"I understand."
"Left Censor-in-Chief Li Banghua is waiting for your order outside the door!"
"Let him in."
"yes."
After the eunuch finished delivering the message, the white-haired Left Censor-in-Chief Li Banghua stepped into the hall.
His cheeks were thin and his back was slightly hunched. Against the backdrop of his old court robes, he looked as if he was about to die at any moment.
While performing the ceremony of bowing, Li Banghua lowered his head and searched the hall with his eyes.
When he saw Wu Mengming and Wang Zhixin, his heart skipped a beat: It's bad.
When the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the head of the Eastern Depot appear at the same time, it is definitely not a good thing.
Li Banghua swallowed his saliva and said carefully: "Your Highness, I, Li Banghua, am here to see you, Your Majesty, by your order."
Chongzhen smiled coldly: "Li Banghua, someone has accused you of forming a clique for personal gain, taking bribes and bending the law, and deceiving the emperor. Do you know your crime?"
Li Banghua clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, do you have any evidence?"
"Evidence? You entered the government at the age of 29 and are currently serving as the Left Censor-in-Chief. Your annual salary is only over 100 taels. Tell me where the Wan family fortune came from?"
"Since the evidence is conclusive, Your Majesty, please punish me!" Li Banghua said fearlessly.
He did not deny corruption, but he could not be blamed for it.
The Ming officials had low salaries, which were already stretched to the limit. In addition, the treasury had been empty since Chongzhen ascended the throne, and the court was often short of money and salaries. For the sake of their families, even honest officials had to rely on corruption to survive.
As time goes by, the desire slowly grows.
Over time, corruption became prevalent in the Ming Dynasty officialdom.
"Punish? Haha!" Chongzhen sneered, "You are the Left Censor-in-Chief. According to the Ming Dynasty law, what crime should you be charged with?"
The Great Ming Law...
When these three words were mentioned, Li Banghua trembled all over.
According to the Ming Dynasty law, those who embezzled more than 60 taels of silver would have their skin peeled off, stuffed with straw, and hung on a pole for public display.
"I... am guilty of death!" Li Banghua was disheartened and ready to die.
He just hoped that Wu Mengming and Wang Zhixin would be gentler when they attacked, as his old bones could not withstand the torture.
"Ah!" Chongzhen sighed, "You are not guilty!"
Not guilty? Li Banghua was a little confused.
"I know that if you weren't greedy, your whole family would have starved to death. In the final analysis, it's my fault that the officials of the Ming Dynasty are starving."
"Your Majesty, I am terrified. I plead guilty. It is my fault. It has nothing to do with Your Majesty." Li Banghua said tremblingly.
He couldn't understand what Chongzhen was trying to do. One moment he said he deserved the death penalty, and the next moment he said he was not guilty.
There must be some conspiracy behind such inconsistency.
"Well, let bygones be bygones. I hope you will discipline yourself and others in the future and do your best for the Ming Dynasty."
Li Banghua swallowed his saliva, came to his senses, and kowtowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for not killing me. I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse."
Chongzhen wanted to make important use of Li Banghua.
You must give him a warning before re-employing him so that he doesn't become too proud.
But it was just a knock.
Li Banghua was not afraid of death. Historically, after learning of Chongzhen's death, he left behind three sentences: "As a real man, I follow sages as my disciples. I will remain loyal and filial until death. I will do my best to fulfill my mission in times of crisis and I have no regrets."
He then committed suicide for his country.
"Wang Chengen, show Feng Yuanyang's letter to Censor Li."
Wang Chengen hurriedly handed the secret letter to Li Banghua.
After reading it, Li Banghua frowned and remained silent in thought.
"Censor Li, what do you think?" Chongzhen asked.
"I think this is the right strategy."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
