Chapter 838 - 63: Gu Lin Legislates, No Retreat in the Purge!

Moreover, there is Gu Lin!

——Gu Lin acted immediately at the first opportunity.

The entire Imperial Censorate was mobilized by him to completely eradicate various issues within.

In addition, he also began formulating relevant laws.

This was to completely settle the matter.

In the culture of Kyushu,

there is a rule that can never be completely erased, and that is the law of the ancestors!

And now, the Great Song has just been unified.

Why can’t this generation be ancestors themselves?

Gu Lin must act decisively and harshly to establish firm rules.

Don’t forget, the goal of the Gu Clan has never been momentary but for eternity.

What Gu Lin must do now.

Is not just for the Great Song; he must establish this matter as a rule from beginning to end, to be enforced even in successive generations!

It must be said, Gu Lin’s ability in this regard is beyond question.

Within just over a month’s time, he has already formulated comprehensive laws!

First, clearly define the crime of smuggling, with punishment based on the value of goods.

——Any transportation of goods, once found to include smuggling, concealment, or underreporting, and the principal perpetrator involved, with a value over one hundred guan, shall be exiled three thousand li;

over five hundred guan, hanged;

over one thousand guan, or repeated offenders, or masterminds of groups, all shall be executed without pardon. Property confiscated and added to the national treasury.

Second, implement shared responsibility and reward for reporting to cleanse bureaucratic governance.

——Officials at transport departments and checkpoints, who fail to inspect vessels under their jurisdiction, knowing of smuggling without reporting, shall receive the same punishment as offenders;

those who proactively report or apprehend shall not only be immune from punishment but may also be promoted and rewarded.

Furthermore, merchants, ship workers, laborers, and even ordinary citizens are encouraged to report, with verified cases earning them thirty percent of the confiscated goods’ value as a reward.

Third, strictly manage cargo lists and seals to prevent underreporting.

——All transport vessels must hold detailed cargo lists authenticated with seals from the transport department, maritime agency, and local government of departure, clearly listing types, quantities, and values of goods. Checkpoints along the way must rigorously inspect these lists, allowing passage only after confirming they are error-free.

Forgers of cargo lists shall be treated as smugglers, and complicit officials will also face severe punishment.

Fourth, establish a transport inspectorate for independent oversight.

A special "Transport Inspection Department" under the Imperial Censorate shall be established, selecting upright and outspoken individuals as inspectors, granting them authority to randomly inspect any transport ships and review any related documents, reporting directly to the Emperor or the Regent Grand Tutor, without local or transport department interference.

Simply by the laws Gu Lin formulated, it is evident how seriously he takes this matter!

Especially the first point.

This is entirely aiming to block all avenues of smuggling.

Over one hundred guan, then exiled three thousand li——

Without the profit of even a hundred guan, who would risk smuggling?

Of course, Gu Lin also understands that once his measures are formally implemented, smuggling profits will inevitably rise again.

But even so, he must act!

As the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty.

Even if mistakes are made, he must attempt.

Gu Yi has been observing all this in silence, without intervening.

In fact, even he did not initially identify such issues, even though he can overlook everything with just a thought, he never directed his attention this way.

Ultimately——Gu Yi was merely a university student after all.

Though he has significantly developed over this period, fundamentally improving his abilities.

But it’s only ability.

His experiences haven’t yet given him comprehensive analytical skills.

Such as this smuggling case!

As a university student, Gu Yi had only encountered these issues through news, and in the current era’s progression, everything is just barely beginning to emerge—how could he suddenly notice and pay attention to this?

From start to finish, Gu Yi never thought in this direction, naturally making it impossible for him to deliberately scrutinize these people.

But given the current situation, it isn’t too late.

At least Gu Lin is still here.

And as long as he is, all issues will be surely addressed!...

...

——The situation has completely become chaotic.

When Gu Lin ordered the entire Imperial Censorate to take action, even the atmosphere across the nation changed abruptly.

Not just in localities, but even among major figures in the Central Hub.

As the Imperial Censorate’s meticulous investigations continued, many fell one after another.

This time, Gu Lin was truly unforgiving.

In fact, he could have acted long ago.

He delayed, even allowing these people time to impeach him, entirely for the sake of the bigger picture.

Transport is too crucial.

And the powers these people held were key figures at transport ports across various regions.

Their sudden downfall would undoubtedly cause chaos in transport, so Gu Lin had to leave time for others to swiftly seize the markets these individuals lost.

Only in this way could the entire dynasty undergo a comprehensive exchange without affecting the bigger picture!

This is undoubtedly the largest major case in history.

Almost all involved were either local bigwigs or major figures within the Central Hub.

Only at the founding of a dynasty could such a thing be managed, and only with someone like Gu Lin, with his reputation and the Imperial Censorate’s penetrating control. At any later stage of the dynasty, such an act would surely cause its instant collapse!