Huangming

Chapter 51 Water and Fire Cannot Coexist; A Fight to the Death

The rain keeps falling.

The atmosphere in Wenyuan Pavilion was far from harmonious.

Inside the council chamber.

Vice-Minister Liu Yi-ju and Minister Han Kuang are confronting Grand Secretary Fang Cong-zhe.

"How can we possibly draft a list of 180 impeachment memorials? I think it would be better if we presented our petitions to the Emperor and kept all of these memorials in the palace."

Zhu Guozuo was deeply worried.

Last night, Fang Congzhe processed memorials until late into the night, and Zhu Guozuo assumed that Fang Congzhe was going to resign.

The result is that war is about to break out.

Zhu Guozuo wanted to cry but had no tears.

"Grand Secretary Fang has stirred up factional strife, and we have no choice but to fight back. Since it's a matter of impeachment, I want to see whether you are clean or the Donglin Party members are clean."

Han Kuang was furious when he learned of the Qi-Chu-Zhe faction's attack this morning. He immediately mobilized Yang Lian and others to have the Censorate impeach the Qi-Chu-Zhe faction.

It was only noon, but the impeachment memorials had already piled up like a mountain, totaling as many as 180 volumes.

Some of these impeachment memorials were based on solid evidence, while others were based on hearsay.

In short, the goal was to form cliques and suppress dissent.

“Fang is loyal to the country, but you all engage in factional strife and suppress dissent. If the late emperor were to see this, he would be heartbroken.”

Fang Congzhe sighed.

"Why bother with such pretense, Grand Secretary? If you wish to quell the factional strife, then all of you should step back and come to the palace together to meet the Emperor."

Han Kuang was furious, but Liu Yijue already sensed that something was amiss.

After meeting with the emperor yesterday, Fang Congzhe's attitude underwent a complete 360-degree turn.

Is His Majesty behind this?

If the two sides really fight to the death, who will benefit the most?
Liu Yiju wanted both sides to calm down.

However, Fang Congzhe seemed to have lost all reason and said, "Investigate if you want. These impeachment memorials should be sent to the Directorate of Ceremonial for approval immediately. After that, whether it should be jointly tried by the Three Judicial Offices or by the Six Ministries, we should do it according to the rules!"

Zhu Guozuo tried to stop them, but the two sides were already irreconcilable enemies.

Li Ruhua and Sun Ruyou remained calm and composed, and did not participate in the events.

Although some of the impeachment memorials impeached the two of them, they remained calm and fearless.

Speaking of having powerful backers, who truly has powerful backers? Perhaps when the tide goes out, we'll see who's been swimming naked.

"Gentlemen, the Guanglu Temple has sent over the meal. We've eaten our fill, let's discuss these matters later."

Sun Ruyou said with a smile.

Han Kuang was furious when he saw Sun Ruyou's old face.

He snorted coldly, spat, and muttered under his breath, "A treacherous minister."

They then went straight to Zhilu for lunch.

Upon hearing this, Sun Ruyou's smile remained unchanged.

Liu Yiju nodded apologetically to Sun Ruyou and said with a sigh, "Given the current situation, I urge Minister Sun to say a few words of defense to His Majesty, so as not to let the Ming Dynasty fall into the quagmire of factional strife."

Sun Ruyou immediately replied, "It is all for the sake of serving the country and being loyal to His Majesty; it is only right and proper."

Liu Yiju followed behind Han Kuang with a heavy heart. When they were almost at the Zhilu, Liu Yiju called out to Han Kuang.

"Wait a moment, East Pavilion."

Han Kuang stopped and asked, "What advice does the Vice Minister have for me?"

Liu Yiju's eyes flickered as he said, "This whole thing is strange. Fang Congzhe's actions must have a hidden story."

"Of course I know there's more to it than meets the eye."

Han Kuang said, "Does Fang Congzhe think that with His Majesty's help, he can turn black into white and white into black?"

He chuckled and said, "Our Emperor is a man of deep thoughts. Will he really help Fang Congzhe in the end?"

It turns out Han Kuang had already figured it out. "His Majesty is still too young. Does he think he can turn the world upside down with that parasite Fang Congzhe?"

Han Kuang chuckled and said, "Even if the impeachment memorial is issued, will the Six Ministries cooperate? Will the Six Offices copy the imperial edict? Currently, most of the officials in the court are involved. Does His Majesty really think he can dismiss them all?"

A country is governed by its officials.

If you impeach and convict all the officials, who will handle the affairs of the country?
Your subject's will is fierce; even if you are the emperor, you have no choice but to compromise!

Liu Yiju frowned deeply.

"It was too risky. If we can make peace, we should." After all, the late emperor's body is barely cold, and we only have a vague understanding of His Majesty's temperament. What if the new emperor is reckless and uses the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot?

Han Kuang flicked his sleeve and said, "We've already been bullied here, how can we back down?"

At that time, will they still have a place to stand in the imperial court?

As for the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot?
There were their people there too!

"If you are afraid, you may retreat, and I will charge into the enemy lines!"

Liu Yijing's old face was wrinkled like half-withered tree bark, but he could only sigh deeply.

"Yu Chen's words could kill me, but would I covet a high and noble position?"

Upon hearing this, Han Kuang's expression softened slightly, and he said, "At this time, we cannot afford to say discouraging things or disrupt the morale of the army. If we are going to fight, we must fight to the bitter end. We will not retreat until we have defeated Fang Congzhe!"

The cabinet is now divided into three factions.

Fang Congzhe was the leader of the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party, Han Kuang and Liu Yizhu were the leaders of the Donglin Party, and Sun Ruyou, Li Ruhua, and Zhu Guozuo were the observers.

With all parties intending to escalate the matter, the impeachment memorial was in their hands and was quickly drafted.

Furthermore, both sides, intentionally or unintentionally, wrote in a more severe tone.

The cabinet's draft recommendations typically include three points:
"Reviewed by the three judicial departments": the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate jointly review the case.

"Dismissal and investigation": Suspended from duty to undergo investigation.

“申饬”: to warn an impeached official.

If the Grand Secretary or a high-ranking official is involved, it is recommended that they be "sent back to their hometown to await punishment" (suspended from their duties and sent back to their hometown) to avoid suspicion.

If the content of the impeachment is vague, it is recommended that "the censor be instructed to clarify the facts and submit a further memorial."

As a result, even if the content of the impeachment was vague, it was written as "to be reviewed by the three judicial departments"; if the content of the impeachment was specific, it was written as "to be dismissed from office and handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard for questioning".

They seem determined to stir up trouble.

As the draft cabinet proposal was delivered to Wei Chao, he was numb.

How dare he approve these impeachment memorials without authorization?
This is a serious matter, and he simply cannot afford the consequences.

He immediately took the impeachment memorial and ran to the Cining Palace to meet the emperor.

In the Cining Palace, Zhu Youxiao, having finished his lunch, was taking a nap on his bed in the inner room of the Duanben Hall.

This was an extremely urgent matter, and Wei Chao couldn't worry about anything else. She immediately knelt outside the palace and shouted, "This servant, Wei Chao, has urgent business to attend to Your Majesty."

The bedchamber was silent.

Wei Chao gritted his teeth, his voice growing louder.

"This servant, Wei Chao, has an extremely urgent matter to report to Your Majesty."

Finally, the emperor's voice could be heard from the bedchamber.

"Come in!"

Wei Chao nervously entered the bedchamber, not daring to look up and confront the emperor. He quickly stepped forward, slid down to his knees, and said, "I have disturbed Your Majesty's rest. I deserve death. However, the officials of the Censorate have submitted 180 impeachment memorials, which have all been drafted by the Cabinet and sent to the Directorate of Ceremonial. This matter is of great importance, and I am terrified. I have come here to request Your Majesty's decree."

Zhu Youxiao narrowed his eyes slightly.

Do you need an imperial edict?
No.

They want to take the blame.

I have plenty!
Now that I want you to charge into battle, you come to me and ask me questions?

(End of this chapter)