Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 32 Rural Examination Fraud Case
Seeing that everyone was attacking Sun Zhixian, and even Zhang Sizhi, who was rated as poor, was also attacking him, Zhu Youjian was surprised and asked:

"You were also rated poorly. What do you have to say about that?"

Zhang Sizhi said aggrievedly:
"Your Majesty, I am isolated because I became ugly after getting sick."

"Sun Zhixian often makes fun of Wei Chen, and it is he and his associates who judge me poorly."

Zhu Youjian looked at the selection records and found that Sun Zhixian was indeed present. He agreed with his statement and comforted:

"If you are sick, you must be treated. I will ask the imperial physician to treat you."

"Don't judge a book by its appearance, and you will lose your character."

After hearing what the emperor said, although everyone disagreed with Zhang Sizhi's reasons for being isolated, they could only agree with the words of the saint quoted by the emperor.

However, when Sun Zhixian heard what Zhang Sizhi said, he ignored him and cursed him loudly:

"Am I criticizing you for being ugly?"

"It's because of your poor character that you even lied to your own brother."

"Your Majesty can send someone to check how unworthy this person is!"

When Zhang Sizhi heard him expose his shortcomings, he was so angry that he cursed:

"No matter how unbearable I am, I'm not as good as you. I don't know what means were used to get Te Jian to preside over the Shuntian Provincial Examination."

"Cui Shangshu's son will also take the provincial examination this year, right?"

Sun Zhixian's face changed greatly after saying this, and Zhu Youjian also changed his face suddenly and scolded:
"Speak with evidence, don't just open your mouth."

"Cui Chengxiu's son took part in the provincial examination. How do you know whether he passed or not?"

Zhang Sizhi hesitated when he heard the words, knowing that he had spilled the beans about what he was discussing in private. But now that the matter had come to this, he did not dare to change his words in front of the emperor. He could only make up his mind and report:

"Your Majesty, if Sun Zhixian dares to return to the Hanlin Academy, it can be seen that the list of candidates for the provincial examination has been decided long ago."

"Whether Cui Chengxiu's son has passed the imperial examination, your Majesty will know after asking."

Zhu Youjian looked at Sun Zhixian after hearing this, and everyone in the Hanlin Academy also looked at him. The ministers usually discussed this matter, but there was no definite evidence. Now that Zhang Sizhi exposed it, everyone in the Hanlin Academy was very happy. No matter who fell, they were happy to see it.

Looking at Sun Zhixian again, his face was ashen. It's okay that there's no evidence for this, it's just being talked about. Once the evidence is found, no matter how big a person is, they can't cover it up.

Sun Zhixian wanted to deny the matter, but as Zhang Sizhi said, the list of candidates for the provincial examination had been determined, and even if he continued to quibble, it would only increase the charges.

Seeing him like this, Zhu Youjian understood something in his heart. He directly said to Wang Zuoyuan, the Minister of Rites who was accompanying him:
"Take Sun Zhixian and Zhang Sizhi to investigate and see if the matter is true."

"If it is true, then immediately arrest all officials responsible for the Sunchon Township Examination. All examination papers will be re-examined and the list of successful candidates will be re-determined."

"If Zhang Sizhi made a false accusation, then we should carefully investigate where the rumors came from."

Then he said to Xu Yingyuan who was eager to try:
"You go and follow Mr. Wang and tell me everything clearly."

Several people took the order and left. After they left, Zhu Youjian said to everyone:

"The assessment continues. This second question is to record what happened today in the daily note format I have prescribed."

"The time is limited to half an hour, and whoever writes well will be a part-time student."

Knowing that this was the real topic, everyone immediately put aside their concern about the rural examination fraud case and concentrated on dealing with the assessment.

The Yellow Emperor's Era and the hour system have been implemented for several days, and most Hanlin Academy officials have mastered them. At this time, they began to write daily notes according to the time format determined by Zhu You.

Zhu Youjian ordered people to take the time with a clock, and he thought about the possible malpractice of the Shuntian Township Examination and the subsequent impact. The imperial examination is a national talent promotion ceremony and a channel for class circulation.

It is very important to maintain the fairness of the imperial examination. If there is really any fraud, he will have to take ruthless measures.

He was afraid that if Cui Chengxiu was touched, Wei Zhongxian might be alert.

So Zhu Youjian decided to let Xu Yingyuan handle it first to see what the eunuch's successor would do.

Not sure how to deal with Cui Chengxiu for the time being, Zhu Youjian decided to let Xu Yingyuan play to see if he could communicate well with Wei Zhongxian and resolve the matter.

If that doesn't work, he can only deal with the eunuchs in advance, and then go into battle himself to compete with civil servants for power.

"One move can affect the whole body. It's such a troubled time now!" 』

There is a possibility of war outside the wall, and it is not suitable for major changes in the court.

He could only hope to deal with Cui Chengxiu smoothly and get back the position of Minister of War first.

Thinking about who could succeed Cui Chengxiu as Minister of War after he resigned, Zhu Youjian felt that if he was pushed out, most of the people who would be pushed out would still be eunuchs.

Without the recommendation, his authority is not enough to appoint officials by decree.

In this way, there is only one option left, which is to recall the old officials who have served in office, and use the prestige of those old officials to get them appointed.

Xu Yingyuan once proposed to recall Sun Chengzong and Yuan Keli. These two people have some relationship with Zhu Youjian's teacher Liu Hanru, and they can find excuses to recall them.

However, Sun Chengzong was listed in the Donglin Party, and he was a bachelor of Zhongji Palace before he became an official. When he was recalled, he became the chief minister of the cabinet. The changes were really huge. He cannot be recalled until the eunuch party is overthrown.

The chief ministers of the Ming Dynasty's cabinet were not appointed by the emperor, but were determined based on seniority based on the order in which they were appointed to the cabinet and their titles.

Although the emperor can change the titles of his cabinet ministers and choose the person he likes as his first assistant, he usually does not break the convention and do such things. And with Zhu Youjian's authority at this time, it was impossible to do it.

What's more, among the four palaces and two pavilions, the Zhongji Palace is already the highest. The four current cabinet members and Sun Chengzong all have this additional title. There is no room for Zhu Youjian to adjust and add titles.

In this way, once Sun Chengzong, a cabinet minister who entered the cabinet in the second year of Tianqi and was promoted to the Grand Bachelor of Zhongji Palace in the fifth year of Tianqi, returned to the court, he would be ranked among those who joined the cabinet in the fifth year of Tianqi and was promoted to the Grand Bachelor of Zhongji Palace in the seventh year of Tianqi. Before Huang Liji, he became the chief minister of the cabinet.

This changed the structure of the court so much that before Zhu Youjian defeated the eunuchs, he did not dare to call him back to the court, lest the eunuchs would be alert and fall out with him in advance.

So Zhu Youjian just thought about the idea of ​​recalling Sun Chengzong and put it aside. Compared with Sun Chengzong, Yuan Keli, who became Minister of the Ministry of War and became an official, was less difficult to be recalled.

Although Yuan Keli is regarded by some as a member of Sun Chengzong's party, he himself is also on good terms with many Donglin party members. However, the Donglin Party list decided by the Eunuch Party did not actually include him. He was even given the title of Prince Shaobao when describing the merits of the Three Palaces last month.

This person is actually a centrist and is not very hostile to the eunuchs. The reason why he became an official was not only because the eunuchs wanted to control the military power, but also because he had conflicts with Mao Wenlong and became frustrated and didn't want to do it anymore.

If you want to bring him back, you have to think of a way.

After carefully checking Yuan Keli's resume, Zhu Youjian found that this veteran was very capable and had made contributions in pacifying the White Lotus Sect and establishing Dongjiang Town.

Yuan Keli's idea of ​​establishing Dongjiang Town and threatening Houjin from the sea was also in line with Zhu Youjian's strategy against Houjin.

He planned to find a way to bridge the conflict between Yuan Keli and Mao Wenlong and recall Yuan Keli from home.

There may be big changes outside the Great Wall, and the Later Jin Dynasty is rising. Zhu Youjian is really intolerable to the eunuch party's inaction in controlling the Ministry of War. He decides that if there is a case of rural examination fraud, he will take the opportunity to drive Cui Chengxiu away and replace him with a capable minister like Yuan Keli as Minister of War.

　"History of the Ming Dynasty": Zhang Sizhi was a native of Feixian County. In the second year of Tianqi's reign, he became a Jinshi. Reviewed by Shujishi. In Chongzhen, he served as the right minister of the Ministry of Rites. She is very disgraceful and suffers from malignant ulcers.

　　In June of the eleventh year, the court officials suddenly reached out to him. During the incident, Zhang Chun accused him of corruption during the wine ceremony. He was indignant. He argued hard before the emperor and said that he was isolated and was jealous of the court officials.

　　The emperor's intention was greatly moved, and Xue Guoguan supported him with all his strength. In May next year, together with Yao Minggong and Wei Zhaocheng, he will be the Minister of Rites and the Bachelor of Dongge University.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)