Jingtai Fengyun: The First Absurd Emperor of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 398
Ever since Zhu Qiyu personally ordered the execution of Yang Hong, Yang Jun and his son in public in Xuanfu, officials, gentry, and rich households in Xuanfu were in constant panic.

After that, there is an endless cleaning,

Even Yang Hong's direct son, Yang Jie, was sent by the emperor to the Xuanfu to assist Li Bing in the inspection of officials and poor governance of the gentry.

Therefore, the hearts of the people in Xuanfu showed a two-sided situation: the poor people were happy to see the success, while the gentry and wealthy households were full of resentment.

In this way, it is normal for Li Bing to be deflated. Except for Yang Jie sent by the emperor, no local people are willing to serve him as the governor.

When Li Bing first recruited staff, many people came to apply, but they were all crooked and embarrassing.Li Bing had no choice but to dismiss all those people in line with the principle of rather lacking than abuse.Over time, no one came at all.

Poor people and humble scholars are simply unable to participate in such political struggles, while wealthy gentry and households are united as one and protest silently.

Today, with great difficulty, someone came to apply for the staff again. Li Bing was overjoyed, took the greeting card himself, and opened it for a closer look.

The two staff members Zhou Shen and Liu Xiang also craned their necks, watching Li Bing's reaction curiously.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Li Bing had finished reading it, he threw the invitation card on the ground in annoyance: "Look, another poor scholar. Wang Shan, the son of the Imperial College, is not even a juren.

Moreover, he is a monk from outside, can he read this bad scripture of Xuanfu?
Give him two hangs of money and send him away quickly. "

Hearing this, the servant quickly agreed, and turned around to send the man on his way.

Li Bing complained to his staff: "You have also read the recent mansion report. The capital is in chaos. The emperor is seriously ill, the crown prince is seriously ill, the second and third princes are seriously ill.

All civil and military officials thought this was an act of flattery by Xiaoxiao's generation, and they all wrote letters to remonstrate with His Majesty.

It was also rumored in the capital that His Majesty wanted to dethrone the prince, which made the uproar and intensified.

The cabinet and the six ministries have undergone constant changes in personnel, and dozens of new scholars have been involved in political disputes.

I also want to write to the court to ask for help.As a result, the imperial court was in chaos, so there was no time to deal with us.

Tell me, what should I do next? "

Zhou Shen replied after hearing the words: "How about we start with Ji Guang, the deputy general of Xuanfu?"

Li Bing shook his head helplessly: "I heard that His Majesty has agreed to investigate Ji Guang. It's just that for some reason, the official edict has never been passed to the Xuanfu. Even the cabinet, the Ministry of Punishment, the Ministry of War, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate have not made a clear statement.

The imperial court is fighting so hard now, who knows what's going on.It's possible that the official arrest approval document was stuck in the Rites Supervisor.

Ji Guang was strongly recommended by Wang Zhen, and it is said that Emperor Gongrang can still exert influence on the Supervisor of Rites.

Hey, I have a headache, this governor can't go on. "

The two staff members were complaining with Li Bing, but the servant came back.

Li Bing complained helplessly to the servant: "Just send him away, you don't need to come back to me again."

The servant carefully presented a letter: "Zhongcheng, I don't ask for money. The scholar named Wang Shan said he has a letter of recommendation, please read it."

Li Bing glanced at Zhou Shen, then leaned back on the chair weakly.

Zhou Shen understood, and after receiving the letter, he wanted to open it for reading.

It's just that Zhou Shen was stunned when he saw the signature of the letter.

Li Bing asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

"Zhongcheng, look at the inscription of this letter, University of Martial Arts Hall."

"what?"

Li Bing didn't dare to neglect, and stood up immediately.

Other people's face can not be given, but Chen Xun's face cannot be ignored.

Li Bing is a Jinshi in the first year of Zhengtong, and Chen Xun is the chief examiner in the first year of Zhengtong. They are teachers and students.

Li Bing took the letter and looked at it carefully. It was really written by the teacher.

Respectfully opened the letter, and after reading it carefully, Li Bing gasped: I really doubt that my teacher was held hostage with a knife around his neck to write this letter of recommendation.For a scholar who doesn't know where he came from, why use so many compliments?

Li Bing handed the letter to his two aides: "Tell me about the origin of this man outside. He actually invited my teacher, the dignified Martial Arts University scholar, to write this letter of recommendation by himself."

Zhou Shen read the recommended book, thought for a while, and then replied: "The flood in Shandong last year destroyed a large area of ​​the Yellow River and the canal.

Last year, His Majesty appointed Xu Youzhen, the censor of the capital of Youqin, to control the flood and relieve the disaster.

Xu Yushi wrote to His Majesty, asking for donations of money and food.Then, for those rich gentry who donated money and food, the imperial court gave them the title of scholar and allowed them to study in the Imperial College. "

Hearing this, Li Bing suddenly realized: "Oh, isn't the co-author outside a scholar who has just passed the exam?"

Zhou Shen smiled wryly and said, "It's probably not far from ten."

Li Bing waved to the servant: "Go and invite him in."

Not long after, Wang Shan went up to the hall and bowed his hands to salute.

Li Bing raised his eyes and saw a middle-aged man who was well-dressed in front of him.

Li Bing said with a smile: "Sir, please sit down. May I ask you who is the person, where does he live now, and in what year did he become a scholar?"

Wang Shan replied: "People from Xiazhili now live in Xuanfu. As for scholars, last year the imperial court was in Shandong to manage rivers and raise money and food.

I donated 10 taels of silver and 20 shi of fine rice, and the imperial court awarded him the title of scholar and allowed him to study in the Imperial College. "

Li Bing's questions were straightforward, and Wang Shan's answers were also straightforward.

Li Bing glanced at Zhou Shen with admiration, and his aide's deduction was accurate.

After taking a sip of tea, Li Bing continued to ask: "I am an official who is neither intrusive nor greedy. I am a poor governor. Compared with my husband's 10 taels of silver and 20 shi of fine rice, it is not even a drop in the bucket. Can't be called.

Dare to ask why you want to apply for the staff? "

Wang Shan replied bluntly: "I want to help Zhongcheng do things, and then Zhongcheng will arrange a position for me as an official. Using this as a springboard, I want to become a magistrate in the future, which can be regarded as honoring my ancestors."

Li Bing replied helplessly after hearing the words: "It's not that I poured cold water on Mr., no matter how good the officials are, they will not be able to be the magistrate."

"Not necessarily, the imperial court is about to carry out official reform, and the Xuan Mansion is the first reform pilot to bear the brunt. If I occupy the seat early, there will be unexpected gains."

"The imperial court wants to carry out official reforms? Who did you hear, sir? Was this revealed by Mr. Chen Ge?"

Wang Shan shook his head: "Chen Ge is an old pillar of the imperial court and an old man who seeks to seek the country. How could he casually reveal the imperial court's national policy?"

Hearing this, Li Bing was a little taken aback, so he could only reply: "I have no way of knowing the national policy of the imperial court, and I can't influence it, but I can guarantee that I will do my best to arrange the position of officials for you.

Just what will sir teach me? "

Li Bing also thought about it: I don't ask so many questions anymore, I just want to know what you can do for me?
Wang Shan said with a smile: "Zhongcheng is cleaning up the officialdom and wealthy gentry in the Xuanfu, is it difficult now, and some can't go on?"

Li Bing nodded: "That's true, dare to ask sir to teach me?"

Wang Shan explained in detail how Shanxi officials, gentry, and wealthy households colluded with Wala, how to smuggle and distribute the spoils, and then explained the most critical point:
"Zhongcheng should start with the guards now, especially Ji Guang, the deputy general of Xuanfu.

Yang Hong and his son are San Yang's agents in the Shanxi garrison, while Ji Guang is Wang Zhen's interest representative.

As long as we start from Ji Guang, we can find a large area from top to bottom.

You have to do it now, and a few days later, Ji Guang will silence all the insiders and destroy all the evidence, and you can stare blankly. "

Li Bing sighed heavily: "Sir, I know what I said. But I am the governor, so I can't arrest people directly. The arrest should be managed by the inspector. The problem is that the current Xuanfu inspector is not Does not cooperate with me.

Besides, even if the inspector cooperated with me, he would not dare to go and arrest the deputy chief soldier of Xuanfu without official documents from the court. "

Wang Shan smiled and said: "Within three days, the imperial court will definitely send ministers and capable officials to the Xuanfu. Zhongcheng first used the right to do things cheaply given by His Majesty to arrest Ji Guang and his followers.

When the minister arrives, you can just push the responsibility to him. "

Li Bing felt helpless after hearing this: "Although His Majesty did give me the right to do things cheaply, he didn't explicitly say that arresting the deputy commander-in-chief was cheap.

And sir, are you sure that an internal official will arrive within three days?Even if the internal officer really came, would he take the responsibility for me for no reason? "

Wang Shan said with a smile: "This is what I'm here for. Zhongcheng hired me as an aide, and I'm lobbying for Zhongcheng's internal officials. If things fail, let Zhongcheng take over."

Li Bing lowered his head, thought for a while, and then replied: "Then Mr. Lao, I will send someone to arrest Ji Guang's party members immediately."

After all, Li Bing ordered someone to take Wang Shan down to rest.

As soon as Wang Shan walked away, Zhou Shen asked worriedly: "Does Zhong Cheng trust him so easily?"

Li Bing shook his head and said with a wry smile: "I can't trust people so easily, especially for such a big event. But I have no choice. If Ji Guang is really asked to kill people and destroy the evidence, I will also be punished.

It's better to take a gamble than just sit and wait.Putting Ji Guang in prison, even if he loses the bet, is at least pleading for the people, punishing rape and eradicating evil.

Besides, based on my understanding of His Majesty's ruling style in the past two years, I feel that even if Mr. Wang is a charlatan and has no effect at all, His Majesty will not do anything to me in the end.

That's enough, you take the soldiers and officers to arrest people, I will take full responsibility for all problems. "

……

Two days later, April [-]th.

Zhu Qiyu spent another three days at ease, and it was almost noon before he leisurely came to Qingyun Pavilion.

Leaning on the soft couch on the third floor, watching the lake and mountains for half an hour, seeing that no one came, Zhu Qiyu planned to go home for dinner.

Unexpectedly, at this time, the ministers rushed over by coincidence.

After everyone saluted, Zhu Qiyu looked around.First of all, Wang Ji didn't come, the old fox had already left Beijing, far away from the troubled place, and secondly, Xu Qi also went back to Nanjing.

Yu Qian was unlucky, he was sent by Zhu Qiyu to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to assist Wang Wen, and tried the bad things in Shanxi and Wala, and he couldn't leave if he wanted to leave.

But today Yu Qian did not come to court.

Three Ministers of the Ministry of War were missing, but two new faces were added.

One is Shen Yi, Minister of the Ministry of Households, and the other is Zou Gan, Minister of Rites.

Zou Gan was promoted to Shangshu because he took the lead in writing a letter, satirizing the emperor, and making the emperor fight against injustice.

Now that Zhu Qiyu and Zou Gan met for the first time, Zou Gan was also very embarrassed.

Zhu Qiyu also ignored Zou Gan, but asked Shen Yi first in a friendly manner.

(End of this chapter)