Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 19: The Western Factory investigates all officials!

"Master Wan, how are you?"

Wang's face was as cold as an iceberg, but the words he said made Wan'an tremble and almost faint.

"I wonder if the Lord is thinking of me while you are in the capital. I am in Nanzhili, but I think of Lord Wan every day."

Wan'an is too familiar with Wang Zhi.

When the Western Factory was closed down for the first time, it was Shang Lu, the then chief minister of the cabinet, who brought him, Liu Wei and Liu Ji to the court to force Emperor Xianzong to abdicate.

The pressure from the cabinet and the court was too great, and Emperor Xianzong had no choice but to temporarily close the Western Factory.

Two months later, Wang Zhi was appointed as the commander of the Western Factory again.

When the then Prime Minister Shang Lu heard this, he immediately retired and went home without saying a word.

Because he ran fast, Shang Lu saved his life.

So when Wan'an heard that Zhu Youtang was going to reopen the Western Factory, he made a prompt decision and followed Shang Lu's example, retiring and returning home.

But this time, he couldn't run as fast as Shang Lu, and was caught by Wang Zhi.

Seeing Wang Zhi coming at him aggressively, Wan An said in a timid tone: "Wang Zhi, don't go too far!"

"I have already retired and submitted my memorial!"

"I am no longer a minister. Please get out of my way. His Majesty has allowed me to go home and retire!"

Wang Zhi was calm and said slowly: "You have submitted the memorial, but His Majesty hasn't approved it yet, right?"

"Without receiving the memorial, Lord Wan dared to leave the capital without permission. You are so bold!"

"Come here, capture them all for me!"

Without waiting for Wan'an to refute, Wang Zhi ordered the arrest of Wan'an and his family.

Wan An's lips were parched and his mouth was dry. He shouted loudly, "Stop!"

"Stop it!"

"You can't arrest people at will without evidence!"

The Western Factory guards didn't care about all the gossip and arrested Wan'an and his wife and children in no time.

Suddenly, miserable cries for mercy were heard on the street.

Wang turned around expressionlessly and walked away with his hands behind his back.

"Hmm, evidence?"

"Take him back to the West Factory Prison for interrogation."

"take away!"

Wan'an's entire family, young and old, were all captured one by one by the ferocious Western Factory guards and taken to the Western Factory prison.

Such situations are happening all over the capital.

Those officials who submitted their retirement petitions but wanted to leave Beijing early before receiving approval were all arrested by the Western Factory and taken back to the Western Factory Prison.

Those officials who had been waiting for approval at home or had not yet prepared to leave the capital were lucky enough to escape this time.

But the Western Factory has already begun a large-scale investigation and is collecting evidence.

Those corrupt officials who embezzled money unscrupulously while in office, and then wanted to retire and go home and run away after getting into trouble.

The Western Factory will not let anyone go!

……

the other side.

Qianqing Palace.

After passing by Wang Zhi, Liu Jian and the other two arrived at the gate of the Qianqing Palace, and immediately a young eunuch went to report.

"Your Majesty, Cabinet Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian request to see you."

"Xuan."

Zhu Youtang stopped writing the currency reform policy and picked up the cup of hot tea beside him.

After Liu Jian and the other two entered the Qianqing Palace, they first greeted each other politely.

"Your Highness, I, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian, pay my respects to you."

"Get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After the three of them stood up, Liu Jian took out the memorial he had prepared.

"Your Majesty, we have prepared a list of candidates for election in the past few days. Please review it."

"Well, let me see."

The eunuch from the Imperial Household Department first took the memorial from Liu Jian, and then presented it to Zhu Youtang. Zhu Youtang picked up the memorial and opened it.

The list of memorials was very long. A total of 179 officials retired this time. For each position that needed to be filled, there were multiple candidate officials.

When an official is transferred, the vacant position needs to be filled by other officials.

After this series of changes, there were thousands of names on the memorial in Zhu Youtang's hand.

Zhu Youtang was quite satisfied with the efficiency of Liu Jian and the other two as they were able to come up with such a detailed list in just a few days.

When Zhu Youtang was looking through the list, Liu Jian took the initiative to introduce him to the candidates on the list.

"Your Majesty, I think the position of Minister of Personnel can be filled by Wang Shu, the former Minister of War of Nanzhili."

"Wang Shu is upright, honest and strict, has rich experience and many political achievements. Not only can he serve as a minister in the court, but I also recommend him to join the cabinet to discuss matters."

Zhu Youtang thought about it carefully and seemed to have some impression of the name Wang Shu?

Suddenly I remembered, isn't this Wang Shu, who was later called one of the Three Gentlemen of the Hongzhi Period?

The Three Gentlemen of the Hongzhi Period refers to Wang Shu, Ma Wensheng and Liu Daxia during the Hongzhi period.

The historical books all have very positive evaluations of these three people.

Zhu Youtang nodded: "Okay!"

Liu Jian breathed a sigh of relief and continued his introduction.

"As for the position of Minister of Revenue, I think Xu Pu, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, can take on this task."

"Xu Pu has a serious temperament, is magnanimous, and is principled in his work, which is just right for the current situation in the government and the opposition."

"I also want to recommend him to the cabinet and nominate him as the chief minister."

Li Dongyang and Xie Qian bowed at the same time: "Your Majesty, Xu Pu is diligent and conscientious, and has a good reputation in the government. He is the best choice for the current cabinet's chief minister."

"Your Majesty, I second the motion that Xu Pu should be the chief minister of the cabinet."

Zhu Youtang was somewhat surprised: "Oh? I thought that Liu Aiqing would be recommended as the Prime Minister?"

Zhu Youtang remembered that Liu Jian had indeed served as the Prime Minister for a long period of time during the Hongzhi period.

Liu Jian bowed and declined: "I am still inexperienced and incapable, and I am not up to the responsibility of being the Prime Minister."

"As a minister of your majesty's cabinet, I select the virtuous and capable to help your majesty share his worries."

Zhu Youtang chuckled: "I am very satisfied that Elder Liu has this heart."

"Okay, I agree."

Later, Liu Jian also recommended the new Minister of Works Jia Jun, and Zhu Youtang agreed.

When Liu Jian was about to introduce the officials, Zhu Youtang waved his hand.

"No need to read it. I am only in charge of the appointment of ministers of various ministries. You can decide on the officials below by yourselves, or you can let the Ministry of Personnel assess them."

"Tell me, who are my six ministers now?"

Li Dongyang stepped forward and took the initiative to report on behalf of Liu Jian.

"Your Majesty, the current six ministers are the Minister of Personnel, Wang Shu."

"Liu Jian, the Minister of Rites."

"Xu Pu, the Minister of Revenue."

"Minister of Works Jia Jun."

"Minister of Justice Zhang Ying."

"Ma Wensheng, the Minister of War."

Zhu Youtang felt something was wrong: "This time, four Shangshu retired. Why didn't Zhang Ying and Ma Wensheng retire?"

Zhu Youtang did not know Zhang Ying, but Ma Wensheng had been investigated by Wang Zhi and demoted to Yuzhouwei.

Now that the West Factory is reopened, it is impossible for Ma Wensheng not to object.

Liu Jian hesitated, "Zhang Ying is seriously ill. He has been lying at home and has not been to court."

"As for Ma Wensheng...he is not in the capital."

"what?!"

Zhu Youtang suddenly stood up and asked: "My Minister of War is not in the capital?"

"The Minister of War left the capital without permission. What does he want to do?!"

"Where is Ma Wensheng now?!"

Ma Wensheng is now in Datong, and he has seen the city wall of Datong Prefecture.

(End of this chapter)