The princess arrives and the prosperous Tang Dynasty begins

Chapter 226 Rectification of Administration

In the vast territory of the dynasty, the sun shines on the prosperous towns and quiet villages, but behind this seemingly prosperous scene, there are deep worries. Li Yi and Lin Xiao stand side by side on the towering pavilion of the palace, and the breeze blows, and their sleeves flutter gently.

Li Yi frowned, his eyes deep and worried, looking at the bustling streets in the distance, and slowly said: "Lin Xiao, you see this seemingly prosperous scene, but in fact it has been corroded by termites. Now the wind of official corruption is spreading like a plague, and the annexation of land is getting worse. If it is not rectified, how can the people enjoy peace and how can the country be stable and stable for a long time?"

Lin Xiao looked solemn and agreed, "Your Majesty is right. Those corrupt officials, for their own selfish desires, embezzled and perverted the law, enriched themselves, and totally disregarded the lives of the people. If this continues, it will definitely shake the foundation of the country. We must use thundering means and vigorously rectify it, so that the world can be clear and bright."

Li Yi clenched his fists and said firmly: "Pass on my order to set up a special supervisory agency immediately. I will make sure that those corrupt elements hiding in the dark will have nowhere to hide!"

As soon as this order was issued, the entire court fell into a tense atmosphere.

The officials in charge of supervision shouldered a heavy mission, running around day and night, carefully collecting every possible piece of evidence. In a gloomy and damp prison cell, the once arrogant and domineering governor Wang is now unkempt, with heavy shackles on his hands and feet, and his former majesty has long since disappeared.

The interrogator sat at the table, his eyes sharp as a torch, and asked coldly: "Sir Wang, you used to be so domineering in your office, did you ever think that you would end up like this today?"

Lord Wang raised his head, his eyes full of regret and fear, and said in a trembling voice: "I was blinded by the temptation of money and committed such a heinous crime. Now I regret it so much, I only ask for a chance to reform myself."

The interrogating officer slammed the table and shouted angrily: "The money you embezzled was all earned through hard work of the people! How many families have been torn apart and how many people have been displaced? Your so-called momentary confusion has caused tragedy for countless families!"

Lord Wang lowered his head, trembling with fear, and was speechless.

At the same time, in the magnificent court, Li Yi and Lin Xiao were discussing the disposal plan for corrupt officials with serious expressions.

"Your Majesty, we must not be lenient towards these corrupt officials. We must punish them severely to serve as a warning to others and to deter those who are taking chances." Lin Xiao spoke earnestly and with a firm gaze.

Li Yi nodded slightly, and said with a serious expression: "I mean the same thing. But when dealing with people, we must also distinguish the severity of the circumstances, and we cannot generalize. For those who have committed minor crimes and sincerely repented, we can give them a lighter sentence and give them a chance to start a new life. But for those who have committed heinous crimes and are unrepentant, they must be severely punished and will not be tolerated!"

Lin Xiao continued, "Your Majesty is wise. For those officials who have embezzled huge amounts of money, oppressed the people, and caused serious consequences, they should be sentenced to death and their entire property should be confiscated to appease the public anger. For those who are first-time offenders, have embezzled a small amount of money, and have actively shown repentance, they can be fined some of their property, demoted, and retained to see how they perform."

Li Yi pondered for a moment and said, "Just as you said. In addition, the embezzled money must be recovered with all our strength, not a single cent should be left out, and all must be returned to the people. At the same time, these cases of embezzlement must be made public to let the people know the court's determination to rectify the administration of officials."

During the investigation, an official named Liu, the county magistrate, gradually surfaced. On the surface, he was honest and upright, and often talked about integrity and honesty in public, but in fact he was an out-and-out corrupt official. He abused his power and made up excuses to plunder the people's wealth. The people dared not speak out against him.

After careful investigation, the supervisory officials quietly sneaked into the mansion of County Magistrate Liu. They saw that the mansion was luxuriously decorated, with mountains of gold and silver treasures, boxes of jewels and jade emitting dazzling light, and countless land deeds filled the entire study.

"Magister Liu, what else do you have to say?" The supervisory official stood in front of Magistrate Liu, holding evidence, his eyes full of contempt and anger.

County Magistrate Liu collapsed to the ground, his face ashen, cold sweat dripping down like rain, and he said in a trembling voice: "I... I deserve to die, please spare my life!"

The news quickly reached the imperial court. When Li Yi heard about it, he was furious. He slammed the throne, stood up and shouted, "Such a hypocritical and corrupt official is unforgivable! Immediately dismiss him from his post, confiscate all his property, and make his crimes public!"

In this vigorous campaign to rectify the administration of officials, more and more corrupt officials were brought down. When the people heard the news, they all applauded and their confidence in the court gradually recovered.

One day, Li Yi and Lin Xiao decided to go on a private visit to experience the changes in the people firsthand. They changed into ordinary people's clothes and walked in the bustling streets.

"Your Majesty, you see, the streets are much more lively now than before. People also have more smiles on their faces." Lin Xiao looked at the bustling crowd around him and said to Li Yi with a smile.

Li Yi nodded slightly, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes: "This is the result of the initial success of the rectification of official administration. But we must not take it lightly, and we must keep this clear and bright atmosphere for a long time."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. We will do our best to live up to your expectations." Lin Xiao responded.

The two continued walking forward and suddenly heard an old man talking to someone on the side of the road.

"I heard that the court is serious this time and all those corrupt officials have been arrested. It's really gratifying!" said the old man excitedly.

"Yeah, I hope this good situation will continue." Another person echoed.

When Li Yi and Lin Xiao heard these words, they smiled at each other and became more determined to rectify the administration of officials.

After returning to the palace, Li Yi immediately summoned the ministers and once again emphasized the importance of rectifying the administration of officials.

"My dear ministers, rectifying the administration of officials is a matter of great importance to the survival of our country. I have made up my mind and will never allow any slackness or favoritism or corruption. If anyone dares to disobey my will or shield corrupt officials, I will never tolerate it and will punish them severely!" Li Yi's voice echoed in the hall, full of majesty.

The ministers knelt down one after another and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty is wise and wise. We will obey your orders and do our utmost to help rectify the administration of officials."

After a period of efforts, the atmosphere in the officialdom was completely changed. Those officials who were honest and upright and devoted to serving the people were promoted and given important positions, while those who were corrupt received due punishment.

However, Li Yi and Lin Xiao knew clearly that this was just the beginning and the road ahead would be full of challenges and hardships.

On a quiet night, Li Yi stood in front of the window, looking at the bright moon in the sky, feeling a lot of emotion in his heart. He knew that as the king of a country, he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, and every decision he made was related to the fate of the country and the well-being of the people.

Lin Xiao walked into the room quietly, and seeing Li Yi in deep thought, he said softly: "Your Majesty, it's late at night, go to bed early. There are still many government affairs waiting for you to deal with tomorrow."

Li Yi turned around, smiled at Lin Xiao, and said, "Lin Xiao, I feel very relieved to have you by my side. But the task of rectifying the administration is arduous and long, how can I sleep peacefully?"

Lin Xiao stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I understand your concerns. But as long as we persevere and make unremitting efforts, we will surely make the government of this country as clear as a mirror, and the people will live and work in peace and contentment."

The two looked at each other and smiled, their eyes filled with hope and longing for the future.

In the days that followed, Li Yi and Lin Xiao continued to implement a series of policies to curb land annexation and reduce the burden on the people. They ordered the re-measurement of land, checked the illegally occupied farmland, and returned it to the real cultivators. At the same time, they introduced a series of preferential policies to encourage farmers to reclaim wasteland and improve agricultural production.

In a remote village, an old farmer stood in the field he had regained, his eyes full of joy and gratitude. He looked into the distance and said with emotion: "Now the world has become better. We have fields to plant and food to eat. It is really thanks to the emperor and Lord Lin!"

His words were passed on by word of mouth in the village. People were full of expectations for the future and worked hard, creating a busy scene in the fields.

In the capital, Li Yi and Lin Xiao received good news from all over the country. In some places, the agricultural harvest was good and the people lived a prosperous life; in some places, the public security was good and the crime rate dropped significantly; in some places, education was prosperous and talents emerged in large numbers.

Lin Xiao held the reports and said excitedly, "Your Majesty, you see, our efforts have not been in vain. This country is moving in a good direction."

Li Yi took the victory report, read it carefully, and showed a satisfied smile on his face: "This is just a small victory. We still have to work hard to make every citizen live a happy life."

However, the road to reform was not smooth. Some powerful people and vested interests were unwilling to lose their privileges and wealth, and tried to secretly undermine the policy of rectifying the administration of officials and curbing land annexation. They colluded with local officials, spread rumors, and incited the people's dissatisfaction.

At a court meeting, a minister said, "Your Majesty, the people are now dissatisfied with the rectification of official administration and land policy. Should we slow down the pace of reform?"

Li Yi looked determined and said, "I have made up my mind. The reform must not be abandoned halfway. Those rumors are nothing but the conspiracy of people with ulterior motives. We must increase the propaganda efforts to let the people understand the good intentions of the court."

Lin Xiao also stood up and said, "Your Majesty is wise. Those voices of opposition are precisely because our reforms have touched their interests. We cannot back down because of these obstacles, but must advance the reforms more firmly."

Under the resolute attitude of Li Yi and Lin Xiao, the court stepped up its crackdown on rumors and sent officials to the people to explain the benefits of the policy. Gradually, the people understood the court's painstaking efforts, and the voices of opposition gradually disappeared.

As time went by, the country gradually became prosperous. Business in the city flourished, and the streets were clean and orderly; the farmland in the countryside was fertile, and the farmers lived and worked in peace and contentment. In this process, a large number of outstanding officials emerged. They were honest and upright, dedicated to the public, and made great contributions to the development of the country.

On a sunny day, Li Yi and Lin Xiao once again climbed the high building of the palace. Overlooking this vibrant land, Li Yi said with emotion: "Lin Xiao, the results of our joint efforts have finally been revealed. But we can't be complacent, we must always remain vigilant and protect this hard-won peace and prosperity."

Lin Xiao smiled and responded: "Your Majesty, I am willing to follow you forever and devote myself to the country and the people until my death."