The city of Ji County has become extremely quiet at night. The lights of Zhuojun County are bright, and the courtyards are as bright as day. However, the lobby is filled with pungent blood. The blood stains the bluestone floor. Several headless corpses are mixed with the blood.

, unusually bloody and terrifying. The somewhat pale-faced Fang Xuanling and the accompanying Hao Yuan, Ling Jing, Wei Zheng, Yan Shixiang, Li Xuandao, and the Youzhou officials who had not been captured took the time to record confessions and organize the information.

The scene in front of him was not even a small scene for the generals and soldiers of King Wei. However, Yang Ji's ferocious methods frightened the Youzhou officials who were once tied into rice dumplings, and their faces were as pale as earth. At this time, one and two

They all sat obediently on their seats, either writing confessions or writing other people's criminal records.

Yang Ji and Pei Ju did not participate in such a trivial matter. In the spirit of not wasting anything, they first went to the place where the wind and dust were washed to bathe and change clothes. Then they ate the delicious food carefully prepared by Yuan Hongli, and then wore light official robes.

Returning to the lobby of Zhuojun County Mansion, seeing everyone busy with their own business, Yang Ji sat calmly on the main seat, sipping tea unhurriedly.

On the table in front of him, there were several large stacks of evidence provided by Pei Ju and Lu. Before leaving, Yang Ji said in public that it was the evidence of the criminals and all the illegal things they had done.

Here, we will need to compare it with their confessions and confessions one by one. If anyone dares to make false reports or underreport, then those corpses on the ground are the best examples.

People with evil intentions are usually frightened by evidence of crime that is difficult to distinguish between true and false. If it is also a matter of life and death, and a few dead bodies, most people will reveal all the crimes they have committed.

This method has been tried repeatedly by Yang Ji!

And the reason why he killed people in a rage was neither a factional dispute nor a deliberate deal with the Yuan family, but Yuan Hongli and others moved Youzhou Yicang. In addition to Liaodong County under military control, they also took over Mozhou County and Raolezhou County not long ago.

After surviving the disaster, the remaining seven counties were completely annihilated, and even Zhuojun, where the state capital and county capital were located, were unavoidable.

The "Yi Cang" system was founded in the third year of Emperor Kaihuang's reign. Because it was located in Lishe and was managed by the local people themselves, it was also called Shecang. The method of accumulation set by the imperial court was the upper, middle and lower grades. The upper household was no more than a stone.

The middle household can only afford seven dou, and the lower household can only have four dou. Whenever there is a famine, warehouses are opened to provide relief. The people have emergency warehouses of food to help them survive the disaster safely, or they can wait for relief food from the court.

Starved to death like before.

Unlike Chang Pingcang, which the imperial government used to stabilize grain prices, it was more like a folk behavior. However, the imperial court was worried about managers stealing food, so managers could not release grain without authorization. Only when disasters spread, they could report to the local government on behalf of the people.

Apply to open a warehouse to release grain to provide relief to the victims. After the government approves it, the manager will distribute the grain according to regulations under the supervision of officials.

Because the grain from the free warehouse can indeed save lives in disaster years, the common people support it and are willing to hand over the grain, but for this reason, they regard it as their lifeblood. Even if the court and the government want to borrow the grain from the free warehouse, they must have managers who represent the people.

Just allow it.

For example, when there was a locust plague and drought in the north this year, the imperial court asked Yang Wensi, the Minister of Civil Affairs of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, to be in charge of relief matters. However, because the official grain in the north had to be supplied to the Northern Patrol Army, the imperial court had to ask Yang Lun to buy charity grain in Jizhou to use as relief grain.

However, even the famous Jizhou Prefecture Mufu

When officials come out to make purchases, the people have to pay with one hand and deliver the goods, otherwise it will not work. It can also be seen that because the people have benefited from the charity warehouse countless times and have been saved by the food from the charity warehouse, they have regarded the charity warehouse as a spirit and a belief.

, a safe force.

The problem with the free warehouses in Youzhou is that the government and the administrators colluded with each other to deceive the people, and all the free warehouses were moved out. What they did was tantamount to destroying the lifeblood and spiritual support of the people.

At present, the people have not discovered it. If they are discovered, or someone deliberately lets the people discover it, a turmoil affecting the whole state is inevitable. And Yang Ji is about to go on an expedition, but such a big thing happened in the rear area, leaving such a "ticking time bomb"

, can you not be furious? Can you not kill people?

Pei Ju looked at the trembling prisoners below, and couldn't help but sigh, and said to Yang Ji: "We have evidence of guilt in hand, and we can actually try the case based on the evidence. There is no need to wait to meet violence with violence; with this killing, aren't you doing yourself a favor?"

Cause huge trouble?"

Yang Ji glanced at the corrupt officials below, and said coldly: "These dog officials are either the children of aristocratic families, or dogs raised by someone. They have backers and have no limits on what they do. The only thing that can make them

Those who have concerns are the laws, but most of the law enforcers are their own people, so both of them are unscrupulous."

"They just committed crimes. The key is that after good officials saw them committing serious crimes, the court easily exposed them and let them go. So they all thought that the cost of crime was low and the law was insignificant. So they all followed suit and followed suit.

A good official turned into a corrupt official and a big sinner."

"We people are so high above us that even if all the officials in the world are corrupt, we will not be affected. But what about the ordinary people who have no power and nowhere to redress their grievances? What should they do?"

"Why are there more and more corrupt officials in our Sui Dynasty? In the final analysis, the court and the law are too good and too tolerant towards criminals, and the court's tolerance is actually helping the tyrants to commit crimes. In fact, it is encouraging good people to commit corruption and accept bribes."

Pei Ju was shocked. Even if you are the emperor's unique favorite and the number one executioner, even if no one in our Sui Dynasty has ever been convicted for speaking out, you can actually say such treasonous words? This is too arrogant.

Bar?

Yang Ji didn't care about his reaction at all, and continued: "The imperial court and this world have become accustomed to treating headaches and feet, and treating foot pain. If you imagine that this method can cure it, it is better to do it all over again."

Pei Ju was completely dumbfounded. He subconsciously moved his buttocks a little further away from Yang Ji. He looked around and found that there was only a stupid Zhu Can. He breathed a long sigh of relief, but he still asked in a low voice, a little uneasy.

Said: "Is this person reliable?"

"He is my personal guard commander and chief chef, how can he be unreliable?" An idea flashed in Yang Ji's mind and he asked Pei Ju: "You were scared after hearing that, so you planned to kill someone and silence him, right?"

"What a joke, I, Pei Ju, am afraid? When have I ever been afraid? You are just talking nonsense!" Pei Ju was a little confused when his thoughts were revealed, but as soon as he finished speaking, his face straightened and he continued: "You will talk nonsense in the future.

But don’t say it around me, so as not to hurt me. Of course, it’s best if you don’t say it!”

"When I say abolish it and start over, I mean many systems! That's what I did in Liangzhou." Yang Ji moved his eyes from Pei Ju downwards. He looked at the corrupt officials who were writing vigorously and said in a deep voice.

: "If possible, I hope to be transferred to Youzhou after the year, because this place needs to be cleaned up."

When Pei Ju heard these last words, his eyes shrank slightly, he put down the tea cup in his hand, and a feeling of worry surged in his heart.

The fourteen supervisory states were established not long ago in the Sui Dynasty. The personnel allocation in many state capitals is incomplete and the functions are not yet clear. And Youzhou and Turks, Xi tribe, Lin tribe, Nanshiwei, Bodu Mohe, Baishan Mohe, Goguryeo

Bordering; the situation was more complex and severe than that of Liangzhou, where the situation was decided. Therefore, the imperial court was the first to be established, and its key support was Youzhou Prefecture.

However, the very well-established Youzhou Prefecture has caused such a major event in such a short period of time, and the state officials are basically involved in this big deal. With such a corrupt officialdom style and serious corruption in the administration, it is no wonder that Yang

Ji said that Youzhou "needs to be cleaned up".

In this, what role did the governor Li Zixiong play? Was he involved, or was he indifferent and inactive?

However, compared with these, Pei Ju is more worried about the empty warehouse. If this problem cannot be solved properly, it will be an uncontrolled barrier lake hanging above his head. Once it breaks out, the earth will collapse and the world will be shaken.

.

After a long while, Pei Ju sighed and asked, "What are you going to do?"

"Kill!" Although Yang Ji's tone was calm, a soaring murderous aura came out as if it were real: "Anyway, the world lacks everything except people who want to be officials. If killing one is not enough, then

Kill ten, if ten is not enough, kill hundreds, thousands, ten thousand, or one hundred thousand!”

"You know shit, you don't know shit, you just know how to kill, kill, kill. No wonder that unfilial daughter Pei Shuying wants to marry you, because you are just as stupid." Instead of being infected, Pei Ju was furious and gritted his teeth.

He whispered: "I also know that various laws and regulations are full of loopholes, but you think that making laws

People who understand laws and systems don’t understand, don’t you know? No. First, they all take the warning of self-destruction by following the law as a lesson. They worry that one day they or their descendants will make mistakes, and in the end they will be killed by the laws they made.

Secondly, many laws and systems were passed without loopholes."

"No matter how perfect the laws and systems are, they still have to be enforced. If the enforcement is not effective, it means that the board is raised high but put down gently. Some people even ignore this so-called law at all.

Legal system, what can you do about this? What can you do? So, it’s better to be more diplomatic.”

Pei Ju was furious, but there were so many people that he didn't dare to speak too loudly. His lowered voice made the atmosphere seem gloomy.

"What else can I do besides killing?" Yang Ji said without hesitation: "If killing one is not enough, then kill ten. If ten is not enough, kill hundreds, thousands, ten thousand, or one hundred thousand! Anyway, this

There is a shortage of everything in the world, except those who want to be officials."

"..." Pei Ju was stunned. He had said so much sincerely, just hoping that Yang Ji would be more mature and stop hitting and killing all the time. He hoped that he would understand that hitting and killing was wrong.

Unexpectedly, one repeated sentence directly destroyed his efforts. But Pei Ju could not deny that killing was indeed a simple, direct and effective method.

However, at that time, only Yang Ji could do this kind of thing, and he could do it with confidence and boldness; not even the prince or the King of Qi could do it, let alone Pei Ju, who was the leader of the faction.

"You came several ways, and I only went one way. This method can solve the problem without being sad or troublesome. Wouldn't it be pleasant?" Yang Ji said: "I think you can do it too. You can be a treacherous person. No. Are you tired?"

"Haha..." Pei Ju was too lazy to speak. Not to mention that the plan to save Yang Ji ended in failure, Pei Ju himself was led astray. He thought it was better and more enjoyable to go straight and kill. But the problem is that except for Yang Ji , no one can do it!

What made Pei Ju even more puzzled was that Yang Ji regarded officials like this, and there were endless conspiracies and intrigues. However, Yang Guang, who was the emperor, not only did not have the slightest suspicion, but thought that Yang Ji was the least greedy and least fond of power. , the most reliable and pure.

Facing this strange but novel pair of monarchs and ministers, Pei Ju felt that none of the emperor's ideas in his head seemed to be correct, and at the same time he could not analyze a convincing reason.

If we can analyze it and let a smart disciple imitate it, we can at least make the Pei family prosperous for several generations.

It's a pity that he just can't analyze it.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Pei!" At this moment, Ling Jing came forward with a book in his hand and said: "Min Cao Liu Wu, Fa Cao Wen Rui, Lord Bo Ji Yan, and Cang Cao Yuan Hu have been recruited. They have reported the number of warehouses. Very close.”

Yang Ji frowned and asked, "You mean, besides Yicang Liang, is there anything else?"

Hearing this, Pei Ju also looked at Ling Jing.

"Exactly!" Ling Jing replied: "The group of criminals in front of me were either officials in various places in Youzhou, or they had inextricable connections with other people. They had resold military and official rations before, and the food in the Yicang was just It’s just one aspect.”

Yang Ji glanced at the people below who were already standing, then turned to Ling Jing and asked: "How much is the total?"

Ling Jing said solemnly: "The reselling of grain from the charity warehouse involved dozens of county officials in Youzhou. If the previous resold grain is added in, the total would be no less than 3.6 million shi. However, they also confessed that this It’s just a rough number, there are many more that I can’t remember clearly, if I look into it carefully, I’m afraid it’s four to five hundred stones.”

Pei Ju's heart beat violently. Before Yang Ji could speak, he stood up in shock and asked loudly: "How much did you say?"

"Report to Prime Minister Pei!" Ling Jing said solemnly: "The amount of grain resold by this criminal gang is no less than four to five million dan. And the time started when Yuan Hongsi became the general manager of Youzhou."

Pei Ju calculated silently, and then said: "That means it started in the second half of the 20th year of Emperor Kaihuang's reign?"

In the first half of the 20th year of the founding of the Emperor, the general manager of Youzhou (Dazhou) was still Yan Rong. This man was a cruel official. The ministers reported Yan Rong's brutal behavior and corruption and perversion of the law. Yan Rong was sent back to the capital and sentenced to death, and then Yuan Hongsi was appointed to take over the position of governor of Youzhou. However, he was even more brutal than Yan Rong.

After being reported, Yuan Hongsi was taken down again, and it was Dou Kang's turn to be the general manager of Youzhou.

"Exactly!" Ling Jing said with a solemn expression: "So all these grains were sold to Goguryeo..."

"Things like dogs have really eaten the heart of a bear and the guts of a leopard. Kill, you must kill!" Pei Ju slammed the table and said bitterly: "If killing one is not enough, then kill ten. If ten is not enough, kill Hundreds, thousands, ten thousand, one hundred thousand! Anyway, everything is in short supply in this world, except people who want to be officials."

When Yang Ji saw his father-in-law, he was so angry that he was trembling all over. He even said what he said. He quickly got up and comforted him: "As a human being, you should leave a thin line in everything so that we can meet each other in the future. So when you are a human being, you should be more diplomatic and don't always beat around the bush."

Kill it! What do you think?"
To be continued...