The Ming Dynasty: Starting with Emperor Chongzhen's crackdown on factionalism

He was promoted four ranks from the sixth rank to the fourth rank and was even granted the Imperial Sword—an unprecedented promotion in the dynasty.

Even when Yuan Chonghuan was granted the imperial sword after presenting his memorial to the emperor, he had already risen to the rank of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, a third-rank official.

What merits or abilities did Chen Zhiyuan, a scholar who came from the Hanlin Academy and had never served in local government, possess?

The following day, memorials impeaching Chen Zhiyuan flooded the Office of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Inside the cabinet office, Grand Secretary Cheng Jiming looked at the copy of the impeachment memorial sent by the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs and remained silent for a long time.

The second-in-command, Zhou Yanru, sat opposite him and slowly said, "Your Majesty's actions are truly perplexing."

Cheng Jiming raised his eyelids: "What's puzzling you?"

"Although Chen Zhiyuan is insightful, his promotion beyond his rank and the bestowal of the Imperial Sword is not a blessing for a subject."

Zhou Yanru paused.

"I'm afraid the Censorate will be thrown into chaos first," Zhou Yanru said bluntly.

"Which of those censors didn't come from the imperial examination system? Which of them didn't have experience in prefectures and counties? How can they be convinced to listen to a Hanlin scholar who has never tried a case or interrogated a criminal?"

Cheng Jiming sighed: "Your Majesty is gambling."

"What are we betting on?"

"I bet Chen Zhiyuan can actually find out something." Cheng Jiming looked out the window.

"The case of Yuan Chonghuan has been unresolved for more than half a year, and there has been endless infighting in the court. Your Majesty wants to use Chen Zhiyuan as a tool to cut this deadlock."

"What if it can't be cut open?"

"Then Chen Zhiyuan is the scapegoat," Cheng Jiming said calmly.

"At that time, all the blame—disrupting the court, sowing discord between the emperor and his ministers, and recklessly overturning an ironclad case—will fall on his head. Your Majesty only needs to issue a decree to quell the public anger."

Zhou Yanru felt a chill run down his spine.

Chen Zhiyuan was a knife, used to cut open the festering sore of the Yuan case.

If it's cut open, the credit goes to the emperor.

If you cut it badly, you can throw the knife away.

"What does the Grand Secretary mean..." Zhou Yanru asked tentatively.

"Let the cabinet draft the proposal." Cheng Jiming picked up his pen.

"It is proposed that these impeachment memorials be kept in the palace and not issued."

"Stay in China?" Zhou Yanru was taken aback.

"So many impeachments, all left in China?"

"Yes." Cheng Jiming continued writing.

"Since His Majesty has made this decision, he will not change it. If the cabinet were to second the impeachment now, it would be to oppose His Majesty. It would be better to wait and see."

Zhou Yanru remained silent.

He knew Cheng Jiming was right.

Once Emperor Chongzhen made a decision, he rarely changed it.

The same principle applied to killing Wei Zhongxian and later employing Yuan Chonghuan.

Now that Chen Zhiyuan is to be employed, the decision will not be reversed just because of a few memorials.

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youjian calmly looked at the newly delivered impeachment memorial.

Wang Chengen carefully laid out the memorials in batches of ten, and there were already six batches—sixty memorials impeaching Chen Zhiyuan.

"Your Majesty, these..." Wang Chengen asked in a low voice.

"Stay in the capital," Zhu Youjian said, uttering only two words.

"Keep them all in China?"

"all."

Zhu Youjian stood up, walked to the imperial desk, and picked up a book at random.

It was a memorial submitted by Xu Yuqing, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of War. The memorial was strongly worded, saying that Chen Zhiyuan "misled the emperor with sophistry, used the past to criticize the present, and his intentions were despicable."

He put it down and picked up another book.

It was Imperial Censor Wu Sheng who said that Chen Zhiyuan was "impulsive and eager to gain promotion through sensational words."

One book after another.

Every book criticizes Chen Zhiyuan and questions his decisions.

A cold smile suddenly appeared on Zhu Youjian's lips.

The more fiercely these people curse, the more it proves they have something to hide.

If the evidence in the Yuan Chonghuan case is truly "ironclad" as they claim, then why fear further investigation?

What they fear is not that Chen Zhiyuan's case will be overturned.

He was afraid that Chen Zhiyuan would actually verify each of those memorials, that those "rumored reports" would be exposed as true, and that he himself would be dragged down with him.

"Chen Zhiyuan..." Zhu Youjian murmured to himself.

"I have given you power, I have given you a sword. You must not disappoint me."

On March 24, Chen Zhiyuan went to the Censorate to take up his post.

The Censorate was located on the west side of the Imperial City, and together with the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, it was known as the "Three Judicial Offices".

The plaque above the door that reads "Suppressing Governance and Enforcing the Law" is an artifact from the Hongwu period.

Chen Zhiyuan wore a newly collared scarlet robe of the fourth rank, with a silver belt and a black gauze hat.

Two Imperial Guard captains followed behind him—sent by Luo Yangxing to escort the Imperial Sword.

The sword was wrapped in yellow silk and placed in a vermilion lacquered wooden box.

According to regulations, the Shangfang Sword could not be taken out except for sacrifices, expeditions, and major ceremonies; it was usually kept in the main hall of the government office.

In front of the Censorate, several censors were talking in hushed tones. When they saw Chen Zhiyuan arrive, they stopped talking abruptly.

The crowd bowed respectfully, their expressions complex.

Chen Zhiyuan returned the greeting and entered the yamen.

In the hall, Cao Yubian, the Left Censor-in-Chief, had been waiting for a long time.

Cao Yubian was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the 29th year of the Wanli reign. He served successively as magistrate, censor, and governor. During the Tianqi reign, he was dismissed for impeaching Wei Zhongxian. He was reinstated in the first year of the Chongzhen reign and was promoted to Left Censor-in-Chief last year.

He was over sixty years old, with white hair and beard, a gaunt face, and sharp eyes.

"Your humble servant Chen Zhiyuan greets the Chief Censor." Chen Zhiyuan bowed.

Cao Yubian scrutinized him for a long time before slowly saying, "Vice-Prefect Chen, there's no need for such formalities. This court has received His Majesty's decree."

"From this day forward, you will be employed in this court, specifically in charge of verifying the memorials submitted regarding the Yuan Chonghuan case."

"Your humble servant obeys."

"Your main room is ready, in the east wing of the backyard," Cao Yubian said calmly.

"All case files have been prepared by clerks. If you need anything, you can directly contact the Registrar's Office."

"Thank you, General Secretary."

Cao Yubian paused for a moment, then said, "The Censorate is a place of justice, and the censors and officials each have their own duties. Although you are handling this case by special order, you should still get along well with your colleagues and be careful with your words and actions."

These words sound like a word of advice, but they actually carry a warning.

Chen Zhiyuan's expression remained unchanged: "This humble official understands."

After leaving the main hall, walk through the corridor to the backyard.

The censors and clerks they encountered along the way all turned their heads and whispered among themselves.

"That's Chen Zhiyuan?"

"He jumped from the Hanlin Academy, rising to the top in one step."

"I heard she's only twenty-one."

"Not only that, he was also granted an imperial sword."

"Shhh - keep your voice down..."

Chen Zhiyuan seemed not to hear.

The three straight rooms in the east wing of the backyard have been cleaned.

In the center room was a ceremonial desk, with bookshelves on either side.

Several stacks of files were piled on the table, all wrapped in yellow silk.

A clerk in his forties was waiting at the door. When Chen Zhiyuan arrived, he bowed.

"This humble official, Zhao Delu, clerk of the Censorate, is hereby ordered by the Chief Censor to assist the Vice Censor in handling the case."

Chen Zhiyuan nodded.

"Thank you for your help, Secretary Zhao. What are these?"

"It's a copy of the memorials related to the Yuan Chonghuan case," Zhao Delu said.

"The original documents are archived in the Ministry of Justice. These are copies made by the Censorate over the years. The impeachments against Yuan Chonghuan, the impeachments against Mao Wenlong, the defense of Yuan Chonghuan, and the appeals for Mao Wenlong are all here. There are a total of 374 documents."

Chen Zhiyuan walked to the table and opened the top volume.

It was a memorial submitted by Censor Gao Jie in December of the second year of the Chongzhen reign (1644) impeaching Yuan Chonghuan.

The handwriting is neat, but the language is strong.

"Yuan Chonghuan was adept at deceiving the emperor, arbitrarily killing generals, allowing the enemy to advance unchecked, and there are evidence of him colluding with the enemy..."

He put it down and opened another scroll.

It was a memorial submitted by Qian Yunjing, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of War, in the first month of the third year of the Chongzhen reign.

"Mao Wenlong had received the nation's favor for generations, guarding the Dongjiang region and restraining the Jurchen invaders, his contributions to the country were immense. Yuan Chonghuan's arbitrary execution of him with the imperial sword was tantamount to cutting off the court's wings and eliminating a threat to the Jurchens..."

Another volume.

It is a memorial submitted by Censor Shi Kun in defense of Yuan Chonghuan.

"In the Battle of Guangqumen, Yuan Chonghuan personally braved arrows and stones to repel the enemy cavalry and protect the capital. His contribution is undeniable. If this is considered treason, then are all those who fought that day considered traitors?"

Chen Zhiyuan looked at them one by one.

Three hundred and seventy-four memorials were piled up on three long tables.

Each document represents a voice within the court, and each claims to be "loyal to the emperor and patriotic."

"Secretary Zhao," Chen Zhiyuan looked up.

"I need a list of these memorials. Sorted chronologically, with the official title and name of the person who submitted them, the main purpose of the memorial, and the main accusations or defenses."

Zhao Delu was taken aback: "The Vice Minister wants to... reorganize everything?"