Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 386 Investigation Order

Whether it was murdering an imperial official or forming a clique to force the emperor to abdicate, both were heinous crimes punishable by death. But the emperor's voice was quiet. If you ignored the content, it sounded like a perfectly ordinary question. Yet, this calmness made Wang An uneasy. Wang An fell silent. This was a case involving nobles and relatives. Not only did he not dare to continue the conversation, he couldn't even offer a polite remark like, "No one dares to force the emperor to abdicate."

Wang An lowered his head, glaring at the report with a dark look, as if he were trying to dig something out of it. The other two eunuchs sitting with him in the hall crouched even lower, breathing softly through their noses.

"Why aren't you talking?" Zhu Changluo slowly looked at Wang An.

"In reply to the Lord's words." With a single blink, Wang An's eyes cleared of the gloom. He looked up at the Emperor, his entire face displaying respect and caution. "It's hard for me to say."

"Just say whatever you want to say. There's nothing wrong with saying it," said Zhu Changluo.

"That's right." Wang An said with an apologetic smile, "There's nothing much to say. Up to now, the East Factory has only found out these things."

"Is this all you found?" Zhu Changluo's eyes became much more stern.

"That's really all we found." Wang An was horrified and said quickly, "This report should be just an early one. The East Factory brought it over, and I listed it."

"Give it to me." Zhu Changluo beckoned.

"Yes." Wang An closed the report and, taking two steps at a time, quickly approached the emperor. He held the report high and handed it to him. "Please read it, my lord."

Zhu Changluo snatched the report from Wang Anban, weighed it, and found that it was quite thick.

Zhu Changluo had just been exercising, his blood boiling. He didn't control the strength of his hand well, and when he pulled, the long soft paper between the hard shells drooped down, winding crookedly to the ground.

Seeing this, Wang An hurriedly knelt at the emperor's feet and held up the soft papers filled with black ink.

"Get up. Don't kneel." Zhu Changluo folded the leaf again and placed it flat on the imperial desk.

"Yes." Wang An breathed a sigh of relief. He accepted the order and stood up, but still kept his head down, not daring to look at the emperor's face.

At this moment, several eunuchs on duty at the Qianqing Gate, escorting the morning's first batch of memorials, arrived at the door of the Southern Study. As soon as the door opened, before the eunuchs even crossed the threshold, they sensed the solemn atmosphere within. Unable to remain at the doorway, they simultaneously exercised extreme caution and brought two trays covered with oilcloth to Liu Ruoyu's desk.

Under Liu Ruoyu's watchful eyes, an empty-handed eunuch carefully peeled off the oilcloth that was soaked with rain. The eunuch's hands were very steady. The raindrops fell everywhere, wetting his clothes and the floor of the hall, but they did not touch the pile of memorials. When both oilcloths were peeled off, another eunuch came up. Although the eunuch had been covering his arms with wide sleeves, after he took his hands out, he did not touch the memorials immediately. Instead, he wiped his hands on his front before placing the piles of memorials on Liu Ruoyu's desk.

After delivering the memorial, the eunuchs at Qianqing Gate filed out. Immediately afterwards, the eunuchs serving inside the palace immediately came to where they had been standing, carrying a dry cotton cloth, and knelt on the ground to carefully wipe away any water droplets that had fallen. The palace had to be clean and dry. If the emperor slipped on water, it wasn't because of carelessness, but because they hadn't done their job properly. If such a mistake really occurred, the lightest punishment would be a leg-breaking caning.

The report submitted by the East Depot was lengthy, but mostly contained details of trivial operations, a mere logbook. Zhu Changluo patiently read it through, realizing that the core content consisted solely of what Wang An had summarized.

Zhu Changluo closed the report and threw it onto the imperial desk with a bang. "Tell Cui Wensheng to continue the investigation and find out what these people are up to. Also, assign more surveillance personnel. If they send anyone out of the capital again, chase them!"

It wasn't a big deal for nobles and relatives to organize caravans to resell grain and profit from the difference. As long as these caravans could smoothly transport the grain produced in the interior of the country to the outside and return the excessive silver in Liaodong to the interior, the benefits to the country would outweigh the disadvantages. At the very least, it would alleviate the pressure on the court to supply grain and bring cash as currency to the grain-producing areas.

Before the war against the Jin Dynasty ended, Zhu Changluo could turn a blind eye even if the nobles' caravans evaded some customs duties through various means. However, if they tried to interfere with the market for their own selfish interests, or even influence the court's policies and personnel appointments, Zhu Changluo would open his closed eyes.

"Yes." By this time, Wang An had already taken the order and returned to his seat. Upon hearing the emperor's order, he immediately signed the imperial edict on the briefing from the Imperial Household Department on his behalf.

The Silijian briefings could be considered memorials awaiting approval, or rather, a compilation of memorials, though most items were simply glanced over and not subject to the emperor's official approval. However, for memorials addressed to external officials, this was the equivalent of a "Got it" approval.

If Zhu Changluo suddenly had an idea for an adjustment but didn't feel the need for a specific order, he would write a few words or a paragraph next to the item. Wang An would review it and implement the plan accordingly. Sometime later, whether it was the next day or much later, the results of the implementation would appear as a new item in the briefing. If the plan couldn't be implemented with existing resources or required new authorization, Wang An would request instructions or a clear imperial decree.

Before Wang An had finished, Zhu Changluo issued another order: "Also, send someone to teach Cui Wensheng how to write a report. He doesn't even have a summary paragraph, how can anyone read it?"

"Yes!" The emperor's slightly teasing tone made Wang An completely relaxed. At least for today, the matter was over. Wang An didn't add another sentence to the briefing, but silently memorized the order.

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"Master," Liu Ruoyu stopped what he was doing, picked up a memorial, and stood up. "That Johann Adam Schall von Bell from the Imperial Observatory has submitted another memorial."

The work of the Imperial Observatory, while important, was not crucial. In the Southern Study's hierarchy of tasks, it fell into the category of "miscellaneous" among the miscellaneous offices. If an official from this office submitted a memorial, Liu Ruoyu would first review it before submitting it to the emperor for approval.

"What did he say again?" Zhu Changluo asked. "Is it related to the Jesuit case?"

"No one is better than the wise and intelligent master." Liu Ruoyu took the opportunity to flatter him.

"You're such a clever talker." Zhu Changluo smiled softly, as if he'd been tickled. "Please put it simply."

"Yes." The emperor was pleased, and Liu Ruoyu was also very satisfied. He opened the memorial and briefly summarized it: "In his memorial, Johann Adam Schall von Bell stated that in order to ascertain the facts and explore the truth behind the Shenyang case, he applied to join the temporary translation office established by the Metropolitan Censorate."

"Tang Ruowang also said that while translating these letters and articles, he came across numerous articles that left him 'extremely shocked' and 'inexplicably horrified.' These articles not only violated the laws and moral principles of the Ming Dynasty and the teachings of Western religions themselves, but also drastically contradicted the teachings of the previous Jesuit bishop, Matteo Ricci." At this point, Liu Ruoyu changed his reading. "I am an official appointed by His Majesty, a subject of the Celestial Empire, a believer in Jesus Christ, and an admirer and follower of the previous bishop."

"He really knows how to cover up for himself." Zhu Changluo chuckled and muttered to himself.

As soon as the emperor started speaking, Liu Ruoyu immediately stopped talking.

"Why don't you continue?" Zhu Changluo asked.

"I'm not very good at hearing," Liu Ruoyu said, looking up at the emperor, only to find he wasn't looking at him. "I didn't hear clearly what you just said. Please explain." Zhu Changluo was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. "There's no such thing as a holy command. Just continue."

"Yes." Liu Ruoyu continued to read aloud after what he had said before: "I am honored to be an official appointed by the emperor, a subject of the Celestial Empire, a believer in Jesus Christ, and an admirer and follower of the previous supervisors. I cannot tolerate such presumption and blasphemy, and I am unwilling to go against my conscience and conceal my sins. Therefore, I suppress my deep sorrow and pain and submit a memorial to expose my family's dirty laundry." After Liu Ruoyu summarized what he could read, he put the memorial down.

"Why don't you study again?" Zhu Changluo asked.

Liu Ruoyu smiled awkwardly and shook her head, saying, "The words and sentences excerpted by Tang Ruowang are truly rebellious. I dare not read them again, for fear of polluting my master's ears."

"Then bring it here." Zhu Changluo did not force Liu Ruoyu to read on.

"Yes." Liu Ruoyu hurried to the imperial desk and was about to put down Tang Ruowang's memorial when he heard the emperor say, "Just bring it when I tell you to? You're afraid of polluting my ears, but aren't you afraid of polluting my eyes?"

"This servant..." Liu Ruoyu's face showed obvious embarrassment.

Zhu Changluo shook his head and sighed, "Put it down, I was just joking with you."

"Yes, yes." Liu Ruoyu smiled, but it was a forced smile. It was uglier than crying.

Zhu Changluo waved his hand. "Go back and get the other memorials."

"Yes."

Zhu Changluo slid the memorial from Tang Ruowang in front of him, but he didn't pick it up and read it immediately. "Wang An, has the Censorate finished its investigation?"

"It's only been translated." Wang An added meaningfully, "The Censorate just disbanded the translation office yesterday. It will take some time to compile the evidence and write the report. I'm afraid the Censorate won't be able to produce the investigation report until the day the results are announced."

"Among the first batch of memorials this morning, there are two books from the Censorate. But judging by their thickness, they should not be the investigation reports on the Shenyang Rebellion." Liu Ruoyu had already sorted the first batch of memorials into piles, and turned back to bring them to the emperor.

After placing the memorials in their designated locations, Liu Ruoyu then picked out the two memorials from the Censorate and placed them on top of the pile. Liu Ruoyu didn't even bother with the memorials the emperor personally reviewed, nor did he sort them. But if they were specifically mentioned like this, he could find them immediately.

"Hmm," Zhu Changluo nodded, his fingertips slowly and rhythmically tapping the cover of Johann Adam Schall von Bell's memorial. After pondering for a long time, Zhu Changluo looked back at Wang An. "Tell me, was this all taught to him by Ye Ci Fu, or did he come up with it himself?"

Wang An seemed to recall something. "Tang Ruowang hasn't been to Ye Cifu's residence recently."

"Once a teacher, you will benefit for life." Zhu Changluo then opened the memorial and began to read.

Liu Ruoyu thought that the emperor would definitely be angry because of the "family scandals" exposed by Johann Adam Schall von Bell, but until he put down the memorial, the emperor's calm expression did not change at all.

"Wang An." Zhu Changluo called out.

"I'm here." Wang An immediately put down the notebook he had just received and opened the memo.

Zhu Changluo picked up the pen and wrote blood-red ink on Johann Adam Schall von Bell's memorial.

He only wrote three words: Got it.

When the hook on the character "了" (le) appeared, Zhu Changluo closed the memorial again and gently pushed it to the edge of the imperial desk. "Secretly leak the contents of this memorial. Let everyone in the world know."

"Yes." Wang An put down his pen and walked over. He picked up Tang Ruowang's memorial, and the emperor also placed the Censorate memorial that Liu Ruoyu had taken out in front of him.

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"Has the security in the capital been bad lately?" Zhu Changluo flipped through the memorials. The sound was muffled by the raindrops hitting the tiles, and even Wang An, who was closest, couldn't hear clearly.

"To answer your Majesty," Wang An said, "there is some disturbance, but it's nothing serious."

"If it's not a major incident," Zhu Changluo tapped the memorial on the table with his knuckles. "Then why did the West City Censor Cui Qiguan impeach the Jinyiwei and the patrol battalion for lax prevention and control? Also, did the Imperial Household Department know about the broadday robbery at Baiyun Temple?" Baiyun Temple is near the West Bianmen Gate in the south city, but it falls under the jurisdiction of the West City Censor.

"The Imperial Household Department knows, and I know too," Wang An replied seriously.

"But I don't remember you mentioning this matter." Zhu Changluo said.

Wang An remained calm. "I wrote a few words in the daily reports on the 22nd and 23rd. But not as detailed as Censor Cui's." Wang An did write, but he didn't mention any details. He simply wrote in the briefing: "The Jinyiwei have reported that there has been a minor disturbance in the capital. We are in conjunction with the Shuntian Prefecture Office and have ordered the Military Affairs Department and the Patrol Battalion to strictly rectify the situation."

Zhu Changluo briefly recalled and vaguely remembered those simple records.

"Is it because of the layoffs?" Zhu Changluo was asking Wang An, but Liu Ruoyu, who was sitting at the end of the table, became nervous. After all, he was the one in charge of this matter.

"Evil people are always evil. The silver given during layoffs will only stimulate their evil thoughts." Wang An's attention was all on the emperor, not paying any attention to Liu Ruoyu.

Zhu Changluo stopped talking. He closed Cui Qiguan's memorial and picked up another one from the Censorate. Opening it, Zhu Changluo discovered that this one also dealt with public security, and the person who submitted it was actually Left Censor-in-Chief Zhang Wenda himself.

However, unlike Cui Qiguan, Zhang Wenda's memorial was not to raise a problem, but to offer a solution. The solution Zhang Zongxian found time to propose in his busy schedule was very traditional: to reorganize the baojia system.

(End of this chapter)