The Ming Dynasty: A bookstore sells the history of the Ming Dynasty, leaving Emperor Chongzhen bewil

"In the case of Wei Zhongxian's treason, the two chief traitors were executed by slow slicing: Wei Zhongxian and Madam Ke."

"The six accomplices who were the ringleaders and could not wait any longer were: Cui Chengxiu and Wei Liangqing, Madam Ke's son, Commander Hou Guoxing, and the eunuchs Li Yongzhen, Li Chaoqin, and Liu Ruoyu."

When Emperor Chongzhen spoke, all the officials below held their breath and listened.

Among those previously announced, the party leader Wei Zhongxian and Madam Ke were already dead. Wei Zhongxian hanged himself on his way to Fengyang and was still subjected to the death by a thousand cuts and his head was hung up. Madam Ke, on the other hand, was beaten to death in the laundry department and her body was burned and her ashes scattered in the Jingletang.

Both party leaders have received the punishment they deserved.

The subsequent ringleaders and accomplices were either killed or arrested.

The eunuch Li Chaoqin and Wei Zhongxian hanged themselves together. When Cui Chengxiu learned of Wei Zhongxian's suicide, he also hanged himself at home. The remaining three have been imprisoned and are awaiting execution.

These people were all close to Wei Zhongxian, and were recognized as undisputed traitors.

What follows is the important part.

The next person is someone who associates with close attendants. The concept of "associating with close attendants" is quite broad. It includes trusted confidants and people who have had some interaction with each other.

Everyone was waiting for Chongzhen's announcement to see who the unlucky one would be.

"Nineteen people who had colluded with close attendants and awaited execution in the autumn: Liu Zhixuan, Liang Menghuan, Ni Wenhuan, Tian Ji, Liu Zhao, Xue Zhen, Wu Chunfu, Li Kuilong, Cao Qincheng, Xu Zhiji, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, Sun Rulie, the Vice Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, Lu Wanling, a student of the Imperial Academy, Li Chengzuo, the Marquis of Fengcheng, and the Commanders Tian Ergeng, Xu Xianchun, Cui Yingyuan, Yang Huan, Sun Yunhe, and Zhang Tiqian."

The next nineteen people announced were almost all Wei Zhongxian's confidants, including the Five Tigers and the Five Tigers. Most of them were expected, but some still collapsed to the ground on the spot.

"Your Majesty is innocent!"

"I am not a member of the eunuch faction! I am not a member of the eunuch faction!"

Despite several of them shouting their innocence, they were dragged away on the spot, which terrified the others, who were afraid they would be next.

However, the emperor's next words left all the officials in the hall dumbfounded.

"The rest of those who colluded with close attendants will not be announced for now, but I have made a note of them all. I have decided to give you another chance, allowing you to atone for your crimes through meritorious service. You must repent and reform, and if you commit the same offense again, you will be severely punished!"

Upon hearing this, Ju Dian seemed to have pressed a mute button, or perhaps been frozen in place.

???

No, Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?

Not going to release it? Just making a note of it?

What's the point of writing this down?

Does this mean that the matter is over and past mistakes will be forgiven?

After realizing what was happening, Grand Secretary Han Kuang, who was presiding over the case, was the first to step forward. He frowned and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, do you remember what you said before the investigation? You said that evil must be eradicated completely. Now that we have finally uncovered the list of traitors, why haven't you released it?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, the traitors are poisoning the world, incurring the wrath of Heaven and the resentment of the people. They must be eliminated!" Qiao Yunsheng, the Minister of Justice, also stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you rescind your decree!" Qian Longxi followed.

Han Kuang was a veteran member of the Donglin Party, Qiao Yunsheng had always been at odds with the eunuch party, and Qian Longxi was also a member of the Donglin Party. When Chongzhen asked the three of them to preside over the trial of the rebellious party, his purpose was indeed to sweep away the rebellious party.

But after visiting the bookstore, Chongzhen changed his mind.

Emperor Chongzhen did not want to explain further and directly made a decisive statement: "My mind is made up. My three ministers need not say more."

However, these words seemed to have stirred up a hornet's nest.

"Evil must be eradicated completely, and the traitors must be eliminated. Your Majesty, I implore you to rescind your decree!" An official stepped forward immediately.

"Your Majesty, we humbly request that you rescind your decree!"

"Your Majesty, we humbly request that you rescind your decree!"

Immediately afterwards, one official after another stepped forward.

soon.

Below the hall, a large group of officials had already stood up.

Looking at the officials of all ranks kneeling before him, Chongzhen truly experienced for the first time the power of forming factions.

In the past, he would either be coerced by his ministers or argue his case, but now, he is clearly different from before.

Emperor Chongzhen scoffed, "Are you planning to force me to abdicate?"

"We dare not!"

Han Kuang, who was in charge, spoke up: "We, your subjects, are paid by the emperor and share his burdens. It is our duty to correct him! The character '匡' (kuāng) in '匡君' (kuāng jūn) is composed of the character '王' (wáng, king) with an added layer of rules. This is to prevent the emperor from acting arbitrarily and to protect his will. As subjects, we should follow the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, 'What the people like, we like; what the people dislike, we dislike,' and correct the emperor's words and deeds at any time."

"The eunuch faction has poisoned the world, committed countless evil deeds, and aroused great public resentment. If Your Majesty does not purge the eunuch faction, not only will we, your subjects, disagree, but the people of the world will also disagree!"

Their rhetoric is so sophisticated, full of quotations and references, that it's hard to argue with them.

Emperor Chongzhen's face darkened; he really didn't want to pay them any attention.

At this moment, those officials who hadn't stepped forward looked at each other, seemingly hesitant.

They were either somewhat connected to the eunuch faction, or they were targets of exclusion by the Donglin Party.

Now that the emperor is dealing with the eunuch faction, they are already at a disadvantage, and they are more likely to be on the list themselves, so they were originally trembling with fear and dared not breathe.

But the Emperor's words just now greatly surprised them. Not to announce the list? If the list of traitors is not announced, then everyone will be fine.

Moreover, the Emperor's reaction to the Donglin Party members gave them some confidence.

Finally, after hesitating for a while, someone stepped forward.

That's incorrect!

Wang Yongguang, the Minister of Personnel, stepped forward and said, "The leader of the eunuch faction has been executed, and the chief accomplice has also been beheaded. Those who colluded with him and his close associates will all be executed in the autumn. How can you say that the eunuch faction has not been eliminated? His Majesty does not want to escalate the incident and implicate innocent people. This is truly a magnanimous and benevolent act of a ruler. How can you say that the people do not agree to this?"

"Indeed, His Majesty is benevolent, yet you are so aggressive; what are your true intentions!"

"The elimination of the eunuch faction is all thanks to the Emperor's wisdom. His Majesty's decision to handle the treasonous case was fair, just, and supremely wise. We, his subjects, are filled with admiration!"

"Excellent! Your Majesty is wise and sagacious; we are truly in awe!"

"Your Majesty is wise and sagacious; we, your subjects, are filled with admiration!"

Just like before, one after another, officials from other parties stepped forward.

Another large group of officials appeared, forming a confrontational camp with the Donglin Party.

Han Kuang and other members of the Donglin Party all changed their expressions drastically.