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

That's a very strong statement.

The clerks waiting outside the hall were so frightened that they lowered their heads.

Chen Zhiyuan remained calm.

"You flatter me, Your Excellency. I do not mean to abolish reporting based on hearsay, but merely to suggest improvements," he said slowly.

"The purpose of officials reporting matters based on hearsay is to broaden channels of communication and ensure that the sentiments of the people are conveyed to the higher authorities."

"But if rumors are not verified, they may be used as a tool for partisan attacks."

"The case of Yuan Chonghuan is a clear example—all parties used it as an excuse to attack each other, while the real situation of border defense and the truth of the case were never investigated."

He raised his head and looked at Cao Yubian.

"Chief Censor, what is His Majesty's intention in sending me to investigate this case?"

Cao Yu Bian remained silent.

Chen Zhiyuan asked and answered himself: "In my opinion, His Majesty hopes that this case can be free from the influence of factional strife and that the truth can be truly clarified."

"If we continue to judge cases based on the old practices, on which side submits more memorials or which side has the loudest voice, how is that any different from the past? How can factional strife ever be stopped?"

Cao Yubian remained silent.

He was well aware of these things.

Having spent over thirty years in officialdom, from local to central levels, he has witnessed far too much factional strife.

The Donglin Party and the eunuch faction, the Zhejiang Party and the Chu Party, the Qi Party and the Kun Party...

He personally experienced the bloodshed and turmoil of the Tianqi era.

After Emperor Chongzhen purged the eunuch faction, the factional strife seemed to subside, but in reality, it went underground, becoming more covert and more intense.

The case of Yuan Chonghuan was a concentrated outbreak of such an event.

The Donglin faction wanted to protect Yuan Chonghuan because Qian Longxi, who recommended Yuan Chonghuan, was a key member of the Donglin faction.

Other factions wanted to use the Yuan case to attack the Donglin Party, so they strongly advocated killing Yuan.

The two sides argued in the court for half a year, and memorials were submitted in droves. But how many people actually went to Liaodong to check the defenses, ask the soldiers, and check the provisions?

Cao Yubian himself had never been there.

It's not that he doesn't want to go, it's that he can't go.

If you go, you might be labeled as a "Yuan faction" or "anti-Yuan faction" member, and you might get caught up in the vortex.

Therefore, he could only stay in the capital, read memorials, listen to reports, and then make a judgment—a judgment based on second-hand and third-hand information.

What Chen Zhiyuan said is actually correct.

But Cao Yubian could not admit it.

Because admitting it is tantamount to admitting that the work of the Censorate over the past three years has been problematic, and it is tantamount to admitting that he, as the Left Censor-in-Chief, has failed in his duty.

More importantly, admitting it would offend too many people.

Those officials who impeached Yuan Chonghuan and those ministers who defended him were all connected by a complex web of relationships.

Making a move on one could lead to a whole chain of problems.

Cao Yubian is sixty-two years old this year, and he should retire in three more years.

He didn't want to get into such trouble in his final years.

"Chen Qianxian," Cao Yubian finally spoke, his voice weary.

"You are young, energetic, and eager to get things done, which is excellent. But the way of being an official is not as simple as just right and wrong."

He paused, carefully considering his words.

"His Majesty has already made a judgment on the Yuan Chonghuan case. The Ministry of Justice has prepared the final verdict, which is awaiting your approval."

"What do you mean by digging this up again for investigation? Are you questioning His Majesty's divine judgment?"

"Still questioning the results of the joint trial conducted by the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review?"

That's a trap.

If Chen Zhiyuan answers "yes," it would be arrogant and presumptuous.

Answering "no" would be self-contradictory.

Chen Zhiyuan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "This humble official is not questioning the Three Judicial Offices, but simply believes that judgments should be based on facts."

"I have also read the final judgment document from the Ministry of Justice. Most of the charges listed therein are derived from impeachment memorials."

"If the impeachment memorial itself is problematic, shouldn't the final verdict also be re-examined?"

He looked up at Cao Yubian: "Chief Censor, His Majesty bestowed upon me the Imperial Sword and ordered me to take charge of this case, hoping to break out of the old framework and thoroughly investigate the truth."

"If we were to follow the old practice of judging cases based on memorials, why would Your Majesty bother with this unnecessary step?"

Cao Yubian was speechless.

He stared at Chen Zhiyuan and suddenly realized that this young man was difficult to deal with.

They are not the kind of reckless and difficult to deal with, but rather the kind that is reasonable, well-founded, and methodical.

Every word he says is tied to "divine will," "facts," and "regulations," leaving you no room to find fault.

"Okay, okay." Cao Yubian took a deep breath.

"Even if what you say makes sense, what do you intend to do with this memorial? Present it directly to the Emperor?"

"I was just about to ask the Chief Censor to review it before submitting it according to procedure."

"According to the regulations?" Cao Yubian sneered.

"Chen Zhiyuan, do you know what the consequences will be if you submit this memorial?"

"This humble official knows a little about it."

"Know a little?" Cao Yubian's voice suddenly became sharp.

"Let me tell you! Once this memorial is submitted, the Censorate will immediately become the target of everyone's criticism!"

"The officials from the Six Ministries and Thirteen Circuits will pounce on us like mad dogs!"

"They will impeach you, impeach me, and impeach the Censorate for protecting Yuan Chonghuan, questioning imperial judgment, and disrupting the court!"

He stood up and walked up to Chen Zhiyuan.

"Do you think that just because His Majesty bestowed upon you the Imperial Sword, you can do whatever you want?"

"Let me tell you, the most important thing for an official in the court is to know your limits! It's about knowing when to advance and when to retreat! What you're doing now is slapping the face of the entire court! It's undermining the Censorate!"

Chen Zhiyuan looked at Cao Yubian's face, which was slightly flushed with excitement, and suddenly asked, "Chief Censor, do you really believe that Yuan Chonghuan's crimes are irrefutable?"

Cao Yubian was taken aback.

"While reviewing the case files, I discovered a suspicious point," Chen Zhiyuan continued.

"After Mao Wenlong was killed, there was some unrest among the Dongjiang generals, but it was quickly quelled. If Mao Wenlong was truly loyal and virtuous, why didn't his generals avenge him? If Yuan Chonghuan truly acted arbitrarily, why didn't the Dongjiang soldiers mutini?"

He paused, then added, "There's also the suspicion of treason. If Yuan Chonghuan truly colluded with the Later Jin after Huang Taiji broke through the pass and entered the pass, why did he fight to the death at Guangqumen?"

"If he really wanted to let the enemy go, the capital was poorly defended at the time. He only needed to let the enemy loose a little, and the capital would surely fall."

"But he fought a bloody battle to repel the enemy cavalry, sustaining several wounds himself—is that something a traitor would do?"

Cao Yubian remained silent.

He had certainly considered these questions.

But what's the point of thinking about it?

Given the current situation in the court, who would dare to investigate further?

"Chen Zhiyuan." Cao Yubian's voice softened, tinged with weariness.

"Don't you know that officials sometimes can't be too serious? Water that's too clear has no fish, and a person who's too discerning has no followers. Don't you understand this principle?"

"I understand," Chen Zhiyuan said. "But I understand even more that if everyone doesn't take things seriously, the Ming Dynasty is truly doomed."

He bowed respectfully and said, "Your Excellency, my mind is made up. This memorial will certainly be submitted. If Your Excellency deems it inappropriate, you may submit another memorial impeaching me. I will have no complaints."

Cao Yubian stared at him for a very long time.

Then, he suddenly laughed.

"Okay, okay, okay."

He said "good" three times, turned around and walked back behind the desk, and picked up his pen.

"I will write a memorial impeaching you immediately."

Cao Yubian spoke as he wrote, his voice eerily calm.

"Impeach you for being young and impetuous, recklessly overturning established cases, sowing discord between the emperor and his ministers, and disrupting the judicial system."

Chen Zhiyuan bowed: "Thank you for your guidance, General Secretary."

As he left the main hall, it was nearly dusk.

Under the eaves, several censors stood at a distance, talking in hushed tones. When they saw him come out, they immediately fell silent, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

Chen Zhiyuan ignored him and walked straight back to his room.

He closed the door, sat down behind the desk, and closed his eyes.

Cao Yubian's reaction was as expected.

This boss is not a bad person; in fact, he can be considered quite upright.

But he was too cautious, too worried, and too eager to maintain a balance.

In the officialdom of the Chongzhen era, this might have been a way to survive, but it was by no means a way to save the country.

Chen Zhiyuan knew that his time was running out.

Cao Yubian's impeachment memorial will be submitted soon.

Then, more impeachments will follow.

Those officials who were criticized by him, and those factions whose interests were harmed, will launch a fierce counterattack.

Will Zhu Youjian protect him?

Maybe, but not for long.