Chapter 113 Section 113: Handle matters fairly and intercede for Manchu officials

Zeng Guofan was supposed to go to work at the Ministry of Criminal Justice that day, but because he sent a fellow Ding Jian back home, it was past noon when he came back, but he suddenly remembered that Shengbao should go to the cabinet bachelor's office that day; Go to the office of Shangshu and Shilang to pay a courtesy call.Zeng Guofan didn't want to leave an "impression of avoiding" to Sheng, so he ordered the bearer: "Return to the Ministry of Rites." Li Bao then asked: "My lord, you should always go to the Ministry of Punishment." Zeng Guofan said: "Sheng Bao has just been promoted to a cabinet bachelor, so he should come to the Ministry of Rites to pay a visit to the main hall today. It is not good if the main hall is not here. It will not be too late to do the affairs of the Ministry of punishment tomorrow."

As soon as Zeng Guofan's sedan chair landed at the head of the ceremony department, Sheng Bao walked out of the ceremony department with his head bowed, as if he was aggrieved. Shengbao arrived in front of his family's sedan chair, and was about to get into the sedan chair. Zeng Guofan hurriedly shouted: "Master Sheng, get on the sedan chair slowly!" Sheng Bao followed the sound and saw that it was Zeng Guofan coming out of the sedan chair, so he hurriedly withdrew his leg, knelt on one leg and begged for peace, and said, "Your Majesty, I have seen Mr. Zeng!" Zeng Guofan helped Sheng Bao up with both hands and said, "Master Sheng is so polite today! Usually, he greets the main hall with a parallel courtesy, but now he is a cabinet bachelor, let alone this!"

Suddenly, tears flowed from Shengbao's eyes, and he choked up and said, "Don't you know yet, my lord? The next official is now the fourth-rank Taichang Temple Shaoqing, and it's time to meet your lord with a big gift!" Zeng Guofan took Shengbao's hand, and couldn't help asking: "What do you mean? Let's go, follow the main hall to the office room for a cup of tea, it's more convenient to talk in the room." When he arrived at the minister's office, Zeng Guofan asked the officer-in-charge to make tea, and then he sat down and asked, "The imperial decree that was issued just now has been downgraded three levels in a row today. How did you make your superiors so angry!"

Shengbao took out the draft of the booklet from his sleeve, handed it to Zeng Guofan's hand and said, "It's all the fault of it! It's said that the lower official mocked the Holy Majesty. You see, the lower official was wronged!" Zeng Guofan read Shengbao's booklet once, and then said: "Master Sheng, how can you say that the governor and Fu are messy insurance, and the Holy One is messy? This is not a good word! It is clear that the Holy One is playing with the crown. If this is not sarcasm, what is it?" Sheng Bao blushed thickly and argued: "The lower officials were also angry for a while. Jiang Zhongyuan was only a martial artist, and he was appointed as a seventh-rank magistrate, which was considered a special kindness. Later, he won several victories in Guangxi, and was recommended as a third-rank The title of Salt Transport Envoy, the emperor actually approved it!"

Zeng Guofan said: "Master Sheng, Jiang Zhongyuan's contributions in Guangxi are not ordinary contributions! If you don't let the Governor and Fu recommend such capable personnel, which one will you recommend? However, the notes you made are not all wrong. , It is also good to remind the majesty. Well, you go back to the office first, and the main hall has to go to the Ministry of punishment." Said, holding up the teacup. Shengbao stood up, said "resignation", and walked out listlessly. Zeng Guofan rushed out of the door and shouted "Waiting for pen and ink", then spread out the special paper that was folded up, thinking about writing a book for the emperor about Shengbao.

After the officer on duty arranged the pen and ink, Zeng Guofan thought about it for a long time before writing bit by bit.The title of the book is: "Please Kuan Shengbao Punish Shu". This is Zeng Guofan's first intercession for a Manchu official since he entered Beijing. The full text is recorded as follows: The book was handed into the palace that night. The compromise said "Ulan Tai, Xiang Rong, and Sai Shang'a were dismissed and demoted and punished", referring to Sai Shang'a, a bachelor and imperial envoy in Guangxi, who was in charge of Ulan Tai and Xiang Rong, the governor of Guangxi. He was dismissed by Emperor Xianfeng and interrogated because of his ineffective campaign against "rebel bandits", and he decreed to stay in his post to allow him to take the blame and make meritorious service.What Emperor Xianfeng did has always been called a wise move by the courtiers, and they are always praised.

In the early court, I don’t know whether Zeng Guofan really had some kindness, or his sincerity moved the emperor. As soon as Emperor Xianfeng went to the palace, the first edict announced by the eunuch on duty in front of the imperial court was: "When I read the performance of Zeng Guofan, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, I deeply feel that the servant is thoughtful and considerate. The three-level sanction of Sheng Bao was exempted, and he was still promoted as the minister of the Ministry of Rites of the Cabinet Bachelor's Office. I respect this .” After the eunuch on duty read the oracle, Qi Shizao and Hua Shana were taken aback immediately, and the other ministers of civil and military affairs also seemed very surprised, only Su Shun's face was as calm as water.

After the morning court, as soon as Zeng Guofan arrived at the Ministry of Rites to sit down, Hong Xiang, a doctor from the Ministry of Punishment, rushed over. After saluting, Hong Xiang said: "My lord, Wang Zhengfu entered the capital yesterday, and has been taken to the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice; the relevant people have also arrived in Beijing, and I will come here to inform you." Zeng Guofan immediately ordered "Prepare the sedan chair", and rushed to the Ministry of Punishment excitedly. When he arrived at the Ministry of Criminal Justice, Zeng Guofan first went to the Shangshufang to greet Zhou Zupei according to the etiquette, and Zhou Zupei happened to be on duty at the Military Aircraft Department.

Zeng Guofan turned to the servant's office, and the officer on duty had already made a pot of good tea and was waiting. Zeng Guofan sat down before the case, and was about to instruct the officer on duty to lead someone to commit crimes against Wang Zhengfu, but Hong Xiang stepped in and said while saluting: "Master Sheng Baosheng, a cabinet scholar, came to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to pay his respects to him. Please show me, pass Still don't pass it on." Zeng Guofan was surprised that Sheng Bao was sent to the Ministry of Punishment to pay his respects, so he had no choice but to tell the officer in charge, "Wang Zhengfu will pass it on later. After the Ministry has seen Mr. Sheng, we will pass it on to Wang Zhengfu."

Both Hong Xiang and the duty officer withdrew. Shengbao walked in quickly, and when he saw Zeng Guofan, he knelt down on the ground with a plop, kowtowed and took out an envelope from his sleeve, raised his hands above his head and said, "Thank you, my lord. Please be sure to accept this envelope." Be considerate." Sheng Bao said he was a slave, which surprised Zeng Guofan again.He stood up and took the envelope suspiciously, took it out and saw that it was a ten thousand tael bank note stamped by Jingshi Huicheng Bank. Zeng Guofan put the silver ticket back into the envelope, and instead of coming down to help Shengbao, he sat down again and asked after a long time: "Master Sheng, the booklet that the Ministry of Education gave you is worth so much money, which is unexpected!"

Sheng Baowan didn't expect Zeng Guofan to see the bank note, not only did he not come over to help him up politely, but he sat down again, intending to get up by himself, but he was afraid of getting a bad reputation of "no officials". What to do, but Zeng Guofan asked him such a sentence out of thin air. He had no choice but to answer: "Your Excellency is kind to the slave and recreates it. This is just a little thought from the slave, and the slave is planning to come to the mansion tomorrow to greet the Master!" That is to say, there is still money. Zeng Guofan's face suddenly turned livid, and he said word by word: "The chief minister of this department begged for you, because he was right about the matter and not against people, and he didn't want people in the world to misunderstand His Majesty. Shengbao, since you have ruined me like this, our department Tang has no choice but to ruin your future. Come on!" When Shengbao saw Zeng Guofan calling for someone, he jumped up. Before thinking too much, he grabbed the envelope and stuffed it into his sleeve. The officer on duty also stepped in at this moment. Shengbao turned over and knelt down again, kowtowed and said, "I know I was wrong. I will never dare again! Please forgive me this time." The duty officer stared blankly, not knowing what happened in the house. Zeng Guofan looked at the officer in charge and said, "Go down first." Duty officer Nuonuo withdrew. Zeng Guofan supported Shengbao with both hands, and said: "Master Sheng, you are young and promising, and your future is just right. This department does not want to waste your life because of your mistake. I hope that my brother will fulfill his duties and be dedicated to the public, the people, and the country. Do more things. Only in this way, my brother will live up to the Holy Majesty's high expectations for you. Is what Motobutang said right?" Shengbao said with tears, "My lord's teaching today will never be forgotten in my life!" Zeng Guofan said: "There are still some things that need to be dealt with by the main hall. The main hall will not give you a seat. I hope you can do it yourself!" Shengbao took out his handkerchief and wiped away the tears on his face, and said in a low voice, "Your Excellency is busy with business, so I won't bother you. I will take my leave." After speaking, he gave another deep salute before leaving. After Shengbao left, Zeng Guofan sat back in front of the case again, and casually called out "Biography Wang Zhengfu". After finishing speaking, he shook his head helplessly, picked up his teacup, and drank slowly. A cup of tea was not finished, and two messengers came in with Wang Zhengfu. After Wang Zhengfu came in, he knelt down in front of the case, and two escorts stood behind Wang Zhengfu, one on the left and the other on the right. Zeng Guofan said slowly, "Wang Zhengfu, raise your head." Wang Zhengfu raised his head politely, and fixed his eyes on Zeng Guofan. Zeng Guofan looked intently at Wang Zhengfu, in his sixties, wearing a livery, with three strands of beard growing long and disheveled on his chest. He looked like a bearded man with big eyes, thick lips, and several lines carved on his forehead. Irregular wrinkles are particularly conspicuous.He doesn't look like a prisoner in exile, but like a downcast Guan Yunchang. Zeng Guofan asked quietly: "Wang Zhengfu, the Ministry has seen your Jingkong, and would like to ask you a few questions. You must answer truthfully, and you must not hide anything." Wang Zhengfu said nothing, just nodded. Zeng Guofan said: "Wang Zhengfu, when did you embezzle public funds? What kind of money is it?" Wang Zhengfu said: "Going back to my lord, why did my husband ever embezzle any public funds? I was accused of embezzling public funds. It was purely a trick of torture. My husband is a small county magistrate, and he doesn't care about criminal names or money. How can I embezzle this public money?" The two escorts kicked up behind Wang Zhengfu and said, "My lord asks you, you have to answer honestly! If you deny it again, I will serve you with water and fire sticks!" Wang Zhengfu was kicked and shouted loudly: "My husband is too tired to be accepted by the Beijing Enterprises Corporation. Now that I have finally made it through, how can I tell lies! My husband has not been wronged, and Beijing Enterprises has done something wrong!" Zeng Guofan looked at the two vicious messengers with his eyes, and asked: "Wang Zhengfu, the Ministry will ask you again, is it true that it is true to rape a dumb girl who is an official?" Wang Zhengfu said: "Your Excellency, it is clear. The righteous husband used to have one wife and two concubines, and he had both children. How could he still commit adultery? Don't ask the righteous husband to go to the mansion to enjoy the chrysanthemum. Otherwise, how can the righteous husband enter his deep mansion?" Zeng Guofan said: "Is this also a trick of torture?" Wang Zhengfu said: "That's right! My life and death are in the hands of witnesses, and I can't even argue!" Zeng Guofan knew it would be useless to ask again, so he said flatly, "Take it down." Two messengers pulled Wang Zhengfu out. Zeng Guofan sent Hong Xiang over and asked Hong Xiang, "Which witnesses did Shuntian Mansion send?" Hong Xiang replied: "There is a dumb girl who was raped by Wang Zhengfu, a servant girl, and an old man who said he was the servant who witnessed the rape process. There are three people in total, and they are currently staying at the prisoner's house. .” Zeng Guofan said: "Bring that old man over here, the Headquarters wants to ask him a few words." Hong Xiang agreed and walked out quickly. Zeng Guofan casually opened the resume of Wang Zhengfu who had been transferred from the Ministry of Officials.