Huangming

Chapter 55 The true colors are revealed at the last minute; it's too late for regrets.

The autumn sun was high in the sky, but it was beginning to set in the west.

At three quarters past noon, the vermilion gate of the Zhou Mansion in western Beijing was kicked open heavily by black boots.

Wei Zhongxian, dressed in a python robe and jade belt, stood on the stone steps, followed by a hundred Imperial Guards who filed in. Their flying fish robes and embroidered spring knives gleamed coldly in the autumn sun.

"The Ministry of Personnel, give the imperial decree to Zhou Chaorui, the Censor!" A sharp voice shattered the silence of the courtyard. Zhou Chaorui, dressed in a sandalwood-colored brocade cloak, staggered out of the main hall, fine beads of cold sweat seeping from under his crown.

He was originally a criminal under investigation, but after being questioned by the Ministry of Justice, he is no longer serving in the Six Ministries.

He originally thought the impeachment storm had passed and that the Ministry of Justice had not convicted him of any serious crimes. As for the fight in the Six Ministries, the punishment was only dismissal and exile.

Unexpectedly, the Embroidered Uniform Guard came and raided my home.

Zhou Chaorui looked flustered, but he still maintained his composure.

"Eunuch Wei, the Ministry of Justice has convicted me, but it doesn't warrant confiscating my property. You've abused your power; aren't you afraid of being impeached by the Censorate?"

Ha ha.

Wei Zhongxian sneered and said, "The Ministry of Justice is incompetent and has committed dereliction of duty, disgracing the country! We let you, a corrupt official, go free. Now the Ministry of Justice has suspended the interrogation, and all officials will be investigated for dereliction of duty. Chief Censor Zhou, I am acting on imperial orders. Who can impeach me? Who dares to impeach me?"

Wei Zhongxian's words immediately caused Zhou Chaorui's expression to change drastically.

His lips were trembling, his thoughts were in disarray, and he felt like he was losing all feeling in his lower body.

We had agreed with everyone before that the law would not punish the masses, and that we could not disobey orders by forming a party. How come the Embroidered Uniform Guard came to confiscate our property in the blink of an eye?

Zhou Chaorui was both shocked and frightened, and the Imperial Guards acted swiftly, driving out the women of the mansion.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Wei Zhongxian didn't delay any longer.

To be honest, there are a lot of houses to raid today.

Wei Zhongxian unfurled the imperial edict on yellow silk, his gaze sweeping over the trembling women in the courtyard, and proclaimed loudly: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: You are guilty of embezzling three thousand taels of silver, secretly colluding with Shandong merchants to acquire land, and now we have discovered two thousand seven hundred taels of silver hidden in a cellar, as well as the deed to a three-courtyard residence in Jinan Prefecture."

Before the words were finished, the sound of a wooden cabinet tipping over came from the west wing.

By the time the Imperial Guards had moved all the filth into the hall, Zhou Chaorui was already having some difficulty breathing.

"What a clean-cut official! Quickly tally up the embezzled funds. Anyone who dares to embezzle even a penny will be skinned alive!" Wei Zhongxian sneered and flicked his sleeve, the ivory token at his waist clanging crisply.

Money is a bastard, and no one dislikes it. Of course, Wei Zhongxian loved money.

But now, the Wei Dynasty is watching them closely, and they haven't figured out the emperor's temperament.

For the sake of his own power, Wei Zhongxian would never personally touch the embezzled funds.

After all, if you have power, how can you not have wealth?
But what good is wealth if you lose power?

Can you hold on?

More than ten clerks immediately set up elmwood desks and quickly counted the confiscated money. Dipping their brushes in vermilion ink, they wrote swiftly in the ledger: "Confiscated: 4,800 taels of silver, 6 hectares of land deeds, and 50 bolts of Suzhou silk."

Wei Zhongxian, holding the clerk's record, walked up to Zhou Chaorui and said, "Zhou, the Chief Censor, do you have anything else to say?"

Zhou Chaorui's face was deathly pale. He swallowed hard, only to find his throat incredibly dry.

"None of these are mine. Someone framed me! I want to see Grand Secretary Liu and Grand Secretary Han! No, I want to see the Emperor! I want to see His Majesty!"

I have rendered service to the Ming Dynasty, I have shed blood for the Ming Dynasty, I want to see His Majesty!

Wei Zhongxian chuckled coldly and said, "Still dare to argue? If you confess, your sentence may be reduced. If you remain obstinate, I will let you know the methods of the imperial prison. All your crimes have witnesses. Now that the evidence is there, what else do you want to do?"

Zhou Chaorui's face was contorted in pain, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

I am an honest and upright official, not a corrupt one!

Who was so blind as to secretly stuff these gold and silver treasures into my house?

Seeing Zhou Chaorui's pitiful appearance, Wei Zhongxian felt secretly pleased. These hypocrites in the palace dared to disobey the emperor, and now that their homes have been confiscated, they look like they've lost their parents.
It's too late to regret it now!
snort!
Gentlemen, gentlemen? I, Wei Zhongxian, deal with hypocrites like you!
"Seal off the Zhou residence and imprison Zhou Chaorui in the Imperial Prison to await further punishment!"

Wei Zhongxian then immediately headed off to another location.

Today's house search is urgent and the task is heavy.

The goal was to strike decisively before the court officials could react, preventing them from transferring their assets and coercing the emperor.

Before Shenshi (3-5 PM), more than a dozen blue sedan chairs had already arrived outside Zhengyang Gate.

On this day, the capital was shaken, and the bookworms were terrified!
This will allow those ministers who thought the emperor was easy to manipulate to recognize themselves again, and also to recognize the new Ming Dynasty after Zhu Youxiao ascended the throne.

The Ming Dynasty has a new leader, and the old rules must also change!

Are they delusional enough to form a faction to defy the imperial decree?

You need to think about it: is your head enough for the Imperial Guards to chop off?
The Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard acted with lightning speed. It was only after Wei Zhongxian's list of corrupt officials had been dealt with that the court officials were caught off guard.

Wenyuan Pavilion.

It was only a quarter past Shen time.

However, everyone in the Wenyuan Pavilion council hall remained silent.

Fang Congzhe had long anticipated that the new emperor would take this action, but when it actually happened, he was still somewhat shocked.

Your Majesty's word is as good as gold; you truly do what you say.

Therefore, His Majesty's promise must be true.

Then I shall continue to fight for Your Majesty!
Han Kuang's face was ashen, clearly indicating that he was extremely angry.

Second Grand Secretary Liu Yiju remained silent, his head slightly lowered, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Zhu Guozuo sat upright, trying to minimize his presence.

The only ones who remained calm and composed were Sun Ruyou and Li Ruhua.

"Grand Secretary Fang, please stop!" Liu Yijun sighed and looked at Fang Congzhe.

The area outside is teeming with Imperial Guards!
"Party strife is detrimental to the country. We cannot allow His Majesty to bear the name of a tyrant, nor can the Ming Dynasty be without these loyal men."

The emperor is now dealing with only thirty-three memorials from thirty-three officials who have been found guilty.

There are more than a hundred more behind them.

If all of these items are confiscated, how many court officials will remain on the throne?
Even within the cabinet, there will be fewer people.

Fang Congzhe remained unfazed and said, "How could Your Majesty be branded a tyrant by investigating corruption? He is a sage ruler! The loyal officials mentioned by the Second Minister are all corrupt and bribe-takers. Can those who are corrupt and bribe-takers be called loyal?"

Upon hearing Fang Congzhe's words, Han Kuang immediately became restless.

"Today, the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrested people, including members of the Qi, Chu, and Zhe factions, and several of them were imprisoned in the Imperial Prison. Do you also turn a blind eye to this?"

Faced with Han Kuang's questioning, Fang Congzhe chuckled and said, "What Qi, Chu, and Zhe faction are there? We are all His Majesty's subjects. Since they are corrupt and accept bribes, what can the Embroidered Uniform Guard do when they arrest people?"

Fang Congzhe flicked his sleeve and said, "The mighty laws of the Ming Dynasty will surely punish those who violate them!"

"Among the court officials, how many have not accepted bribes? If we investigate them one by one, will there be anyone left to do the job? Your Excellency, those who have indeed embezzled or accepted bribes should be dealt with, but those who have accepted bribes should also be investigated and their money returned."

Zhu Guozuo hesitated for a moment, but still stepped forward to comfort him.

The situation is getting increasingly out of control, and Zhu Guozuo hopes that both sides can calm down.

Han Kuang snorted coldly and said, "We will immediately present our petitions to the Emperor. If His Majesty does not wish to see us, we will kneel outside the Zuoshun Gate until His Majesty agrees to see us and withdraws his decree!"

(End of this chapter)