Chaos of Ming 1628

Is Zhu Youjian asking the other person's name?

Cui Chengxiu froze, while the surrounding ministers wore varying expressions. The construction of the shrine could be postponed, but this traitor would surely be severely punished.

Before something happens, no one can know what will happen.

Cui Chengxiu gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, this person is Sun Qing of Gaoyang Sun family."

"The Sun family of Gaoyang," Zhu Youjian pondered for a moment, then nodded solemnly, "Oh? So you're a member of Grand Secretary Sun's family?"

At this point, Zhu Youjian seemed to remember something and suddenly asked, "I wonder how Grand Secretary Sun is doing at home recuperating?"

"Are you in good health?"

Cui Chengxiu's alarm bells rang loudly. This man was a major threat to the eunuch faction, and how could he let the new emperor remember him?

He immediately laughed and said, "I've heard that he's already skilled at farming and is enjoying his retirement."

"Alas!" Zhu Youjian lamented, "Haven't you truly distanced yourself from the court after only two years of leisure?"

Zhu Youjian truly felt it wasn't worth it, and then asked, "That young man surnamed Sun is quite a prodigy. Botou is a place with the most frequent trade and travel, so his idea for this renovation is quite good."

"What official rank does he hold now?"

Someone immediately reported: "This person is not yet on the official registration list; he is currently only the acting county magistrate."

"It would be a waste not to use this young man." Zhu Youjian pondered for a moment and then said, "Even after Grand Secretary Sun, he is sure to be a reliable person. There is no need for an acting governor; let him serve as the magistrate of Jiahe County."

Cui Chengxiu's body swayed again.

He's just a minor county magistrate; it's fine to give him the position. Tian Ergeng will take care of it eventually.

The key point is not his official position, but Zhu Youjian's attitude towards the shrine.

The person who refused to approve the construction of the shrine was instead the one who razed it to the ground, and was subsequently given an important position.

Although Sun Chengzong was mentioned briefly, every official in the court, from top to bottom, is a cunning fox.

Zhu Youjian's actions were particularly evident; he opposed shrines to living people and even encouraged everyone to oppose the eunuch faction.

Originally, the court was divided into several factions, but after Zhu Youjian issued his signal, it seemed that there were only two: the eunuch faction and those who wanted to bring down the eunuch faction.

The atmosphere was already delicate.

Suddenly, an imperial censor stepped forward from his post, holding a tablet, bowed deeply, and loudly presented his report.

"I have a petition to impeach Cui Chengxiu, the Minister of Works!"

"In his past years, when he was the imperial inspector of Huaiyang, he embezzled salt taxes and extorted money from local officials, accumulating huge sums of money in bribes."

"He has also curried favor with Wei Changchen, forming cliques and eliminating dissidents. He has used the selection process as an opportunity to install his cronies, corrupting the administration. We earnestly request Your Majesty to dismiss him from his post, imprison him, and investigate his embezzled funds!"

Before he finished speaking, two more censors stepped forward. One accused him of neglecting his filial duties and being greedy for power, while the other impeached him for fabricating charges to frame an honest official from the Donglin Party.

A slight murmur of discussion arose within the hall.

Those words that everyone knew but no one dared to say suddenly caused an uproar in the imperial court.

The only one who remained calm was Zhu Youjian, who sat at the very top.

The scene was chaotic. Cui Chengxiu was ashen-faced and hurriedly knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly to beg for forgiveness.

Zhu Youjian was still wearing a plain white mourning robe, and was still following the ancestral precepts.

His fingertips lightly rested on the armrest of the throne, his expression so indifferent that it revealed neither joy nor anger. He neither reprimanded Cui Chengxiu nor rewarded the official who submitted the memorial, nor did he mention any punishment such as arrest, investigation, or detention.

He merely glanced indifferently at the kneeling crowd below, his tone flat and unwavering: "I am aware of what you have reported."

"The matters concerning border defense and grain transport still need to be discussed today. The rest will be put aside for now and discussed later."

With a few words, the emperor quelled all the impeachments, neither praising nor criticizing, his attitude ambiguous, leaving no one able to discern his true intentions.

The officials were about to offer further advice when Emperor Chongzhen raised his hand and solemnly instructed the eunuchs, "Please discuss this another day. Court is adjourned."

The eunuch announced the order in a loud voice, and the officials had no choice but to bow in turn and disperse in their respective groups.

Cui Chengxiu was still in shock, but thanks to Tian Ergeng's support, he managed to stand up shakily and walk out of the palace.

Wei Zhongxian's face was extremely ugly.

As soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, before his colleagues had even left, Wei Zhongxian slapped Cui Chengxiu across the face.

The slap was crisp, and Wei Zhongxian hissed, "You scoundrel!"

"Sun Qing had already warned you, but you insisted on defying the will of Heaven. Are you satisfied now?"

The slap made Cui Chengxiu's ears ring, but he didn't dare to utter a sound and lowered his head.

Wei Zhongxian continued his reprimand: "I thought Zhu Youjian was just ignorant and could be properly educated. But now, his attitude is clear, and the situation in the court is one-sided."

"Knowing you're one of my people, you still dare to impeach me directly!"

Wei Zhongxian had never suffered such a loss before, and he was furious.

Cui Chengxiu's voice was hoarse, and when he mentioned those people, he gritted his teeth in hatred: "Those sycophantic scoundrels, ptooey! I'll make them pay!"

"Blind and deaf wretch!" Wei Zhongxian kicked him again. "Still can't you see?"

"That kid Sun Qing is Zhuge Liang reincarnated. Instead of living in constant fear, we should invite him here immediately. We want to see him in person."

"If you offend him, and we can't get him to come back, then don't come back to us either."

Jiahe County.

The winds from the capital soon blew over.

The Emperor's attitude is clear: the eunuch faction will be eliminated.

Under the outer corridor of the second hall of the yamen, Su Jiuda and Meng Zhaoxiang stood side by side, watching the endless stream of gentry and wealthy people coming to their door. The two could not hide their joy.

Sun Qing had no time to worry about them at this moment.

As soon as the gate opened, the area outside was filled with people waiting.

The sign that read "No eunuchs or dogs allowed" remains as conspicuous as ever, serving as a bright red light that helps these people find their way.

Seeing this, Meng Zhaoxiang chuckled and whispered to Su Jiuda, "A few days ago, this government office was deserted. All the wealthy families and gentry in the city avoided us, not daring to get close to us, for fear of being accused of colluding with the upright officials by the eunuch faction's henchmen."

"Today is quite strange; all the wealthy families who have never been involved in the case and have always been well-behaved have come to our door."

Once the wooden sign was hung on the door, not only people, but even cats and dogs dared not linger there.

Today, the place is bustling with customers.

Su nodded vigorously, looking at the scene in the hall, and said in a cheerful tone: "Look at them, as soon as they entered, they knelt down and kowtowed to the young master without saying a word, repeatedly asking Sun Qing to stand up for the people."

"They are all unfortunate people who suffered greatly under the persecution of the eunuch faction! They just had nowhere to seek justice."

"Come to think of it, whose house hasn't been ransacked by the Imperial Guards?"

At this point, the two exchanged a glance and both gave a wry smile.

To be honest, they are also among the victims.

Grandpa Su laughed: "Now each family has said that they are willing to give up half of their property to the public, only asking that you thoroughly investigate the crimes of the eunuch party in embezzling and harming the people over the years, and bring to justice all the treacherous officials."

"Our young master is just a county magistrate, yet they really treat him like the emperor."

"You mustn't speak such nonsense." Meng Zhaoxiang's face darkened, then softened slightly, and he said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "However, doesn't my young master also possess such spirit?"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

At that moment, the noise at the door started again.

The footsteps were synchronized, and as the sound of iron cavalry approached, the people shouted, "It's the Imperial Guards! They're here again!"