On the occasion of rebirth Zhou Sui

Chapter 74 Punishing Crime

Author: He Tiantian from Lotus Picking

Chapter 74 Punishing Crime

In the mid-autumn season of August, a year's hard work was about to reap the harvest. While the people of Bingzhou were immersed in the joy of the autumn harvest, Jin Wang Yang Guang left Jinyang in his car to visit wise men.

Logically speaking, as the chief historian, Cui Che should stay in the General Manager's Mansion to take charge of all matters. However, under Cui Che's recommendation, Yang Guang still went on the road with him. After all, how can a fish be out of water?

The No. 1 and No. 2 figures in the General Manager's Mansion were out of town, so all matters naturally fell on Yang Xuangan's head.

According to the articles of association, in the absence of a long history, it is Sima's duty to serve as the acting president and assist the general manager.

Cui Che accompanied Yang Guang and traveled to the three surnames in Hedong successively, inviting talents from them, and also recruited many talents from small gentry clans.

But those who can really take notice are either too young or far away from home.

Take the Pei family of Wenxi as an example. Pei Ji, who assisted Li Yuan in raising the army, was only nine years old. He had to wait until he was fourteen years old to take up the post of Lord of Bingzhou.

The Bingzhou Governor's Mansion did not support idle people, so nine-year-old Pei Ji was not included in the conquest.

As for the old boy Pei Yun, he is still working as an official in Nanchen, picking up people and planning to be an internal agent for Yang Jian, so that he can find a career in the future and look like a little Cui Che of Nanchen.

After wandering around for nearly two months, Cui Che heard one after another that when subordinate officials went to the countryside to collect taxes, many violent tax resistance incidents occurred, and more than a dozen lives were lost. However, in the end, all the taxes that should be paid were collected.

Already.

Presumably next year, there will be no more tax resistance incidents.

As long as the people at the bottom of ancient times had a mouthful of food to eat, their endurance was amazing.

This year's tax resistance is nothing more than disillusionment and failed hopes. The huge gap with reality is something they cannot accept for a while.

In early winter and October, after the first snow fell in the first year of Kaihuang's reign, General Manager Yang and Cui Changshi finally returned to their loyal Jinyang.

The previous bloody incident of tax resistance has long passed, and Jinyang has returned to its former peace. In front of the Governor's Mansion, Cui Che got off the carriage slightly behind Yang Guang.

As he approached the door, a stone was thrown at Cui Che and hit him.

The perpetrator was quickly picked out from the crowd of onlookers by the guards of the General Palace. She was just an eight or nine-year-old girl, the same girl who had given the fruit to Cui Che.

Yang Guang actually dared to attack the court ministers in broad daylight. Yang Guang intended to vent his anger on his confidants, but Cui Che persuaded him:

"She is just young and ignorant, please spare her this time."

After the suffering master begged for mercy, Yang Guang was too lazy to argue with a girl anymore. He waved to the guards and let the girl go.

Different from the bright smile she had two months ago, the girl looked at Cui Che with resentment in her eyes. Cui Che did not dare to stay outside the house any longer and went straight back to the government office with Yang Guang surrounded by him.

In the wing room, Cui Che called Zhao Wen and ordered:

"Go check the woman who threw the stone earlier."

Zhao Wen thought that Cui Che wanted to take revenge afterwards. After all, it was Zhao Wen who arranged to kill Cui Lu and his family in the first place. He knew best what the consequences would be if his master got angry.

After agreeing, Zhao Wen didn't dare to delay. In one afternoon, he had a thorough understanding of the girl's life background.

In the official bedroom, the light was dim. Cui Che was lying on the recliner that he asked the carpenter to make specially. He closed his eyes and rested, listening to Zhao Wen's reply:

"The woman's surname is Zhao. She has no name. Neighbors often call her Zhao Yatou. Her mother died of illness a few years ago and she has been living with her father. Some time ago, her father was beaten to death by tax collectors who went to the countryside to resist taxes. Now he is killed by his aunt.

Adopted by a family.”

"That's enough, don't say any more!"

Cui Che didn't want to hear about the suffering of the world anymore. In this tax conflict, he was like an ostrich in danger, burying his head in the sand. As soon as he closed his eyes, it was dark.

But Zhao Wen couldn't bear it after all, and he bravely persuaded:

"Young gentleman, why don't you let her go? The little girl doesn't understand anything, so why should you be serious with her?"

But Cui Che had no idea of ​​revenge at all. Wasn't he just hit with a stone? That's right!

"I never thought of harming her."

As he spoke, he took off a money bag from his waist and threw it to Zhao Wen, sighing:

"Give the money to her aunt and tell her to take good care of her. If she dares to sell her or force her into a marriage for money, I will not forgive her lightly!"

"Hey! Great!"

Zhao Wen put away his money bag, said goodbye and left with a smile on his face.

Cui Che was left alone in the bedroom, staring blankly at the candlelight. Even Miaorong was driven to Mu Xieli's room to rest tonight.

Cui Che had killed people before, and he stabbed his uncle Cui Lu to death with his own hands. He also sent someone to see them off for a family reunion.

He had no regrets about this. Cui Lu wanted to exchange his life for a better future. It was fair for Brother Che to use the lives of Cui Lu and his family to intimidate his slaves.

The girl's father was not killed by Cui Che, but he felt uneasy with his conscience.

They created households and divided fields for them. Those people thought of themselves as saviors, but in fact they pushed them into a pit of fire. The heavy corvee and miscellaneous taxes were enough to make them breathless.

Cui Che pondered again: Why am I working so hard?

Just to become an accomplice of the ruling class in oppressing the poor people?

Cui Che felt confused about his life goals. In the past, he was obsessed with the government and worked hard to climb up.

He also knew that with his close relationship with Yang Guang, it would not be difficult to become the Duke of the country in the future, but what about next.

Cui Che tortured his heart and fell into a chaotic sleep until late at night.

The next day, when he was on duty, Cui Che approached Yang Guang and suggested killing people in advance to anger the people.

In the original plan, the two of them were to wait until they left office before carrying out the murder, but Yang Guang also saw children throwing stones at Cui Che yesterday, and he had some estimate of the public's resentment, so he agreed immediately.

.

On October 17th, Jinyang received a heavy snowfall.

The open space outside the Governor's Mansion was crowded with people who came to watch the excitement. They formed a circle. In the circle were five subordinate officials from the Governor's Mansion. They had always committed many evil deeds, but now they were tied up and kneeling in the snow, unable to speak.

They were all blocked by cloth.

Cao Junjun, the chief minister of the palace, read out their crimes in public:

"His Royal Highness the King of Jin has clearly observed that this person is a cunning official, corrupt and extorting bribes, bullying the people, and causing harm to one party. If he is not killed, it will not be enough for the people to be angry and uphold justice."

Fa Cao joined the army to make their crimes public, but none of them involved taxation.

There are many excuses for killing, but this one cannot be used to convict someone, otherwise no one will dare to do things with their heart in the future.

Even in the eyes of their colleagues, these people died because the amount of embezzlement was too large, or their usual crimes were too serious.

As Fa Cao joined the army and ordered the execution, the five steel knives rose and fell, blood spattered, and the five evil officials under the butcher's knife no longer struggled.

The onlookers cheered in unison, all speaking highly of Jin Wang Yang Guang. Even Cui Changshi, Yang Sima and others were greatly praised.

Cui Che, who was hiding behind the door, couldn't stay any longer and hid his face and left.

(End of chapter)