A passage from the TV series Kangxi Dynasty dealing with corrupt officials starring Chen Daoming

The most classic line in "Kangxi Dynasty" also has a great warning and practical effect on the current corruption problem in China:

Kangxi: Proclaim the decree!

Prince: Hmm! After listening to the order, all the ministers went to the study hall, the minister of the inner bodyguard, the bachelor of Wenhua Palace, the crown prince Taibao Mingzhu, the bachelor Yu Guozhu, the bachelor Le Dehong, the bachelor Li Zhifang, the minister of household affairs Suilun, the minister of official affairs Keerkun, Minister Xiong Yixiao of the Ministry of Industry and others have committed adultery, deceived the emperor and violated the law, took bribes, harmed the country and harmed the people. I have warned you again and again, but you still do not change. You are all guilty of unpardonable crimes. You will be dismissed from your posts and your family property will be confiscated. , will never be hired, appreciate this!

Kangxi: There were five great scholars in the dynasty, and I had to dismiss four of them; among the six ministers, I had to dismiss three. Look at these seven people. Which one is not a white man with two temples, which one is not a pillar of the imperial court, and which one is not my son and daughter. My heart will be broken when they die!

My ancestors left the country in my hands, but it turned out like this. I am heartbroken. I am guilty of the country, my ancestors, and the world. I wish I could depose myself!

And you, even though you are all standing on the dry shore in high-sounding glory, are you that clean? I know that some of you are more corrupt than these seven people! I advise you to take out your heart, lungs, and intestines, dry them in the sun, wash them, and tidy them up!

When I first came to the throne, I thought that the biggest enemy of the imperial court was Gao Bai. After destroying Gao Bai, I also thought that the biggest enemy was Wu Sangui. After I defeated Wu Sangui, Taiwan became the worry of the Qing Dynasty again. Ah, I took over Taiwan, and Galdan became a worry for the Qing Dynasty again. It is becoming more and more clear to me now that the troubles at the heart of the Qing Dynasty are not outside, but in the imperial court, right here in the Qianqing Palace! Among my flesh-and-blood princes and ministers, if our place is bad, the Qing Dynasty will be ruined. If you are all rotten, all parts of the Qing Dynasty will rise up, leaving us with no place to die! Think about it, how many years has it been since Chongzhen Emperor Zhu Youjian was hanged on Meishan Mountain? Forgot! That old crooked-necked tree is still standing behind the palace, staring at you every day!

I haven’t closed my eyes for three days and three nights. I’m always thinking about what to say to everyone, but my words must have a beginning. After much deliberation, there are only four words: "The plaque of 'uprightness and justice' rises". These four words are easy to talk about, but how difficult is it to put them into practice? I dug these four words out of my heart and out of the sea of ??blood. Remember, from today on, this hall will be changed to the Zhengdaguangming Hall! Take a good look... Oh, all of you, raise your heads, take a good look, think about yourselves, and give me a look for half an hour.