The sun is blazing in the sky.
One after another, people from the Zhongshu Keshe, dripping with sweat, trotted all the way from Xiyuan to various ministries.
As if infected by the atmosphere in the Forbidden City today, several people's expressions were quite anxious.
Each held the imperial edict copied by the six subjects, and the wind blew under their feet.
The cabinet is now discussing matters with the emperor in Xiyuan, directly agreeing to vote, Zhongshu Sheren, and the six subjects to prepare the imperial edict on the spot.
The anger was so intense that countless people stared at him eagerly.
From the moment the imperial envoy's murder case entered the capital, the situation in the capital was destined to boil over and the debris would rise.
Information in the officialdom cannot be kept secret no matter what, as long as it goes through proper procedures.
What's more, it was passed down from the local area.
All the ministers and ministers were discussing this matter secretly this morning. Even under the constraints of the various ministers, they still gathered in private and discussed it quietly.
But since each of them knows a little bit about each other, it will inevitably lead to distortion when put together.
There is even more fabrication and exaggeration in the words.
It is said that thousands of elite troops rushed into the Chief Secretary's Yamen and beheaded the governor of a province.
Or maybe there are already thieves somewhere who have gathered together to proclaim themselves kings, raise flags and rebel, etc. It is said that they have noses and eyes.
Especially when the people in the study room and the imperial edict room of the cabinet were on duty, they were in a hurry, which exaggerated the tense atmosphere and seemed to corroborate the speculations of the onlookers.
The edicts are all sent to the Ministry of Personnel and the Metropolitan Inspectorate.
However, there will naturally be many copies of the six subjects sent to various ministries and departments.
Zhang Siwei, the Minister of Rites, was discussing matters in the cabinet.
The edict was naturally delivered to the hands of the Right Minister and the great ministers.
He looked at the edict in his hand in shock.
Each of these edicts is more intense than the last!
At first it was just investigating the case.
"I ordered the patrol censor Shu Ao to investigate Tang Bin and the events before and after Zhang Chucheng's murder. I will sort out the details and report them to you."
Then the questioning began.
"In view of the Linxiang County mine thieves incident and the Niujiaojian water thieves incident, the dismissed prisoners were sent to guard Qiu Qiao in Dongting, and Chen Xiao was patrolled in the river. The troops were prepared to arrest the three of you, waiting for interrogation!"
A humble official, not enough for the people in the center to take a second look at.
But what happened next was directed at the feudal officials!
The edicts from Governor Zhao Xian and Chief Envoy Chen Rui were delivered together, and are now in the hands of Zhu Dashou.
The content is even more intense.
"Thousands of miners from Huguang gathered together to kill officials and rebel without restraint. How can we tolerate this?" Zhao Xian, the censor of Youqian City and the governor of Huguang, was appointed as a soldier, but he did not take precautions in advance, which caused harm.
It’s too late to regret this place! Let him return to Beijing immediately to await investigation and treatment!”
"Thieves and bandits are rampant in Huguang. This will lead to neglect of political affairs and tolerance of traitors, which will lead to the decline of people's livelihood and the risk of rebellion! There is Chen Rui, the right chief minister of Huguang, who is lying on a plain diet and doing nothing. It is hard to absolve him of the blame. He should be punished immediately.
Return to Beijing for crime!"
A governor or a chief envoy, without giving any dignity, directly ordered him to return to Beijing and wait for punishment. This shows that the emperor and the cabinet were furious!
However, the consternation of the great ministers was not due to the accusations against the governor and the chief envoy.
Although both of them were exiled officials at the end of last year, it only lasted half a year, so the involvement was not very deep. It was more like a lack of ability and an inability to control the place - after all, the depth of the place was clearly evident.
However, at this time, anyone who is a little suspicious cannot be let go. It is normal for the cabinet and the emperor to have this attitude.
What frightened him was the crime - killing an official and rebelling!?
What on earth did the ministers of the cabinet discuss with the emperor in Chengguang Hall!
Do you really want to implicate me on such a crime!?
Zhu Dashou couldn't help but pick up the edict and quickly came to the room where Ma Ziqiang, the left servant, was on duty: "Ti Gan."
Ma Ziqiang was also reading the imperial edict that Liu Ke had just copied, and at a glance he understood why Zhu Dashou came.
He raised his hand and pressed it softly: "Duanfu, please be patient."
Zhu Dashou still couldn't suppress his uneasiness: "Ti Gan, for the crime of rebellion now, we have only caught the gangsters, but if we really find out anything, I'm afraid it will really be a bloody storm!"
The characterization of the crime is too important.
If it is a crime of gang robbery, then the case can be closed first, and the accounts can be settled slowly after the person is found out. At worst, individual charges can be charged later.
This can also prevent it from being a coincidence, or the person who found it is unwilling to investigate further.
But now it's all about rebellion, which leaves no room for anything!
No matter what, we must get to the bottom of it! No matter who is found, there will be no mercy!
What a drastic move!
Hearing this, Ma Ziqiang shook his head and said: "I'm afraid, what we want is to get to the bottom of it. This matter should also lead to a bloody storm."
Who hasn’t had time to get to the place yet?
The courtiers all grew up step by step, and most of them even had experience in governorship.
There are a large number of disciples and former officials under the cabinet ministers, including local governors and officials of the third department. All of them will be filled with righteous indignation over this incident - what if this happens to me?
The pressure on several cabinet ministers can be imagined.
Not to mention the consequences afterwards.
If this kind of thing is allowed to go unchecked, people will follow the same example in the future, and the government orders will not leave the capital!
In the future, will we have to use imperial envoys to sacrifice the land and improve taxes?
No matter how we consider it, things like assassin politics must be eradicated with all our efforts.
It was determined from the beginning that it was rebellion, but it was only reasonable.
Zhu Dashou said with concern: "It's not a question of whether it should be done or not. I'm afraid that the dog will jump over the wall and cause the place to rot."
If there is room for softening the attitude, it can have a somewhat paralyzing effect.
At that time, we can peel off the cocoon, and on the premise of stabilizing the situation, we can arrest the culprit. At that time, if we want to confiscate the house and exterminate the family, we can do whatever we want.
On the contrary, I am afraid that I will act violently at the beginning, which will really force people to rebel, and the consequences will be endless.
After listening to his colleague's words, Ma Ziqiang stopped moving his hands.
He raised his head and glanced at Zhu Dashou, and said meaningfully: "Maybe Duanfu doesn't know yet."
"Before His Majesty asked the ministers of the cabinet to go to the Chengguang Palace to discuss matters, he first met with Wu Jinghe, the Prince Consort and the Prince's Consort."
As the son and daughter of Zhang Siwei and a backbone of the Jin Party, he is naturally much better informed than other major officials.
Zhu Dashou was startled: "Wu Jinghe?"
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he immediately realized it!
He is in charge of the affairs of the clan! The emperor summoned the clan to the Huguang matter, so it must not be without purpose!
Is there really a connection, or is it simply trying to get involved in this direction!?
Ma Ziqiang nodded: "So, for the crime of rebellion, if you pass this village, there may not be this shop anymore. Your Majesty, you have a dark heart!"
His heart is with the Jin Party and he is not involved in the situation, but he can see it more clearly.
The characterization of the crime is used to express one's stance.
There are not many people in Huguang who are worthy of such a statement from the emperor and the cabinet.
Gentlemen and warriors are not even in the position of being charged with crimes. It makes no difference whether they are bandits or rebels.
On the contrary, it is the feudal officials and some people registered in the clan's mansion who are worthy of expressing their stance immediately without leaving any room for maneuver.
All the big ribbons looked thoughtful.
At this moment, a clerk knocked on the door.
Seeing that the two ministers were there, he just saved a trip and said: "Two ministers, Your Majesty has summoned Yin Sun Yizheng of Shuntian Prefecture to enter the palace."
Both of them were startled and looked at each other.
…
Entering the palace from the Meridian Gate, there is a long distance from Xiyuan.
Sun Yizheng was following Li Jin and turned to look around.
Seeing that no one was around, he took out an ingot of gold from his sleeve, approached Li Jin, and stuffed the gold into Li Jin's sleeve.
"Eunuch, if Sun doesn't want you to be in trouble, please tell me why Your Majesty summoned me."
The minister led the royal guards to the door and led him into the palace directly and semi-forcedly. Who else would be able to avoid panic?
The most frightening thing is that we still don’t know why!
Corruption?
Doesn’t it mean that things before the first year of Wanli are forgotten?
Although I took some smaller measures later, I didn't go into a big fight.
Or was impeached?
Then he should be asked to petition instead of summoning him to the palace.
Not to mention the Huguang nobleman who gave him gifts, must he really be involved in this matter...
Thinking of this section, Sun Yizheng couldn't help but scare himself.
I thought it would be good if I could spend some extra money now to buy something that would make me feel at ease.
Then he kept putting the gold ingots into the hand of the eunuch in front of him.
After Li Jin quietly put the gold ingot into his sleeve, Sun Yizheng finally let out a sigh of relief.
Sure enough, there is no eunuch who is not greedy for money.
He asked quietly: "Father, your Majesty summoned me to the palace, for what reason?"
Just when he thought Li Jin was going to whisper to him, he saw Li Jin walking forward quickly and putting some distance between him and him.
It's like nothing happened.
Sun Yizheng was stunned for a moment, and then he immediately came to his senses.
Dog eunuch, so brave!
I, the Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, am also Xiao Jiuqing after all! He actually deceived me like this!
Sun Yizheng secretly hated it, but there was nothing he could do at this juncture.
The anger of being deceived and the worry of the emperor's unknown intentions made Sun Yizheng even more irritable and uneasy.
In this torturous mood, Sun Yizheng followed Li Jin all the way to Chengguang Hall.
As soon as Li Jin led him into Chengguang Hall, before he saw anyone, he could hear the emperor's childish but sonorous voice.
"I have entrusted the great affairs to the cabinet, and this matter is naturally no exception. Please recommend people directly."
Sun Yizheng slowed down his pace and quietly raised his head to take a look.
I saw the emperor dressed in ordinary clothes, with his back to the ministers, playing with a screen.
Three cabinet ministers, as well as Zhang Siwei, the Minister of Rites who signed cabinet affairs on behalf of Yang Bo, stood in a row, facing the emperor, and bowed in salute.
Next to him was Zheng Zongxue, who was a scholar in the Longevity Palace, writing vigorously.
The Imperial Academy was reviewing Shen Li, who was quietly fiddling with his memorials in the room.
Sun Yizheng was asked by the eunuch to stand at the end, and then left directly, which made people feel a little at a loss.
Everyone in the hall paid no attention to Sun Yizheng, not even paying extra attention.
Zhang Juzheng said solemnly: "Xu Xuemo can be promoted to Deputy Envoy to Huguang and to the Right Chief Envoy of Huguang."
Sun Yizheng buried his head and looked at Zhang Juzheng's back. He knew that Xu Xuemo was promoted by Zhang Juzheng and returned to Huguang to oversee the inspection department.
So much so that he was not suspected in this storm and stayed out of it.
It's just that it's just to stay out of the matter so easily. It's too much to be promoted to a higher position.
I snorted coldly in my heart.
At the beginning, he was just a councilor. In order to be promoted, he donated tens of thousands of silver and privately gave another 100,000. Only then did he win Yang Bo's favor and promote him to participate in politics.
He still hangs the commendation for "the scholars and people of the three Jin Dynasties each donated money and resources to build more than 600 cities and fortresses" in the lobby of his home.
Nowadays, a chief envoy is thrown away so easily. I don’t know how much Xu Xuemo gave Zhang Juzheng as a gift.
While he was assessing the price of the chief envoy, he heard his second assistant, Gaoyi, say: "Governor of Huguang, we might as well let Liang Menglong be the governor."
Sun Yizheng once again despised these cabinet ministers from the bottom of his heart.
Liang Menglong is now the governor of Henan. He has said before that if he wants to upgrade his salary by sea transportation, he will be half a step away from becoming the governor of the border areas or even becoming the central government.
Now, most of the time, he was sent to Huguang without giving any money, so he stepped on this bad news.
By then we have offended too many people, and it is hard to say whether we can go further.
Sun Yizheng's random thoughts were not without reason.
He could only use this method to reduce his irritability, because once he stopped thinking, he couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the huge uneasiness.
The emperor spoke again: "Just follow what the ministers have said. The governor and the chief envoy will decide. The rest will be discussed later."
At this moment, Zhu Yijun finished saying this and looked at Sun Yizheng.
"Sun Qing is here. Do you want me to explain to you the matters in Huguang?"
Sun Yizheng's hair stood up, but his expression calmed down and he said seriously: "Your Majesty, Eunuch Li has already informed the ministers on the way here!"
Zhu Yijun nodded: "I asked Wen Chun, who was a counselor in Huguang last night, and he said that you were the chief envoy in Huguang at that time, and you are most familiar with the disadvantages of love."
"Sun Qing, do you have something to teach me?"
Sun Yizheng was filled with panic.
Sure enough, the Huguang matter came to our door!
He has been gone for a year and two months! Why are you still holding on to him?
At this time, Sun Yizheng did not dare to neglect, and said quickly: "Your Majesty, when I was in office, the rivers were clear and the sea was clean, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and thieves never attacked the county government!"
Zhu Yijun slowly opened a memorial and said in an incomprehensible voice, "Really?"
"Does Sun Qing know about that place where copper coins and armor are made privately?"
Sun Yizheng concentrated his mind to prevent any flaw in his expression: "Your Majesty, I have only been in Huguang for less than two years. The matter of private casting is too hidden and I don't know about it."
The emperor asked this, obviously knowing something.
Naturally, we cannot directly say that there is no, we can only infer that we don’t know.
Having said that, Sun Yi looked calm on the front, but his back was gradually getting wet at this moment, and his whole person had an uneasy atmosphere - the emperor was prepared!
Zhu Yijun nodded: "In September of the fifth year of Longqing, due to the floods in Huguang, our emperor issued an imperial edict and promised to divert half of the grain from Huguang, Wuchang, Hanyang, Jingzhou and other prefectures, and at the same time, ransom the stolen goods for silver and warehouse grain for disaster relief."
"Is this matter overseen by Sun Qing?"
Sun Yizheng's expression changed and he nodded with difficulty.
Zhu Yijun continued: "For the convenience of the people, Sun Qing specially exchanged the silver coins and grains into copper coins and distributed them to the people. He is worthy of being a loyal minister. I am gratified by his mature and kind deeds."
He suddenly said coldly: "Whose copper coins!"
Sun Yizheng's body trembled.
But he didn't mess up and gave the answer he had thought of in advance: "Yes... I bought it from a wealthy local household."
Zhu Yijun nodded and was so surprised that he didn't ask any more questions.
Turning to another memorial, he continued unhurriedly: "In October of the fourth year of Longqing, you first came to Huguang to take office."
"The prefect, county magistrate and chief secretary reported that some people were encircling the mountain to mine without permission."
"You said that you would report it to the Central Committee to await the ruling, but I searched through six subjects and couldn't find your memorial."
"Sun Qing, where is the memorial?"
Sun Yizheng lowered his head, making it difficult to see his face, and said with a choked voice: "There were a lot of affairs at that time, maybe... maybe I forgot about it."
Zhu Yijun nodded, agreeing with this statement.
He opened a memorial again: "In April last year, two groups of bandits in Wugang Prefecture were fighting each other. They were fully equipped with soldiers. After the governor's office reported it, they went down to your chief secretary's office to deal with it."
"I heard that you released everyone in the end?"
Having said this, Zhu Yijun waved his hand: "Let it go, but the collected soldiers and armor have also been 'repurchased'. You know or don't know about this."
Sun Yizheng said nothing and seemed to have turned a deaf ear.
Zhu Yijun shook his head and said softly: "I heard that a wealthy family once came to your house and presented gold and silver to your house."
"This morning, this person came to the Shuntian government office to look for you and asked you about the central government's attitude towards the case in Linxiang County."
After saying this, he calmed down all his expressions and looked down at Sun Yizheng: "Sun Yizheng, I heard that you and Tang Bin have a rift. Does this case have anything to do with you?"
Having said this, Sun Yizheng finally couldn't stand it any longer.
He knelt down with a thud and said, "Your Majesty, this case has nothing to do with me!"
"I only condone the private exploitation of mines, spread private money, protect the subordinates, and have a little relationship with the minister!"
"How dare I take part in something like burning an imperial envoy? Your Majesty, I am wronged!"
Zhu Yijun finally became furious and couldn't even hold back his anger. He kicked Sun Yizheng directly: "Now I admit that you are involved!"
Zhang Juzheng had quick eyesight and quick hands. He quickly lowered himself to the emperor and hugged him: "Your Majesty, please pay attention to your manners."
Zhu Yijun calmed down a little.
Sun Yizheng crawled back: "Your Majesty! I can't help myself!"
Zhu Yijun was dusting his hem when he suddenly turned his head when he heard this.
His eyes were sharp and he pinned Sun Yizheng firmly: "Who made you unable to control yourself?"
Sun Yizheng burst into tears: "Your Majesty! Thousands of people are involved in this matter!"
"From the wealthy businessmen and local tycoons, to the small officials in soap clothes, to the Sansi Yamen, honoring the clan members, everyone is chasing me away!"
He saw the emperor staring at him with a sinister look and saying nothing.
He looked embarrassed and said: "Your Majesty, when it comes to mining, half of them are commanding envoys and one is responding to the garrison. Anyone who has the conditions is doing it."
"The local tyrants, gentry, and even the common people were all involved in the minting of coins."
Zhu Yijun walked closer and squatted in front of Sun Yizheng, looking at the Shuntian Prefecture Yin who refused to let go.
Putting away the last of his patience: "Finally, I ask again, who made you unable to control yourself."
Sun Yizheng opened his mouth slightly, then slowly closed it.
He glanced at the emperor's expression.
He lowered his head and said in a difficult tone: "I don't know the truth. I only know that the person who took the lead is Zhu Yingyan, the lieutenant of the Yueyang Palace."
After saying this, he finally gave up all his strength and collapsed to the ground.
Chapter completed!