The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 33: Chengzu doesn't care

The little emperor returned to Beijing to hold a court meeting.

That evening around 5 p.m., he led several thousand cavalrymen on horseback and rode into the imperial city, staying in the Wanshou Palace.

It was obvious that he had no intention of staying in the capital for long. After solving the problem of Duke Chengguo's Mansion, he was going to build his summer resort.

The question is, can he solve the problem of Duke Cheng’s Mansion?
The next morning at about noon, just as the sky was getting light, civil and military officials had already gathered in front of the Huangji Palace.

Wanli slowly walked up the steps amidst loud cheers of "Long live the emperor!", turned around and sat on the dragon throne, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, smiled wickedly, and then said in a loud voice: "No need to be polite, please stand up."

The corners of his mouth are already a little upturned, and he likes to lift them up from time to time, which makes him look a bit evil, and it seems to be getting more and more evil.

This little guy looks really evil.

Can't I beat you, a kid who's not even twenty years old?

Zhang Siwei narrowed his eyes and glanced at the little emperor, his eyes invisible to outsiders clearly showing a hint of coldness.

As soon as the ceremonial officer from the Honglu Temple finished speaking, he quickly stepped out of the procession, stood at the edge of the red carpet, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

What music to play?

I think you deserve a beating too.

Just wait, when my Beijing Army is fully trained, I will be the first to deal with you.

Wanli asked impatiently, "What's the matter?"

Hey kid, what's with that tone of voice of yours?
You want to make a big fuss, right?
Just wait for me.

Zhang Siwei said solemnly, "Your Majesty, the former Minister of Justice, Yan Qing, has resigned and returned home. The position of Minister of Justice is vacant. After selection by the Ministry of Personnel, we plan to transfer Yang Wei, the Minister of Revenue in Nanjing, back to Beijing to serve as the Minister of Justice. Please grant your approval, Your Majesty."

Is Yang Wei your man?
Do you still want to take advantage of this opportunity to seize the position of Minister of Justice?
What a great plan you have that kills three birds with one stone.

I won't let you shoot even a single hair.

Wanli was quite displeased and said, "What's wrong with the Ministry of Personnel? They picked Yang Wei for such an important position as the Minister of the Six Ministries.

Is Yang Wei the only one in the world who is qualified to be the Minister of Justice? Is this how the positions of the six ministers are selected? You just choose one and leave me no choice?
This is against the rules, you should follow the court rules and organize a court meeting with the six ministries, seven ministers, and officials of the third rank and above. We will discuss the results of the meeting first."

Are you asking me to fight against Zhang Juzheng's old party?
This little emperor seems to be becoming more and more sensible.

It seems that we really have to find a way to replace this disobedient little emperor.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Siwei bowed without hesitation and said, "Your humble servant obeys your command."

After saying that, he returned to the train.

Next, important court officials of the third rank and above reported.

Wanli acted extremely rebellious. He approved everything reported by Zhang Juzheng's old party without a second thought, and rejected everything reported by Zhang Siwei's party without a second thought.

He already has some strength, so he can be a little unreasonable.

What I mean is that you are making small moves behind my back and trying to deal with my confidant, Duke Cheng. I am very angry.

However, no matter how angry he was, Zhang Siwei and his party were still determined to make him a Duke.

Just as the court officials finished their reports, Sichuan Provincial Censor Sun Jixian coughed, quickly stepped out of the formation, and, holding a memorial, he lay on the edge of the red carpet and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I have something to report.

Duke Chengguo bribed for military merit, abused his military position, and disrupted the government. Your Majesty, please dismiss Duke Chengguo and his family and investigate them to serve as a warning to others."

Wanli did not order anyone to submit the memorial.

He had seen too many memorials like this and was too lazy to read them anymore.

He simply feigned curiosity and asked, "Who told you that? You have no evidence, and you want me to punish a Duke of the Super First Rank?"

Sun Jixian, the censor of Sichuan Province, said calmly, "This humble official did not hear this from anyone. This is what the former Minister of Justice found out when he interrogated the prisoner You Qi. You Qi confessed, and the evidence is irrefutable."

Wanli deliberately said in anger: "Can a confession be considered as ironclad evidence? Haven't you heard of confessions obtained through torture? Yan Qing knocked You Qi unconscious, and then pressed his fingerprints and drew a cross on the confession that had been prepared long ago. Is this what you call ironclad evidence?" You!
Sun Jixian was dumbfounded. He never expected that the little emperor would talk such nonsense.

How can this be explained?

He had no choice but to secretly glance at Zhang Siwei on the cabinet train.

You useless thing.

Zhang Siwei snorted inwardly, then glanced at the Inspectorate and the six trains.

With a clatter, more than a dozen imperial censors and secretaries rushed out as if they had received an order. They lay on the ground, holding up memorials and said loudly: "Your humble servant impeaches the Duke of Cheng. Your humble servant impeaches the Duke of Cheng. Your humble servant impeaches the Duke of Cheng."

Seeing this, the young men of the Qingliu class also hurried out from the ranks, lying on the ground, holding up their memorials and saying loudly: "Your humble servant impeaches the Duke of Cheng. Your humble servant impeaches the Duke of Cheng. Your humble servant impeaches the Duke of Cheng."

There were dozens or even hundreds of people kneeling on both sides of the red carpet.

When Duke Chengguo Zhu Yingzhen saw this, his expression changed.

In history, he was probably forced to death by Zhang Siwei in this way.

Zhang Siwei not only dealt with him, but also dealt with his relatives!
Now that he has the support of the young emperor, can he escape this disaster?

Upon seeing this, Wanli stood up solemnly, bowed and said to him, "Please give me the iron scroll of Chengzu's calligraphy."

Upon hearing this, Duke Chengguo Zhu Yingzhen hurriedly took out the red book and iron scroll that he had prepared long ago from his arms, held it high above his head, walked quickly to the steps, and handed it respectfully to Wanli.

Wanli took the red-lettered scroll with both hands and said with dignity: "Duke Chengguo Zhu Neng, the most meritorious officer in the Jingnan Campaign, saved our ancestor, Emperor Yongle, from danger many times, and finally died of illness during the expedition to Annan.

Our ancestor Emperor Yongle commemorated his achievements by posthumously conferring the title of King of Dongping and presenting him with an iron scroll inscribed in red ink.

His descendants, unless they committed heinous crimes such as treason and conspiracy, could atone for their sins with the red book and iron scroll, and the death penalty could be pardoned ten times.

This time, I will listen to you and just regard it as him bribing for the military examination. Isn't this a capital crime?
I ask Chengzu to write a letter of commendation on the iron scroll, pardoning Duke Cheng once. This matter ends here, and you all may withdraw."

This!
The little emperor actually used this trick!
The Red Book and Iron Scroll are just a scam.

There were countless dukes and nobles in the Hongwu Dynasty who had red books and iron scrolls, but in the end, almost all of them were beheaded by Emperor Hongwu on the charge of rebellion and treason, and the number of those who escaped could be counted on one hand.

The little emperor actually took the red book and iron scroll seriously. How else can they play?

Many censors and secretaries couldn't help but secretly glance at Zhang Siwei.

Zhang Siwei simply closed his eyes.

What this means is, just kneel there and force the little emperor.

If they don't move, the young and ignorant people from the Qingliu group won't move either. Let's see what the little emperor will do.

Seeing that these guys were still lying there motionless, Wanli couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly and became furious.

These bastards don't even take Chengzu seriously.

The ancestors of the Zhu family were used to punish him. When they wanted to punish him, they would talk about the imperial Ming Dynasty's ancestral precepts. Violating the imperial Ming Dynasty's ancestral precepts was considered treason.

He took out the ancestor's red book and iron scroll, but these bastards ignored it.

Are you playing double standards with me?
You all deserve a beating, right?
Okay, I'll grant you your wish.

He solemnly returned the red letter and iron scroll to Duke Cheng, Zhu Yingzhen, and then angrily said, "You don't take Chengzu's red letter and iron scroll seriously, right? You just want me to give you an explanation today, right?"

What does the little emperor want to do?

Is this kid going to have another attack?
Many censors and secretaries from Zhang Siwei's party were so frightened that their faces changed slightly.

What if the little emperor had a seizure and ordered his men to drag them out and behead them for deceiving the emperor?
The young man from Qingliu stood with his neck stiff and fearless.

Once their blood boils, they are not afraid of anything, not even death.

(End of this chapter)