Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 151 The Death of a Minister and the Emperor's Tomb

The Jinyiwei's Northern Pacification Division, which oversaw criminal cases, held considerable power, but it had only a handful of lieutenants and strongmen under its direct jurisdiction. Therefore, in order to simultaneously investigate over twenty imprisoned officials, Luo Sigong proactively assigned an entire Thousand Households Division to Tian Ergeng.

At present, Beijing has five Jinyiwei thousand-household divisions: front, back, left, right, and middle. The organization is basically the same as that in the early Hongwu period.

Although the Qianhu Suo was closest to the Northern Pacification Office, the Central Qianhu Suo, located near the headquarters of the Dashiyongfang Commandery, was temporarily transferred to the Northern Pacification Office. Back then, Luo Sigong inherited his father's position and was actually granted the title of Qianhu, holding the seal of the Central Qianhu Suo.

When Tian Ergeng brought the people from the Pacification Office to the main hall of the Zhongqianhu Suo, he found that the person sitting in the main seat was not the commander of the Qianhu Suo, Gao Caigang, but Luo Sigong's son, Luo Yangxing, the experience officer of the Experience Office.

"Tongzhi Tian, ​​Captain Xu didn't come with you?" Luo Yangxing had good eyesight and memory.

Tian Ergeng didn't want anyone to know that Xu Xianchun was under house arrest, so he simply answered the question with a question. "Luo Jingli, I'm afraid it's not in accordance with the rules for you to lead the team, right?"

"Of course it's against the rules. I'm just a small general, how dare I interfere in other people's affairs. The person who leads the team to assist Tian Tongzhi is of course Captain Gao." Luo Yangxing did not ask any further questions, but looked at Gao Caigang who was standing beside him.

Meeting Luo Yangxing's gaze, the captain, who was four levels higher than him, immediately smiled flatteringly and nodded repeatedly.

After a brief silence, Luo Yangxing took out a four-leaf folding paper and unfolded it on the table. He said, "I'm only here to complete the necessary paperwork. Mr. Tian, ​​please sign it."

Tian Ergeng walked over to the table and picked up the four-leaf folding book. It read: "After repeated requests from the Northern Pacification Office, the Commandery Office has agreed to transfer the Central Thousand Households Office to assist in handling this case."

"Master Tian, ​​now that you've read it, please sign it." Luo Yangxing's expression was impassive, but Tian Ergeng could sense a threat within it. "The Cabinet has already announced Master Zou's death. I heard the Dali Temple is clamoring for the murderer to die."

"What exactly does Lord Luo want?" Luo Sigong had cleared himself of all charges in the document, so Tian Ergeng was truly worried that the Central Thousand Households Office would trip him up at this crucial moment. If anything went wrong again, the Western Depot might arrive with a letter of invitation.

"What do you mean?" Luo Yangxing smiled faintly and said some useless nonsense. "Searching for evidence is not the same as arresting people. The Northern Pacification Division is short of manpower, so naturally we will recruit from the Qianhu Division." After saying this, Luo Yangxing tapped the transfer order on the table with his fingertips. "If you don't produce anything useful, the celestial phenomena may change."

The shifting celestial phenomena were like a sword hanging over Tian Ergeng's head. Tian Ergeng's right eyelid twitched wildly, but he could only use his left hand to smooth over the twitching muscles on his face, as his equally trembling right hand was needed to sign.

He signed his name after "Luo Sigong" and "Gao Caigang" and then casually threw the brush aside. "Are you satisfied?"

"What's there to be dissatisfied with when it comes to official matters? If Co-magistrate Tian feels the Northern Pacification Division has enough staff, he can simply not sign it." Luo Yangxing put away the Eight-Leaf Folding Letter and said to Gao Caigang, "From now until the end of this case, the Central Thousand Households Division must strictly implement the Northern Pacification Division's transfer order. No one is allowed to disobey!"

Gao Caigang's face turned stern. He stepped forward to Tian Ergeng, knelt on one knee, clasped his fists, and said loudly, "I will obey your orders, my Lord Tongzhi!"

Immediately afterwards, the ten centurions of the Zhongqianhu Division also shouted in unison: "We will obey the orders of the Tongzhi!"

"It would be a good thing for us if Lord Tian could find out the truth and give an account to the Emperor." Luo Yangxing approached Tian Ergeng and whispered, "Don't worry, they know nothing. They are very obedient and won't be like someone who pretends to obey but secretly disobeys."

Tian Ergeng frowned, but could only smile.

After Luo Yangxing left, he said to the officers of the Zhongqian Household Division, "Everyone, stand up."

"Sir, just give your instructions and we brothers will do our best to carry them out." Gao Caigang came over.

The Jinyiwei were the most prestigious of the imperial guards throughout China. However, because they were stationed in the capital and directly governed by the Imperial Court, officers rarely received unpaid salaries. The various Qianhusuo had no jurisdiction over criminal cases or prisons. Their primary duties were to supervise and assist the various military officers in patrols and guarding the gates, as directed by the Western Affairs Office. Consequently, their income from illegal activities was minimal.

"Do you know what I want you to do?" Tian Ergeng asked coldly.

"Of course I know, it's a house search." Gao Caigang replied.

"Searching the house" was a jargon used by the Imperial Guard. In reality, without the emperor's order, the Imperial Guard had no right to confiscate the homes of officials. They used this term because when the Imperial Guard went to a criminal's home to search for evidence, they would always take something "related to the case" and never return it.

Tian Ergeng seemed to see a glint of gold in Gao Caigang's eyes, which reassured him. "Very good. Take all the letters from the offender's family to the Northern Pacification Division. You can handle the rest. Remember, don't hurt anyone! If they don't draw their swords, don't do it. If someone dies, even the Chief Guard will have a hard time explaining it."

"As ordered!"

------

Forbidden City, Cabinet.

"Wang Butang is here too." Although Xu Guangqi is not young anymore, he can only be considered a young man compared to the old men in the room.

"The cabinet is really lively today." Shen retorted indifferently.

The cabinet had anticipated a large attendance today, so they had the tables arranged in two parallel lines, covered with long red table mats. Three stoves were placed between the two long tables. Opposite the stoves were fourteen huanghuali wood chairs with backrests, arranged in a ratio of six to eight.

Wang Zuo, the Minister of Works, took off his cloak and found that there was no room on the clothes rack at the door, so he had to fold the cloak and hold it in his arms. But this was also a good thing, as it could also warm his hands.

The seats weren't random. On the cabinet side, Chief Minister Fang Congzhe sat in the center left seat, flanked by Shen and Second Minister Ye Xianggao. To Ye Xianggao's right sat Liu Yirong and Han Yu, two prominent figures in the Donglin Party's powerful faction. Shi Jixie, the most neutral, sat at the far left edge, next to Shen.

The Seven Ministers were generally seated according to age and seniority. Sitting opposite Fang Congzhe was the most senior and oldest official, the Minister of Personnel, Zhou Jiamo. He had achieved the jinshi degree in the fifth year of the Longqing reign, making him a veteran among the many jinshi who had passed through the Wanli reign. However, for the vast majority of his official career, he had no connection to Beijing. It wasn't until June of the 47th year of the Wanli reign that he was transferred from the Nanjing Minister of War to the Beijing Minister of Works, entering the central government.

On his left sat Li Ruhua, the Minister of Revenue, Huang Kezan, the Minister of Punishment, and Xu Guangqi, the Minister of Rites, while on his right sat Cui Jingrong, the Minister of War, Wang Zuo, the Minister of Works, and Zhang Wenda, the Left Censor-in-Chief.

After Wang Zuo arrived, there was only one empty seat in the whole room, which was reserved for the Minister of Public Administration.

The silence didn't last long. After the tea was served, Fang Congzhe spoke up, "Are you all here regarding Zou Erzhan's matter?"

"I'm here for something more important." Wang Zuo, the Minister of Works who entered last, was the first to speak.

"Is there anything more serious than the tragic death of a third-rank official in the imperial prison?" Huang Kezan, the Minister of Justice, was the first to arrive after Xu Guangqi. "Yes," Wang Zuo nodded and said only two words. "Qingling."

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room reached a freezing point. Those who wanted to speak, and those who didn't, remained silent. Qingling Mausoleum is the mausoleum of Emperor Taichang, Zhu Changluo.

After a silence that lasted longer than the time it took to serve tea, Xu Guangqi, who was four people away from Wang Zuo, leaned over the table and asked, "What's wrong with Qingling? Hasn't the site been chosen yet?" Building a mausoleum during one's lifetime was a common practice for emperors of all dynasties. So on the second day after the emperor ascended the throne, the Ministry of Rites, which was still headed by Sun Ruyou, chose the word "Qing" for the new monarch's tomb, and obtained the emperor's approval.

"I'm here because of the site selection issue," Wang Zuo replied. "The Dingling Mausoleum has completed its final renovations. So the Ministry of Works believes it's time to start considering a site for the Qingling Mausoleum."

Everyone present looked at Wang Zuo in surprise, but no one dared to raise any objections.

"This is a big deal. We should submit a memorial to the emperor and let him make the decision himself." Fang Congzhe frowned.

"I have already written the memorial." Amidst everyone's even more astonished gazes, Wang Zuo took out a golden-covered memorial book and pushed it to Fang Congzhe.

"After you write the memorial, send it to the Ministry of Public Security!" Huang Kezan said angrily.

"Since you're coming anyway, just stop by." After Wang Zuo said that, he served himself some tea and started drinking.

Wang Zuo hadn't wanted to come in the first place. He had no relationship with Zou Yuanbiao, and the Ministry of Works hadn't reacted much after hearing the obituary. But he knew that the ministers of the other five ministries would surely come by then, and rather than be questioned by the officials about why he didn't come, it would be better for him to come on his own initiative.

Taking the initiative and rashly siding with one side was extremely risky. The story of Zou Yuanbiao's death in prison was a complex one, involving both factional strife and the conflict between the civil service and the imperial guards. This conflict could easily escalate into a conflict with the emperor. Wang Zuo didn't want to lose his integrity in his old age, past seventy.

Therefore, he cunningly brought up a non-urgent matter. Selecting a site for the emperor's mausoleum was a matter of immense importance, and even the most daring censors wouldn't dare question him on this basis as to why he hadn't heard of Zou Yuanbiao's case. Furthermore, he used this matter as a cover-up, so the emperor wouldn't have any undue suspicions about his presence in the cabinet.

"You are really well prepared!" Cui Jingrong cast an admiring look at Wang Zuo beside him.

"." Wang Zuo held the teacup with a calm expression.

"Cough cough!" Shen, who was next to Fang Congzhe, couldn't hold it in any longer and had to cough lightly twice.

Shen's train of thought was completely different from Cui Jingrong, who saw through Wang Zuo. Because Wang Zuo was from Yin County, Ningbo Prefecture, Zhejiang Province, he thought that Wang Zuo was here to help the Zhejiang Party muddy the waters.

Shen's light cough broke the silence that had followed Cui Jingrong's admiration. Left Censor-in-Chief Zhang Wenda, forced forward by nearly a hundred censors from the Metropolitan Censorate, shook his head and sighed, saying helplessly, "Everyone, let's think about how to let this go."

"The past? What do you mean by the past?" Han Yu was very dissatisfied with Zhang Wenda's choice of words.

"At least we should make the censors kneeling outside the Meridian Gate disperse, right?" Zhang Wenda still felt sympathy and regret for Zou Yuanbiao's death, but he was really afraid that this group of people would make a lot of noise and escalate the situation to a point where it would be difficult to handle.

"It's not that easy." Shen Bushan's hostile glance passed Fang Congzhe and focused on Ye Xianggao.

If the obituary had been released last night instead of this morning, the censors wouldn't have gathered at the Meridian Gate, but at the Huiji Gate or even the Qianqing Gate. In this case, the Seven Ministers wouldn't even have to come to the cabinet to discuss the matter. The censors would have directly disturbed the emperor's carriage and wrestled with the guards from the Imperial Stables.

"What is Kedao's appeal?" Liu Yirong was much calmer than before, and he had no intention of getting entangled with Shen at all.

"An autopsy," Zhang Wenda replied. "Although the cabinet's obituary clearly stated that Zou Erzhan had committed suicide by slitting his throat, the censors didn't trust the Western Depot. Before I arrived, they requested that the judicial department conduct a re-examination of Zou Erzhan's cause of death."

"You don't believe this, you don't believe that. Just let them go to the Pacification Office for examination." Shen was still as aggressive as ever.

"The petition requesting the return of the remains has been submitted," Fang Congzhe said, subtly cutting off Shen's attack. "But the palace has not responded yet."

"We can't just wait like this, right?" Zhang Wenda rubbed his frown.

"There are eunuchs at Huiji Gate who are responsible for presenting memorials and delivering messages. You can go to him and ask if the emperor is willing to see you." Shen said.

"Master Shen. When a rabbit dies, the fox mourns. All creatures feel grief for their own kind. Moreover, human death is the greatest, so you should respect it." Zhou Jiamo tapped the table lightly with his knuckles.

"Sorry." Shen clasped his fists and apologized without any sincerity. He had never had a good impression of this old man who wanted to fill all the government vacancies in the country with Donglin Party members.

"My dear ministers, my dear ministers, please allow me to say a few words." Xu Guangqi stood up and bowed.

"Master Zi, just tell me what suggestions you have." Fang Congzhe immediately waved his hand.

Fang Congzhe had originally hoped to use Luo Sigong to suppress the Imperial Guard. As long as the situation didn't escalate, he could leverage his position as Prime Minister to mediate and gradually calm the situation. Zou Yuanbiao's death had thrown the situation completely out of control, leaving Fang Congzhe at a loss. He had tossed and turned the previous night, unable to sleep well.

"I don't have any suggestions, but I have a hidden concern." Xu Guangqi's face was full of worry.

"What hidden worries?" asked Huang Kezan, the Minister of Justice who was sitting next to Xu Guangqi.

"I'm afraid the Jinyiwei will become desperate and cause even greater trouble," Xu Guangqi replied.

"What do you mean?" Liu Yirong asked.

"Regardless of the situation, Zou Nangao died in the imperial prison. This is definitely not what the emperor wanted," Xu Guangqi said thoughtfully. "The Jinyiwei, especially the Northern Pacification Division, will definitely do everything they can to save themselves."

When the emperor gave the order to Luo Sigong, Xu Guangqi was standing by. He said this in order to make the Jinyiwei's unavoidable actions appear spontaneous.

(End of this chapter)