now, they were focused on clearing themselves of suspicion of "false accusations before the emperor," and once the evidence was confirmed, they immediately felt much more confident.

Unexpectedly, Lin Xiangdao immediately grasped some of the figures in the memorial.

And so she presented it to His Majesty with such fresh and lovely eyes.

Things suddenly became inexplicable.

A third-rank official's annual salary was no more than eight hundred taels of silver.

Your hometown is Qishan County, the poorest county in Lingnan. In the past, he would tell people that his close relatives lived a poor life by tending a few acres of land, and everyone believed him because Qishan County was at the bottom of the official hierarchy, so no matter how poor it was, everyone could accept it.

However, a major case was reported to His Majesty.

The numbers inside are truly shocking.

Seven manors, seven hundred rooms, and two hundred thousand taels of silver.

In one of the poorest counties, your two families actually own more than 300 shops?

They were seasoned officials, and their first thought was that they had been fooled by Zhou Liangsheng's apparent simplicity. This memorial from Zhou Liangsheng was not a plea for forgiveness, but clearly an impeachment!

He Fang's mind raced: "The things listed in Zhou Liangsheng's memorial are completely fictitious. He is deliberately making things up, and his intentions are despicable."

"Exactly!" Li Zhongze said, "Your Majesty, do not be deceived by this wicked minister. This villain will stop at nothing to escape punishment. Just focus on one point: the crime itself is true, and the entire Zhou family should be executed along with their nine generations!"

Lin Xiangdao stepped forward: "My lords, do not forget that you are now in the Golden Hall, facing His Majesty! The truth will eventually be revealed! If it is found that your two families do indeed own more than seven hundred mansions, hundreds of shops, and a staggering two hundred thousand taels of silver, as stated in your memorials, then you have committed the heinous crime of deceiving the Emperor! And I can roughly imagine why a peasant uprising occurred in Qishan County!"

The next sentence he uttered was filled with an incomparably chilling and righteous air.

He didn't say it explicitly, but everyone present was shrewd and capable.

They all understood the meaning behind his words.

His point was: Since ancient times, oppression by officials has led to popular rebellion! The He and Li families have exploited the people, oppressed the villagers, and seized the county's wealth. The people had no way to survive, which led to the popular uprising.

He Fang was furious: "Minister, I respect you as my superior and dare not speak ill of you, but how dare you make arbitrary accusations?"

Is this a baseless accusation?

"Whether it's conjecture or slander, an investigation will tell!" Lin Xiangdao turned around abruptly: "Your Majesty! I request permission to personally go to Qishan to investigate this matter thoroughly!"

The entire hall fell silent, as quiet as night.

The tragedy that occurred in the remote Qishan was reported to the imperial court by two vice ministers, causing a great uproar and immediately igniting the most sensitive and untouchable string for court officials.

The memorial submitted by the magistrate of Qishan County, who was a witness to the event, confirms the facts.

But these few numbers on the memorial also triggered new variables—

The Minister of Works, a high-ranking official of the second rank, was locked in a fierce confrontation with two vice ministers of the third rank in the palace. In the end, the Minister of Works actually requested permission to personally enter the fray!

Prime Minister Du Tiangang stepped forward and faced the Emperor: "Your Majesty, this old minister believes that this matter is of utmost importance and indeed needs to be thoroughly investigated. I request Your Majesty to appoint the Ministry of Justice to go to Qishan in Lingnan to investigate the case and then make a decision."

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