This scene seems familiar.

Back then, Zhao Huan thoroughly investigated the case of grain and fodder embezzlement, arrested Tang Weilin, the prefect of Jiangling Prefecture, and implicated more than a thousand officials.

Zhao Huan beheaded all of those more than a thousand officials.

Back then, it was also in the imperial prison that Tang Weilin was imprisoned here, where he handed over the list.

Zhao Huan frowned slightly as he looked at the list in his hand, then handed it to Xie Dahai: "Give it to Liu Yanzong and have him handle it!"

"yes!"

"Your Majesty, I have said all I needed to say," Su Yuanqing said. "I did it all for Your Majesty's sake, for the sake of your empire!"

"In that case, I should thank you!"

"Your Majesty, please heed my words, this matter is beneficial to the Song Dynasty!"

Zhao Huan said no more and turned to leave.

He kept thinking about how those officials used their power to amass enormous wealth.

When wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, it means that ordinary people have no money, most people live in hardship, and society will experience turmoil and hidden dangers.

A few people control core resources, creating a gap in the middle layer, just like Russia in later generations.

What's even more frightening is that these few beneficiaries, just like the powerful families and landlords of the past, will eventually become so powerful that they will hijack the central government.

Su Yuanqing's list included more than sixty officials of the fifth rank or above, which was a huge sum of money.

If this matter is not dealt with seriously, in the near future, more officials will inevitably use their power to monopolize resources and exploit the wealth of the imperial court and local governments.

The following day, a list from the Inspectorate shocked the power center of Tokyo.

Officials of all ranks in the capital changed their tune upon hearing the news.

The list of officials in Liu Yanzong's memorial involved 72 people, 68 of whom were local officials and 4 were officials from the capital.

Their grades are all above the fifth rank.

This incident put all officials, big and small, on high alert throughout Tokyo.

After the morning court session, the State Affairs Hall, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, the Censorate, and the Censorate began to cross-examine the list.

At noon, the Political Affairs Hall signed the impeachment document.

All seventy-two officials were dismissed from their posts, and the Censorate subsequently announced their crimes to the world.

Just as the fighting on Guangnan East Road was drawing to a close, news of this came from Tokyo City, shocking everyone.

July of the eleventh year of the Jingkang era was a sweltering month.

A pall of gloom hung over Tokyo, and not only officials but also businessmen were filled with anxiety and unable to sleep at night.

After the Liao territory beyond the Great Wall was brought under the control of the Song Dynasty, the merchants were overjoyed and were planning how to extend their reach there to make money.

But now the imperial court is going to strictly investigate the registration and controlling stakes of all commercial companies.

Boom boom boom...

Lightning flashed and thunder roared as torrential rain enveloped the bustling city of Tokyo.

Pedestrians rushed to avoid the rain.

A large group of people had just entered the south gate. Among them were men, women, and children, all dressed in prison clothes, their hands shackled, and their eyes vacant.

They were none other than members of the Chen family, once the wealthiest family on Guangnan East Road.

Six months ago, they were all living a life of luxury.

Now they are prisoners, and death awaits them.

The execution of nine generations of a family is not just a matter of cutting someone's neck; according to strict procedures, it involves chopping them into mincemeat.

Although there was no one on the street, the arrival of these people stirred up countless emotions.

The wealthy people in the mansions of those rich businessmen gazed at the heavy rain with mixed feelings.

Since assuming the throne, the current emperor has killed many people and has made numerous pronouncements in court about the extermination of nine generations of a family.

But they never actually executed the entire family.

This time it's for real!

Treason, privately keeping warriors, and colluding with officials.

Each crime is a capital offense, and together they would be punished with the extermination of nine generations of one's family!

He was the wealthiest businessman on Guangnan East Road.

This is undoubtedly a warning to businessmen worldwide!

This matter was handled at the same time as the Su Yuanqing case. The court was willing to cause turmoil in the implementation of the new policies in order to kill the culprit, which shows the determination of the current emperor.

It rained heavily for three consecutive days in Tokyo, causing the Bian River to rise and the willow trees along the riverbank to bend under the weight.

Outside the Five Dynasties Gate, the rainwater on the ground turned red.

The entire Chen family, spanning nine generations and more than a thousand people, was beheaded outside the Five Dynasties Gate.

The torrential rain pounded the ground, splashing blood everywhere.

From a distance, the ground appeared to be covered with a layer of red mist.

Two weeks later, the Censorate submitted another list to the Emperor.

This list includes as many as 300 officials implicated in abusing their power for personal gain.

These 300-plus people were all implementers of the new laws during the ten years of the Jingkang era.

For a moment, the entire court was deathly silent.

Even after the heavy rain, the sky remained thick with clouds, making it hard to breathe.

Some ministers originally wanted to see the emperor, hoping that he would handle the matter in a gentle manner.

After all, killing so many officials at once could easily create administrative vacancies and lead to chaos in local administration.

But these 300-plus people were all involved with local private armed forces.

Some directly raised a group of assassins, while others colluded with notorious local gangs.

Each of them possesses enormous wealth, as well as the blood of countless people.

For example, Shen Wanqing, the prefect of Yangzhou, had a false identity called Zhang Xiaogui. When the Ministry of Commerce investigated, it was found that he used to be a craftsman in a workshop.

During the ten years of the Jingkang era's reforms, he made a lot of money in business.

But in the end, the investigation led back to Shen Wanqing.

This man contracted the construction of highways in Yangzhou in the fifth year of the Jingkang era, and has not paid more than 3,000 workers.

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!