Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 78: The Minister’s Virtuous Government
As soon as they fell together, the interval was very short, Zhang Jiude was at a loss, and other officials did not know why the emperor did this.

However, Zhang Jiude's reinstatement made the officials who were a little worried now feel relieved.

Especially those who, like Zhang Jiude, had praised Wei Zhongxian, now understood that the emperor had punished them severely and had actually let them go——

If you have already been punished, you will not be punished again.

Anyone who lets the emperor punish him again will be making trouble out of nothing!

With this thought in their hearts, the ministers heard Zhu Youjian say sharply:
"The Ancestral Instructions of the Emperor Ming Dynasty": Any official, scholar or commoner who dares to write a letter stating that the minister is capable and virtuous must be asked to understand the reason and be executed. If the minister knows the truth, he will be guilty of the same crime, and the one who does not know will not be punished. "

"This is the moral policy of the superior minister. The "Da Ming Huidian" has more specific provisions, and the "Da Ming Code" also contains this crime."

"Wei Zhongxian's authority is comparable to that of a minister. According to this law, I can behead the prisoner, make his wife a slave, and transfer his property to the official without interrogation."

"Don't take any chances and praise your ministers!"

The words were said with a strong tone, which surprised the ministers. Knowing that the emperor was not without anger in his heart, it was just because there were too many officials in Shangshu praising Wei Zhongxian that he let them go.

If they don't learn a lesson in the future, the emperor will never hold back on them who have been relegated to another book. Those Donglin Party members who want to impeach them will not let them go.

For a time, the ministers were as silent as a cicada, not daring to make any big noise.

After shocking the ministers and letting them know that he was not easy to talk to, Zhu Youjian was silent for a while. Amidst the trembling of the ministers, he continued:
"Eunuchs were not allowed to participate in politics during the time of Taizu, so we only talked about ministers and did not mention eunuchs."

"So I won't use this law to deal with you."

"But from now on, I add one provision to this law:"

"Anyone who talks about the virtues of eunuchs is guilty of talking about the virtues of ministers."

"You all must remember not to break the law!"

With that said, Zhu Youjian said to Zhang Jiude and others:

"Those who have been punished, although I will not make your wives slaves or transfer your property to the government, but I will hand over all your illegal income."

“Every year, I have to report to the Independent Commission Against Corruption of the Metropolitan Procuratorate to explain my family situation and property status.”

“If there are any unclear origins, deceitful messages, or falsehoods, they will be found out and punished according to the law.”

Conveniently strengthening the construction of clean government, Zhu Youjian let these people go and turned to the Ministry of Personnel.

The newly appointed Minister of Civil Affairs, Zhou Yingqiu, had no bad deeds, but Zhou Yingqiu, the former Minister of Civil Affairs, was a person whom Zhu Youjian hated very much. At this time, he said to him:

"Zhou Yingqiu praised thirty-nine books, and his behavior was extremely bad. It can be called a praise."

"Especially, he sold his official position and shared bribes with Li Kuilong, used his official position as his own private property, and undermined the government's administration."

"This man's crime cannot be pardoned. He and Li Kuilong will be stripped of all their official positions and all their property will be confiscated."

"Send it to Dali Temple for trial and find evidence of illegality."

"All officials promoted by them must pass the test."

"The officials must also reflect on themselves and put an end to buying and selling officials!"

Using Zhou Yingqiu to kill the chicken as a warning to the monkeys, and continuing to frighten the ministers, Zhu Youjian looked at Cao Sicheng, the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel, with a more relaxed expression, and said:

"Cao Sicheng also has a story of praising beauty, but it is lighter than Zhou Yingqiu and heavier than Zhang Jiude." "If Zhang Jiude is the eighth class, Zhou Yingqiu is the fourth class, Cao Sicheng is the sixth class. And raising funds for the construction of the temple in Hejian can be called An accessory to the construction of a temple.”

"Removed from all official ranks, reinstated as Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, added the title of Third Rank to participate in politics, in charge of the General Administration of Sacrifice, and determined the level of temples."

"The original shrine of Wei Zhongxian that has been built will be renamed as the official temple and the City God's Temple. The unfinished demolition materials will be sold on site or transferred to the capital to support the mausoleum workers."

"If you don't do this well, I will take you to task!"

Cao Sicheng was trembling, not only disappointed that he was punished more severely than Zhang Jiude, but also grateful that the emperor did not judge him like he punished Zhou Yingqiu. He knew that if he said no at this time, it might be Zhou Yingqiu's fate, so he immediately knelt down to thank him and respectfully accepted the order.

No one from the staff department spoke at this time, reminding the emperor that he could not directly appoint Shaoqing.

By getting angry and successfully appointing officials, Zhu Youjian looked at Cao Sicheng and encouraged him to do a good job. I hope that this official, who is familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, can set the temple hierarchy and organize the temples in various parts of the Ming Dynasty in a more orderly manner.

Cao Sicheng felt relieved, knowing that the emperor would still use him. Other plots are similar, and I am also relieved. Knowing that the emperor said harshly, he would still use them. As long as he did not behave as badly as Zhou Yingqiu, he would not be handed over to Dali Temple for trial.

What distressed them the most was that the emperor stipulated that all convicted persons must declare their property and hand over their illegal income. If there is any oversight in this matter, it is likely that officials from the Department of Science and Technology will be impeached and will be dismissed from office in the future.

Zhu Youjian continued to deal with others regardless of what they thought. In addition to compiling the "Three Dynasties Essential Codes", Yang Jingchen, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, also wrote a book praising Wei Zhongxian.

However, his level is similar to that of Zhang Jiude, and it is impossible for Zhu Youjian to severely punish this official who has already surrendered to him because of this. In addition, compiling the "Three Dynasties Essential Code" was not considered a crime. Zhu Youjian classified him as the eighth grade on the grounds of his poetry, and removed all official ranks like Zhang Jiude. Then he was reinstated to his post as the Special Superintendent of the Ministry of Personnel for his meritorious service in presiding over the title promotion some time ago. It can be said that it is the same as before, without any change.

Yang Jingchen respectfully accepted the order and was actually a little happy in his heart. After Cao Sicheng leaves, he will be able to take over as Zuo Shilang without any accident. As long as he is promoted to Minister of Administration, he will be qualified to take over as Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

Now Youfang Guiwei occupies a position for him. As long as the emperor's trust in him remains unchanged, sooner or later the official minister will be his. He is far luckier than Cao Sicheng.

He also made up his mind to complete the family property declaration as soon as possible to make the emperor more trustworthy.

Zhu Youjian, another official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, did not deal with it anymore and asked Fang Zhuangwei, Yang Jingchen and Dali Temple officials to review it together, and everyone passed the test.

After the Ministry of Personnel came the Imperial Procuratorate, and now there was a vacancy in the Censorship of the Left Capital. The people who assisted the council were the third-rank Censor of the Left and Deputy Censorship, and Xu Zongli, the Censor of the Right Censorship.

This person didn't have much of a problem, and he had some talents. Zhu Youjian felt that he was promoted too quickly and reached this position just after he was forty years old, so after thinking about it, he said:
"Xu Zongli once assisted Wei Ni in his actions. It can be said that he was a mentor. He is also classified as the sixth grade."

"Removed from all official ranks, reinstated as the fourth-rank censor of Qiandu, temporarily assisting in the affairs of the court."

Thinking of his resume again, he said:

"Xu Yushi has been in charge of household affairs for Shizhong. I will give you another task. Together with the household department and household department, you will establish the General Audit Office to be responsible for financial audits."

"The General Audit Office can audit fiscal revenue and fiscal expenditures and issue audit reports. All institutions in the capital must be audited every year, and local audit offices are audited by the Audit Bureau."

"When an official leaves office, he must be audited in the future. An audit report will be issued by the relevant censor or official of the Ministry of Justice, and signed and approved by the outgoing official and the succeeding official. If there are any subsequent mistakes, the responsibility will be investigated according to the signature."

"From now on, all government offices in the capital must open accounts at Sunchon Bank, and all money transactions must go through Sunchon Bank. The General Accounting Office can review Sunchon Bank accounts and conduct audits."

"The salary of Beijing officials must also be issued through Sunchon Bank in the future. The Independent Commission Against Corruption can review all official accounts, as well as their family member accounts and all family properties. If there is illegal income or income from unknown sources, they will also be held accountable. "

　"Huang Ming Ancestor Instructions":
　　Any official, scholar, or commoner who dares to write a letter stating that the minister is capable and virtuous must be asked to understand the reason and be executed. If the minister knows about it, he will be guilty of the same crime, and if he doesn't know about it, he will not sit down.

　　(For example, when Mang, the king of Han Dynasty, was the prime minister and manipulated his power and fortune, Emperor Ping offered Mang 25,600 new fields to benefit Mang, but Mang pretended not to accept it. The officials and the people wrote letters praising Mang's merits, which amounted to 487,577 before and after. Twelve people. As a result, the authority returned to Mang and the Han Dynasty was moved to Zuo. It’s okay not to be careful.)
　　"Da Ming Huidian":
　　Shangyan ministers have good governance: All government officials, scholars and common people, if there are any ministers who have good governance and good governance, they are traitors. Be sure to interrogate, investigate and clarify the origins, and behead the guilty. The wife is a slave. Property enters the officialdom. If the minister knows about it, he will be guilty of the same crime. Those who don’t know will not sit down.

　　Volume 2 of "Explanation and Supplementary Regulations of the Ming Dynasty Code Collection", Official Code, Position System
　　Shangyan ministers have good governance: All government officials, scholars, and common people, if there is a minister who has good governance and good governance, he is a traitor to the party. Be sure to inquire and find out the origins of the crime. The criminal will be beheaded, the wife will be made a slave, and the property will be transferred to the official. If the ministers know about it and are guilty of the same crime, those who do not know will not sit down.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)