Chapter 18 Section 2 The hidden system is more powerful than the system

Chinese characters are very particular. A few Chinese characters don't make much sense when viewed in isolation.But if you want to connect them together, it means a lot. Front and back, left and right, inside and outside, up and down, there are always unclear relationships. For example, the words "natural disasters and man-made disasters". On the surface, natural disasters come first and man-made disasters follow.But in fact, sometimes natural disasters are man-made disasters, and man-made disasters are natural disasters. And more often, man-made disasters stand in front of natural disasters.

This time praying for rain is like this. This is especially true of the widespread official corruption in the Ming Dynasty. A man named Han Yiliang never imagined that a mediocre memorial written by him would set off the emperor's anti-corruption storm; what was even more unexpected was that he would unfortunately be involved in it later and become a victim of this anti-corruption storm . Han Yiliang is in charge of the household department, and the anti-corruption matter was originally out of his control.To be honest, he didn't want to bother, it was just because of a sentence Chongzhen said that gave him something to say.Chongzhen said that in order to be a good official of Ming Dynasty, it must be "military generals do not spare their lives, and civil officials do not love money".What Chongzhen meant by saying this is that the officials of Daming love money too much.

After hearing this, Han Yiliang secretly felt that the emperor was too naive and didn't understand the unspoken rules of Daming's officialdom.It's not that the officials of Daming love money too much, but because after becoming an official of Daming, a person who didn't love money at first has to love money—if he doesn't love money and doesn't want to find a way to hold money, he can't be in Daming. Officialdom survives. Han Yiliang calculated a detailed account for Chongzhen: In Daming, every official position is clearly marked with a price.The position of a governor-general costs five or six thousand taels of silver; To bribe the deal.There is also the selection of science and gymnasiums in Beijing officials, and they all have to pay money with one hand and pay (official) hats with the other hand.Now everyone says that county magistrates are the top bribers, and they say that the corruption in the official circles of the Ming Dynasty is firstly due to the incorruptibility of state and county magistrates.The salary given by the imperial court is not high, but money is needed in every aspect.The immediate boss needs a recommendation fee for the recommendation of the inspector, and the official needs a reception fee for crossing the border. The cost of going to Beijing to report on his work after the expiration of the term of office is even greater.In such an ecological chain of official circles, it is unrealistic to expect state and county officials to be clean.If state and county magistrates are not clean, corruption will flourish everywhere.

Han Yiliang also used his rejection of 500 taels of official social expenses within two months as an example to illustrate how shocking the corruption has reached. When Chongzhen read this memorial, it was like seeing another real Ming Empire.Everyone meets with money, and everyone has blood and fangs. It must be painful! Chongzhen gritted his teeth. It is necessary to promote Han Yiliang and let him become the anti-corruption vanguard of Daming officialdom. Overnight, Han Yiliang was appointed as the censor of Youqian capital.Han Yiliang understood that the emperor was telling him to charge forward.

But he was really not ready.To be honest, he is just a helper, and he is still willing to say something out of righteous indignation about some political problems, but he doesn't have the courage to pick up an ax and risk his life and money to fight a bloody road for Daming. of. Because there is a price to pay. heavy price. The official corruption that Han Yiliang faced was not a specific person, but an unspoken rule. Rules are systems, and hidden rules are hidden systems. The hidden system is more powerful than the system.The system may not be implemented, but the hidden system must be implemented.This is a rule of the game, those who enter the game live, and those who leave the game die.The latent system is a kind of state machine, and it is a zero-sum game.

Han Yiliang's troubles came soon. The trouble comes from the Ministry of Officials, because he has touched the fundamental interests of the Ministry of Officials. What's the meaning?Saying in front of the emperor that all the officials of Ming Dynasty are moths, isn't this a slap in the face of the Ministry of Officials?The Minister of the Ministry of Officials asked Han Yiliang to give an example with a sullen face.To give an example, the officials should punish severely and quickly, kill chickens to show monkeys, and kill one to warn others. Han Yiliang complained incessantly.Doesn't this send me to the fire to roast?I don't believe that the dignified Ministry of Officials will not be able to grasp the clues of a few corrupt officials, and asked me a new censor to illustrate, I...how can I still hang around in the Ming Dynasty officialdom in the future?Han Yiliang was going to complain to Chongzhen, but he didn't expect Chongzhen to have the same intention.He wanted to use Han Yiliang's "spirit" to reorganize the official style of the Ming Dynasty.Chongzhen knew that by relying on the old fritters of the Ministry of Officials to fight corruption, the corruption would only increase more and more.

Han Yiliang didn't speak for a long time. Chongzhen: What?Are you capable?Not capable of exposing people?Just be a censor? Han Yiliang hurriedly lay on the ground, begging the emperor to take back his order. Chongzhen narrowed his eyes: You mean I used you wrongly?I'm out of my mind? Han Yiliang was so frightened that he lost control of his urine and hurriedly said that he was out of his mind and was a pig's brain. Chongzhen was disappointed, he sighed lightly: You are not a pig brain, you...smarter than me...you are a fox brain. Han Yiliang didn't know what to say.He painfully realized that one thing more is worse than one thing less. It is the truth in the world that nothing can be done without doing anything.After all, I still haven't practiced well enough to do stupid things like dogs and mice.

Chongzhen was still relentless: Tell me, name and name, who are the corrupt elements? Han Yiliang thought for a while, and found an excuse: Your Majesty, regarding the matter of accepting bribes, I have already written the word "rumor" in my memorial. I really don't know who the corrupt elements are. Chongzhen got angry: I think you look like a corrupt person!You don't know who the corrupt elements are, dare to tell me that the officialdom of Ming Dynasty is full of corruption?Don't quibble, within five days, either you report the list; or you go to the Ministry of Punishment to surrender and seek leniency.

In fact, it didn't take five days. Three days later, Han Yiliang submitted the list.Han Yiliang sharply pointed out to Chongzhen that there are four kinds of high-risk elements of corruption: those who have participated in the impeachment of lower officials and have yet to report their punishment; Those who seek to accompany and push the camp to seek inside points.Chongzhen looked at the four kinds of people Han Yiliang pointed out, and felt that he was really talented, so he told him everything that everyone in the Ming Dynasty knew about this emperor, but—who is the corrupt element?It seems that everything has been said, and it seems that nothing has been said.This is Han Yiliang's way of being an official!This is the new censor of Ming Dynasty!Chongzhen wished he could pinch Han Yiliang's vital parts so that he could speak his true voice sincerely and from the bottom of his heart.Chongzhen threw the list back to Han Yiliang, held out two fingers, and didn't want to say another word.

Han Yiliang understood that he still had two days, and Han Yiliang understood Chongzhen's contempt for him even more.It seems that it is impossible not to come up with a real list.Han Yiliang gritted his teeth, wrote down the names of several important ministers: Zhou Yingqiu, Yan Mingtai, Zhang Yiming, etc., and reported them to Chongzhen. But this time, Chongzhen was completely disappointed with Han Yiliang. I have seen smooth ones, but I have never seen such smooth ones. Who are Zhou Yingqiu, Yan Mingtai, and Zhang Yiming? They were all corrupt elements during the Tianqi period.Although the past is not as good as smoke, I, Chongzhen, never wanted you to start over.

Can't you, Han Yiliang, find me two current corrupt elements?Don't you have the courage to face reality? Chongzhen hated himself for being blind, and hated that Han Yiliang's whole body was not hard where it should be hard, and where it shouldn't be hard.No, Han Yiliang challenged Chongzhen in front of the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty.Han Yiliang said: The emperor asked me to name the corrupt elements. Is this the emperor's arbitrary decision, or is it the proposal of the cabinet ministers?I guess, it must be that some people in the official department want me to be a bad person, and want to get rid of me and then hurry up.Your majesty, you have to be careful! Han Yiliang's harsh words silenced the entire Daming officialdom. Chongzhen looked at Han Yiliang with eyes like fog, rain, and wind. More like snow. But Chongzhen didn't speak, he just looked at Han Yiliang coldly. Chongzhen was very hurt. Generally speaking, emperors are easily injured.But Chongzhen was even worse. Because he often looks away. Yuan Chonghuan was wrong. Now this Han Yiliang has lost his sight again. Chongzhen took out Han Yiliang's former book and read it repeatedly - he wanted to find the reason why he was wrong.Although more than ten days have passed, Han Yiliang's memorial still shines with simplicity, passion, justice and tears.Chongzhen could even hear his own heavy breathing while watching.Everything is so impeccable and logical, which makes people feel emotional and full of thoughts. This memorial is destined to send Han Yiliang to the position of censor.But why is Han Yiliang, who is kneeling in front of him, so lacking in censor temperament? Chongzhen sighed.Just behind this sigh, Chongzhen made an astonishing discovery—he saw a passage in Han Yiliang's memorial: Chen Su didn't love money, but money came from him.According to the minister, within two months, more than 500 gold have been paid for the resignation and handkerchief.Yichen has no people to communicate with, but he has this money, he can know it. "The resignation handkerchief has more than five hundred gold"?Who gave you more than five hundred gold?Aren't the corrupt elements ready to come out?Why are you still covering up and refusing to name the corrupt elements?Are you saying goodbye?Is there something tricky behind this? Chongzhen questioned him step by step, but Han Yiliang was evasive. In the end, he still didn't want to call out who the corrupt elements were, so as not to give others a blame.But Chongzhen's curiosity became more and more serious, and so did his suspicions. Yu Shi Han Yiliang was already answering irrelevant questions and was sweating profusely.Looking at the historical scene, Chongzhen was in high spirits, and Han Yiliang was full of despair, forming a vivid question-and-answer picture of the monarch and his ministers in the late Ming Dynasty. Chongzhen said sadly: I, the emperor, have become more and more stupid, and even promoted Han Yiliang, a idiot, as the censor... What is going on?I, Chongzhen, are blind. Could it be that your civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty are also blind? ! Chongzhen said such heavy words, which shows that he sincerely repents in his heart.The officials of the Ming Dynasty fell to their knees, weeping one by one: Your Majesty... Chongzhen said with grief and indignation: Or, all of you are very sober, knowing that Han Yiliang's achievements are more than failures, but no one came forward to remind me, just want to see my jokes, you...you are just like this, courtiers, Are you setting an example for the world? ! emperor…… Chongzhen looked up at the roof, feeling a bit like walking alone: ​​Han Yiliang can no longer be the censor, but you must continue to be civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty!Just do it, do it with peace of mind, no one will oppose your corruption, there will be no more corruption in Ming Dynasty, and there will be no Han Yiliang in Ming Dynasty... Han Yiliang knocked his head loudly: Your Majesty... Chongzhen: I don't understand me, you...are there any corrupt elements among you?Can't you take the initiative to stand up and admit your mistakes?I, Chongzhen, mean what I say. Today—anyone who has committed corruption in the past, no matter how large the number is or how bad the circumstances are, as long as they can take the initiative to stand up and admit their mistakes, they will forget the past!Daming's anti-corruption does not rely on the system, but on conscience!The system is unreliable, because the system must be implemented by conscience.Without a conscience, everything is empty talk.I believe in your conscience - you are the elite of Ming Dynasty!If you have no conscience, does Daming still have a conscience? There was a silence. This is the silence of history. It is deadly silence. Chongzhen was waiting for something in this silence. The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty were scheming in this silence. No one is a fool, everyone knows that this is the emperor's whim. In this world, many things are uncertain. But of all uncertainties, whim is the most uncertain of all. Especially the whim of an emperor. No one wants to use themselves as a guinea pig. Everyone hopes that others will be the guinea pigs, so as to end this embarrassing court meeting as soon as possible. But indeed, in this world, no one is a fool. Miracles didn't happen. Chongzhen's heart was cold and cold. The last bullet hit the heart of an emperor. This emperor is so innocent, romantic and fantasy. But he is so fragile. He was wobbly, broken, and messed up. He is the last watchman of Ming Dynasty's political conscience, but he is destined not to see any wonderful and moving scenes. — everything is lackluster, everything is lethargic. Chongzhen did not wait for a surrender. There are no retarded officials in Ming Dynasty. Ming had only one retarded emperor. Chongzhen became angry from embarrassment-you made it impossible for me to step down, and you don't want to step down either.Let's cook one by one.If no corrupt elements come out to endorse you, this dynasty will continue forever. There is no never-ending banquet in the world, and there is never-ending court meeting in the world. This is a magical dynasty where miracles happen.With complicated emotions, Chongzhen left this group of officials of the Ming Dynasty with their own ulterior motives, and walked easily on the road back to the palace.Tomorrow, he thought, everything would be clear. A miracle happened. Kneeling in the empty hall was a corrupt member of the Ming Dynasty. Although a little less, this is the first corrupt element to appear in the form of surrender. The power of role models is infinite. Today, one corrupt person kneels down in the political arena of Ming Dynasty; tomorrow, tens of thousands of corrupt elements will kneel down in the political arena of Ming Dynasty. This is the victory of Chongzhen, the victory of the emperor's personality.Chongzhen almost wanted to thank this corrupt element who voluntarily chose to surrender himself.He will keep his word and never hold the person accountable for anything. But why doesn't he look up? He looks so sad.He prostrated himself on the ground, sobbing from time to time.Who is he crying for?Is it for Daming, or for his own future? Chongzhen stepped forward and personally lifted up the pious penitent.The devout penitent buried his face in the ground and refused to get up.He is like a naughty hide-and-seek, the answer is about to be revealed, but he is struggling hopelessly.Chongzhen's heart skipped a beat, as if he saw an answer to a mystery that he never wanted to see. He closed his eyes, and violently lifted that face up—it was indeed Han Yiliang! Why is that you? why it's not me? Are you pitying me? I feel sorry for the whole Daming! Why is it so difficult to fight corruption in Ming Dynasty? That's because corruption has penetrated into the hearts of the people!Those who obey will prosper, those who oppose will perish! Even so, I want to fight against corruption! Are you saying I have nothing to die for? dare not. I will be the enemy of the entire officialdom of Ming Dynasty, and I will be driven by myself, like tigers and wolves. I don't expect anyone to collect my corpse, because in this world, collecting corpses also requires courage! Han Yiliang wailed loudly: Your Majesty! He didn't dare to say anything about collecting Chongzhen's body, because he knew he was not worthy.Compared with Chongzhen, a mental cleanliness addict, Han Yiliang lacks a kind of decisive courage and innocent passion.He is destined to pack his bags and leave this dirty political arena, where he came from and where he will go back.And Chongzhen is also destined to dance alone, dancing to figure out the shadow, why is it like being in the world.Everything is predestined, everyone is busy, and everyone has no choice.