I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 184 Wrist Slitting! The Clumsy Wuqing Earl, Feng Bao's Self-Inflicted Injury Scheme
November 24th, afternoon.

Fusi, the northern town, was ordered to prison.

Liu Yingjie, Minister of Justice, Lu Guangzu, Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, and Chen Zan, Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, brought their own wooden chairs and had food delivered to them. They stayed in the interrogation cell of the Imperial Prison, almost inseparable from Li Wei, the Earl of Wuqing.

Emperor Wanli ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Three Judicial Offices to conduct a joint investigation, but the main suspects, Marquis Wuqing Li Wei and silk merchant Shao Fang, were both imprisoned in the imperial prison.

This means that the Embroidered Uniform Guard will exercise the power of presiding over the trial, while the three judicial departments will exercise the power of supervision.

This situation has occurred in the past.

It was almost impossible for the three chief officials of the Three Judicial Offices to stay here indefinitely.

However, based on the previous incident where Wu Qingbo embezzled funds to save death row inmates, the three judicial departments failed to bring him to justice.

This made the three of them feel that their careers had been tarnished.

Therefore, this time they are putting in a lot of effort to ensure that the case is fair and just, and that it is carried out in full accordance with the "Great Ming Code".

This case is not complicated.

The 200,000 taels of silver allocated by the imperial court has been confirmed to be given to the Earl of Wuqing, and the total value of the 200,000 winter clothes has been determined not to exceed 40,000 taels.

Where did the remaining 160,000 taels go?

Wu Qingbo Li Wei and silk merchant Shao Fang must have been aware of the situation and must provide an explanation.

The presiding judge in the imperial prison was Cao Wei, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and concurrently the Commander of the Northern Garrison, and the deputy judge was Zhou Hai, Feng Bao's adopted son and a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The two did not delay at all.

Under the supervision of the three chief officials of the three judicial departments, the whole story was found out in less than two days.

Of the 200,000 taels of silver, the Earl of Wuqing received 150,000 taels.

The remaining 50,000 taels were given to the silk merchant Shao Fang, who embezzled 10,000 taels and used the remaining 40,000 taels to make inferior winter clothes.

but.

Cao Wei and Zhou Hai did not define the 150,000 taels of silver obtained by the Earl of Wuqing as embezzlement, but rather as misappropriation, and even added the word "temporary" before the word "misappropriation".

Those who embezzle will never return the money.

Misappropriation may result in non-return.

It's temporarily misappropriated, but will most likely be returned.

This wordplay effectively downgraded the crime of the Marquis of Wuqing by one degree.

Marquis Wuqing, Li Wei, stated that after receiving the 200,000 taels of silver allocated by the imperial court, he mistakenly used 150,000 taels for repairing his residence due to uncertainty about the silk merchant. Later, after confirming Shao Fang as the silk merchant, he initially gave him 50,000 taels of silver, promising to make up the rest later. However, Shao Fang, eager to curry favor and attract more business from the imperial court, told Marquis Wuqing that 50,000 taels was sufficient and that he would cover the rest. This led to the scandal involving the substandard cotton…

The silk merchant Shao Fang readily admitted to this.

Such wording clearly indicates an attempt to reduce Wu Qingbo's punishment and shift the blame to the silk merchant Shao Fang.

This is the only loophole that can be exploited in this case.

However, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, this loophole could only change Wu Qingbo's crime of "those who embezzle will be hanged, and their family members and close relatives will be exiled" to "those who misappropriate will be hanged, and their family members and close relatives will be given a lighter punishment".

It is clear.

This is a trick that Feng Bao, who has always admired literature and art, is most skilled at.

Liu Yingjie and the other two were not surprised by the charge of "embezzlement being changed to temporary misappropriation".

It would be strange if the Embroidered Uniform Guard didn't find a loophole to reduce the charges against Marquis Wuqing!

After this charge was brought to light, it was difficult to find fault with it because Wuqing Earl Li Wei and silk merchant Shao Fang were both willing to be beaten and the other was willing to be beaten, and they could not be subjected to severe torture.

The more you try to argue about these kinds of word games, the more unclear things become.

Knowing he was doomed, the silk merchant Shao Fang had no choice but to take the blame so that his exiled family could survive.

After discussing it, Liu Yingjie, Lu Guangzu, and Chen Zan decided to acknowledge the charges against them.

They only wanted to bring Wu Qingbo to justice; they did not want to, nor could they, wipe out Empress Dowager Li's entire family.

Immediately.

Cao Wei, Liu Yingjie, and the other two reached a consensus on the charges brought to light during the trial.

However, the two sides had significant differences on the “sentencing recommendations”.

Cao Wei believed that Li Wei, the Earl of Wuqing, was a relative of the imperial family and his status was extremely high. This time, he made a mistake entirely because he listened to slander and was also old and confused. He suggested that Li Wei be stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner.

The three judicial departments believed that relatives of the emperor should be punished the same as commoners for their crimes. The Earl of Wuqing had embezzled a huge amount of public funds, and in addition, he caused the deaths of nineteen border soldiers, which caused widespread resentment among the soldiers in the northern border. Therefore, he should be executed by hanging.

The three judicial departments knew that executing Wu Qingbo would be difficult, but they had to act in accordance with the "Great Ming Code".

Unable to persuade each other, they each drafted a memorial and submitted it to the Forbidden City for the young Emperor Wanli to decide.

soon.

The charges uncovered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Three Judicial Offices were then reported to various government offices in the capital.

Upon learning this, Yin Zhengmao couldn't help but smile contemptuously.

"Hmph! Even if it's temporary misappropriation, it should be punished by hanging. Otherwise, what kind of control will the Ming Dynasty's laws have over the imperial relatives in the future!"

Shen Nian frowned slightly upon learning this.

He felt that Empress Dowager Li, Emperor Wanli, and Feng Bao must have other tricks up their sleeves, otherwise "embezzlement and temporary misappropriation" alone would not be enough to save the life of the Earl of Wuqing.

……

Near dusk.

The confession of Wuqing Earl Li Wei circulated in various government offices in the capital.

Shen Nian glanced at it and immediately recognized it as Feng Bao's work.

Wu Qingbo was just a bricklayer; he couldn't possibly have written such cunning and shrewd words.

This is a confession.

First, he admitted his mistake in temporarily misappropriating public funds, saying that his crime was grave and unforgivable. Then he began to make excuses for himself, such as: being old and confused, being misled by others, and being blinded by greed.

at the same time.

News came from the inner court that Empress Dowager Li had fainted several times from crying after learning of the grave mistake made by the Earl of Wuqing.

When faced with the charges presented by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Three Judicial Offices, the young Wanli Emperor hesitated and struggled, still undecided on how to convict him.

……

The next morning.

As soon as Shen Nian arrived at the front courtyard of the Hanlin Academy, she saw a clerk running quickly from outside the gate.

"Oh no! Oh no! Marquis Wuqing has committed suicide by cutting his wrists in the imperial prison!"

Hear this.

All the Hanlin officials came out of the room.

Wang Jiaping, Zhao Zhimou, Wang Zudi, Zhao Yongxian, and others all looked delighted.

Wang Zudi couldn't help but mutter, "He got off too easy!"

Shen Shixing, looking puzzled, turned to the clerk and asked, "Are you sure the Marquis of Wuqing is dead?"

"No...not yet! I only know that the Marquis of Wuqing did indeed cut his wrists, and several imperial physicians were immediately sent to the imperial prison!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian slightly pursed his lips. He didn't think Wu Qingbo had the courage to commit suicide by cutting his wrists.

"Disperse! Disperse! Everyone go about your business. If there's any news, I'll let you know immediately," Shen Shixing said, then called Shen Nian and walked out of the Hanlin Academy.

If the Earl of Wuqing dies, the young Wanli Emperor will surely be extremely grieved, and Shen Shixing will need to take Shen Nian to comfort him.

And this moment.

Upon hearing that Wu Qingbo had committed suicide by cutting his wrists, Yin Zhengmao immediately rushed to the Northern Garrison Prison.

He strongly suspected that Wu Qingbo was just putting on an act.

……

Yin Zhengmao was very fast.

When he learned that Wu Qingbo was being treated in the public room behind the front hall of the imperial prison, he rushed over there.

At that moment, Feng Bao was in the front hall.

Ever since Yin Zhengmao jumped into the Imperial River in front of Feng Bao, the two have been at odds.

When Yin Zhengmao saw Feng Bao, he pretended not to see him and rushed inside, but Feng Bao stopped him.

"Lord Yin, Marquis Wuqing is still unconscious, his life hangs in the balance, and he cannot be seen by anyone!"

Yin Zhengmao scoffed, "Is it that you can't see anyone, or that you dare not see anyone? I have quite a bit of knowledge about wrist-cutting wounds. Could I take a look at the wound? Perhaps I can help Marquis Wuqing recover quickly!" "No! If it causes Marquis Wuqing's injury to worsen, I'm afraid Grand Secretary Yin cannot bear that responsibility!" Feng Bao said emphatically.

Yin Zhengmao thought for a moment, then turned and left.

Feng Bao couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. He had come here precisely to prevent officials from visiting and checking on his injuries.

In particular, we must guard against Yin Zhengmao, who doesn't follow the rules.

The fact that Wu Qingbo cut his wrists was Feng Bao's scheme, but he didn't expect that Wu Qingbo was afraid of pain, so the Imperial Guards he sent couldn't bring themselves to do it, and the wound was only a tiny one.

If someone were to examine the wound right now, the deception would be exposed.

After leaving the front hall, Yin Zhengmao did not leave the imperial prison immediately, but instead headed towards the cell where Wu Qingbo was imprisoned.

Wu Qingbo may have left some evidence by cutting his wrists in prison.

After a while.

Yin Zhengmao arrived at the cell where Wu Qingbo was located.

Then I saw a large, rough porcelain bowl that had been smashed in the cell, with a smear of fresh blood on one of the shards.

Yin Zhengmao picked it up and took a look, then couldn't help but snort coldly.

"Hmph, a wound this deep would only break the skin at most, how could it be life-threatening? It's too fake, too fake, they're actually playing the victim!"

After a while.

Yin Zhengmao walked out of the cell carrying a shard of a bowl stained with blood.

Near the lobby.

He happened to see Feng Bao refusing visits from Liu Yingjie, Lu Guangzu, Chen Zan, Shen Shixing, Shen Nian and others to Wu Qingbo.

A smile appeared on Yin Zhengmao's face as he strode towards the crowd.

When Feng Bao saw the bloodstained tile in Yin Zhengmao's hand, his face instantly darkened.

The people below are so careless in their work!

Yin Zhengmao walked up to the crowd.

"This is a shard of the bowl from which Wu Qingbo cut his wrist. You can all take a look. I feel that Wu Qingbo's injury should be minor."

Liu Yingjie took the bowl fragments first and began to examine them with Lu Guangzu and Chen Zan.

As the heads of the three judicial departments, they were more professional than Yin Zhengmao.

After looking at it, the three of them glared at Feng Bao without saying a word and then left in a huff.

Seeing the expressions on the three people's faces, Shen Nian and the others knew that this wrist-cutting suicide attempt was a performance.

Immediately, everyone left the prison.

Their decision not to expose it directly was not out of consideration for Feng Bao, but rather to save face for the young Wanli Emperor and Empress Dowager Li.

Feng Bao dared to do this because the young Wanli Emperor and Empress Dowager Li had agreed to it.

Feng Bao looked dejected and muttered, "Sigh! I... I shouldn't have gotten involved in this, but the act still has to be performed!"

……

About an hour later.

News of Wu Qingbo's failed suicide attempt by cutting his wrists spread throughout all the government offices in the capital.

at the same time.

Empress Dowager Li issued an imperial edict stating that she was willing to take the blame for her father and pleaded with the court to strip him of his title of Empress Dowager.

Soon after, news of Empress Dowager Li falling ill also spread from the inner court.

soon.

The young Wanli Emperor issued a handwritten edict to the cabinet, stating that it was difficult to convict him and ordering all officials to discuss the matter.
Suddenly, the wind direction changed.

Many officials began to speak up for the Marquis of Wuqing.

An official stated that Wu Qingbo's crime did not warrant death, and the three judicial departments' sentencing was too severe and should be withdrawn.

An official stated that misappropriation of funds allocated by the Ming Dynasty was a frequent occurrence. Although the Earl of Wuqing misappropriated funds for personal use, he was not the main culprit for the deaths of soldiers guarding the northern border from the cold, and should be punished leniently.

……

Upon hearing these remarks, Yin Zhengmao and the heads of the three judicial departments were furious and submitted memorials in opposition, engaging in verbal battles with some officials.

soon.

Some officials began attacking Yin Zhengmao and the three chief officials of the Three Judicial Offices.

The attacks on Yin Zhengmao include his excessive bloodlust, his past acts of embezzlement, and his alleged use of a knife to intimidate Wu Qingbo, all of which are unbecoming of a cabinet minister.

They attacked the three chief officials of the three judicial departments for upholding the law without considering personal feelings, for forcing the young Wanli Emperor to commit acts of filial impiety, and for attempting to suppress imperial power while Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng was away from court.

……

For a time, the entire imperial court was as lively as a vegetable market.

At that moment, Shen Nianquan understood everything.

It turns out that Empress Dowager Li, Feng Bao, and the young Wanli Emperor conspired to stage a self-inflicted injury.

Last time, Empress Dowager Li and Emperor Wanli chose to oppose the court officials in order to save the Earl of Wuqing, and in the end, both sides suffered heavy losses.

This time, they learned to feign weakness and to incite their courtiers to attack them.

Zhang Juzheng was not in court.

Lü Diaoyang and Ma Ziqiang had no control over Yin Zhengmao and the Three Judicial Offices, nor could they suppress the ideas of many officials.

Moreover, there's also Yin Zhengmao, who "sharpened his knife late at night."

This matter suddenly turned into an internal power struggle among court officials, and the result of such a struggle is often that each side makes concessions.

If they concede, the life of the Earl of Wuqing will be saved.

Meanwhile, the news gradually spread among the general public.

To Shen Nian's surprise, many scholars actually sympathized with the Earl of Wuqing, believing that the Three Judicial Offices were nitpicking, emphasizing law over sentiment, and that if they did not know how to be flexible, they would be forcing the emperor to be unfilial, which would be an act of disloyalty by the subjects.

Shen Nian knew that this must have been instructed by Feng Bao, as only he possessed the ability to control public opinion in the capital.

And this moment.

There was a person who was very quiet and did not make a sound.

He was Qi Jiguang, the general of Jizhou.

Qi Jiguang was somewhat surprised.

He never imagined that a case with such clear and explicit punishments and responsibilities as described in the "Great Ming Code" could be dragged out like this.

At this moment, he was waiting for the young Wanli Emperor's final decision.

If the young Wanli Emperor did not execute Wuqingbo, he would resign.

His resignation memorial was already written and was just waiting to be submitted.

present.

When Yin Zhengmao resigned, the young Wanli Emperor was not afraid; when the heads of the three judicial departments resigned, the young Wanli Emperor was not afraid; but when Qi Jiguang resigned, the young Wanli Emperor was somewhat afraid.

Just then, Qi Jiguang's attendant came to report: Feng Bao has arrived.

Feng Bao at this moment.

Undeterred by the demands of Cabinet Minister Yin Zhengmao to execute Wu Qingbo.

Because the other two Grand Secretaries sought stability and were prone to compromise, the minority yielded to the majority.

Undeterred by the demands of the three chief officials of the Three Judicial Offices for the execution of Wu Qingbo.

Although they represented the laws of the Ming Dynasty, the laws of the Ming Dynasty were not greater than the imperial power.

His only fear was that Qi Jiguang might abandon his post.

The instability in the north is causing real harm to the Ming Dynasty.

he thinks.

This crisis can be resolved if Qi Jiguang is persuaded to submit a memorial requesting lenient punishment for Wu Qingbo.

He lacked confidence in dealing with cunning and eloquent civil officials, but he was full of confidence in dealing with Qi Jiguang.

Qi Jiguang immediately guessed Feng Bao's purpose in coming to see him and ordered his men to invite him into the house.

(End of this chapter)