The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 177 Seems to be a clear stream

As autumn deepens, there seems to be a hint of chill in the wind.

The fiery red maple leaves in the Summer Resort fluttered down and fell all over the ground.

Wanli stared blankly out the window holding the memorial, seemingly feeling a hint of chill in the wind.

It seems that the battle for the national capital is far from over.

Those civil servants with ulterior motives will never give in for the sake of their own interests.

These guys will definitely try their best to get people on board.

Okay, come on, I’ll take care of one if you come, and I’ll take care of a pair if you come two.

He frowned and pondered for a while, then said decisively: "Uncle, send a fast horse to convey my oral order. Instruct Luo Sigong to immediately send someone to investigate Shen Jing, the Deputy Director of the Seal Verification Department of the Ministry of Personnel."

This time, those civil servants with ulterior motives also found a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Personnel. What does that mean?
Luo Sigong was quite efficient in his work. It took him less than a whole day to investigate an official in the capital.

The next morning at about noon, he hurriedly rode his horse to the Summer Resort.

At this moment, Wanli was still reviewing memorials.

After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, Luo Sigong took out a secret letter and handed it over respectfully with both hands.

Wanli opened the secret letter and took a closer look, and he couldn't help but frown.

Shen Jing was born in the 32nd year of the Jiajing reign, and his native place was Wujiang County, Suzhou Prefecture, Nanzhili.

In the second year of the Wanli reign, he became a Jinshi, ranking fifth in the second class. He was initially appointed as the Director of the Military Affairs Department. In the fifth year of the Wanli reign, he was transferred to the Director of the Ceremonial Department of the Ministry of Rites. Because of his diligence and integrity in his work, he was promoted to the Deputy Director of the Ceremonial Department of the Ministry of Rites in the eighth year of the Wanli reign. In the twelfth year of the Wanli reign, he was transferred to the Deputy Director of the Seal Verification Department of the Ministry of Personnel.

This guy seems to be an upright person, and it took him six years to be promoted from a sixth-rank official to a fifth-rank deputy minister. After that, he worked for another three years but was not promoted to a fifth-rank doctor. It seems that there is no problem with his official promotion!
Wanli frowned and thought for a while, then asked, "Is he really diligent and honest in his work?"

Luo Sigong nodded slowly and said, "From what I have found out, we have arranged many secret guards to serve as yamen runners in the six ministries, and I have also asked them to ask the yamen runners who are familiar with Shen Jing.

This Shen Jing is really diligent in his work. When he first became the head of the Ministry of War, this guy actually knew the map of the Nine Frontiers and the officers and soldiers of the Nine Frontiers by heart.

Many yamen runners have seen this: when other military officials were looking for records of border generals, he would ask the general's name and be able to recite his resume.

In addition, the Ministry of Rites' Ceremonial and Etiquette Department was the busiest department in the Ministry of Rites, and the affairs were very tedious. Shen Jing never slacked off and always did everything personally. He even did tedious small things such as proofreading and recording the list of royal clans and vassal states, and never used the Ministry of Rites' clerks to do it.

Moreover, he was indeed not corrupt. He had been working in Beijing for more than ten years and originally lived in a good friend's house. After he was promoted to Yuanwailang, he scraped together money and bought a small courtyard worth more than 100 taels in Suzhou Hutong in Mingshifang and got married.

He married a wife and had no concubines. His wife was from a farming family and had no background. He also had no servants in his household. Everything was done by the couple themselves.

Is this guy really okay?

Then check this guy’s relatives and friends!
Wanli nodded slightly, then said decisively: "Check his relatives and friends carefully, especially those who are very close to him."

This seems to take some time.

However, Luo Sigong did not delay. Two days later, around noon, he hurried over.

After the emperor and his subjects exchanged greetings, he presented two secret memorials with both hands and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I have carefully checked and these are the only two who were very close to him."

Wanli took the secret letter and opened the first one, and was stunned.

Sun Jigao, the top scorer in the Jiaxu examination in the second year of Wanli!
Born in the 29th year of the Jiajing reign, he was a native of Wuxi County, Changzhou Prefecture, Nanzhili Province. He was initially appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, and later served as the Right Instructor of the Right Spring Office of the Zhanshi Palace, and the Attending Academician of the Hanlin Academy. He is currently the Junior Secretary of the Zhanshi Palace.

This person also gave him a lecture.

He knew very well that this guy was also a clean person, and a very famous one at that!
Who is the second one next?
When he opened the second secret letter, he was stunned.

Li Sancai, ranked 70th in the second class of the Jiaxu examination in the second year of Wanli!
Born in the 31st year of the Jiajing reign, he was from Lintong County, Xi'an Prefecture, Shaanxi Province. He was initially appointed as the Director of the Ministry of Revenue. Three years later, he was promoted to the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Revenue. He is currently the Director of the Ministry of Revenue.

The founding marshal of Donglin, Li Sancai, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King!
Is this the beginning of the Donglin Party struggle?
Lintong is not far from Tongguan, and Puzhou is opposite Tongguan!

Li Sancai is most likely related to the three great families of Puzhou; otherwise, Han Yu wouldn't have become the leader of Donglin. So, what about this Shen Jing?
Who instructed this guy to submit a petition to establish a crown prince?
Donglin, that's unlikely.

There is no Donglin yet.

Wanli frowned and pondered for a while, holding the secret letter. Then he asked, "How is Shen Jing related to Li Sancai?"

Luo Sigong said without hesitation: "Your Majesty, last time I did some research, I found out that before Shen Jing was promoted to the position of Minister of Rites, he was living in a good friend's house.

This time I have found out that Shen Jing is living in the home of his good friend Li Sancai.

Li Sancai's family was a military family and originally belonged to the Wugong Youwei. Later, Li Sancai's grandfather Li Lu was transferred to the Beijing Camp to serve, and his family had moved to the capital a long time ago.

His father Li Xun seemed to have been a Jinshi during the Zhengde period and served as a Yuwenlang of the Ministry of Revenue.

As for how they knew each other, I haven't found out yet."

Wanli asked again, "How is Shen Jing related to Sun Jigao?"

Luo Sigong said carefully: "Your Majesty, they are from the same hometown, and Changzhou Prefecture is close to Suzhou Prefecture, and Wuxi is not far from Wujiang."

This Sun Jigao probably also had close ties with Donglin.

Wanli pondered, "Sun Jigao seems to have served as a co-examiner for the imperial examination in the eighth year of the Wanli reign. Go check and see if he has any disciples."

Luo Sigong quickly bowed and said, "I obey your order."

This was easy to check. The next morning at noon, he rushed over again.

After the emperor and his subjects exchanged greetings, he presented a secret letter with both hands and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, this is all I have been able to find. I am not sure if there are any others. This is the one I often share with Sun Jigao, Li Sancai, and Shen Jing."

Wanli took the secret letter and opened it, and he suddenly understood.

Gu Xiancheng, who ranked second in the second class of the Gengchen imperial examination in the eighth year of the Wanli reign, was a native of Wuxi County, Changzhou Prefecture, Nanzhili. He was initially appointed as a director of the Ministry of Revenue and later transferred to the Director of the Seal Verification Department of the Ministry of Personnel.

This guy is the founder of Donglin!

Shen Jing was also the Deputy Director of the Seal Verification Department of the Ministry of Personnel, and was good friends with Sun Jigao and Li Sancai. It seemed that Donglin was already showing signs of forming cliques.

These guys are still the clean stream. Perhaps, the remnants of the three major families in Puzhou have begun to take advantage of these clean streams.

The Donglin Party Struggle seemed inevitable, and he had no reason to stop Gu Xiancheng from resigning and returning home to rebuild the Donglin Academy.

This group of guys must be closely connected with the remnants of the three major powerful families in Puzhou, so there is no need for him to stop them. This is also a good clue. Through this clue, he can probably pull out a lot of remnants of the three major powerful families in Puzhou.

Wanli frowned and pondered for a while, then said decisively: "Sigong, send someone to Wujiang to check and see if there is any problem in Shen Jing's hometown.

This time, we will send more people over to run a good business in Suzhou Prefecture and Changzhou Prefecture. It would be best if we could sneak into the homes of Gu Xiancheng and Li Sancai. There is no need to rush, it will take a few years to sneak in.

If there are really no suitable candidates, you can send your trusted confidants to Jinling to recruit some. There should be quite a few Jinyiwei soldiers left there."

What is His Majesty going to do?

Although Luo Sigong didn't know what was going on, he still bowed without hesitation and said, "I obey your order."

After saying this, he retreated respectfully.

Wanli looked at the falling leaves outside the window and couldn't help but sigh.

This group of civil servants began to use the Qingliu to fight against him.

What could he do?

Could it be that he was beheaded without any charge?

(End of this chapter)