King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward, and even Xie Qian stopped talking.

The Silijian needed a ballot, which meant that one had to write down one's ideas and then have them signed or approved by the Silijian.

How do I fill out this ballot? That's hard!
Liu Jian sighed. He had just taken over as the Prime Minister from Xu Pu and had his own responsibilities. He picked up the pen and said, "Then I will draft the vote! As for the death of Yang Peng and his nephew, we will execute them according to the news from the Three Law Courts. What do you think?"

Li Dongyang and Xie Qian: "..."

Seeing that neither of them had any objection, Liu Jian wrote down his ideas and had someone pass them to the Minister of Justice.

The Minister of Rites and Chief Supervisor Dai Yi were stunned when they saw the memorial and the cabinet's decision.

He had a good relationship with Yang Peng, but he didn't expect Yang Peng to be killed like this. Zhang Jin made it very clear in his memorial that the mere act of suppressing the witch insects was enough to have his entire family executed.

He couldn't and wouldn't say anything about this kind of accusation.

He paced back and forth in the lobby of the Ministry of Justice until smoke began to come out of his feet, and then he stopped.

He picked up the memorial in his hand and instructed a personal eunuch beside him: "Go and inform Luo Ying to see if he is interested in being the governor of the East Factory."

The Minister of Rites Dai Yi was in charge personally, with Luo Yin ranked first, Zhang Yu ranked last, and Yang Peng ranked last.

As eunuchs, although they have many internal conflicts, they will still unite together to fight against foreign enemies when necessary. Otherwise, they would not be where they are today and would not be controlled by others.

Zhu Youtang stood up, and before he attended the morning court, the memorial had already been delivered to him.

When Zhu Youtang saw that this memorial was handed over by Dai Yi himself and only contained a list, he knew that this memorial was of great importance, otherwise he would not have sent someone over specially.

When Zhu Youtang heard this, he became so angry that his face turned red, his body trembled, and he opened his mouth several times, but could not say anything.

Zhu Youtang believed that Li Guang deceived him and deceived him because it was good for him.

This was a complete betrayal of Yang Peng, abandoning Zhu Youtang's training and cultivation of him.

These illegal and disorderly acts were secondary. What Zhu Youtang could not tolerate the most was that Yang Peng plotted against Empress Zhang, whom he trusted the most, and cast a witchcraft on her.

Dai Yi was too familiar with Zhu Youtang, and understood why Zhu Youtang was so provoked by him that he couldn't even speak clearly. He quickly went over to support Zhu Youtang.

"Your Majesty, please be patient. Yang Peng, that bastard, was killed by Marquis Jianchang to avenge your Majesty. Please don't be angry."

Zhu Youtang took a deep breath, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and ordered: "Go and ask Luo Yin to come over."

Judging from Dai Yi's orders, he knew exactly what kind of person Zhu Youtang was.

This is the advantage of being a eunuch. How could he not understand it when he accompanies the king every day?
When Luo Yin learned about this from Dai Yixian, he knew what to do. Seeing Zhu Youtang standing there respectfully, his heart was filled with joy.

As soon as Yang Peng left, the position of the commander-in-chief of the East Factory naturally fell on him. He had wanted this lucrative job for a long time.

Zhu Youtang calmed down as expected by Dai Yi and Luo Yin. He said in a unique and weak tone, "Luo Yin, go check the situation of Yang Peng and his nephew. Don't miss a single word. I want to know the truth."

Luo Yin knew that whether he could please Zhu Youtang on this mission would determine whether he could secure his position as the governor of the East Factory, so he respectfully replied, "I will do it right away."

In the court that morning, although the news about Yang Peng's case was widely circulated, it had not been made public due to procedural reasons, and everyone was discussing other things.

But both Zhu Youtang and his ministers were thinking about other things. They were all waiting for more progress in Yang Peng's matter.

On the other side, the Pacification Office was also busy.

There were many problems between Yang Peng and his nephew, such as the unjust cases in the East Factory, the bullying of people by Yang Peng's nephew, investigating the case, and finding the families of the victims. Over the years, the Jinyiwei Beizhenfu Division has not been so active for a long time.

When Luo Yin arrived, he saw this scene.

Along the way, he naturally had spies in the Jinyiwei, so he knew the situation in the Zhenfusi Hall very well.

Luo Yin's face looked a little ugly. He saw the Imperial Guards, the Yulin Guards, and the people from the Three Judicial Departments.

He did not go directly to see the Right Prime Minister, but came directly to Chu Tian.

Zhu Tan didn’t sleep well last night, so his eyes were a little red. In addition, he was wearing a set of clothes last night, trying to control the situation and show his majesty.

When Luo Yin saw Zhu Tan's appearance and the dark red blood all over his body, he couldn't help but curl his lips.

"Marquis Jianchang, the emperor sent me here to inquire about the case of Yang Peng and his nephew. I won't go into the details, but I hope the marquis can tell me."

There was some conflict between Zhu Tan and Luo Yin, and Zhu Tan ordered the killing of Jiang Lun, the adopted son of Luo Yin's elder brother Luo Zhao.

But neither of them said this, so Zhu Tan pretended to know nothing.

After nodding, he told the story of Yang Peng and his nephew's involvement in the Man Cang'er incident and the suppression of "witchcraft". Something in his mind moved him and he couldn't help but tell the story of Yang Peng's beheading. Naturally, he re-examined the development process of the incident.

Luo Yin only thought about defeating the witch insect and didn't care much about other things.

He is in charge of such a fat piece of meat as the East Factory. How can he sit still if he doesn't make more money?
As soon as Luo Yin saw the evidence, he knew that Yang Peng and his nephew were really finished. Even if Yang Peng was killed, they would not let them go easily.

He recognized Yang Peng's handwriting at a glance. The name written on it was definitely written by Yang Peng.

This guy is so hateful!
After confirming the truth of the matter, Luo Yin could not just walk away, so he had to patiently check all the witnesses and evidence.

Although it is impossible to list ten major crimes like Li Guang did, he cannot escape four or five major crimes.

The appearance of Luo Yin also indirectly supported Zhu Tan. Luo Yin said that he came to inspect on the order of Emperor Li Zhi.

This matter was almost a done deal, and the people from the Three Law Courts breathed a sigh of relief.

At noon, he would return to the palace.

Seeing that the matter at the Zhenfu Division had been resolved, Zhu Tan suggested that Luo Yin bring the documents from the Sanfa Division and Jinyiwei Zhenfu Division so that Zhu Youtang could take a look at them in person.

Today, Zhu Youtang was asked to leave the court, but Liu Jian and the other two university scholars were all there. Zhu Tan was not a stranger to Liu Jian and the others, and he gave Luo Yin a look that was very clear.

Luo Yin did not expect that Uncle Zhang Erguo would actually take the initiative to make a request. It seems that he is quite worldly-wise.

"Your Majesty, I am in the Pacification Office..."

Luo Yin recounted everything he knew, first talking about what Yang Peng and his nephew had done, and then talking about the issue of "witchcraft", which really captured the essence of the matter.

Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian were all shocked by this scene. Then, Zhu Tan handed over the twenty or thirty pieces of paper.

Dai Yi didn't wait for the three to deal with it, and directly placed the things in front of Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang read it carefully for about an incense stick of time, and then asked Dai Yi to hand the file to the three grand secretaries for circulation.

Seeing this scene, among Liu Jian and the other two, only Zhu Youtang could still bear it.

Yang Peng was bewitched, and three of them were among them, and Peng Shao was the second one. It was obvious that Yang Peng had done a lot of bad things to them.

Yang Peng had stirred up such a huge hatred that it angered everyone at once, and the three of them expressed their opinions without even having to discuss it.

Yang Peng's uncle and nephew were beheaded and thrown into the market, and their entire family was executed. In their view, this was too easy a punishment.

It was not a big problem for Yang Peng to be beheaded by Zhu Tan. He only needed to let the coroner sew up his head and then chop off his body.

When Zhu Youtang saw that all three agreed, he also agreed.

However, Zhu Tan stepped out from the crowd and shouted, "Your Majesty, Yang Jia cannot be killed yet, because he still has many cases to deal with."

This was exactly what Zhu Tan was waiting for, especially in front of the three great scholars, so he bribed Yang Jia and asked Zhou Yu to collude with Changhua Bo Shao Xi and Qingyang Hou Zhou Shou, and let Zhou Yu participate in the imperial examination case.

Zhu Tan nodded and didn't say much. He just told Zhu Youtang about how Hua Chang was instigated to report Cheng Minzheng. This was simply giving Zhu Youtang a knife.

Liu Jian and the other two had different expressions. Although Yang Peng's murder was related to witchcraft, it was a major event for the court after all.

Although they were great scholars and ministers, they could not interfere too much. The eunuchs were like servants of the emperor.

But this matter was another matter. This was their territory, their foundation, and no one could touch it. As the emperor, Zhu Youtang naturally had to seek the opinions of all the civil and military officials in the court.

Zhu Youtang frowned and stared at Zhu Tan with burning eyes, then turned to ask Liu Jian: "Lord Liu, how do you think we should deal with the matter that Marquis Jianchang mentioned?"

Liu Jian had a headache. He admitted that he had nothing to do with the case in the Imperial Examination Department, and he didn't want to get into trouble with Li Dongyang because of this matter.

After Li Dongyang was appointed Minister of Punishments, his colleagues all had their own responsibilities, but now Emperor Hongzhi put the responsibility on his head, and he had to respond.

"Peng Shao is an experienced man. I think the imperial examination case should be handled by us. In addition, all the prisoners should be put in prison and Peng Shao should solve the case as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian felt relieved immediately. They would naturally handle the affairs of the Imperial Examination Hall themselves to avoid implicating innocent people.

Naturally, he couldn't go to the Ministry of Rites. Li Dongyang was the chief examiner and Cheng Minzheng was also a suspicious person, so it would be better for the Ministry of Justice to handle it.

Since both of them agreed, Zhu Youtang also agreed.

"Marquis Jianchang, transfer those involved in the imperial examination crimes to the Ministry of Justice. Marquis Jianchang and the Imperial Guards will investigate the case of Yang Peng and his nephew thoroughly. No one should be let off."

Zhu Tan and others received the order, and Zhu Tan finally had the formal responsibility to deal with the matter of Yang Peng's uncle and nephew.

He couldn't help but curl his lips. He was ready to make a big scene in the capital, letting those people know the consequences of provoking him, which could also be regarded as a warning to those people.

"Mr. Liu, there are a few more gentlemen. Please wait a moment."

After Zhu Tan and others left the Qianqing Palace, he stopped Liu Jian and the other two because they were very fast.

Liu Jian and the other two looked at Zhu Tan with strange eyes. The reason was very simple. Zhu Tan killed Yang Peng on the spot in the Zhenfu Division, which really made them vent their anger.

But such behavior makes them feel ashamed, disgusted, nauseated and alert.

"What did Marquis Jianchang say?" Liu Jian stopped and asked.

Zhu Tan clasped his fists lightly, "The matter between Yang Peng and his nephew involves some people involved in the imperial examination case. I can't just let it go. I want to listen to the Ministry of Justice. Please tell Minister Peng Shao that you should all be aware of my friendship with him."

Liu Jian sighed and said, "Both parties are involved in this matter. Marquis Jianchang is also tired. Lord Peng, I will talk to him."

Watching Zhu Tan leave, Xie Qian frowned: "This muddy water is not good! Besides, Peng Shao and the Zhang family also have a feud. Will it cause more trouble and delay the progress of the case?"

Li Dongyang smiled slightly and said, "It's good to let him go and listen. Peng Shao can control him anyway. Peng Shao is about to resign anyway. The issue of the imperial examination will be resolved satisfactorily. Peng Shao will also retire, and the court will give the emperor face. It's very good."

Liu Jian understood that Zhu Tan's desire to come and listen was probably not just Zhu Tan's wish, but also the wish of Emperor Hongzhi.

Once the leader of the East Factory, Yang Peng, dies, the Jinyiwei will fall into chaos, and Zhu Tan is the most suitable person to be the emperor's eyes and ears.

"I have to talk to Peng Shao about this matter. Marquis Jianchang cannot let this matter get worse. We must investigate this matter thoroughly before the results of the Spring Examination come out."

Zhu Tan returned to the Pacification Office and received orders from his brother-in-law. He summoned Xu Guangzuo, Guo Ning, Ma Cong and Xu Tai, and then handed a document of his own to Ma Cong and Xu Tai.

"According to this list, arrest all the people, no matter who they are, what they are, or who they are, and send them to our special service."

Ma Cong looked around and saw more than a hundred people. Are they going to be imprisoned?

Xu Tai didn't think much about it. He had just established a good relationship with Zhu Tan and was eager to try. He said loudly: "My Lord, you don't have to worry. None of these people can compare to you."

Zhu Tan looked at Xu Guangzuo again and said, "Brother, have someone capture Zhou Shou and Shao Xi. If they don't come, beat them up and then bring them over."

Xu Guangzuo chuckled, "Don't worry, second brother. I will definitely help you find it back later."

As soon as the three of them left, Zhu Tan looked at Guo Ning and said, "Third brother, Ma Wensheng, Ye Shen will definitely tell us not to make a big fuss about Yang Peng and my nephew. We must make Yang Jia confess their crimes before they say anything or even go to the Pacification Office. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We must control them in the shortest possible time. If you can't become the leader of the Jinyiwei, I can't become the governor of the East Factory. However, it's no problem to make them our puppets." (End of this chapter)