When Wang Mang, Peng Cheng, Taiping governor and others learnt from the mouth of Yang shopkeeper that Zhu Pingan took the initiative to ask them if they could donate money, each one was excited beyond words, what donating money for the victims ah, this is disguised as a bribe ah!
Write it down! This is the point! Zhang Wen Bo excitedly reminded the accompanying clerks to make a good record of the party and the subsequent questioning without losing a single word, and later ask Boss Yang to sign and press, this is the evidence of Zhu Ping An’s guilt!
“And then? Go on!”Wang Mang looks excited and can’t wait to urge Shopkeeper Yang to continue on.
“After the County Honour asked, I expressed my willingness on the spot, then the County Honour took out a donation book, which I signed and pressed my handprints on, and then donated a donation of two thousand five hundred taels of silver.”Shopkeeper Yang continued.
Two thousand five hundred taels!
Wang Mang was even more excited when he heard this, just this Shopkeeper Yang alone, Zhu Pingan had solicited a bribe of two thousand five hundred taels of silver!
My dynasty “Daming Law” for corruption but the provisions of the clear: Supervisor of theft, 40 Guan Tong; perverted stolen goods, 80 Guan strangulation; not perverted stolen goods, 120 Guan stop canes 100, flow 3000 miles; intimidation to take money, quasi-theft theory plus one, not the property canes; private use of people’s power, 1 flogging 40, the offence stop canes 80.
Taizu promulgated after the “Daming Law”, strictly ordered future generations shall not be revised. Although, because of practical needs, successive generations added a lot of “Daming Law” does not provide for corruption, for sentencing has also been reduced, such as civilian officials, supervisors, know the seal, Cheng Differences, guilty of perverted loot should be hanged, more changed to be dispatched to the army.
However, based solely on the two thousand five hundred silver stolen money, he Zhu Pingan also finished! He will be sent to the army even if he doesn’t die!
In addition, this is only one grain shop, other grain shops, can imagine Zhu Pingan corruption amount must be a huge number. Even if it’s not like Liu Wannian’s 80,000 taels of impeachment, it must be 50,000 or 60,000 taels!
When this amount is found out and reported to the saint, the saint will definitely be furious, and Zhu Pingan will definitely have no chance of survival!
“Do you know, did Zhu Ping An ask other grain merchants for bribes, that is what you said about donating money to charity?”
The more Wang Mang thought about it, the more excited he became, his eyes burned as he looked at Boss Yang and continued to ask.
“Yes. Without exception, all the grain merchants in this county, large and small, have been asked by the county honourable father if they are willing to donate good money for the victims in Jingnan. The grain merchants from outside of the county who came to Jingnan, the county honourable father would also send people to ask if they are willing to donate money for charity.”
Yang Zhanbei nodded and replied back one by one.
Upon hearing this, Wang Mang, Peng Cheng, Zhang Wenbo, Taiping Magistrate, and the rest of them were flushed with excitement, as if they had drunk a catty of old wine. Zhu Pingan’s appetite was surprisingly so big and bold that none of the large and small grain merchants were spared! It was really outstanding! Hahaha, this time Zhu Pingan is in trouble, the gods can’t save him!
“What? None of the large and small grain merchants? Grain merchants from outside the country, Zhu Ping An would even take the initiative to send someone to ask them?!”
Xu Hai sniffed and couldn’t help but speak out in indignation.
“Yes. Without exception. Even if there are grain merchants from out of town who forget to make donations, the county dignitary will send an errand boy to ask.”Shopkeeper Yang returned.
“Do you know how much silver has been donated?”Wang Meng pushed down the excitement and thrill in his heart and continued to ask.
“I don’t dare to deceive you lords. We grain merchants have consciously divided ourselves into three grades of large, medium, and small according to our size and strength. Where belongs to the small grade grain merchants, donate eight hundred taels of silver charity; where belongs to the middle grade grain merchants, donate one thousand five hundred taels of silver charity; like me this big grade grain merchants donate two thousand five hundred taels of silver charity. The county’s local grain merchants of all sizes totalled 38 people, donating a total of 46,000 taels of silver. Later, after the county honourable definition of grain prices spread out, foreign grain merchants came a lot, as of today there are 53 foreign grain merchants, they are also in accordance with our agreed amount of donations, they donated a total of 63,000 taels of silver money. Of course, if one is willing to donate more, the county dignitary will not refuse. I donated two thousand five hundred taels of silver for the first time, and ten days ago I consciously went to the county office to donate an additional one thousand taels of silver for charity.”
Shopkeeper Yang truthfully returned.
Nonsense! It would be strange if he, Zhu Pingan, could refuse! Who would mind too much silver! Wang Meng and the others snorted!
Following that, the crowd couldn’t help but suck in a breath of cool air, in that case, wouldn’t Zhu Pingan have embezzled more than 100,000 taels of silver! More than 100,000 taels ah! He, Zhu Pingan, has a huge appetite and is not afraid of bursting his belly!
One hundred thousand taels!
This can be considered the rare giant corruption in this dynasty!
I didn’t realise, I didn’t realise that at such a young age, he was so bold! He’s so insatiable! Less than half a year in office and he’s already corrupted more than 100,000 taels of silver! Worthy of being the youngest Scholar of our dynasty, this hand, this guts, can stand shoulder to shoulder with Little Minister Yan! Blah blah blah blah, what was I thinking, how could Little Minister Yan be corrupt! Wang Mang shook his head, he, Zhu Pingan, is also worthy of being compared to Little Minister Yan!
After hearing the figures reported by Shopkeeper Yang, Xu Hai’s face became even darker, as black as the bottom of a pot, his hands shaking with anger.
“Oh yeah, after you donated 2,500 taels, why did you consciously donate an additional 1,000 taels of silver?”
Zhang Wenbo asked curiously.
“In order to motivate us to donate good deeds, the county honourable father wrote three plaques of ‘Compassionate Merchants and Good Jia’ in his own handwriting, and the three grain merchants who donate the most money for good deeds will be able to hang the plaques mentioned by the county honourable father in his own handwriting. Ahem ……It is the plaque hanging outside the door of the small shop ……”
Shopkeeper Yang was a little embarrassed to reply, he donated an extra thousand taels just to get this plaque.
In order to get more silver, Zhu Pingan’s tricks are really many! If he has so much heart, why doesn’t he use it on the right path?
Xu Hai’s face darkened even more!
“A plaque is also worth your ……”Zhang Wenbo scoffed at Boss Yang, still really Zhu Pingan’s licking dog!
“Ahem, I don’t dare to hide it from you all, my lords. The people recognise our county honours, and whoever’s house hangs this plaque, the people are willing to go to whoever’s house to buy food. Whosever family hangs this plaque will have no worries about selling their grain.”
Shopkeeper Yang lowered his head and returned.
These foolish people! Zhu Pingan is so massively corrupt, and they even recognise Zhu Pingan? What a cheap bastard!
Wang Mang and the others sniffed and couldn’t help but scoff at the people of Jingnan, what a bunch of stupid cheap bones!
The scribe quickly wrote a transcript of the enquiry, and after Wang Mang and the others examined it for accuracy, they made Boss Yang sign and seal it.
“No, this is different from what I said.”Shopkeeper Yang read the transcript once and said with a bitter face.
Wang Mang’s face was in disbelief, “Where is it wrong?!”
“The County Honour is asking if we are willing to donate, not asking for a bribe; also, we are donating, not offering a bribe.”
Shopkeeper Yang cried out.
“Heh! Thou hast even defended Zhu Pingan? What bullshit donations, but it is just a disguised request for a bribe to accept a bribe. You and rest assured, this is Zhu Pingan solicitation of bribes, you and others are barely a victim, in addition to your confession today, exposing merit, this official can keep you innocent. Quickly sign and draw a pledge!”
Wang Mang sneered and impatiently said to Boss Yang.
“No.”Boss Yang was on the verge of crying, holding the brush in his hand, hesitating to sign, “It’s really a donation! It’s not soliciting or accepting bribes! Grasshopper with several heads wouldn’t dare to deceive in front of the East Chamber officials.”
Yoho? I didn’t expect you to be so loyal to Zhu Pingan?
Wang Meng and the others could not help but be baffled.
“Your family is in Zhu Pingan’s hands?”Wang Mang froze for a moment and asked with a frown.
“No.”Shopkeeper Yang shook his head.
“Then you have a handle on Zhu Pingan?”Wang Mang frowned and asked again.
“No.”Shopkeeper Yang’s eyes were brought to tears when he heard this, “None of that. Your Excellency, the grasshopper is not trying to weasel his way out of this for the county honours, he just doesn’t dare to lie. All of you adults are under imperial orders to do business, how can I dare to lie in front of all of you adults, especially in front of the East Chamber officials, that is the crime of deceiving the emperor by executing the nine clans. This is a check out, how dare the grass people lie, adults, the grass people are telling the truth, really is a donation ah!”
“This official has guaranteed you innocence, how dare you still don’t know how to appreciate your honour?!”Wang Meng couldn’t help but become furious.
“It’s really a donation, if you don’t believe me, go to the county office and take a look.”Shopkeeper Yang kowtowed as if he were pounding on garlic, saying that he reached out his hand and pointed in the direction of the county government office.
