When Wang Meng, Peng Cheng, Taiping County Magistrate and others learned from Shopkeeper Yang that Zhu Ping'an had taken the initiative to ask them if they were willing to donate money, they were so excited that they couldn't express it in words. What kind of donations should be made to disaster victims? This is a disguised form of bribery!
Write it down! This is the key point! Zhang Wenbo excitedly reminded the accompanying clerk to take good notes and write down every word of the questions just now and afterwards. He would ask Yang the shopkeeper to sign it later. This would be the evidence of Zhu Ping'an's guilt.
"And then?! Keep going!" Wang Meng looked excited and couldn't wait to urge Shopkeeper Yang to continue.
"After the county magistrate asked, I expressed my willingness on the spot. Then the county magistrate took out a donation letter, I signed and put my fingerprint on it, and then donated 2,500 taels of silver." Shopkeeper Yang continued.
Two thousand five hundred taels!
Wang Meng became even more excited after hearing this. From Manager Yang alone, Zhu Ping'an demanded a bribe of 2,500 taels of silver!
The Great Ming Code of our dynasty has clear provisions on corruption: if a clerk embezzles from a public servant, he shall be punished with 40 strings of cane; if he takes bribes in violation of the law, he shall be strangled with 80 strings of cane; if he takes bribes without taking bribes in violation of the law, a maximum of 100 strings of cane shall be imposed for 120 strings of cane and 3,000 miles of exile; if he takes money by intimidation, he shall be treated as theft with one level higher punishment, and no financial punishment shall be imposed; if he uses the labor of the people for private purposes, he shall be flogged 40 times, and the maximum punishment is 80 strings of cane.
After Taizu promulgated the Great Ming Code, he strictly ordered that future generations should not revise it. Although, due to practical needs, many corruption cases that were not stipulated in the Great Ming Code were added in successive dynasties, and the sentencing was also reduced. For example, for civil officials, students, seal holders, and errand boys who committed corruption and abuse of power, the sentence was changed to exile and military service.
However, just based on the 2,500 taels of stolen silver, Zhu Ping'an was finished! If he didn't die, he would be exiled!
In addition, this is just one grain store. As for other grain stores, it can be imagined that the amount of corruption by Zhu Pingan must be a huge number. Even if it is not as much as the 80,000 taels impeached by Liu Wannian, it must be 50,000 or 60,000 taels!
Once this amount is found out and reported to His Majesty, he will certainly be furious, and Zhu Ping'an will definitely be killed!
"Do you know if Zhu Ping'an asked other grain merchants for bribes, which is what you call donations?"
The more Wang Meng thought about it, the more excited he became. He looked at Shopkeeper Yang with burning eyes and continued to ask.
"Yes. The county magistrate has asked all the grain merchants in this county, big or small, whether they are willing to donate money to the victims of the disaster in Jingnan. The county magistrate will also send people to ask grain merchants from other places who come to Jingnan whether they are willing to donate money."
Yang Zhangui nodded and answered in detail.
Hearing this, Wang Meng, Peng Cheng, Zhang Wenbo, Taiping County Magistrate and others were so excited that their faces flushed, as if they had drunk a pound of old wine. Zhu Ping'an's appetite was so big and his courage was so great that he spared no grain merchants, big or small! He is really excellent! Hahahaha, this time Zhu Ping'an is doomed, and even the gods can't save him!
"What? All grain merchants, big or small, are no exception?! Zhu Ping'an would take the initiative to send people to ask grain merchants from other places?!"
Hearing this, Xu Hai couldn't help but speak out in anger.
"Yes. Without exception. Even if a grain merchant from other places forgets to donate, the county magistrate will send officials to ask." Shopkeeper Yang replied.
"Do you know how much silver has been donated?" Wang Meng suppressed the excitement in his heart and continued to ask.
"I dare not deceive you. We grain merchants are divided into three categories according to our scale and strength. Those who belong to the small grain merchants donated 800 taels of silver; those who belong to the medium grain merchants donated 1,500 taels of silver; and large grain merchants like me donated 2,500 taels of silver. There are 38 local grain merchants of all sizes in this county, who donated a total of 46,000 taels of silver. Later, after the county magistrate's move to define the grain price spread, many grain merchants from other places came. As of today, there are 53 grain merchants from other places, and they all donated according to our agreed amount. They donated a total of 63,000 taels of silver. Of course, if you are willing to donate more, the county magistrate will not refuse. I donated 2,500 taels of silver for the first time, and ten days ago I voluntarily went to the county government and donated another 1,000 taels of silver."
Shopkeeper Yang replied truthfully.
Nonsense! It would be strange if Zhu Ping'an could refuse! Who would complain about too much money? Wang Meng and others sneered!
Then, everyone couldn't help but take a breath of cold air. If that's the case, then Zhu Ping'an must have embezzled more than 100,000 taels of silver! More than 100,000 taels! Zhu Ping'an has such a big appetite, he's not afraid of bursting his belly!
One hundred thousand taels!
This is a rare corrupt official in this dynasty!
I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it, Zhu Ping'an, at such a young age, would be so bold! So greedy! Less than half a year after taking office, he has embezzled more than 100,000 taels of silver! He is worthy of being the youngest champion of our dynasty. With this skill and courage, he can stand shoulder to shoulder with Little Prime Minister Yan! Bah, bah, bah, what am I thinking, how could Little Prime Minister Yan be corrupt! Wang Meng shook his head. How could he, Zhu Ping'an, be compared with Little Prime Minister Yan!
After hearing the number reported by Manager Yang, Xu Hai's face turned even darker, as black as the bottom of a pot, and his hands began to tremble with anger.
"Oh, by the way, after you donated 2,500 taels, why did you feel like you donated an extra 1,000 taels?"
Zhang Wenbo asked curiously.
"In order to encourage us to donate to charity, the county magistrate personally wrote three plaques with the words 'Charitable Merchants'. The three grain merchants who donated the most money can hang the plaques written by the county magistrate. Ahem... that's the plaque hanging outside the store..."
Shopkeeper Yang replied somewhat embarrassedly that he donated an extra thousand taels just to get this plaque.
In order to make more money, Zhu Ping'an has many tricks! With so many tricks, why not use the right path!
Xu Hai's face turned even darker!
"A plaque is worthy of you..." Zhang Wenbo sneered at Shopkeeper Yang, he is really Zhu Ping'an's bootlicker!
"Ahem, I dare not hide it from you gentlemen. The common people recognize us as the county lord. Whoever hangs this plaque, the common people are willing to go to that house to buy grain. Whoever hangs this plaque, their grain will not have to worry about sales."
Shopkeeper Yang lowered his head and replied.
These foolish people! Zhu Ping'an is so corrupt, yet they still recognize him?! They are such bastards!
Upon hearing this, Wang Meng and others could not help but sneer at the people of Jingnan, what a bunch of stupid and despicable people!
The clerk quickly wrote a record of the interrogation, and after Wang Meng and others reviewed it and found it to be correct, they asked Manager Yang to sign it.
"No, this is different from what I said." Shopkeeper Yang read the transcript and said with a bitter face.
Wang Meng looked surprised, "What's wrong?!"
"The county magistrate is asking us if we are willing to donate, not asking for bribes; and we are donating, not offering bribes."
Shopkeeper Yang said with a sad face.
"Huh? You're trying to defend Zhu Ping'an? What a bullshit donation! It's just a disguised form of soliciting bribes. Don't worry, this is Zhu Ping'an soliciting bribes, and you can barely be considered victims. In addition, you have made great contributions by confessing and exposing the facts today, so I can guarantee your innocence. Sign your name and seal it quickly!"
Wang Meng sneered and said to Shopkeeper Yang impatiently.
"No." Shopkeeper Yang was about to cry. He held the brush in his hand and hesitated to sign. "It's really a donation! It's not bribery! I dare not lie to the officials of the East Factory even if I have several heads."
Yo huh?! I didn't expect you to be so loyal to Zhu Pingan?!
Wang Meng and others were stunned.
"Your family is in Zhu Ping'an's hands?" Wang Meng was stunned for a moment and asked with a frown.
"No." Shopkeeper Yang shook his head.
"Then do you have leverage over Zhu Ping'an?" Wang Meng asked again with a frown.
"No." Shopkeeper Yang was so scared that tears came out when he heard this, "Nothing. Sir, I am not trying to defend the county lord, I just don't dare to lie. You gentlemen are doing the job under the order of the emperor. How dare I lie in front of you gentlemen, especially in front of the officials of the East Factory? That is a crime of deceiving the emperor and punishable by the death of nine generations of the clan. This matter will be found out as soon as it is investigated. How dare I lie? Sir, I am telling the truth. It really is a donation!"
"I have guaranteed your innocence, but you still don't know how to appreciate it?!" Wang Meng couldn't help but get furious.
"It is really a donation. If you don't believe me, just go to the county government office and take a look." Shopkeeper Yang kowtowed repeatedly and pointed in the direction of the county government office.