Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 60: Zuodu Yushi hangs himself on imperial order
The Jinyiwei helped Chen Jin up.

Simultaneously.

Wang Luan, a captain of the Imperial Guard, said to Chen Jin, "Chen Jin, follow your orders."

Chen Jin hesitated.

He said nothing for a long while.

"Chen Jin!"

"Your Majesty has shown you mercy, why are you still being so hesitant?"

"If you are a good man, you should die calmly."

"That's right. If you still have some conscience, you should know that this is the emperor's great grace. You should be grateful and hang yourself according to the order!"

"I'll find you a crooked tree so you can hang yourself!"

"I'll go find a rope."

Some imperial censors from the Censorate took the initiative to reprimand Chen Jin on behalf of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and threatened to help Chen Jin hang himself.

Chen Jin pursed his lips.

"You should know the consequences of disobeying an order."

Wang Luan gave Chen Jin an instruction at this time.

Chen Jin nodded.

But suddenly, Chen Jin couldn't help it and suddenly squatted on the ground and cried:

"I don't want to die. I haven't brought any of my money home yet!"

"Woo!"

Wang Luan was speechless upon seeing this.

If it weren't for the fact that someone else helped him hang himself, it would have become an execution by someone else. Otherwise, Wang Luan really wanted to help Chen Jin now.

But that's not surprising either.

The more greedy a person is, the less he wants to die.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the cabinet chief minister Zhou Yanru was sentenced to death by Emperor Chongzhen. He hesitated until the fourth watch before he reluctantly committed suicide in compliance with the order.

"I want to write a thank you note."

"In reply to His Majesty."

After crying, Chen Jin made a request.

"You write, you write!"

Chen Jin then wrote a letter of thanks.

It's just written very slowly.

The handwriting is a bit distorted.

"I want to see my family."

"See you, see you!"

Chen Jin then met his family again.

Until it was getting dark.

Chen Jincai reluctantly stood on the stool and put his neck into the rope that had been hung in advance. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he gritted his teeth and kicked the stool away, then grabbed around with both hands.

After seeing that he was motionless, Wang Luan let him go and had the Jinyiwei hammer a long iron nail into the back of his head.

This is the rule of the Ming Dynasty for granting death penalty.

When Zhou Yanru was sentenced to death, the Jinyiwei who was in charge of handling the matter hammered an iron nail into the back of his head after he hanged himself.

This iron nail is called the Soul-Fixing Needle.

Because people of that era believed that people have souls after death, and if the body is preserved intact, it is possible to be resurrected by the soul, so they use iron nails to fix the soul to prevent it from being resurrected.

Chen Jin was ordered to hang himself.

It can be said that everyone is satisfied.

The scholars and common people from Guangdong, Jiangxi and other places who stayed in Beijing celebrated by setting off firecrackers and even spending money.

The scholars and common people also all sighed that the emperor was fair and benevolent, gracious and powerful, and capable of making the world clean and upright.

The Prime Minister Liang Chu was also praised by the scholars and people for his uprightness and impartiality, and for not taking lenient measures just because of his powerful connections.

After all, everyone thought that Chen Jin would at most retire, and some even just hoped that he would retire, and did not dare to think about him anymore.

But no one expected that this time, the court would enforce the law so fairly, and ultimately allow a heinous person like Chen Jin to be physically eliminated.

As a result, Liang Chu's fellow villagers put aside their grievances against him and came to visit him one after another, praising him for not forgetting his original aspirations.

originally.

Some of Liang Chu's fellow villagers resented that Liang Chu, as a cabinet minister, did not stand up for his hometown in the court.

Now all these complaints are gone.

And during this time.

The first issue of "Yumin Newspaper" also appeared in the streets and began to be sold.

The orphans who were adopted by Zhu Houcong on his way to Beijing now became the first group of newsboys selling newspapers.

Under the secret protection of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, these newsboys walked through the streets and alleys and began to shout "The new policy of the country is progressing smoothly", "More than 200,000 soldiers and civilians are safe", "The situation of thieves in the capital has been basically eliminated" and so on.

The literacy rate in the capital is relatively high, and many people are interested in books and articles.

What's more, there are few other channels for entertainment and information in this era.

So, soon many people bought newspapers and went back to read them.

Some peddlers and hawkers, concerned about public security outside the city and the current political situation, bought a copy and asked literate people at home to help read it.

However, the number of copies of the Yumin Daily printed was quite large.

This was mainly due to the fact that Zhu Houcong had the Imperial Household Department secretly responsible for printing and distributing the Yumin Newspaper.

The Silijian, as the institution responsible for printing important books and documents for the royal family, had a huge printing workshop. The printing craftsmen had to be skilled, efficient, and even had high aesthetic tastes.

Therefore, once the Yumin Newspaper came out, it was easy to attract people. In addition, the content of the newspaper was all in easy-to-understand vernacular, and some places were accompanied by pictures.

This way.

The good policy of clearing up the manors and other things done by Zhu Houcong became known to more people, and even spread to the ordinary people.

The people will become more convinced that the current emperor is a good emperor who works hard and loves his people.

Originally, because Zhu Houcong had built up his reputation before, he asked many scholars and officials to actively promote his benevolence on his behalf. In this way, Zhu Houcong's reputation became even higher.

at the same time.

Because Zhu Houcong asked the "Yumin Newspaper" to pay more attention to Liang Chu and publicize him in order to check and balance Yang Tinghe in terms of popularity.

Therefore, after reading the "Yumin Newspaper", everyone became more supportive of Liang Chu, and they gradually forgot some of Liang Chu's previous bad reputations, such as his reputation for cowardice and flattery during the Zhengde Dynasty. They only knew that the current Liang Ge Lao was a capable minister who dared to offend the powerful for the sake of His Majesty and the people, and supported the cleanup of the estates. For this reason, he took the initiative to meet the emperor many times and offer suggestions.

Even some scholars and officials changed their impression of Liang Chu because of this, especially when they thought about how Liang Chu became the Prime Minister and caused Wei Bin and Wang Qiong to be imprisoned one after another, and now Chen Jin was also brought to justice, they believed that Liang Chu was upright and loyal to the country.

Yang Tinghe also saw the "Yumin Newspaper" shortly afterwards.

This made his face suddenly darken.

He naturally realized how damaging this newspaper would be to the struggle for the right to speak in public opinion among the upright civil servants once it was published.

"The text is too straightforward, and it's obvious that even a person with a basic knowledge of literature can understand it!"

"He also talked about Qingtian's kindness at great length, but only mentioned Ding Dali briefly."

"Dad, this "Yumin Newspaper" must be the work of those who advocate changing the ancestral law! I'm afraid it came from the inner court, otherwise, this printing method should not be so good."

Yang Shenze also commented on the "Yumin Daily" on the side.

Yang Tinghe frowned: "Who is doing this?"

"Dad, do I need to ask?"

"This must be related to Liang Shunde. In the whole article, apart from praising the emperor, he is the one with the most good words. You, the great tutor, didn't mention him much."

Snapped!
As Yang Shen spoke, he slammed the newspaper on the table.

"I just don't know if this is what the emperor wants."

Yang Tinghe said something at this time.

Yang Shen immediately became serious after hearing this and asked, "What do you think, Dad?"

"Whether it is or not, you must return to the cabinet as soon as possible!"

Yang Tinghe replied.

Yang Shen thought for a moment and nodded: "Dad is right. It's useless to guess here. I have to stay in front of the emperor to know the details."

"The one who is near the water gets the moon first!"

"Don't let the time come when not only Liang Shunde, but also Jiang Quanzhou and Mao Laizhou know your majesty better than we do."

Yang Shen sighed, and couldn't help but think of his situation now that he could no longer enter the cabinet.

"Brother!"

At this time, Yang Tingyi walked over quickly.

Upon seeing this, Yang Shen immediately bowed to Yang Tingyi: "Fourth Uncle."

Yang Tingyi nodded, and then said to Yang Tinghe: "Brother, I just received news that Chief Justice Chen Wuchang was ordered to commit suicide and his property was confiscated."

"Is this happening?"

Yang Shen looked at Yang Tingyi.

Yang Tingyi looked at Yang Tinghe.

Yang Tinghe was stunned.

"Dad, what does this guy named Liang mean? Where does he put you when he does this?"

"He clearly knows that you support Chen Wuchang in doing this just to make Chen Wuchang and the people in Jiubian willing to protect the gift."

"According to my father's arrangement, Chen Wuchang only asked him to retire and return home!"

Yang Shen first asked about Yang Tinghe.

Yang Tinghe glared at Yang Shen.

Yang Shen had no choice but to shut up.

Yang Tinghe then waved his hand and said, "Go and present a letter of thanks, saying that I have recovered and thanking His Majesty for sending doctors and medicine during this period of time."

Yang Shen bowed and said yes.

"Sir, the Vice-President and others want to see you."

At this time, a servant from Yang's house came to report the news.

Yang Shen couldn't help but sneer: "This is good news."

"I'll go see him in person."

After Yang Tinghe said this, he asked his servants to invite in the officials who wanted to see him, Yang Tinghe.

When the officials including the Left Vice-Chief Censor Wang Jing saw Yang Tinghe, after paying their respects, Wang Jing spoke first, "Grandmaster, great joy! The traitor Chen Jin has been granted the right to commit suicide. He has now hanged himself according to the imperial decree."

"Yes, I saw the Jinyiwei hammering the nails myself."

Censor Yang Bingzhong also echoed.

After hearing this, Yang Tinghe forced a smile and said, "Good, good, it makes people happy! A sage king is on the throne, and a brave minister is in charge of the country. This is a blessing for the world!"

At this time.

Wang Jingze saw Yang Tinghe moving around, so he asked, "Master, have you recovered from your illness?"

Everyone immediately looked at Yang Tinghe.

Yang Tinghe smiled and said, "I can barely walk now. Thank you for your concern!"

"Great!"

"Doesn't this mean that the Grand Tutor will return to the cabinet and assist Your Majesty in becoming a ruler like Yao and Shun?"

"Today is really a double happiness!"

(End of this chapter)