Judging from the prime minister's behavior, he seemed to be very shocked. He probably did not expect that the disaster relief money had been found.

On the contrary, when the Minister of Revenue was pressed forward, the Prime Minister's shock seemed somewhat false.

Zhao Ji had made up his mind and no longer looked at the prime minister.

The emperor had just heard the Minister of Revenue's apology, sneered, and smashed the teacup in his hand down.

It hit the Minister of Revenue right on the forehead, and blood flowed from his forehead. The Minister of Revenue still kowtowed on the ground madly as if he was unaware of the pain.

The emperor was too lazy to watch this scene: "Lord Zhao, this matter will be handled according to the law, but to serve as a warning to others, the execution will be carried out at Caishikou!"

"I obey your order!"

Zhao Ji nodded.

When the Minister of Revenue was dragged away by the guards, the other court officials who were watching came to their senses.

Now that two high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Revenue have been removed from their posts one after another, it can be said that this has shocked the entire Ministry of Revenue, as well as the imperial court.

"Now the positions of the Minister of Revenue and the Vice Minister of Revenue are vacant. The Ministry of Personnel should make good recommendations and try to select some honest people to fill these positions. I don't want to see this situation happen again..."

"If the dynasty is full of such parasites, you can prepare to be the ministers who destroy the dynasty!"

The emperor said this in a very serious tone and with such strong emotions that it affected his lungs and he started coughing suddenly.

In such an atmosphere, no minister dared to speak.

When the emperor calmed down a little, Zhao Ji stood up again.

"I have something else to report. I hope Your Majesty will not be angry!"

Zhao Ji felt as if there were many eyes cast at him from behind. If the eyes could be shot out like arrows, Zhao Ji's descendants would probably be riddled with holes by now.

All the court officials almost thought at the same time: "More? Isn't it enough to get rid of a minister of finance? Is there something even more exciting?"

The emperor nodded and said, "Lord Zhao has discovered the corrupt officials in the court and has personally gone to Hua'an County to deal with the mess. If you have anything to say, please feel free to tell us. Let others listen and learn from you. Don't be muddleheaded in the court every day!"

Zhao Ji got the emperor's approval and said immediately: "I have already obtained the confessions of the two corrupt officials in Hua'an County. In addition to the confession of the Minister of Revenue, I have also discovered a trick..."

The emperor's eyes encouraged Zhao Ji to continue.

Zhao Ji said: "From the people's mouths, I learned that the county magistrate and the county governor are basically not qualified officials. Sometimes they don't even care about public security. They only know how to enjoy themselves and plunder the people's wealth."

"Some people once told me that the county magistrate and the county governor have been in Hua'an County for three years and have never judged a case or read a case file."

When the emperor heard this, his expression turned grim. From Zhao Ji's words, he could tell that these two corrupt officials were really deceiving people.

I am afraid that if I go to Hua'an County, the emperor is far away and I will become a local tyrant there.

"However, before I left for Hua'an County, I went to another department to check the promotion ratings of these two officials, and they were both A-grade!"

These words were like pouring water into a frying pan, which instantly exploded.

You should know that officials of the dynasty are rated every year, with the best being A and the worst being D.

Moreover, before the flood, Hua'an County was basically a relatively wealthy county with a lot of tax revenue every year.

And a lot of food was handed over.

Generally speaking, officials who go to such a rich place must have very high ratings.

The dynasty's rating is also very demanding. For the final assessment of the year, at least three people must go on-site inspection, and all three of them have to type blindly. Only if everyone gives an A-level option can the official get an A.

Without mentioning how these three officials were rated in the first place, it is quite rare that these two corrupt officials are able to be rated every year.

After all, the dynasty has a limit on the number of A-grade awards. The evaluation is conducted once a year, and the rating officials are different every year.

This is to ensure that truly A-class officials can be elected fairly and impartially.

As a result, now the feedback from the people has become so obvious. I believe that even when the officials in charge of rating go down to investigate, it is impossible that they will not hear any news at all.

Then there is only one possibility.

"I suspect that the reason these two corrupt officials were able to get top-level ratings every year was because they colluded with the reviewers of the Ministry of Personnel!"

As soon as this was said, an official from the Ministry of Personnel jumped out to refute: "Master, please don't spit bloody words at me. You can't say things without any evidence..."

"Our Ministry of Personnel has always been there to help the Emperor solve problems and select talents in a fair and just manner. There will never be any fraud or deception!"

"Besides, the rating is A every year, and our rating officers are different every year. How is it possible that there are problems with every one of them?"

Zhao Ji looked at the person who jumped out. It was also a familiar face. He was a clerk from the Ministry of Personnel. Generally, the rank of clerks in the Ministry of Personnel was not high, just a small official of the sixth rank.

Such a small official dared to jump out, he must have received a signal from the Minister of Personnel.

Zhao Ji ignored this clown and continued to report to the emperor: "After I noticed something strange, I went to the prison to interrogate these two officials..."

At this point, Zhao Ji pulled out a few sheets of paper from his bosom: "The two corrupt officials have confessed everything, and have clearly written down their financial dealings with every rating official!"

As soon as the evidence was presented, those who were clamoring excitedly were speechless when the Ministry of Personnel took up the pen.

The Minister of Personnel saw that something was not right and immediately stepped out and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, I am wronged. I had no idea that these rating officials had such private interests..."

"Since I became the Minister of Personnel, I have been working diligently and conscientiously, and I have required every rating officer to do the same. I never thought that such a big problem would arise now!"

"I am willing to reflect on this and initiate a self-examination among the Ministry of Personnel to sort out everyone's financial transactions!"

Zhao Ji looked at the Minister of Personnel like he was looking at a monkey. In just a few words, he cleared himself of all blame.

Anyway, the mistakes were all made by his subordinates, and it is absolutely impossible for the Minister of Personnel to have any gray income.

The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "Such a serious matter, I just found out. It turns out that all my ministers are so rich that they can even afford to bribe the rating officials!"

"And the rating officer I trust the most is actually willing to accept the money. In my opinion, corrupt people are particularly hateful!"

"Immediately send someone to carefully check which of the rating officers are clean."

The emperor ordered with a dark face.

Zhao Ji nodded: "I obey your order."

During the whole process, Zhao Ji communicated with the emperor, but the emperor did not even look at the Minister of Personnel.

This actually represents that the emperor is very dissatisfied with the Ministry of Personnel.