Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 332: New Case in the East Office

"In reply to the admiral, the captain of the Northern Division said that there are traitors among the Jesuits and the academy needs to be closed and investigated strictly." Zheng Shiyi said.

Liu Chengxi was visibly stunned. "Traitors and rebels? How is that possible?"

Zheng Shiyi said: "We also found it strange, so when we came back we went to the Tongzhengshisi to inquire about it. After asking, we found out that something happened in Liaodong." If there is any government office in the capital that updates information faster than the Censorate, it is probably the Tongzhengshisi.

"Liaodong?" After a brief thought, Liu Chengxi suddenly realized. "That artillery team!?"

Zheng Shiyi nodded and said, "Yes, that's them. To be more precise, it's the interpreter sent by the Jesuits to Liaoyang. I've seen the rubbings. It says he spread rumors and slandered the emperor and his father before the army in Shenyang, and was beheaded by the Inspector General Yang Lian." Jinyiwei military officers from the Eastern Secretariat and the Northern Pacification Office could directly access memorials transcribed and filed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs with their badges. Correspondingly, the act of accessing them would be recorded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"Then this case should be assigned to my East Office as usual!" Liu Chengxi was very unhappy.

Although he had thought about taking the position of governor of the Eastern Sifang by currying favor with Wei Zhongxian and his son before, since Liu Chengxi had taken the position before he surrendered, there would only be a competitive relationship between the Eastern Sifang under his leadership and the Northern Pacification Office.

Zheng Shiyi recalled Yang Huan's last words and sighed, "Perhaps the higher-ups think we're incompetent, or even suspect we've taken bribes and concealed something."

Liu Chengxi was startled. He trusted Zheng Shiyi deeply, but he had to admit that the palace eunuchs could indeed use this as a pretext to impeach the Eastern Office. "We can't just sit there and wait for others to throw dirty water on us, the Eastern Office, and then defend ourselves." Liu Chengxi reacted quickly. "The Censorate! Since this is the case brought by Yang Zhongcheng, the Liaodong authorities will definitely send a letter to the Censorate. Take your men and investigate the case. Find out the whole story!"

"Yes!" Zheng Shiyi turned and left. Liu Chengxi followed him.

"Prepare the horses!" Liu Chengxi shouted.

"Are you going to the Censorate too?" Zheng Shiyi slowed down his pace and asked with his head tilted.

"No. I'll go to the Command Headquarters to find General Luo." Liu Chengxi snorted. "Since the Northern Pacification Office has taken over my Eastern Office's case for no reason, I should at least go and cry for justice."

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The Jinyiwei's Southern Pacification Division was primarily responsible for enforcing legal and military discipline within the garrison, essentially investigating, trying, and adjudicating crimes committed by its personnel. For a long time, the Southern Pacification Division created a reputation as a slack, idle office lacking practical responsibilities, less prestigious than the Northern Pacification Division and more frivolous than the Eastern and Western Offices. Often, when the censors from the Ministry of Justice caught Jinyiwei officers committing crimes and filed impeachments, the Southern Pacification Division remained largely inactive. If the emperor issued an order assigning a case involving a guard to the Southern Pacification Division rather than the Legal Affairs Division, it would essentially be considered a cover-up.

But after Hai Zhentao was promoted to Tongzhi and officially took over the Southern Pacification Office, everything changed. He immediately launched a major purge of the Southern Office's officials. He impeached five of the six vacant positions, leaving only Liang Ci.

Liang Ci was the son of Liang Menglong, a Jinshi (Jinshi) scholar during the reign of Emperor Shizong, a provincial governor during the reign of Emperor Muzong, and the Minister of War during the reign of Emperor Shenzong. He inherited the hereditary position of a Qian Hu of the Embroidered Uniform Guard through his father's influence. In the tenth year of the Wanli reign, Zhang Juzheng died. Shortly thereafter, Wang Guoguang, one of his key aides during the reign of Emperor Jiangling, was impeached and dismissed from his post, with Liang Menglong replacing him. A month later, Liang Menglong was impeached for bribing Feng Bao to obtain the position of Minister of Personnel, and was dismissed by Emperor Shenzong. The Zhang-Feng Rebellion case devastated the Liang family, and Liang Ci, a Qian Hu of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, remained without a formal position for a long time.

Even after decades, the rebellion's impact gradually faded. Despite being given a job by the higher-ups, Liang Ci continued to waste the last days of his youth in the Southern Division, doing insignificant, unimportant clerical work.

Liang Ci was surprised by Hai Zhentao's disregard for decency and his drastic actions upon taking office. He was even more horrified by the fact that Hai Zhentao's actions led to the dismissal of one official from the Southern Department.

But he didn't find it surprising that he not only survived and continued to work in the Southern Division, but also got promoted to a higher position. He was also an experienced person and knew that the ups and downs of politics were the norm.

The Emperor's overturning of Zhang Jiangling's case would not stop at simply lifting the ban and recalling the Zhang brothers. His subordinates would also understand and allow the descendants of the former "Zhang Party" to appear before the Emperor, at least to show their names, to demonstrate their close alignment with the Emperor. Liang Ci could guess that this was likely the reason why Zhang Xueyan's son, Zhang Maozhong, was appointed as the governor of the street housing.

After the Southern Division's major purge, Liang Ci's workload suddenly increased. This wasn't just because he was now responsible for the work previously done by six people, but also because his workload had shifted from virtual to concrete.

Before Hai Zhentao was transferred from the East Office, the six Tangshang Assistant Secretaries' main job was to eat and wait for death, with only a slight break in their busy schedule when distributing official rations to the various offices and paid officers. Now, he had to check the records and clear the files, while also evaluating a large number of low-ranking officers below the rank of Qianhu.

The evaluation method was simple: under the pretext of distributing monthly rations, low-ranking officers were summoned to the Southern Military Commission for a face reading. The criteria for judging were also subjective; if Liang Ci felt the officer looked downcast, listless, and unfit, he would be placed on the list for layoffs.

It was simple, like a beauty pageant, and the writing wasn't heavy. But the sheer number of people was unbearable. There were over six hundred officers in Beijing alone, including minor flag officers, general flag officers, and centurions. After more than half a month, Liang Ci was practically sick of seeing so many men.

After Liang Ci finished his final inspection, he took the list he had drawn up yesterday and went to Hai Zhentao's desk. "Hai Tongzhi, this is yesterday's list."

"Okay. Thank you for your hard work." Hai Zhentao closed the document in front of him, took the list, scanned it once, and put it away. "How many people are left to be checked?"

Liang Ci thought for a moment and replied, "There's still about half a thousand households left. It'll only take two days."

"Well. Just follow the instructions." Hai Zhentao stood up and picked up the document. "I'm going to the Command Headquarters. You can take care of the government office."

Liang Ci stepped aside and asked, "Are we really going to lay off officers based on these lists?" After the screening was complete, the layoffs of junior officers would officially begin. According to Liang Ci himself, this would take only two days.

"Of course." Hai Zhentao nodded, glanced at the cloak hanging on the hanger, but did not pick it up and put it on his shoulders.

Liang Ci followed. "Lay off 60% of the staff, isn't that too much?"

Hai Zhentao paused. "Lay off six, keep three, and promote one. This ratio was set by Commander Luo. Didn't he tell you before, and report it to your superiors?"

The layoff ratio for middle and senior officers is 721, while that for junior officers is slightly adjusted to 631.

"How are we going to make up for all this cutting?" Liang Ci asked. When he was reading someone's face, he felt that the 60% ratio was too high.

"How to make up for it is the business of the higher-ups. We just need to do our own job well." After saying that, Hai Zhentao left without looking back.

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The Southern Pacification Office was located under the Military Commandery, on the same street as the Five Military Commissioners' Office, the Taichang Temple, and the Tongzheng Commissioners' Office, sharing the same avenue.

Hai Zhentao arrived at the gate of the Command Headquarters in just a few steps. He was an old acquaintance, and the captain on duty not only didn't stop him, but even saluted him. Just as Hai Zhentao was about to enter, he heard the sound of horse hooves behind him, not too hurriedly. Hai Zhentao looked back and saw a familiar figure on a tall horse, accompanied by several guards, passing through the alley between the Command Headquarters and the Southern Pacification Office and emerging from the corner.

The man on the horse had obviously also seen Hai Zhentao. He quickly dismounted and handed the reins to his attendant. Then he quickly walked up to Hai Zhentao, clasped his fists and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Mr. Hai."

Hai Zhentao returned the greeting with a bow. "Liu Chengxi came to the Commandery to look for General Luo as well?" Liu Chengxi had been promoted, and the color of his robe had changed from blue to red. Hai Zhentao couldn't help but stare at him twice.

"Yes. The Northern Pacification Office has taken over the job of the Eastern Office, and I came here to ask for justice from Marshal Luo." Liu Chengxi's tone of voice was still as respectful as before.

"Which job?" Hai Zhentao walked towards the yamen, while Liu Chengxi followed him half a step slower.

"It's the job you assigned to Captain Zheng before you were promoted." Liu Chengxi said cleverly.

"An assignment for Captain Zheng?" Hai Zhentao's mind was filled with all kinds of trivial matters, and he was unable to react for a moment.

"It's the case that Deputy Captain Lu was investigating before." Liu Chengxi still didn't explain clearly.

"Are you talking about the Jesuit order?" Liu Chengxi put the two people together, and Hai Zhentao finally remembered.

"Yes, it's this case. The people from our East Office were driven away by the people from the North Office." Liu Chengxi's whole face seemed to be full of dissatisfaction.

As they were talking, the two of them had already arrived at the main hall. Luo Sigong, the head guard, heard the conversation between the two and raised his head.

"Greetings to the Chief Guard." The two men stepped forward quickly and saluted.

"Why are you two here together?" Luo Sigong asked.

"We didn't meet together. We just happened to meet at the door." Hai Zhentao took a step to the left, moving to the side of the main desk, and said, "Liu Chenshi came here on horseback. I think his affairs are more urgent than those of the Southern Division."

"Go ahead." Luo Sigong looked at Liu Chengxi.

Liu Chengxi raised his head, looking aggrieved. "Just now, someone from the Northern Pacification Office came to where my East Office's secret agents were working and chased my people away."

Luo Sigong's brow furrowed. "Which place? What's the reason?" Although the Tongzhengshisi and Zhihuishisi were close to each other, because Yang Lian's memorial didn't mention the Jinyiwei at all, the Tongzhengshisi didn't forward the memorial to the Zhihuishisi.

"Reporting to Commander Luo, it's the Jesuit headquarters in the Zhengxifang of the Outer City." Liu Chengxi simply recounted what he knew. This time, he did not mention Hai Zhentao or even Lu Wenzhao, otherwise the traces of involvement would be too obvious.

"That's troublesome." After hearing this, Luo Sigong frowned even more. "When did that person go to Liaodong?"

Liu Chengxi subconsciously glanced at Hai Zhentao. "Last year, the exact date must be recorded." When Father Mendoza and the mercenaries headed north to Liao, Hai Zhentao was still in the Admiral's East Office.

"Didn't the secret agent notice anything unusual?" Luo Sigong asked again.

"No," Hai Zhentao took the initiative. "Until the foreigners left the capital, the Eastern Office hadn't received any investigative records related to the plot. They spent most of their time in that house. Besides buying food, their main activity was visiting officials' residences after court hours." That was about all the secret agents could gather.

"Which officials?" Luo Sigong turned to look at Hai Zhentao.

"Too many," Hai Zhentao said, "from cabinet ministers to ninth-rank officials, and even candidates who came to Beijing to take the imperial examinations. But not many were willing to see them. It wasn't until the emperor granted an official position to one of the foreigners that officials began to accept the invitations."

Luo Sigong pondered for a moment, then said to Liu Chengxi, "The Eastern Secretariat has tolerated the snatching of the post, but now is not the time to argue. The Commandery will send a letter of protest to the Imperial Household Department. When you return, compile all the surveillance records related to the Jesuits into a book as soon as possible. Record clearly when they sent invitations to whom, who accepted them, and who didn't."

"Yes." Liu Chengxi replied.

"You go back." Luo Sigong suddenly remembered something, so he changed the subject and asked, "Is there any news from Lu Wenzhao?" Luo Sigong was asking Liu Chengxi, but Hai Zhentao also pricked up his ears.

"The East Office hasn't received a reply from Vice Captain Lu yet." Liu Chengxi shook his head. "But if you calculate the date, it should be soon."

"Okay, you go back first." Luo Sigong waved his hand.

Liu Chengxi did not leave immediately, but said: "General Wei, the Shuntian Prefecture Office has transferred a case to the East Office, and I need your instructions."

"If there is a case, just investigate it yourself. There is nothing for me to show you." The internal purge of the Jinyiwei was about to enter a critical stage, so Luo Sigong didn't want to take care of the investigation at all.

"Maybe it has something to do with the palace." Liu Chengxi said quickly.

"The palace!" Luo Sigong sat up straight. "What case is it, and how is it related to the law?"

"They are several suicide cases. At least judging from the description of the deaths in the case files, they look very much like suicides, but the deceased were all..." Liu Chengxi made a knife gesture with his hand and scratched his lower body.

"Is it a eunuch?!" Luo Sigong widened his eyes and asked in a low voice.

Liu Chengxi nodded silently and asked, "Should we investigate this case?" Since the case file handed over by Shuntian Prefecture showed this, the Jinyiwei could proceed according to the preset idea of ​​"suicide" and close the case hastily.

(End of this chapter)