Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 82 Dealing with Wei Zhongxian

After the day's court meeting, Zhu Youjian returned to the harem, but he couldn't rest yet.

After Wei Zhongxian's fall, the inner court still had more things for him to deal with.

Especially after the eighth-level criminal suspects have been identified, it is necessary to determine the treatment of those involved in the case in the inner court to make the people in the inner court feel at ease.

In the Palace of Qianqing, Zhu Youjian looked at Wang Tigan, the chief seal of the Chief of Ceremonies, who was kneeling in front of him to plead guilty, and said in a stern tone:

"You should also know about the affairs of the outer court. Wei Zhongxian is really treasonous."

"I have ordered Wang Wenzheng to interrogate the Hakka family. Since you were not involved in this matter and you are a minister left to me by the late emperor, I will spare you this time."

"Have the affairs of the Supervisor of Ceremonies and Dongchang done well, and make a good handover with Xu Yingyuan and Wang Yongzuo, and I will let you retire safely."

"Otherwise, given the relationship between you and Wei Zhongxian, you can imagine the consequences."

Wang Tiqian was trembling with fear, knowing that his life depended on the emperor's thoughts.

He did not know about Wei Zhongxian's rebellion, but he was involved in many things involving the eunuch party.

If the emperor does not protect him, the ministers outside will definitely tear him into pieces.

At this moment, Wang Tiqian could only hope that the emperor would keep his word and allow him to retreat safely in the future.

Xu Yingyuan and Wang Yongzuo happily accepted the order, knowing that if nothing unexpected happened, they would be the ones in charge of Si Lijian and Dongchang in the future.

Thinking of Wei Zhongxian's matter, Xu Yingyuan said to the emperor:

"Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian's treason has been revealed, and he should be punished."

"Should we send the Jinyi Guards out of the capital to capture Wei Ni?"

This statement made Wang Tiqian and other eunuchs secretly resentful. After Zhu Youjian considered it, he said:
"There's no need to make such a fuss."

"Wei Zhongxian's attempted rebellion failed. He is also a minister left to me by the late emperor. It will not look good if things get serious."

"Find someone Wei Zhongxian trusts and let him end it on his own!"

"Who do you think can gain Wei Zhongxian's trust and bring back his thousand warriors and the family property he took away?"

Forty carts of property, estimated to be worth millions. Coupled with the houses and properties that Wei Zhongxian left in the capital, as well as the properties of the Hakka family, Cui Chengxiu and others, this money can not only make up for the gap in the mausoleum work, but can even repay some of the nine-sided arrears.

Zhu Youjian was already determined to get this property. He had to find someone who knew Wei Zhongxian and the eunuch party to seize the money.

Wang Tiqian was quite surprised when he heard what the emperor meant. He did not expect that after Wei Zhongxian's rebellion was exposed, the emperor would still be willing to let Wei Zhongxian commit suicide.

This made him more confident in the emperor's promise of a safe retreat, and he said:
"Wei Ni is in charge of the dynasty and has great trust from him."

"This person has a high prestige in Wei Ni's family, and he manages Baohe Liudian in an orderly manner, which is enough to bring back warriors and family property."

Nodding slightly, Zhu Youjian said:
"Then let the Dynasty use it!"

"He is Wei Zhongxian's boss and should know about Wei Zhongxian's rebellion."

"But I will not pursue it for the time being and let him bring back Wei Zhongxian's warriors and family property."

"If this matter is done well, I will let him go to Zhangjiakou to manage the imperial store there."

"If it doesn't go well, let him imitate Wei Zhongxian and commit suicide!"

Wang Tiqian felt happy, knowing that his sworn brother could pass the test.

Just as he was about to take orders to go out, he heard the emperor say:
"Let Wei Zhongxian cooperate well, write a confession, confess the crime, and expose the accomplices."

"His nephew Wei Liangqing is implicated in too many people and is the biggest beneficiary of the counter-case. He will definitely not be saved."

"But I can let Wei Liangdong, Wei Pengyi and others stay for him." "Let Wei Zhongxian change their names, and I will give him a hereditary quota of 100 households as the imperial brother's mausoleum guard."

"Give him a quota of one thousand hereditary households and one hereditary one hundred households, and take the rest of the Wei family to the big island east of Penghu to build a thousand households."

"If anyone among the thousand warriors is willing to follow, they can join them and become military households, and each person will be assigned a hundred acres of land."

"We must bring them back. We cannot let these people disperse on their own. If anyone does not obey orders, they can be killed on the spot."

Worried that the warriors would become bandits and mix in with the bandits who had appeared sporadically, Zhu Youjian asked Chaoyong to cooperate with Wei Zhongxian to bring all those people back. At the same time, we plan to arrange manpower to prevent them from escaping.

Wang Tiqian didn't know this, and was even more surprised when he heard that the emperor gave Wei Zhongxian such generous treatment. It also made him feel more at ease, knowing that he could probably retreat safely.

The emperor exiled them overseas and even asked Wei Zhongxian to change their names. Obviously, he had no intention of continuing to pursue the case. The Wei family only needs to pay one more Wei Liangqing to retreat safely.

Feeling the emperor's magnanimity, Wang Tiqian felt that he must explain this matter to Wei Zhongxian. Let him obey the emperor's instructions honestly, so as not to damage the emperor's impression, and eunuchs like himself will be implicated in the future.

Watching Wang Tiqian go out, Zhu Youjian ordered people to summon the Jin Yiwei to guard the emperor and enter the palace. Xu Yingyuan said beside him:

"Your Majesty, why do you need to give them such preferential treatment?"

"Since Wei Zhongxian is plotting rebellion, his entire family should be executed!"

Zhu Youjian glanced at him and felt that this person had changed too much, maybe that was his nature.

Xu Yingyuan used to be Wei Zhongxian's close friend, but he didn't expect that he would be so cruel after falling out.

Thinking of how many people in the palace were eunuchs and how many people had been favored by Wei Zhongxian, Zhu Youjian deliberately said to Xu Yingyuan:
"Once Wei Zhongxian and Wei Liangqing die, no one in the Wei family will take charge of the overall situation."

"Let's just let a bunch of incompetent people and children go. They won't cause any hindrance."

"Leaving them alive and exiled overseas is worthy of the late emperor's entrustment!"

I explained a little bit to reassure those who used to be attached to Wei Zhongxian: I have even spared Wei Zhongxian’s family, so you don’t have to worry.

Observing the expressions of the servants around him, Zhu Youjian saw that some people were beaming with joy. Apparently they felt that the emperor was so lenient that Wei Zhongxian's rebellion would not implicate them.

Xu Yingyuan also felt that the emperor was very lenient. Thinking of the money Li Yongzhen gave him, he took the opportunity to plead with the emperor:
"Your Majesty, Li Yongzhen was just deceived and did not actually participate in the counter-case."

"Why don't your Majesty show mercy and release Li Yongzhen."

Feeling that Xu Yingyuan was getting more and more outrageous, Zhu Youjian was dissatisfied and said calmly:
"Someone from the inner court must be involved in Wei Zhongxian's rebellion."

"You said Li Yongzhen was not involved in the counter-case, then you can point to another one!"

After hearing this, Xu Yingyuan looked at the eunuchs around him. It seems that he really wants to point out one person and let him replace Li Yongzhen.

For a time, the atmosphere in Qianqing Palace was really audible.

The eunuchs around him all hated and feared him, and did not dare to express their anger.

Enjoying this kind of treatment, Xu Yingyuan was feeling somewhat complacent when he suddenly heard a "plop" and an eunuch knelt on the ground and said loudly:
"Your Majesty, Xu Ying was so angry that he died of concubine Zhuang."

"Your Majesty, please punish me!"

　"Chongzhen Changbian"

　　The fourth day of the eleventh month of the seventh year of the Apocalypse:
　　Although Zhongxian was banished to Fengyang, he was still supported by the public and the defense forces on the way. Therefore, the emperor once again ordered the Ministry of War:

　　Wei Zhongxian, who was rebellious and evil, should have avenged the grievances of the people, but he was sent to Fengyang lightly. How could he be so evil and not think about reforming himself? He often dared to kill his animals. He was armed with a fierce blade and surrounded by people to protect him. He looked like a rebel.

　　I have a very evil heart, so I went with the official flag sent by the royal guards to twist and escort him to the other place for delivery. I understand that all those who follow the traitors will be captured and executed. Do not indulge and cause trouble. If there is any negligence, the responsibility will be assigned.

　　At that time, the official flag was just leaving Beijing. On the sixth day of the Zhongxian lunar month, they arrived in Fucheng County. When they heard about it, they hanged themselves in the hotel. Li Chaoqin, one of his party members, was hanged.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)