When Chen Hong saw Zhu Youxiao nod, he hurried over, stretched out his hands to take the letter, then quickly held it in front of Zhu Youxiao and handed it to him respectfully.
Zhu Youxiao took the letter from Chen Hong and read it quickly.
Zhu Youxiao knew the contents of the letter, but he still read it carefully.
After reading it once, Zhu Youxiao slammed the table and stood up.
After walking a few steps with a gloomy face, Zhu Youxiao shouted, "How audacious and lawless! Bribing investigating officials, threatening criminals, and having others take the blame—this is truly insane! Where do these people regard the laws of the Ming Dynasty? Where do they regard me?"
After saying this, Zhu Youxiao looked at Xu Xianchun and asked directly, "So how's your investigation going?"
"Your Majesty, I have thoroughly investigated the matter." Xu Xianchun handed over a petition and said, "This is Kong Shangsheng's confession. It details the entire incident."
"It clearly describes how the Kong family controlled Shandong's military and political affairs, how they seized the people's land, and how they sold disaster relief grain. We've already sealed the Kong family's grain in Jining City, and we've also captured the shopkeeper, Kong Shangli, who was responsible for reselling the grain. Jining Prefect Zhang Shun has also pleaded guilty. Now we have all the evidence, both human and physical."
"Your Majesty, please take a look." Xu Xianchun picked up the petition again and said respectfully.
Chen Hong came to Xu Xianchun again, held up the petition with both hands, came to Zhu Youxiao, and handed the petition to Zhu Youxiao respectfully.
Zhu Youxiao reached out to take the petition and quickly read it again.
In this petition, Kong Shangsheng admitted to many things, such as the Kong family's collusion with local officials. It was clearly written that this was not something that happened overnight. Reselling disaster relief grain was not something that could be done in a single day.
The Ming Dynasty was established over 200 years ago, but the Kong family has been in Shandong for more than 200 years. Dynasties have changed, emperors have fallen, but the Kong family has always stood firm.
In Shandong, the Kong family held the final say, not so much with the imperial court. Within the government offices, aside from officials sent by the imperial court, the remaining local officials were essentially appointed by the Kong family. Even if they weren't appointed by the Kong family, no one dared to offend them.
Officials serve for three years and then leave. Even if they offend the Kong family, they can still be considered fearless.
But these local officials are different. They are always in Shandong. If they offend the Kong family, the Kong family has a hundred ways to prevent them from leaving Shandong, so no one dares to offend the Kong family.
Under such circumstances, the Kong family knew everything in the government. If officials sent by the imperial court wanted to serve in Shandong, they couldn't do it without the cooperation of the Kong family. Furthermore, these people were all scholars and disciples of Confucius, so they naturally wanted to befriend the Kong family. Coupled with the Kong family's vast financial resources, they naturally infiltrated the Shandong officialdom.
Throughout Shandong, the Kong family's single command was more effective than an imperial decree, and wherever they went, everyone bowed their heads. Under such circumstances, it was easy for the Kong family to do anything they wanted. With the exception of the Prince of Lu, no one could rival the Kong family in seizing farmland. The practice of reselling disaster relief grain wasn't new either.
As the saying goes, a three-foot-thick ice doesn't form overnight. The entire Shandong government is like the Kong family's warehouse, allowing them to take whatever they want. In such a situation, as Kong Shangsheng said, it's nothing more than business.
After reading the confession, Zhu Youxiao was not as angry as before.
Gently putting the confession down, Zhu Youxiao looked at Xu Xianchun, waved his hand and said, "Go back to the side hall and wait."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xu Xianchun quickly agreed and turned to walk out.
When Xu Xianchun left, Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Chen Hong and said directly, "Go and find Xu Guangqi and the others. This matter is so serious, I need to discuss it with them."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong quickly agreed and turned to walk outside.
This time the matter became a big deal.
Chen Hong had been with Zhu Youxiao for quite some time, and he knew his emperor's temper very well.
If the emperor loses his temper, then it may not be a big deal; but if the situation is as calm as it is today, then something real is going to happen.
Book club.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
