Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Chapter 125 Interrogation 1

A few days later, Zhu Qiyu issued an imperial edict.

The Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review were ordered to jointly question Yue Qian, Li Yan, and others about their escort of the retired emperor.

The imperial decree caused a stir throughout the court and the country.

Some people whispered among themselves: "Didn't His Majesty already say in court that it was a natural disaster and not the fault of Minister Yue?"

Why are you questioning me again?

Some people shook their heads and sighed: "Since Censor Yang made the petition in court, His Majesty could not refuse to give him this face."

Some scoffed, "Let them question us. It's a natural disaster after all. What can they really do to Minister Yue?"

Despite the discussions, the three judicial departments dared not delay after the decree was issued.

The three chief officials, Yu Shiyue, Minister of Justice; Yang Shan, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate; and Xue Xuan, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, personally oversaw the operation.

They also selected capable officials from various government departments to form an inquiry team.

The questioning took place in the main hall of the Ministry of Justice.

When the news reached the meeting hall, Yue Qian was reading a book inside.

As the Minister of Rites, he did not participate in the funeral arrangements for the retired emperor.

After returning to Beijing, he, along with Li Yan and others, were confined to the Huitongguan (a type of meeting hall) awaiting questioning.

After hearing the eunuch's announcement of the imperial decree, he calmly replied, "Please tell His Majesty that I will go at the appointed time."

After the eunuch left, Li Yan was furious: "Minister Yue, what is this?!"

We risked our lives to bring back the Emperor Emeritus's remains.

Now the imperial court wants to question us!

"If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off dying in the canyon!"

Yue Qian glanced at him and said calmly, "Commander Li, watch your words."

Li Yan said urgently, "Be careful what you say! Minister Yue, you are a second-rank official, Minister of Rites. On what grounds do they question you?"

Yue Qian walked up to him and said in a deep voice, "Commander Li, listen to me."

His Majesty's decree to question must have its reasons.

We have nothing to fear if we are upright. Let's go, what's there to be afraid of?

Besides, this isn't an interrogation; it's just about clarifying things.

"What's wrong with officials appointed by the imperial court asking their colleagues to clarify things?"

Li Yan stared wide-eyed: "But—"

Yue Qian interrupted him: "There are no buts."

Remember, when you get to the court, say exactly what you're supposed to say.

Speak the truth, don't embellish or hide anything.

Do you understand?

Li Yan sighed, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This subordinate understands."

The following day at Chenshi (7-9 AM), in the main hall of the Ministry of Justice.

Three chief officials sat side by side in the center of the main hall.

Yu Shiyue, Minister of Justice, was on the left; Yang Shan, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, was in the center; and Xue Xuan, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was on the right.

Behind each of the three sat several officials, all of whom were elite personnel from their respective government departments.

The officials from the Ministry of Justice stood on both sides of the hall.

However, they merely stood by, without any instruments of torture such as rods.

After all, today's questioning is not an interrogation of a prisoner.

"Please summon Minister Yue!"

With a call to action, Yue Qian slowly walked into the main hall.

He was dressed in the robes of a second-rank official and wore a black gauze hat. He cupped his hands to the three chief officials and said, "Greetings, Minister Yu, Censor Yang, and Minister Xue."

Yu Shiyue, Yang Shan, and Xue Xuan stood up to return the greeting.

Then Yu Shiyue said, "Minister Yue, please have a seat."

A servant had already brought a chair and placed it in the hall.

After thanking him, Yue Qian calmly took his seat.

Li Yan and the others were subsequently brought up as well.

But they didn't have seats; they just stood behind Yue Qian.

Yang Shan frowned slightly as he watched this scene, but said nothing.

Yu Shiyue spoke first: "Minister Yue, the reason I invited you here today is to ask you about the Emperor Emeritus's journey home."

His Majesty has decreed that the three judicial departments be ordered to investigate this matter and seek the truth.

We are only acting under orders; if we have offended anyone, we hope Minister Yue will forgive us.

These words were spoken very politely, giving Yue Qian plenty of face.

Yue Qian cupped his hands and said, "Minister Yu, you are too kind."

I was sent on a mission by imperial decree, but I failed to protect the Emperor Emeritus, and I feel ashamed.

"Gentlemen, please ask whatever you wish; I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

Yu Shiyue nodded and looked at Yang Shan.

Yang Shan cleared his throat and said, "Minister Yue, I have a few questions I would like to ask you."

Yue Qian said, "Please speak, Censor-in-Chief Yang."

Yang Shandao: "The first question is, why did the mission not follow the normal route after leaving Juyong Pass?"

Instead, they went around in circles and it took them more than a month to find Esen's camp.

To the best of my knowledge, the location of Esen's camp is not a secret.

The Oirat envoy, Bayan, said it would take no more than half a month to find it.

Yue Qian said, "I am unaware of something, Censor Yang."

It was during the transition from winter to spring, and the weather on the grasslands was unpredictable.

"I dare not hasten our journey, lest the delegation find itself in danger."

Yang Shandao said, "Aren't you worried about the Emperor Emeritus suffering in the Oirat region?"

Yue Qian remained expressionless: "Imperial Censor Yang is mistaken."

I am an envoy, not a soldier.

My mission is to find Esen and discuss with him the matter of welcoming back the retired emperor, not to lead troops to seize him.

If I, as an official, act rashly and cause the mission to perish, who will go to bring back the Emperor Emeritus?

Yang Shan was momentarily speechless, then snorted and continued, "My second question: why did you take that dangerous mountain path back from the Oirat camp?"

Yue Qian said, "There were two paths to take at that time."

One is a main road, which will take three more days to travel.

One is a small path, which can save three days.

The retired emperor was eager to return home and insisted on taking the back road.

I advised them that the mountain road was dangerous and there was a risk of avalanches.

The retired emperor refused to listen.

Batel had also tried to persuade him, but the Emperor Emeritus wouldn't listen.

Yang Shan said, "You are the chief envoy. If you firmly oppose it, the Emperor Emeritus cannot act unilaterally, can he?"

Yue Qian was silent for a moment, then said, "What Censor Yang said is true."

I should have been more resolute at the time.

However, the Emperor Emeritus was emotionally agitated at the time and eager to return home, and I could not bear to go against his wishes.

This is my dereliction of duty.

Yang Shan frowned at him, then continued, "The third question: Why did the Oirat people kill you to silence you after the avalanche?"

Yue Qian said, "I don't understand either."

Avalanches are natural disasters, and many Oirat people also died.

Logically, they should have been with us to save people, not to kill them.

But Batel went insane on the spot after crawling out of the snow.

He claimed that I deliberately startled the horse, causing an avalanche, in order to kill me in revenge.

Commander Li and his men were forced to retaliate in self-defense.

Yang Shan's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked, "Why did Batel conclude that it was your horse that caused the avalanche?"

Yue Qian: "At the narrowest point of the canyon, my horse was startled for some reason and rushed forward, colliding with a Wa cavalryman."

The cavalryman cried out in alarm, the echo reverberating and shaking the snow-covered mountainside.

Yang Shan asked, "Why was your horse startled?"

Yue Qian shook his head: "I do not know."

That horse was the one I rode from the capital. It was very docile the whole way and never showed any signs of being startled.

But for some reason, I was suddenly startled that day.

Perhaps the mountain path was rugged, or perhaps something frightened it; I truly cannot say.

Yang Shan stared at him: "Minister Yue, I'll ask you one more time, do you really not know?"

Yue Qian met his gaze frankly: "Imperial Censor Yang, I truly do not know."

Yang Shan looked at Li Yan: "Li Qianhu, you are the commander of the guards. Where were you at the time? What did you see?"