I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 239: Loyal and Courageous Yang Sizhi

Yang Sizhi, the imperial censor who patrolled the city, paced back and forth outside the court room with his hands behind his back. He was very excited, like an ant on hot pan.

He was only a seventh-rank censor, so he had no right to sit and wait in the court room. He could only wait outside, enjoying the warm spring breeze, the stars and the moon, and the first rays of the morning sun, waiting for the arrival of the morning court.

Yang Sizhi pressed his arms from time to time, and tucked his clothes into which was a memorial written by him personally.

This memorial seemed to be on fire, and almost combined with the burning heart in his chest to start a raging fire.

I, Yang Sizhi, am going to do something big today!
I want to make a stunning debut at this grand court assembly, and let the whole world know about it!

When Yang Sizhi was on duty at the Wucheng Bingmasi, he suddenly received a letter from someone.

The man claimed to be from Shunyi County, Shuntian Prefecture, and his name was Zhang Daxiong. He turned himself in and said that his younger brother, Zhang Erxiong, was forced to hide in Baoen Temple. When the virtuous concubine took the third prince to burn incense and worship Buddha, he held a wooden stick in his hand and intended to hit the third prince.

And the confession revealed that the mastermind behind the coercion of his brother Zhang Erxiong was Chen Shanyan, the second son of Gu'an Earl and the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Then Zhang Daxiong solemnly presented the handwritten "confession" that Zhang Erxiong had left at home, as well as the 100 taels of gold and silver that Chen Shanyan had bribed Zhang Erxiong with.

There are witnesses and evidence!

After listening to this, Yang Sizhi read the confession letter and trembled with excitement.

Thank God for giving me such a great opportunity!

The Queen's second brother, a legitimate relative of the emperor, submitted a petition to impeach him, which was the most correct political thing in the civil service system of the Ming Dynasty!

It also involves infighting among the imperial relatives and the imperial harem, which is a dog-eat-dog situation that civil officials love to see. There are also witnesses and evidence in front of them, which is God's reward!

Would it be fair to our ancestors if we did not impeach him?
Would it be worthy of twenty years of hard study if he did not impeach?

Would it be unjust to not impeach him and endure the hardship and suffering in the local capital for several years?

Wouldn't it be possible to live up to one's ideal of being a high-ranking official, having a wealthy family, and leaving one's name in history by not impeaching him?
After remaining calm, Yang Sizhi thought about the case carefully and felt that it was indeed a bit absurd.

Why did Chen Shanyan ask people to beat the third prince?
There are so many people in the capital, and so many strong and powerful men with martial arts skills in the Beijing Army, but he chose to look for a local ruffian.

Zhang Erxiong was "coerced" to commit such a serious crime, yet he was able to calmly write a confession and leave it at home.

He was a man who had not read much and whose handwriting was scrambled, but he actually described the whole story in great detail in his confession.

But is this important?

unimportant!
The Ming Dynasty Censor impeached based on rumors.

It is the duty of the censor to submit an impeachment petition when he smells something.

As for finding out the truth of the case, that is not within the scope of this censor's authority.

This censor is only concerned with impeachment and enhancing his reputation.

This morning's court session is the first step for me, Yang Sizhi, to fire the first shot and become famous and successful.

Hearing the sound of the street-cleaning whip cracked by the big Han general at Jinshui Bridge, Yang Sizhi's heart was lifted, knowing that his moment was about to come.

Walking out of the court room, Yang Sizhi was greeted by praise and compliments from everyone that came pouring in like snowflakes.

"Brother Wuliang, well done!"

"Brother Wuliang, you are our role model!"

"Brother Wuliang, once this memorial is submitted, you will be the conscience of the Ming Dynasty, second only to Hai Gangfeng."

Listening to the endless praises, Yang Sizhi felt like he was floating in the air.

After writing this memorial, he followed the tradition of the imperial censors and invited all his relatives and friends to his home to humbly "ask for advice" from them.

Brothers, I have written a memorial to impeach my foreign relatives. You all are well-educated and talented. Please help me take a look at it and find any inappropriate words or phrases that need to be revised. Please correct me!
When my friends and family passed it around, they were shocked!

You impeached a relative by marriage, and he is the Queen's second brother, the Crown Prince's second uncle. You are awesome!
We admire you so much!
As soon as the gathering ended, the next day all the scholars in the capital knew the name of Yang Sizhi.

Otherwise, which censor would be willing to risk being beaten in court or demoted to submit an impeachment petition!
Isn't it just for fame?
Once your reputation is established, you will rise rapidly!

This is called taking a gamble, the censor becomes a scholar!
There is no way, the master is unreliable, I have to rely on myself!
Yang Sizhi's teacher Chen Yiqin worked diligently, did not form a clique or seek power, and the relationship between teacher and student was as pure as water. Chen Yiqin was from Sichuan.

The Shu Party to which he belonged was so powerful in the court that it was inferior to the Prince's Party, Zhejiang Party, Jin Party, and Chu Party. It was even inferior to the Jiangxi Party that declined with the downfall of Yan Song.

The only ones that can be compared with it are the Shaanxi Party and the Guangdong Party.

Chen Yiqin had a good reputation, but his disciples felt uncomfortable and tried every possible way to find a way out for themselves.

Everyone was bustling towards the Jinshui Bridge, and some bigwigs began to greet Yang Sizhi.

Of course, these big guys are the big guys in Yang Sizhi's mind.

People like Xu Jie and Gao Gong were considered bigwigs in Yang Sizhi's mind.

Ding Shimei cupped his hands and said to Yang Sizhi: "Brother Wuliang stood up for justice, and we admire you very much!"

Yang Sizhi's eyes flashed and he was excited. Even the top scholar admired me.

Then I thought, so what if he is the top scholar?

The top scholar who has wasted more than ten years is nothing but shit!
This time when I submit a memorial to the court early in the morning, I will improve my reputation and maybe I will be ahead of him.

Yang Sizhi bowed modestly in return.

Shen Li, Xu Guo and other Jinshi who passed the imperial examination in the 44th year of Jiajing walked by and looked at Yang Sizhi with complicated eyes.

Become famous as early as possible!
Before I became famous, these juniors started to approach from behind with a covetous look on their faces. If I didn't work harder, these juniors would surpass me!

Zhang Chong, Zhao Jin and other four heroes of Xu Clan walked past him. Zhao Jin bowed and said, "I admire you. I admire you!"

Yang Sizhi raised his head even higher.

Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue and Yu Youding, the top three students in the Renxu exam, walked over together and bowed to Yang Sizhi, who was in the same exam, but did not say anything.

Well, what’s so great about being in the top three? I must surpass you!

Wu Chang, the Left Vice Censor of the Censorate, came over. He was Yang Sizhi's immediate superior.

He quickly bowed and spoke respectfully.

"I have met Vice-President Wu."

Wu Chang looked at Yang Sizhi with a smile, "I have read the copy of your memorial. Good, well written, and the impeachment is brilliant. Do a good job, and you will have a bright future."

The impeachment memorial of Yang Sizhi was usually submitted to the Censorate and reported to the higher authorities according to the normal procedures. But how can this reflect Yang Sizhi's iron will? !
So he made up his mind to take this opportunity to present it to the emperor in person at the court meeting this morning.

This is the only way to make it known to the world!

Bring your reputation to the extreme!
Everyone knows Yang Sizhi's wishful thinking, so he made such remarks.

After hearing what his immediate superior Wu Chang said, meaning that he would be promoted and reused as soon as he returned, Yang Sizhi's heart immediately became extremely hot!
After two bells rang, Yang Sizhi followed his colleagues and stood in their respective positions, observing solemnity and courtesy, not daring to move.

The censor in charge of inspection looked around with his eyes and had a small notebook in his mind, in which he would record any officials who coughed, spit, crowded or had untidy manners at any time.

The bell and drum bands were positioned on both sides of the steps, and the fully armored generals stood between the steps and the gates.
On both sides of the imperial road and behind the civil and military officials, there were also neatly lined up Jinyiwei captains standing with swords in their hands.

Everything is ready, just waiting for the east wind from Emperor Longqing.

Yang Sizhi was looking forward to the arrival of Emperor Longqing's sedan chair. He looked up and found that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had been standing on the steps under the throne in the imperial palace.

The emperor will be here soon.

But no matter how long we waited, the band never played any music.

The absence of music means that the emperor has not arrived yet.

Your Majesty, where are you?

Your loyal and brave subject, Yang Sizhi, is looking forward to your arrival!

(End of this chapter)