The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chen Kuan sent a wooden box over. After opening the wooden box, there were many memorials stacked inside, which were the result of discussions on Xie Qian's case at various yamen in Beijing.

Chen Kuan then took it out personally and placed them all in front of the emperor.

Liu Jian and Li Dongyang glanced forward first, and they probably knew that the emperor had read it. Obviously, the emperor had a general understanding of the results.

"Xingbu." Zhu Youtang said.

Wang Shi, the Minister of Punishment, stood up and said: "I am here."

"No need to be so polite." Zhu Youtang wanted to signal Wang Shi to sit down and talk, but he felt that since he was a minister, he should show some manners. After all, it was not him and Zhang Zhou who were going to sit down and discuss things, so he did not force it. "Tell me what the Ministry of Justice thinks of this."

Wang Shi said: "The Ministry of Punishment discussed that when the troops were deployed in the northwest, the Ministry of Cabinet took the initiative to collect food and pay for the Northwest, and gave many instructions to the Ministry of Households and others. The Ministry of Justice contributed to this. Xie Qian was a minister of the Ministry of Cabinet, so he should remember this. Credit goes first.”

"Yes." Zhu Youtang nodded, his expression calm, "When we were discussing the use of troops in the northwest, the cabinet did try to increase food and salary for the northwest. His opinions were the same as mine, but this is not Meritorious service is just where ministers should make suggestions.”

Wang Shi added: "Xie Qian supported the use of troops in the northwest. Later, he had private discussions with the court officials and participated in the impeachment of the generals who used troops in the northwest. Although he was suspected of making unreasonable comments about military aircraft during the war, overall he was not It's too much. If you accuse officials of discussing court affairs or military affairs, this trend will probably make everyone in the court stay silent. From what I can see, even if Xie Qian did something inappropriate in this matter, he should be treated leniently. , should not be punished.”

"Really?" Zhu Youtang's attitude changed this time and he seemed unhappy.

When Wang Shi saw this posture, he hurriedly said: "I am just expressing some superficial opinions. As for what is said in the case, Xie Qian prevented the Ministry of Revenue from mobilizing money and grain to the northwest, and hindered the movement of troops. There should be no evidence. If If he really obstructs the imperial government from using troops, he should be severely punished."

Zhu Youtang said: "Yes, he did not openly hinder the transfer of money and grain to the northwest, but even after the Duke of England sent troops, even the basic food and grass could not be guaranteed, and he had to go somewhere to raise them. Even when the Ministry of Revenue wanted to transfer money and grain, the cabinet was reluctant to approve it..."

Liu Jian hurriedly stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that I am also at fault in this matter. Because it involves the dispatch of money and grain after the autumn grain is put into the warehouse, I may have been delayed in this matter, but there was no delay."

Zhu Youtang asked: "Does the cabinet support the mobilization of troops, money and food to the northwest?"

"Yes." Liu Jian replied.

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Then why are the soldiers and horses going to the northwest unable to get money and food for a long time?"

"This... situation is complicated. Troops are mobilized from the capital. People and horses need to be mobilized from all over the northwest. Money and food also need to be moved with the troops and horses. It is not something people in the capital can decide. A lot depends on the situation in the northwest at that time." Liu Jian probably It means reminding the emperor.

We only provide reference opinions on this matter in Beijing. Whether the northwest can mobilize troops to Zhang Mao and provide supporting supplies with grain, grass and baggage is a matter for the northwest. In this way, our cabinet is not cooperating and even has to punish Xie Qian. This is a bit too much.

Zhu Youtang said coldly: "Then after Uncle Xinjian dispatched troops and horses to the British Duke and allocated food and grass, why did someone join forces with officials to participate in the impeachment?"

Liu Jian didn't answer this time.

Wang Shi was waiting for Liu Jian to answer, but seeing Liu Jian standing with him silently, he knew that Liu Jian had thrown a difficult problem to him.

Wang Shi gritted his teeth and said: "Your Majesty, this may be because Uncle Xin Xin mobilized troops and horses in this way, which is not in compliance with the imperial law. In terms of the deployment of troops by generals on expeditions, the British prince should mobilize and collect the troops on his own after arriving at the place, instead of The northwest general will mobilize his troops on his own to prevent anyone from arbitrarily deploying troops according to military orders."

Zhu Youtang said: "What do you mean, do you agree to participate in the impeachment of this matter?"

"I didn't mean that." Wang Shi was frightened and quickly denied it.

He couldn't help but glance sideways at Liu Jian, who was also standing.

This is the difficulty of being a courtier. On the one hand, you have to cater to civil servants, but you must not cater to them too much, lest the emperor thinks that you are of the same mind as traditional civil servants. He himself is speechless about his mentality of trying to survive in the cracks.

Zhu Youtang said coldly: "If I remember correctly, not only Uncle Xinjian was involved in the impeachment, but also Commander-in-Chief Ma Yi and others, right? If the imperial court had adopted this opinion at that time, what would have been the result?"

Wang Shi didn't answer at all.

This is where it gets difficult.

After participating in the impeachment of Ma Yi, if Ma Yi was defeated, then everyone in the court would feel that Xie Qian was as if Kong Ming was still alive, and he had long expected that this move would bring negative consequences.

But it was Ma Yi who won, and in the end he was very uncooperative with Xie Qian, so Xie Qian was no longer an afterthought, but a criminal.

If God doesn't help you, what can you do?

Cheng Minzheng came out at this time and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that the merits and demerits of this matter cannot be clearly stated in one or two sentences. If we want to delve deeper, we can only... take a long-term approach."

It means that we should continue to delay, make bold assumptions and careful arguments, and try the case for another year and a half. Maybe everyone will forget about it, and then the old suspicions can be settled?

At this moment, Liu Jian and Li Dongyang instinctively felt that this matter should not be delayed any longer.

Lu Wan came out and said: "Your Majesty, the people who Xie Qian are guilty of making irresponsible remarks on military and political affairs, and fighting against different parties with the same party. If the frontline soldiers have no merit in the battle, they will be dismissed from their posts and even be sentenced to death. Although there are pardons, but if they are behind the scenes, they will be dismissed." But civil servants can have no scruples. Then the frontline soldiers will be hesitant about sending troops, and they should strictly follow the law to serve as a warning. "

Li Dongyang couldn't help but glare at Lu Wan.

He could see that Lu Wan seemed to want to kill Xie Qian in this matter.

But it’s a bit of a twist. After all, Lu Wan also said that soldiers on the front line can still be pardoned after their death. In the past few decades of the Ming Dynasty, the generals who led troops on expeditions were defeated or failed to achieve results, or were slack, and many of them were punished. Regarding capital crimes, they were basically pardoned and even sent into exile.

The latest one is Zhu Hui, the protector of the country.

Li Dongyang also understood that regarding the dispute between the Shangting Office and the cabinet over the emperor's think tank, it was reasonable for the Shangting Office to take a clear stance against the cabinet.

The emperor probably did not want the Shangting Department and the cabinet to reach a reconciliation on the Xie Qian matter.

The emperor wanted to check and balance the thoughts of his courtiers, and the wise courtiers could understand it, and even secretly promoted this check and balance, so that the emperor would take it lightly.

Liu Jiandao: "Your Majesty, this case has been delayed for two months. It is really not appropriate... to delay it any longer."

Zhu Youtang looked at Chen Kuan on the side and said: "The public servants in Beijing have discussed this matter and submitted it here, right?"

"Yes." Chen Kuan replied.

Zhu Youtang said: "I did say before that if most of the ministers in the court expressed their gratitude to Mr. Ge, I would forget about it and allow him to return to his hometown to take care of himself. This would be considered as fulfilling the friendship between the emperor and his ministers." The Ministry of War Has it been delivered?"

Chen Kuan was startled, then thought of something and reminded: "Your Majesty, Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of War is out of the capital and is not in the palace, so he did not participate in the discussion of this matter. Moreover, Zhang Shangshu said that he... wants to take action on this matter. To avoid suspicion, I just..." Zhu Youtang said angrily: "I'm asking the Ministry of War, not Bingkuan. I never wanted Bingkuan to express his opinion on this."

Chen Kuan breathed a sigh of relief and replied: "The Ministry of War also discussed it, and the result is that... although there is a fault, it does not constitute a crime. He should be punished with a small punishment and a big warning, just a fine."

"Penalty? Does that mean that he should be kept in court?" Zhu Youtang frowned.

Originally, Zhang Zhou was in the Ministry of War, and it was logical that the Ministry of War was the vanguard to deal with Xie Qian. However, it seemed that the Ministry of War was very polite about this matter.

Chen Kuandao: "That's indeed what was discussed."

Hearing this, Liu Jian and Li Dongyang were at least relieved, because judging from the various feedbacks they received, all civil servants in Beijing were tolerant of Xie Qian. Even those who said Xie Qian was inappropriate were not There was no suggestion that Xie Qian would be sentenced to death like Shang Ting Chu did.

If according to the rules set by the previous emperor, as long as no one agrees with the listener, then the matter will be considered exposed.

Xie Qian can still resign and return home, or even better, he can stay in the court for a period of time, let him take the initiative to resign, and even complete the handover.

And the inheritance within the civil servants can also be completed, especially the dispute between the cabinet and the upper chamber, which will end with the victory of the cabinet. Even a tragic victory is enough for the traditional civil servants. Sacrificing Xie Qian's career is not good for them. That's nothing.

Zhu Youtang asked: "Isn't there any public house that has reached a different result than this?"

Chen Kuan said: "Indeed not."

Zhu Youtang said: "But why do I feel that someone's performance is missing? Come and take a look."

Chen Kuan was startled.

The emperor is very dissatisfied.

Everyone in the court stood on the side of protecting Xie Qian. Only Shangtingchu was determined to kill Xie Qian. This disappointed the emperor. Is the so-called check and balance just a one-man show by Shangtingchu?

Chen Kuan hurried over and read every memorial in detail, even classified it into categories, from all the central offices in the capital, including their opinions... Then he said to the emperor with certainty: "Your Majesty, I think this servant ,Gone."

"Who said that?" Zhu Youtang said, "Isn't there still a Yanwu Hall?"

"what?"

Not to mention Chen Kuan, even the remaining ministers present were shocked.

Why is there something about Yanwutang?
Like Tingchu, Yanwutang was also a newly established yamen, but logically speaking, it was all military attachés. It was a bit like the Imperial College, except that one trained civil servants and the other military generals.

Zhu Youtang said: "Even Beiyong's sacrificial wine has been discussed. Is Yanwu Hall not qualified? Everyone in Yanwu Hall is the pillar of the dynasty. What's the problem if they are involved in this matter? Who is it now? Admiral Yan Wutang?”

Chen Kuan thought about it for a while, admiring and studying the martial arts hall... This seems to be what a civil servant or a martial artist should do.

But after winter, Yanwu Hall is still on vacation, because most of the generals in Yanwu Hall have been sent to various places in the northwest. Some are following Zhang Mao, and some are transferred to Liaodong... After all, Zhang Mao will be there soon. Zhou presided over the plan to conquer the Jurchens.

Even if we go to Yanwu Hall to arrest people, we won't be able to catch anyone.

"Is there no one left?" Zhu Youtang said.

"Slave... Come to think of it, it seems... Zhang Shangshu?" Chen Kuan thought about it, and it seems that the Minister of the Ministry of War is the direct superior of Yanwu Hall.

Lu Wan corrected him: "When your Majesty established the Yanwu Hall, the Yanwu Hall was not affiliated with any department, and I made it clear that I could report directly to Your Majesty. I have been in the Yanwu Hall for a long time, and even though I am no longer here, I know that now the Admiral The one who studies the martial arts hall is Liu Jin and Eunuch Liu.”

"Who?" Zhu Youtang frowned, as if he didn't expect it himself.

"Your Majesty, this is Liu Jin, Eunuch Liu. He is the imperial horse prison officer." Lu Wan said.

Zhu Youtang said: "Is it Liu Jin from the East Palace?"

Chen Kuan looked embarrassed and said, "Your Majesty, that's right."

"Where are they?" Zhu Youtang asked.

Chen Kuan thought for a while, but he couldn't answer this question.

Lu Wan answered for him: "Eunuch Liu was previously transferred to the northwest to coordinate with the British in dispatching troops and other matters. He was stranded at Piantou Pass and other places. After the Battle of Guanshan, he returned to Beijing and is now waiting in the middle of the capital. Dispatch from the imperial court.”

Zhu Youtang nodded and said: "Yes, when I transferred him to the northwest, I did not say that I would take away his position as the admiral of the Yanwu Hall. Now he is indeed in charge of the Yanwu Hall. Then he will find someone to do it. Let’s discuss whether this matter should be discussed by the DPRK.”

When Li Dongyang heard this, he really couldn't stand it. He came out and argued: "Your Majesty, it is really against the rules to use military men to discuss politics."

Lu Wandao: "Mr. Li Ge, I don't understand what kind of government this is? Previously, His Majesty had a purpose and did not allow the Governor's Office to participate in this matter, but Yanwutang is neither affiliated with the Governor's Office nor has anything to do with it. Directly related, don’t the public houses in Beijing include Yanwutang?”

"You!" Li Dongyang almost wanted to hit someone.

He also knew that Lu Wan was from Yanwu Hall, and Lu Wan had a great say in this matter.

The victory was already certain, but if Yanwutang had to come out to discuss Xie Qian's culpability now, he would most likely side with the Shangting Department.

Zhu Youtang said: "I also want to take more opinions. Furthermore, are all the people in the Yanwu Hall in the military?"

Chen Kuandao: "Your Majesty, that's not the case. There are both military ministers and civil servants in the Yanwu Hall. Have you forgotten, Your Majesty? Many people in the court now have served in it, such as Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of War, and the Minister of Tang, As well as Mr. Lu, Xin Xinbo and Mr. Wang, who is the trilateral general system, etc..."

"That's right." Zhu Youtang said, "What's the reason for not allowing Yanwu Hall to participate in the discussion? We will send people there, and within two hours, Yanwu Hall must discuss the results. No need. I don’t need to listen to anyone’s advice, just let them discuss it themselves and submit the result. I won’t go anywhere, I’ll just wait here.”

It just needs to be freshly baked.

He didn't listen to anyone but Liu Jin. Of course, Liu Jin didn't make the decision alone. In name, he wanted to discuss it with the people in the Jingyan Martial Arts Hall.

Li Dongyang even realized that there is still a bad person in Yanwutang in Beijing now?
Who should Liu Jin consult with?
Just watch him perform a one-man show? (End of chapter)