Idle courtiers

Chapter 327 The Storm of Jiajing 41 Years

At the end of March in the 41st year of Jiajing, there was a sudden magnitude [-] earthquake in the political situation of the imperial court in the capital.

Yushitai Kedao, Hanlin Academy, and ministers of various ministries wrote letters to impeach Yan Song for privately raising military funds, plotting wrongdoing.

The thing is like this, when a censor named Gong Qing went to Tongzhou Wharf to investigate the matter of counterfeiting and reconnaissance, he accidentally discovered that Yan Song's silver boat was pretending to be the emperor's internal money, and wanted to smuggle privately raised military funds into the capital.

It is a serious crime to use the royal banner to mobilize the troops of the five cities, and it is an unforgivable crime to privately raise military expenses.

Gong Yushi immediately sealed the silver boat, and sat on the deck for two days without eating or drinking, until the Sanfa Division sent someone to take over the case.

The case was revealed to the world, and public opinion was in an uproar for a while.

At the same time, some people also dug up the "ten crimes and five traitors" that Yang Jisheng risked his life to impeach Yan Shoufu, repeating the same old tune.

The so-called ten crimes are: destroying the law of the ancestors, stealing the great power of the emperor, covering up the meritorious service of the emperor, indulging in the theft of adulterers, impersonating the military merits of the court, attracting treacherous officials, misleading the country's military opportunities, Deposing the big handle, losing the hearts of the world, ruining the customs of the world.

The five traitors are: Yan Song used generous bribes to make friends with all the attendants around the emperor; When the marriage was concluded, the emperor's minions became the "entanglement" of the traitor Yan Song; Yan Song was afraid that the people who took the imperial examinations would talk too much, and those who were not from his private party were not allowed to participate in the selection of officials from Zhongshu and pedestrians; Yan Song Let his son Yan Shifan choose talented and prestigious people from the imperial examination background, recruit them, and place them under his own sect.

These are all old things. For example, Zhao Wenhua has been dead for two years, and now it is brought up again, which gives people a sense of unusualness.

And, even more unusually.This impeachment of Yan Song not only involved Ke Dao and Prince Yu's Mansion, but even Xu Jie, who has always been proud of Yan Song's concubine and not ashamed, also jumped on the stage and made a full-fledged attack.

The three forces are united as one, and it is simply one heart.

Speaking of this, some people may wonder, everyone in the palace has always been out of tune with Xu Jie, how did they cooperate this time?
Thinking back to what happened a few days ago, I suddenly felt that something was wrong: King Jing left the capital and became a feudal clan... Could it be that this matter has something to do with Xu Jie?You know, Xu Jie was born in the Minister of Rites, and that was his basic foundation, and the Ministry of Rites happens to be in charge of the clan.

The more you think about it, the more you feel right. It seems that there must be a PY transaction between the two sides.

The three forces are coming fiercely, and it seems that the strict party is doomed.

However, people in the officialdom are still optimistic about Mr. Yan Ge.

You know, Lao Yan was able to achieve his status today because of one blow and one blow.When Xia Yan, Yang Jisheng, and Shen Lian attacked him back then, the situation was probably more dangerous than it is now, but Mr. Yan Ge completely turned the situation around.

I'm afraid it's the same this time, maybe how many people have been completely defeated like these three people, maybe some people will lose their heads.

Sure enough, as everyone expected, impeachment papers flew to the emperor's desk like snowflakes.

Yan Song, as usual, submitted his resignation to beg for bones in accordance with the old court system and unspoken official rules.

The emperor exhorted him a few words and asked him to go home and rest first.Then, leave all the notes unpublished.

The emperor's refusal to express his attitude is an attitude, that is, he wants to protect Yan Song.

Zhou Nan wondered: No, according to the real history, Yan Song would collapse because of this incident. Why did things become unclear?
"Is there any news about Qing Yun, what's the attitude of the inner court?" He asked Zou Yinglong cautiously.

After leaving Wang Shizhen's place, Zhou Nan still returned to work in the General Secretary.Just as Yang Jisheng said when Yan Song was impeached, the Secretary of General Administration is the joint in charge of cashier Wang Ming, and the news is extremely well-informed.Besides, I read the brochures here every day, and I really have the illusion that everything in the world is in my hands. Zhou Nan likes this job a little bit.

He works in the department every day and practices stereotyped essay writing by the way, so he lives a fulfilling life.

Zou Yinglong looked worried: "Your heart is unpredictable, and it is inconvenient for us and foreign ministers to hear about the affairs of the inner court. Maybe... the emperor still cares about the relationship with the thief... But, Zimu, you don't have to worry, the old man should will know what to do."

Zhou Nan: "That's the only way to go. By the way, what does Gu Yan think of Yun Qing?"

He can't get involved in the fight of big men, but the future of Qiu Wei is related to how far Zhou Nan can go in the future.

Without a Jinshi degree, there is always a transparent ceiling blocking his head.

Zhou Nan worried a lot about Gu Yan's matter.I also thought about how to get through his door, of course it is impossible to rush in.First of all, people will definitely not give themselves face.In fact, if you go straight to the door to find a way, if someone knows that you have been accused of cheating, who can bear it?

He also asked Wang Ruoxu, and the old Wang answered very simply, saying that he had no relationship with Gu Yan, so he couldn't talk at all.

Even so, Zhou Nan had no choice.

Zou Yinglong heard Zhou Nan ask, and said: "Zimu, my mentor and Gu Shangshi are not on good terms, do you think it would be useful for me to find him?"

Zhou Nan felt depressed, yes, his biggest support in the capital was Xu Jie and Wang Ruoxu.Since these two people have nothing to do with Gu Yan, the matter of Qiuwei in Shuntian Mansion can only be resigned to fate.

Seeing that he was depressed, Zou Yinglong said a few words of comfort, and then brought the topic back to the matter of Yan Yan: "Zimu, you have to trust your mentor. Now Yan Fenyi has gone home to recuperate, and his old man is waiting for you at any time. , I think it will definitely make a difference.”

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At this moment when the two were talking, in Xiyuan, there was the Abode of Yuxi Palace.

It was the end of spring, Emperor Jiajing made an exception today and put on a jacket, and sat cross-legged on the futon with his eyes downcast: "Close the windows."

"Yes, master." Huang Jin walked over and closed the windows.

The room became dark immediately, without the bone-chilling cold wind, Xu Jie, who had been standing by for a long time, finally felt warmer.

Jiajing glanced at him, his eyes shining in the darkness: "Bring a chair and come in, Xu Jie, you have been standing here for many hours, your legs must be weak. You are so persistent at such a young age, but you are very persistent. !"

There was sarcasm in his tone.

Two eunuchs on duty brought in a round mahogany stool with a marble top and placed it behind Xu Jie.

The emperor's tone was very unfriendly, Xu Jie felt that something was wrong, and his heart was raised in his throat.He hurriedly thanked him and sat down, but how could he sit comfortably, and only put down half of his buttocks.

His eyes fell on the imperial case of the emperor, which was full of memorials, needless to say, they were all the papers of the impeachment of Yan Song made by the courtiers in the past two days.

Seeing that these papers were placed so neatly and the cinnabar used for reviewing had not yet melted, Mr. Xu Ge clearly felt that the emperor didn't take this matter to heart, and he didn't even bother to look at it.

Unconsciously, he thought to himself: Could it be that the Son of Heaven is trying to ensure strict distribution?
"Old Xu Ge." Jiajing looked at Xu Jie.

Xu Jie leaned up: "The minister is here."

Jiajing: "Among the four ministers in the cabinet, you are in charge of the Ministry of Rites, and Yan Song is in charge of the Household Department. Yan Shoufu has recently been sick, and the Household Department will be temporarily replaced by you. The war in Fujian is difficult, and the sky is asking for food and fodder. Does the Household Department have a regulation?"

Xu Jie felt tense in his heart: "Returning to the Holy Lord, all the military supplies and fodder for the Southeast War have been allocated at the beginning of the year. The shortfall will be made up from Nanjing and Fujian. Of course, these are not enough. I just went to the Ministry of Accounts and counted. Taicang, see if you can move some out."

"Move some out, how much silver is in Taicang, you know it, and I know it too. It's a dojo in a snail shell, so there's only so little movement. Even if you are a clever woman, Mr. Xu Ge, you can't cook without rice." Jiajing A faint smile: "It seems that the talents of your subordinates are also very limited. It's not as good as Yan Maoqing, who went to patrol the salt for two months, and raised a full amount of general expenses. It's still the people trained by Yan Ge who are capable, there is Yan Maoqing Now, Xu Jie, you don't have to suffer so much, but you don't have to worry about it."

Xu Jie: "Your Majesty has a good plan for the temple. I am really worried." His heart sank.

The emperor's words may not mean to blame him for being troublesome. Yes, the Fujian frontline uses troops every year, and that is a gold-swallowing monster.Millions of taels of military expenditure are spent every year, and the central government alone cannot support it.

Because, Yan Song allowed his subordinates to take over the local area, which was according to the emperor's wishes.

With the military expenditure collected by Yan Song, the battle in Fujian can be fought without spending a penny from the central government, so why not do it?
At the best time, Yan Songfu, who is notorious for looting places, can bear it alone, and Yu Sheng's reputation will not be damaged.The front line is won, but the emperor is the one who gets face.

From this point of view, no one is interested in taking away Yan Song whoever becomes the emperor.

If Yan Shoufu is removed, who will raise the future military expenses? Is it possible that the emperor will have to pay for it himself?

"The temple calculation, the temple calculation, when did I do the temple calculation, but it was just to let the people below do things. If you do well, you won't let them end up. The bad things in my Ming Dynasty are bad. There are too many people picking mistakes, and too few people doing practical things. But can you do practical things, Xu Jie?" Jiajing's words began to be sharp: "I know about the silver boat that Yushi Gongqing investigated, and the people who escorted the boat It's dealt with, just reprimand Yan Maoqing, don't make a fuss."

This was already lifted high and then lowered lightly, Xu Jie felt bitter in his heart.

Beside him, Huang Jin, who had been looking blank all the time, suddenly interjected: "Mr. Xu Ge, this ship of 20 taels of silver was used by Mr. Yan Ge to repair the Renshou Palace."

Xu Jie was startled, and immediately understood that the reason why Yan Song resigned earlier was that he was retreating in order to advance, and it turned out to be this trick behind his back.

That's right, this ship of money was military expenses raised by Yan Song.Now that the incident has happened, if it is done according to the imperial court system, the old man Yan Ge will not be able to escape the guilt.

But, don't forget, Lao Yan is Jiajing's pocketbook.

The emperor's daily food and clothing expenses are all contributed by Yan Song. As long as he insists that the money is an offering to the emperor, no one can do anything to take it.

Xu Jie understood the emperor's temperament very well, and only had money in his eyes.

It seems that Yan Ge always escaped this time.The problem is, the old man has been preparing for such a long time, how should he work with him in the future, how embarrassing is it?

In the midst of depression, Xu Jie suddenly remembered what Zhou Nan had said to him, "In His Majesty's mind, all these military expenses belong to him. If Yan Song dares to take even a cent, it will be stealing money from him, and he will not be spared. As long as the investigation continues, Yan Song will definitely not be able to pass this test."

"20 taels, 20 taels of silver...no..."

Xu Jie's eyes lit up, and he took a deep look at Huang Jin.

Huang Jin still had that dull look, but his eyes met Xu Jie's, conveying an unusual meaning.

A smile hung on the corner of Xu Jie's mouth, and he immediately understood that Huang Jin was trying to wake him up just now.

"Your Majesty, as far as I know, there is 20 taels of silver on the silver boat seized at Tongzhou Wharf." Xu Jie said indifferently: "After investigation, Yan Maoqing led all the salt to the collection department when he was patrolling the salt, and got at least a million dollars in profit." Among them, only 50 was used for the front line. Then, the old minister would like to ask, where did the other 50 go after the remaining 20 was deducted from His Majesty's 30?"

At this time, Huang Jin, who had been silent all this time, suddenly asked, "Is Mr. Xu Ge's words true?"

Xu Jie: "The salt quotations issued by the Four Salt Division will be retained in the central government every year. Once calculated, you can calculate how much money you can earn from each quotation. Then compare it with the military funds received by Fujian, and deduct it twice. Do you know how much money is missing in it?"

"What!" Suddenly, Jiajing, who had been sitting cross-legged on the futon, stood up abruptly, and roared with a distorted face: "30, 30 taels, that's all my money! Yan Song earns more than me, okay?" Daring?"

Yes, Xu Jie guessed right. After the Tongzhou silver boat was seized, Yan Song found Jiajing immediately, and said that the money was earned by selling salt at the Lianghuai Salt Division by his protégé Yan Maoqing.Part of it was sent to the front line in Fujian, and the other part was used as a tribute to the emperor for the maintenance of Renshou Palace.

The reason why I didn't report to the emperor in advance was mainly because I was afraid of the court's objection and wanted to surprise the emperor.

The emperor was very satisfied when he saw the money, so he didn't pursue it anymore.

But now hearing what Xu Jie said, he suddenly became furious.Co-author Yan Song is making money under the banner of Zhen, you can make money if you make money, and you still get a big share in the end.Son of Heaven, you are a subject who eats meat, and I only got some leftover soup and water.

When I am a beggar?
It is tolerable and unbearable.

Jiajing yelled sharply: "A thorough investigation, a thorough investigation must be done!"

Seeing the emperor's fierce reaction, Xu Jie knew in his heart that Yan Song was finished.

So far, the dust has settled.

I thought of Zhou Nan's words in my mind: "In His Majesty's mind, all these military expenses belong to him. If Yan Song dares to take even a cent, it will be a robbery from him, and there will be no mercy. As long as the investigation continues, Yan Song will be doomed."

It can be said that Zhou Zimu has figured out the emperor's thoughts to the extreme, he is really a peerless national scholar!

(End of this chapter)