nashuaworldcup Chapter 207 Punishing Corrupt Officials
Chapter 207 Punishing Corrupt Officials
Wei Zhong didn't want to listen to his continued nonsense, so he quickly went up to the city wall to report the situation.
The emperor didn't care at all. It didn't matter if he didn't report it. At least the man had some self-awareness.
If things get out of hand, he'll be courting death.
He couldn't let his son lose face because of such a small matter. If his son lost the support of the people, how could he inherit the throne in the future?
So, after that person made a big fuss, he had no choice but to die.
Chu Zhongyuan stood aside and when he learned that Su Qingyu had left, a scornful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
Presumably, Lu Ziqian saw that the plan failed and was afraid that Su Qingyu would be retaliated against, so he hid the person.
But it's useful to hide it. If he misses today, he will have no chance to file a complaint with the emperor in the future.
He would also send people to guard the Dengwen Drum. If anyone beat the drum, they would be caught on the spot, otherwise they would be walking into a trap.
Haha, Mr. Lu is still too naive.
If you dare to go against him, he will take away his most precious thing.
The man's eyes couldn't help but look towards the east of the city, where there was a unique "treasure".
Suddenly, the imperial guards arrived on horseback at the city wall and reported that a large triumphant army had appeared ten miles ahead.
This exciting moment has finally arrived, with flags waving and people cheering.
The people on the city wall were the first to see the long procession of the triumphal army, after all, they could see farther from where they were standing high.
Soon, even the people who were welcoming them at the foot of the city wall saw the spectacular procession.
Just as the triumphant army was about to reach the city gate, a group of people in tattered clothes and disheveled faces suddenly rushed out.
This sudden change frightened all the guards and caused them to come out. As a result, the people did not move forward, but knelt down and kowtowed, asking for help.
The emperor frowned slightly. What happened next? Why were there so many troubles today?
He subconsciously glanced at Chu Zhongyuan, and seeing that he was frowning, his heart skipped a beat. Was it related to this bastard again?
Could it be that he had robbed the daughters of these people?
He is a prince and he can have any woman he wants. Why does he like to do such despicable things as occupying other people's wives and raping women?
Wang Liyang, who was next to Chu Zhongyuan, was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. His intuition told him that this group of people was related to the issue of military rations.
"I beg the Emperor to help me and punish the corrupt officials."
"Please, His Majesty, punish the corrupt officials!"
"Your Majesty, please help the innocent people."
"I beg the Emperor to make the decision for all the soldiers."
These people are all elderly widows whose sons have died and who have no other relatives.
They are alone and are not afraid of bringing trouble to their children and grandchildren. They are not afraid of death as long as they can get justice for their dead son.
Therefore, they shouted loudly, with all their might and with full of anger, drowning out the loud shouts and deafening drums.
When the emperor heard the word "corrupt official", he had to take it seriously. He hated corrupt officials the most in his life.
Moreover, this matter has been exposed in public. If he does nothing about it, how will the people view it?
Who would support an emperor who is unwilling to stand up for the people?
"Wei Zhong, go down and ask what's going on?"
"Yes."
Wei Zhong came jogging over. He felt that this was the same thing that the young man who had just beaten the drum was going to accuse.
"Please, sir, help me."
"My son is a soldier. If he died on the battlefield, I would accept it. That's a sacrifice for the country, that's dedication, that's glory."
"But my son died from this moldy, rotten rice."
"This is a letter sent back by my son, with a few grains of military rations enclosed in it."
"Look, sir. Soldiers fight for their country, yet they eat this kind of food."
"My son died in such a miserable way... My son was only sixteen years old... Wuuuu..." The old man cried and spoke, looking so pitiful that the people around him also cried.
Wei Zhong looked at the moldy green rice in the old man's hand and frowned. The rice was too moldy. Even the burial grain dug out from the ground decades ago would not have this much mold.
Seeing this, others also handed over their letters.
"Sir, this is a petition I have asked someone to write. Please give it to the Emperor and make a decision for me."
"If even the emperor is unwilling to make decisions for the people, then we ordinary people will really have no way to survive."
"Please ask the emperor to make the decision."
"Please ask the emperor to make the decision."
A group of old men and women kowtowed desperately, their foreheads touching the hard and rough bluestone slabs on the official road, and they started bleeding after a few hits.
Wei Zhong felt distressed when he saw this: "Old man, please don't kowtow yet. The emperor will definitely make the decision for you."
"You must stay alive and see how the emperor punishes corrupt officials."
After Wei Zhong finished speaking, he hurried up to the city wall with the letters and petitions.
When Chen Zhou saw people in front of him filing a complaint, he deliberately quickened his pace to reach the city gate.
Eighty percent of the soldiers and generals behind him were poisoned by the moldy military rations. He couldn't make the decision for them, so he let them make the decision for themselves.
They may not dare to speak out alone, but now someone has taken the lead. As long as one person in the army stands up, others will follow.
When the time comes and the law does not punish everyone, the emperor will definitely seek justice for them.
Sure enough, one of the soldiers saw someone standing up for them, and he also knew one of the old men.
He and Wang Daniu are from the same village. They grew up together and were as close as brothers. Later, they were both conscripted into the army.
They also thought about serving the country and fighting bravely, but Wang Daniu died of illness after eating moldy rice before he even went to the battlefield.
Wang Daniu is Old Man Wang's late son. He was also a premature baby and has been weak since childhood.
Old Man Wang was supposed to go to the conscription this time. Although he was old, he happened to be at the maximum age for conscription, so he was also on the conscription list.
Wang Daniu joined the army in his father's place because he felt sorry for him, but ended up losing his life because of a bowl of moldy rice.
Now that the Wang family has no descendants, Old Man Wang is determined to seek justice for his son at the risk of his life.
He couldn't bear to see Old Man Wang isolated and helpless, so after hesitating for a moment, he stood up, knelt down with him, and shouted for justice.
Other soldiers who suffered greatly also knelt down.
They were all men of blood, and those who died were their brothers who had shared life and death with them.
If they do not speak up for their brothers who died unjustly now, no one will speak up for them when they are persecuted in the future.
The emperor stood on the high platform, his face turning ashen as he watched more than half of the soldiers kneel down.
Wang Liyang was already trembling with fear, but at the same time he was glad that his children and grandchildren had made plans in advance.
At this moment, his confidant appeared with injuries and whispered in his ear.
He was so frightened by his confidant's words that he could not even stand. His list was snatched away and his family members were detained.
Wang Liyang glanced at the prince and met his meaningful smile, which was still gentle and polite, but frightened him to the point of breaking out in a cold sweat.
"The other party...did the other party leave any words?"
"They said whether the young masters and young ladies can escape alive depends on what you do!"