The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 552: Frame-up
These three strategies really piqued the interest of Zhu Changxun.

He seemed to have understood that the best strategy was to kill someone and destroy their heart.

So, what are the middle and worst strategies?

Wanli thought about it carefully, then patiently taught: "The middle strategy is simply to frame someone.

If we cannot find evidence of their corruption and abuse of power, we will frame them and then execute them for the crime of corruption and abuse of power.

The effect of doing this seems to be the same as the best strategy of killing people and destroying their hearts, but it is not.

The method we use to frame others is a hard one. It seems that we are killing people and destroying their hearts, but in fact, many people know in their hearts that this is a frame-up.

At least, the relatives and friends of the Zhejiang Party must understand that we are framing them.

Therefore, framing someone is only a middle-level strategy and cannot achieve the same effect as the ultimate strategy of killing someone and destroying their soul."

Uh, are you playing the game of framing us all?
Upon hearing this, little Zhu Changxun stared with wide eyes and thought carefully, still a little puzzled, "Father, although we framed them, we still executed them for corruption and abuse of power.

Why is it that executing them for the same crime of corruption and abuse of power doesn't have the same effect as the superior strategy of killing them and destroying their hearts?

The effect is definitely different.

Wanli thought about it carefully, then patiently explained: "This frame-up is just for show.

Their relatives and friends must be very clear about this, and they must know whether they have committed corruption or abuse of power.

If they have not committed corruption or abuse of power, then there is no doubt that we are the ones who framed them.

Or maybe they did commit corruption and abuse of power, but we have not found any evidence, and the evidence is still well hidden in the hands of their relatives and friends.

There's no need to think about it, it must be us who framed him.

If they knew we were framing them, they would definitely spread the word behind the scenes, and then it wouldn't have the killing effect."

Isn't that unnecessary?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun was still somewhat puzzled and asked, "Father, since there is no killing effect, then why do we still need to frame him?"

Didn’t the emperor say that we should do this for people to see?

Didn't you understand?
Wanli patiently explained: "We framed them for the common people to see, not for their relatives and friends.

Even if their relatives and friends know the truth, even if they talk about it secretly and spread it everywhere, ordinary people may not believe them.

What we are doing is actually a bit unruly, but most ordinary people will still think we are following the rules, and that's enough.

You also know that governing a peaceful and prosperous era relies on laws and regulations, so it is best for us not to openly break the rules.

If we make it clear that we don't follow the rules, then everyone will also break the rules. Then the country will be in chaos and even the peaceful and prosperous times may be lost.

Our frame-up can at least make most civilians think that we abide by the rules. As for those enemies within the Ming Dynasty, it is no big deal if they know that we do not abide by the rules.

When dealing with enemies, whether external or internal, there is no need to talk about rules or not.

So, this frame-up is a medium strategy, not very good, but not too bad either.”

Oh, it turns out it was made for the majority of ordinary people to see.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun nodded slowly, then asked, "Father, what is the next best option?"

The worst option is what you just said.

Wanli patiently explained, "The worst strategy is to kill without regard for anyone. If you find or even feel that someone is an enemy within the Ming Dynasty, then kill them. Don't find any crime or frame them. Just kill them all.

This last resort is actually not advisable. It is clearly against the rules and is groundless.

You know, the most famous false accusation in history is Qin Hui's wrongful killing of Yue Fei on a trumped-up charge.

At this moment, Qin Hui's statue is still kneeling in front of Yue Fei's tomb, being despised by thousands of people. In fact, he is bearing this eternal infamy on behalf of Song Gaozong.

Song Gaozong wanted to kill Yue Fei himself, without finding any charges against him. He clearly broke the rules and let Qin Hui catch Yue Fei and kill him.

Doing so will only bring you eternal infamy.

If he had someone frame him, that would be a different matter. If he was guilty of a capital crime, killing him would at most be a pity.

Therefore, we cannot openly break the rules. When we really can't find any evidence of guilt, it's better to frame someone."

Is it better to frame someone?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun nodded slowly, then asked, "Father, you mean we are going to frame you this time, right?"

who said it?
Wanli slowly shook his head and said, “We don’t need to frame anyone this time.

The emperor was just discussing the matter at hand, using Li Dai's false accusation against Lu Kun to analyze how to deal with the Zhejiang Party.

The Zhejiang Party is different from Yue Fei. The reason why your father cited Yue Fei's example is just to make you understand how undesirable it is to break the rules.

This time it is very clear that the person behind Li Dai is Shen Yikuan of the Zhejiang Party.

They must have been corrupt and committed law-breaking. There is no need for us to frame them.

In fact, the crimes of the Zhejiang Party are far more than this. They have done many dirty things.

My father never thought of keeping the Zhejiang Party. From the very beginning, the Zhejiang Party was just a pawn for my father to deal with Donglin. When the time comes, we have to deal with it.

Therefore, the emperor had already left them with evidence of supporting pirates and secretly communicating with Japanese pirates.
Even if we just stick to the facts, there is no need to frame others.

This time, letting Li Dai frame Lu Kun seemed to be a smart move, but it was actually a bad one.

If Li Dai had not framed Lu Kun, we would not have known that Li Dai was also a member of the Zhejiang Party.

Since this guy is a member of the Zhejiang Party, the person behind him must be Shen Yikuan. He embezzled so much money from the Ministry of Revenue, so he must have given a lot to Shen Yikuan, and even other Zhejiang Party officials.

If we can just pry open Li Dai's mouth, we can kill him and destroy his heart."

Oh, if we pry open Li Dai's mouth, we'll have evidence of their corruption and abuse of power. Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun slowly nodded and asked, "Father, how do we pry open Li Dai's mouth?"

I need to teach you this too.

Wanli thought about it carefully, then patiently taught: "There are many ways to pry open someone's mouth.

For example, throwing someone into the Ministry of Justice's jail and forcing a confession under torture is basically only useful for officials who are spoiled or accustomed to enjoying wealth and glory. There are still many people who can withstand the Ministry of Justice's criminal law.

For example, being thrown into the imperial prison and tortured is not a method that works for most people, unless one's mind is as firm as a rock and one can endure any pain.

To put it bluntly, these two methods are to take a hard approach. If the hard approach doesn't work, then you have to take a soft approach.

For example, coercion and inducement. Coercion is about seeing what people are most afraid of or what they are most worried about losing, and inducement is about seeing what people want most.

For example, using the idea of ​​serving the country and the people, or even righteousness and morality, to deceive people, this method only works for those who are new to officialdom."

Oh, it turns out there are so many ways to pry open someone's mouth.

Upon hearing this, little Zhu Changxun nodded slowly, then pondered, "Father, this Li Dai has embezzled so much money, he must be used to enjoying wealth and luxury. Should we just have the Minister of Justice Yuan Keli torture him to extract a confession?"

You underestimated him a bit.

Wanli shook his head slightly and said, "Father originally thought that Li Dai was the kind of person who was used to enjoying wealth and luxury, and even being spoiled.

Now it seems that the emperor has also been deceived by him. This guy must be pretending. The criminal law of the Ministry of Justice probably can't pry open his mouth.

He enjoys wealth and glory, but he has a guilty conscience. Having a guilty conscience is a disguised form of determination. He will most likely be able to withstand the punishment imposed by the Ministry of Justice. We must throw him into the Imperial Prison and torture him."

Is this guy pretending?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun thought carefully and asked, "Father, what if he still refuses to confess even after being tortured?"

This guy might really be able to withstand the torture in the imperial prison.

Wanli pondered, "If he still refuses to confess even after being tortured, then I'll use both soft and hard tactics, threats and inducements."

Is there also the tactic of using both hard and soft tactics?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun asked with great interest, "Father, are we still going to conduct the trial in person this time?"

I would like to try this guy myself.

However, it seems a bit inappropriate for you to go with him.

Wanli thought for a moment, then said solemnly: "The torture in the imperial prison is different from the criminal law of the Ministry of Justice.

The criminal law of the Ministry of Justice still treats people as human beings, but many of the tortures in the imperial prison treat people as non-human beings.

You are still young, and it might be a little hard for you to bear, so you might even have nightmares."

Is it so terrible?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun asked with a hint of surprise, "Father, what do you mean by treating people as if they weren't human beings?"

Can I tell you this?

You may not be able to bear it if I tell you!
Wanli thought for a moment, then said cryptically, "In the past, most of the executioners in the imperial prison were coroners, and they were the more skilled ones. You should know what a coroner does, right?"

Unauthorized work?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun recalled, "Father, a coroner is someone who performs autopsies when investigating a case, right?"

You look scared, aren't you?

Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Yes, the coroner is responsible for performing autopsies during investigations. Are you afraid?"

How do you say this?

Zhu Changxun pondered for a while, then said carefully: "I am a little scared, but not to the point where I dare not even look."

You're not very scared, are you?
Better go and see it then.

You will be the emperor in the future. If you don’t even dare to look at the tortures in the imperial prison, then you are a bit too soft.

Although an emperor does not necessarily have to be cruel and cold-blooded, he still has to be cruel when necessary.

It’s okay to take you to see it this time. At worst, I won’t use those tortures that look too scary, so that you can get used to it first.

Upon hearing this, Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Okay, this time, Father will take you to the Imperial Prison to interrogate Li Dai."

I haven't been to the imperial prison yet.

Upon hearing this, little Zhu Changxun was both excited and nervous and said, "Okay, Father, I'll go with you. When are we going?"

Wanli looked up at the sky outside and thought, "It's almost noon now. I'd better have lunch first. It would be bad if you can't eat after watching it."

Is it so scary?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun gritted his teeth and nodded, saying, "Okay, then let's have lunch first."

Not bad, a bit of courage.

Wanli nodded slightly, then said loudly to the door: "Uncle."

Li Xuancheng came in in response.

When he saw the strange expression on little Zhu Changxun's face, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

Wanli explained in detail: "Order someone to pass on my oral instructions and have Lu Yi take people to the Ministry of Justice to bring Li Dai out and put him in the imperial prison.

Also, have Lu Yi get some ice for the interrogation area. I will take Xun'er to interrogate Li Dai at 3:00 PM."

The little guy is going to the imperial prison?

No wonder he has such a weird expression.

(End of this chapter)