The Ming Dynasty: Starting with taking Old Zhu on a journey to the future

Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong, Xu Zengshou, and the others all looked up and gazed at Zhan Hui.

Even Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat taken aback.

Who should be impeached?

Jiang Huan?

Jiang Huan was the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and everyone knew that this position was a butcher's knife in the emperor's hands.

But the butcher's knife is destined to be stained with filth.

"What do you want to impeach Jiang Huan for?"

Zhan Hui immediately said, "Jiang Huan, as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, has privately released a criminal accused of treason!"

These words were spoken.

Li Jinglong, Li Zengzhi, and the others looked at each other.

Unauthorized release of someone accused of treason? This certainly warrants impeachment.

Zhu Yuanzhang also frowned.

Some suspicions arose in his mind: Had Jiang Huan's blade become disobedient? Had she begun to make secret moves?

The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was his eyes and ears.

However, he could not see his own eyes; he could only see them through a bronze mirror.

Who did Jiang Huan release?

Zhu Yuanzhang inquired.

"Lan Chen, the legitimate son of the traitor Lan Yu!"

Upon hearing this name, Zhu Yuanzhang's suspicions about Jiang Huan dissipated.

Lan Chen's release was on his orders; Jiang Huan did not secretly do anything underhanded.

However, he did not make this order public.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly said, "Lan Chen was released on our orders, and Jiang Huan was just doing as we said. There was nothing wrong with that."

"If there is nothing else, you may leave."

Zhu Yuanzhang originally intended to skip over it quickly.

Unexpectedly, Zhan Hui remained relentless.

"If Jiang Huan was released with Your Majesty's permission, I dare to ask Your Majesty, on what grounds did you release a traitor?"

Faced with the questioning, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned.

Had Zhan Hui taken the wrong medicine? How dare he speak to me like that?

Before Zhu Yuanzhang could respond.

Zhan Hui continued, "Lan Yu committed treason, and Lan Chen, as his eldest son, should be punished equally."

"Your Majesty, you yourself said that the ten heinous crimes are unforgivable, and treason is the worst of them!"

Before the charges are substantiated.

If the emperor wanted to release them, no one would object.

But once the charges are proven, the emperor will have to consider the consequences if he wants to release the person.

Especially the charge of treason.

Zhu Yuanzhang once said that the ten heinous crimes were unforgivable. The Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty also stated that if a prince committed a crime, he could be pardoned except for those who plotted rebellion.

Even the imperial pardons granted by the emperor were inscribed with this.

Except for the charge of treason, they can be spared death once.

This is also why the emperor arrested Xun Gui of Huaixi on charges of treason.

Throughout the twenty-sixth year of the Hongwu reign, those suspected of plotting rebellion were spared.

Only Li Shanchang was present.

In the thirteenth year of the Hongwu reign, during the Hu Weiyong rebellion case, the emperor, mindful of Li Shanchang's great contributions, did not pursue the matter.

Obviously.

Lan Chenyi is not a prince or grandson of the emperor.

Secondly, he did not have any outstanding military achievements.

They are not eligible for release.

Seeing the emperor remain silent, Zhan Hui continued, "Releasing Lan Chen is unreasonable, illegal, and morally wrong."

"Your Majesty, we implore you to return Lan Chen to the Ministry of Justice prison!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Jing, the Minister of Justice, stepped forward and echoed his words.

"Your Majesty, we beseech you to detain Lan Chen to uphold the laws of the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent.

If this matter is not handled properly, it will shake the stability of imperial power.

A person convicted of treason can be released without any cause.

This makes people realize that the price of rebellion is not necessarily death.

It will also damage the authority of the judiciary.

It undermines the foundation of the country's legal system.

Those who make the rules must abide by them; otherwise, no one will follow them.

Even the emperor was no exception.

Now, Zhu Yuanzhang only has two paths before him.

They could either damage the foundation of the judicial system and the stability of imperial power, or forcibly release Lan Chen.

Alternatively, as Zhan Hui suggested, Lan Chen should be imprisoned again in the Ministry of Justice's jail.

Neither of these two options was what Zhu Yuanzhang wanted.

However, he couldn't think of any legal pretext to release Lan Chen.

Unable to find a solution, Zhu Yuanzhang chose to... suspend the court session.

Zhu Yuanzhang held his forehead, his face bitter, and said:

"I'm not feeling well."

"Let's discuss it again in half an hour."

Seeing this, Zhan Hui didn't know what to say.

Zhu Yunwen was overjoyed as he watched this scene.

If the Emperor can't find a solution, then Lan Chen will inevitably have to go back to prison.

Once he's in prison, killing Lan Chen will be much easier.

People die in prison every day.

After the emperor left, the courtiers discussed the matter extensively.

……

Zhu Yuanzhang arrived at the rear hall.

He glanced at Zhu Yunwen beside him: "Yunwen, what do you think we should do?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen immediately replied, "Your Majesty, I believe that what Imperial Censor Zhan and Minister Yang said is not without merit."

"Although Lan Chen possesses extraordinary skills, he is ultimately Lan Yu's son. Imprisoning him in the imperial prison is the best option."

After Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment...

No response was given to Zhu Yunwen's reply.

He simply said, "Alright, you can leave now. I want to rest for a while."

Zhu Yunwen bowed and took his leave.

Watching Zhu Yunwen's departing figure, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression was complex.

He then closed his eyes and said, "Go and call Yu Xin here."

Upon hearing this, Wang Sancai immediately hurried to Fengtian Gate.

They summoned Yu Xin, the Minister of Revenue.

Yu Xin entered the rear hall and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyes and glanced at Yu Xin.

He asked, "Tell me your thoughts."

After thinking for a moment, Yu Xin slowly said, "Although Lan Chen and Lan Yu are father and son, Lan Chen spends most of his time at home refining pills and cultivating."

"He was not the mastermind, so he is not beyond redemption."

"Lan Chen is a talented person. Your Majesty can allow him to perform his duties while atoneing for his crimes, and also to redeem himself through meritorious service."

As for what kind of talent Lan Chen possessed, he didn't know.

All he knew was that the emperor only wanted a title.

He passed the imperial examination in the 21st year of the Hongwu reign and became the Minister of Revenue in just five years.

There is no other reason.

Handsome, loyal, and good at sharing the emperor's burdens.

"Go on."

"Lan Chen is suspected of treason. If he wants to take up his post while still guilty, he needs to do something significant and meritorious to atone for his crime. Otherwise, it would be unreasonable."

Only things big enough.

Only then could Lan Chen be temporarily released on bail.

Only by making significant contributions could Lan Chen possibly offset his crimes.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned: "You mean, send Lan Chen to the battlefield to earn merit?"

The most important national affairs are nothing more than war.

To achieve great merit, one must win a major battle.

However, whether Lan Chen can achieve merit on the battlefield remains to be seen.

He looked so frail and weak; it would be a miracle if he hadn't died on the battlefield.

Besides, even if Lan Chen is able to get out of prison and go to the frontier, how can I still use him?

Lan Chen's value lies in his immortal techniques.

If it's not by your side, then it's naturally useless.

It would be better to lock Lan Chen up in the imperial prison.

Yu Xin shook his head: "The court and officials are all troubled by one thing."

"If Lan Chen can resolve this matter, I believe that even if His Majesty pardons him, no one will object."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned.

"What is it?"

"The value of the paper money has been depreciated."

"If Lan Chen can resolve the issue of the devaluation of the imperial currency for the court, his crime can be forgiven."

"Of course, even if he can't solve it, Your Majesty can use this as a pretext to have him continue his duties while still guilty."

The salaries paid by the imperial court to its officials were partly in kind and partly in paper money.

The devaluation of paper money was a problem not only for the emperor, but also for all the officials.

Especially for officials of low rank, their salaries were already meager, and a portion of them consisted of depreciated paper money.