Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 77 Second Level and Four Requirements

It was not in line with convention to directly appoint You Shaoqing of Dali Temple, but no one objected at this time.

The emperor's statement of "everyone passes the test" made some officials who hated the eunuchs temporarily stop pursuing them, and also made some eunuch officials feel relieved.

Most of them, like the four bachelors, although attached to the eunuch party, did not participate in Wei Zhongxian's rebellion. The emperor even spared four bachelors, so naturally he would not punish them severely.

But other people are a little worried all day long. For example, Zhou Yingqiu, Tian Ji and others, the emperor said that Jiu Qing would stay in office, but he had dismissed them before. How can they let go of this?

In particular, Xue Zhen, the Minister of Punishment, felt a little uneasy when the emperor ordered a re-examination of the cases of Geng Ruqi, Hu Shirong and others. When the emperor wanted to pass everyone starting from the Three Law Division, he knew that he would never be able to pass this level no matter what:
"I am a member of the Donglin Party. In order to save my life, I relied on the Eunuch Party. I have been convicted of countless unjust, false and wrong cases. 』

"This time the investigation of the Three Laws Division is afraid that I will be held accountable!" 』

At this point, Xue Zhen knew that there was a high possibility that she would be used by the emperor to kill chickens to scare monkeys, just like Zhou Jiachun, the former doctor of the literary anthology department.

However, he still hoped that the emperor would spare his life and did not have the courage to commit suicide and confess his crime.

In order to please the emperor and give herself a lighter sentence, Xue Zhen took the initiative to request:
"Your Majesty, the affairs of the three judicial departments of the Ministry of Justice, the Imperial Procuratorate, and the Dali Temple are complex and often overlap."

"I request that the affairs of the Criminal Department and other three law departments be handed over to the Standing Council for decision-making!"

Zhu Youjian was delighted when he heard this and looked towards the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Dali Temple.

Fang Guangwei, the Zuodu censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, has just been transferred to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Now he is in charge of Xu Zongli, the deputy censor of the Zuodu, who is co-presiding with the Yuan. This person was a Jinshi in the 44th year of Wanli. He was promoted quickly because of his attachment to the eunuch party. How dare he speak out against it at this time.

Although Zhang Jiude, minister of Dali Temple, was not deeply involved with the eunuch party, he also relied on the eunuch party for promotion. He believed that if he dared to object, the emperor would not hesitate to depose him during the inspection of Dali Temple. So he immediately agreed and handed over the affairs of Dali Temple to the Standing Committee.

As a result, Zhu Youjian could decide on one more matter at the Standing Committee meeting, and it was the Three Laws Division, which was very important in the investigation of the eunuchs.

Seeing that among the six ministries, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Punishment all submitted their affairs to the Standing Committee, and even the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Dali Temple also submitted their affairs. Lai Zongdao, the Minister of Rites, Guo Yunhou, the Minister of Household Affairs, and Xue Fengxiang, the Minister of Industry, who were deeply involved with the eunuch party, also handed over their affairs to the Standing Committee.

The standing committee established by Zhu Youjian finally gained full power to intervene in the affairs of the six ministries. When Wei Zhongxian was dismissed and Wang Tiqian, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, and the four cabinet ministers needed to be protected by themselves, Zhu Youjian was able to treat the Cabinet and the Supervisor of Ceremonies as decorations at the regular meeting and decide on the affairs of the six ministries according to his own ideas. .

It can be said that with his step-by-step planning, he achieved the original purpose of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang to remove the prime minister - to directly govern the six ministries.

He didn't know how long this situation would last, so Zhu Youjian decided to use this period of time in power to complete adjustments as much as possible.

He knew that he only gained power during the vacuum period after the fall of the eunuch party, and he had no intention of always being a model worker like Emperor Taizu. Zhu Youjian decided to be more diligent during this period and adjust the six films according to his own ideas as soon as possible.

It would be better to expand the power of the six ministries, for example, turn the five temples into nine temples and let the six ministries supervise them. The six ministers and other nine ministers are actually regarded as deputy prime ministers in charge of their own affairs, and they are checked and balanced by the cabinet's bachelors.

With this plan in mind, Zhu Youjian immediately held a regular meeting in the Wuying Hall in the afternoon after the regular meeting in the morning to handle the affairs of the Three Laws Division.

Because officials needed to be scrutinized, the Ministry of Personnel also attended the meeting. Starting from the Minister of Dali Temple, Dali Temple officials were examined one by one.

"Wei Zhongxian has great power in both the government and the public, and most of the officials in the court have connections with him."

"It is impossible for all of these people to participate in the counter-case. In order to review quickly, the principles of review must be set first."

Sitting in the Wuying Hall and talking eloquently, Zhu Youjian had no scruples at all at this time and directly instilled his will into the ministers:
"I call this review principle two levels and four elements."

"The so-called second class, one is the objective illegal class. If there is no illegal behavior, it will be considered a pass and there is no need for further review."

“If there is a definite violation of law, we will move to the next level: the subjective responsibility level to determine specific responsibilities.”

"The so-called four requirements refer to the four requirements of the subject of the crime, the subjective aspects of the crime, the object of the crime, and the objective aspects of the crime when convicting a person."

“Only when the four requirements are fully met, it can be classified as a crime and punished.”

Speaking out some of his rough knowledge of law, Zhu Youjian hoped that they would adapt to this kind of thinking first. In the future, he will definitely adjust the Ming Dynasty's legal and judicial system and have enough talents.

Those who can adapt to this kind of thinking will naturally stay in the Three Laws Division in the future. Those who cannot adapt to this kind of thinking can only be transferred to other positions.

After roughly explaining it to the ministers, Zhu Youjian explained with examples:

"In the case of Geng Ruqi, deputy military envoy of Zunhua, the reason was that he was unwilling to bow to the statue of Wei Zhongxian."

"But this reason cannot be brought to the table, and Geng Ruqi was not convicted on this basis. His crime was 'taking 6,300 stolen goods.'"

"Has this matter been found out?"

Xue Zhen said hurriedly:

"It has been found out that Geng Ruchi did illegally obtain 6,300 taels of property."

"It has been recovered previously and used to build the three main halls." Zhu Youjian asked others:
"Is that right?"

"Are there any other objections?"

Zhang Jiude, the minister of Dali Temple, couldn't bear it and said:

"Although he obtained property illegally, sentencing him to prison terms is too harsh."

Yao Shishen, Zuo Shaoqing of Dali Temple, also believed that the sentence of beheading was too severe.

Zhou Jiachun, the Right Shaoqing of Dali Temple who was just appointed in the morning, said bluntly:
"Although Geng Ruqi does have some illegal property, it is far less than 6,300 taels."

"Most of the 6,300 taels of stolen goods recovered were collected by his relatives and friends."

"What's more, most of the property Geng Ruchi obtained illegally is official practice."

"If Your Majesty pursues this case, I'm afraid everyone will be in danger!"

Zhu Youjian nodded slightly, knowing that the current situation in Ming Dynasty can be said to be without officials and without corruption, which can be called systemic corruption. Geng Ruqi, who needs relatives and friends to raise even six thousand three hundred taels, can be regarded as an upright official. If I were to convict him of this crime, I am afraid that not many officials in the world would be able to escape the crime.

It is illegal to let them go directly. According to the laws set by Taizu, it will put everyone in the officials in danger. Zhu Youji recalled the famous Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Anti-Corruption Administration, as well as the much-discussed property declaration system, and said:
"I plan to establish an anti-corruption agency in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, which will be called the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and will be responsible for anti-corruption and anti-corruption matters."

"Officials can regularly declare their property and tribute received, and hand over illegal income, and I will pardon the crime."

"Geng Ruqi used to be the deputy inspector, right? Ask him if he is willing to be the first to report."

"If you are willing, I will pardon his crime and let him act as the censor of Qiandu and be responsible for the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption."

As soon as this decision came out, others praised the emperor for being lenient, and Xue Zhen felt relieved. Because this means that the emperor believed that Geng Ruchi was guilty, and only pardoned him because he could not be pursued. Therefore, he judged that it was not a fault for Geng Ruxi to be executed as a prisoner, and the emperor would not hold himself accountable for this.

Sure enough, the emperor did not get entangled in this case. After explaining the principle of the four elements of the second class using Geng Ruchi's case, he began to "pass the test for everyone":
"I have ordered people to investigate Wei Zhongxian's rebellion."

"All rebellious officials will be punished."

"Dali Temple Minister Zhang Jiude..."

Hearing his name, Zhang Jiude's heart trembled, and he only heard the emperor say:

"Although you did not directly participate in the rebellion, you once praised Wei Zhongxian in a book, and you have objectively rebellious behavior and subjective rebellious tendencies."

"If Wei Zhongxian conspires to rebel, there is a possibility that you will comply."

"Since Wei Zhongxian's attempted rebellion has failed and you have not committed a serious crime, I will remove you from your official position and live in peace from now on!"

"The original additional titles of Yin Xi, scattered official ranks, etc. will be abolished."

Hearing this, Zhang Jiude almost collapsed. He felt bitter in his heart, but it was hard to explain.

Almost all ministers at court and local level had done Shangshu's praise of Wei Zhongxian. The emperor used this reason to let him live in peace and quiet, so that he didn't know what to say.

However, the emperor said that if Wei Zhongxian conspired to rebel, he might rebel, and Zhang Jiude found it difficult to defend himself. If the entanglement continues, someone will soon accuse him of disloyalty and hold him accountable for other things.

In this way, starting from Zhang Jiude, Zhu Youjian pointed out the officials of Dali Temple who had praised Wei Zhongxian one by one, and they all had the same title.

After this, everyone in Dali Temple had not passed the test. Zhu Youjian asked Yang Jingchen to review officials who were moved once a year or even several times a year, and downgrade these officials who were promoted abnormally.

The entire Dali Temple officials were sorted out.

Looking at the much streamlined officials, Zhu Youjian looked at Zhang Jiude again and ordered:
"Zhang Jiude, the former minister of Dali Temple, was instrumental in preventing the mutiny in Ningxia, building the Lingzhou embankment, and repairing the border in Yansui. He was reinstated as minister of Dali Temple and was promoted to the third rank of envoy."

"I hope you will do your best and don't let me down!"

　"History of Ming Dynasty":
　　Geng Ruqi, courtesy name Chucai, was born in Guantao. In the 44th year of Wanli period, he became a Jinshi. Remove the head of household department.

　　At the beginning of the Apocalypse, he worked as a doctor based on his talent. At noon beside the military book, dozens of things should be done every day. He served as a counselor in Shaanxi Province and moved to Zunhua as Deputy Envoy of Military Preparation. At that time, Ni Yan stole the handle, and the flatterers came everywhere, even to build a temple to celebrate the new year. Governor Liu Zhao hung the portrait of Zhongxian in Xifeng's office, and led the civil and military officers to pay homage five times and three times to pray for nine thousand years. When Ru Qi saw his image, he came out with his head bowed half-bowed. Zhongxian ordered him to be impeached, and he was arrested and sentenced to prison, with six thousand three hundred stolen goods, and he was sentenced to death.

　　At that time, there was Hu Shirong, who was also attending the meeting in Jizhou. He disobeyed his township official Cui Chengxiu and gave him the title of Chengxiu. A temple will be built for the loyal and virtuous, but the scholar will not obey the order. When Shirong moved to Jiangxi Province as deputy envoy, he went to Tongzhou, so he falsely accused him of riding on a post horse, trespassing on warehouses, and arrested him and sent him to prison and plundered him. He took away 7,000 stolen goods and was sentenced to death.

　　In autumn, when the execution was about to be carried out, Emperor Zhuang Lie ascended the throne, and Cui and Wei executed him one after another. The emperor said: "The factory guard wrote deeply and attached training, which made me deeply sad. He pardoned Geng Ruqi and reinstated him as an official. Hu Shirong and others changed the draft."

　　
　
(End of this chapter)