Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 18 Abolition of the yoke
After finishing today's memorial with the help of Wang Tiqian, Zhu Youjian felt that it was very smooth and he asked the school again:
"I saw the word 'set the yoke' in the memorial. What does it mean?"

"Since the method of shackle punishment includes the method of showing the shackles to the public, why does it also involve erecting shackles, and is still said to be harsh government by many ministers?"

Wang Tiqian thought about it again and again and said:

"The method of standing the yoke was invented by Liu Jin. In the past, the yoke was long and short at the back, so the prisoners could only stand, and it was impossible to kneel or sit. They often died unexpectedly."

"If the shackles are shortened, the prisoner will have to bend his knees. He needs someone to support his buttocks to survive for a few more days."

"This punishment is used to punish the great traitors and to warn the world."

Zhu Youjian just listened and felt his heart tremble. The punishment of being shackled is so cruel. No wonder so many ministers said it was a harsh government.

Especially when he thought about Wei Zhongxian killing sixty or seventy people with a cannon, he felt the seriousness of the matter even more. This kind of execution of prisoners without trial is a great damage to the rule of law. It can almost be said that whoever Wei Zhongxian wants to be tortured to death can be tortured to death with the yoke.

Thinking of how many people had been tortured to death by this cruel punishment, Zhu Youjian immediately said:

"Although it is used to punish traitors and evildoers, it is really miserable to use the yoke."

"What are the regulations on shackles in this dynasty?"

Wang Tiqian replied:
"According to the old system of Taizu's time, the shackles weighed thirty-five kilograms for the death penalty, twenty kilograms for the idle punishment, and fifteen kilograms for the rod. The number of the shackles ranged from one month to three months."

"In the 13th year of Chenghua, it was stipulated that craftsmen who cast copper coins privately should be marked with a 100-jin shackles for one month. Later, it was stipulated that those who trafficked more than three people or committed repeated crimes would also be marked with a 100-jin shackles for one month. Later, they insulted officials , hijacking the government, etc., also use the giant yoke."

"During the Zhengde period, Liu Jin created the flail method, using a giant flail of one hundred and fifty kilograms, which killed countless people. The vertical flail used today weighs three hundred kilograms."

Listening to the changes in the execution of the shackles, Zhu Youjian felt heavy. Zhu Yuanzhang's shackles punishment was okay and considered a normal punishment, but the subsequent changes were unexpected. In particular, the shackles used by the two powerful eunuchs Liu Jin and Wei Zhongxian were basically for the purpose of torturing people to death, and were no longer normal shackles.

Therefore, although he was worried about arousing Wei Zhongxian's alert, Zhu Youjian still ordered:
"Send my order and let the cabinet draw up the decree. The shackles are meant to serve as a warning. Using huge shackles is not in line with the original purpose of punishment."

"All giant shackles weighing more than 100 kilograms will be publicly destroyed. The remaining 100 kilograms of shackles will only be used to shackle criminals who illegally minted copper coins and trafficked people, and they need to be signed and approved by officials or officials above the inspection level."

"The rest of the shackles are carried out in accordance with the law. Anyone who dares to use heavy shackles on minor criminals, causing death or injury, will be held accountable."

Wang Tiqian was dripping with cold sweat as he listened to the oral instructions. Although Zhu Youjian's decree was not explicitly aimed at Wei Zhongxian, it seriously damaged the eunuch's ability to intimidate courtiers. Even if this decree is taken by courtiers as a signal that the emperor is dissatisfied with the eunuchs, there will be countless memorials to impeach Wei Zhongxian and the eunuchs.

Thinking of this consequence, Wang Tiqian was really scared. As the internal minister, he could almost predict that once the eunuchs were mobbed and besieged, they would eventually fall.

It's just that Zhu Youjian didn't seem to notice this, and he admired his knowledge quite a lot, and said with a smile:
"Wang Zhangyin is indeed knowledgeable and talented. My doubts have been clarified!"

"Since I became the emperor, I have deeply felt that the affairs of the world are complicated and one person cannot do what he wants."

"Wang Zhangyin, are there any talents like you that you can recommend to me?"

Wang Tiqian was overjoyed when he heard this and couldn't think about anything else. He knew that this was a good opportunity to be kind to others and leave a way out for himself. Thinking of the manpower he had arranged around Zhu Youjian, Wang Tiqian carefully recommended:

"Don't you already have talented people around Your Majesty?"

"The palace serves Xu Yingyuan, the chief minister, and Wenzheng, the deputy king, both of whom were selected by the late emperor."

"Your Majesty can use Xu Yingyuan or Wang Wenzheng."

When Zhu Youjian heard what he said, he remembered that there was such a number one person in his palace. In the past, when Xu Yingyuan danced happily, he was almost the only one in front of me. At this moment, I suddenly realized that Wang Wenzheng, who was able to sit firmly as deputy deputy under Xu Yingyuan, was not an ordinary person:
"Xu Yingyuan was arranged by Wei Zhongxian, and Wang Wenzheng was arranged by Wang Tiqian. 』

"Very good, very reasonable. The number one and number two figures in the eunuch party have placed people around me. 』

"You can try this Wang Wenzheng to see if it works. 』

So he immediately said:

"Wang Wenzheng handles things well, and I have always wanted to use him." "Now that there is nothing going on in Prince Xin's palace, what do you think of Wang Zhangyin letting him join the palace as the eunuch Bingbi, the supervisor of etiquette?"

Having already recommended it, Wang Tiqian could no longer object, so he immediately said "Your Majesty is wise" and agreed to the appointment.

In this way, Zhu Youjian arranged another manpower in the Supervisor of Ceremonies. There are already four eunuchs, Xu Yingyuan, Wang Guotai, Wang Wenzheng, and Tu Wenfu, who are the eunuchs in charge of rites. Even if the eunuch party collapses, they can take over the inner court.

However, it will take some time for these four people to get to know other eunuchs in the inner court, and Zhu Youjian also needs to continue to observe to see who is available. The time to deal with Wei Zhongxian is still far from coming.

The successful recommendation of Wang Wenzheng made Wang Tiqian feel a little relieved. After he left the Qianqing Palace, he was quickly summoned by Wei Zhongxian to ask about the new emperor's attitude towards them.

Wang Tiqian could not figure out the new emperor's thoughts at this time and said:

"His Majesty is very satisfied with my handling of the memorial and asked me to recommend talents."

"But he was very dissatisfied with the yoke and thought it was too miserable."

"Now we are going to issue an order to abolish the yoke, saying that if anyone blocks it, let him try it."

"Mr. Factory, do you want to stop it? How to stop it?"

When Wei Zhongxian heard that the person who blocked him wanted to try it himself, he immediately shrank his neck and felt chilly. He didn't feel it when he killed someone with a yoke. Now that he just thought about it, he knew that it felt uncomfortable. It was definitely worse than death, but he couldn't survive.

Now he just wanted to keep his power and no longer wanted to use the yoke to attack his political opponents. He immediately said to Wang Tigan:

"Your Majesty wants to get a good reputation among the ministers by abolishing the yoke, so forget about it."

"Have you noticed that the new emperor is dissatisfied with us?"

Wang Tiqian thought for a while and said:
"Perhaps there is some dissatisfaction. Back then, we had people falsely accuse the queen and the father of the country, Zhang Guoji, to establish the trust of the king. Your Majesty may have heard about it."

"Fortunately, this matter was not carried out. Your Majesty is now the emperor again. He knows that state affairs are complicated and the palace cannot do without us."

"Li Yongzhen had a hand in the construction of Prince Xin's Mansion, but didn't His Majesty approve of his illness? He also sent an errand to him to see the imperial mausoleum."

Wei Zhongxian shook his head when he heard this. He didn't think that Li Yongzhen's greed for money could be compared with his own affairs. The false accusations were not carried out, and even several insiders were silenced. However, he was not sure whether the incident was leaked and whether the emperor was dissatisfied because of it.

Thinking of the huge commotion caused by Liu Zhao's affairs, Wei Zhongxian decided to test it out and asked Wang Ti:

"In a few days, we will resign one after another and see what His Majesty's attitude is."

"If His Majesty allows it, we will let Xu Yingyuan and Wang Wenzheng take over."

"If Your Majesty retains me, everything inside and outside the palace will be stable!"

It was decided to follow the emperor's attitude and determine future actions. All the orders issued by Zhu Youjian were spread smoothly.

　"History of the Ming Dynasty": Since Liu Jin created the yong, it has been commonly used in Jinyi Prison. During the reign of Shenzong, the imperial censor Zhu Yinghu said that it was miserable and asked him to get rid of it. Do not listen. For those who are extremely loyal and virtuous, they will be given a large yoke, and punishments such as breaking the spine, dropping the fingers, and piercing the heart are also provided. Emperor Zhuang Lie asked his left and right: "What is the purpose of setting up the yoke?" Wang Tiqian replied: "The crime is a big crime and a big fool." The emperor was stunned and said: "Even so, it can be pitied in the end." Zhongxian was constricted. The disaster in Dongchang is due to the most loyal and virtuous people.

　　Zhongxian led the East Factory, and he was good at using the yoke. There was a man weighing three hundred kilograms who died within a few days. Sixty or seventy people died one after another.

　　"Records of Chongzhen": On the day of Ni'an's death, he wanted to kill all his ministers, but the guilty ones were not killed, so they were killed with yoke every time.

　　"Chongzhen Suilu": Wei Zhongxian did it by Wei Zhongxian. He was ordered to destroy it when he ascended the throne.

　　"Chongzhen Changbian": (Lu Chengyuan, the head of the Ministry of Industry, briefly discussed four things) The method of setting up the shackles today is not clear about the crime, the love letter is not determined, and he will be dead within three or four days. Is this the original intention of the court?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)