Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 42: Beheading the Minister of Revenue, and the Spring Examination Hall stained with blood!
The four drums are beating and the clothes are on. It's still too late to meet at the Meridian Gate.

When will I be able to enjoy the joy of the countryside and sleep until the food in the world is ready?

This is a poem by Qian Zai, an old official during the Hongwu period, who complained that the morning court session was too early. Zhu Qizhen, now the emperor, felt the same way. He complained to Zhu Yuanzhang in his heart: You are a hard worker, and your descendants will suffer for you.

At this moment, he wanted to learn from the later generations of Jiajing and Wanli and simply not attend court. This emperor is really not a human thing. To be a wise emperor, you have to get up earlier than chickens and sleep later than dogs. You only rest on your birthday throughout the year.

Where are the three thousand beauties in the harem? Where are the promises of ruling the country while awake and lying on the lap of a beauty while drunk?

"Your Majesty, the time has come," the eunuch chief Jin Ying reminded.

Zhu Qizhen, wearing a yellow dragon robe, went to Fengtian Hall. He yawned repeatedly while sitting in the sedan chair, but when he arrived at Fengtian Hall, he instantly sobered himself up.

Sitting on the dragon throne, he clenched his fists as he looked at the ministers kneeling below him. The cold voice of the Queen Mother came from behind the curtain: "Everyone, stand up."

After the court session, the ministers began to report to the empress dowager, but some ministers would report to the emperor after they finished.

These included Wang Zhi, the chief minister of the cabinet, and Yu Qian. Unconsciously, the direction of the court began to change, and the emperor gradually participated in the discussion of government affairs.

"Your Majesty, I want to postpone the case of Shen Gu for a while." Wang Zhi bowed and said, "The Spring Examination will be held in two days. If the court makes a big move, it will affect the hearts of scholars all over the world."

"I will reconsider this!" Huichang Marquis Sun Jizhong bowed.

Then, more than a dozen ministers expressed their desire to review the matter.

Zhu Qizhen glanced at them and sighed, "I know that corrupt officials like Shen Gu have existed in every dynasty. They eat salaries and keep the peace. Humph, there are too few honest officials!"

At this point, he changed the subject and his tone suddenly became cold: "However, I don't want all the candidates of this year's Spring Examination to learn from him when they become officials in the future. I want to warn them!"

All the ministers were filled with a chill in their hearts.

Your Majesty, what do you want to do?
"Even if we want to deal with Shen Gu, there is no need to rush." ​​The Queen Mother's cold voice came.

Zhu Qizhen slowly stood up, bowed to the back of the curtain, and said, "Mother, the case of Shen Gu has spread all over the capital. Not only the scholars who came to take the exam, but also the people in the streets and alleys know the evil of corrupt officials. There are even many rumors that are trying to sow discord between me and mother."

The ministers were secretly shocked. They didn't expect the emperor to point it out directly. Of course, the ministers had heard the rumors in the streets and alleys. Some of the rumors were even spread to the empress dowager.

"Mother, Shen Gu must be killed!" Zhu Qizhen said in an unquestionable tone, "Only by executing Shen Gu can we reassure the people of the world."

There was silence behind the curtain for a while, and then the queen mother's cold voice came: "You are the emperor, you decide!"

The Queen Mother had no reason to refuse. But she also didn't understand why the Emperor was so eager to kill Shen Gu.

……

The day of the Spring Examination has finally arrived.

All candidates ran across the Longmen Bridge and arrived in front of the Ministry of Rites. Here, they were searched and their belongings checked to prevent cheating. Afterwards, they were given uniform examination supplies, such as candles.

However, this time when the examinees arrived at the gate, they saw a prisoner in shackles kneeling in the middle of the road leading to the Imperial Examination Hall. Some of the examinees recognized the prisoner.

Former Minister of Revenue Shen Gu!
"He was the one who stole and sold the government grain. He deserves to die. How many people did I see starving on my way to Beijing to take the exam? He actually stole and sold the government grain."

"But why is he kneeling here? Even if he is to be beheaded, this is not the execution ground." "He may not be beheaded. Don't you know who is behind Mi Xing? Won't they protect Shen Gu?"

The candidates were all very curious about why Shen Gu was kneeling there. In fact, as the Zhongzheng official of this spring examination, Hu Yi didn't know what was going on.

However, the person was escorted here by the Imperial Guards, and it was the order of His Majesty. Hu Yi frowned, thinking that the examination would start soon, so he must not delay the time.

At this time, Jinyiwei Commander Shi Biao came with the imperial edict and announced in front of all the examinees:
I have heard that as a court official, you did not think about being loyal to the emperor and patriotic, but dared to steal and sell official grain and embezzle it. This is a heinous crime. You have disregarded the law of the country and are a scourge to the court and a thief to the people. Such behavior not only disappoints my high hopes, but also harms the heaven and goes against human ethics. I am deeply saddened by this and vow to punish you severely to serve as a warning to others.

Today, in front of all the candidates for the imperial examination, I hereby issue this decree: In the case of Shen Gu stealing and selling government grain, the evidence is conclusive and the crime is unforgivable. He must be executed immediately to demonstrate the majesty of the national law. This is also a warning to all students that they must know that being an official is to benefit the people. If anyone dares to test the law, he will be severely punished and there will be no leniency.

I hope that all candidates will take this as a warning, abide by their duties, study diligently, and when they pass the imperial examinations and become officials in the future, they should put the national economy and people's livelihood first, be honest and upright, be loyal and filial, and work together to promote a prosperous society. Do not let me down.

Admire this!

……

"Your Majesty has ordered that the heads of corrupt officials be chopped off and buried under the main road of the Imperial Examination Hall. All examinees must step on their heads to enter the Imperial Examination Hall!"

When Shi Biao's voice fell, everyone in the room was numb, and they felt a chill rising from their backs. However, some of the candidates had fiery eyes.

In their view, His Majesty was under tremendous pressure to kill the corrupt official Shen Gu, and at the same time he was also warning future generations not to follow Shen Gu's example.

Your Majesty, you have the appearance of a sage monarch.

"Come here, execute the sentence!" Shi Biao roared.

Amid the sounds of fear, the executioner stepped forward, brought down his sword, and a stream of blood spurted out. Looking at the rolling head on the ground, Hu Yi, a veteran minister of four dynasties, trembled slightly.

Your Majesty is trying to win the hearts of scholars all over the world. This method is cruel and ruthless. Throughout history, no emperor has ever chopped off a head in front of the Imperial Examination Hall.

The city tower serves as a place of worship, and the world between heaven and earth is interrogated.

In order to rectify military discipline and punish the rebels, Emperor Taizu Gao beheaded his adopted son in front of the people in front of the city tower. From then on, he won the hearts of the people.

Your Majesty, are you learning from Taizu?
"Sir Hu, it's up to you next." Shi Biao came over and bowed.

Taking a deep breath, Hu Yi stood up and waved his hand. The officials from the Ministry of Rites behind him began the pre-exam inspection. The candidates also came to their senses and lined up to enter the examination room.

Each of them walked across the avenue where the heads of the Shen Gu were buried. When all the examinees entered their own rooms, Hu Yi found that Shi Biao and the others had not left yet.

"Mr. Shi, the exam is about to start, what are you doing?" Hu Yi asked.

"His Majesty has ordered that we stay and supervise!" Shi Biao said with a fist.

Hu Yi's expression changed slightly, and he snorted, "Your Majesty, don't you trust me, this old minister?"

"Your Majesty naturally trusts Lord Hu." Shi Biao was very polite, "But this examination room is so large, it is inevitable that there will be mistakes. Your Majesty asked us to assist Lord Hu."

Hu Yi frowned, feeling uneasy.

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(End of this chapter)