The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 186 It's time to show your momentum

Seeing that Jin Yiwei was about to come in to arrest someone, Zhang Zhouxin said what's going on?
Didn't I agree that today the two parties will have an on-site confrontation, a court debate, and at the same time clear my suspicion, and calm down the matter?I didn't say a word, didn't give me a chance to show it, why did you finish it for me, Your Majesty?
"Your Majesty, I have something to say."

Jin Yiwei had already entered the hall, Zhang Zhou suddenly cupped his hands and asked loudly.

The scene was a little out of control, Wenchen felt that the emperor's actions were arbitrary, and Wu Xun was also discussing in private, but at this moment Zhang Zhou spoke, and the scene suddenly fell silent.

It's not that Zhang Zhou's voice is so loud, or how imposing he is, that he can control the field.

But everyone remembered that today's protagonist should be Zhang Zhou. This kid was just a "legendary figure" before, and he was unknown. Wu Xun felt that he was an enigmatic "half immortal".

Coupled with the fact that Zhang Zhou took the initiative to ask for a performance and fought hard as a non-court official, others naturally wanted to hear what he, the party concerned, had to say.

Zhu Youtang said: "Zhang Qing's family, what can you say?"

Zhang Zhou didn't care about the narrow eyes of others, as if there was no one else present, he straightened his back and said: "Your Majesty, I have some opinions on this case, and I want to discuss it with Hua."

Including the emperor, all the monarchs and ministers present did not understand Zhang Zhou's behavior.

The emperor has settled the matter with you. Hua Chang is about to be sent to Jinyi Guard Prison and even interrogated. Why do you have any objections?

Zhang Zhou actually had to say that.

Just relying on the emperor's generous speeches, he wanted to calm the public opinion of the government and the opposition. Obviously, the emperor took it for granted.

It may be that Zhu Youtang was eager to protect him and clear his grievances, but he forgot how to arrange it in advance, so if he was in a hurry, he would directly take Hua Chang to question him.

From Zhang Zhou's point of view, apart from intensifying the conflict, it is of no use at all.

In the next step, those scholars don't need to go to the Temple of Weeping. It is estimated that other officials will hit their heads against the pillars and play dead remonstrance.For the sake of the so-called integrity, the so-called Qingliu civil servants can't pull back nine cows after playing with their lives.

"Say!"

Seeing Zhang Zhou's stubborn attitude, Zhu Youtang probably realized that he might have been a bit superior just now, and he was also thankful that Zhang Zhou poured cold water on him to calm him down.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After Zhang Zhou got the emperor's permission, he finally had room to play, and turned to look at Hua Chang, whose official hat was already soaked.

Zhang Zhou asked with a vague smile on his face, "Hua Geshi, my next name is Zhang Zhou, and his style name is Bingkuan. He is from Yingtianfu in Nanzhili. He was born in Gongsheng in Nanyong. He is a candidate for this exam."

"..."

Hua Chang glared at Zhang Zhou.

Tell me who are you?

The ministers in the palace didn't know what Zhang Zhou was going to do, but seeing Zhang Zhou's slightly arrogant expression, they still had some prejudice.

This kid clearly saw the emperor's favoritism towards him, so he was showing off his might!

But the ministers can't help it. They also know that if anyone has the ability of this kid, who can spy on the secrets and save the princess, he will also gain the trust of the emperor, and he can walk sideways here today.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Hua Geshi, you went up to participate in the impeachment, saying that it was the scholar Cheng of the Imperial Academy who was involved in the issue. I have nothing to say about this, because I have never met with the scholar Cheng..."

"You said you haven't seen it if you haven't seen it?" Hua Chang also suddenly stiffened.

You kid is short on self-disclosure.

Whether you have met Cheng Minzheng or not, you can't tell clearly with your mouth.

Zhang Zhou shrugged: "If you haven't seen it, you haven't seen it. If you want to say that I have seen it, there must be someone to prove it? First, I didn't set foot in Cheng Xueshi's house, second, I didn't deliver the invitation, and third, I didn't visit the Imperial Academy." , you don't think that there are other ways for us to meet that can avoid the eyes of the world, right?"

Hua Chang was speechless for a while.

No matter who Zhang Zhou is, at least Cheng Minzheng is a celebrity.

When a celebrity meets someone, he always has to show some signs, and he is exactly as Zhang Zhou said... There is no evidence for whether they have met each other.

Xiao Jing came out at this time and said: "This point, Dongchang can provide evidence, since Zhang Gongsheng entered Beijing, he has never left Jin Yiwei's sight, who he has seen and who he has not, Dongchang and Jin Yiwei are also very clear. He did not pay homage to the Maester of Process."

This was originally only told to Liu Jian, Xie Qian and Xu Qiong.

Now everyone in the court knew that the treatment Zhang Zhou received after entering Beijing was completely different from those ordinary candidates. Zhang Zhou belonged to the P in VIP, and Dongchang and Jinyiwei provided protection and assistance throughout the process.

Are you, Hua Chang, slapping your claws now?
Hua Chang said: "Then how do you know...whether he got the title through other means..."

Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Hua Geshi, let's talk about something more meaningful, such as what you participated in. I have discussed the exam questions of this conference with people... Is that what you said? Then ask me When and where, and with whom did you discuss the corresponding topic? Why don’t you tell me who it is, and it’s better to testify in person.”

Hua Chang said in his heart, you were deaf just now, right?I didn't listen to what I said, witnesses and so on, I will find you later, but I don't have it now!
"Zhang, don't be complacent. You have been criticized by others. Is it groundless? Who do you think you have met and can be unknown to others?"

Hua Chang gritted his teeth.

Zhang Zhou is still a little "admired" to Hua Chang, and now, this guy can still make threats, which are true.

He wanted to say, if you are more aggressive, bit your lips to bleed, maybe I will almost believe that I have talked to someone about the exam questions.

Zhang Zhou sighed: "Then I have to say another thing. After I arrived in the capital, I was too busy. I have never met any candidate of the same subject in private. I have appeared among the scholars several times. If I appear in public, there are people who can testify, and I have never discussed anything related to the test questions with anyone.”

Xiao Jing said again: "On this point, Dongchang can also testify to it."

Hua Chang almost wanted to jump high on the spot.

Why is your surname Xiao Eunuch related to everything?Can you die without saying a few words?
Zhang Zhoudao: "Even if I find someone to frame me, saying that I mentioned the exam questions to him, I would like to hear how he framed it. I'm afraid it's unrealistic to want people to confess to something without evidence or evidence? "

Hua Chang blushed with anger.

But he couldn't say a word.

He didn't have any evidence in the first place. The 12-year history of Hongzhi's inscription was just a gossip. If Hua Chang hadn't brought it up, this kind of criticism would not have caused much trouble, but it was such a incident that ruined Cheng Minzheng. The future of the three, Xu Jing and Tang Yin, even caused Cheng Minzheng to lose his life.

In history, Hua Chang was also convicted and released for this reason.

It can be said that he was not wronged.

Seeing that Hua Chang had been suppressed by Zhang Zhou's momentum, Xie Qian walked out and said with a smile, "Zhang Gongsheng, since you arrived in the capital, have you met any scholars in private?"

Zhang Zhou said: "Mr. Xie Ge?"

Xie Qian was startled, this kid actually knows me?

Zhang Zhou didn't know him at first, but he had heard Xie Qian's voice secretly in Qianqing Palace, and Zhang Zhou could recognize Xie Qian's voice when he spoke.

"Xie Ge's question is very good. It is true that he has not met anyone in private, but it is not that he has never met anyone."

"I once saw the second son of the Imperial College Lin Jijiu. There were Cheng Guogong's son Zhu Feng and Jin Yiwei. There was also a person who wanted to have an academic argument with me many times. His name was Tang Yin."

"But I didn't meet him in private, because I thought that what I did would definitely attract many voices of doubt. If I met someone in private, I was afraid that there would be some misunderstanding. So I would rather prepare for the exam alone without seeing outsiders."

Zhang Zhou looked very calm.

The speed of speech is also very slow.

Xie Qian immediately thought that the emperor had said last night that Zhang Zhou had just arrived in the capital, and he told the emperor that Cheng Minzheng liked to meet scholars and was easily criticized by others, so the emperor arranged Cheng Minzheng as a private teacher for Zhang Zhou. , Zhang Zhou didn't agree, and even avoided meeting anyone.

This kid had already expected that there might be something like today.

Originally, Xie Qian only regarded Zhang Zhou as an eloquent scholar, but after listening to Zhang Zhou's words, and then corresponding to the emperor's words, he immediately realized that Zhang Zhou was not an ordinary juren, let alone a general ignorant of the world. young hairy guy.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Hua Que, but speaking of it, the only connection I have with Cheng Minzheng, Tang Yin, and Xu Jing is that before this test, I visited the teacher, and I met Tang Yin at that time. .”

Hua Chang seemed to be grabbing at straws, and said, "That's the exam question that you guys discussed secretly."

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, if I give you a sack, you just go into it?Give you a hole and you just jump down?
At your level, who can you impeach?

Furu, you are!

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said: "On the contrary, I didn't have a private discussion with Tang Yin. What I said at that time, many scholars in the south of the Yangtze River could hear it very clearly. After I finished speaking, I walked away and didn't say anything more to others In a word, if you don’t believe me, you can ask the people who were there that day.”

"You..." Hua Chang suddenly realized that he might have been caught in a trap.

Zhang Zhoudao: "The agreement I made with Tang Yin at that time was a bet. The so-called learning is not determined outside the examination room. The difference between Jie Yuan and Ya Yuan in the Jiangnan examination room is not that big. They are both candidates and serve the court. , why do we have to tell the difference? But he insisted on the competition, so I made an appointment with him to decide who wins or loses in the test. If I win him, I will let him join my teacher. He also failed the exam, so he will no longer take the exam from now on, and he will be released from office as a tribute!"

"what?"

About this bet, only a small area has been circulated.

All the important officials of the imperial court and princes and nobles were present, how could they know such a trivial matter?

Now that Zhang Zhou said it, they knew that there was such a thing.

Zhang Zhou actually made a "heavy bet" with Tang Yin. Zhang Zhou said that he failed the Jinshi in this subject, so he won't take the exam again?Of course, there is a prerequisite, that is, Tang Yin must win.

How confident is this?

Of course, it is understandable that Xie Yuan in the Jiangnan Township Examination has such confidence and arrogance.

Zhang Zhou continued: "Whether Xu Jing and Tang Yin had anything to do with Cheng Xueshi, or what they talked about, I don't know at all. But since I have such a bet with Tang Yin, it is equivalent to an opponent. The so-called Discussing the exam questions in private doesn't hold true, does it?"

"If I didn't know the test questions from Tang Yin, then I should find out the way for me to get the test questions. Someone sent me a letter, or someone came to inform me. There must always be witnesses or physical evidence in the letter, otherwise You shouldn't use hearsay as evidence to attack me. This is not only targeting me, it can even be said to be disregarding Da Ming's law!"

……

……

Zhang Zhou can be said to be arguing with reason and talking eloquently.

When he finished speaking, the scene was very quiet.

It seemed that everyone wanted to know how Hua Chang was going to argue with Zhang Zhou, and some people wanted to know whether Hua Chang could really find evidence.

Previously, they thought that Zhang Zhou was a newcomer to the officialdom, and perhaps they could use some mental pressure techniques to expose Zhang Zhou's flaws, even without criminal evidence.

Now they know.

It turns out that an official of science and Taoism like Hua Chang is not the king of the court, and his eloquence is simply vulnerable in front of Zhang Zhou.

"Your Majesty, the old minister thinks what Zhang Gongsheng said is reasonable." At this time, someone from Wu Xun's side came out, it was the British Duke Zhang Mao, and he said in a very thick voice, "If you use groundless criticism to make people Being wronged is for disrespecting the Ming Dynasty's law, and please make a decree to quell the disputes and return Zhang Gongsheng's innocence."

"Correct!"

Wu Xun seemed to be very supportive of Zhang Mao, and there were voices of agreement.

Take a look at the civil servant.

Well, you bastards, you are really playing around with the wind, aren't you?
It can be seen that His Majesty has a lot of favor and trust for Zhang Zhou, and seeing that Hua Chang's momentum is suppressed, he came out to support Zhang Zhou?

You idiots!
Suddenly, the conflict between Zhang Zhou and Hua Chang became the conflict between Wen Chen and Wu Xun.

Zhu Youtang saw that something was wrong, he didn't care what other people said, and said loudly: "Hua Chang, what else can you say?"

Hua Chang was trembling with anger, probably because he felt that he had a hundred mouths, but he was speechless on this matter alone.

Zhu Youtang said: "I have asked Dongchang to investigate. Xu Jing and Tang Yin did indeed visit Cheng Minzheng, but it was before the main examiner was appointed last year. Their affairs will be investigated separately."

"But you should also hear the words of Zhang Qing's family. If anyone thinks that he is involved in the problem, they should present evidence. I will let Dongchang strictly examine the evidence. I will neither wrong anyone nor treat it wrongly. Turn a blind eye!"

Zhang Zhou's words are the foundation.

The emperor's tone was softer than before, but his heart was more determined than before.

This is not to rely on the emperor's majesty to suppress things, but to rely on reason.

The scene was won by Zhang Zhou's calm appearance and statement, and Zhang Zhou's eloquence in reasoning.

He also wanted to remind the civil servants present, don't think that just looking for some far-fetched physical evidence, or just finding someone as a witness, can bring Zhang Zhou into the case again, and I will let Dongchang conduct a strict inspection, and dare to frame him Let him die badly!

Just ask those scholars, who dares to come out and find trouble?
Liu Jian came out and said, "Your Majesty, do we need to continue investigating this case?"

Zhu Youtang said: "The order is issued. The crown prince should protect Li Dongyang, the Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites and the great scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion, to re-examine the candidates' files in the inner curtain of the Gongyuan. Tang Yin and Xu Jing are temporarily detained in Beizhen Fusi for research. Hua Chang ...to be taken into custody together!"

(End of this chapter)