Huangming

Chapter 481 The case is closed but the matter is not settled; the fight against corruption continues.

Winter nights in the imperial prison were snowless, yet even more unbearable than when snow fell.

The cracks in the stone prison walls were filled with a dark green dampness; a touch of the fingertip could scrape off fine shards of ice. The cold air didn't seep into the clothes; instead, it felt like insects with legs, creeping up the trouser legs and collars and into the bones.

The only small window, covered with tattered paper, rattled loudly as the draft blew through, shattering the sound of the patrolling jailers' clappers outside. The sound mingled with the distant, cold scraping of iron shackles dragging on the ground, echoing through the empty corridor, each sound carrying an undercurrent of deathly silence.

In the center of the cell, Qian Qianyi was chained to a wooden stake. His brocade robe was torn to shreds, and the filthy cloth clung to his frostbitten, bluish-purple skin. Only his once arrogant eyes shone with a frightening light under the dim oil lamp.

Xu Xianchun stepped into the passageway on the gravel.

Behind him followed two captains carrying instruments of torture. The iron pliers and branding iron gleamed coldly under the oil lamp, and the handle of the branding iron was still covered with charred bits of metal from a few days ago. A burnt smell mixed with the musty and rusty smell of the cell made one's throat tighten.

"Qian Qianyi".

Xu Xianchun stopped three steps away from the wooden stake and said expressionlessly:

“Your Majesty wants the truth. How Zhou Qiyuan incited the people to rebel, how you forged the petition of the people, and the plot to assassinate the emperor, how many people were implicated—every word must be explained clearly.”

He raised his hand and placed it on the iron clamp beside him, threateningly saying:
“If you refuse to speak, the things in this prison will probably remind you of some things that you should say.”

The officers immediately stepped forward, and the shadow of the torture instruments fell on Qian Qianyi. They thought he would cry and beg for mercy like the other officials, but unexpectedly, the man on the stake suddenly laughed.

The laughter wasn't from fear, but from madness squeezed out of his throat, making his shoulders tremble and the chains rattle loudly.

"explain?"

Qian Qianyi suddenly raised his head, his hair disheveled and plastered to his face, his eyes bloodshot, but a strange smile appeared on his lips.

"Does Commander Xu think I still want to keep it a secret?"

His voice was hoarse, yet it carried a ruthless, reckless edge.

"Among the officials in the court, how many are innocent?"
"Since I'm going to die, they absolutely can't get away with it!"

Qian Qianyi has become a mad dog.

"Zhou Qiyuan, the governor of Yingtian, said that the land survey by the Disaster Relief Department had cut off the livelihood of the gentry in Jiangnan, and asked me to contact officials in the capital to force His Majesty to abandon the new policies!"

He also said that as long as it could force His Majesty to make concessions, he would not mind inciting a civil unrest.

Half of the silver belonging to those rioters came from merchants in Jiangnan, and the other half was official silver he embezzled from the textile bureau!

Xu Xianchun's hand paused on the iron clamps, his brows furrowing slightly.

He originally thought that he would have to use a branding iron several times before Qian Qianyi would give in, but he didn't expect that this man would expose Zhou Qiyuan's true colors as soon as he opened his mouth.

"There's also a joint petition to force him to resign!"

Qian Qianyi suddenly raised his voice, and the chains taut.

"Ye Xianggao seems like a nice guy, but he secretly helped us deliver three secret messages!"

He said that as long as we can drive Yuan Keli out of Jiangnan, he will speak up for us in the cabinet!

And those classmates from Donglin.

Li Banghua accepted two thousand taels of silver from the Wang family, a merchant family in Anhui, in order to suppress their case of smuggling raw silk.

"

He spoke more and more urgently, spittle splattering onto the soiled cloth on his chest, his eyes shining frighteningly, as if he were about to pour out all the words he had held back for half his life.

The clerk next to him was frantically wielding his pen, but he couldn't keep up with the speed at which Qian Qianyi called out the names.

"The regicide was brought up by Zhou Qiyuan!"

Qian Qianyi suddenly struggled forward, the iron chains constricting his neck and causing the veins to bulge.
"He said that if His Majesty insisted on implementing the new policies, he would find an opportunity to poison His Majesty's food."

I was hesitant at first, but where were those people when you arrested me? They were already planning to use me as a scapegoat!

Xu Xianchun finally frowned.

He watched Qian Qianyi's distorted face as he frantically rattled off one name after another.

From officials in Jiangnan to Donglin Party members in Beijing, from the amount of money embezzled to the privately owned properties, even the old stories of Donglin Party members ostracizing non-Party officials decades ago were brought up, and suddenly it all became clear.

This person isn't just afraid, he's gone mad.

Knowing he was going to die, he wanted to drag everyone who had ever been associated with him down with him, and to make those who had once called him brothers rot with him in this prison.

"And Gu Bingqian too!"

Qian Qianyi suddenly roared, his voice so hoarse it was almost broken.

"He once asked me for connections with the gentry in Jiangnan!"
He got promoted by selling us out, so why should I let him have an easy time?
I know everything about the 'Donglin Directory' he keeps in his house, which records who received how much money and how many bribes!

The flame of the oil lamp suddenly flickered, casting Qian Qianyi's shadow on the stone wall, like a menacing ghost.

Xu Xianchun frowned as he looked at the completely insane man in front of him.

He wanted to extract some real information from Qian Qianyi to complete his mission.

But with so many sordid things uncovered at once, it's hard to say whether it's a good thing or a bad thing.

But he soon figured it out.

He was only in charge of the interrogation.

As for how those high-ranking officials use the confessions obtained during interrogation, that's none of his business.

"Keep writing, record it!"

Xu Xianchun spoke in a deep voice to the clerks behind him, but his gaze never left Qian Qianyi.

Qian Qianyi was still calling out names, from Beijing officials to local gentry, from silk merchants to salt merchants. All the sordid things he had once hidden under the guise of "Donglin Confucian scholar" were now exposed by him.

His voice echoed in the cramped cell, hitting the stone wall and bouncing back, mingling with the sound of the wind outside the window, like countless cold hands grabbing people's ears and pouring it in.

The clerk's pen flew across the paper.

As the night deepened, the tattered paper on the small window rustled louder in the wind, and the oil in the lamp was almost gone, making the flame grow dimmer and dimmer.

Qian Qianyi's voice also lowered, becoming hoarse like a broken gong, yet he continued to call out names intermittently.

Finally, he suddenly burst into laughter, looking up at the ceiling of the cell.

"Hahaha~"

"Even though I, Qian Qianyi, am dead, I will not be lonely. There will be plenty of people who will accompany me on my journey to the underworld!"

His laughter, filled with despair and glee, drifted far, far away in the cold winter night of the imperial prison, sending chills down one's spine more than the cold light of any torture instrument.

Xu Xianchun raised his hand to rub his temples, then turned and walked out.

With Qian Qianyi's donation, the landscape of Jiangnan is likely to change completely.

And the chill in this prison will likely only intensify in the future.

but
This is also a good thing.

Finally, he has someone to torture.

otherwise
This leaves no room for further interrogation techniques.

Five days passed in this way.

now.

Inside the Dali Temple's main hall.

The confessions piled up on the table were like a small mountain, and the air was filled with the smell of burning candle wax and an indescribable sense of oppression.

On the fifth day of the joint trial of Qian Qianyi by the three judicial departments, the situation had completely exceeded everyone's expectations.

Fang Congzhe sat in the presiding judge's seat, holding a confession that had just been handed over from the imperial prison, his brows slightly furrowed.

He was over sixty years old and known for his composure, but at this moment he couldn't help but gasp, his voice trembling slightly.
"This...this involves far too many aspects."

The confession was delivered by Xu Xianchun, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and it contained Qian Qianyi's confession.

He not only admitted to the treasonous act of "forging a petition to the people and inciting a popular uprising in Jiangnan," but also uncovered a hidden chain of interests that Jiangnan gentry transferred to officials in Beijing.

The names "Shen Yao", "He Zongyan" and "Shi Jikai" were prominently listed on the page, and even the name "Ye Xianggao" was not spared.

“Every winter and summer, gentry from Jiangnan would send silver to officials in the capital under the guise of ‘ice tribute’ and ‘charcoal tribute’.”

Fang Congzhe slowly read out the contents of his confession, his gaze sweeping over the officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review standing solemnly below the hall.

"Each censor will receive 10,000 taels of silver, the heads of the Six Ministries will receive 20,000 taels of silver, and the cabinet ministers... will receive 50,000 taels of silver."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Xianggao, who was standing to the side, clenched his fists tightly, and his face instantly turned from pale to ashen.

He staggered forward, pointed at the confession, his voice filled with suppressed anger:

"This is Qian Qianyi making baseless accusations like a mad dog! I did receive gifts of ice and charcoal, but those were favors exchanged in official business, not the 'transfer of benefits' he claims!"

His defense was not without basis.

The salaries of officials in the capital during the Ming Dynasty were pitifully low. A seventh-rank county magistrate received only 45 taels of silver a year, and even the ministers of the six ministries received only 180 taels, which was not even enough to maintain a decent mansion and servants.

Over time, this led to the unspoken rule of "local officials supporting officials in the capital."

Local officials would siphon off a portion of the silver from the "fire loss" (losses in tax collection) and give it to officials in the capital under the guise of "ice tribute" (for cooling off in summer), "charcoal tribute" (for heating in winter), and "farewell tribute" (for leaving the capital). They called it "social interaction," but in reality, it was a necessity for maintaining official relationships.

Ye Xianggao, who was a cabinet minister, received a lot of charcoal tribute every year, but he never directly sought personal gain for the gentry in Jiangnan. At most, he would say a few fair words for the people of Jiangnan in court.

But at this moment, this confession has distorted "personal exchanges" into "collusion for interests." If a thorough investigation is to be conducted, who among the officials in the court can be found innocent?

Fang Congzhe had obviously thought of this as well.

He put down his confession, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

With this confession, he could easily eliminate his political enemies, such as Shen Yao and He Zongyan, and solidify his position as Grand Secretary.

But then he thought about it again. He also received "gifts" from officials in Qi and Chu every year. Although the amount was not as much as Ye Xianggao's, it was still a considerable sum.

If you really get to the bottom of it, he himself will be dragged down with him.

"Everyone."

Fang Congzhe cleared his throat, his tone becoming serious.

"The most important thing right now is to focus on the Jiangnan treason case itself."

Qian Qianyi and others forged documents, incited popular uprisings, and plotted to force the emperor to abdicate. These are the real crimes, and the evidence is conclusive and beyond question.

He deliberately avoided the topic of "transfer of benefits" and focused his attention on another file on the table.

"As for other involvements, we can leave them aside for now."

After all, the case had become too big, which was not good for the stability of the court.

All of this is left to His Majesty's judgment!

These words seemed to put everyone in the hall at ease. Huang Kezan, the Minister of Justice, nodded slightly, and Li Zhi, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, also secretly felt relieved.

Even if only the charge of treason is pursued, the number of people involved is alarming:

More than 150 people, including county magistrates and prefects in various prefectures and counties in Jiangnan, were implicated.

Eighty-six officials from the six ministries and censors in the capital were also mentioned in their testimonies.

These people, whether they were involved in the conspiracy, relayed messages to the gentry of Jiangnan, or discussed the new policies behind the scenes, have now become suspects in the "treason case."

"Qian Qianyi is just throwing caution to the wind."

Li Zhi, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, sighed softly, his tone full of helplessness.

He had read Qian Qianyi's confession; the guy was frantically trying to frame him.

Knowing he was doomed, he tried to drag more people down with him.

Ye Xianggao stood to the side, his face still grim. Looking at the pile of confessions on the table, he knew that although Fang Congzhe's proposal had temporarily saved all the officials, it had also put the Emperor in a difficult position.

Is it a matter of "thorough investigation and cleansing of officialdom," or "punishing only the ringleaders and appeasing the public"?
The former would shake the foundations of the court, while the latter might give those officials who secretly opposed the new policies a false sense of security.

Fang Congzhe finally turned his gaze to Wei Chao, who was sitting to the side.

Ye Xianggao's face was paler than rice paper. Although the money he received was an unspoken rule, a "favor exchange," the amount, once presented, could not escape suspicion of "transfer of benefits."

He followed Fang Congzhe's gaze to Wei Chao, his eyes revealing a hint of urgency and pleading:
The Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has long been by His Majesty's side and understands his intentions best. He has been dispatched here to oversee this case, presumably because he knows His Majesty's thoughts.

At that moment, only his words could calm my mind.

"Chief Secretary Wei has long been by His Majesty's side and knows His Majesty's heart well."

Fang Congzhe put down his confession, his tone tinged with a hint of probing.

"The confessions have now spread far and wide, even implicating cabinet ministers. I wonder... has His Majesty given any clear instructions on this matter?"

Wei Chao leaned back in his armchair, the hem of his black eunuch robe with python patterns casually draped at his feet. He held a freshly brewed cup of pre-Qingming Longjing tea in his hand, gently skimming the foam off the surface with the lid. His movements were unhurried, as if the tense atmosphere in the courtroom had nothing to do with him.

He glanced at Fang and Ye's tense expressions and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"When I came here, His Majesty specifically instructed that the three judicial departments should not get bogged down in trivial details when handling cases."

He paused, brought the teacup to his lips, took a small sip, and then continued:
"Those officials who were implicated by Qian Qianyi, if they were only involved in some 'personal exchanges' and did not participate in the rebellion or incite popular uprising, will be temporarily pardoned and their future behavior will be observed."

His Majesty wants to eliminate the threat completely, not to throw the court into chaos.

These words were like a spring breeze, instantly dispelling the anxiety in Fang Congzhe and Ye Xianggao's hearts.

Ye Xianggao quietly patted his chest, and his tense shoulders finally relaxed a little.

His Majesty ultimately considered the overall situation and did not launch a major purge because of Qian Qianyi's indiscriminate attacks.

Officials in the capital had low salaries and prices were soaring, making it difficult to even support their families. If the "ice tribute" and "charcoal tribute" were to be investigated, few officials in the court would be able to stand up for themselves.

Fang Congzhe also breathed a sigh of relief. He was about to speak in agreement when he saw Wei Chao put down his teacup, his eyes suddenly darkening, and his tone becoming several degrees harsher than before:

"However, His Majesty also said that the ringleader must be severely punished."

Those who instigated rebellion and colluded with the rebels, such as Qian Qianyi and Zhou Qiyuan, should not only be publicly executed, but their crimes should also be documented in proclamations and posted throughout the capitals of the north and south, and across thirteen provinces, so that the whole world can see what fate awaits those who plot rebellion!

"As for those 'ice tributes' and 'charcoal tributes,' His Majesty will not pursue the matter for the time being, but has already instructed the scribes to record the names of each person and the amount involved."

From now on, anyone who dares to use 'social interactions' as a pretext for transferring personal benefits, whether they are a high-ranking official in one of the Six Ministries or a cabinet minister, will be executed without mercy!

"boom!"

These words were like a thunderbolt, instantly freezing Fang Congzhe and Ye Xianggao, who had just relaxed.

Ye Xianggao's hand holding the tablet began to tremble again, but this time it was not from anxiety, but from awe.

His Majesty may have let the current turmoil go, but in reality, he used this case to expose the "unspoken rules" of officialdom and secretly noted down everyone's "handles".

From now on, anyone who dares to reach out again will be caught red-handed.

Fang Congzhe was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening.

Your Majesty is employing both kindness and severity.

He neither went too far, thus maintaining stability in the court, nor did he offend any officials, deterring them from acting recklessly again.

He was terrified, but he didn't forget to flatter the emperor.

"Your Majesty is wise! We understand and will certainly act in accordance with Your Majesty's will, arresting only the ringleaders and not implicating the innocent."

With Wei Chao's clear statement, the pace of the trial in the courtroom instantly quickened.

The clerks no longer focused on the "amount of charcoal tribute" in the confessions, but instead concentrated on screening the key personnel in the treason case.

Qian Qianyi, Zhou Qiyuan, and others who directly instigated popular uprisings and plotted to force the emperor to abdicate were listed as the "chief culprits."

Those officials who only accepted "ice tribute" but did not participate in the rebellion were recorded in another booklet with the note "temporarily recorded as demerits, to be observed for future conduct".

However, even the most senior clerks couldn't help but tremble when copying the list.

Once a name is recorded there, any future promotions or transfers of officials will have to go through this "old record" first.

Today's "temporary waiver" may well be a "retribution" later; no one dares to gamble that His Majesty might one day open this book.

Fang Congzhe, Ye Xianggao, and others were investigating the case, working tirelessly day and night.

Emperor Zhu Youxiao of the Ming Dynasty, residing in the Forbidden City, finally had a moment of leisure.

In the early winter, the wind swirled withered grass and debris across the blue brick ground of the training ground in Xiyuan, while sunlight filtered through the sparse branches of the poplar trees, casting dappled golden shadows.

The training ground, which was usually used for training the nobles, was now unusually quiet, with only a few squads of Imperial Guards patrolling in the distance.

Zhu Youxiao stepped into the arena, his boots treading on the thin frost. The hem of his black dragon-patterned robe was lifted by the wind, revealing a jade-handled curved sword hanging at his waist. He looked less like an emperor and more like a young man with heroic spirit.

"Your Majesty, the warming tea is ready."

The eunuch stepped forward with a gilded brazier, but Zhu Youxiao waved him away.

He flexed his wrist, his knuckles cracking slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

Since transmigrating, he has not dared to slack off, after all, the frailty of the original Tianqi Emperor was no joke.

He doesn't want to die young, so having a healthy body is essential.

Accompanied by the cold wind, Zhu Youxiao slowly rose to his feet.

First comes the "Tiger Play," where the back of the dancer bends down like a tiger reaching out its claws, and the arms are spread out as if to embrace the cold wind.

Next is "Deer Play," where the deer stretches its legs and neck with graceful movements, as if it were walking through the snow in the forest.

The steadiness of the "bear play," the agility of the "ape play," and the lightness of the "bird play"—after completing a set, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his shoulders and back, which had been tense from reviewing memorials for days, relaxed considerably.

Then he switched to the Eight Pieces of Brocade. When he was doing "Holding Up the Sky with Both Hands to Regulate the Three Burners", his arms went straight up to the clouds. When he was doing "Drawing the Bow Left and Right Like Shooting an Eagle", his eyes were sharp as arrows. He performed each move solidly. Even Fang Zhenghua, the eunuch from the Imperial Horse Administration who was serving him, was stunned.

Your Majesty's martial arts techniques have improved considerably compared to before.

After finishing the Five Animal Frolics and Eight Pieces of Brocade, Zhu Youxiao wiped his sweat, his voice filled with a sense of satisfaction.

"Bring the imperial horse here."

Before long, a pure white steed was led to him. Its mane was glossy and its saddle was inlaid with silver dragon patterns. It was the "Treading Snow" that he often rode.

Zhu Youxiao mounted his horse with swift and effortless movements.

With a tightening of the reins, Ta Xue let out a low neigh, pawed the ground with its four hooves, and then galloped off across the field.

A cold wind rushed towards him, whipping up Zhu Youxiao's robes. All he could hear was the clatter of horses' hooves and the whooshing sound of the wind.

He lay on his horse, his gaze sweeping over the archery targets on the sidelines and over the distant palace walls. The political worries that had been weighing on his heart gradually dissipated with the galloping horse.

The chill of early winter seeped through the fabric, but was countered by the warmth inside the body, creating a refreshing and invigorating feeling.

After running three laps in the snow, Zhu Youxiao's breathing became heavier, so he tightened the reins. The horse snorted and stopped, its white breath quickly dissipating in the cold air.

"Bring the golden bow."

Zhu Youxiao dismounted and took the ox-horn bow handed to him by the eunuch. The bowstring was wrapped with deerskin for slip resistance.

He weighed the bow in his hand and stood in front of the target fifty paces away.

With feet shoulder-width apart, left hand holding the bow, right hand drawing the string, eyes blazing, fixed intently on the bullseye.

With a "whoosh," the arrow pierced the cold wind and shot straight toward the bullseye.

Although it didn't hit the tenth ring, it still fell within the nineth ring.

"it is good!"

Fang Zhenghua couldn't help but gasp, but quickly covered his mouth.

Zhu Youxiao didn't pay any attention, just smiled and shook his head, then nocked another arrow.

This time, he adjusted his breathing, his arm was more stable when he drew the bow, and the moment he released his fingers, the arrow flew out like a meteor and "thud"ed into the edge of the bullseye.

After shooting ten arrows in a row, six of them landed above the nine-ring mark, a stark contrast to the constant misses when he first started learning archery three months ago.

"That's all."

Zhu Youxiao put down the bow, stretched his aching arms, and felt the sweat on his forehead cool in the wind.

"Return to the East Warm Pavilion."

Now that I've exercised and sweated, there's no need to stand in the cold wind here.

It would be ridiculous to blow your body into getting sick.

Soon, the imperial carriage set off and returned to the East Warm Pavilion.

Inside the East Warm Pavilion, the underfloor heating system was already scorching hot, and the air was filled with the mixed aroma of ambergris and hot tea.

As soon as Zhu Youxiao sat down on the throne, a palace maid handed him a cup of warm ginseng tea. He took two sips, and the warmth slid down his throat, dispelling the chill from his body.

Before they could even finish half a cup of tea, Wei Chao's footsteps could be heard outside the door.

"This servant, Wei Chao, greets Your Majesty."

Wei Chao bowed as he entered, holding a thick ledger in his hands, which was a record of the progress of today's joint trial by the three judicial departments.

He walked to the table, spread out the ledgers, and spoke in a very low voice, yet each word was clear:
"Your Majesty, today the Dali Temple interrogated Qian Qianyi's accomplices. That fellow couldn't withstand the torture and confessed that last year, the gentry of Jiangnan gave Zhou Qiyuan 100,000 taels of silver to smooth things over and obstruct the land survey."

There was also Shen Yao, who confessed to receiving 30,000 taels of "tribute" from Songjiang cloth merchants, but denied participating in the rebellion...

Wei Chao meticulously detailed every aspect of the case, including the testimonies, the list of officials involved, and even the trembling hands of the clerks copying them. Only at the very end did he mention Qian Qianyi's accusations.
"When Qian Qianyi saw that the situation was hopeless, he wanted to drag more people down with him. He even brought up the 'Bingjing' that Shi Jikai had taken in ten years ago. However, Grand Secretary Fang and Grand Secretary Ye followed His Majesty's wishes and did not get entangled in this matter."

Zhu Youxiao's gaze fell on the name "Zhou Qiyuan" in the account book, lost in thought:
"Now it seems we've covered most of the core issues in the case. Can we close it now?"

Wei Chao quickly shook his head, his tone tinged with caution:

"Your Majesty, we will have to wait a while longer."

In Jiangnan, Zhou Qiyuan was hiding in his private residence in Yingtian, where Yuan Keli's men were besieging him, but he had not yet been captured and brought to the capital.

Several officials from Jiangnan prefectures fled to eastern Zhejiang with their families, and the Imperial Guards are still in pursuit... The case can only be completely closed once all these people are brought back and their confessions are recorded.

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

"The chaos in Jiangnan cannot be delayed any longer. Tell Yuan Keli that now that the ringleaders have been identified, the civil unrest should be quelled as soon as possible, and those unruly people should not be used by those with ulterior motives."

"Furthermore, during the suppression of the rebellion, those corrupt officials hiding in the government offices were exposed."

For example, those who colluded with local gentry or embezzled disaster relief grain were also dealt with to prevent future problems.

Wei Chao felt a chill run down his spine, instantly understanding the emperor's meaning. His Majesty wanted more than just quell the surface unrest; he also wanted to use the quelling of the unrest to thoroughly cleanse the "roots" of corruption within the Jiangnan officialdom.

He quickly bowed and replied:
"This servant understands! I will immediately convey the decree to Yuan Keli."

He must make sure to investigate thoroughly and leave no one unpunished!

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, signaling Wei Chao to step down.

The warm room returned to quiet.

He picked up the ginseng tea, looked out the window at the gradually darkening sky, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

The case in Jiangnan is nearing its end; the unspoken rules of officialdom have been exposed.

Next came the reforms of salt tax, the allowance for maintaining integrity, the return of fire loss to the public treasury, and the equal treatment of officials and gentry in fulfilling their duties and paying taxes.

These ones
That is the kind of reform that will truly touch the very foundation of the empire.

And its difficulty is, of course, quite evident.

(End of this chapter)