unclear

Chapter 246 Settlement Time
At the Huangji Gate, Emperor Jingyang sat high on the throne, his face as sinking as water.Under the red osmanthus, Wen left and right Wu stood in several rows in darkness. At a rough count, there must be more than 500 people.

Today's imperial meeting is different from the past. The people standing around are no longer Han generals, but instead the Royal Horse Guards and the young eunuch Qing Yishui wearing strange armor.

"Get this thief!" When an official from the Ministry of Rites asked why he had violated the ancestral rules and tampered with the court process, the emperor only said five words. Two chamberlains immediately rushed forward and involuntarily knocked off their hats and cut their arms behind their backs. Kneel him down on the spot.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Chengzu just fulfilled his duties, what crime did he commit?" Faced with the sudden change, most officials were stunned on the spot, but a small number of officials took the initiative to speak up for their colleagues and resolutely uphold etiquette.

"Read!" The emperor was more concise this time and only said one word.

"After investigation, it was found that Shen Li and Li Tingji, the cabinet bachelors, Sun Wei, the Minister of the Ministry of War, Wen Chun, the imperial censor of Zuodu, Ye Maocai, the head of the Criminal Department, and Qi Shizhong, the official's poetry teacher, together with Cui Wensheng, the steward of Yikun Palace, and others, intended to kill the king..."

Immediately, the eunuch in charge of the chanting ceremony came to the top of the Danbi holding the imperial edict and read it loudly.In an emotionless but catchy tone, he gave a general introduction to the events that happened in the harem last night.

"Take the prisoner and pass the confession!" Without waiting for the officials to react, the emperor raised his right hand and waved it. Wang An, who was behind him, immediately shouted into the Huangji Gate.Immediately, a group of figures were driven down Danbi by the chamberlain, and were pressed on the royal road one by one.

Although their hair is disheveled, their clothes are disheveled, and their arms are cut behind their backs, their faces are still clearly identifiable as those of the ministers who are absent today.This seems to make sense. They were not absent from the court meeting, but as the confession said, they secretly entered the palace in the middle of the night to rebel and seize power.

The result is obvious, it must not have been successful.Thinking about it, I can't help but sigh. If it succeeds, then the person sitting on the throne will not be Emperor Jingyang, but another person, such as Prince Fu.A few hours not only determine the life and death of these people, but also affect the future of everyone in the court.

At this time, no official stood up to express his grievances to his former colleagues and superiors. It was not that he did not dare but that he did not have the time.They were passing around several confessions. Most of the people who had seen it had pale faces and bowed their heads in silence. Those who had not had their turn were looking forward to it or thinking thoughtfully.

Faced with such a scene, no one who is not thinking hastily come forward to intercede for several rebels who have already confessed.Treason!According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, this would be death by a thousand cuts.Not only will they be sentenced to death, but none of their family members will survive.

At this time, it is time to think about more than 200 years ago. How many founding heroes fell under this crime, I am afraid there are hundreds, and the tens of thousands who were implicated because of them are estimated to be a small number.

Even if Emperor Jingyang was not as decisive as Taizu, it would not be considered cruel to confiscate the criminals' homes and exterminate their clans based on these confessions. It would be even more logical to kill some of his old colleagues casually.

"I know that some people are still suspicious and worried, thinking that they were beaten because they couldn't bear the torture. It doesn't matter, today the three judges are all here, and they will hold a three-chamber trial in front of me, and they also want to show my biological mother Yixue's injustice. Dali Temple Where are your Majesty, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, and the Censor of Zuo Fudu!"

After waiting for half a stick of incense, the emperor spoke again, and took the initiative to hand over the power of conviction to the Sanfa Division. However, he was not allowed to take the prisoner back to the prison of the Ministry of Punishment. Instead, he had to have a public trial in front of all civil and military officials at the court meeting.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the case is clear, the witnesses and material evidence are complete, and there are no injuries on the torture instruments, so there is no need for a further trial." The name was called in public, and three officials had to go out to answer the question.The first person to speak was Xiao Daheng, the Minister of Punishment. His back was already soaked through. The hot weather was partly the reason, but the main reason was his guilty conscience.

Who in the court didn't know that he and Li Tingji were both representatives of the Zhejiang Party, and they always advanced and retreated together on weekdays. If we didn't express our attitude quickly and draw a clear line at this time, the next batch of people to be arrested would definitely be on the list.

"What Xiao Shangshu said is absolutely true, and I think there is no need to reexamine it!"

Li Dong, the minister of Dali Temple, also got wet on his back. Although he was not from the Zhejiang Party, the Qi Party and the Zhejiang Party were in an alliance, and they often kept in touch with each other on weekdays.A few days ago, he also participated in a secret gathering organized by Gu Xiancheng and Shen Li. Fortunately, this matter was not mentioned in the confession.

"...I obey the holy order!" Now it was the turn of Xu Honggang, the left deputy censor, to be in trouble. He was a neutral faction and had no close friendship with several criminals.

It's a bit against my will to follow the two colleagues and declare that there is no need for trial. After all, the people accused are all high officials of the imperial court. Even if the witnesses and material evidence are complete, the conviction must be made by the Three Justices, and a chamberlain cannot be used instead.

Especially among the prisoners, there is also the immediate superior, Zuodu Yushi Wenchun. Even if he is not from the same faction, he cannot just watch him being arbitrarily convicted and punished. If this precedent is set, wouldn't it be possible for the emperor to do this once to anyone he dislikes? What's the use of the Procuratorate?

But insist on taking over, the Minister of Punishment and the Minister of Dali Temple are obviously not happy, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate alone cannot handle it.After thinking about it, I simply gave the decision-making power to the emperor again. If you say you will try it, we will try it. If you say not to try it, we have no objection!
"It must be tried. I don't want to bear the infamy of unjustly killing an important minister. Not only do we need to be tried, but the process and results must also be disseminated to all provinces, prefectures and counties! It's getting late. If you don't want to burn the midnight oil and fight, you can start now."

No trial?dream!How could the hidden conspiracy in the court be exposed face to face without a trial?Without a trial, how can there be a reasonable and legal excuse to carry out a purge?Without the Great Purge, how could he negotiate terms with the civil servant group and exchange their political life and reputation for the short-term peace of the Ming court.

Revenge for your biological mother?No, no, no, as an emperor, personal grudges must give way to the interests of the country.Those who want to be happy and grudges should become rebels and knights. The emperor's first priority is not to be happy, but to feed and clothe the people so that the country can seize more resources.Apart from these, everything else can be discarded, otherwise you will be a traitor.

This may be the first time a court case has been heard in court since the founding of the Ming Empire, or it may be the first time since the Qin Dynasty established a unified dynasty. No one has experience and has no reference, so the trial process is not brilliant and stumbling. The description is more appropriate.

However, this court trial is destined to be recorded in historical records and written down in special books. In addition to the strange trial method, the high profile of the person on trial, and the shocking charges, the emperor's attitude also made the courtiers sigh.When it comes to repaying evil with kindness, Emperor Jingyang is probably ranked first in the Ming Dynasty.

The trial process was very short, less than half an hour from beginning to end.The presiding officer's questions were simple, and the interrogator's answers were clear. He almost read the confession again, and there was no dispute between the two sides.

(End of this chapter)