AWB Chapter 411 The Consequences of Not Cooperating with the Investigation
Chapter 411 The Consequences of Not Cooperating with the Investigation
Yun Shang looked at Li Zhang with a cold expression.
He naturally understood that this was just an excuse from the other party.
After a brief silence, Yun Shang spoke slowly and deliberately: "Minister Li, this matter is of great importance. His Majesty has personally ordered a thorough investigation, and it cannot be delayed. No matter how difficult it is to organize these files, there must be a deadline."
Li Zhang's smile froze, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes, but he quickly replaced it with a fake smile: "Lord Yun, you've put me in a difficult position."
He was the Minister of Revenue, while Yun Shang was merely a minor Vice Minister of Rites.
Although Yun Shang made great contributions to the disaster relief efforts, the emperor has not yet promoted him.
Even if he wasn't Yun Shang's direct superior, in terms of official rank, Yun Shang should be humble and subservient in front of him.
I never expected this kid to be so ungrateful and act so arrogantly.
All his kind words and polite treatment of this boy were in vain.
Thinking of this, Li Zhang's smile faded, and he no longer maintained the fake smile, saying directly, "How Lord Yun handles his duties is his own business. The Ministry of Revenue's affairs are very complicated. If Lord Yun has nothing else to attend to, please leave."
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Zhang turned around and went back to his duty room, instructing the clerk at the door to "invite" Yun Shang out.
The clerk responded in a low voice, a hint of contempt in his expression, and stepped forward to say, "Lord Yun, our Minister is preoccupied with important matters and has no time to entertain you. Please take your leave."
The two minor officials who had come with Yun Shang exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.
The emperor assigning such a task to the powerless and insignificant Yun Shang is simply ridiculous.
Yun Shang merely glanced indifferently at the duty room where Li Zhang was, then calmly turned around.
"let's go."
The two minor officials quickly responded and hurriedly followed Yun Shang's steps.
This job is incredibly difficult. I've only taken the first step and I'm already being harassed. The road ahead will likely be even more difficult.
As soon as Yun Shang stepped out of the Ministry of Revenue, one of the minor officials who had been following closely behind him couldn't help but step forward and complain, "Lord Yun, this Minister Li is going too far. He clearly doesn't want to cooperate. What should we do now?"
Another minor official, also with a bitter face, cautiously said, "Sir, the power in the court is deeply entrenched, and we insignificant people with no background or connections can't afford to offend them... How about we just do a perfunctory investigation and get by?"
In the past, when the people involved in cases were powerful and influential families, they always dealt with things in this perfunctory manner.
The waters of Shengjing run too deep. If they recklessly try to harm the powerful families, they might not even know how they died.
Yun Shang suddenly stopped and turned to look at the two minor officials.
His eyes were clearly calm, but the two minor officials felt a chill run down their spines.
Despite the blazing sun, it felt as if I were in the dead of winter.
"What are you saying?" Yun Shang asked calmly.
The two minor officials suddenly jolted, and almost instinctively stammered in unison, "N-nothing!"
Yun Shang's gaze swept calmly over them as he asked, "Scared?"
One of the minor officials dared not meet Yun Shang's gaze, lowered his head, and murmured softly, "Sir... we are just the most insignificant officials in this Shengjing City. We have wives, children, and elderly parents to support. We really dare not risk our lives to go against those powerful and influential families..."
"Please forgive me, Lord Yun."
Yun Shang paused slightly, his gaze lingering on the two minor officials' faces for a moment before he said, "I will not force you."
"If you don't want to stay, you can leave anytime."
After saying that, he turned and left without pausing.
Only two minor officials remained, looking at each other in bewilderment, unsure of what to do.
Emperor Wenjing ordered the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review to cooperate with Yunshang in investigating corrupt officials, but neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Court of Judicial Review wanted to take on this hot potato, so they just sent two insignificant underlings.
They are powerless and have little influence, so what can they possibly do?
The two minor officials exchanged a glance, both seeing relief in each other's eyes.
If Shang doesn't want them, then they won't have to get involved in this dangerous vortex anymore and can continue to live their peaceful lives.
……
The news that Yun Shang was struggling to investigate corrupt officials quickly reached the ears of various factions.
Some people are deeply worried about this, while others scoff at it.
Emperor Wenjing's idea of relying on a poor scholar with no background to shake the foundation of aristocratic families was wishful thinking.
Those from the aristocratic families who were initially somewhat apprehensive couldn't help but sneer at this situation.
They originally thought that the "knife" that Emperor Wenjing had put forward must have some ability, but they did not expect it to be so vulnerable. Li Zhang from the Ministry of Revenue alone stumped him.
Although Li Zhang also came from a prestigious family, he had only recently become the Minister of Revenue and had not yet firmly established himself in the position. If Yun Shang could not even handle such a person, he was certainly not qualified to contend with them.
Many aristocratic families lowered their guard and turned their attention back to Emperor Wenjing.
If they were able to force a tiger to pull out its fangs more than a decade ago, they can force the tiger to pull out all its teeth this time too!
For so many years, the emperor and his ministers lived in peace, and Emperor Wenjing lived a carefree life. The Great Zhao Dynasty was still the Li family's empire, so what was Emperor Wenjing dissatisfied with?
……
When Yu Wan woke up, it was already dusk.
She rubbed her eyes, looked around blankly, and realized that she was in the Duke of Anguo's mansion.
Hearing the commotion inside, Xizhu quickly walked in, her expression revealing a hint of excitement.
Yu Wan stared at her suspiciously and asked first, "What happened? Why are you so happy?"
Seeing that her young mistress showed no sign of getting up, Xizhu moved a small stool to the bedside and sat down, suppressing her excitement as she said, "Miss, you can't imagine how lively the Shengjing government office is today!"
Yu Wan looked puzzled: "??"
Xizhu, her eyebrows dancing with excitement, recounted everything that had happened that day in one breath, like spilling beans.
It turned out that less than an hour after Yun Shang left the Ministry of Revenue this morning, imperial guards arrived at the Ministry of Revenue in a great hurry with Emperor Wenjing's imperial edict and arrested Li Zhang.
The charges were lending money at exorbitant interest rates, forcing law-abiding citizens to buy and sell land, and harming innocent people.
The imperial guards, armed with evidence and witnesses, dragged Li Zhang to the execution ground at Caishikou.
After presenting the evidence and witnesses, completely ignoring Li Zhang's loud cries of innocence, he swiftly beheaded him.
From arrest to execution, the entire process took less than half an hour.
Upon receiving news of Li Zhang's arrest, the King of Qi's men rushed over without delay, but they were too late to stop the executioner's blade.
The King of Qi's men watched helplessly as Li Zhang's head rolled to the ground at their feet.
The man was so frightened that his face turned ashen, and he collapsed to the ground.
The Imperial Guards arrived suddenly and left just as quickly. Soon after, rumors began to circulate.
— Li Zhang was beheaded because he refused to cooperate with Yun Shang in carrying out his duties.