Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Just now the power is in hand, but the chief assistant is about to resign
In a blink of an eye, it has entered the first year of Chongzhen (1628 AD), but Emperor Chongzhen was not at all excited about his own reign.
In the morning, the posthumous ceremony was performed, concubine Zhou of Yuan was canonized as empress, and concubine Tian and Concubine Yuan were conferred concubines at the same time, but Chongzhen kept his face sullen. He had a big worry: he had never met his biological mother Liu.
When he was young, Concubine Kang of West Li was mean and Concubine Zhuang of Dong Li passed away early, which made him miss his birth mother more and more.
Mrs. Liu died of depression because Guangzong listened to Concubine Kang's slander, repeatedly scolded her, and was buried secretly by Guangzong.Chongzhen asked his servants before he became king: "Is there a Liu Niangniang's tomb in Xishan?"
The servant said yes, so he secretly ordered the servant to go to Xishan to offer sacrifices many times.
It was not until he became emperor that Liu Niangniang's tomb was moved out to be buried with Guangzong.But Chongzhen still doesn't know what his biological mother looks like, which is really a great pity, and he often weeps secretly because of this.
Chongzhen held on to the three white jade railings, looking at the distance behind the Qianqing Gate opposite, the red walls and yellow tiles covered with a thin layer of gold by the setting sun.It was already the first year of Chongzhen, who had been the emperor for four months, and only did one thing: eliminate the giants with all his strength.If you want to clean up the remnants and purge the court, a group of ministers who hold great power will not do anything.
"Your Majesty, the cabinet ministers, Su Maoxiang, Cao Sicheng, Pan Shiliang and other lords are here." Wang Chengen came in and reported.
"Call them up!" Chongzhen roared.
Several people came up tremblingly.Hearing the call from the emperor's platform, a few people knew that they were going to pass the gate of hell.After saluting, he followed the emperor into the house and stood with his hands down.
Chongzhen sat down and said: "Ke, Wei, Cui, and the five tigers and five biao are all guilty of heinous crimes. The world knows it, and the gods and men are indignant. I want you to decide on the book early, and you wait to procrastinate and perfunctory. It has been more than a month so far. Do you write it yourself?"
"Your Majesty, ministers, etc... It has been prepared." Su Maoxiang, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, had thought of Chongzhen's question in advance, and was ready to leave. While talking, he flipped his sleeves, and then put his hands up.Wang Chengen took the paper and handed it to Chongzhen. Chongzhen didn't read the content, but first scanned the name, and raised his eyebrows: "What about Cui Chengxiu's?"
A few people, you stared at me, and I stared at you.Although it was conducted by the three jurisprudence divisions, according to their duties, all court cases were transferred to Dali Temple, so in the end they all watched Pan Shiliang, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple.
Pan Shiliang couldn't do it, so he had to play back: "Zhili Prefecture reported that Cui Chengxiu's family property was not registered, and he got a total of three hundred taels of gold, seventy thousand taels of silver, three hundred pieces of cabinets, four thousand rooms, and three hundred hectares of land. It is obviously hidden. According to this The number is only ten to one or two, and the rest have not yet been verified, so they have not been drafted."
Chongzhen didn't say anything more, opened the book and read it, and gradually, his brows became deep again: "Wu Chunfu and Ni Wenhuan cut their ranks and seized the patent, Tian Ji and Li Kuilong were dismissed, Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun were arrested, Yang Huan, Sun Yunhe, Cui Yingyuan loses his nationality, hum! You plan to behave like this, are you trying to maintain it, or do you want me to be a benevolent king? Five tigers and five bullies commit themselves to rape and eunuchs, no king and no relatives. It's not like you don't know how to kill others, how to punish others, and how to enforce the laws of the country? Draw up again!"
The four only lead the way.Chongzhen was already very angry, and he slapped the case: "Wei Zhongxian's corpse was rolled up inch by inch, and his head was hung in Hejian. Cui Chengxiu's corpse was beheaded, and Hakka's corpse was burned in Jingletang! !"
Several people understand that the emperor's move is to upgrade the punishment, but these people are not clean themselves. They originally intended to give lighter punishment to the backbone of the rebellion. , if the Holy Will severely punishes him, the courtiers will chase after him, and he will not be able to protect himself.
Cao Sicheng, the censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, took a step forward: "Your Majesty, some eunuchs sell themselves to invite favors in order to get in, and some are forced by the situation. Inviting credit, implicating the innocent."
Chongzhen softened his face: "It is true. It should not be indulged in vain, nor should it be wronged. I think of one thing: Shanxi Dao Yushi Liu Chongqing revealed that Li Yongzhen, Liu Ruoyu, and Li Shi were ordered by Wei Zhongxian to impeach Zhou Qiyuan and Zhou Shunchang, causing Er Zhou Yu Die. Li Shishu argues that the memorial to the Shangshu was the blank paper that Wei Zhongxian took from him and filled in by Li Yongzhen, you go to check the original manuscript and play it back according to the facts.”
Several people said "yes", but Huang Liji was the only one who stood there in a daze, looking at the others and then at the emperor, with a look of incomprehension.Chongzhen saw that he had a dumbfounded look at his age, and laughed: "Does Lao Gefu have any questions?"
Huang Liji hurriedly crossed his hands and bowed: "The old minister has never handled a case, so I don't know how to check the original document, please express it clearly, Your Majesty."
Pan Shiliang took a step forward and tugged at the corner of Huang Liji's clothes: "Do you still need to ask the sage? First fill in and then print. The ink is on the ink. First print and then fill in. The ink is on the vermilion. You can tell if you look closely."
Huang Liji suddenly realized.Chongzhen laughed and said: "I didn't want you to know, I didn't ask you to come here for this matter. I have read your begging papers. Is it because of Hu Huayou?"
Huang Liji was shocked!
Hu Huanyou, a prison student in Shanyin, impeached Huang Liji, Shi Fenglai, Zhang Ruitu, and Li Guo, who "lived in the seat, had no presidency, and even cared about their fate. The important ministers were killed in imperial prisons; the fifth-class nobles, the honor of Shanggong, were added to the eunuchs. ; But the eulogy of the monument in the shrine is not available. The law is the crime of adultery, what can the husband say?"
It took Huang Liji a long time to come back to his senses. He was already shuddering, and hurriedly knelt down: "The minister's virtue can be mediocre, and he is the leader. He has already owed the king's kindness by inviting the favor. Now that he is old, he is afraid of the country. Can't be redeemed. It's just...it's just that ministers have never been impeached, and no one who has been counted by the scholars as the ministers has taken this humiliation away. Although the ministers have filled the ditch, they will never rest in peace!"
Zhang Ruitu and Shi Fenglai also immediately showed their faces of mourning and echoed in unison.
"Needless to say, the ancestral system of lying on the stele is forbidden to speak and act. Hu Huanyou, a supervisor, dares to submit a memorial. I have removed his name from the stick. , to serve as my bosom."
"Thank you, Your Majesty Long En." Huang Liji hesitated for a long time and couldn't stand up.
Li Guo, who was speechless for half a day, suddenly said: "Your Majesty, I beg your Majesty not to ask Hu Huayou."
"Huh? Why is that?"
"Hu Huanyou's impeachment of ministers and others is for the righteousness of the country."
"Qing really has the capacity to be a prime minister. But I have already dealt with it, so you don't need to invite me anymore." Chongzhen smiled, "There is one more thing, the troublemaker Wang Er in Shaanxi, have you suppressed it?"
Several people looked at each other, and they all looked at Huang Liji. Huang Liji had no choice but to answer: "Return to your majesty, the bandits were led by Wang Er and Zhong Guangdao. Zhichuan Town, Hancheng, went west to Yijun County, opened the prison, and released the prisoners. Now the flag has been set up on the mountain north of the Luohe River, and it has not yet been suppressed."
"Why can't such a small number of thieves be suppressed after several months?"
"Your Majesty, when Wang Er first gathered the crowd, there were only a few hundred people, but now there are thousands of people." Li Guodao said, "Shaanxi has been plagued by famines for years, and hungry people are everywhere. In Cheng County, Zhang Douyao was sitting in the hall."
Chongzhen sighed: "Yes, the drought in Shaanxi has not stopped since the middle of Wanli, and you should come up with a way to relieve the disaster and help the people. However, the thieves still have to be suppressed! Tell Hu Tingyan to quickly advance and suppress, and the service period Dangping! You all go back." He got up and was about to leave when he heard crying in the distance, and he was crying loudly. Chongzhen was already feeling uncomfortable, and he immediately became angry, "Wang Chengen, go and see, who is here?" How dare you be so presumptuous!"
Wang Chengen ran out, came back after a while, and said: "Back to the emperor, it is Cui Wensheng, the governor's water transport eunuch."
"I'm not dead yet, who is he crying for?!"
"Going back to the emperor, because Yushi Wu Huan has participated in his confidant for Ni Pang. He feels wronged and wants to listen to the emperor."
"Is this trying to listen to the emperor? This is a demonstration to me! Is he wronged? He introduced Li Kezhuo, poured cold medicine, to the emperor's ancestor Bintian! He was the governor of the water transport, and Liu Zhongxuan acted recklessly and abused the emperor. The people, what a drastic change! He is still calling for injustice? Drag down a hundred sticks, surrender the army, and send Xiaoling!"
The hearts of the people next to them fell into the abdominal cavity at the same time!This master is really powerful, he knows so well and remembers the eunuch of the Governor's Water Transport so well, this ghost gate is definitely sad!Just turning around to leave, I suddenly heard the emperor call: "Come back!"
Several people turned around immediately.
Chongzhen came over and said: "I once said that the palace will not recruit servants for the time being, but now it has been abolished to more than 10,000 people, but there are still people like Cui Wensheng. It seems that the servants will be replaced. Prohibited by the ancestral system: If there are more than four or five sons among the people, it is allowed to report one son to the official for castration, the government will select it, supervise the cleansing, and a secretary will make a book and send it to the yamen of the ministry for selection when recruiting and filling internal officials. The rest will not be allowed. In the future To recruit servants, you must play in advance."
Chongzhen strolled back with his hands behind his back: "The ignorant people want to make money, castrate without authorization, childish, and even die, it is forbidden to kill, it is deeply abhorrent! , the whole family was exiled to the army on the ground in smog, and those who refused to raise their neighbors were guilty of the same crime, and the people should be notified immediately! If there is a magistrate, he can't help it, and he will be punished!"
Huang Liji responded "Yes".
Chongzhen turned around, stared at the few people and said: "From now on, ministers and workers, big and small, must learn to practice their own professions and be loyal to each other. , must be investigated according to the law!"
In the middle of winter, before dawn at the time of the Shang Dynasty, the ministers lined up.Chongzhen came in with several memorials in his hand, and first said to Wang Chengen: "Call Xu Shitai and Chen Yuqing!"
Wang Chengen agreed and ran out to ask someone to deliver the message.
Chongzhen sat firmly, glanced around, and opened the memorial:
"Three law divisions decided against the case: Wu Chunfu, Li Kuilong, Tian Ji, and Ni Wenhuan cited the law of "Officials accepting money in vain" to send out the frontier guards to the army, and the original custodians will recover the stolen goods in silver: Ni Wenhuan five thousand taels, Wu Chunfu three One thousand taels, Li Kuilong, and Tian Ji each one thousand taels. Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun quoted the law of "Officials so inspected and flattened people to death", and were sentenced to be executed in prison. Cui Yingyuan, Yang Huan, and Sun Yunhe cited the law of "Colleagues Informed and Jointly Surveyed" to reduce the stick One hundred, flow three thousand miles, send frontier guards to serve as troops."
Chongzhen closed the notebook with a "slap": "What do you think?"
There was a lot of chirping from below, amplified by the sound-collecting effect of the high and wide hall, and it became a buzzing sound when it reached Chongzhen's ears, but no one stood up.
A group of old sparrows!Chongzhen hated in his heart, raised his head and shouted: "Ding Qirui!"
"The minister is here." Ding Qirui, the servant of the Ministry of punishment, came out of the shift in response.
"Is there any doubt or ambiguity in Li Shi's case?"
"Following the decree of the Jiuqing Science and Dao Joint Trial, Li Shi acted as a minion, framed Zhongliang, killed seven lives with Li Yongzhen and Liu Ruoyu, and recruited himself without punishment. There is no ambiguity."
"How to deal with it?"
"The planned execution will never wait."
"Wang Yongguang, did Li Shi recruit himself without punishment?"
Wang Yongguang, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, gave Ding Qirui a hard look, and replied, "Li Shi didn't recognize him at the beginning, but he only recognized him after he was tortured."
Chongzhen stood up slowly, and put his hands behind his back: "One said that he would recruit himself without punishment, and the other said that he would only recruit with punishment. Have you ever asked me? Are you trying to perfunctory me?"
Neither of them dared to answer, and the sound of sparrows disappeared.Chongzhen took out a booklet from his sleeve, and threw it down with a flick of his hand: "This is Yuan Shu who was accused by Li Shi of accusing Zhou Qiyuan and Zhou Shunchang. Take a closer look, is it Zhu on the ink, or is the ink on Zhu?"
The two picked it up and looked at it, and it turned out that the ink was on the vermilion.Ding Qirui knelt down: "Your Majesty's sage is not comparable to a minister. I have known that Weifu comes from the imperial court, and he is judged by the emperor."
Chongzhen said angrily: "The ink is on the vermilion. It is printed first and then filled. It can be seen that it is an empty book. Have you checked it? Under severe punishment, why can't you ask for it! I have seen Liu Ruoyu. He is so old that he is supported by a bone." Will Wei Zhongxian lead this kind of person as a confidant? If he can't be trusted, he will be convicted vaguely? Li Shi, a small Suzhou and Hangzhou weaving eunuch, will never wait for him, but the five tigers and five young men will be exiled into the army. Is it unfair?!"
The crowd fell silent, and there was a sound outside, "Xu Shitai and Chen Juqing are called to see you", the two entered the hall and knelt down far away, shouting long live.
Chongzhen took a breath, and sat down heavily: "Xu Shitai and Chen Juqing, last year's big exam, you two were the main exam for the southern list and the other for the northern list, Cui Chengxiu, Cui Duo, the Chinese style of the northern list, and Zhou Yingqiu, Zhou Lu, the Chinese style of the southern list, right? "
As soon as the two of them heard this, they sifted through the chaff, and Xu Shitai was more clever: "Your Majesty, the examination papers are collected by the invigilator and pasted with their names. I really don't know who is the one who hooked it up, not to mention that the papers in the top three have to go through the hands of the examiners, and I have no bad hands. I'm selecting talents for the country, how dare I hook up with each other in private?"
Chongzhen accepted the impeachment of Shi Yuanzheng, an assistant professor of the Nanjing Imperial College, to correct and impeach the two, but Xu Shitai's words sounded quite reasonable, and there was no evidence of their communication. Forget about it, let's go down."
After the two thanked each other and went out, Chongzhen said: "Cao Sicheng is right. You play me a copy, and I will play you a copy. Messed up my sight and hearing, and missed the country. All the ministers have their own strengths and weaknesses, and each has its own merits and demerits. The lessons are not far away. From now on, we must cleanse our lungs and intestines, change our minds, and cultivate our professions. Concealing private plots, leading to state affairs. Although I have received a lot of words, I must check my talents. I not only check the recommended people, but also check the recommended people. All ministers should think carefully. I once issued an edict with the word "sit back."
Chongzhen's eyes slowly swept across the ministers, and finally fell on Cao Sicheng and Shangshufang Zhuangli, Minister of the Ministry of Officials: "The Ministry of Officials and the Inspector's Office listen carefully, from tomorrow onwards, officials from all over the world will be planning to pick out the traitors who are charming, and test their merits comprehensively. It is my responsibility to complete within a month, can you hear me clearly?"
The two parts answered: "The minister leads the decree."
Chongzhen nodded, opened the case and said: "Tian Ergeng, Xu Xianchun, Cui Yingyuan, Li Yongzhen, Zhang Tiqian, Gu Yingxuan, Ke Guangxian, Ke Fan, Yang Liuqi, Cui Ningxiu, Cui Duo, Ni Wenhuan, Wu Chunfu, Li Kuilong, Tian Ji, Cui Wensheng, Sun Yunhe , Yang Huan and others, no matter how the case is finalized, the stolen goods must be recovered first." He closed the case with a snap, "Wang Chengen, let's declare the decree."
Wang Chengen agreed, his voice raised an octave: "Shangyu!"
All the ministers shuddered and knelt down in unison.
Wang Chengen started to read the edict, but there was a thunderbolt on the heads of Huang Liji and other cabinet ministers:
Therefore, Wei Guangwei, the assistant of Wei Guangwei, used his prestige to manipulate the government, took the power of the country and granted rebellious eunuchs, poisoning all over the country, and he was really the culprit.Following the example of Jiao Fang in the previous dynasty, he was expelled from the people and pursued Yin En, thinking that the people and ministers should follow the precept of adultery and infidelity.Wei Zhongxian has been good at it for many years, his wings are full, his internal and external are up and down, and his roots are intertwined.Together with the cabinet, ministers and ministers, the Eunuch Party's rebellion case was decided.This!
After a moment of silence, Chongzhen said: "Xuan the second way." Wang Chengen read again:
Wei Zhongxian, a huge villain, stole the favor of the late emperor, took advantage of the court's prestige, secretly listened to gangsters, falsely accused good people, violated the slightest taboo, and committed massacres.Over the past few years, I don't know how much slander and deprivation have been done.The sun is covered by the secluded prison, the situation is overwhelming, the accumulation of grievances and grievances, the ups and downs of the mysterious image, causing the stars to fall and the earth to crack, and the soldiers are invaded every year.Now that Wei Zhongxian and Cui Chengxiu have been sentenced to death, the anger of the subjects has eased a little, but the wandering spirits in the imperial prison are still gloomy. How can this be the reason for Zhaozhen's reform?The Ministry of the Ministry and the Jiuqing Kedao will reprimand the ministers who have been harmed before, discuss it according to the public, and collect the public's evaluation.Those who are illegally banned from death and who are the most sympathetic will be rewarded with sympathy;The ministers of the abolished books have been sunk for a long time. This time, I am exposing the snow, not in vain, and I am trying to test the whole story of their progress and retreat, so as to measure their character.Zhou Jiamo and more than 90 officials cut and chased the plot, and the Ministry of Officials issued detailed performances for each item.
After Wang Chengen finished reading, Chongzhen said again: "Xuan the third way." Wang Chengen agreed:
Jieting courtiers hand in close servants.The imperial court set up officials and divisions, and each had divisions inside and outside.People and ministers are selfless, so why do you have to be clever?Ruofu's independent and independent wind festival can be known by the Lord, and the sky is high and the sky is low.After that, everyone should love their personalities and names. If they follow the same pattern, Xu Kedao corrects and participates, so as to wake up the accumulated habits.The ministers are all straight, and they are not allowed to leave the forbidden door unless they are ordered.
Wang Chengen had just finished reading, and before he had time to catch his breath, the holy mouth opened again: "Proclaim the fourth way."
Since Yuji, I have been working hard, thinking and resting.It's a lot of troubles in the border closure, heavy conquest and loss, not to mention Su Huo.There is money and food for weaving. Although there is an urgent need for supply, I feel sorry for the fact that there are more and more dispatches year after year. Floods and droughts are frequent in the east and west, merchants are troubled by labor, and the people are in dire straits. I am very sympathetic!I can't bear to use the work of embroidering clothes and quilts to trap the people of this side.Weaving in Suzhou and Hangzhou is temporarily suspended.It will be built on the day when the East and the West are determined, in order to show my respect for the sky and the compassion for the people.
Dealing with Cui and Wei, stealthily, without surprise, and then quickly, without moving swords or guns, and succeeded overnight, the ministers have already learned the wisdom and courage of the little emperor.
Immediately afterwards, four edicts followed, punishing eunuchs, rehabilitating unjust prisons, abstaining from internal and external collusion, and dismissing corvee conquests.
The joy is that after Tai and Cheng, they see the Holy Master again, but the worry is that when the rebellion comes out, everyone will be in danger, so they all bow their heads and think about their own thoughts.
Chongzhen leaned back: "Let's do something."
"Your Majesty, the minister has played." Li Guo played, "Jiangxi Dao Yushi Zhang Kuang, Shanxi Dao Yushi Gao Hongtu Lian Shushun Tianfu Chancellor Liu Zhixuan, Shuntian Governor Liu Zhao, Taipusi Shaoqing Liang Menghuan. Wei Zhongxian seeks to establish Wei Liangqing's daughter is the empress, Liu Zhixuan and Liang Menghuan have written a lot about Zhang Guoji, the father of the country, in an attempt to shake the palace. The first emperor Bintian, Liu Zhao's soldiers surrounded the capital, and the deeds are obvious. The three shook the palace, endangered the country, and sinned against Hu Biao. They should be punished .Your Majesty didn't mention it among the few people you dealt with just now, did your Majesty not see Zhang and Gao Xunshu?"
"Where is the lack?" Chongzhen's heart was agitated, why did he forget Liu Zhao?Mention Liu Zhao Chongzhen's teeth itch.
"It has been sealed in the document room."
Chongzhen turned his eyes around and turned to Wang Chengen.Cheng En hurriedly bowed and replied: "Zhang and Gao Er Yushi went to the four books together, the content is the same, Sifang is choosing to transcribe."
"The action is too slow! These three people are the most rebellious cases! I have sent Liu Zhao to prison. The three of them will discuss and deal with the cabinet department!"
"The minister also played." Huang Liji took a step forward.He resented Li Guo, didn't he look for trouble for nothing, and he brought it up, afraid that it would not be his turn?The first decree just now didn't even spare Wei Guangwei, the former court assistant who died. Isn't it obvious that it's your turn?If you don't retreat at this time, when will you wait!Feeling strong in my heart, I stood up: "Your Majesty does not allow the minister to resign, but the minister is already old and afraid of not being able to do so. I ask the court to push for more cabinet ministers to honor the New Deal."
Recently, the investigation of the eunuch party has caused Sigefu to be in a state of panic all day long.All four of them were promoted by Wei Zhongxian, worked hard for Wei Zhongxian, and were all impeached. When things got serious, how could they escape being involved as cabinet ministers?Although the emperor did not agree to his resignation for the first time, two days ago, Chongzhen read the case book of 350 people selected in the general examination drawn up by the cabinet ministers. Gentlemen, no announcements are allowed!" Returned to the cabinet.
Knowing that the emperor was dissatisfied, the four resigned. When Huang, Shi, and Zhang resigned, they did not forget to defend Hu Huanyou's accusation again.
Huang Liji said: "The loyal and virtuous false emperor's strict order, can the ministers not agree with it? As for the decree to praise, the clerk said that the order was drafted. If a word does not match, the bill will be changed, and even the strict decree will be punished." , ministers and others can't do their duty, and they can only do things according to the opportunity, and they don't have to suffer. But loyal and virtuous people don't just regard ministers and others as dead, even if they regard ministers as dead or alive, they have to linger at their gates, hoping to benefit the country even if they don't. It is also less of a mere heart! Ministers and others are loyal, and the emperor can learn from them. Rely on the wiseness of the sage, the universe will move alone, mow down the rebellious party, the world will return to the heart, and hope for governance. The ministers and others are old, and there is no power to help your majesty to bring peace. Praying for the prosperity of the world, begging to be an official, the rest of my wish is enough."
The emperor once again issued an order to comfort and stay: "You are the chief assistant, serving the country's publicity, and you have to make adjustments. I have seen through it. What's more, the country is in troubled times, and it is Lai who presides over it. You are the leader, so why do you care about it?"
I don't want Li Guo to add fuel to the emperor's heart at this time, Huang Liji can't hold back anymore, he should say early and leave early, don't wait for the fire to burn his ass before leaving.
In fact, Chongzhen almost lost his temper when he saw the resignation of the three of them!
Shi Fenglai's resignation is even more irritating: "Chen Ping, the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, and Zhou Bo, the Taiwei, did not manage affairs because of the exclusive power of the Lu family. Empress Lu died, and Liu Ping and Bo also made Lu'an. Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty was less likely to do bad things because Di Renjie was the prime minister... "Treat me like a child with a naked body, and the emperor doesn't study, do you think I don't study either?Compared with the famous Xiangliang generals in the Han and Tang Dynasties, even being a bitch and erecting a memorial archway, such a shameless person is actually me, Daming Gefu!But Chongzhen also knew that although the cabinet ministers were annoying, the chairs of the cabinet ministers were not easy to sit on.
On the other hand, Chongzhen has not yet found someone, so there must be no cabinet. On the other hand, Chongzhen wants to give the ministers a fair image, and he doesn't want to get it on the cabinet ministers all at once.
After hearing Huang Liji's suggestion, Chongzhen first smiled lightly. This is a good idea to replace the old with the new.However, since the late Wanli period, cronyism, teachers and students, and fellow villagers have gradually become the trend of forming cliques, and it is difficult to gain a foothold without party or faction. As a result, there are many factions in the court. Big things are also considered from the interests of the party first. It seems that the government pushes the big things, and all the factions must fight for their own interests. How can we choose people who can be trusted?Thinking of this, he shook his head.
Shi Feng came to see what Chongzhen was thinking, so he took a step forward and said: "There are different opinions on the court's recommendation, which makes it difficult for His Majesty to make a decision. I think it is better to let God's will."
Chongzhen's eyes widened: "How to obey God's will?"
"Following the previous court regulations, the ministries will select candidates first, and then His Majesty will appoint ministers."
That's right, Chongzhen thought, if the sky wants to hate me, it's useless to push, if the sky wants to be kind to me, it will be good to me, so he nodded and said: "There are fewer cabinet ministers, and they have worked too hard. I can't bear it, so I will take care of you." Waiting for the play, the Jiuqing Kedaohui will recommend candidates, and choose an auspicious day to hold a divination ceremony! Retire from the court!"
On the hall of the Ministry of Justice, Ding Qijun, the left servant, sat down in the middle, and slapped the gavel: "Bring Xu Xianchun and Cui Yingyuan!" These two people had already been detained in the side room, and they were brought here immediately.
"Kneel down!" The two fell to their knees with a bang.
Ding Qijun shouted: "Xu Xianchun, important officials of the imperial court Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou, Wei Dazhong, Huang Zunsu and others were all corrupt and unjustly imprisoned by you. What do you have to say?"
"My lord, Xianchun didn't weave with his own hand, it was Cui Chengxiu who was famous for weaving, and Wei Zhongxian appointed Xianchun to interrogate. Under the circumstances at that time, who would dare not follow!" Xu Xianchun seemed very aggrieved.
Ding Qijun sneered and said, "Of course there are people who don't obey! Then Yang Lian and the others were murdered by you because they didn't obey? Don't you dare not to obey? You are Wei Zhongxian's dog who is dedicated to biting people!"
"My lord, Xianchun is really wronged! Everyone knows what will happen if you don't follow Wei Zhongxian, and your heart knows it too."
Suddenly someone jumped out from the side, raised his hand and slapped Xu Xianchun, his face was full of flowers, and he let out a strange cry of "Wow".The man grabbed Xianchun's hair and pulled it back: "Open your dog eyes and you can see clearly. The person sitting on it is Mr. Ding. His Excellency resigned because of Wei Zhongxian's power and resigned. He was appointed after the new master came to the throne. My lord's heart." I will naturally understand you dogs!" After speaking, he raised his hand and gave another slap.
Ding Qijun waved his hand to signal this person to let go, and said to Xu Xianchun, "Do you recognize him?"
Xu Xianchun's eyeballs were swollen, his eardrums were ringing, he fell to the ground and forced to open his eyes, he saw that this man was young, tall and strong, but he didn't recognize him.
"He is Huang Zongxi, the son of the former supervisory censor Huang Zunsu who was killed by you!" Ding Qijun spread out a copy and read:
"Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou, Wei Dazhong, Yuan Huazhong, Zhou Chaorui, and Gu Dazhang all received full punishment. They were beaten with 40 sticks each, 50 with a blow, and 50 with a bar. Yang Lian received the most punishment. He was tried every five days. He was beaten on the head and face, his teeth and cheeks were taken off, the steel needle was used as a brush, and his body was swept away like silk, his chest was beaten with a copper hammer, his ribs were broken, and finally he was pierced with iron nails, and he died immediately. Seven days after his death, he was allowed to take the body , only a few pieces of bloody clothes and a few bones were kept. Zuo Guangdou was also interrogated every five days, and he was humiliated naked. When he was twisted, he was beaten, and when he was shackled, he was pinched. Zhou Shunchang scolded Xu Xianchun in prison, Xianchun hit Zhou Shunchang's teeth with a copper hammer, and the teeth fell off. Zhou Zongjian once said that Wei Zhongxian didn't know a thing, Wei Zhongxian ordered Xianchun to nail him with iron nails, and made him wear cotton clothes to boil When the soup was poured, the skin rolled and rotted instantly, and the whole body was covered with naked flesh." Ding Qijun leaned forward, "Is it true?"
Xu Xianchun clearly denied it, but at that time there were many attendants, and they had already been recruited, and now Huang Zongxi and other descendants of Donglin were recruited, obviously he was about to be put to death, so he resorted to the last trick: "Xianchun is Empress Xiaojing. Grandson. There is a rule in the law to discuss relatives, so you should be punished lightly!"
There are "Eight Discussions" in the Law of the Ming Dynasty, which refer to the penalty of the previous court:
Yiqin, the relatives of the emperor; Yigu, the old emperor; Yixian, a person of virtue; Yili, a person of talent; Yigong, a person of great merit; Yigui, an official of the third rank or above and a person with a rank of title; Yiqin, diligent A man of politics; a guest of honor, a person who is respected as a state guest. Within the "Eight Proposals", crimes are reduced and the death penalty is not imposed.Empress Xiaojing is Shenzong's wife, Guangzong's biological mother, and Chongzhen's grandmother.
After hearing this, Huang Zongxi rushed out again, his eyes widened with anger: "Xu Xianchun was in trouble with the rebellious eunuch, and Zhongliang put his hands to death. His crime is heinous, and it should be the same as conspiracy! The prince broke the law and committed the same crime as the common people! Wang Zhu Chenhao, even murdered for treason, let alone the relatives of the queen!"
Zhu Gaoxu was the second son of Ming Chengzu Zhu Di. He was powerful, fierce and stubborn since he was a child. He was named King of Han in the second year of Yongle.Gao Xu realized that Cheng Zu had the intention of abolishing the heir and establishing a concubine, so he plotted to seize the heir and framed the crown prince repeatedly, but Cheng Zu found out and removed his title.When Renzong collapsed, Prince Zhu Zhanji went to Beijing for the funeral. Gao Xu wanted to rob and kill him on the way, but his plot was leaked and he was imprisoned in Nanjing.After Xuanzong Zhanji came to the throne, thinking of his uncle and nephew, he went to visit Gao Xu, but he didn't want to be tripped by Gao Xu.Xuanzong was furious, and ordered someone to cover Gao Xu with a three-hundred-jin copper jar.Gao Xu wanted to use his strength to lift the copper vat.Xuanzong was shocked, and hurriedly fetched charcoal, piled it around the copper vat, lit the charcoal, and burned Gao Xu to death in the copper vat.Concubine Gao Xu, Wei Shi and her nine sons were all executed.
Zhu Chenhao is the fourth grandson of Zhu Quan, the son of Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, and he became King Ning in the 12th year of Hongzhi.In the fourteenth year of Zhengde, Zhu Chenhao used the excuse of Wu Zong's lewdness and immorality to mobilize 100,000 troops to rebel, conquer Jiujiang, break through Nankang, leave Jiangxi, and attack Anqing.Forty-three days later, he was defeated by Wang Shouren, captured together with his sons and brothers, and escorted to Beijing for execution.
After Huang Zongxi finished speaking, he suddenly pulled out an iron awl from his sleeve, grabbed Xianchun's collar, and shouted: "Thief, today is your death day!" and pierced Xianchun's cheek.
Xu Xianchun let out a scream, and blood flowed profusely!Everyone in the hall was stunned.Without waiting for everyone to react, Huang Zongxi pierced his shoulder again, pierced his lower abdomen with another piercing, and pierced his thigh with another piercing, until Xu Xianchun's whole body was covered with holes.
Ding Qijun woke up, thinking that he would be killed immediately, but he couldn't figure it out, so he hurriedly ordered someone to hold Huang Zongxi back.Xu Xianchun scrambled to the side and wailed.Huang Zongxi turned around and saw that Cui Yingyuan, who had been kneeling by the side, had already sifted the chaff all over his body, grabbed him again, and punched him so hard that Ying Yuan coughed and shouted "forgive me!"
Ding Qijun saw that Huang Zongxi was so violent that everyone couldn't stop him, so he had to come down to persuade Zongxi in person: "Taichong, if you take his life, it will make people feel worse, or you will torture him to extract a confession, or kill him to silence him." , how can I explain to the Holy One?"
Huang Zongxi spit out loudly: "Thief, when you killed my father, did you ever think of saving my life, did you think about today? Today I temporarily send you the head of the thief, and take your mustache to replace the head!" Grabbing Cui Yingyuan's beard with one hand, and With Cui Yingyuan's hair in a bun, he just pulled it, only to hear Cui Yingyuan's cry, he turned around, covered his mouth with his hands, rolled all over the floor, bleeding from his fingers!
Huang Zongxi grabbed a handful of beards that were dripping with blood, rushed out the door, and went straight to the Dongchang prison.At the gate of the prison, the guard was just about to ask questions, but he overturned him, rushed in, found the prison leader, and grabbed him by the chest: "Call all your men, hurry up!"
Seeing that Huang Zongxi was holding a bloody beard in one hand and an iron awl dipped in blood in his other hand, the prison chief didn't dare to resist, and called out in a different voice: "Everyone, come here, hurry... hurry up!" ..."
When everyone gathered, Huang Zongxi waved his hand: "Tell me, who killed the former censor Huang Zunsu! Huh?" Everyone saw that he was tall and big, with blood on his hands and eyes, and knew that this was a life-threatening Those who came did not dare to make a sound.
Huang Zongxi is not a reckless person, but a Confucian scholar. At this time, he calmed down and said: "I am the son of Huang Zunsu. My father is upright. He slandered the eunuchs and offended Wei thieves. Jin Yiwei went to Suzhou to arrest my father. He was driven and beaten by the people in the city. Enter the city. When my father heard about it, he threw himself into prison, and you all know what happened afterwards. You all have evil deeds. Although you were instigated by others, the crime is hard to escape. Just tell who is the murderer of my father, and the rest will be exonerated. If you don’t say anything, just look at the blood on my body and the awl in my hand. The blood belongs to Xu Xianchun and Cui Yingyuan. Are your bones harder than his? Tell me!”
Xu Xianchun and Cui Yingyuan were all stabbed by him, and Huang Zongxi went straight into the prison without anyone stopping him. It seems that the officials don't care, so let's not look for death. Some people who were not on good terms said: "It's Ye Zi and Yan Wenzhong."
Huang Zongxi yelled: "Who are Ye Zi and Yan Wenzhong?" Everyone looked at the two of them, and the two of them shivered.Zong Xi grabbed it out and said, "How did you kill my father? Tell me!"
The two thumped and knelt down: "Yes... Cui Yingyuan gave the poison to... Grandpa, please spare me!"
"Yeah bah!" Huang Zongxi was only nineteen years old, and his chin was hairless, "I can't afford to be your grandfather, let alone forgive you!" After finishing speaking, he stabbed violently.
The two couldn't stand upright when they wanted to run errands, and they stabbed into a hornet's nest in no time, and died in prison.
Around the next day, Huang Zongxi was reading a book under the lamp in the inn, when he suddenly heard a door call from downstairs, Huang Zongxi didn't care at all, but knocked on his door when he didn't want anyone to come.Open the door and look, but don't recognize it.
The man stepped in without waiting for the master to let him go, and closed the door.
Without waiting for the master to speak, he said: "Young master, don't be nervous, I am not a villain, I am your father's former colleague. Does the young master know about Li Shi?"
Huang Zongxi stood up abruptly: "Is that the old eunuch who framed my father?"
"It's him, but he didn't frame your father!"
"Bullshit! He sent seven people including my father to hell with a piece of paper, and now he wants to pass through the gate of hell by himself? Hmph! Just ask me to forgive me first!"
"Don't worry, my lord. Sit down and listen carefully." He sat down without waiting for his master to give up his seat. "My father likes to swim in the lake when he is at home. Li Shi also often went to the lake when he was weaving in Suzhou. I don't want to come and go again. There are rumors that your father I want to follow the example of Liu Yiqing from the previous dynasty to contact Zhang Yong to get rid of Liu Jin's story, and I want to use Li Shi's hand to get rid of Wei Zhongxian. Isn't it because your father and Li Shi have a friend in Fanhu."
During the Wuzong Dynasty, the great eunuch Liu Jin was greedy for power, entrapped dissidents, and conspired to seize the dynasty. Yang Yiqing, the military admiral of the Beijing camp, conspired with Zhang Yong, the eunuch of the supervising army. Liu Jin was arrested. Millions of taels of gold and silver were confiscated from his home, along with fake seals and jade belts, and he was sentenced to Lingchi.
"What a fool! When we were in Suzhou, Li Shi did come to ask for an interview. It was just an arty act, but my father refused to meet him. How could there be a relationship between Fanhu?"
"Whether you see it or not, rumors have started! How can it be hidden from Dongchang's ears? Wei Zhongxian immediately sent someone to Jiangnan to investigate secretly. It happened that Li Shi's secretary was working in the capital, and when he heard the news, he didn't have time to report it to Li Shi. , first ran to Cui Chengxiu with a generous gift to ask for help. Cui Chengxiu was thinking about how to attack Donglin. He was overjoyed when he heard it, and gave the secretary an idea. When Fang went to Beijing for business, he happened to bring an empty printed copy stamped with Li Shi’s seal, and at that moment Cui Chengxiu wrote the memorial for him and submitted it in. It’s true that it wasn’t Li Shi’s work, he didn’t even know it!” He issued a bank note, "Although Li Shi did not actually conspire with your father, it is not innocuous for him to bear his name. This is three thousand gold to make up for his fault. I just hope that you will not pursue it again."
Huang Zongxi raised his hand and waved the silver ticket to the ground: "My father's wronged soul is only worth three thousand gold? Huh! See you in the lobby! Get out!" He picked up the silver ticket, pushed the man out of the door, and threw the silver ticket, "Boom "He slammed the door.
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