Zhu Ying, a lazy man, originally thought that he would have an easy time for a long time, but he did not expect that the case in Shanxi would make him busy all of a sudden.

Since the reform of officials' salaries, the phenomenon of corrupt officials has been greatly reduced in recent years.

In the past, people became officials only for power, as money was hard to come by.

After the reform, even the most basic clerk can provide food and clothing for his family, or at least they won’t go too hungry. This is completely different from the past.

Some officials of high enough rank receive a very considerable monthly salary, and with all kinds of allowances and subsidies added up, they live a pretty good life without any financial constraints.

But the facts prove that no matter how high the salaries of officials are, corrupt officials can never be eliminated.

Greed is human nature.

When you sit in that position, have enough power at hand, and can even obtain a lot of wealth with just a glance, there are actually very few people who can completely resist being tempted.

The Central Plains has always emphasized personal relationships and social etiquette since ancient times, and there are many tricks involved.

Many officials may abuse public power for personal gain, perhaps not for personal gain, such as for family or promotion.

Whatever the reason, the result is that power is abused, and at this time, money may often be incidental.

There is another reason, which is about political achievements.

If officials nowadays want to be promoted, they need to have obvious political achievements.

In the absence of political achievements, no one would dare to bring up this topic even if one had the connections.

Political achievements are reflected in many aspects, and the most obvious of them is naturally the improvement of living standards. Simply put, it is a series of factors such as taxation, domestic security, road construction, people's livelihood, etc.

Attracting investment has become the quickest way.

Especially the investment and construction of factories, if they are located locally, can naturally provide a large number of jobs for local people and also create taxes.

The construction of large factories will allow local officials to enjoy political achievements sufficient to warrant promotion.

It was from this time that officials began to win over the businessmen they once looked down upon.

This back and forth will naturally be accompanied by many secret transactions.

This is also an inevitable trend of rapid economic development. A large amount of wealth has emerged, and current officials basically cannot withstand such temptation.

Only this time, the noise was a little bit bigger.

Shanxi region.

It was originally just a small case, but because it involved the transportation of corn feed, it was reported to the Beiyuan Employment Association.

Corn feed is now popular on the grassland. It is a concentrated feed that is fatter than grass. For example, almost all the concentrated feed for the grassland soldiers' horses now depends on imports from the Ming Dynasty.

This was also a big deal between the Ming Dynasty and the Northern Yuan Dynasty.

Many grassland tribal soldiers who earned money from the Northern Yuan Mercenary Association had to provide concentrated feed for their horses every month. The money would go through the hands of the grassland tribal soldiers and then return to the Ming Dynasty.

Since it involves the Northern Yuan Dynasty, it is naturally not something that local officials can handle.

So some things were exposed all at once.

Coincidentally, the official in charge of the review was of a straightforward character and was known for his inability to tolerate any flaws.

It was originally just a small case, but a lot of people showed up to take advantage of their connections and give gifts. He didn't think much about it at first, but now he felt that there was something fishy about it.

The captured prisoner was also very arrogant. Even after being thrown into the dungeon, he still acted like the boss.

However, after only a little torture, he could no longer bear it and began to confess.

However, each and every thing he confessed was truly shocking.

The officials involved are no longer something that the border authorities can handle.

That same night, the person in charge here wrote a letter to the capital and also sent the confession over.

This shocked the three officials.

The sky is about to fall in Shanxi.

The confessions included 37 officials, including the governor of Shanxi Province. The amount of money involved in the case was initially estimated to be at least tens of millions of coins.

The last time this kind of case occurred was the Guo Heng case in the 18th year of Hongwu.

Obviously this time it's going to be a higher level.

"The Shanxi merchants have an unyielding desire to destroy the Ming Dynasty."

After seeing this, Zhu Ying couldn't help but sigh.

After several years, the Qun Ying Chamber of Commerce has gradually moved from the dark to the light, so the old ways are no longer very effective.

Those who have taken the wrong path all know that the Qun Ying Chamber of Commerce belongs to the Crown Prince, so naturally they will not contact them again.

"We've said it before, these are ungrateful people. What a bunch of idiots! Tens of millions of coins and notes. This is just an estimate. I'm afraid the real amount is really scary."

"This time, my great grandson, I have to tell you that you can no longer be lenient. You must clean up the mess ruthlessly."

"If anyone is involved, no matter who it is, no one can be let off."

Zhu Yuanzhang was really angry this time.

Zhu Ying had nothing to say. In such a big case, a group of people had to be dealt with.

However, the situation that followed was simply adding fuel to Zhu Yuanzhang's fire.

In order to find out more clearly and in detail the people involved, the capital city set up an inspection team for this matter.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice was in charge, and personnel from each of the three departments, a total of 21 people, were sent to Shanxi to thoroughly investigate the case.

It can be seen that the court is taking strong measures against the corruption case this time.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice is a top-notch official, a third-rank official.

Those who went with him from the Three Departments were at least of the fifth rank.

Such a high-level investigation team can be said to have directly crushed all Shanxi officials in terms of status and position.

However, one month later.

The investigation team entered Shanxi and no news came back.

Finally, after investigation by Shanxi officials, it was found that the investigation team had disappeared due to bandits.

Although he is said to be missing, his ending is probably something we can probably imagine.

How cruel.

This official from Shanxi.

Don’t they know that cracking down on organized crime requires evidence, counter-terrorism requires a list, and suppressing a rebellion only requires a coordinate?

"Pass on my decree, immediately mobilize all the garrisons around Shanxi, gather 200,000 troops, and have Duke Song Feng Sheng lead the army to pacify Shanxi!!!"

This can no longer be described as a case, this is simply a rebellion.

Such a shocking event, the murder of 27 important court officials including the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, is going to cause a huge uproar.

Want to be Monkey King?

Then we have to see if we have the golden hoop.

"To go against the imperial court so blatantly, I really don't understand how to write the word death."

Of course, Zhu Ying would not say anything more about this matter, as he was not a saint.

When it is time to kill, of course you have to kill.

It doesn't matter if there is a bloodbath. The Shanxi merchants have always been able to revive from the dead. They have been dealt with so many times and can always make a comeback again and again.

It is obvious that many big families from Shanxi are involved behind this.

Before, there was no reason to touch these families. It was impossible to punish all the families collectively, and Zhu Yuanzhang would never do that.

This time, the sky was pierced.

Just right for cleaning.

The biggest behind-the-scenes figure is naturally the Governor of Shanxi Province, who is in charge of the entire Shanxi government affairs.

He did collude with many guards in Shanxi and committed corruption together.

However, facing the imperial army of 200,000 led by Duke of Song Feng Sheng, no garrison in Shanxi had the courage to stand up and resist.

They all returned to the garrison obediently, not daring to make the slightest movement.

Feng Sheng's army naturally could not encounter any resistance and directly took control of Shanxi.

The first people to be arrested and punished were all the top officials headed by the Shanxi Provincial Governor.

When Feng Sheng arrived, the Shanxi Provincial Governor and 19 officials committed suicide out of fear of punishment, hoping to suppress the incident as much as possible through suicide.

"Suicide is not enough."

Feng Sheng shook his head slightly.

This is already a serious crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of the clan. All those nine generations of the clan who committed suicide out of fear of punishment must be imprisoned first.

In this case, all the nine clans involved will have no chance of escape.

This is why Zhu Ying knew that the entire Shanxi Province was going to be massacred.

For officials with wealth and status who were able to participate in corruption in Shanxi, their families must have made a lot of efforts, and they were caught without fail.

The 200,000 troops this time are not from Shanxi, but were transferred from other places.

Even if they were many garrison commanders, they had no chance to escape.

There will be occasional resistance, such as the final struggle of some families.

But in front of an army of 200,000, any resistance would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, and would be as ridiculous as an egg hitting a stone.

Of course, we can't just kill them indiscriminately.

This investigation still needs to be conducted.

After taking control of the situation in Shanxi, the court sent out an investigation team again.

The last person who went was the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and this time the person who took the lead was the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Meng Zhengsheng.

As the end of the year was approaching, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict that the case must be concluded and handled within two months.

It can’t be delayed until the Ming Dynasty Spring Festival.

Beheading someone in the first month of the lunar year is not a good omen.

Meng Zhengsheng was the person who stood up and questioned whether Japan could pay so much silver when Zhu Ying suggested that Japan should pay compensation.

This guy is very stubborn, so Zhu Ying naturally wouldn't let him go just because of a few questions.

The Ministry of Justice needs young and inexperienced people. People who are too cautious and cunning are not suitable for working in the Ministry of Justice.

In just one month, the case was basically solved.

However, when the news reached the capital, it caused another stir.

"More than 127,000 people. This is a major case that has never been involved since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. No, even in the past and present, it has never been involved."

"With so many people, are we going to execute them all?"

The Minister of Justice Yang Jing felt overwhelmed.

Immediately contact the Minister of Dali Temple and the Left and Right Censors of the Censorate.

Li Tingwei, the Dali Temple official, shook his head frantically: "My Dali Temple is only responsible for judging cases. For such a serious case, it is impossible for my Dali Temple to have the final say."

"I naturally fully support Minister Yang's decision."

The Left Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate also spoke up: "This should be a matter for the Ministry of Justice. I, the Metropolitan Censorate, am only responsible for checking whether there are any violations. Since Minister Yang is personally trying this case, there is no possibility of any breaking of the rules."

"This is an order from His Majesty, and there is no mention of a joint trial by the three courts. I think it would be better for Minister Yang to make the decision directly."

The Right Censor also directly seconded the motion.

We are not fools.

There are nearly 130,000 people here. Could they have been all killed?

According to your majesty's intention, except for the female members who will be sent to the Jiaofangsi, the rest will be killed.

But no one dared to ask for it.

Yang Jing, the Minister of Justice, was silent for a long while, and finally said, "This matter is of great importance, and I cannot make the decision. Tomorrow morning, I will ask Your Majesty to convene the six ministries for deliberation and decision."

Not everyone can be Bai Qi.

And we are all literati.

Once this order was issued, not only would his hands be bloody, but his whole body would be covered in blood.

In fact, everyone knows that the act of killing nine generations of a clan is mainly for deterrence. Among these 120,000 people, there may be more than 100,000 innocent people implicated.

If they were all executed, they would all be innocent souls.

Some distant relatives may be implicated before they even understand what is going on.

Within a clan, just because of the greed of some people like the clan leader, the entire clan had to be destroyed.

Even tenants, farmhands, and poor children who worked in the fields would be executed because of their identities.

The next morning, the court was held in the Fengtian Hall.

The Minister of Justice Yang Jing requested that the six ministries jointly review the case.

When the other ministers heard about this, they lowered their heads and remained silent.

"Why? Is it because there are so many people that you dare not come to deal with it? Do you think that because there are so many people, you can disregard the laws of the Ming Dynasty and murder important officials of the court?"

Zhu Yuanzhang shouted angrily.

"Your Majesty, calm down."

All the officials in the Fengtian Hall fell to their knees at Zhu Yuanzhang's shout.

But no one said a word about it.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang did not ask his eldest grandson what to do.

This matter is currently a difficult problem.

To let him go would undermine the dignity of the imperial court, especially Zhu Yuanzhang's face.

It had been said before that all nine generations of the clan would be killed, but now they were not going to kill them, which left Zhu Yuanzhang with no way out.

He would not leave such a difficult problem to his eldest grandson.

"Grandpa, I have something to say."

Seeing that the atmosphere was becoming tense, Zhu Ying knew that at this moment, he had to step in himself.

If we really follow the old man's idea, these 120,000 people will probably be exterminated.

Zhu Yuanzhang hesitated for a moment before saying, "Okay, grandson, you go ahead and tell me."

With the Crown Prince stepping in to ease the situation, the officials in the Fengtian Palace all breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhu Ying said, "Twenty-seven important officials of the imperial court were murdered. This is an unprecedented event in all dynasties."

"This kind of behavior seriously damages the dignity of the court. All those involved, whether officials or soldiers, should pay the price for their mistakes. We must strictly follow the laws of the Ming Dynasty and will not tolerate them."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly after listening to this.

Did the eldest grandson propose to execute them all?

The officials in the audience held their breath.

The moment this crown prince opened his mouth, it was equivalent to sentencing 120,000 people to death.

"But my grandson feels that some of the innocent people involved who are not involved in the case can be punished appropriately instead of being executed."

"My grandson's point of view is that from the perspective of the case, the people involved should be sentenced as they should be, but the people involved in the Nine Clans should be dealt with separately."