Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Dali Temple Prison mainly holds two types of prisoners.

One category is for mid- to high-level criminal officials, and the other category is for key criminals in the Gyeonggi region.

On the official side, the treatment is better, and there are single rooms and multi-person rooms.

But it was still cold and damp, and there were straws under the straw mats. Unless permission is granted, family members of prisoners are not allowed to send bedding and other daily necessities.

Zhu Ming was bored all day, so he picked up the breathing technique taught by Xue Daoguang. Practice breathing exercises every day, then do gymnastics, then push-ups and sit-ups.

Most of the time, sleeping.

The sound of rustling chains next door woke up Ju Ming from his nap.

Then there were footsteps again, and the jailer was escorting a prisoner in shackles, slowly walking past Ju Ming's cell.

"Who is this person?" Ju Ming greeted the jailer.

The jailer turned around and cupped his hands, and replied: "This guy is the eunuch Feng Hao. He has been destroying his writings since he was born. He was expelled and stopped, and he was sent to Yongzhou to be guarded."

To destroy the written records since one's birth is to erase all birth records and remove the person from the officialdom.

The shackles are sent to Yongzhou to be compiled and managed, which means they are escorted to Yongzhou and compiled into local household registration. They are not allowed to run around casually, and the local officials must strictly monitor them.

Ju Ming asked: "Is Feng Hao the eunuch who reported Wang Zaixi?"

The jailer smiled and said, "That's him."

Although Lin Lingsu returned to his hometown safely, his gang members were liquidated. Feng Hao was Lin Lingsu's spy in the palace.

Not long after, the jailer brought delicious food.

He also carried a small table and placed it outside the cell.

Li Bozong, the minister of Dali Temple, sat across the fence from Ju Ming. He poured wine and raised his glass and said, "My dear friend, please."

Ju Ming raised his glass and asked with a smile: "Your Excellency, are you not afraid of being implicated?"

Li Bozong said: "I can't be here for a long time. When the new prime minister takes office, he will naturally be replaced by his close associates. How can I continue to be in charge of Dali Temple?"

The two clinked glasses and started chatting.

In fact, Li Bozong had a grudge against Wang Fu. When he was managing Jianghuai's coinage affairs, he severely punished Wang Fu's cronies.

Now that Wang Fu is the prime minister, how can he enjoy Li Bozong's good fruits?

"ah!"

A scream came, and Ju Ming poked his ear.

Li Bozong pointed over there and said: "The person who is being punished is named Deng Zhigang. He was promoted to Huiyou Pavilion and has been waiting for less than two months. The crime is that he entered and left the eldest son's house in plainclothes in a sedan chair, and embezzled public funds from the Ordnance Supervision Bureau."

Ju Ming said: "Embezzling ordnance money? Then you deserve it."

Li Bozong shook his head and smiled: "Which military officer is not greedy? How can he be imprisoned if he makes friends with the clan? Half a month ago, Deng Zhigang invited his colleagues to a banquet and ordered his concubine to serve at the table. Wang Fu loved his concubine's beauty and repeatedly hinted and asked for it. Deng Zhigang But he couldn't bear it, pretending to be deaf and dumb just pretending he didn't understand. Concubine Ji is a small matter, but face is a big deal, how can Wang Fu endure it?"

Ju Ming asked: "Sir, are you reminding me that I have offended Wang Fu and may be punished in prison?"

Li Bozong said: "I will be the minister of Dali Temple, so I can rest easy. When I am transferred to another place, I'd better be cautious and don't say anything to anger the officials again."

"Thanks for the reminder." Zhu Ming thanked him, tore off a chicken leg and stuffed it into his mouth.

…

The Criminal Department and Dali Temple held a joint trial, but due to some delays, Zhu Ming was thrown into jail and left unattended for another half month.

The matter was not serious. Chen Yangong, a doctor from the Ministry of Justice who was sent to examine the case, was suddenly thrown into the local tax collection by Wang Fu. He was accused of "encountering evil and harboring differences".

By the way, two ministers of the Ministry of Punishment were also changed.

Fan Zhixu's biological mother died and he had to rush back to his hometown for the funeral.

Cai Jing's nephew Yu Wencuizhong succeeded him as Minister of the Ministry of Punishment. Before his butt could get hot, he was transferred elsewhere and replaced by Zhao Yelai to take charge of the Criminal Department.

Zhao Ye is a grassroots man who listens to whoever gains power.

Historically, this guy was demoted to the position of magistrate. His car was blocked by rioters in the wilderness, and then he was beheaded by the soldier leader, and all the belongings around him were robbed.

Zhao Ye’s real backer is King Yun Zhao Kai!

He also wrote poems to flatter Zhao Kai, two of which are: "Restore the secret path and multiply the house, among all the kings, who is as wise as King Yun?"

"Poof!"

Zhao Ye slapped Xingmu fiercely, pointed at Ju Ming and said, "Since he is a prisoner, why don't he wear shackles? Someone is here, put them on him!"

Zhao Ye became the Minister of Punishment, and the first thing he did was to interrogate Ju Ming, and he also gave him power.

Ju Ming stood tall, with a calm expression, and allowed the jailer to put handcuffs and leg cuffs on him.

The six thieves planned to exile Zhu Ming, but King Yun tried to do something else.

Zhao Ye asked sternly: "Who instructed you in that "Public Security Manual"?"

Ju Ming asked: "As the Minister of Punishment, don't you read the files of Dali Temple? I have already answered this question in Dali Temple."

"Say it again!" Zhao Ye said angrily.

Ju Ming could only say: "No one ordered it."

Zhao Ye deliberately induced: "How dare you talk about the country's foundation without any instigation? Someone must have instigated it and said it. No matter how powerful you are, you are not afraid. After you confess, you will be treated leniently."

Li Bozong, the minister of Dali Temple, Nie Yu, the young minister of Dali Temple, Cai Anshi, the Minister of Punishment, and others all changed their expressions after hearing this.

Zhao Ye's intention was too obvious, he actually wanted Ju Ming to throw dirty water on the prince.

Li Bozong took the lead to stop him and said in an angry tone: "Please be careful what you say and don't try to induce a confession!"

"There can be no further trial today. I will inform your majesty." Cai Anshi directly advocated adjourning the trial. This matter was too big for him to bear.

Zhao Ye felt that something was wrong in the atmosphere and had many doubts in his heart.

Most of the judges here are members of the Six Thieves, and the Six Thieves usually have good friends with King Yun. Now is a great opportunity to coerce Ju Ming into confessing the prince, so that the prince will be charged with colluding with foreign ministers.

Why did everyone else but myself shrink back?

Nie Yu was Zheng Juzhong's confidant, and he did not want to wade into this muddy water. He quickly said: "What Mr. Cai said is absolutely true. We cannot try it again today."

After saying this, Nie Yu stood up and left.

Li Bozong and Cai Anshi also left one after another, followed by the other three or four officials.

Zhao Ye was actually the only one left in the court.

What's the point of reviewing this?

They were not counted after the trial, and all the jurors ran away.

In the afternoon of the same day, Song Huizong received the news that someone had rushed to deliver the impeachment memorial.

After Song Huizong read it, he was so angry that he threw the memorial in Zhao Kai's face: "Are you so impatient?"

Zhao Kaicheng was so frightened that he picked up the impeachment memorial and read it. Then he was so frightened that he knelt down and said, "Sir, it's really not the kid who instigated it. It was Zhao Ye who made his own decision!"

Song Huizong stared at his son for a long time and warned: "You are not allowed to interfere in the case of public security neglect, otherwise you will be responsible for the consequences!" He then said to the accompanying eunuch, "Drawing a decree, Zhao Ye, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, has specially demoted three officials and demoted them to Deputy Envoy of Tuanlian. Leave Beijing immediately, no stay allowed!"

Zhao Kai was so frightened that he knelt down. He asked Zhao Ye to induce a confession, which was just a test.

The first is to test whether the important ministers in the court will support him in seizing the position of the East Palace. The second was to test Song Huizong to see if he had any intention of deposing the crown prince.

But he never expected that the ministers would be so sensitive and report together regardless of faction.

Song Huizong was also merciless and demoted Zhao Kai's confidants to scattered officials.

Zhao Kai was a little confused that his father loved him so much and the ministers were extremely respectful to him. Why didn't they support him as the crown prince? I am a hundred times stronger than the useless prince!

This thing is already floating, and is loved by thousands of people.

Even when he wanted to take the imperial examination, the emperor and ministers did not interfere. Instead, they joined forces to promote him as the number one scholar.

He even promoted the Imperial City Secretary, holding soldiers and horses in his hands, thinking that he would be the prince sooner or later.

Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty held back his anger and said to his son: "Go back to Prince Yun's Mansion, shut yourself up and think about it for a month, and you are not allowed to have contact with any courtiers!"

"Yes!" Zhao Kai was so frightened that he was trembling even as he spoke.

After his son left, Song Huizong said to his internal and external ministers: "You also retreat."

The emperor was left alone in the garden, sitting there alone with his thoughts racing.

Song Huizong was smart and willful, and King Yun was so much like him that he loved him very much and even did many extraordinary things.

It was also because King Yun looked so much like him that Song Huizong did not dare to depose the crown prince. He knew very well that if King Yun became emperor, he would destroy the country, and the prince was the best candidate for heir apparent.

Yang Jian is terminally ill, and Li Yan is now favored.

Song Huizong thought for a while, called Li Yan and said: "You go to Dali Temple to deliver the edict. If Ju Ming is willing to repent, you can keep his official status. If he is unwilling to repent, he will be assassinated in Qiongzhou and his family name will be destroyed. He only told Li Bozong, Don’t let others know about it, settle this case as soon as possible, and don’t delay it any longer.”

Song Huizong was really annoyed that more and more ministers were interceding for Ju Ming.

Moreover, Ju Ming was arrested and sent to Dali Temple, which has spread throughout Tokyo. There was a fierce public debate, and even prostitutes were singing dramas about loyal officials and their injustice.

The case must be closed as soon as possible and the situation cannot be allowed to continue to develop.

At any other time, Song Huizong would not be afraid at all. The problem is that the rebels from all walks of life have not been suppressed, natural and man-made disasters, hungry people everywhere, and financial distress. Some ministers with upright temperaments were already advising the emperor to issue a sinful edict.

…

Dali Temple Prison.

Li Bozong went to Ju Ming again for a drink, took out his pen, ink, paper and inkstone and said: "The official family has a secret order to close the case as soon as possible. If I write a letter of repentance, I can keep my official status. If I don't repent, I will assassinate Qiongzhou and destroy my family background. Alas, Choose one for yourself.”

Tattoo?

Ju Ming doesn’t like tattoos, let alone tattoos on his face.

It seems that he has to be a little ruthless. If he changes history, he will definitely not have the Southern Song Dynasty, and Prime Minister Wen will not have to leave his loyalty to history.

In that case, let's borrow a poem from Prime Minister Wen.

The ink has been ground, and Ju Ming grabs the brush.

Li Bozong was a little disappointed. He admired Ju Ming very much. He would rather Ju Ming assassinate Qiongzhou than see Ju Ming bow his head and repent.

It was like a strong-willed man whose back was broken.

Li Bozong sat down to drink alone. After a few glasses of wine, he suddenly saw something wrong with the content of the confession book. He quickly read it carefully: "The heaven and earth have righteousness, and are mixed with manifolds. Below are the rivers and mountains, and above are the sun and stars. As people say Haoran, Peihusai Cangming..."

"Pfft...cough cough cough!"

Li Bozong took a sip of wine, wiped the corners of his mouth with Heng Xiu, and his expression became solemn.

In this song "Song of Righteousness", Ju Ming only changed two words, changing "Qiongbei" to "Bianliang".

After Zhu Ming finished writing, he put down the pen, and Li Bozong took it silently.

He returned to his office and made two copies of "Song of Righteousness". Then he wrote a letter of resignation, took out the official seal and put it away, and sent "Song of Righteousness" and the letter of resignation to the palace.

Song Huizong read "Song of Righteousness" first. After appreciating it, he felt even more headache.

After reading the resignation letter again, I was so angry that I yelled: "This Li Bozong has no sense of responsibility as a minister!"

The content of the resignation letter was very simple. Li Bozong said that he admired the righteous people and did not dare to assassinate Ju Ming in Qiongzhou. He could not disobey the imperial edict, so he had to resign and return home, asking the emperor not to persuade him to stay. At this time, he had already fled with his whole family.

A "Song of Righteousness" states that given the public opinion atmosphere of the Song Dynasty's preferential treatment of scholar-bureaucrats, Song Huizong did not dare to kill Ju Ming, nor did he dare to assassinate Ju Ming and exile him.

It doesn't matter how many people die, this kind of scholar-officials cannot be insulted.

Song Huizong called Li Yan again: "Promote Nie Yu to the rank of Minister of Dali Temple and ask him to close the case immediately. Zhu Ming wrote a banned book for arbitrarily discussing the government affairs, destroyed the writings since his birth, and escorted him to the Guizhou editor. After the case was closed, he was sent out immediately. Tokyo, don’t use shackles on prison cars, lest you attract criticism.”

The last person to receive such treatment was Cheng Yi. He also had his birth certificate destroyed and was escorted to the local editor. He neither tattooed nor wore shackles.

Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty never wanted to see Ju Ming again. He would have to go as far away as possible. It would be best to die in Guizhou.

Just like a thief, Dali Temple prepared a carriage, escorted by several sergeants, and sent Ju Ming out of the city early in the morning.

The moment he came out of the city gate, Ju Ming felt like a bird escaping from its cage.

What he wants is to "pursue and destroy the writings since his birth". From now on, he will no longer be a minister of the Song Dynasty. In the future, he can rebel freely and will not bear the reputation of a rebellious minister and traitor.

On the contrary, you will be sympathized with and understood.

"I still have a personal entourage in the city. Brother, can you go and let me know?" Zhu Ming asked.

The escorting sergeant looked troubled.

Ju Ming added: "All the wealth and wealth are with me."

"I'll go right away and ask your husband to tell you the address of the Xiangfang." The sergeant immediately became motivated.