The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 557: Collaboration with the enemy and treason should be punished
Wanli suddenly posthumously conferred the title of Earl of Zhongqin on Wang Chongguang!

He also personally carried a plaque and ordered people to beat drums and gongs to carry it to the gate of a confiscated mansion near East Chang'an Street.

This meant that he not only posthumously conferred the title of Earl of Zhongqin on Wang Chongguang, but also granted him the Earl of Zhongqin's mansion and wanted to bring the Wang family to live in the capital.

Immediately afterwards, he sent hundreds of craftsmen from the inner treasury to deliver cartloads of materials for repairing the imperial palace to the residence of the Earl of Zhongqin, where they worked busily.

This matter was really lively and he seemed to be afraid that people would not know about it.

The old hands in the officialdom naturally understood what Wanli meant by doing this.

This is to let all officials learn from Wang Chongguang, be loyal to the emperor and work diligently.

Wanli's actions were somewhat taken for granted. Some things were not what people would do just as he thought, even if he was the current emperor.

Most of the officials in the court today are only concerned about benefits. Without any benefits, who would be loyal to the emperor and work diligently for you?

Some officials just treated it as a fun event, some treated it as a joke, some sneered at it, and some secretly despised it.

In short, there are not many officials who want to learn from Wang Chongguang, that foolish man.

Moreover, it is too late for many officials to learn now.

Because they have already become corrupt officials, with Wanli's attitude, they will be found out sooner or later.

The Ministry of Justice arrested and tried people every day, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard raided and beheaded people every day.

The corrupt officials in the court were in constant fear, so how could they have the mind to learn from Wang Chongguang's loyalty to the emperor and diligence?

The reason why Wanli made such a big fuss was not to let these corrupt officials learn from Wang Chongguang, but to let Wang Chongguang's son Wang Zhiyuan teach the officials who remained in the officialdom after the purge.

This time he was not only cleaning out corrupt officials, he was also going to clean up the Zhejiang Party and the Donglin Party.

After so many officials were purged from the court, no one knew how many vacancies were left. The number of imperial factions they had cultivated over the years was simply not enough.

Therefore, aristocratic families like the Wang family also became his targets for winning over.

The reason why he posthumously conferred the title on Wang Chongguang was also to win over the Wang family.

He will have to win over Wang Zhiyuan after he comes to Beijing.

Unexpectedly, before Wang Zhiyuan arrived in Beijing, something happened in the Northern Pacification Division of the Jinyiwei.

Early in the morning at about noon, he had just arrived at the imperial study with little Zhu Changxun in his arms, and before he had time to deal with the memorials, Lu Yi, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, hurried over to ask for a meeting.

Seeing the guy's worried look, Wanli couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Lu Yi hurriedly said carefully: "The cook who cooks for His Majesty's prison has fallen ill."

The Zhejiang Party wants to poison you!
Shen Yikuan must have noticed something was wrong.

These guys react so quickly.

What should I do now?
These guys are probably arranging their funeral affairs just like Wang Chonggu.

If he doesn't take action now, it might be too late.

Wanli frowned and pondered for a while, then said solemnly: "Find a trusted confidant who can cook to take over first. Don't hire any random cooks. And keep a close eye on Li Dai."

Lu Yi quickly bowed and said, "I understand."

Wanli thought for a moment, then said aloud, "Send Luo Sigong to see the emperor."

Soon, Luo Sigong walked in quickly.

After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, Wanli asked directly, "How is the investigation of the relatives and friends of the Zhejiang Party going?"

How many days has it been?
Luo Sigong thought for a moment, then said carefully: "Your Majesty, the capital has only been investigating for a few days.

We have basically found out who their relatives and friends are, but we haven't figured out which ones are problematic or where they hid their money.

As for the local area, the secret guards I sent should have just arrived at the place, and they haven't reported any news yet."

It’s too late to check now. If we check again, it will be a complete failure just like last time.

Wanli frowned and pondered for a while, then said decisively: "Si Gong, you hand over all the families you have found in the capital to Lu Yi.

Lu Yi, when you go back, gather the men and arrest everyone the secret guards find, regardless of whether they have any problems or not.

Then they searched everyone's house carefully. Those who didn't find any money were exiled, and those who found a lot of money were beheaded!

Those Zhejiang Party officials that Li Dai confessed to will be imprisoned in the imperial prison first. Shen Yiguan will personally interrogate them. You can interrogate the others one by one to see if you can extract any money from them.

Upon hearing this, the two men hurriedly bowed and said, "Your humble servants understand."

Wanli then gave detailed instructions, "Sigong, I leave the local area to you. Send your trusted men to convey my instructions and have the navy send soldiers to cooperate with you.

It’s the same at the local level. Anyone found by the secret guards will be arrested, regardless of whether they have any problems or not.

Then they would search every household thoroughly, and if no money was found, they would be exiled; if a large amount of money was found, they would be beheaded!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Sigong quickly bowed and said, "Your humble servant understands."

Wanli thought about it carefully again, then waved his hand and said, "Go, and be quick. Don't give them time to arrange their funeral affairs."

Lu Yi and Luo Sigong quickly bowed and took their leave.

Seeing this, little Zhu Changxun couldn't help but ask, "Father, if we act so hastily, I'm afraid we won't be able to recover much money, right?"

I can't care about so many things at this time.

Wanli sighed slightly, then patiently explained: "Money is secondary, and the impact of not being able to copy it back is not that big.

Talent is the most important thing; we must not let these traitors who collaborate with the enemy and betray our country escape.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun nodded slowly and was about to ask again.

Wanli said in a loud voice: "Call Jiao Hong, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites." Although Jiao Hong was promoted to the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, he was still mainly in charge of the affairs of the Sijing Bureau.

He was on duty in the nearby Yangxin Palace, and he couldn't have arrived so quickly.

After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, Wanli took up Li Dai's confession and Xu Xinsu's confession, and said solemnly, "Take a good look at it first."

Jiao Hong took it and took a closer look, and couldn't help but be shocked.

Are these Zhejiang Party officials still officials of the Ming Dynasty?

He really didn't expect that there would be such officials in the court, who were guilty of collaborating with the enemy, having secret dealings with Japanese pirates, supporting pirates, taking bribes and perverting the law, etc. The charges against them were simply countless.

These guys!

Wanli saw that he had finished reading, and then he said solemnly: "The next issue of the court bulletin will refer to these two confessions. The key point is that they are collaborating with the enemy and selling out the country.

There is an important person not included in these two confessions, and that person is Shen Weijing.

Shen Weijing was the one they chose to be responsible for controlling pirates, collaborating with Japanese pirates, and betraying the country.

This person's surname is also Shen. Although he and Shen Yi Guan are not relatives, you should still write them as relatives.

There is also Yang Hao. This person is not only corrupt and unjust. When Li Chengliang was the general of Liaodong Town, he was ordered by Shen Yiguan to make friends with several of Li Chengliang's sons and gave Li Chengliang huge bribes.

They just want to take control of Liaodong Town and plot something evil.

I will execute all of these traitors who have collaborated with the enemy and betrayed their country to serve as a warning to others."

My God, these guys want to take control of the border town and have evil intentions!
Upon hearing this, Jiao Hong nodded solemnly and said, "I understand."

Wanli nodded slightly, and suddenly stared at Jiao Hong again.

This boy is really good. He comes from the imperial guards, is loyal and reliable, and has outstanding talent and can write good articles.

The problem is that this guy's qualifications are a bit poor. He was a Jinshi in the 17th year of Wanli, and has only been in the officialdom for nine years. Can he enter the cabinet?
He originally wanted to examine a few more aristocratic families and then determine another candidate for the cabinet minister.

However, the Zhejiang Party reacted too quickly and he had no time to think about these things.

Does he still need to consider the issue of qualifications at this time?

He doesn't even consider qualifications!
The cabinet ministers were chosen by him to assist in the administration, and he could choose whomever he wanted.

Wanli thought about it carefully, then asked, "Who do you think would be a good person to take charge of the Finance Bureau?"

What does this mean?
Do you want me to do something else?
Jiao Hong thought about it carefully, then said carefully, "Your Majesty, Huifu is very knowledgeable and has outstanding literary talent. I would like to ask what Your Majesty thinks of this humble opinion."

Wu Daonan?

Okay, no problem. If you think he can do it, then that's fine.

Wanli nodded slightly, then said solemnly: "Wei Hou, after you finish this issue of the court report, you can join the cabinet to assist in government affairs."

what?
Upon hearing this, Jiao Hong was stunned.

He has only been an official for nine years!

With this level of qualifications, being promoted to Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites was an exceptional case, yet His Majesty actually allowed him to join the cabinet and assist in government affairs!

Should he decline?

If it were any other emperor, he would definitely refuse.

Just kidding, he served in office for nine years and then entered the cabinet to assist in government affairs.

It would be strange if he wasn't drowned by other people's spit.

However, the current emperor is different.

The current emperor is a man of his word and extremely protective of his people.

Anyone who dares to spit in his face is probably seeking death.

It is precisely because the current emperor is the final word that his refusal seems unnecessary.

If this displeases the current emperor, it will be the end of us.

He was stunned for a moment, then he quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Yes, Not Bad.

Wanli nodded slightly, then waved his hand and said, "Hurry up and get ready."

Jiao Hong quickly bowed and took his leave.

Seeing this, little Zhu Changxun couldn't help but ask, "Father, it seems he was a Jinshi in the 17th year of the Wanli reign. It seems a bit unconventional for him to enter the cabinet and assist in government affairs less than ten years after entering the officialdom, right?"

This rule is not that rule.

Wanli shook his head slightly, then patiently taught: "The rules that father told you are the laws of the Ming Dynasty.

If it involves the laws of the Ming Dynasty, we really cannot act recklessly and break the rules.

The requirement of seniority before entering the cabinet to assist in government administration is not a law of the Ming Dynasty. It is just a rule set by the civil servants themselves.

The cabinet ministers are supposed to assist us in handling government affairs. We can elect whoever we want, but the civil servants are setting rules for us. We cannot tolerate this.

My father promoted Jiao Hong to the cabinet to assist in government affairs in order to tell those civil officials not to make any lousy rules for us. They are not qualified to make us follow the rules they set."

Oh, it turns out that the laws and regulations of the Ming Dynasty are the rules, and nothing else is.

It seems I need to take a good look at the laws of the Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun nodded thoughtfully.

(End of this chapter)