Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 81 Eighth-class counter-criminals
After setting the eighth level of counter-case plot, and dismissing the errant officials and adding new titles, Zhu Youjian continued:
"What is more serious than eulogizing is praising, flattering and praising."

"Praise to beauty is a form of praise that is repeated several times, and it has a heavier tendency to be subjective and rebellious than the eulogies."

"Flattery means flattering and relying on the eunuch, and praising the director means helping Wei Ni to do things."

"These three circumstances must be investigated, especially if the behavior of the leader causes harm to others, he must be held accountable separately, and even receive additional punishment as appropriate."

Speaking of these three plots, Zhu You determined how to deal with them:

"These three circumstances are basically classified as the sixth level. However, if the circumstances are lighter than others, the actual harm is not great, and the subjective tendency of rebellion is not serious, they can be classified as the seventh level."

"The seventh-level criminal offenders are allowed to return to their posts after being dismissed, and those with meritorious service can take over their original positions and continue to make meritorious service to the country."

"The plot of the sixth level is a little more important. When reinstated, you must lower yourself by at least one level."

At this point, many of the ministers' faces began to relax, because most of them were only at the sixth level, not much different from Cao Sicheng.

If you perform better and make the emperor think that the subjective tendency of rebellion is not serious, you may be ranked seventh like Qin Shiwen——

Many people can see that the seventh class is specially listed by the emperor to reduce the sins of those who seek refuge with him. After all, whether the so-called subjective tendency to be rebellious is serious or not depends on the emperor's thoughts.

Thinking of this, Cao Sicheng regretted even more that he had not surrendered to the emperor earlier like Yang Jingchen, otherwise he might have been acting in his original position now.

And his punishment was not over yet. After Zhu Youjian explained the three plots of praising beauty, flattering, and praising director, he specifically mentioned the construction of the temple:

"Jiansheng Temple consumes money and food and disrupts the place. The behavior is particularly bad and can be divided into principal offenders and accomplices."

"Officials who advocate and preside over the construction of living temples can be designated as principal offenders and placed in the fifth level of punishment."

"Those who raise funds for the construction of the shrine and actively go to worship will be classified as the sixth class."

"If you are just forced to sign, and the circumstances are not serious, then you will be classified as the seventh level."

"All officials involved in the construction of the temple must be fined, the amount of which is at least one thousand taels, and cannot be less than the amount raised for the construction of the temple."

"If public funds are used during the construction of the temple, money and food are collected as corvees, or people are forced to donate, other responsibilities will be investigated depending on the seriousness of the case."

As he spoke, Zhu Youjian stared at Cao Sicheng and said:
"How much money you raise to build the temple in Hejian will be used as fines to donate to the mausoleum."

"If there is even one less money, it will not be considered a complete pass."

Cao Sicheng looked sad and begged the emperor:
"Your Majesty, most of the money and food do not belong to the humble ministers, and they were donated by others on their own initiative."

"Wei Chen really can't afford that much fine!"

Zhu Youjian wanted to fill the hole in the mausoleum, but ignored his begging and said:

"I don't care how you got your money and food. I only know that if you use the money and food to build Wei Zhongxian's shrine, you should also have the money to build the imperial mausoleum for the late emperor. Otherwise, it is disloyal."

"If you really can't get it out, then the illegal income and income from unknown sources will be confiscated."

"Except for the property whose exact source can be stated, such as the family property owned before becoming an official, the wife's dowry property, the salary and rewards received while serving as an official, and other legitimate income, all other property will be confiscated."

This punishment is not far different from ransacking a home. As soon as Cao Sicheng heard this, he knew that he had to raise the fine no matter what, so as not to have most of his property confiscated like a house raid.

The others were solemn, but knew that the fine was only the sixth level of punishment. In addition to confiscation, there must be more serious punishments in the fifth level.

Sure enough, they heard the emperor say:

"The fifth class is the main culprit in building the temple and the people who support him wholeheartedly. These people are very likely to follow Wei Zhongxian when he conspires to rebel, so they are listed in the fifth class."

"For example, Li Jingbai, the governor of Shandong, not only built a shrine for Wei Zhongxian, but also said in his congratulations, 'Yao Tian is majestic, and the emperor's virtue is hard to name.' He even deliberately placed the word "山" under Wei when writing, saying to others, "How can a mountain suppress the power of Wei Zhongxian?" It's on Mr. Wei's head. The flattery is simply disgusting."

“After dismissal, the person’s status will be reduced to civilian status and will never be used again, and losses will be investigated and illegal income and income from unknown sources will be fined and confiscated.”

"If other crimes are discovered during the review, they will be dealt with as well."

This punishment is much heavier than the previous dismissals and reinstatements.

It can even be said that this is the most serious punishment besides confiscating your home and going to jail.

Unless there is a great opportunity, it is impossible for officials who have been reduced to civilian status and will never be used again.

As for the review of other crimes, it made many officials nervous, knowing that if they strictly followed the Ming Law, many people could be convicted.

Fortunately, the construction of ancestral temples mostly occurred in local areas and did not involve much involvement of officials in the court. The main crime of building ancestral temples was basically not used in the court.

As for the so-called "heartfelt support", it depends more on the emperor's wishes.

If the emperor doesn't like you, even if you write "factory ministers are loyal to the country", you may be ranked fifth. If the emperor thinks you can be used, you can write "The loyal ministers are loyal to heaven and earth, and they are brave enough to shock China", and they will be ranked seventh.

It can be said that the fifth and seventh classes are extensions of the sixth class, which were specially listed by the emperor for the eunuch ministers to choose.

If they do not actively seek refuge with the emperor, the sixth class present may be assigned to the fifth class.

Those who actively seek refuge with the emperor, or who have made meritorious deeds to rely on, may be assigned to the seventh level.

This made many officials who were panicked after Wei Zhongxian's fall determined to seek refuge with the emperor in order to avoid being classified as fifth-class by the emperor and never being used in the future.

Xue Zhen and others were even more uneasy, knowing that they were probably the principal culprits and the punishment would be even more severe.

Sure enough, their worries were right. After talking about the treatment of these accomplices, Zhu Youjian talked about the culprit and principal criminal:

"In addition to participating in treason, the culprits and principal criminals also caused harm to others and caused heavy losses to the country, and must be severely punished."

"The first-class rebels, Wei Zhongxian and Hakka, not only plotted rebellion, but also committed many misdeeds inside and outside the palace. They are unpardonable crimes."

"The second-level accomplices in the rebellion, Wei Liangqing, Hou Guoxing, Li Yongzhen, Cui Chengxiu, Xiao Weizhong, and Liu Zhao, these six people have confirmed that they knew and even participated in Wei Zhongxian's conspiracy and rebellion, and they will be treated as accomplices."

"Others who knew about Wei Zhongxian's treasonous actions but did not report it will be treated as accomplices after being discovered."

"The third and fourth classes are the core members of the eunuch party. They will first be charged with handing over to close attendants and then examined for other crimes."

"If the circumstances are serious, or if someone has been killed, then he will be classified as the third level and let him pay for his life with his life."

"If the circumstances are not serious, he will be classified as the fourth class, his home will be confiscated to make up for the losses, and he will be sent to the army or exiled overseas."

"If these fourth-level personnel can confirm it, they can be arrested immediately!"

Xue Zhen immediately collapsed in Wuying Hall because he was one of the main culprits in Liu Duo's death. According to the emperor's words of life for life, he would pay for Liu Duo's life.

Zhu Youjian looked at him coldly, not letting him go at all because of Xue Zhen's show of kindness in the morning. At this point, could he still expect that he would bear the blame for killing people just because of a little show of kindness?

Zhu Youjian didn't want to bear the responsibility for such a big crime on his behalf. I originally thought about reviewing the Ministry of Justice in a few days. After seeing this scene, Zhu Youjian said directly:

"Xue Zhen, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, and Chen Jiuchou, the Left Minister of the Ministry of Justice, were demoted from all official positions, and Xue Zhen was handed over to Dali Temple for trial."

"Li Ruogui, the right minister of the Ministry of Punishment, was loyal to the late emperor and did not commit any rebellious behavior. He was promoted to the left minister of the Ministry of Punishment, received the title of political envoy, acted as Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, and attended regular meetings."

"The Minister of Punishment and the Right Assistant Minister of the Punishment Department choose a day to recommend candidates, and the Ministry of Personnel will find qualified candidates from those who have passed the review."

The Ministry of Punishment was dealt with decisively, and the previously mentioned retention of the original post was forgotten. The ministers did not dare to remind him of this.

Because what happened to Xue Zhen was so bad and he was a traitor to Donglin, he was very likely to be impeached.

If the emperor does not punish him now, all the ministers will want to report him. In case Xue Zhen is impeached by others in the future, they will also be taken along and ranked among the top four.

Nowadays, according to the eight levels of criminal offenders set by the emperor, even if they are impeached, they will most likely be classified as the sixth level. If valued by the emperor, he may even be assigned to the seventh rank and take over the original duties.

This made them work harder and show positive behavior to the emperor.

　Volume 2 of "Explanation and Supplementary Regulations of the Ming Dynasty Code Collection", Official Code, Position System
　　Friendship with the officials in the yamen: Any officials in the yamen who interact with the internal officials and the officials in the liaison, leak things, or cheat due to a predestined relationship, will all be killed. His wife was relocated two thousand miles away.

　　"First Dial the Will to Begin":
　　[1] First inversion:
　　Wei Zhongxian was a cruel man who brought disaster to the country, was tyrannical and oppressed his superiors, and was full of crimes, which made both gods and men angry. The counter-shape has been achieved, and it is appropriate to do so.

　　The Hakka family relies on kindness to protect others, makes friends with evil people, steals power from others, takes bribes and steals treasures, rebels against the leader, and will not be punished until death.

　　According to the law of great treason, all of them will be executed without distinction, regardless of their superiors or subordinates. This is the rightful execution of the law.

　　[1] Treason and conspiracy:
　　Cui Chengxiu, who has betrayed his country and forgotten his relatives, has secretly stolen the power, made evil plans and promoted the party's misfortune, was the first to help the culprit, and it is a good thing to stab the corpse.

　　Li Yongzhen, Li Chaoqin, Wei Liangqing, Hou Guoxing, Liu Ruoyu...

　　The above is based on the plan of great rebellion, but the conspirator will be executed regardless of the leader or subordinate, and will be executed in a reduced order.

　　[1] Make friends with the attendants:
　　Liu Zhixuan flattered and supported him. He shook his mother, expelled his relatives and ministers, scolded his mother in a lenient manner, and punished his mother with impunity...

　　The above is based on the law that the officials of various yamen and the internal officials interacted with each other and leaked things, and those who cheated and supported each other to report to Qi were executed after the death of Qiu.

　　[1] Make friends with the attendants:
　　Zhou Yingqiu, Yan Mingtai, Huo Weihua, Pan Ruzhen...

　　In accordance with the above rules for handing over to close attendants and introducing names, the rank was reduced and the soldiers were sent to the army. The law department was still ordered to prepare official reports according to the official recruitment. If there is any evidence of corruption, please read the report together and wait for the report to be revealed.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)