Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 492 - 440: Conclusive Evidence

Originally, Su Jingchen noticed that County Magistrate Qian had been behaving particularly ’honestly’ recently, and decided to focus on the epidemic and road repairs first, planning to deal with County Magistrate Qian after this busy period.

When Su Jingchen heard that Jun Mobai was coming, he had already instructed Li Wenyuan to sort out and prepare the collected evidence. Therefore, as soon as Jun Mobai spoke, Su Jingchen handed over the evidence.

County Magistrate Qian looked at the thick stack of evidence, somewhat dumbfounded. He...how did he feel that he had dug a hole for himself to bury?

Jun Mobai carefully examined the materials that Su Jingchen had submitted, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

This was a ledger book, and it was written by Secretary Wang personally.

It recorded in detail the money and grain County Magistrate Qian had embezzled and which officials he had bribed since he took office.

The last page was Secretary Wang’s personal confession, stating that County Magistrate Qian was his mastermind. Of the embezzled official silver, Secretary Wang could only take a small portion while the bulk was taken by County Magistrate Qian.

Secretary Wang shouldered everything alone because County Magistrate Qian threatened him with his family.

Jun Mobai, frowning, carefully checked the list of people County Magistrate Qian had bribed, which surprisingly included officers large and small from Linzhou, numbering over a dozen. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Jun Mobai did not find his name in any of the lists but noticed a page torn from the ledger, instantly understanding Su Jingchen’s ’good intentions’ with a knowing smile.

"You dare to embezzle even the relief funds allocated by the court for the epidemic?" Jun Mobai slammed the ledger book onto County Magistrate Qian’s head.

County Magistrate Qian, in panic, glanced at the cover of the ledger book, instantly turning pale.

Was Secretary Wang not concerned about his family’s survival? He dared to drag him down?

County Magistrate Qian suddenly kowtowed heavily, "Prince, I am wronged; this ledger must be fake. Master Su must have fabricated it to frame me. Prince, please investigate!"

Jun Mobai knew County Magistrate Qian was corrupt. One could say none of the officials he knew were uncorrupted, but he did not expect County Magistrate Qian to be so corrupt.

Just a minor little county magistrate; his annual salary and bonuses together amounted to less than a hundred taels of silver. Yet, the money County Magistrate Qian embezzled was thousands of times his salary.

A huge embezzler indeed, Jun Mobai squinted his eyes. He allowed his subordinates to take appropriate advantages occasionally, but such massive embezzlement was absolutely intolerable.

If he let County Magistrate Qian continue unchecked, the residents of Yangcheng would have no way to live. Originally, after the disaster, Linzhou’s population had already significantly dwindled. If this continued, it wouldn’t work; a state without population equaled no income. Then, wouldn’t he, the King of Linzhou, be nothing more than a title?

"The evidence is conclusive; you still dare to argue?" Jun Mobai glared furiously.

"Fu Qing, immediately take people to his residence and conduct a thorough search inside and out!" Jun Mobai slammed the table, seemingly furious on the surface but genuinely pleased inside.

The money is coming!!!

As long as County Magistrate Qian’s home, a corrupt family, was confiscated, perhaps his private army could grow by another third.

County Magistrate Qian turned pale, glanced at the ledger book on the ground, and then kowtowed toward Jun Mobai until his forehead bled, pleading desperately.

He couldn’t understand why Secretary Wang would betray him. After all, he was his distant cousin-in-law; dying alone was better than both dying. They had reached consensus, so why would Secretary Wang go back on his word?

What method did Su Jingchen use to convince Wang Huan? County Magistrate Qian was utterly baffled.

Just as Jun Mobai ordered that County Magistrate Qian be taken away and imprisoned, County Magistrate Qian struggled free from the restraints of the government officials and shouted at Su Jingchen, "Wang Huan could not have betrayed me. Did you torture Wang Huan into confession?

Prince, Su Jingchen forced a confession under torture, Prince..."

Jun Mobai glanced at the county magistrate kneeling on the ground and lowered his voice, saying, "Whether it was a forced confession or not, this ledger book is indeed real, and your embezzling and corruption are real."

The meaning of Jun Mobai’s words was clear, the process was not important; what mattered was the result.

No matter what method Su Jingchen used, he obtained the evidence.

Obsessing over how the evidence landed in Su Jingchen’s hands had become pointless.

"First, imprison County Magistrate Qian, and during the autumn, execute him along with the death row prisoners."

As the King of Linzhou, Jun Mobai was effectively the local emperor, possessing the authority to execute a minor county magistrate.

County Magistrate Qian did not expect Jun Mobai to sentence him to death so swiftly, and fainted out of fear.

After County Magistrate Qian was taken away, Su Jingchen saluted Jun Mobai, "Prince, wise indeed!"

Jun Mobai waved his hand, "It’s my fault for being negligent, allowing such a massive embezzler under my nose for so long.

Now that County Magistrate Qian has stepped down, the county magistrate position is vacant. I wonder if Master Su has a capable assistant to recommend, or should I send someone to assist you?"

Su Jingchen glanced at Li Wenyuan, weighed in his heart, and finally spoke, "Reporting to the Prince, Li Wenyuan is a juren from the year of Kui Mao, known for his integrity. He might be suitable for the position of Yangcheng County Magistrate."

"Oh?" Jun Mobai had long since learned of Li Wenyuan’s background from County Magistrate Qian but feigned ignorance and inquired, "If you are a juren, why would you willingly follow Master Su to Yangcheng to take office?"

Li Wenyuan did not expect Su Jingchen to vindicate him before the King of Linzhou. However, given the rare opportunity, he did not have time to express gratitude to Su Jingchen but recounted how Liu Sheng bullied him in the capital to Jun Mobai.

Jun Mobai and the Liu family could be said to have been arch-enemies, especially after Liu Feng became Fu Yi’s right-hand man, the relationship became even more strained, with Liu Feng often thwarting his affairs in past years.

Later, he was quite surprised when he learned that Liu Feng mysteriously died in a remote town near Luocheng. He initially thought it was Fu Qing’s doing but found out later it wasn’t.

It’s important to note that Liu Qing’s skills in Great Liang were hard to rival, yet such a master, the legitimate son of the Liu family from the capital, unexpectedly died quietly in a small town inn, and to this day, he doesn’t know who Liu Feng was killed by.

As for Liu Sheng, Jun Mobai had heard of him as the incompetent son from the Liu family, incomparable to his excellent brother Liu Feng. Apart from bullying people with the influence of Prince Yu, he could do nothing else.

Understanding the context, Jun Mobai found himself quite sympathetic towards Li Wenyuan, having waited in vain for a job in the capital for three years.

Had it not been for encountering Su Jingchen, Li Wenyuan’s ten years of hard study might have been in vain.

Jun Mobai promptly offered the position of county magistrate to Li Wenyuan and instructed Su Jingchen and Li Wenyuan, with the county magistrate and county clerk, to work together to restore Yangcheng to its former prosperity as soon as possible.