Xie Sanbin replied: "I think it is inappropriate."
"Is it inappropriate, or do you dare not?"
"Whatever the emperor says is what happens."
"Are you accusing me of having the final say?"
"I dare not."
"Then why don't you agree to make your property public?"
"I am afraid that someone will take advantage of this opportunity to start a factional struggle, attack dissidents, and disrupt the government."
Chongzhen asked in return: "If we don't make our assets public, will we be unable to engage in factional strife, crack down on dissidents, and disrupt the government?"
Xie Sanbin was speechless for a moment.
Chongzhen continued, "Minister Xie, the people of the capital and even the Ming Dynasty all say that publicizing family assets can fight corruption to the greatest extent, but you insist on opposing it. This move not only goes against public opinion, but also has the suspicion of corruption."
"I am wronged."
"Unfair?" Chongzhen picked up a piece of paper from the dragon desk, threw it on the ground and said, "Write it now and write down all your property."
Xie Sanbin was also transferring his property.
But his property was too much to be transferred.
Once investigated, it will be found that his income and assets are completely mismatched.
Xie Sanbin took the paper and began to ponder: "Your Majesty..."
Qiu Yu grabbed the paper and said loudly: "You dare not write, but I dare to write."
Under the gaze of everyone, he borrowed a pen from Wang Chengen and began to write quickly.
Does Qiu Yu’s assets match his income?
Of course it doesn't match.
As the Minister of Personnel, his students and former officials were spread all over the country.
Even if someone gave him a brick, he could build two huts.
Qiu Yu understood one thing.
There are criminals everywhere in the world, and Chongzhen will only punish those who disobey.
Just do things according to Chongzhen's wishes and do good things that benefit the country and the people.
Chongzhen would not have taken action against him.
Under the influence of the atmosphere on the scene, Xie Sanbin had to pick up another piece of paper to write down his own property.
After both of them finished writing, Qiu Yu proposed: "I ask Your Majesty to send the Royal Guards to my home to verify the situation. If there is any discrepancy, I am willing to submit to the law."
The problem came to Xie Sanbin.
Agreeing to the verification will expose the truth, while disagreeing to the verification will increase suspicion.
Qiu Yu shouted in a hoarse voice: "Xie Sanbin, you don't dare anymore, right?"
The imperial censors nearby hurriedly offered their support: "I impeach Xie Sanbin for excessive corruption and undermining the government. Your Majesty, please conduct a thorough investigation!"
"Your Majesty, please conduct a thorough investigation!"
Chongzhen took two steps back and forth and said slowly: "If that's the case, then let's check it out!"
Li Ruolian in the corner stepped forward and walked out of the hall with the list of property.
The result was not surprising. The Jinyiwei found a huge amount of property of unknown origin in Xie Sanbin's home.
When the news came out, the capital was shocked.
Driven by public opinion and Chongzhen, a vigorous campaign to overthrow Xie began.
On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month in the twenty-ninth year of Chongzhen, there was heavy snow.
Chongzhen met Xie Sanbin in the Qianqing Palace.
The king and his ministers were silent for a long time, and Xie Sanbin was the first to speak: "I thank your majesty for sparing my life."
Chongzhen raised his eyelids and said, "I only spared your life? The property you moved away is at least one million taels. When I ordered people to search your house, I didn't trace those properties."
Xie Sanbin knelt down and kowtowed, tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty, I will never forget your grace."
Chongzhen smiled and shook his head: "Don't be happy too soon. You made too many enemies in the court during the suppression of Liao and the rebellion. You will inevitably be retaliated by those people after you are demoted and return home. I can save your life while I am here."
"If I am gone, you can only wish for the best for yourself, or..."
Chongzhen stopped here and looked at Xie Sanbin.
Xie Sanbin raised his head, looked at Chongzhen, and then lowered his head again.
Chongzhen continued, "The officialdom will face a huge shock in the future. The so-called civil servant group will be suppressed and unable to raise their heads, which will lead to the expansion of the eunuch party in the court and the imbalance of the situation. When I am here, I can stabilize the situation; when I am gone, the new emperor may not be able to stabilize it."
"As the saying goes, a centipede dies but remains alive. I know you still have some people in the court. When the time comes, you must let them show their due value. If they are valuable, then you are valuable too. Only those who are valuable can survive, otherwise you can only leave it to fate."
Xie Sanbin kowtowed again: "I understand, Your Majesty's grace is great, Xie Sanbin is grateful!"
While the thank-you campaign is underway, the public disclosure of officials' assets is also being carried out simultaneously.
Officials of the fourth rank and above were required to disclose their assets to the court and the people.
Officials of the fourth rank and below were required to disclose their property to Chongzhen.
Regardless of whether it can really play a role in combating corruption, this thing was finally implemented.
Many officials resigned from their posts.
Countless scholars vied to sit on it.
No matter how small the bones are, they are still meat.
As long as you are an official you have power, and with power you can make money.
You can keep your money anywhere, as long as you don't keep it at home.
In the 30th year of Chongzhen's reign, he issued an edict to exempt the people of the country from taxes for three years.
This year, the government and the people were in turmoil and the local areas were in chaos.
The thirty-first year of Chongzhen.
The government is stable and the local area is peaceful.
The thirty-second year of Chongzhen.
The government is clear and the people are harmonious, and the people live and work in peace and contentment.
(End of the book)
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