Chapter 295: Not Qualified

Chapter 295: Unfit

His voice was not particularly loud, even hoarse from unhealed severe injuries.

Yet it strangely pierced through the wind and human noise in the square, reaching everyone's ears clearly:

"Chengping's Provincial Commissioner, Lian Wujing!" He read out the first name, his voice cold as iron.

Lian Wujing suddenly raised his head, staring straight at Cheng Ge, his gaze like a venomous snake.

Cheng Ge ignored his glare, unfurling the bloodstained writ of indictment in his hand, and began to read it aloud, one charge after another.

His voice was steady and clear, each word like a heavy hammer striking everyone's hearts:

"Count one: Embezzlement of government funds allocated for river works and disaster relief grain, totaling 3.27 million taels of silver! Causing the collapse of dikes in four counties, drowning over 2,600 people, and leaving tens of thousands homeless!"

The crowd erupted in an uproar; the memory of that horrific flood was still fresh in everyone's mind, with countless people losing their families and homes.

"Count two: Allowing subordinates to forcibly abduct young girls in various prefectures and counties, forcing them into prostitution, and establishing dozens of illegal brothels!

Those who refused were either beaten to death or sold to other places, destroying their innocence and breaking up families—an unforgivable crime!"

"Count three: Without imperial permission, privately opening dozens of salt and iron mines! To cover up the crimes, they forcibly conscripted laborers and disregarded human life!

At the Wei County mine alone, they killed and maimed 3,582 identified miners!"

Roars of anger rose from the square, shouts of condemnation were incessant. Some agitated people even tried to rush forward and attack, but were stopped.

"Count four: To rake in exorbitant profits, they colluded with the enemy and committed treason, selling large quantities of iron ore to the Northern Di and Southern barbarians..."

As soon as the words "treason" were uttered, even some originally numb commoners widened their eyes, staring in disbelief at those officials they called their "parent officials" kneeling on the ground.

If the previous crimes were only local tyranny, this one was outright treason—a betrayal of the people and of all border soldiers!

"Count five: Embezzling the pensions for fallen soldiers at the border! Total of one million one hundred thousand taels of silver!"

Lian Wujing's forehead veins bulged, and he gnashed his teeth, "Cheng Ge, don't slander me!"

At these words, many veterans in old military uniforms or with scars on their bodies glared with rage.

"Count six: Inventing pretexts to impose extra taxes, exploiting the people through excessive levies! The amount of taxes embezzled over the years is incalculable! People were forced to sell their children to pay taxes!"

"Count seven: Allowing household slaves and in-laws to arbitrarily seize farmland and homes from the people!"

"Count eight: Deceiving superiors and bullying inferiors..."

Cheng Ge's voice echoed in the air, every word like a dagger piercing into the flesh of Lian Wujing and the others!

With each count Cheng Ge read out, the people's fury grew with each charge.

At first, there were low, muffled growls, gradually turning into earth-shattering roars and curses.

Rotten vegetable leaves, rotten eggs, and stones began flying out of the crowd at the officials on their knees.

The soldiers could barely maintain order, but the crowd was so enraged it almost broke through the barrier.

The sun hung high, dark clouds gradually dispersing, and the crowd's agitation grew more intense.

"Count twenty-three: Framing the virtuous, eliminating dissenters! Those who disobeyed were either dismissed from office or, worse, had charges fabricated and were thrown in prison or executed!"

The former County Magistrate of Wei County, Shen Chongzhuo, was falsely accused by you of colluding with foreign powers because he was investigating your crimes, and his corpse was hanged on the high wall.

He, along with 963 miner witnesses, was burned to death in the courtyard, leaving no intact bodies!

"My hometown is in Wei County. I always said that magistrate was a good official—how could he betray the country? I never thought he was framed!"

"A bunch of corrupt officials deserve to die! My son has been missing for years; I bet he was kidnapped by these officials!"

...

Lian Wujing's face turned from pale to livid to ashen amid these gruesome accusations and the roar of public anger.

The other officials were even more disgraceful: some kowtowed for mercy, some fainted from fear, and some even soiled themselves.

Cheng Ge finished reading the last charge and slowly closed the dossier.

He looked up at the two huge coffins and the crowded rows of spirit tablets behind them.

"Lian Wujing, you and your ilk have embezzled funds, perverted the law, treated human life like dirt, forced good women into prostitution, illegally opened mines, trafficked people, embezzled soldiers' pay, overtaxed the people, encroached on farmland, and framed loyal and upright men…

Every single crime—the evidence is ironclad! Your sins are heinous and too numerous to list!"

He turned abruptly, his eyes sweeping the crowd like lightning, finally fixing on Lian Wujing's face, and spoke each word with a voice that shook the ground:

"Today, I, the imperial envoy on an inspection tour, will sacrifice your heads to honor these thousands of wronged souls! To uphold the national law! To reassure the people!"

Cheng Ge's voice echoed over the square, like the tolling of a death knell.

The people's anger had been completely ignited, their roars deafening:

"Kill them!"

"Avenge the dead villagers!!"

"Your Honor, you cannot let these corrupt officials off!!"

Lian Wujing was forced down by two burly armored soldiers, his shoulders held tight, and dragged to the front of the two huge coffins and spirit tablets.

He struggled, trying to straighten his bent back, his official robe disheveled, his crown askew, but still managed to twist his face into a sneer.

He turned his head, his gaze cutting through the noisy crowd, and stared fixedly at Cheng Ge.

Although his voice was somewhat distorted because he was being held down, it carried a sharpness.

"Cheng Ge! Even if you are an Imperial Censor and hold criminal evidence, so what?!

Our dynasty's law clearly states! An Imperial Censor only has the power to investigate and impeach! The case must be reported to the throne for the Emperor's decision!

After that, it must undergo a joint trial by the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate; only after verification and a final ruling can the punishment be executed!"

As he spoke, his voice grew louder, his back seemed to straighten a bit, and his eyes held a hint of contempt.

"We are all high-ranking imperial officials serving the country and the people! What right do you have to punish me?!!"

This case involves so many people and such grave charges; according to the law, it should indeed be escorted to the capital.

But a joint trial by the three judicial departments would take at least half a year to a year to reach a conclusion.

"If you dare to inflict punishment today without authorization, you will be overstepping your authority, setting up a private court, and illegally killing imperial ministers! That is a capital crime! That is treason!!"

His words showed a deep-seated trust in the way the bureaucratic system worked.

He believed that as long as the procedures were followed, as long as he could drag things out.

Cheng Ge, a young censor with no real backing, would never dare, nor could he bear the heinous crime of “killing a minister without authorization”!

The network he had cultivated in the capital and the backing behind him would naturally not sit idly by.

His eyes dark and sinister, he looked at Cheng Ge and said, "That will be the day this brat dies!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the scene went dead silent.

Some of the originally angry common people showed expressions of hesitation and worry on their faces.

True enough, officials protect each other; these high-ranking officials have intricate connections. Can they really be killed just like that?

Will Censor Cheng get into big trouble because of this?