Rule over Ming Dynasty

Chapter 133 Wu Qi's official career, the emperor sighs the absurdity
In the north of the city, Shuntian government office.

The Shuntian government office, which is the nominal management agency of Beijing, is located in Lingchunfang. Because it has the power to handle cases across the country, it is known as the "miniature criminal department".

A little old man wearing a third-rank official uniform was sitting in the flower hall of the back house of the government office, his eyes were not very good, he was squinting his eyes and playing chess with Shuntian Fu Zhizhong.

The current governor of Shuntian Prefecture is named Wu Qi. He is from Songjiang Prefecture in Southern Zhili Province. He has been a Jinshi for five years in Jingtai.

Although he didn't have outstanding achievements during his official career, he won the reputation of "a county magistrate in shabby clothes" during his nine-year tenure as a magistrate. In addition, he practiced a clean and honest style during his tenure, so he has a good reputation in the officialdom.

Since Dali Temple Minister Feng Guan was dismissed for protecting Li Min, the position of Dali Temple Minister has been vacant.

In the latest court tweet, Yin Wuqi of Shuntian Prefecture, who is known as the "Magistrate of Broken Clothes", has the highest voice, and has now been recommended to Zhu Youtang's desk by the Jiuqing court as the No.1 candidate.

Although Shuntian Fuyin and Dali Siqing are both third-rank officials, Shuntian Fuyin is regarded as a local official, while Dali Siqing is an out-and-out Beijing official and ranks among the Jiuqing, so it can be regarded as a "promotion".

Wu Qi is in a good mood recently, because the third-rank official uniform he wore for two years finally had two holes, which undoubtedly made his image of incorruptibility more vivid.

"Master Fuyin, is it too hasty to deal with the case of the Jiaofang Division today?" Sun Wang, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, looked at Wu Qi who was thinking, but he was worried.

The rank of the Shuntian government office is the third grade, and the Yingtian government office is the highest-ranking government office in the world.

In view of this, on top of the general judge of the sixth rank and the promotion of officials from the seventh rank, Daming set up a Zhizhong of the fifth rank, and on top of that was the Fu Cheng of the fourth rank.

It's just that in the governance, there are Fu Yin and Fu Cheng in charge, and there are general judges and officials to handle specific affairs, so the situation is rather awkward, more like Fu Yin's secretary.

Wu Qi dropped a white piece on the chessboard, and said disapprovingly, "It's just an official prostitute. If he dies, he dies. How big a deal can this be?"

"Master Fu Yin, I heard that there were two strangle marks on the neck of the deceased, and those Wu Xun children were acting perversely. I'm afraid there's something else to say about this matter!" Sun Wang, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, said his own judged.

Wu Qi showed no interest in this kind of thing, his eyes were still focused on the chessboard and said: "The old man has been an official in the local area for decades, if every thing has to be weighed, he will be unable to do anything in the end. It's just an official prostitute. No matter how she died, the Marquis of Funing has already greeted her, why is this old man not interested? Closing the case by hanging himself now is a matter of public and private convenience, and you and I are here to play chess at leisure, which is not beautiful!"

"Listening to the words of Lord Fu Yin is better than reading ten years of books! I have been educated!" Sun Wang, the governor of Shuntian Mansion, was stunned for a moment, and then clasped his hands with some understanding.

If there is no background and money management, it is naturally not an easy task for ordinary officials to climb all the way up the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty.

I always thought that he didn't understand why Wu Qi was obviously not a smart person, and he didn't have a big person to take care of him, so why his official career was smoother than most people?

It's only now that I see Wu Qi's behavior style, especially the way of avoiding the important and taking the light, that I can vaguely grasp the main point.No wonder he is about to be promoted to the Minister of Dali Temple. He really has something extraordinary.

Wu Qi didn't realize how profound his words were at all, and the chess piece in his hand couldn't be played for a long time, it seemed that he was about to lose this game of chess again.

Just at this time, a servant hurried over and informed the palace that someone was coming.

"Your Majesty congratulates Lord Fu Yin on his promotion!" Sun Wang guessed that the candidate for Dali Temple Minister had already been decided, and immediately put down the chess pieces in his hand to congratulate.

Wu Qi immediately waved his hands as if he had eaten honey, and said, "Hehe...the matter hasn't been settled yet, let's go out to meet the order now!"

"Master Fuyin, that Eunuch Huang didn't come here to issue an edict, he seems to be summoning you into the palace!" Seeing that Wu Qi had misunderstood it, the Yacha immediately reported it.

"Your Majesty, Fu Yin, ministers are seldom summoned today. His Majesty must have attached great importance to you if His Majesty could summon you today!" Sun Wang flattered Wu Qi, who was about to be promoted, intentionally.

Wu Qi lightly stroked his snow-white beard, he had been an official all his life, and his deeds must have been known to the world today, but he said in a slightly embarrassed way: "This game of chess..."

"Your Majesty Fu Yin is superb at chess, and I am willing to bow down!" Sun Wang had the ability to open his eyes and tell lies, and immediately took the initiative to admit defeat.

Wu Qi breathed a sigh of relief, then put down the chess piece in his hand and said, "Hehe...then I have entered the palace to face the saint!"

"Your Majesty congratulates Lord Fu Yin on his promotion!"

"My lord, Fu Yin, I still hope to guide you to lower officials in the future!"

"Master Fu Yin, I will go to Yanyang Tower to prepare a banquet for you!"

……

After learning that Wu Qi was summoned to the palace, the officials of the Shuntian government office poured out from their respective government offices, complimenting Wu Qi who left immediately.

Wu Qi is a person with a strong vanity, now seeing all the subordinates flattering him so much, he couldn't stop laughing from ear to ear, and standing on the steps of the gate, he cupped his hands and said to the subordinates who were sending him off: "I am an official. Integrity is like water, and now I will encourage you all!"

Clean as water?

The person who came to summon this time was the eunuch Huang Pan. When he heard this word, he couldn't help but look at this Shuntian Fu Yin who was wearing a ripped official uniform strangely.

According to his experience, all officials who use this word have no good results.

In the East Nuan Pavilion, sandalwood smoke curled up.

Xu Qiong, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, is now a core member of the sect party. He came here and asked to play: "Your Majesty, the Son of Heaven should personally farm for the rice harvest. Please choose a day in February to borrow the gift!"

"What's the rule of farming borrowing ceremony?" Zhu Youtang asked lightly as he hated red tape more and more.

Xu Qiong, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, gradually figured out Zhu Youtang's temperament, and immediately took out a memorial book from his sleeve and said: "Your Majesty, here are the rules and regulations, please read them!"

Liu Jin took the memorial from Xu Qiong, and respectfully sent it to Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang was working on the drafting of the plan for the restructure of the soldiers' salaries of the Shield Battalion and the [-]th Battalion, and he also took the time to read the process of farming and borrowing rites, so his brows could not help but frown slightly.

Just like what I thought, this plowing ceremony requires worshiping a bunch of gods, not to mention, there are several steps in how to start plowing, and plowing requires "three pushes and three return rituals", and the cabinet ministers and the six ministries Then do "nine pushes and nine return gifts".

Formalism, this is his first perception.

Zhu Youtang knew that it was necessary for the Son of Heaven to personally cultivate, but this kind of complicated etiquette was not necessary, so he immediately threw down the memorial book and said: "Simplify it and then play it!"

"The minister leads the decree!" Xu Qiong, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, found that it was just like what he had guessed, and couldn't help cupping his hands bitterly.

Zhu Youtang didn't want to waste time on unimportant things, so he gently raised his hand to signal Xu Qiong to back down, but he began to think about how the SHIELD Battalion and the [-]th Battalion should compete.

Now that the [-]th Battalion has suffered from jealousy, it is natural to speak with strength, whoever has a hard fist can get more, and whoever has a soft fist will naturally swallow his anger.

Just as Xu Qiong stepped back, Huang Pan came in from the outside and reported that Wu Qi, Yin of Shuntian Mansion, was already waiting at Qianqingmen.

Zhu Youtang thought of the absurd things that happened at the foot of the world, even if he summoned the Governor of Shuntian, he put down his work and planned to take a good look at this courtier.

There were two strangle marks on the neck of the deceased, just because the Funinghou Mansion was involved, and he was eager to close the case by hanging himself without even conducting an autopsy. What did the strange officials under his rule look like.

It's just that when people came in, he found that he was completely different from the traitor and evil he had imagined. This little old man was full of elegance, and his whole body was somewhat simple.

"Chen Shuntian Mansion Yin Wu Qi respectfully invites Shengan!" Wu Qi suppressed the ecstasy in his heart, and saluted respectfully.

Zhu Youtang took a deep look at the short official, and asked straight to the point: "Master Wu, what's going on with the Jiaofang Division's case today?"

"Your Majesty, I have verified that it was the official prostitute who hanged herself to death!" Wu Qi was taken aback for a moment, but when he realized that he was not discussing his promotion to Dali Temple Minister, he replied honestly.

Zhu Youtang couldn't help laughing, and couldn't help but sarcastically said: "Verification? As far as I know, you closed the case without even conducting an autopsy, but I don't know how to verify it?"

"Your Majesty, official prostitutes are cheap jobs, and cases of hanging themselves are not uncommon! This matter involves the Funing Marquis Mansion. I think it is not appropriate to go into it, so I didn't arrange an autopsy, and closing the case with posthumous posthumous title will satisfy all parties!" Wu Wu But Qi couldn't understand why the superior emperor cared about the life and death of an official prostitute, so he expressed his thoughts.

This……

Liu Jin stood by and watched all the time, thinking that the governor of Shuntian Prefecture would try his best to defend himself, after all, this kind of treatment was simply dereliction of duty.

It never occurred to him that the governor of the Shuntian Mansion admitted it directly, and he didn't even hide that he was sheltering in the Funinghou Mansion, but he didn't know which song he was going to sing.

Although he was used to seeing civil servants who were incompetent, it was the first time in his life that he saw such a civil servant who was so incompetent and yet so confident.

Zhu Youtang was also a little confused, so he asked for proof seriously: "You mean that this case is related to the Funing Hou Mansion, so there is no need to investigate further?"

"That's right! Marquis Funing is the Duke of the Ming Dynasty, and he has made great military exploits for the Ming Dynasty. How can he be charged with the Duke's family because of an official whore!" Wu Qi nodded lightly, appearing to be quite natural.

Are you okay?
Liu Jin realized that she had gained knowledge today, and looked at the short Shuntian Fu Yin with complicated eyes.

Zhu Youtang didn't understand how such a person got into such an important position, and how the gang of Jiuqing could push such a person to the high position of Dali Temple Minister, so he asked with a straight face: "The prince broke the law and the common people are the same crime. , I will not go into the details when it comes to the Funinghou Mansion, is this your way of being an official?"

"Your Majesty, how can a prince really be compared with ordinary people? It is really inappropriate for an official prostitute to spend a lot of trouble, and it is best to close the case with his own posthumous posthumous title!" Wu Qi didn't understand why the emperor was still pestering the official prostitute, but still Be honest.

Zhu Youtang realized that he couldn't reason clearly with this kind of person, so he took a deep breath and said, "Master Wu, are you really not guilty?"

"Your Majesty, what is your crime?" Wu Qi asked in a daze when he found that the emperor seemed to be angry.

Zhu Youtang didn't understand why there were such absurd officials in Daming, so he directly issued an order: "What is the crime? Come, take off his black hat!"

As soon as the words fell, two big Han generals came in and took off Wu Qi's black gauze hat involuntarily.

"Your Majesty, why is this?" Wu Qi couldn't fight against the emperor's orders, but asked back aggrievedly.

As the black gauze hat was taken off, Wu Qi revealed a big bald head, but he had already become bald, and it was no wonder that he always liked to wear official uniforms.

It's just that after the black gauze hat was removed, the trace of elegance just now disappeared, and now he looks like a bald, ordinary little old man.

Zhu Youtang didn't sympathize with this embarrassed little old man, so he said lightly: "The sage's legislation is for the sake of the world! As a parent and official, you should love the people like a son, but treat the people as worthless! If I don't get rid of you now As an official, I am ashamed of the people of the world!"

"Your Majesty, since I became an official, I have never been corrupt. If you treat a good minister like this, won't it chill the hearts of scholars all over the world?" Seeing that Zhu Youtang wanted to dismiss him, Wu Qi couldn't help screaming.

Zhu Youtang had already noticed the holes in his official uniform, but he said indifferently: "Eating the king's salary, sharing the king's worries, when will the Ming Dynasty be able to be an official forever as long as he is not greedy? Come, let him Drag it out!"

Maybe Wu Qi is really not corrupt as an official, but this kind of person is not as good as a corrupt official when he is in charge of local government.

Corrupt officials still know what to do but don't do something, but Wu Qi has no eyes on the common people, and I am afraid that he has created countless unjust prisons.

In fact, what is even more frightening is that officials like Wu Qi are probably not isolated cases, but there are officials like Concubine Wu who have been hiding in this huge team of officials.

What's more, this pedantic imperial examination system is likely to have been producing Wu Qi.

"Don't! Don't!" Wu Qi was dragged away by two big Han generals, seeing his black hat getting closer and closer to him, he said in horror.

As the news of Wu Qi's dismissal came out, the entire officialdom was in an uproar.

"Wu Qi's actions like this are naturally aimed at demolishing officials and serving the people. It really pleases people's hearts!"

"That's true, but have you ever wondered why His Majesty suddenly cares about the case of the Secretary of the Jiaofang?"

"Your Majesty is eyeing the Funinghou's mansion. He...is he using the Jiaofangsi case to make an example to Funinghou?"

……

Zhu Youtang's punishment of Wu Qi was originally a happy and good thing, but as some officials interpreted the matter, they immediately thought about it.

It's just that with the continuous interpretation of interested people, things gradually changed.

Originally, it was a murder case with a reason for further investigation, but under the exaggeration of someone with a heart, it turned into a case where His Majesty wanted to use official prostitutes to deal with the gang of Wu Xun.

Justice, as if suddenly forgotten by the world, is replaced by conspiracy theories.

(End of this chapter)