I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 36: The Art of the Caning: Beat! Beat hard! Beat with all your heart!

East of the Meridian Gate.

After passing the main gate, you will see the cabinet duty room.

All important military and political affairs of the Ming Dynasty had to be drafted here, and then presented to the emperor for his review, approved by the eunuch in charge of the seal, and finally sent to various government offices or localities in the capital for execution.

Led by a clerk, Shen Nian came to the innermost room of the cabinet.

This is where the Prime Minister Zhang Juzheng handles government affairs. The interior decoration is not much different from that of the Review Hall.

"Sir, Shen Jiantao is here!" the clerk said softly at the door.

"Enter!"

Zhang Juzheng's loud voice came from inside.

Shen Nian walked slowly into the house, and the first thing that caught his eye was a calligraphy piece that the young Wanli gave to Zhang Juzheng in the intercalary December of last year.

"I alone will forever protect the mandate of heaven."

Although Zhang Juzheng warned the young emperor not to follow the example of Chen Houzhu, Li Houzhu, Song Huizong and others who were obsessed with calligraphy after he got the calligraphy.

But I still framed the calligraphy.

These eight words.

Anyone who saw it could understand that Zhang Juzheng was in charge of the country because of the special authorization of the imperial power.

Shen Nian took two steps forward, looked at Zhang Juzheng who was busy reviewing memorials, and said with a bow, "Your humble servant Shen Nian, I pay my respects to the elder!"

Zhang Juzheng raised his head and looked at Shen Nian, a faint smile appeared on his face, and said, "Sit down for a moment."

Then, Shen Nian sat aside.

A tea servant quickly brought him a cup of tea and then quickly left.

Only Zhang Juzheng and Shen Nian were left in the room.

Rustle! Rustle! Rustle!

Shen Nian sat on a large mahogany chair and could clearly hear the sound of Zhang Juzheng writing the bill.

The Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty has always been a very busy man.

Especially people like Zhang Juzheng, who are hardworking and take care of both big and small things, sometimes they are so busy that they even stay busy until the moon sets.

……

About ten breaths later.

Zhang Juzheng put down his brush and looked at Shen Nian.

Shen Nian quickly stood up and bowed.

"Ziheng, no need to be so polite, sit down! Sit down!"

"Thank you, Master!" Shen Nian nodded slightly and sat back in the chair.

Shen Nian was a Jinshi in the Xinwei year of the Longqing reign, and the chief examiner that year was Zhang Juzheng.

If Zhang Juzheng called him "Shen Jiantao", he would reply "Lord"; if he called him "Ziheng or Shen Nian", he would reply "My dear teacher".

"I have adjusted your anti-corruption policy. Are you unhappy about it?" Zhang Juzheng asked, stroking his beard.

"Shen Nian dare not. My mentor's plan is a good one. If my plan is really implemented, I'm afraid the court will be in chaos!"

Zhang Juzheng nodded slightly.

"Compared to the Tang and Song dynasties, our dynasty's official salaries are meager. Many officials pursue wealth and pleasure through corruption, fines, bribery, extortion, and other means. This has gradually become the norm. Comprehensively punishing them would inevitably lead to widespread resentment among officials, both high and low. This cannot be done at the moment. We can only occasionally punish officials to scare others and prevent corruption from becoming too rampant..."

"Shen Nian understands."

Shen Nian didn't expect Zhang Juzheng to explain the reason to him so seriously.

This is treating him as one of your own.

"Ziheng, I originally thought you were a gem in the teaching field, but I didn't expect you to be talented in politics as well! You bear some resemblance to me when I was young, and you're even more energetic than I was!"

"Next, I hope you can stick to your original intention. Your Majesty's studies are your first priority, followed by court affairs. If you have any ideas, please come to the cabinet and present them at any time!"

"Yes, Lord!" Shen Nian stood up and bowed heavily.

When Zhang Juzheng said this, it was obvious that he intended to cultivate Shen Nian.

Then, Shen Nian left the cabinet.

The news that he was summoned alone by Zhang Juzheng would soon spread, which would undoubtedly make Shen Nian's future official career smoother.

……

Near dusk, inside the Imperial Household Department.

Feng Bao had served the young Wanli and was lying on the couch, resting with his eyes closed.

At this time.

A burly young man in a flying fish suit strode in.

This person is Zhou Hai, a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who is currently on official business in the imperial prison.

He is also Feng Bao's godson.

Feng Bao heard footsteps and slowly opened his eyes.

"Zhou Hai, what's going on?"

"Godfather, Commander Cao asked me to ask you how to deal with that Shanxi merchant Qiao Wendao?" Feng Bao sat up.

"I really don't want to kill him! If I kill him, I'm afraid the merchants will be afraid of the "Young Officials Against Corruption Ordinance" and won't dare to pay tribute to us anymore!"

"But...but...the three cabinet elders, especially Elder Feng Pan, want to kill me!"

Fengpan is Zhang Siwei's pseudonym.

"Forget it, forget it. It's better to have less trouble than more. Just fight with all your heart!" Feng Bao waved his hand.

The captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard immediately understood and retreated.

……

At night, inside the imperial prison.

Shanxi merchant Qiao Wendao drank half a bowl of unpalatable pickled vegetable soup and looked depressed.

His subordinates were already outside walking around for him.

He felt that this time he would have to spend a large sum of money to get out of the imperial prison.

at this time.

Zhou Hai, a captain of the Imperial Guard, came over with several other Imperial Guards.

Zhou Hai walked up to Qiao Wendao, opened the prison documents, and shouted, "Qiao Wendao, a merchant from Shanxi, attempted to bribe Shen Nian, a reviewer at the Hanlin Academy. This has violated the 'Regulations on Young Officials Rejecting Corruption.' The amount of bribery involved is enormous. He should have been sentenced to death, but considering this is his first offense, I will commuted his sentence to 60 strokes of the cane in court, and execute him immediately!"

Wow!

The chains on the cell door were unlocked.

Several Jinyiwei held court sticks and pinned down Qiao Wendao's limbs, leaving only his head raised and not touching the cold ground.

"What? I... I am sentenced to death? I am familiar with the Ming Dynasty Law. I didn't bribe anyone. I am innocent!" Qiao Wendao shouted.

Sixty strokes of the cane in court are enough to kill.

Zhou Hai walked up to him and said with a smile: "Mr. Qiao, don't worry, it won't hurt!"

Qiao Wendao was stunned, then suddenly understood.

He knew how to beat people with a stick in the palace.

There are real fights and fake fights.

Twenty real beatings can kill, but fake beatings only injure the flesh but not the bones.

Hearing Zhou Hai say this, he thought that his superiors had come to his rescue, and he immediately became excited and said, "Let's fight!"

Zhou Hai took a step back, his feet turned inward, and then shouted loudly: "Fight with all your heart!"

boom! boom! boom!
Suddenly.

The Jinyiwei holding the court stick swung his arms and hit Qiao Wendao hard on the back, buttocks, and legs.

"what!"

……

Inside the imperial prison, Qiao Wendao's miserable cries were heard, and then he fainted before being beaten with ten sticks.

"Wow!"

Pour cold water on the body and continue the execution.

Before long, Qiao Wendao's entire back and buttocks were covered in blood.

The Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard both had code words when carrying out the punishment of beating in court.

If you say the word "beat", it means beating in a vain way.

Even if he was hit with fifty sticks, it would only be a minor injury and he would recover in ten days or half a month.

If you say "hit hard", it means hurting the flesh but not the bones.

After the beating, the patient might be disabled, but at worst he would still be alive and would never die.

If you say "beat with all your heart", it means beating to death.

If the person is not killed by beating, the executioner will be severely punished.

The techniques of these Jinyiwei inflicting punishment with sticks in court were actually average.

If the eunuchs from the East Factory beat him.

They can guarantee that there is no blood on the body, but the internal organs have been shattered.

They can put a piece of white paper on a brick and hit the white paper with a stick. The white paper will remain intact, but the brick will crack and break.

This style of fighting is more commonly used against officials.

……

After the beating, Qiao Wendao was no longer alive.

His body will be delivered to his residence soon.

Many merchants in the capital will see this tragic scene. This is the consequence of bribing young officials.

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(End of this chapter)