bestfiction Chapter 230: Three levels of crime
Chapter 230: Three levels of crime
Mo Li continued, "Are the lives of ordinary people so worthless?"
"Mo Li." Heshen was so angry that he couldn't speak.
"Stop arguing." Emperor Gai Zhang clasped his hands together and said, "Let me think about it."
Heshen's expression softened slightly.
Emperor Gai Zhang thought for a while, sighed, and asked the eunuch to remove the candles.
The eunuch immediately blew out the candle and took the candlestick away.
Seeing this, Mo Li said, "Your Majesty, are you going to let these corrupt officials go unpunished?"
The Emperor said, "I've thought about it. I've divided all the convicted officials into three different levels: 20,000 taels, 10,000 taels, and 1,000 taels. Those who pay more than 20,000 taels will be executed. Those who pay less than 20,000 taels will be given a chance to repent and reform. What do you think?"
Heshen and Chen Huizu said in unison: "Your Majesty is wise."
Emperor Gai Zhang looked at Mo Li and asked, "Mo Li, why are you keeping silent?"
Mo Li said, "I cannot agree with this proposal."
Emperor Stamp asked him to speak.
Mo Li said, "According to our Great Xuan Law, anyone who embezzles more than 1,000 taels will be executed. The proposed three-level division is clearly intended to draw a clear line. If these corrupt officials are not all executed, the fish that swallow the boat will slip through the net, allowing the illegal corrupt officials to have a chance of getting away with it and continue to commit evil, Your Majesty."
The Emperor said, "Well, I will draft an edict. For embezzlement of 10,000 taels, the perpetrator shall be executed pending execution. For embezzlement of less than 9,000 taels, the perpetrator shall be exiled to Heilongjiang for hard labor and shall not be released even if pardoned. His son shall not be allowed to take the civil service examination. Now that the sentence is passed, do you have any objections?"
Mo Li shook his head lightly, "The emperor has made the decision, and I dare not object."
After saying this, he sighed and continued, "I am just sighing."
"What is there to lament?" asked Emperor Gai Zhang.
Mo Li said, "I have read the files of the Ministry of Justice. Five years into the reign of the Emperor, the Infantry Commander E Shan was immediately beheaded for embezzling one thousand taels. Compared to these people today, wasn't E Shan's death quite unjust?"
"Shut up." Emperor Gai Zhang said angrily when he heard this.
"How dare you! You are committing treason." Heshen said loudly.
Mo Li immediately knelt down.
Emperor Gai Zhang said, "Heshen and Chen Huizu, you two should get out."
"Yes." The two looked at Mo Li at the same time, then stood up and left the scene.
Emperor Gai Zhang said, "Mo Li, get up."
Mo Li hesitated for a moment, said thank you, Your Majesty, and stood up.
Emperor Gai Zhang said, "You hate corrupt officials, and you also wish you could kill these hundreds of corrupt officials at once, right?"
Mo Li said, "Yes. If we don't do this, it won't be enough to deter the evil hearts of corrupt officials in the world."
The Emperor stood up and said as he walked, "With a flick of my red pen, they'll all die. It's easy to say that I can deter corrupt officials all over the world. But have you ever thought that this time, all the officials above the Gansu Daofu level have been wiped out. But someone has to fill the vacancy, right? But who can guarantee that the newcomer won't be a greedy and desperate person?"
Mo Li remained silent.
Emperor Gai Zhang continued, "The ducks we just killed were all fat, but the ducks we just sent here were all empty-bellied. How do they fatten themselves? Isn't it because they eat the people? If I get another group of hungry wolves, I will have to give an explanation for the country and the people."
Mo Li remained silent.
The Emperor held up a yellow book and continued, "How many county officials are listed here? I hate them all, but they are under Wang Danwang's command, obeying his orders and sharing the spoils, thus violating the criminal law. These people cannot escape the law, so they can at least be forgiven."
Mo Li remained silent.
Emperor Gai Zhang continued, "Now crimes are divided into three levels. I think He Shen's ideas are more comprehensive than yours."
Mo Li finally spoke, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. I will keep it in mind."