My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 92 Patrol Case Selection (Update 1!)

The Tongzhengsi of the Ming Dynasty had the functions similar to the Yintaisi of the Song Dynasty with the Dengwen Drum Court added. The Dengwen Drum outside the Wumen Gate was also under the jurisdiction of the Tongzhengsi.

In the early Ming Dynasty, Taizu imitated the systems of previous dynasties and set up a drum for reporting news outside the Meridian Gate.

The Ming Dynasty Code states: "All disputes between the military and civilians should be reported from the lowest level to the highest level. If the officials are unable to make a decision, they may beat the drum to report the case."

Although that is what they said, the Dengwen Drum is guarded by the Jinyiwei and ordinary people cannot get close to it at all.

Therefore, since the dynasties after Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, whenever the Dengwen Drum was struck, it must have meant that something big had happened.

For example, during the Jiajing period, an official struck the drum to report the incident, which marked the beginning of the grand ceremony.

Moreover, the price of beating the drum to report the crime is very high. If it is found to be a false accusation, the offender will be "beaten a hundred times with a stick and exiled three thousand miles."

Even if it is not a false accusation, if it is a "cross-border lawsuit" such as a citizen suing an official, the person must first be beaten with thirty sticks before he can appeal for justice.

Since the mid-Ming Dynasty, the Dengwen Drum has long been ineffective. The last time it was sounded was during the period of the Great Ritual Debate.

But it happened to ring when Li Yiyuan was in office!
Once the drum for reporting was sounded, it would reach the ears of the emperor, and the Jinyiwei would enter the palace to report to the emperor.

Li Yiyuan had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk towards the Dengwen Drum.

However, Luo Zun in the Ministry of Public Administration felt a pang in his heart, as if he had a premonition of something.

The other imperial censors gathered around and asked Luo Zun:

"Luo Zhengyan? What should we do? The drum for reporting has sounded, what should we do?"

Luo Zun thought for a moment and said:
"Let's go! Catch up with Dayintai. We must make him deliver the memorial to His Majesty today!"

A group of imperial censors rushed out and rushed to the drum for reporting.

When Luo Zun and his group arrived in front of the Dengwen drum, they saw Zhu Juntang, dressed in the uniform of a lieutenant of the auxiliary state, kneeling in front of Li Yiyuan with a ten-thousand-word letter in his hand, and said loudly:

"The King of Dai is unjust and has murdered the Dai clan. My father, General Fuguo, whose real name is Chonghua Gong, risked his life to cross the border and file a complaint in the capital for the sake of the Dai clan. However, he was hunted down by the King of Dai's guards and brutally killed by the murderer!"

"Zhu Juntang, a descendant of the imperial clan, beats the drum to appeal for justice for his father!"

When Luo Zun heard Zhu Juntang's words, his head buzzed and he was completely dumbfounded.

Li Yiyuan's head was also buzzing. It was not uncommon for members of the royal family to go beyond the customs to file a complaint. It happened when the current emperor ascended the throne.

However, when a member of the royal family went across the border to file a complaint, the prince sent people to intercept and kill him, and even caused a murder case. The member of the royal family beat the drum to appeal for justice, which was a huge matter!

How come such bad luck happened to me?!
Li Yiyuan wanted to resign right now, but he had no choice but to accept Zhu Juntang's ten-thousand-word letter.

Li Yiyuan helped Zhu Juntang up and said, "I will go to the palace after the Ministry of Rites verifies the identity of the prince."
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After Li Yiyuan entered the palace, Luo Zun and other censors returned to the Censorate.

Including Luo Zun, all the censors were dejected, which made Shen Sixiao, who was guarding the gate of the Censorate, very confused.

When Luo Zun returned to the public housing, Shen Sixiao heard what happened outside the Meridian Gate and his eyes widened.

Shen Sixiao, who was already well versed in conspiracy and intrigue, immediately said:

"Could it be Su Ze's design?" Luo Zun immediately shook his head and said:

"Su Ze is from Southern Zhili, how could he possibly influence the royal family of Daidi? And Zhu Juntang and his son must have set out long ago to cross the border to file a complaint. How could this be such a coincidence?"

Luo Zun said again:
"I've long heard that the King of Dai is unjust, but I never thought he was so incompetent! He allowed Zhu Juntang to cross the border into the capital, and he couldn't even clean up the mess!"

Not afraid of god-like opponents, but of pig-like teammates!

Ever since the censors wrote a memorial opposing the "Plan for Subduing the Rong" and the King of Dai requested to move his fiefdom to protect himself, the censors have been tied to the King of Dai.

But even Luo Zun did not expect that this king would be so cruel and even oppress his own clan members!

What Luo Zun didn't expect was that the King of Dai was not only bad, but also so stupid! It was such a long way from Datong to the capital, and even after sending guards to hunt him down, he still couldn't kill him completely. He killed the father and let the son escape, making the matter a big deal!
If it wasn't for the revenge for his father's murder, why would Zhu Juntang beat the drum to report his crimes?

If we follow the general procedure, lawsuits involving clan members such as those filed through the customs should be transferred to the Dali Temple, the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate for joint trial. At that time, if we just delay it a little, the matter will be over.

But now the Prince of Dai has a grudge against Zhu Juntang for killing his father. In the Ming Dynasty, where filial piety is the most important thing, it is only natural for him to beat the drum to appeal for his father's justice. As long as he tells the truth, the emperor will help him!
Luo Zun said in despair:
"Could it be that Su Ze really has great luck?"

Shen Sixiao became even more anxious. If he couldn't defeat Su Ze this time, he didn't know when he would be able to do so.

His term of observation has expired. If Su Ze wins again this time, censors like Luo Zun will be cleared out. By then, he will have no backing in the court and who knows how long he will have to stay in the local area.

His mind raced, and he continued:

"Censor Luo, it's not time to give up yet!"

Shen Sixiao sorted out his thoughts and said:
"Zhu Juntang has a ten-thousand-word letter from the Dai royal family, but he claims his father was murdered by the Dai prince's guards, and there's no evidence. The letter must be verified, and the court must send someone to Datong!"

Luo Zun's eyes gradually lit up.

Yes!

The case has not been concluded yet. We can't depose King Dai just because of Zhu Juntang's one-sided statement, right?

Even if the emperor and the cabinet are on the side of Su Ze, if the results of the case investigation are not in favor of Zhu Juntang, the emperor will not be able to punish the King of Dai!
Generally speaking, when the imperial court encountered such a major case, it would send imperial censors to patrol the area and investigate!

As long as they nominate one of their own to be the inspector, the Censorate will not lose!

Now in the Censorate, everyone is dissatisfied with Su Ze. Isn't this an advantage for me?

But Shen Sixiao said more cautiously: "Censor Luo, this position of Patrol Censor must be in our hands. Please discuss and select a suitable candidate as soon as possible, form a public opinion in the Censorate, and force the Cabinet to agree!"

Luo Zun nodded repeatedly. The elders of the cabinet also had their own people in the Censorate. Only by ensuring that the inspector was in the hands of their own faction could they overturn Zhu Juntang's case!
There is no need to even overturn it. As long as the case is turned into a mystery where each party has its own reasons, the censors can help exonerate the King of Dai!
Luo Zun thought quickly and said:

"Right Censor Wang Guoguangsu is on good terms with us. For a case as serious as this, the imperial court will certainly dispatch important officials to investigate. I will go and explain the pros and cons to His Excellency, and then ask my colleagues to go to the academy and recommend Wang Guangdu as the new Censor!"

Shen Sixiao nodded repeatedly. No matter how powerful the big shot was, in the end, things still had to be handled by specific people.

It was Su Ze's fault for firing at the Kedao and offending all the officials. As long as the inspectors he sent were on the side of King Dai, the outcome would be uncertain!

(End of this chapter)