I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 72: The Iron Triangle cracks begin to appear, and the young Wanli refuses to take the blame

April 7th, near noon.

In the capital.

Three post soldiers rushed into the Jinyiwei Yamen, the Silijian Yamen and the Censorate respectively, carrying urgent letters.

Although the three special envoys Wang Zhen, Cao Wei and Yu Xiu all submitted inspection documents on the abnormal situation of disaster relief silver in Liaodong.

But according to custom and purpose.

The three people must write separately and submit them to the chief officials of each yamen separately. They cannot submit jointly to ensure that the emperor sees the most authentic content.

soon.

The three people, Feng Bao, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, Chen Zan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and Liu Shouyou, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, appeared in the Wenhua Hall in front of the young Wanli.

The three yamen were all directly under the imperial power, and memorials and letters could be submitted directly to the emperor.

After seeing this, the young Wanli's face turned pale and he was very angry.

When the relief grain arrived in Liaodong, local officials intercepted and exploited it at every level. Some county and township clerks falsely registered quotas and claimed the grain. Some local merchants exchanged the relief grain for inferior rice. Some ruffians, vagrants and refugees forcibly looted the grain. The value of the grain used for the victims was less than 80,000 taels.

He thought that some officials and clerks would be corrupt.

However, it was unexpected that of the 75 taels of silver worth of grain allocated by the court, only less than taels were used for the victims.

The 80,000 taels of silver were distributed among hundreds of thousands of homeless victims whose crops had been completely destroyed, just like the imperial court giving each of them a steamed bun, which might even be rotten.

This is not just corruption, but treating the lives of the people as worthless.

in this way--

How could the victims refrain from cursing the officials, the court, and the emperor?
"These bastards actually dared to covet my money. I'm going to kill them all!" Little Wanli said with his fists clenched.

At this time.

Feng Bao said, "Your Majesty, it is inevitable that the court will allocate more grain to comfort the victims."

"But shouldn't we suppress these three inspection documents or conceal some of their contents? Otherwise... otherwise... public opinion will surge, and the public sentiment will surge, potentially leading to even greater unrest."

After saying this, he even looked at Chen Zan on purpose.

Young Wanli instantly understood Feng Bao's meaning.

If the disaster relief result of "75 taels of silver for disaster relief, but less than 8 taels of silver were used for disaster relief" spread.

The first ones to start scolding must be the censors.

And starting from the young Wanli, he would impeach all the officials in charge of the cabinet, the six ministries, and the Liaodong region.

The corruption of officials and the embezzlement of local money are all the fault of the emperor's poor governance.

The Cabinet is in charge of national affairs, and the six ministries are in charge of national affairs, so they are naturally also guilty.

Local officials are either derelict in their duties or are complicit in corruption, so naturally none of them can escape punishment.

Little Wanli vaguely felt that he might have to write another edict of repentance!

and.

If this incident were recorded in history, it would feel like falling into a toilet while wearing a dragon robe.

Little Wanli didn't want to bear this bad reputation.

……

Little Wanli looked at Chen Zan and asked, "Mr. Chen, what do you think?"

Chen Zan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have no good plan. I think we should inform the cabinet immediately and ask them to come up with a plan."

Chen Zan knew that the young Wanli asked this because he wanted him to support the idea of ​​keeping the matter secret.

But as the chief censor, if he was discovered doing this, his reputation would be ruined.

He couldn't scold the little emperor, so he brought out the cabinet.

aside.

Before the young Wanli could ask him anything, Jinyiwei Commander Liu Shouyou bowed and said, "I will follow your Majesty's orders."

The Embroidered Uniform Guards don’t need to have any thoughts, they just have to follow the emperor’s orders and they won’t go wrong.

Little Wanli thought about it.

Even if we want to suppress this national disgrace, we must inform the cabinet.

Otherwise, given Zhang Juzheng's temper, he would have dragged all the six ministries and nine officials to resign together.

"Quickly summon the three ministers!" Young Wanli said loudly, then looked at Feng Bao, turned his head and blinked behind the throne.

Feng Bao understood instantly.

Young Wanli wanted to invite Empress Dowager Li out.

If Zhang Juzheng later asked to expose this national scandal to the public and bring shame to the court, Empress Dowager Li might persuade him.

Although Empress Dowager Li often beat and punished the young Wanli, she was very dedicated to upholding the royal dignity.

……

After a while.

Empress Dowager Li sat behind the curtain, and she knew everything.

About half an hour later.

Zhang Juzheng, Lu Diaoyang and Zhang Siwei hurried to the Wenhua Hall.

Feng Bao immediately handed the three inspection documents to them.

Zhang Juzheng and the other two read through them quickly, then exchanged them, and soon finished reading the three documents.

Little Wanli could tell from their faces that they were also a little angry.

75 taels of silver were allocated for disaster relief, but less than 8 taels were used for disaster relief.

It was also their faces that were hit.

The greatest function of the performance evaluation system is to rectify the administration of officials and ensure that orders are carried out.

But in Liaodong.

The performance evaluation system seems to have become a paper signboard.

The young Wanli looked at Zhang Juzheng, whose thick, long beard blew up with anger from his breathing, and said, "Prime Minister, the corruption in Liaodong is shocking to me. I never thought such a group of rats would appear in the territory of my Ming Dynasty."

"The court will certainly allocate disaster relief funds again. In addition, we must conduct a thorough investigation and punish severely those responsible. We will not tolerate any leniency!" Young Wanli directly stated the punishment measures.

The implication is that the emperor is not wrong, the cabinet is not wrong, and the officials outside Liaodong are not wrong.

But Zhang Juzheng was so smart, how could he be led astray by him?

Swish!
Zhang Juzheng strode out and declared loudly, "Your Majesty is absolutely right! Further allocations of disaster relief funds are inevitable, as are severe punishments for corrupt officials. However, once this matter becomes known, it will inevitably cause public resentment. I suggest that Your Majesty immediately write an edict of apology, confessing the court's mistakes to the people!"

Little Wanli had a bitter face, and the words he least wanted to hear finally appeared.

After ascending the throne, he wrote edicts of repentance more than once.

However, those edicts of repentance were self-punishment after natural disasters, indicating that they took the blame on behalf of the people and implemented benevolent policies.

For example, the sun is eclipsed by heavenly dog ​​and the gate of Duanmen is struck by lightning.

Although it was a confession of guilt, it did not mean that the emperor was really wrong. In fact, it was a manifestation of consolidating imperial power.

But in this matter.

If the young Wanli wrote a confession of guilt, it would mean that he was really wrong.

This big pot will be carried on his shoulders, recorded in history, and watched by people in future generations.

At this time.

Feng Bao, standing by, could not help but say, "Lord Zhang, 75 taels of silver were used for disaster relief, but less than 8 taels were used. This is truly a national disgrace and shocking!"

"If this were known to the world, it would inevitably lead to censors making remonstrations, causing unrest in the court. Scholars from the public would also gather together again and spread opinions that were detrimental to the court. The people would also be filled with resentment, which would affect the progress of the new policy."

"I suggest deleting this part. Apart from the few of us in the palace and the few people in Liaodong, no one else needs to know about it, and Your Majesty does not need to write an edict of apology!"

"Hide it?" Zhang Juzheng suddenly raised his voice.

"How to conceal it? Forge these three official documents? And then hand them over to the historian?"

"At all times, all court affairs handled by Your Majesty must be recorded by historians. Once the door is opened to fabrication, who will still read and believe history? Governing a country is not a way to fool the people. If the court does something wrong, are you afraid of being scolded?"

"If there is unrest among the people, the cabinet will quell it!"

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng was like a ferocious tiger, and the young Wanli didn't even dare to breathe deeply.

Lu Diaoyang and Zhang Siwei stood aside without saying anything.

In terms of reason and national law, Zhang Juzheng is definitely right.

At this moment, Feng Bao also got angry.

"Your Excellency, the blame for this incident lies not with those above you, but with those below you. It's the local clerks, merchants, rogues, thieves, and unruly people who robbed and plundered, leaving the victims without food. Severe punishments should be sufficient. Why, for the so-called truth, cause unrest within the court and within the country, and make Your Majesty bear this infamy?"

Zhang Juzheng glared at Feng Bao.

"Eunuch Feng, in the Ming Dynasty, any problem in any of the two capitals and thirteen provinces must be the emperor's fault. If the emperor evades responsibility, can he still be considered a good emperor?"

Feng Bao was so angry that he felt dizzy, but he really couldn't win the debate with Zhang Juzheng.

According to ancestral law, the emperor, as the supreme commander of the Ming Dynasty, must bear all the blame.

At this moment, a burst of crying suddenly came from behind the curtain.

Empress Dowager Li attracted everyone's attention.

"You...you just want to bully us orphans and widows. Lord Zhang, you are the Prime Minister of the country. The current Ming Dynasty is controlled by the cabinet. Can't you admit the mistakes on behalf of the emperor?"

"Your Majesty is still young, and hasn't even taken power yet, yet he's already shouldering this bad reputation. This... this... how can he become a virtuous monarch in the future?"

Zhang Juzheng, with a helpless expression, bowed and explained, "Empress Dowager, I… I am willing to share your worries, but if you want to appease the people's grievances, your Majesty can only write an edict of apology. I will apologize to the people of the world for my actions. This is truly an act of usurpation."

Left Censor-in-Chief Chen Zan nodded and thought to himself: Lord Zhang is right. Only the emperor can take responsibility for this matter.

And this time.

The sound of Empress Dowager Li crying could be heard again from inside, and it was getting louder and louder.

Reasoning is useless with women.

At this moment, beads of sweat also appeared on Zhang Juzheng's forehead.

When Empress Dowager Li started crying, he was helpless in most cases.

Empress Dowager Li cried for half a cup of tea and then said, "Your Majesty, please give these three documents to Lord Zhang. The important matters of the court still require Lord Zhang's decision."

Just when Zhang Juzheng thought that Empress Dowager Li had compromised.

Empress Dowager Li continued, "Let's not get involved in government affairs from now on. Drafts and approvals will all be handed over to the Cabinet, and future court meetings will also be held there!"

"Lord Zhang, Prime Minister Zhang, please find someone to write the edict of apology and issue it directly. Your Majesty and I have no objection!"

After saying this, Empress Dowager Li turned and left.

At this moment, the young Wanli, who was backed by Empress Dowager Li, also turned and left, followed closely by Feng Bao.

In the main hall.

Zhang Juzheng, Lü Diaoyang, Zhang Siwei, Chen Zan and Liu Shouyou were all stunned.

Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Li was so angry that she resigned with the little emperor.

If the cabinet approved it, it would mean usurping the throne, and Zhang Juzheng would not dare to do it even if he had a hundred courage.

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng didn't know what to do.

Zhang Juzheng thought for a moment and said, "Please stay here for a while. I will go and make some suggestions later."

After saying this, Zhang Juzheng ran to the back holding his official robe, no longer caring about his appearance.

……

Soon, Zhang Juzheng came back, sweating profusely.

Chen Zan was a little surprised and asked, "Lord, has His Majesty agreed?"

Zhang Juzheng said with a dark face: "The Queen Mother took His Majesty directly to the Cining Palace!"

The Cining Palace is the harem.

Empress Dowager Li could go, young Wanli could go, Feng Bao could go, but Zhang Juzheng absolutely could not go.

At most, he dared to break into the Qianqing Palace.

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng looked exhausted and had no idea what to do.

(End of this chapter)