Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 252 Progress and Legal Action

"Only the Duke of Ying was present?" Wang Cheng'en asked doubtfully, "When we entered the rear palace, the military honors were all in the main hall. Could it be that when the general came that day, the other military honors didn't come to the yamen?"

Luo Yangxing thought for a moment and said, "No. The Duke of Ying invited my father to the back room for tea. They didn't talk in the main hall."

"Where's the seal? It has to be the seal of the rear office, right?" Wang Chengen remembered that the seal of the rear army governor's office was placed on the main desk in the main hall.

"My father said that the seal was used before he left the rear mansion, and he left immediately after using it. He never told anyone about this matter." Luo Yangxing replied.

"So Marshal Luo thinks that it was the Duke of Ying who tipped off Shen Caiyu?" Wang Chengen turned sideways to face Luo Yangxing, his eyes flashing with a look between curiosity and suspicion.

Luo Yangxing grinned and said calmly, "Father simply feels the Duke of Ying is a strong suspect, but he can't be completely certain." He paused for a moment, as if hesitant. "The very night he learned of this, Father went to the Zhang residence."

"Oh?" Wang Chengen was startled, then asked, "Marshal Luo went to see the Duke of Ying? Why?"

"Father went to the Duke's residence to persuade him to submit a letter of apology and ask for the Emperor's forgiveness. The Emperor, as merciful as Heaven, would forgive the Luo family's sins and give them a chance for a new life. If even the Luo family suffered this, how much more so could the Duke of Ying." Luo Yangxing bowed to the north, his expression solemn. "So, Father thought, even if the Duke truly had committed some minor offenses, as long as he could proactively apologize to the Emperor and reveal the escaped criminal's whereabouts before the situation escalated, then forgiveness wouldn't be impossible."

"You are really honest." Wang Chengen praised.

"If you've made a mistake, admit it and then correct it. And there's nothing to hide in front of you." Luo Yangxing said meaningfully, "The Luo family was able to repent and be reborn, thanks to the timely intervention of the Western Factory."

"It's all thanks to the Emperor's wisdom and virtue." After Wang Chengen praised the Emperor, he asked, "Looking at the situation now, did the Duke finally refuse?"

"Father told me after returning home that Duke Ying insisted he was innocent," Luo Yangxing said. "But he also said that even if Duke Ying spoke sincerely, it was hard not to doubt him. Duke Ying has been in charge of the Imperial Court since November of the 37th year. He must have taken a lot of benefits and commissions. Not to mention Tianjin, the last checkpoint for the grain transport to the north. If Shen Caiyu doesn't give the Imperial Court a share of the profits, he won't be able to maintain his position."

"General Wei's idea is correct," Wang Cheng'en nodded slightly, adding, "But if we really follow this line of thought, there will be many suspects in the imperial court." Although the Western Depot wasn't directly involved in the inner court's purge, information publicly available from within the Imperial Household Department revealed that once a large sum of illicit funds reached a certain government office, it was distributed according to a specific ratio, with everyone, from top to bottom, receiving a share. "If we put the Duke of Ying aside for now, who do you think is the most likely suspect?" Wang Cheng'en asked.

Luo Yangxing's eyelids twitched. He continued, "The Earl of Yongning is definitely innocent."

Wang Chengen seemed to have no idea why Luo Yangxing was talking so much nonsense. He blinked his eyes and asked, "What happens after we exclude the Earl of Yongning?"

Luo Yangxing had no choice but to say, "If we look at it by division, Duke Yingguo directly controls the guards in Beijing, while the three guards in Tianjin are under the jurisdiction of Northern Zhili. And the one in charge of the guards in Northern Zhili is Wu Weiying, the Marquis of Gongshun. If we put Duke Yingguo aside, then he is the most suspicious."

"That's correct. But Marquis Gongshun inherited this title shortly before the collapse of the sky last year," said Wang Chengen.

"Then do you think it could be the former Marquis Gongshun?" Luo Yangxing threw the question back to Wang Chengen.

Wu Weiying was the younger brother of the previous Duke Gongshun, Wu Weiye. Wu Weiye's youngest son died early, and he had no children when he died, so it was Wu Weiying's turn to inherit the title.

"I don't think it's likely." Wang Cheng'en thought for a moment and said, "Although Wu Ruyin and Wu Weiye were both in the rear army governor's office, they were mostly working for the military government." Wang Cheng'en suddenly remembered something and said, "That's not right!"

"What do you mean?" Luo Yangxing asked.

"If I remember correctly, the person in charge of the Beizhi guards before Wu Weiying was Zheng Yangxing." Wang Chengen said.

"Zheng Yangxing?" Luo Yangxing felt an instinctive wave of disgust in his heart again.

"That's right." Wang Cheng'en reviewed all the files related to the Zheng family's confiscation of property. "Since Zheng Guotai, the Zheng family has been in the rear court. It wasn't until last year, when Zheng Yangxing was executed and dismissed, that Wu Weiying, the Marquis of Gongshun, took over the Northern Zhili region."

The Zheng family's fortunes began when the Emperor created the list of nine concubines in the tenth year of the Wanli reign. At the time, Concubine Zheng's father, Zheng Chengxian, was granted the nominal title of Chief of the Imperial Guard, a paid lieutenant, becoming one of the redundant officials listed in the Imperial Guard's roster, receiving the emperor's salary. In the eleventh year of the Wanli reign, Concubine Zheng became pregnant and was promoted to Concubine De. Zheng Chengxian was promoted four ranks, reaching the rank of Third Rank Commander of the Imperial Guard, a paid lieutenant. By the time of his death in the seventeenth year of the Wanli reign, Zheng Chengxian had risen to the rank of First Rank Vice Governor, but he remained on the Imperial Guard's roster, holding no official position and unattended to practical matters. He was a figurehead with a high position but little power, yet possessed immense influence.

After Zheng Chengxian's death, his son Zheng Guotai inherited his father's position with a reduced rank. He was promoted to the rank of Second Rank Commander-in-Chief and concurrently served in the Rear Army Commandery. In the 29th year of the Wanli reign, the emperor finally relented and officially appointed his eldest son, Zhu Changluo, as Crown Prince. Perhaps to compensate Consort Zheng, that same year her brother, Zheng Guotai, skipped the ranks of Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Associate Commander-in-Chief, and Right Commander-in-Chief, and was promoted four ranks in a row to Left Commander-in-Chief, the highest position ever bestowed upon an official. During the Ming Dynasty, no matter how favored a Consort or below was, without military merit, the highest rank granted to a relative of the emperor was Zheng Guotai, who received the rank of First Rank Left Commander-in-Chief.

In the 45th year of the Wanli reign, Zheng Guotai died of illness. His wife, Li, petitioned Emperor Shenzong to allow their son, Zheng Yangxing, to inherit his father's post as Left Commander-in-Chief. Recognizing Zheng Guotai's meritorious service in protecting the Empress Dowager Li's coffin, Emperor Shenzong granted Li's request, an unprecedented move. He specifically ordered Zheng Yangxing to inherit his father's original post as Left Commander-in-Chief without the customary reduction in rank, and retain command of the various garrisons in Northern Zhili. However, everyone knew this was just a pretext concocted by the emperor. It had already been three years since the Empress Dowager's death, so even if he had been meritorious in protecting the coffin, the title would have been given long ago.

However, death is the end of the emperor's grace. In the 48th year of the Wanli reign, Cui Wensheng, a servant in the Zheng palace, desperately sought to survive and accuse the Left Commander Zheng Yangxing and Zheng Guotai of illegal activities. The Zheng family's 38 years of prosperity and wealth were destroyed in a single day.

"When did Zheng Guotai start to monopolize the Beizhi guards?" Luo Yangxing asked thoughtfully.

"I'm not very clear about this either." Wang Chengen shook his head and said, "We have to check the register or ask someone. Mr. Qi!" Wang Chengen called out.

"What instructions does the Chief Justice have?" Qi Fengen walked closer and clasped his fists.

"Did you hear what we just said?" Wang Chengen asked. "I heard it." Qi Fengen nodded without hesitation.

"Good to hear that. It saves us some time. Go get the booklet that records this incident. And call the Duke of Ying." Wang Chengen, a young and inexperienced man, had no fear of the nobles and relatives in the imperial court. With the exception of Yongning Earl Wang Tianrui, he wasn't even willing to greet them with a smile.

"Yes." Qi Fengen turned around and waved his hand to call a team leader from the Western Factory to take over his position and protect Wang Chengen closely.

"Just check the register. There's no need to summon the Duke of Ying, right?" Luo Yangxing felt uncomfortable at the sight of Zhang Weixian's icy face. To him, Zhang Weixian was an elder with whom he had frequent contact and a good relationship. He had even received a lecture from Zhang Weixian. If Luo Yangxing had come alone, he might not even have dared to speak loudly in front of Zhang Weixian. In this regard, he was too cautious and was not as good as the young eunuch beside him.

"It's necessary. According to what you just said, if the news came from the rear office, even if it wasn't a secret British announcement, it must have started with him. We need to ask him who he told this matter to after the general left the governor's office." Wang Chengen straightened his posture again, pursing his lips and putting on a serious expression. "If you're not comfortable talking, I'll ask."

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Soon after, the courier from Tianjin was delivered to the Military Affairs Office located between the Meridian Gate and the Duanmen Gate.

The current head of the Military Department is Zhao Xingbang, a Jinshi (Jinshi) who achieved jinshi status in the 29th year of the Wanli reign. He is renowned for his integrity and his fearlessness of the powerful. This reputation was established in the 45th year of the Wanli reign, when he submitted a memorial to refute Zheng Guotai's wife, Li, and opposed Zheng Yangxing's unauthorized succession to the throne.

Of course, like other censors of his time, Zhao Xingbang received only a "no report" from the emperor. Rumors circulated that he had spoken out to suppress the Zheng family and curry favor with the crown prince. Zhao Xingbang did not respond to these rumors; like his previous memorials, the emperor had ignored them.

In the 48th year of the Wanli reign, a new emperor ascended the throne, and the rumors subsided. Although Zhao Xingbang had indeed received a promotion, it was only from Zuo Jishizhong to Du Jishizhong, effectively filling a position that had been vacant for several years. This was in stark contrast to Yang Lian, who had been posted to Liaodong despite having jumped four ranks in the military department. Rumors began to accuse Yang Lian of slandering the emperor and seeking justice. Zhao Xingbang, however, remained in his original position. The only difference was that the Ministry of Personnel, acting in accordance with the late emperor's will, had given him several colleagues of lower ranks.

One of them was Ming Shiju. Ming Shiju was a Jinshi in the 38th year of the Wanli reign. He was initially appointed magistrate of Xiajiang County, Jiangxi Province, and later transferred to Luling County, but later resigned due to mourning. He was originally assigned to Boye County, Baoding Prefecture, in the intercalary fourth month of the 46th year of the Wanli reign. However, when he came to the court in the 47th year, he was not assigned elsewhere and remained in Beijing, awaiting reassignment. Later, Ming Shiju witnessed the emperor's death, and his will ordered that a vacant official in Beijing be filled, so he was assigned to the military department.

Due to his late Jinshi degree and limited experience, Ming Shiju readily assumed the role of clerk for the entire military department. This department was responsible for receiving and sending correspondence with the Ministry of War, the Five Military Commandery, the Military Government, the regional governor-general offices, the Military Preparations Commissioner, and the Liaodong Military Headquarters. Of course, the military department also reviewed and approved documents for the regional generals, deputy generals, and even garrison officers. However, compared to the aforementioned government offices, this type of paperwork was relatively rare.

Therefore, Ming Shiju was somewhat surprised when he saw the official document from the Tianjin Wei Zhenfu Division. However, he didn't think much of it. The package delivered by the postman was nothing special. It listed the pick-up and delivery times of various post stations and the delivery personnel. It looked like an ordinary document sent from Tianjin.

Each department's censors were divided into three ranks: Du, Zuo, You, and Wu. However, due to the special nature of their work, their responsibilities were focused on specific areas, and they could all submit memorials directly to the emperor. Therefore, every censor was required to review the documents sent to the department's direct office, regardless of whether they had the intention to criticize them. Therefore, after recording the time of receipt and the government office to which the report was submitted in the register, Ming Shiju opened the package with ease.

Ming Shiju originally thought that this would be another ordinary document, but from the moment he saw the title on the cover, his eyes, which had originally been a little tired, immediately widened.

On this chapter was written a character with no calligraphy skills at all, but it was still quite neat: A memorial to impeach the officials of this guard for their illegal acts.

Ming Shiju immediately realized that this was a memorial of impeachment, and the scope of its implications was undoubtedly significant. He immediately flipped it open, and a smile of excitement crossed his lips. In a moment, Ming Shiju finished reading the memorial and excitedly approached Zhao Xingbang, the Chief Secretary, and said, "Warning! This is the memorial of impeachment from the Tianjin Governor against the officials of this guard! We must quickly draft a memorial to the Emperor."

"Tianjin Wei?" Zhao Xingbang blinked his dry eyes and asked, "I remember the Jinyiwei led the imperial envoys to Tianjin Wei to arrest someone?"

"That's true." Ming Shiju handed the impeachment letter to Zhao Xingbang. "But the impeachment letter doesn't mention the Jinyiwei at all."

"No? Hah." Zhao Xingbang laughed inexplicably, then took it and flipped it open, discovering that the impeachment document didn't mention the Jinyiwei at all. The only thing it contained was the impeachment of the officers of the guard for various illegal activities, including abuse of power in criminal cases, negligence in military affairs, and corruption in civil affairs.

"It's really interesting." Zhao Xingbang put down the chapter.

"Interesting? What's interesting?" Ming Shiju asked.

"Although I don't know when Shen Zhengping was promoted, he must have been working in Tianjin for some time. Why didn't he impeach him earlier or later, but just when the Jinyiwei went to Tianjin to arrest people? Could it be that he had a change of heart?" Ming Shiju laughed.

"Do you think there is something fishy behind this?" The excitement on Ming Shiju's face gradually faded.

"Of course there are," Zhao Xingbang affirmed. "The Imperial Guards are still in Tianjin, but this Shen Zhengping hasn't even mentioned them. If there's something fishy going on, it's a mystery." Zhao Xingbang shrugged. "Perhaps it's related to the recent deployment of the Western Depot and the Eastern Office to the Imperial Household and the Ministry of War."

The Western Depot and the Imperial Uniform Guard launched their operation without informing any of the outer court offices. When the Western Depot's inspectors and the Eastern Office's detectives stormed the Ministry of War, Minister Cui Jingrong was still in the Wenhua Hall, undergoing a nearly incriminating interrogation by Cui Wensheng. From then on, all officials within the Ministry of War were placed under close surveillance by the Imperial Uniform Guard.

As a result, news spread slowly, and even now, the imperial court remains unaware of the reason for the Imperial Guards' actions. The prevailing theory is that the Ministry of War's accounting was so poorly maintained that the emperor was deeply dissatisfied, prompting the Imperial Guards to move in and conduct further investigations. However, this theory fails to explain why the Imperial Guards' chief officer, responsible for this matter, was stationed in the Imperial Palace rather than the Ministry of War.

"What should we do then?" Ming Shiju asked again.

"Bring them to justice!" Zhao Xingbang neither rejoiced nor flinched, acting completely impartially. "Whether there's something fishy going on here or not, it has nothing to do with us. Stay out of it, and just do your job as a censor."

(End of this chapter)