Chapter 126 Embezzlement Are these people merely embezzlers?
Jinzhou, the prefectural capital.
Half of the core personnel of the administrative office went out to fight, while Cheng Hui and others who remained behind worked diligently and responsibly, handling all matters in an orderly manner so as to provide timely support to the front lines.
Farmers plant, tend, and harvest the land according to the agricultural season.
One group of workers in the workshops worked overtime to produce weapons, chariots, armor, and other items, while another group of workers produced and manufactured goods for sale in various places.
The people in charge of planting take care of the fruit trees in the orchard day after day.
The person in charge of the breeding supplies eggs, milk, and meat irregularly.
The doctors at the clinic were planting medicinal herbs and preparing medicines at the same time.
...
Everyone is diligently and earnestly doing what they can.
However, at this moment, news came from Hekou County in Ulan County, which stunned everyone in the administrative office.
"corruption???"
Zhou Xinglu could hardly believe her ears. Her face was full of disbelief as she said to Cheng Hui, "The goddess hasn't unified the world yet!"
We're only a state now. The goddess has just led her people out to conquer the world, and someone is already embezzling and misappropriating the goddess's money!
Cheng Hui displayed the composure of a seasoned elder, calmly telling Zhou Xinglu, "Don't underestimate human nature, and don't judge others by your own standards."
Not everyone has foresight.
Zhou Xinglu covered her head with her hands and said in shame, "I'm too embarrassed to tell the goddess!"
He Suying from the secretariat calmly said, "We need to handle this matter properly."
Zhou Xinglu rallied, “That’s right, we must handle this severely, we must handle it with great urgency!”
Zhao Yong asked, "Who embezzled the money, and how much did they embezzle?"
Cheng Hui looked at the letter in his hand. "The main person involved is the magistrate of Hekou County Administrative Office. There are more than a dozen people from the Administrative Office involved in the case, as well as people from Wulan County Administrative Office who cooperated. The amount embezzled is initially estimated to be tens of thousands of taels."
The exact list and number of people will only be known after the investigation.
Gu Shanxing covered his face, "To be honest, I also feel ashamed."
It's only been a few years, and such a major corruption case has already been exposed. How can this be worthy of the goddess? How can this be worthy of everyone who is currently fighting in Shengzhou and the southwest?
Zhao Yong sighed, "Tens of thousands of taels."
Minister Yun and Minister Song worked hard to make money for Jinzhou, but it only enriched the pockets of some scoundrels.
He Suying suddenly thought of something and asked Cheng Hui, "Old Cheng, are these people just embezzling?"
Cheng Hui fell silent.
Everyone was shocked: They actually did something else?
Pei Wenzhao understood, and he said with a sneer, "Where there are corrupt officials, there are bound to be oppressed people."
Cheng Hui nodded, "Yes."
Zhou Xinglu was startled. She asked cautiously, "No one got killed, right?"
Cheng Hui's expression was serious. "There's no such information in the current news."
Zhou Xinglu raised her hand to her chest: Help! You bunch of beasts, don't you dare cause a murder!
Qian Shiwen said calmly, “Send an investigation team to Wulan County to find out the truth. At that time, in accordance with the ‘Jinzhou Law,’ those who should be executed will be executed, those who should be sealed off will be sealed off, and those who should be imprisoned will be imprisoned.” He was determined to make this corruption case a typical example to warn others.
Pei Wenzhao said, "Let the city guards go together, lest..." He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.
Zhou Xinglu volunteered, saying, "I'll be the head of this investigation team, and I'll leave the Ministry of Justice's matters to Shi Xinyu."
She gritted her teeth: I'm going to investigate this myself! I will never let these bastards get away with this!
He Suying asked, "Is there a problem with the prefect of Wulan County?"
Cheng Hui said, "Not at the moment, but the extent of his involvement in this matter still depends on the investigation."
Gu Shanxing sighed again, "There might be a problem, otherwise the whistleblower letter would be in his hands instead of being handed to Old Master Cheng."
Qian Shiwen shook his head in disappointment.
Looking at his serious-looking colleagues, Wu Xiaoshan suddenly smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. Throughout history, there have been many people who couldn't resist the temptation of money."
Being able to endure hardship together doesn't mean you can enjoy happiness together. Being able to struggle together doesn't mean you won't betray someone for wealth and status.
He said, "We'll just follow the law and not worry the goddess and the others."
After the ministers finished their meeting, they agreed to discuss and decide on the list of members for the investigation team with everyone in the Executive Council at the morning meeting the next day.
He Suying wrote a letter to He Qinglan, reporting the matter and explaining their proposed solution.
He Qinglan, who was far away in Shengzhou, received two letters in succession.
One letter reported on the embezzlement case, and the other reported on the list of members of the investigation team.
After reading it, she gave the letter to Yun Youning and Fang Wangshu.
The two leaned close together and quickly finished reading the letter.
There are definitely more fools than idiots in this world.
He Qinglan didn't have any particular thoughts. It was already quite touching that this case could be considered a typical major corruption case, and that it had only happened once every few years (the previous corruption cases in Jinzhou were not considered major cases).
If she were to be moved by something so trivial, all the worlds she has traveled would have been for nothing.
Fang Wangshu raised her eyes, hesitating, "Goddess..."
He Qinglan waved her hand, "Let Cheng Hui and the others handle it. The Ministry of Justice knows what to do."
She doesn't need to worry about such a small thing. A leader should know how to delegate and not always do everything herself.
Fang Wangshu breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, I'll reply to them."
Looking at the goddess's calm face no matter what happened, Yun Youning suddenly realized that the goddess had probably experienced too much and had become used to it.
She let out a sigh of relief. "Will there be more of this kind of thing in the future?"
He Qinglan glanced at Yun Youning and said, "Even in a modern world where food and clothing are plentiful, even in an interstellar world where any disease can be cured, even in a world of immortal cultivation where one can live forever, as long as there is a struggle for interests, there will always be people who are greedy."
Yun Youning's eyes widened. "Eh? Even immortals can do that?"
She couldn't imagine what immortals would still need to fight for, since they were already immortals.
A hint of sarcasm flashed in He Qinglan's eyes. "Yes, even gods do it. The only ones who can resist the urge to fight for so-called benefits are probably robots that haven't developed self-awareness."
Yun Youning: "..."
The matter was thus left unresolved with the goddess.
He Qinglan and others were stationed in Huai'an County, Shengzhou, while Ning Huai'an, Zhu Youchuan and others were at the front line preparing to encircle Lu Wei's army.
A great battle is about to break out.
In Jinzhou, Zhou Xinglu, as the head of the investigation team, and Fang Qin, as the deputy head, led the group (along with guards dispatched by the city's defense force) straight to Wulan County.
Fang Qin looked at the indignant Zhou Xinglu and sighed with emotion. Young people are full of energy. He would get used to it after doing it a lot.
Zhou Xinglu clenched her right fist and punched it into her left palm. "Uncle Fang, if we just go there like this, what if the people in Hekou County get the news early and destroy the evidence?"
Fang Qin was taken aback, then nodded, "If it were me, I would probably do the same."
Once the necessary steps are taken, what can they do next?
The members of the investigation team traveling in the same car couldn't help but worry, "Minister Zhou, what is your suggestion?"
Zhou Xinglu raised her right index finger and shook it. "It's written in the book, isn't it? Our team will continue towards the river mouth at normal speed, while another team will rush there as fast as possible to conduct a private investigation, collect evidence, and protect witnesses."
Member A suddenly realized, "That's right, we can split into two groups."
Member B volunteered, "Then I'll go."
Member C was somewhat worried, "If it's just us going there, and our identities are exposed, we might be..." He swung his right hand across his neck.
Zhou Xinglu understood his meaning and said, "Find someone to impersonate me, and I'll sneak over with a group of people. Uncle Fang will take charge here."
Member Ding exclaimed urgently, "Minister Zhou!"
Zhou Xinglu snapped her fingers, full of confidence, "It's okay, I'll protect myself."
Even if I get killed, I'm not afraid.
As the first major corruption case under the goddess's rule, if she, the head of the investigation team, were killed, the goddess would surely be enraged and kill a group of people to accompany her in death.
Who knows, it might even be recorded in history books in the future.
It's not a loss, it's not a loss.
Southwest China.
Danjiang County.
The prefect stared expressionlessly at the large family enjoying the meal bestowed upon them by the goddess of Jinzhou.
His wife gracefully took a sip of the fish soup and asked him, "Aren't you going to eat?"
His little grandson sat in his daughter-in-law's lap, happily gnawing on a chicken leg.
His elderly father was eating steamed pumpkin and, unusually, ate an extra half bowl of rice.
...
Prefect: "..."
He was filled with despair. Even his family couldn't resist the food He Qinglan offered. Most of the people in Danjiang County usually went hungry, so how could they resist such a temptation?
He Qinglan fed them for three days, and then told them that because the prefect refused to cooperate, she had to reluctantly stop feeding them.
The enraged people will definitely storm his prefectural government with hoes and sickles!
After the old father had eaten and drunk his fill, he wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and said to the prefect, "Son, you are not a purely evil person, so don't make things difficult for yourself."
The prefect's face was full of worry, "But..."
The old father said, "If He Qinglan could truly provide an endless supply of food, the world would eventually be hers. You're just being pragmatic. As long as you don't make any mistakes, you'll be a founding hero in the future, and you'll certainly receive a share of the rewards."
The prefect still hesitated, "But what if she loses..."
The old father smiled kindly, "If you refuse today, you won't live to see her fail."
Prefect: "!"
The old father truly lives up to his name; his words hit the nail on the head.
The prefect looked at his family members—his parents, wife, children, and grandchildren—all of whom had their lives tied to his.
"Will he agree?" Hu Dazhu asked.
Gu Lanying answered with certainty, "He will."
Xiang Yuesheng smiled and said, "After all, this prefect is neither a fool nor a bad person."
He knew what outcome would be more advantageous for him.
Mo Jingchun nodded, "So, no sooner had Lu Wei been killed than Lu Hong and Sun Yannan would point their swords at the Goddess and Jinzhou."
They are not just stupid people.
They knew of the goddess's existence and how much of a threat she posed to them.
Hu Dazhu laughed loudly, "We must also work hard to help the Goddess take over the Southwest and Northwest as soon as possible."
Gu Lanying said, "Danjiang County should be fine."
Xiang Yuesheng put his hands on his hips and said, "The relevant preparations are almost complete, and we can start deploying troops."
Mo Jingchun said, "Then let's call everyone together for a meeting, and let the General arrange the tactics!"
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Author's note: I've been thinking about it, and I should handle a couple of cases involving internal personnel.
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