eldest son of Ming dynasty

Chapter 194 Unmasking!

Mu Bin was a little dazed after hearing this, as he had never heard of such an order.

"Your Highness, this matter is really not difficult... But there are so many yamen in the capital, if they are closed at the same time, I am afraid that there will not be enough manpower."

"Then call Zhang Yong and ask him to bring some people there. You must do what I said. No one is allowed in, no one is allowed out!"

Mu Bin had no choice but to withdraw after receiving the order.

In fact, what they don’t know is that in the history of Zheng’er Bajing... Liu Jin, the great eunuch who gained power during the Zhengde period, did this kind of thing. 3 o'clock) off work.

In history, Liu Jin was actually just like us ordinary people, that is, he did good deeds and bad deeds at the same time.He once had the idea that after gaining power, he wanted to make the country better. For example, he cleared up military settlements, but his methods were rough, he was corrupt, and he was not smart enough. charges.

Perhaps the history we read is one-sided, and there are only a few records left by so many people in an era, either brilliant or dazzling, or dirty and disgusting.But most of them did not leave their names in history. They are just like ordinary people like us, working to get money to live on.If the leader is strict, then be honest, if the leader is loose, then follow the crowd and do the "eating, drinking and taking" routine.

There are not so many extreme bad guys, and there are not so pure good guys, but the current political correctness is very extreme, as if to build a cage to put the emperor in.

So Zhu Houzhao wanted to seize this opportunity. What he wanted was not the lives of Ming officials, but their names.

After Li Dongyang gave the crown prince a stern drink, he couldn't say anything, anyway, everyone in the cabinet was there.On the contrary, Han Wen was a little uncomfortable, after thinking about it, he still took the initiative to apologize and said: "Your Highness, there are also officials who have not been on duty today in the Ministry of Finance..."

Zhu Houzhao raised his hand, "I'm not in charge of people today. Don't worry, Da Situ. None of the officials in the household department will move in this palace... This prince in this palace dare not say that his head is hanging on his head, but he can be regarded as governing in the court. Do you work? Some of you have taught me too much, saying that all officials will feel their virtues if you work hard and work hard. Today we will see if all officials feel this virtue. As for whether you want to lose the court Hey, this matter is simple. Whoever disgraces the imperial court, I will embarrass him!"

However, the other Mou Bin didn't dare to be careless. After returning, he dispersed all the people who were still in Beijing. Let's talk about today's matter. Simple is simple, but it is too easy to make jokes.

But if the prince wants to do this, who can do it?It's been 17 years since Hongzhi, who doesn't know the prince's temper, once he gets serious, don't annoy him at this time.

So, let's make trouble.

Not long after, Jinyiwei, with dozens of people along the way, began to appear in front of each yamen. At the first sight, the officials of Jinyiwei turned pale with fright: What happened again?Recruit these killing gods to these places!
"According to the order of the crown prince, the yamen of the Ministry of Punishment will be sealed immediately, and no one is allowed to enter or leave!"

Min Guide's subordinates rushed to report, "Big Sikou! It's not good, Jin Yiwei is here!"

"Jin Yiwei?" Min Gui put down his pen and came out from the desk, he stretched his head to look at the movement outside, "Do you know who committed the crime?"

"I don't know, I just want to seal the yamen!"

"Seal the yamen?" Min Gui became angry, "They also sealed the yamen of the Ministry of Punishment? Come on, follow me to go outside and have a look."

Speaking of which, he was also a grumpy man.

Seeing that there was indeed a group of Jinyi guards forming a formation in front of the yamen, Min Gui grabbed Qianhu, the leader, and scolded: "The Ministry of Punishment is one of the six departments of the imperial court, and this official is a second-rank official of the imperial court. Feng, aren't you afraid that I will read your book in front of the crown prince and His Majesty?!"

Min Gui's official position is indeed not low.

The Qianhu of Jin Yiwei only bowed his head, "Don't be angry, Da Si Kou. This humble official came here to seal the government office just to respect His Highness's will. If there is any doubt, Da Si Kou can enter the palace to confirm to His Highness after the seal is unsealed for a while."

According to His Highness' order?
"Why did His Highness make such a decree?"

This question is very inappropriate, and the adults of Qianhu actually disdain it in their hearts, and said respectfully: "Although the chief minister is a second-rank official in the imperial court, it is better not to say such things. Ask those who are interested to listen and poke me." In His Highness's ears, Da Sikou will not be able to fall well."

Min Gui was sent to the first army, and he stretched out his hand and pointed angrily, "I will go back and write the reference book now!"

This Jinyiwei Qianhu couldn't control so much anymore, and said to the people behind him, "Keep your eyes wide open, this is His Highness's order, let one person go, we can't eat it and walk around!"

It seems that this scene quickly caused chaos in all the yamen in Beijing.

The main thing is that I really didn't expect the crown prince to make such an order.

However, this is also the arrogance of the Jin Yiwei below, and the official department like Mu Bin who went in person is better. He explained to Wang Jia: "Your Highness is only here today, not to arrest people. Don't be alarmed by the heavenly officials. As long as people don’t come in and out, everything else is fine. You just have to report the list of officials who are off duty without reason today.”

Although Wang Jia didn't understand what he was doing, he was used to following the prince over the years, and the prince...has never done a few ordinary things.

At the same time, in a Goulan place, an official with a mustache was woken up by a boy from his family, "Master, it's a big deal! The capital is in chaos now, and it is said that all Jinyiwei are dispatched everywhere!" The yamen is being sealed! I inquired a little, and it is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who is ordering!"

"Come on?! Then I am just not here, sir?! Oh, it's over, it's over, hurry up, prepare your horse!"

This official is already middle-aged, and the most impressive thing is the big mole on his chin. His name is Lu Shumao, and he is the censor sent to Shandong this time.

After returning to Beijing, he was also ready to report, but the incident in Zhejiang attracted the attention of most people in the court, including His Highness.

So it dragged on for nearly ten days, which made him think that the prince had ignored this matter.

The inspector censor is the inspector. After this inspection, he was more or less scratched. He endured the money kicked on his body for a few days. Today, he couldn't hold back anymore. He didn't expect his life to be bad. thing.

Even if the horse is ready, no official will wear an official robe to drink flowers and wine. Fortunately, the servant was clever and got him a carriage.Lu Shumao opened it and saw that the official uniforms were all there, and he couldn't help but praise him for his cleverness, "Master, I have passed this test, and I will reward you very much later!"

"Hey!" The servant heard that there was a reward, so he worked even harder, "Master is lucky, and he has made great contributions in Shandong. This time, he will pass the test safely!"

Then come back and give him the reward.

So Lu Shumao was on the road, changing clothes, not caring about any etiquette, just hid in the carriage on the street and changed his clothes, but the carriage was driving too fast, and suddenly there was a "bang" at an intersection and another carriage Bumped together!
You are not alone in the rush!

Now it's all right, it's turned into a car that turns on its back.After the carriage overturned, Lu Shumao couldn't do well inside, even if he frightened the groom, he hurried to the back to find someone, "Master, master?!"

The accident was not big or small, but there is no such thing as an airbag these days, poor Lu Shumao's head hit the wood hard in it, and he passed out!

The groom was worried that he would be involved in a murder case involving court officials, so he dragged the person out without hesitation. It didn't matter, Lu Shumao hadn't changed his clothes yet!

……

……

Snapped! !

Zhu Houzhao slammed the memorial in his hand to the ground, "This is my censor of the Ming Dynasty! He also said that he must take into account the court's face! If the court is full of these officials, what face does the court have in the hearts of the people?! Afraid It was thrown away by them a long time ago!"

"Your Highness, calm down!"

The crown prince suddenly became angry, and all the officials were silent.

At this moment, there are not only those people from before, but the top leaders released from the cabinet, six ministries and nine divisions are all there.

Zhang Fuhua, who had just succeeded Dai Shan as the censor of the Inspectorate, took the initiative to plead guilty, "Lu Shumao is the censor of the Inspectorate, and the minister's performance is unfavorable. It is indisputable. Your Highness, please punish him!"

Zhu Houzhao didn't want to answer these words, but frowned and asked Fang, "Mu Bin, how many people are there in total this time?"

"His Royal Highness, a total of 108 officials including Lu Shumao and others were found."

"Oh, I have gathered 108 generals! These are only officials in the capital. How many local officials in the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty should be on duty or not? On weekdays, I know to hand out memorials to my palace, or to send them to my palace. If you want money, you can either ask Ben Gong for free, and just say that the country’s affairs are difficult. With such a group of officials who lie in bed every day and wait for their needs, it’s not difficult for me in the Ming Dynasty! It’s ridiculous! ?”

The Tongzheng Envoy is the department responsible for sending and receiving memorials. It is their job to cash out the emperor's order, understand the situation, investigate and cooperate with customs and defense official documents, and report to the subjects of the Quartet to confirm feudal advice and appeal.

Although this department has been somewhat marginalized in the actual process, it still has a duty, which is to copy and archive the memorials.

"Minister Sun Tingyuan, wait for His Highness's orders!"

"My palace remembers that the memorials submitted by the ministers and the chief envoys have all been preserved. You go back and tell your subordinates that you are ready not to go home for a few days. Didn't Mou Bin have a list of 108 people? You go back and look for them one by one, and find out all the memorials of these people, and see what they say, and then see how they do it! Bengong is not afraid of losing face, sometimes you have to show your shame Let it bask in the sun and turn red!"

"Zhang Chengtian!"

This is Zhang Tianrui's second son. He has been managing "Ming Pao" for the past few years. He has no rank and is not an official. However, "Ming Pao" is the mouthpiece of the Eastern Palace and has always followed the orders of the Eastern Palace.

"The grass people are here!"

"You don't want to sleep tonight either! Tomorrow's "Ming Pao" will be revised, and this list will be printed for me. If you make a mistake, I will want your head!"

Now in the East Palace, important officials like cabinet ministers are kneeling honestly, what else can Zhang Chengtian say, his little shoulders can't bear anything, so he can only work honestly.

But the prince's will is not over yet. "In addition, the General Secretary should find at least three people's memorials tonight, and communicate with Zhang Chengtian. Zhang Chengtian, in addition to the list of 108 people, you have to pick one more person tomorrow." Report in detail, pick up some of the words he wrote in the playbook, and let the people in the capital watch a show! 108 people! One day is not enough for this year’s New Year’s Eve! Okay, let’s have fun with the people once, have a good time Play a joke for the common people!"

What the crown prince said was serious, and if he did as he said, the imperial court would lose all face.

Liu Jian is the head of the cabinet. At this time, he has to say something. After making up his mind, he said without any haste: "Your Highness, don't be impulsive. It's wrong for these officials to be off duty for no reason, but the court didn't There have been some precedents, such a sudden investigation, it is natural to be caught off guard. Moreover, if His Highness is angry and sends a decree to reprimand them, it is enough to ask them to correct it. Moreover, it is hard to escape the mouths of the people and the mouths of history books, and after thousands of years, future generations will have nothing good to say about the winter of the 17th year of Hongzhi."

"Punish without teaching? Taking the salary of the imperial court to be on duty in the Yamen, do you have to teach this kind of thing? Is it the prince of the palace, or you, the chief of the cabinet?!" Zhu Houzhao was so indifferent He said a word, and then directly issued an order to expel Sun and Zhang, "Sun Tingyuan and Zhang Chengtian, what are you still kneeling for? Do you think one night is more than enough to do these things?"

Where is it, it is estimated that I will be busy until the sun rises tomorrow.

"The minister (grassman) resigns!"

Zhu Houzhao squinted at Liu Jian, "Get old Liu Ge. I am not afraid of exposing these ugliness. What are you afraid of? Also, I will explain some things clearly to you. The face of the court is the face of the palace. Shengde is not in the Forbidden City where I live, nor is it in your beautiful articles! It is in the hearts of the people! All I know is to talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality to me all day long, but I have no actual actions to guard the hearts of the people. Only the descendants of generations to come will see it as a joke! Only when the people in the world can be prosperous and healthy, will they turn their hearts to the court, cover up the ugliness of the court, and keep it from the people, so that they can save the face of the court?!"

"You are all my teachers, and all of you are bachelors who understand dozens of principles. Is this going to teach me how to deceive myself?!"

(End of this chapter)