General Constitution of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 119 Polarity Reversal
When Zhang Juzheng was drunk in the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, dozens of carriages appeared on the street in the middle of the night, and each carriage contained four or five children.

"Take it, one for each household."

"Here."

There were so many carts, and the list was scattered much faster than Zhang Juzheng's before.

In just one night, every household in the capital received a leaflet.

The content on the flyer is a plot that looks quite vulgar in later generations, that is, "a loyal minister was killed because he offended his colleagues because of his "filial piety". Kowtow to my neighbors and ask the Ministry of Criminal Justice to help my filial son tomorrow."

First of all, he took out the identity of a filial son, which is very easy to be substituted by others, and then he used his status as a powerful person to resonate with the people, and finally he used an act that didn't cost money to pull the people out.

The entire article was written smoothly, without even mentioning any names, and only one sentence was revealed overtly and secretly.

——It’s not a filial son if you don’t come.

In the early morning of the next day, Tao Dalin, dressed in plain clothes, appeared outside the Zhengyang Gate, prostrating every three steps and kowtowing every nine steps.

Every worship and every kowtow is towards the direction of the Ministry of punishment.

Of course, Tao Dalin was not stupid. At this time, the capital had not yet expanded to the south, that is, the Yongding Gate and other gates had not yet been repaired, and within a hundred steps from Zhengyang Gate to the city was the Yamen of the Ministry of Punishment.

The reason for this is that Tao Dalin deliberately walked slowly so that the people in the capital could see him coming.

When Tao Dalin made his first prostration, many pedestrians stopped in place.

"Ma'am, I'm afraid the flyer last night was telling the truth."

"The filial son really came to complain?"

"It's more than that, three steps, one bow, nine steps, one kowtow, I heard that he is still a master of Juren, and those who hear it are really crying!"

"Hurry up, take our children to soak up the fairy spirit, and let the three brothers learn a little bit."

"..."

Filial piety, for the people of Ming Dynasty, is related to the vital interests of everyone.

It is the law of heaven that you serve your parents and your son serves you.

A filial son cannot lose. If a filial son loses, the value of filial piety will collapse. If there are more and more unfilial sons, everyone will be old and helpless.

In less than half an hour, people gathered outside the Yamen of the Ministry of Punishment.

Beside Tao Dalin was another Confucian scholar.

"Nian Zhai, you will have to speak vernacular later in order for the common people to understand, remember not to speak too much."

"It's just that my family affairs have troubled you."

The person who only repaired the calligraphy was none other than Wu Shilai, Tao Dalin's classmate.

"Don't talk too much when you read Zhai, Tao Gong and my father are also family friends, so I should do my best."

The Wu family is not like the Tao family. Although it is a small rich family, it is far behind the Tao family. Therefore, Wu Shilai never abandoned Tao Dalin because of Tao Shixian's affairs. When the Tao family incident happened a few days ago, he was with Tao Dalin Only Wu Shilai was left.

The two of them are now close to asking for help.

The Ministry of Punishment is the government office of the imperial court, but Zhan Han, who was sitting in the hall, didn't care about it.

"Zhan Butang, the people outside have all blocked the Houfu Hutong. Mr. Tao is a recruiter, so he should be able to go straight to the government office."

Zhan Han impatiently waved his hand to the scribe in front of him and said:
"Yes, Juren can come in directly. It's not you and I who stopped him outside the yamen. It was Mr. Tao who was willing to kneel outside. Then I can't stop Mr. Tao from performing his filial piety, right? Let Mr. Tao kneel outside As long as you don’t see it, just pretend you didn’t see it.”

Zhan Han wished that this matter would get bigger and bigger, and he even sent someone to release a letter saying that the officials who were on duty in the Ministry of Punishment today all entered through the back door.

What a backstage this must be, it is so overwhelming that the yamen of the Ministry of Punishment dare not open the door!
While Zhan Han was sitting in the duty room eating tea, a young eunuch from the East Palace rushed into the prison of the Criminal Ministry and directly woke up Zhang Juzheng, who was still hungover.

"Master Zhang, please enter the palace as soon as possible, something serious has happened."

Zhang Juzheng, who was sleeping soundly, seemed to have a spring on his buttocks, and it bounced on the spot.

"What's the matter?"

The little eunuch said directly: "I don't know who distributed the leaflets in Beijing last night. Tao Dalin, the eldest son of Tao Shixian, is kneeling outside the Ministry of Punishment. If the court doesn't take action, the people's grievances may arise."

The eunuch casually took out the leaflet and handed it directly to Ning Jue and Zhang Juzheng.

The faces of the two of them changed suddenly after they glanced at it. Zhang Juzheng couldn't help laughing while looking at the somewhat familiar flyer: "Brother Ning, this Tao family learns quite quickly."

Ning Jue who was sitting at the side frowned.

"It's false to avenge the father's grievances. This is more to test the reaction of the people."

Zhang Juzheng shook his head.

"The temptation is true, but I'm afraid it's not the common people who are tempted. Brother Ning's confession has been circulated in the capital camp before. Many soldiers should know about it, but it can still be spread so much. I'm afraid it's the people in the capital. There are more than three or two people who don't want to see the court reform."

It wasn't that everyone in Ming Dynasty was illiterate. When the common people picked up leaflets, they would just go to literate people to ask why.

What you want the people to know and what you don't want the people to know depends entirely on the standpoint of the literate people, and most of these literate people are wealthy people.

The vast majority of them are vested interests in the old law.

Be it the previous confessions or the leaflets, they didn't feel that those things had much to do with them.

But when the court said the phrase "reform", things were different.

No matter how hype the court said, in the end any reform would force this group of people to bleed, and now Tao Dalin took the lead in making such a fuss, they naturally took the right to speak and stood on Tao Dalin's side.

No matter how good the court's new law is, in the final analysis, it is a layer of "scholars" separated from the common people.

These "scholars" are also very clear in their hearts.

The ancestral family law must not be violated. In the final analysis, it is just a word of filial piety. As long as you grasp the banner of the word "filial piety", everything can be done.

After what Zhang Juzheng said, Ning Jue realized Tao Dalin's true purpose.

After finishing speaking, Zhang Juzheng continued righteously: "Brother Ning, don't worry, this matter will be deposed by Zhang, and Brother Ning's innocence will definitely be restored."

"What can Uncle do? Do you want to go to India? I'm afraid that the scholars in Jingzhong will never cooperate with you and me as before."

Zhang Juzheng gritted his teeth, cupped his hands and said: "At least we have to wait for Zhang to discuss with the prince before making a long-term plan. No matter what, we have to give it a try."

Looking at the back of Zhang Juzheng leaving, Ning Jue was extremely calm.

Is it worth the effort?
Isn't it just that someone wants to pour dirty water on Xinfa?
What a big deal.

I am now a supporter of the old law!
Scolding me is tantamount to scolding yourself.

The crown prince has to kill me if he wants to change the law, and Tao Dalin has to kill me if he wants to take revenge.

I die twice.

Double kill!

"Cell chief, please get your pen and ink, Ning wants to write a letter to Tao Dalin, please forward it to him."

"Bingxian, just write it, I will send it to you later."

Not long after, Ning Jue went straight to it and handed the letter to the prison chief, who could read and write, and his face changed drastically after just one glance.

"Why is Bingxian pretending to be a villain? You work for the common people! Doesn't this make outsiders hate you even more?"

In the letter, Ning Jue scolded Tao Shixian and his son head-on.

It was as if he was afraid that Tao Dalin would stop making trouble.

Seeing the surprised expression of the prison boss, Ning Jue said sadly: "Prison boss, you also know that the reform matter is related to people's livelihood. It is a small matter to kill me alone, but it is a big matter to miss me to change the law!"

Hearing what Ning Jue said, the prison chief almost shed tears.

Ning Jue had mentioned to them more than once that after the new law, the subordinate staff would have to leave their humble status.

"Bingxian didn't hesitate to smear himself for the new law, and the subordinate officials of the whole capital kowtow to you."

After all, the jailer will fall to his knees.

Ning Jue hurriedly stopped the prisoner through the fence and then patted the prisoner on the shoulder.

"Go, be sure to read every word earnestly and out loud."

The jailer wiped away his tears.

"Bingxian, don't worry, I will keep this letter. After the reform in the future, even if you risk your life in a lowly position, I will also rectify your name!"

"It's okay, I don't care about that."

"You don't have to care, but we can't."

"Hurry up, what will happen when the person leaves... Ah no, it will change if it is too late."

The cell boss carefully read the letter written by Ning Jue, then carefully put it away, and walked towards the outside of the yamen.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice was opened a crack from the inside.

The head of the cell slipped out, looked at Tao Dalin who was kneeling outside the yamen, and said loudly: "Tao Juren, Ning Bingxian wrote you a letter, and asked Beizhi to read it to you."

The "common people" surrounding Tao Dalin were startled for a moment, then Tao Dalin cupped his hands angrily and said, "Please read it."

At this moment, almost all the people surrounding the yamen of the Ministry of Punishment were mentally prepared.

As long as Ning Jue's wording is a little careless, or the cell boss said something wrong.

They will directly put the blame on the new law.

Many people pursed their lips subconsciously, ready to spray their stomachs.

After a moment.

The cell boss's voice sounded outside the yamen of the Ministry of Punishment.

"Your father, Tao Ni, is a virtuous teacher, so rebellious and immoral, he actually wanted to change the family law of my great Ming ancestor..."

"Why did I miss these tricks at the beginning and let you go, you little bastard? Just go and make trouble. My master Xu Gong has already tried to rescue him outside. If you know the truth, leave on your own. If you don't want to, wait for me to be released from prison." , you will have your whole family destroyed, so that you can vent your hatred."

When the prison chief finished reading the letter, not just anyone couldn't hold back, and blurted out angrily: "Arrogance!"

"How dare you change my Ming ancestor's family..." Before he finished speaking, the man realized that something was wrong, and his voice gradually became quieter.

Tao Dalin's mouth opened, and he was full of swear words.

But he just didn't curse a word.

Even the "common people" who were watching couldn't help but look at Tao Dalin, and carefully analyzed who this kid was.

The cell boss carefully put away the letter, and then looked at Tao Dalin.

"Mr. Tao, do you have anything to say?"

The corner of Tao Dalin's mouth twitched slightly, and he even wanted to slap himself.

Turn it over, turn it over!

Ning Ke finally said all the words.

what did I say? !

(End of this chapter)