Then Liu Hong looked at Zhang Rang and said, "Summon Grand Tutor Chen Fan, Minister of Works Hu Guang, Minister of Public Works Yuan Feng, and Minister of Justice Xun Shuang to present their memorials in the palace!"
"promise!"
Before long, Chen Fan and his companions, who were working in the government office, were brought into the Deyang Palace, where they all bowed to Liu Hong.
"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"
Liu Hong laughed and said, "Gentlemen, no need for formalities! Please be seated!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After everyone was seated, Liu Hong looked at Xun Shuang and said, "Minister of Justice, tell everyone about Li Ru's matter!"
"promise!"
Xun Shuang then recounted in detail the charges against Li Ru to the people present.
"Alas, this young man is not lacking in talent and strategy. If he could have remained true to himself, he would have been a rare talent. How could he have been so foolish as to do such a thing and ruin his future for nothing?"
Situ Huguang couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. He had personally reviewed Li Ru's exam papers and had always placed high hopes on this learned young man from a poor family. Now that he had learned about this, he felt somewhat distressed.
Chen Fan and Yuan Feng, standing to the side, also looked very serious.
Most importantly, Li Ru was appointed as the county magistrate by Liu Hong himself. Now that this has happened, it is undoubtedly a slap in the face to the emperor, and he will inevitably be criticized for misjudging people.
Xun Shuang said, "Some people, who suddenly gain power after being dressed in white, are bound to lose their minds and make mistakes!"
Liu Hong nodded, then said in a deep voice, "The Minister of Justice is right, people are inherently driven by self-interest."
I believe this kind of thing could not possibly have happened only to Li Ru. Perhaps in other places unknown to me and my ministers, someone else is also engaged in such activities!
Upon hearing the emperor's words, Chen Fan and the others' expressions changed, and they couldn't help but exchange glances.
Yuan Feng spoke up, "Your Majesty is right. Li Ru is highly regarded by Your Majesty, and he was even able to risk his life to sell off all the fine iron in the imperial treasury. This shows how tempting the profits are!"
Chen Fan nodded and said in a deep voice, "Money corrupts people's minds. The trade in refined iron increases the strength of the barbarians on the grasslands. If we do not investigate and curb this, it will only be the people of our great Han who suffer!"
After Chen Fan finished speaking, the others nodded in agreement. If the barbarians of the grasslands had iron, they could forge weapons to plunder the Han people, and the losses they would suffer would only be greater.
"The Grand Tutor is right. Therefore, I think we should immediately establish an inspection department, under the control of the Court of Justice, and then select several inspecting censors to inspect the treasuries of various prefectures and counties! What do you gentlemen think?"
Chen Fan: "I second that!"
"We second that proposal!"
Hu Guang, Yuan Feng, and Xun Shuang also quickly voiced their support, as this matter, to put it more broadly, concerned the safety of the nation.
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