Huangming

Chapter 163 A Trouble Brewing Within the Threshold, Execution by Boiling in a Cauldron

February 6th, the first year of the Tianqi reign (1621), Beijing.

The chill of late winter has not yet faded, and the desolation of early spring has already quietly spread.

For a whole month after the last snowfall of winter, the sky remained as hard as iron, without a single drop of rain falling.

Cracked fields and dusty eaves silently herald the arrival of another drought year.

At 3:45 AM, before dawn, the Forbidden City was still shrouded in darkness.

Zhu Youxiao, dressed neatly with the help of palace servants, had a simple breakfast and then went to the Qianqing Palace to review the secret reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard from the previous days.

Luo Sigong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, had already entered the palace to await orders, and the secret report had been presented to the emperor in advance.

Zhu Youxiao sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression calm, and slowly unfolded the secret report, carefully reading it:
First, Yang Lian, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, left the capital yesterday at Shenshi (3-5 PM) to lead a team to Tongzhou to inspect the grain transport. In addition to officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, he was accompanied by Tong Zhongkui and three thousand elite troops from the Beijing Garrison.

Second, in recent months, the Prince of Fu's mansion has frequently contacted Zhou Yingqiu, a censor of the Censorate, and Yao Zongwen, a supervising secretary, using money and land as bait to instigate them to jointly submit a memorial impeaching the Prince of Shu for "privately opening salt wells and disregarding national laws," the Prince of Zhou for "encroaching on farmland and keeping assassins," and the Prince of Qin for "colluding with border generals and plotting rebellion."
Third, according to the imperial edict published in the 20th issue of the Huangming Daily, which ordered all provinces to strictly investigate granaries, rectify the resettlement of displaced people, and open granaries for relief, public opinion in the local areas has been in uproar.

The reactions from all parties are summarized below:

Upright officials, such as the Donglin scholars, mostly praised this policy as "deeply caring for the people's suffering and in accordance with the way of a sage ruler."

Local officials, especially those in charge of grain transport and granaries, looked troubled and privately discussed the potential for serious damage to the foundation of the industry.

People in the drought-stricken areas of Beizhili burned incense and prayed, praising "Our Emperor's mercy on the common people."

Upon hearing the imperial edict, the refugees in Henan wept bitterly, many saying, "We are willing to die for the Holy Emperor."

Upon seeing the official gazette, the soldiers of the various garrisons and guard posts in the capital trained even louder, with a captain secretly reporting that "the soldiers all say they are fortunate to have met an enlightened ruler."

Appendix: A secret report from the Shandong Provincial Administration Commission stated that unruly people in Qingzhou and other places had taken the opportunity to loot public granaries, suspected to be signs of incitement by the White Lotus Sect.

When Zhu You was reviewing the third secret report, his hand holding the scroll suddenly paused.

He raised his eyes and stared at Luo Sigong below the steps, and said in a deep voice: "Minister Luo, the Embroidered Uniform Guard must supervise the entire process of this investigation of granaries, resettlement of refugees, and opening of granaries for relief."

The young emperor tapped his fingertips lightly on the table and sneered, "I want to see who dares to play the 'fire dragon burning the granary' trick."

Zhu Youxiao was well aware of the methods his subordinates used to balance accounts.

Luo Sigong immediately bowed his head in agreement, kneeling deeply with the unique three-kowtow ceremony of the Embroidered Uniform Guard: "Your subject will immediately dispatch the elite troops of the Northern Garrison Command to thoroughly investigate any fires in warehouses."

Zhu Youxiao was satisfied with Luo Sigong's reaction and then continued to read the secret reports:
Fourth, Xu Guangqi, the Assistant Director of the Arsenal Department of the Ministry of War, returned home at 3:45 PM on this day and immediately met with Long Huamin, the president of the Jesuit order, and fellow Jesuits Yang Manuo and Tang Ruowang, accompanied by his disciple Sun Yuanhua.

After spending half an hour in the inner courtyard's flower hall, the group moved to a quiet side room in the back courtyard.

An investigation revealed that the room was actually a privately set up chapel, with images of foreign Christians suffering and an altar set up with candles and incense burning inside.

Xu Guangqi changed his clothes and performed the barbarian rituals, recited barbarian scriptures with the Westerners, and then performed the confession ceremony.

Long Huamin tried to persuade Xu Guangqi to guide the emperor to convert to Catholicism, but Xu politely declined, saying, "The court is in turmoil, and we should not be too hasty."

The Jesuits offered the leaked exam questions, but Xu Guangqi sternly refused, saying, "The imperial examination is the foundation of the nation and should not be taken lightly."

Zhu Youxiao's knuckles tightened suddenly on the fourth secret report.

Xu Guangqi, the Ministry of War official whom he had heavily relied on, dared to secretly meet with the Jesuits in a privately established church dedicated to foreign religions!
They changed clothes, burned incense, recited foreign scriptures, and performed that bizarre confession ceremony...

Long Huamin even attempted to use him to bewitch the emperor into converting to Christianity!
Zhu Youxiao's temples throbbed, and he seemed to see Xu Guangqi dressed in barbarian clothes, bowing his head to the crucified statue. He couldn't help but feel like he had been NTR'd.

Western learning can be used for casting cannons and making calendars, but the seductive Catholicism is bound to be a disaster!

From the moment he ascended the throne, Zhu Youxiao clearly instructed Xu Guangqi to "take Chinese learning as the foundation and Western learning for practical application." How could Xu Guangqi not understand this?
Why must we get entangled with the Westerners at this critical juncture? Do they really think my Embroidered Spring Blade is ineffective?

The confidential report on the desk suddenly became glaringly obvious.

"Snapped!"

Zhu Youxiao abruptly closed the secret report, startling Luo Sigong below the steps, who trembled.

He stared at the swirling smoke rising from the gilded incense burner and suddenly recalled Xu Guangqi's "Western Water Management Methods" presented to him last year.

Back then, people praised him for his thorough investigation of things, but now it seems he was probably bewitched by the barbarians!

After dealing with the corruption in the imperial examinations, I will personally see whether what is enshrined in Minister Xu's shrine is the great Ming Dynasty or some damned God!
Call ~
Zhu Youxiao slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, and his complexion returned to normal.

"Luo Qing".

The young emperor asked in a low voice, "Is it true that the imperial examination questions were leaked?"

Below the steps, Luo Sigong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, knelt on one knee and said, “Your Majesty, the Northern Garrison has confirmed that examination questions are indeed circulating in the market, with prices as high as three thousand taels per subject. Most of the buyers are sons of wealthy families in Jiangnan.”

"boom!"

Zhu Youxiao slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups clatter: "The chief examiner, Sun Shenxing, was personally appointed by me. How dare he gamble with the lives of his entire family?"

Luo Sigong lowered his voice: "I suspect there are three possible sources of the leak. First, the officials in charge of receiving the exam papers at the examination hall were bribed; second, the woodblock engravers used for copying the papers leaked the information; and third, the chief examiner, Minister Sun."

The leaking of imperial examination questions is a matter of national importance; if not handled carefully, it can easily cause a public outcry.

First, we need to confirm whether the exam questions have been leaked!
Zhu Youxiao's face was ashen, and he abruptly slammed the secret report shut, coldly ordering, "Immediately summon Sun Shenxing, the chief examiner of the imperial examination, to the palace for an audience with the Emperor!"

The young emperor suppressed his anger and continued to read the remaining secret reports.

Luo Sigong stood at the foot of the steps, holding his breath and bowing his head, not daring to utter a sound, for fear of offending the emperor at this critical juncture.

After reviewing all the secret reports, the eastern sky was already beginning to lighten.

The first rays of dawn broke, yet they could not dispel the somber atmosphere within the Qianqing Palace. "Commander Luo, you may leave."

"I resign!"

Luo Sigong bowed and took his leave with a sigh of relief. Just as he stepped out of the Qianqing Palace, he saw Sun Shenxing, the chief examiner of the imperial examination, rushing over.

The elderly official from the Ministry of Rites had clearly traveled at a rapid pace and was now leaning against the palace wall, slightly out of breath, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

"Commander Luo."

Sun Shenxing managed to calm his breathing and asked with his hands clasped, "I wonder what Your Majesty has summoned this old minister in such a hurry?"

As he spoke, he subconsciously straightened his official robes, which were slightly disheveled from the rush.

After being locked up yesterday, he was cut off from the outside world. Now, the imperial decree has suddenly arrived, which makes him feel an ominous feeling.

Luo Sigong shook his head solemnly and stepped aside to make way: "Minister Sun, once you enter the palace to meet the Emperor, everything will become clear."

With a heart full of trepidation, Sun Shenxing entered the Qianqing Palace and respectfully performed a grand salute in the East Warm Pavilion.

"Your Majesty, I, Sun Shenxing, Minister of Rites, respectfully wish Your Majesty a long and peaceful life!"

Zhu Youxiao sat upright behind his desk, holding a secret report in his hand, his gaze sharp as a knife.

He slowly unfolded the leaked exam questions and asked in a deep voice, "Minister Sun, what exactly did you draft for this imperial examination?"

Sun Shenxing dared not hesitate and immediately bowed his head to report: "Your Majesty, the first session of the imperial examination was on the Four Books and Five Classics. The topic of the Four Books was 'The benevolent love others, and the courteous respect others' from Mencius's 'Li Lou' chapter. The topic of the Five Classics was 'Respecting the King and Expelling the Barbarians.' The second session of the imperial examination was on official document writing, with the topic 'The Restoration of the Dynasty.' The imperial edicts and memorials were drafted as 'A Memorial to Border Officials on Guarding the Frontiers.' The third session of the imperial examination was on current affairs policy questions..."

Zhu Youxiao tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, his eyes narrowed slightly, and compared Sun Shenxing's description with the leaked exam questions in the secret report.

Except for the first question on the Four Books, which matched perfectly, all the others were different.

But there is no doubt that the titles of the Four Books have been leaked.

The imperial examination system was the foundation of the nation, and the leak of exam questions had crossed the line of imperial authority.

"Look, this is a test paper worth three thousand taels."

Zhu Youxiao threw the leaked exam questions on the ground, and Sun Shenxing crawled forward a few steps, trembling as he took the secret report.

Sun Shenxing's Adam's apple bobbed, but no words of explanation could be squeezed out of his dry throat.

When he saw the exam questions for the first round of the imperial examination printed on the secret report, his vision went black, and his back under his official robe was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

The imperial examination questions were leaked; the chief examiner should be executed along with his entire family!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

He slammed his head against the gold brick three times, his forehead immediately turning bruised and purple.

The old minister's voice was hoarse: "This old minister deserves to die! Please, Your Majesty, grant me two days, no, one day and one night! Even if it costs me my old bones, I will definitely get the new exam questions printed!"

"Minister Sun, now that the exam questions have been leaked, do you think simply reprinting a new set of papers will solve the problem?"

Sun Shenxing's Adam's apple bobbed, and cold sweat soaked through his inner robe: "Your Majesty, I truly did not leak the information. I humbly beg Your Majesty to see the truth."

"Oh?"

Zhu Youxiao sneered and asked, "Then, do you know who leaked the exam questions, my dear minister?"

The old minister's face was deathly pale, his lips trembling: "Your subject..."

Sun Shenxing stammered and couldn't give a coherent explanation.

"As the chief examiner, you can't even clearly explain the details of the leaked questions. How can I trust you? How can I entrust you with the talent selection ceremony?"

Sun Shenxing was struck dumb, lying on the ground trembling and unable to speak.

"That's all."

Zhu Youxiao suddenly suppressed his anger, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"I will remember this crime of yours."

"Tomorrow at dawn, I must see the new examination papers submitted to the examination hall. Even a moment's delay..."

Before he could finish speaking, the sudden drop in temperature inside the hall said it all.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly complete this task well. I will work with the Embroidered Uniform Guard to find out who leaked the exam questions and give Your Majesty an explanation!"

Upon seeing Sun Shenxing's statement, Zhu Youxiao pondered for a moment before coldly saying, "I remember what you said. Immediately seal off the news, and the imperial examination will proceed as scheduled. The investigation will be conducted in secret. The priority for the examination is stability; let's avoid any further trouble."

"I obey!"

The young emperor's gaze was sharp as it swept over Sun Shenxing's terrified face.

Although this old minister was the chief examiner, he was not the one who leaked the exam questions—this was a common tactic used by petty officials in the court to kill someone with a borrowed knife.

Those who use the imperial examination system to disrupt the imperial court deserve to be punished!

Donglin Party?
Prince Zong?

Noble family?

Or who?
Once the Embroidered Uniform Guard finds out who leaked the exam questions, he will surely exterminate their entire family!
Zhu Youxiao wanted to see who would challenge him in his first imperial examination after ascending the throne.
PS:

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(End of this chapter)