Chapter 769: Killing a Chicken to Honor the Monkey
The matter finally came to Guo Hao, who looked at Cao Cao, Xiao Meiniang, Yuwen Chengdu, Ma Chao, Li Shimin and others in the waiting room with helplessness on his face.
"Now, who can tell me why so many people were arrested by Luoyang Ling?"
"You caused trouble and fought in Luoyang City, and even flew at high altitudes. In the end, I even had to come and rescue you personally!"
Bao Zheng and Man Chong, who followed behind Guo Hao, looked helpless. He swore that this was the most bizarre case they had ever tried in their lives. However, such a case even involved Cao Cao, one of the Three Dukes of the Court.
That's why they had no choice but to report to Guo Hao and ask Guo Hao to handle it personally. They really couldn't handle this matter as there were too many people involved.
There are people from the imperial court, aristocratic families, the military, and even people from the line of general Xiao Meiniang. They are in charge of criminal law, but it is really difficult to judge these people.
After understanding the whole story, Guo Hao was also helpless.
Strictly speaking, Cao Cao and his men were still victims, but because of their reputation, they allowed a small incident to ferment to the point where there was no way to resolve it .
"Let them all go, and deal with those involved according to normal laws. Bao Zheng, you will personally judge and deal with them as appropriate." Guo Hao said helplessly.
"General, please move aside. I have something important to report!" After all the matters were dealt with, Man Chong stopped Guo Hao.
Guo Hao was taken to the archives room and given a file.
"These are the things that the generals and counselors have done in recent days. Although they are all trivial matters, I hope that the general will make a decision as soon as possible."
Guo Hao frowned as he flipped through the file. It was indeed just as Man Chong said, they were all trivial matters.
This includes but is not limited to the case where Lu Bu and Zhao Yun met on the street and their aggressive confrontation accidentally injured a passerby. Although reasonable compensation was given, similar incidents continued to occur.
"It seems that they have been too idle. The ceasefire has been less than a year, and these generals and counselors have become so slack?" Guo Hao asked, looking at Man Chong's lifeless zombie face.
"Yes, General, martial spirit is important, but I'm afraid you need to think of other ways!"
Man Chong bowed. There were too many people involved in this matter. Although he saw the clues, he could not bring it up directly. Guo Hao happened to arrive, and it would be best to tell Guo Hao directly.
These cruel officials are not popular in the first place. If they use certain signs to accuse other officials in the court, it will probably soon turn into a party dispute.
"I understand, I will handle this matter!" Guo Hao nodded, understanding Man Chong's concerns.
"The country has grown too powerful, and everyone has begun to show signs of corruption. This is not a good thing!"
The next day, Guo Hao directly convened a court meeting. After an emergency notice, one-fifth of the ministers failed to arrive on time due to various reasons, and nearly one-tenth of the officials did not come at all.
"Write down all those who are late or absent and deal with them according to the regulations!" Guo Hao said expressionlessly. He finally understood why all dynasties needed those formalisms. At least they could help maintain order in some aspects.
Before, everyone had ambitions , so even in a casual and relaxed working environment, everyone worked very enthusiastically.
As a result, during the period of full development from the last ceasefire to the present, the prosperity seemed to quickly corrupt a large number of people, laziness began to become the mainstream in the court, and even affected the entire Luoyang.
The root of this problem is none other than the trend started by the two incompetent people, Guo Hao and Chen Xi.
Everyone was very surprised and didn't know what was going on. Only a few people smiled bitterly, saying that they were the people hired by Guo Hao.
When they thought about what they were going to do later, their scalps tingled.
"Ministers, do you have anything to report?"
This ordinary question made them feel nervous.
However, when Guo Hao cast his sharp gaze at them, they had no choice but to stand up.
"I have something to report!"
In the end, it was Li Su who stepped forward first. He had been considered a nobody in the court and couldn't even enter the main circle of power. He was located on the second floor of the Government Affairs Hall instead of the third floor where Chen Xi and others were. But today he had to be the first to step forward.
"Your Highness, there was a riot in Luoyang yesterday. Sikong Cao Cao and Xiaowei Yuwen Chengdu... ignored the laws of the court. Such audacious people must be punished to restore the dignity of the court!"
"Oh..." Liu Ying was stunned, turned to look at Cao Cao, and asked, "Sikong Cao, is this true?"
Cao Cao | stepped out with a dark face "It is true, I plead guilty!"
Yuwen Chengdu and others in the hall also hurried out to confess their crimes. Although they were caught in an unprovoked disaster, they had indeed forgotten these rules from the bottom of their hearts.
"I have something to report!"
Another guy who is usually unknown stood up, Huang Wan, one of the invisible people in daily life.
All the ministers in the court finally realized that something was wrong. People like Lu Zhi, an old minister from the previous dynasty, had melancholy in their eyes. They always felt that this process was a little familiar.
"I impeach Prime Minister Chen Xi and Chen Zichuan for dereliction of duty, and Internal Secretary Xun Yu for ignoring the law..."
Huang Wan opened fire at full force, and with a determined heart, he directly criticized all the high-ranking officials including Chen Xi.
And the key is that everything he said is based on reason and evidence, and there are precedents to follow. You can't say he is talking nonsense.
But they were all trivial matters. Logically speaking, they would never be impeached in the court.
Many people have already turned their attention to Guo Hao. They have a hunch that the next step might be to kill the chicken to scare the monkey.
Immediately afterwards, nearly a dozen invisible people who were usually invisible came out to impeach the officials.
In the end, the person who was impeached the most was Guo Hao. It seemed that all the mistakes made by everyone before were minor, and all the faults were on Guo Hao alone.
"I deserve death, Your Highness, please punish me!"
Guo Hao did not argue, but bowed to Liu Ying, as if to say, "I have committed a heinous crime, and you should deal with my driving now."
Liu Ying understood what Guo Hao meant, and immediately demoted Guo Hao's title by three levels, directly reducing him to the level of Guannei Hou. He also stripped him of the title of Beiliang Hou. As for his fiefdom, he retained it temporarily, but fined him one year's salary.
After dealing with Guo Hao, Liu Ying handed over the punishment of the remaining officials to the Chief Justice and then announced the adjournment of the court.
Guo Hao walked out of the hall without saying a word, leaving a group of ministers looking at each other in bewilderment.
They understood what Guo Hao meant. Even Guo Hao accepted the punishment for such a small matter this time. So if others continued to disregard the law next time, they would be severely punished.
After all, in the court, no one is more powerful than Guo Hao.
As for Guo Hao's stripping of his title, that was just an attitude. His position as general remained unchanged.
Everyone was not stupid and quickly understood what Guo Hao meant. Even if there were some who didn't understand, they understood everything after being reminded by others.
Guo Hao has already used himself as an example to scare the monkeys with a chicken, and they don’t want to be the next example.
