The Revolt of the Three Feudatories: All-in at the start in Beijing

Chapter 164 Cleaning Up the Ministry of Personnel

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Upon hearing this, Li Yong immediately stepped forward. "Your Excellency, I am Li Yong, the cavalry commander of the Hanzhong Camp!"

After looking Li Yong over, Zhao Ning patted him on the shoulder.

"You deserve the greatest credit for Wang Fuchen's treason this time. However, Hanzhong is the shield of Guanzhong, and we still need generals to lead troops to garrison Hanzhong. Are you willing?"

Upon hearing this, those around him immediately showed envy. Guarding a strategic location in a prefecture, coupled with the meritorious service in Wang Fuchen's matter, he was likely to lead an army and become a regional commander.

Li Yong was not one to back down from trouble, and immediately bowed respectfully.

"This humble servant is willing to go!"

Zhao Ning nodded upon hearing this. Sending Li Yong to Hanzhong was not out of personal motives, but because after questioning him, he learned that Li Yong had defeated Wang Fuchen in a one-on-one duel, and in full view of everyone. This would undoubtedly establish a strong reputation for him in the army.

It's impossible to bring all 30,000 troops back to Chang'an. Not only are there too few soldiers in Hanzhong to defend it, but bringing them all back would be a hassle. Therefore, they need to be managed in batches.

Thinking of this, Zhao Ning immediately gave the order.

"Li Yong, immediately select 10,000 brave soldiers from the rebel army, and then immediately head south to Hanzhong. Make sure to guard all the passes and not let Wu Sangui's army advance even a single step."

Without hesitation, Li Yong received the order and went to the prisoner camp, first standing on the top of Lao Jun Temple.

"Brothers, the pay and benefits His Majesty has given us are unprecedented in history, so I know you have all been deceived by Wang Fuchen, which is why you followed him in rebellion!"

"Now that Wang Fuchen has been arrested, those who are willing to follow Li to Hanzhong are all heading south of Lao Jun Temple."

"Remember, there are only about eight thousand spots available!"

The soldiers guarding the Lao Jun Temple were initially confused, but the echoes from the canyon made them realize what was going on, and they all wanted to follow him back to Hanzhong.

Because this was the first time the prisoners were released, the more than 8,000 prisoners, plus the more than 1,000 Han soldiers brought out by Li Yong, made up a total of 10,000 troops to march south.

This small force can hold Hanzhong easily, but its strength for advancing is limited, and the imperial court needs to make new arrangements.

Zhao Ning, on the other hand, disorganized the remaining rebels and then had his three thousand garrison troops manage them, thus quelling the rebellion.

As for Li Tingyu, he was escorted to Beijing by a team of elite soldiers along with Wang Fuchen, along with a military report from Zhao Ning.

……

At this moment, Liu Mu was sitting in the main seat of the Ministry of Personnel, holding an exquisite dagger.

Below the main hall, Zhang Ying and ten officials from the Ministry of Personnel knelt in fear.

The other six ministers, as well as the left and right vice ministers, and Xie Bo'an, the accompanying scribe, were all present.

Since Liu Mu returned to the palace eight days ago, the Imperial City Guard has taken control of everyone in the Ministry of Personnel and imprisoned them all in the Imperial Prison. Subsequently, all books and officials' files were seized.

Zhang Ying, who had been imprisoned for seven days, looked quite haggard, but he still refused to believe that Liu Mu was an emperor who indiscriminately killed his subjects. He immediately knelt down and moved two steps.

"Huang Yisan, we have no idea what crime we have committed! That the Imperial City Guards would go to such lengths!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Mu gave Zhang Ying a cold look.

He was not Emperor Chongzhen, but the real emperor who commanded hundreds of thousands of troops in the capital. After learning about the corruption in Tianjin, he immediately arrested everyone and investigated them again to ensure that no one escaped.

Just then, Liu Dingbian stepped forward with the offering paper.

"Your Majesty, they're all here!"

Liu Mu nodded, took the document and examined it carefully. Soon his face turned red and warm. He slammed his hand on the table and then glared at Zhang Ying.

"Look, take a good look at me!"

Zhang Ying was instantly dumbfounded, because he had already sensed the killing intent; the emperor had really wanted to kill him.

Without a second thought, Zhang Ying knelt down and went to the table, picking up the offering paper.

As the Minister of Personnel, he was more familiar with the things here than the emperor, and he was so frightened at a glance that he lay prostrate on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I deserve to die!"

"I never imagined that Luo Shijie was actually a remnant of the Manchu Qing dynasty. I even recommended him for the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, allowing him to extend his influence into the officialdom of our Great Han!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Mu took a deep breath to calm himself down.

Luo Shijie was introduced to Zhang Ying less than half a month after the appointment of the six ministers.

Because the Six Ministries were short of personnel at the time, and other ministers were also looking for talented people from the common people to recommend, Liu Mu saw Jia Shijie's resume, which showed that he had served as a principal officer in the Ministry of Personnel of the Qing Dynasty for three years, and approved his application first.

What has now been discovered is that Luo Shijie's resume was fabricated, and his true identity is that of Nurhaci's twelfth son, Ajige's illegitimate son.

Since Ajige was executed more than 20 years ago, and all his descendants were removed from the clan register, Luo Shijie is now 18 years old, which means that this guy also enjoyed life when he was young.

That's why they wanted to overthrow the Han Dynasty.

Zhang Ying's recommendation of Luo Shijie was entirely due to the fact that Luo Shijie had helped him out of trouble during the imperial examinations.

"It seems that he was promoted too quickly, which led to his youth and excessive focus on personal relationships, which caused this disaster."

After muttering a couple of words to himself, Liu Mu patted the table.

"By imperial decree, Zhang Ying, Minister of Personnel, has neglected his duties, causing a major disaster. He is hereby dismissed from his post, flogged thirty times, and exiled to a garrison in Bhutan as a clerk. His entire family shall go with him!"

"Furthermore, confiscate the property and exterminate the families of Luo Shijie and the twelve officials he promoted. Shake all the eggs in their homes until the yolks are broken!"

After Liu Mu finished speaking, he waved his hand.

After receiving the order, Liu Dingbian first went to Zhang Ying.

"Lord Zhang, please!"

Zhang Ying was speechless. Such a big matter, and the emperor hadn't even confiscated his property and exterminated his clan. This was already an act of great grace from the emperor. So he quickly kowtowed to Liu Mu.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Watching Zhang Ying's departing figure, Liu Mu pinched his nose. Sending Zhang Ying to Bhutan was also a little something he wanted to do.

Li Weiqing has already submitted three letters, stating that he is overwhelmed by the excessive political affairs in Tibet and Bhutan.

Sending Zhang Ying is just right.

If they can really conquer the Mughals, this guy can accomplish great things over there.

Just then, Li Guangdi stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Personnel is responsible for the appointment and removal of officials in the Han Dynasty. There are too many vacancies at this time, and they must be filled in a timely manner!"

Liu Mu didn't think much of Li Guangdi's enthusiastic speech. The Minister of Revenue was no less important than the Minister of Personnel, and besides, he knew that Liu Mu would not appoint him as the Minister of Personnel.

Because he already has enough power!

If he gains more power, Liu Mu will have to draw his sword and kill someone!

Thinking of this, Liu Mu glanced around at everyone in the hall. The Han Dynasty was now full of talented people. Apart from Luo Shijie, who was an outlier, the other people recommended by the Minister were all capable.

Boom boom boom!

Liu Mu tapped the jade thumb ring in his hand rhythmically on the table, each tap stirring the hearts of the men, causing the six ministers to straighten their backs.

His face practically screamed: Pick me!

After all, this is the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Heaven.

It's not shabby at all!