Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 186 Case closed
The next day, the cabinet was on duty.

"Lord Deputy Prime Minister. What's going on?" As soon as Ye Xianggao came back, the ministers gathered in the cabinet immediately turned their eyes to him.

Ye Xianggao narrowed his eyes slightly and shook his head, saying, "All the palace gates are locked. The only open gate, Huangji Gate, is also firmly guarded by the guards."

"It's winter, and I wonder how many people will die from this beating." Li Ruhua glanced at Xu Guangqi as he looked away. "Can they be saved?"

"I don't think it's possible," Zhang Wenda said, taking over the conversation. "The eunuch on duty at Huiji Gate said that this time, the one supervising the execution is that living devil Cui Wensheng. He'll definitely take advantage of this situation and beat to death those who impeached him. As for the imperial caning, well! If you die, you can only blame your own frail body."

"I suspect he was the one who whispered slander into the emperor's ears. That's why he was sentenced so severely." Huang Kezan said angrily.

"It's not just those without roots who spread rumors." Zhou Jiamo looked at Shen with hostility.

Zhou Jiamo was the only person in the core circle of the Donglin Party's powerful faction who did not know the full picture of the matter. From his perspective, Zou Yuanbiao, Zhao Nanxing, Sun Ruyou and the other three chose to commit suicide or make false confessions in order to protect others including him.

"." Shen said nothing with a sullen face, not trying to refute himself. He wanted people to get out, not die.

It wasn't that Shen couldn't bear it. If the Donglin Party members had a mass hysterical fit and jumped into the river hand in hand, he would have secretly cheered at home. But if they had actually killed dozens of censors at the Meridian Gate, his reputation would have been completely ruined. History would undoubtedly remember him harshly when it mentioned this incident. Shen even imagined that a century later, the only people who would be willing to say something good about him would be the epitaph he paid for.

"The memorial was rejected and the request for an audience was not allowed. Is there really no way out?" Shi Jikai, who was sandwiched between Ye Xianggao and Shen, looked around at the adults present and finally fixed his eyes on the imperial tutor He Zongyan.

"Forget me, the Emperor didn't even see Sun Zhisheng, who was teaching at Ciqing Palace." He Zongyan certainly understood what Shi Jixie meant by this look, but he could only shake his head. Before coming to the cabinet, He Zongyan had already acted alone.

Minister of War Cui Jingrong and Minister of Works Wang Zuo listened to the conversation in the hall with a blank expression, showing no interest in intervening. They felt no relevance to this matter, and they felt only the most basic sympathy for the censors facing possible execution. If they were asked to sign a joint petition, they would do so. However, if anyone forced them to challenge the emperor, they would resign and return home to enjoy their retirement.

Not being buried after death, his son was also implicated, and his entire clan was exiled. This kind of punishment had not been seen in nearly a hundred years. Even Yang Tinghe and his son, who had pressed the emperor's head to make him recognize their father as his uncle, did not end up like this.

"Ye Ci Fu, Shi Ge Lao, Shen Ge Lao. All the ministers, I have another stupid idea." Xu Guangqi stood up and said.

"What method?" Ye Xianggao asked immediately.

"Kneel." Xu Guangqi first answered Ye Xianggao, then looked at Shi Jikai, and finally said, "Kneel until the emperor is willing to see me."

Shi Jixie said worriedly, "Xu Bu Tang, if you go to kneel down and make a petition, I will go with you. But please don't worry. Everything is determined by fate. Even if it doesn't work out in the end, don't let your worries make you sick."

Seeing Xu Guangqi's gloomy face, Shi Jikai recalled Zhao Huan, who had knelt with him the previous year to request the Emperor Shenzong's attendance. In July of the 47th year of the Wanli reign, after the great defeat at Sarhu, Zhao Huan, then Minister of Personnel, along with Shi Jikai, led the nine ministers and officials to request the Emperor to attend court. Evening, Shenzong remained unmoved, sending only a eunuch to convey the decree, "Withdraw." Zhao Huan, consumed by worry, later fell ill, and died of depression on the second day of the eleventh month of that year.

"The state is in dire straits right now, and talented people are becoming scarce. Officials, both high and low, are forming cliques and attacking those who are dissident, and are increasingly at odds. How can I not be worried?" Xu Guangqi's worries weren't entirely unfounded. He then bowed to his colleagues. "Please do as you please, I'll be leaving first."

"I'll go with you." Shi Jixie was the first to respond.

"There is no other way." Ye Xianggao also stood up.

There were only three cabinet members left, and now two more have left. Shen couldn't sit still any longer. But just as he was about to stand up, he heard Ye Xianggao say, "The cabinet cannot be empty. The emperor ordered Mr. Shen to temporarily take charge of cabinet affairs. Mr. Shen, please stay here."

"The cabinet is united, how can I remain unscathed?" Shen was no fool. If all the ministers and officials knelt and he was left sitting here alone, his spine would surely be broken. Shen could foresee that once the Donglin Party took over, it would be an era of "many heroes competing for supremacy."

After the cabinet's statement, Zhou Jiamo was the first to follow, followed by the officials of the Three Courts and Li Ruhua. Finally, Wang Zuo and Cui Jingrong exchanged a glance before also following.

------

Dark clouds hung over the capital all morning, and by noon they hadn't cleared. City officials and the governor of Guizhou thought snow was coming again. But unexpectedly, just as the hour of noon arrived, a gust of wind swept across the sky, sweeping away the gray and black clouds that obscured the sun and bringing a rare moment of clarity to the dreary Beijing.

Outside the Huangji Gate, Ye Xianggao, the Second Minister of the Cabinet, led two cabinet members as they knelt before the Nine Ministers. Within the Nine Ministers' order of precedence, Zhou Jiamo, the Celestial Official, knelt in the center, while the remaining eight ministers knelt to his left and right, arranged in order of seniority and age.

At 2:15 PM, Wang An, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, brought Cui Wensheng, the governor of the Eastern Depot, and several eunuchs to the presence of the twelve ministers of the cabinet.

"My lords, what are you doing? Go back quickly." Wang An seemed to have just learned about this.

"We request to see the Emperor." Ye Xianggao, the Deputy Minister who was kneeling at the head of the group, replied, "Please ask the eunuch in charge of the seal to inform us."

"No, the emperor doesn't want to see anyone now." Wang An shook his head and said, "If it's for something else, I can report it on his behalf. But if it's about the Donglin Party's case, please go back." When Wang An mentioned the Donglin Party, his face darkened again.

Upon hearing this, the nine ministers looked at each other, but no one stood up and left.

Seeing that no one spoke for a long time, Wang An took the initiative to break the silence. He took two steps to Shen and said, "Master Shen, please quickly persuade everyone to go back. It's freezing cold, and if the old arms and legs of the masters get sick from the cold, you, as the temporary head of the cabinet, will be blamed."

Shen was bitter: "It's none of my business. I didn't initiate it. I was just coerced into this! Go find Xu Guangqi."

But Shen couldn't bring himself to say this. He kowtowed in the direction of the Qianqing Palace, facing forward, and then implicitly expressed his helplessness: "The ministers are concerned about state affairs and have come here on their own initiative."

"If the emperor doesn't see us, I won't get up." Xu Guangqi, who was kneeling on the edge of the Nine Ministers, suddenly said.

Hearing someone say this, Cui Wensheng immediately took action. He walked over to Xu Guangqi and shouted, "Xu Bu Tang! I remember you also spent some time at Donglin Academy when you were young. What? Do you want to emulate that traitor Zhao Nanxing and force the emperor to abdicate?"

"."Xu Guangqi ignored him completely.

"Why doesn't Xu Butang say anything? Are you feeling guilty?" Cui Wensheng pressed.

"If you also want to instigate the Emperor to beat me to death, then just go ahead and do it." Xu Guangqi snorted coldly. "I don't want to answer you."

Cui Wensheng already knew the true cause of Zhao Nanxing's death, but was unaware of the conspiracy between Wang An and Xu Guangqi. So when he learned that the emperor had sentenced the Donglin Party officials involved in the case to beatings, he immediately felt that his chance for revenge had come, and he took the initiative to ask to supervise the execution.

"You!" Cui Wensheng became angry and embarrassed when Xu Guangqi revealed his thoughts.

"That's enough," Wang An said, stopping Cui Wensheng. "I repeat, the Emperor won't see anyone right now. Please return." "Your Majesty, please accept my advice." Xu Guangqi kowtowed stubbornly, then remained in that position. Then, the other officials followed suit and knelt.

"Oh. I'll go ask again." After a sigh, Wang An turned around and left with Cui Wensheng and a group of eunuchs.

Wang An quickly returned, but this time, Cui Wensheng had disappeared.

"The emperor's oral order." Wang An stood on the steps at the entrance of Huangji Gate Palace, his hands clasped in sleeves made of white fox fur.

".Long live!" Although the sun was out, the cold winter wind was still not something the old men kneeling on the ground motionless could withstand for long.

"Call Xu Guangqi. The rest of you should return to the yamen immediately and do what you need to do. This is my imperial decree." The decree was very simple, just one sentence.

"I obey your command." Xu Guangqi kowtowed and stood up, walking straight towards Huangji Gate.

"Master Wang!" Zhou Jiamo called out to Wang An who was about to turn around.

"What advice do you have, Mr. Zhou?" Wang An walked down the steps and signaled the eunuchs beside him to help the official with limited mobility to stand up.

"Why did the emperor summon Xu Zixian alone?" Zhou Jiamo looked worried.

"Because Cui Wensheng told the emperor that you were called here by Xu Butang." Wang An's answer made Zhou Jiamo even more worried.

------

"Your servant Xu Guangqi pays homage to the emperor, Long live the emperor!" Xu Guangqi performed the ceremony as per etiquette.

"The stool is right next to you, just bring it and sit down." Besides Zhu Changluo, there was only Wei Chao in the southern study.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xu Guangqi thanked.

After Xu Guangqi sat down, Zhu Changluo asked, "What is the outside world's attitude towards this penalty?"

"In reply to the emperor, public opinion generally believes that the penalty is too murderous." Xu Guangqi said cautiously.

"What do you think?" It was not until the emperor asked this question that Xu Guangqi finally felt relieved.

Although it is said that the emperor never jokes, it is not uncommon in history for the emperor to change his mind at the instigation of his close attendants and eunuchs.

"I think that at least Cui Wensheng should not be allowed to supervise the imperial caning." Xu Guangqi added: "He has old grudges with many censors, and it is inevitable that he will take revenge for personal reasons." Although he did not know how many people Cui Wensheng wanted to beat to death, he was very clear about which people would definitely be beaten to death.

"In other words, you have no objection to the characterization of the case and the sentencing?" Zhu Changluo asked again.

"Yes." Xu Guangqi bowed slightly and affirmed, "People need to be beaten before they learn their lesson. Regardless of the reason, collective rebellion is wrong."

Zhu Changluo nodded with satisfaction and said, "Since public opinion believes that the murderous intent is too strong, then I will follow the advice and reduce the sentence."

"I thank Your Majesty for his grace on behalf of all the criminals." Xu Guangqi quickly stood up, knelt down and kowtowed.

"Zhao Nanxing's son doesn't have to die. Let him take his three clans and go to Guizhou with Zou Yuanbiao's son." Zhu Changluo expected that Xu Guangqi might kowtow again, so he didn't let Xu Guangqi sit any longer.

"Regarding Sun Ruyou's matter, I will not go back on my word. Demote him four levels and transfer him to Nanjing as a Deputy Director of the Ministry of Revenue." Zhu Changluo deliberately added, "Don't worry, I will send the Jinyiwei to escort him. He won't die on the way."

"Ministry of Revenue?" Xu Guangqi was very surprised.

The Ming Dynasty practiced a dual-capital system. Nanjing served as the temporary capital, housing most of the central government's institutions. These included the six ministries of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works; the Censorate; the Supreme Court; the Ministry of Internal Affairs; the Imperial Academy; the Imperial Academy; and the Imperial College. Nanjing possessed virtually everything Beijing had, save for the emperor and the cabinet. However, precisely because of the absence of an emperor, this system of officials held far more symbolic significance than practical significance. In terms of their true function, Nanjing's various ministries and yamen functioned more like retirement homes for retired or defeated officials.

The Nanjing Ministry of Revenue was an exception. This was because the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue oversaw the taxation of several fertile provinces, including Southern Zhili, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Huguang. Therefore, the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue's actual power and influence were no less than those of the Beijing Ministry of Revenue.

"National affairs are difficult, and talented people are becoming scarce," Zhu Changluo repeated what Xu Guangqi had said not long ago. "Although Sun Ruyou is guilty, he is still useful and talented. Let him go to Nanjing and contribute to the Ming Dynasty for a few more years."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Xu Guangqi praised him sincerely.

"Here, take this." Zhu Changluo picked up a jade waist plaque from the imperial desk and tossed it to Xu Guangqi. "When Sun Ruyou comes out, return this to him."

"Sun Jiaji." Xu Guangqi suddenly realized. He thought to himself: Jinyiwei really has good tactics!

"On behalf of Sun Ruyou, I would like to thank Your Majesty for your grace." Xu Guangqi kowtowed again.

"Now that we've discussed the three principal offenders, let's move on to the accomplices." Zhu Changluo took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. "The caning must be carried out, but each person will receive twenty fewer strokes." Thus, the number of canings increased from "minimum 40, maximum 80" to "minimum 20, maximum 60." "The person supervising the execution will also be Wang Chengen from the Western Factory. He's the kid who went with you to the Pacification Office."

Xu Guangqi nodded thoughtfully.

He was very familiar with the rules of the Western Factory and the relationships between the powerful eunuchs in the palace. He knew that Wang Chengen was the only godson of Wang An's most favored eldest son, Cao Huachun. Moreover, although Wang Chengen worked in the Western Factory, he was not under the supervision of Wei Zhongxian, the governor of the Western Factory, but under the command of Mi Mengshang, the only female official in the palace who was given the Feiyufu. And Mi Mengshang was the emperor's concubine and only obeyed the emperor's orders.
Zhu Changluo continued, "After the beating, he will be demoted and have his salary fined, but he will remain in his original department and position."

"How long do you think the salary fine should be? A year?" Zhu Changluo thought for a moment, then asked, "Isn't that too long?" He'd done some research and found that not all officials owned land. Many low-ranking officials immediately used the back pay they received from the Ministry of Revenue to pay off their debts to the banks. After paying it off, they had very little left. If a year's salary fine was really akin to working on a loan, it would be like forcing people to be greedy.

"We can punish them and then reward them, or even pardon them," Xu Guangqi suggested. "Next year, when the reign changes, there will be a general amnesty. Your Majesty can use this as an excuse to show his grace and forgive the rest of their punishment. That way, they'll only be fined for one month."

"Okay." Zhu Changluo nodded, then instructed: "Wei Chao, draft an edict as just mentioned. The case is closed."

"As you wish." Wei Chao picked up the pen and began to draft the decree.

(End of this chapter)