met free Page 498
Page 498
“If everyone answers correctly, we will not pursue the matter of Prefect Cheng.”
"If everyone believes that Prefect Cheng is a corrupt official, then we should punish him according to the laws of Liangshan!"
As soon as Gao Liang finished speaking,
The crowd of people below the stage,
Immediately someone shouted,
"The prefect is a good official!"
"Please, Liangshan, show mercy!"
"Those gentry deserve it! Why can they bully us, but the Prefect can't bully them!"
......
The crowd of people were shouting and yelling loudly, all talking at once.
Almost all the people,
All of this was to get Liangshan to release Cheng Wanli.
At this time,
I don't know who started it.
next moment,
All the people knelt down in worship.
"Please, Chief Zhao of Liangshan, spare Prefect Cheng!"
The people had to shout.
This immediately turned the faces of the dozen or so wealthy gentlemen pale.
They couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.
The Cheng family members were on the high platform.
They all looked down at the people below in surprise.
"Father, listen!"
Cheng Wan'er grabbed Cheng Wanli's arm excitedly.
Everyone says you're a good official!
"The people are indeed kind-hearted; they will remember the good you have done for them."
The prefect's wife couldn't help but raise her hand to wipe her eyes.
"Our Cheng family has finally overcome this calamity."
"Um,"
Cheng Wanli nodded excitedly.
Of the three members of the Cheng family,
His feelings were the most complicated of all.
Young people set their goals
Wanting to serve the country and the imperial court,
After passing the imperial examination,
However, his official career continued to decline.
Until middle age,
He sought refuge with the Privy Councilor Tong Guan.
Only then did his career begin to go smoothly.
In the past,
Although Cheng Wanli treated the people well,
But more,
They still regarded Tong Guan as their benefactor.
That's why, even though he was unwilling, he...
Yet he still solicited bribes from merchants for Tong Guan's sake!
But today,
Seeing so many people with my own eyes,
In order to plead for mercy from Liangshan,
Cheng Wanli was filled with mixed emotions.
He then suddenly realized what was going on.
Tong Guan helped him in his official career.
That was all so that Cheng Wanli could amass wealth for him!
And these people in front of us
That was the greatest "benefactor" of Prefect Cheng.
Thinking of this,
Overwhelmed with emotion, Cheng Wanli knelt before the crowd of people.
"Fellow villagers, I, Cheng, am here to thank you all..."
Chapter 654 Stay or Leave
The public trial of Cheng Wanli for soliciting bribes,
It's over now.
Seeing the crowd of people,
With one heart and one mind,
They all pleaded with Liangshan on behalf of Cheng Wanli.
Those ten or so merchants and gentry
How could he dare to ask Cheng Wanli any more questions?
Before Zhao Yuan could speak,
They all went to Liangshan to apologize.
They claimed that they had wronged Cheng Wanli.
The real culprit is...
It was Tong Guan, the treacherous eunuch from Bianliang, the capital of the Eastern Capital!
Although this matter of soliciting bribes,
It was indeed Cheng Wanli who did it.
But in this day and age...
Nine out of ten officials are corrupt.
There was another one who was even greedier.
Compared to Cheng Wanli,
Local officials,
They'll only become more greedy!
Like Cheng Wanli,
He solicited bribes and took bribes.
Do this
It was all because of Tong Guan's coercion.
The money demanded
They were all sent to Tong Guan in Bianliang, the capital of Tokyo.
This is the first year or so I've been in Dongping Prefecture.
Although Cheng Wanli solicited bribes of more than 200,000 strings of cash,
But he didn't take a single penny.
If it were any other official...
In addition to handing over more than 200,000 strings of cash to Tong Guan,
He would definitely take this opportunity to make money.
We absolutely must get another two or three hundred thousand strings of cash!
Although they were on Liangshan Mountain back then,
I was acquainted with Cheng Wan'er.
But on important matters,
Zhao Yuan would not show favoritism because of this friendship.
The reason he was willing to help Cheng Wanli was
May the Cheng family survive this calamity.
The main reason is that,
Compared to other officials at this time,
Cheng Wanli is truly a one-in-a-thousand good official!
...
"Many thanks to Chief Zhao for saving my father,"
Inside the prefect's mansion,
Cheng Wan'er gave a slight curtsy.
He bowed to Zhao Yuan with a face full of gratitude.
Cheng Wanli, standing to the side, also bowed with a complex expression.
If it were any other time,
Upon meeting Zhao Yuan, the biggest bandit leader of Liangshan,
According to what Cheng Wanli learned from childhood,
They will certainly curse them vehemently.
But now,
He was not only a prisoner.
He also carries a reputation for soliciting bribes.
He himself was saved by Zhao Yuan.
A lifetime of clarity and tranquility
It has been completely destroyed.
How could they possibly have the nerve to scold others!
"Prefect Cheng, there's no need for such formalities,"
Zhao Yuan waved his hand.