I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 118 Hai Rui's Forced Confession on New Year's Eve! A New Year, A New Look for the Ming Dynasty

On New Year's Eve, at the government office of Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi Province.

Led by Gao Lingyue, the prefect of Pingyang Prefecture, and Zhang Kui, the prefect of Puzhou, Hai Rui, the right vice censor of the Censorate, and Yao Bin, the supervising secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, passed through the main hall and the second hall and arrived at the Ailian Hall in the west wing.

The front hall of Ailian Hall.

An exquisite eight-immortal table stands in the middle, with four official hat chairs arranged in a row, and four maids and four servants standing on either side.

Outside the hall, there was a simple stage, with a group of actors in full costume lined up on one side, ready to begin their performance at any time.

This is the standard practice for various government offices in Shanxi to entertain imperial censors.

Gao Lingyue led Hai Rui to the front hall and said with a smile, "Hai Qianyuan, I know you don't like noise, so I didn't have the other officials from the government office come to greet you. Today is New Year's Eve, so it shouldn't be considered impolite for the four of us to have a few drinks and listen to some music!"

Hai Rui didn't say anything and walked directly to his seat.

Zhang Kui was overjoyed and shouted to the side, "Serve the food!"

After a short while, the four of them sat down, and various delicacies were served one after another.

Wine cups and wine pots were made of gold, and plates and bowls were either porcelain or lacquered.

Meat dishes included goose, chicken, lamb, pork, and fish, all exquisitely presented; vegetables were served in small porcelain dishes, and small dishes were stacked high in tiered boxes; various fine snacks, dried dishes, fruits, cakes, and pastries were also placed to the side.

Such a scale of dining is clearly excessive.

But let's not even talk about the officialdom in Shanxi.

The entire Ming Dynasty officialdom, including some wealthy families without official titles, was so extravagant, completely disregarding the etiquette and rules set by the court.

now.

Sitting at the lower end of the table, Yao Bin, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, felt uneasy and kept glancing at Hai Rui.

Having spent time with Hai Rui over the past few days, he knew Hai Rui's temperament and principles of doing things, and he was certain that Hai Rui would not eat this meal.

He even felt that Hai Rui might overturn the table.

at this time.

Hai Rui glanced at the dining table, then looked at Gao Lingyue and said, "Prefect Gao, is this all the food we have?"

Gao Lingyue was taken aback, and quickly replied, "There are still three soup dishes that have not been served. If these do not suit the taste of the Imperial Household Department, I can order the chef to replace them immediately!"

"May I take a look at today's menu and also at today's play program?" Hai Rui asked.

Upon hearing this, Gao Lingyue and Zhang Kui were overjoyed.

They were most afraid that Hai Rui would be unyielding, but to their surprise, Hai Rui actually took the initiative to order food and music.

Ordering food, music, and even singing girls was a common occurrence at banquets for officials.

The past.

Some gourmand-type high-ranking officials who came to Pingyang Prefecture for inspection would personally order the dishes and even hint to the prefectural government to prepare some other programs.

Gao Lingyue liked this kind of official the most.

Since they had eaten, drunk, played, and taken things, they naturally wouldn't raise any issues with Pingyang Prefecture, and Gao Lingyue's official position was secure.

At this moment, Gao Lingyue's mood gradually relaxed.

He murmured to himself: It seems that the legendary Hai Gangfeng is not so stubborn after all. Perhaps he has figured it out after retiring to his hometown for many years. In the current officialdom, pretending to be aloof will only lead to a bloody defeat.

Lean slightly.

The recipes and play lists appeared in Hai Rui's hands.

After looking through it, Hai Rui handed it to Yao Bin, who was standing next to him.

Yao Bin immediately understood and quickly stuffed it into his arms.

After entering Shanxi, he had to record everything Hai Rui gave him.

Gao Lingyue and Zhang Kui immediately sensed that something was wrong.

"Haiqianyuan, what does this mean?" Gao Lingyue asked in confusion.

"These two have violated the banquet etiquette of the Ming Dynasty officials. As I am inspecting Shanxi, I have a duty to investigate and punish them. Naturally, I must preserve this evidence!"

Upon hearing this, the two men's faces turned ashen.

As the saying goes, "You can't hit someone who's smiling."

The two men kindly invited him to dinner, but Hai Rui still found fault with them.

Hai Rui, indeed, is still the same Hai Rui.

They cannot tolerate even a grain of sand in their eyes.

Gao Lingyue stood up, glared at him, and said, "Hai Qianyuan, you don't mean to make us lose our positions just because of this banquet, do you? This banquet was specially arranged by Minister Wang and Governor Fang. We are just carrying out the orders of our superiors. If you don't like it, why did you come to the banquet?"

Gao Lingyue was of the same rank as Hai Rui, but lacked the necessary presence. He then tried to exert pressure on Hai Rui by relying on the names of Wang Chonggu, the Governor-General of Shanxi and Minister of Justice, and Fang Fengshi, the Governor of Shanxi.

Hai Rui countered, "Does Prefect Gao mean that this banquet is the intention of Minister Wang and Governor Fang? Is that correct?"

"Yes!" Gao Lingyue said irritably.

Hai Rui nodded slightly, looked at Yao Bin, and said, "Remember these words. In the future, we will find Minister Wang and Governor Fang to confront each other."

“Yes, Vice Admiral Hai,” Yao Bin replied.

The question-and-answer session between Hai Rui and Yao Bin made them feel like prisoners being interrogated in jail.

immediately.

Hai Rui then looked at the two men and said, "Remove all the food and actors. I have come to see you two today on official business, not for a meal."

Gao Lingyue waved his hand helplessly. The other party was ordered to inspect Shanxi and said that he had official business to attend to, so he could only cooperate.

Soon, the dishes and fruits on the table were quickly cleared away, and the actors and maids also left, leaving only four servants to serve tea and water.

Hai Rui took a document from his pocket and placed it on the Eight Immortals table.

"Prefect Gao, Prefect Zhang, I trouble you two to take a look at this document and then explain the events described within." After saying this, Hai Rui turned to the servant boy beside him and said, "Quickly, bring two sets of writing materials!"

The two servants dared not delay and immediately ran outside.

Gao Lingyue and Zhang Kui were both somewhat bewildered as they looked at the contents of the document.

This document details the various illegal activities of the Wang Chonggu family and the Zhang Siwei family in collusion between officials and businessmen.

The charges include more than ten crimes such as: seizing salt and grain for sale, annexing and seizing farmland, stealing and selling official documents, allowing servants to amass wealth, extorting tribute from vassal states, levying taxes and labor services for extortion, opening treasuries for profit, and smuggling grain and ironware.

Some of these charges are hearsay, some are supported by sufficient evidence, and others require further investigation.

Hai Rui and Yao Bin had been busy in Puzhou for so long just to find out the background of the Zhang and Wang families. As for the truth of the matter, Hai Rui would naturally have a way to verify it one by one.

soon.

Two sets of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were placed on the Eight Immortals table.

Hai Rui looked at the two men sitting opposite him and said, "Prefect Gao and Prefect Zhang, please write down your explanations of these matters! You can claim ignorance, or you can claim knowledge but helplessness, or you can confess to involvement, or even identify other masterminds..."

Zhang Kui's eyes darted around, and he said, "Hai Qianyuan, today is New Year's Eve after all. Could we write it tomorrow? Rest assured, we will report everything we know truthfully. If anyone from the Zhang or Wang families violates the law, I will not protect anyone!"

"No, I will leave tonight, no matter when you finish writing!" Hai Rui shook his head slightly, his tone firm.

Upon hearing this, Gao Lingyue and Zhang Kui were both furious.

This is truly being chased into my home and bullied!

Hai Rui made them explain and monitored their writing at this moment, in order to prevent the two from colluding.

now.

The two men had no idea which of the charges mentioned in Hai Rui's document were supported by solid evidence and which were fabricated out of thin air.

If the two of them had written it down immediately, the content would have been very different. If they both claimed to be unaware of it, then that would be a dereliction of duty.

They are not clean to begin with, and if they write about it today, they will be guilty of a sin.

But they were helpless.

Because at this moment, four Imperial Guards were sitting in the outer hall.

If they dared to disobey Hai Rui's orders, they would likely face imprisonment.

At that moment, both of them deeply regretted inviting Hai Rui to the banquet. They hadn't expected Hai Rui to uncover so much, nor had they expected him to be so ruthless, pulling off such an unavoidable scheme on New Year's Eve.

Gao Lingyue looked at Hai Rui and asked, "Hai Qianyuan, what exactly do you want to do?"

"The imperial court has ordered you to inspect Shanxi, specifically to investigate the Zhang and Wang families. There's no need for you to make things difficult for us and try to kill us! If you're going to investigate them, you'll still need us. How about we each get what we need? We'll protect our careers, and you can complete your inspection mission. What do you say?"

“Yes, we are willing to assist you in inspecting Shanxi and will tell you all the details we know!” Zhang Kui also said.

The two have begun to show weakness.

Hai Rui understood this very well.

The so-called explanation from the two men was simply to find some scapegoats, and these scapegoats were probably already arranged by Zhang Siwei and Wang Chonggu.

But Hai Rui had his own plans.

"Write it!"

Hai Rui sat down between the two men, while Yao Bin, mustering his courage, sat on the lower side of the octagonal table to prevent them from engaging in any underhanded dealings.

The two had no choice but to hesitate for a moment before reluctantly starting to write.

……

It was nearly midnight.

The two yawned and finally finished explaining.

Putting down their pens, the two felt they might have become scapegoats.

After reading the two men's confessions, Hai Rui folded them neatly, put them in his pocket, and then strode outside with Yao Bin.

The purpose of Hai Rui's inspection tour of Shanxi.

It was not about disrupting Shanxi's commerce, nor about disturbing the military order of important border towns such as Datong, Taiyuan, and Xuanfu, nor about destroying the Longqing Peace Treaty, nor even about destroying the Zhang Siwei family and the Wang Chonggu family.

Instead, they wanted to separate the concepts of "official" and "business," implying that one could not have an official position if one wanted to be a businessman, and one could not have a businessman if one wanted an official position.

High-ranking officials and wealthy merchants were combined into one entity.

It was even more serious than the damage caused to the Ming Dynasty by Japanese pirates at sea.

……

After a while.

Hai Rui and Yao Bin braved the biting cold wind and got into the carriage.

Hai Rui stroked his beard and said, "We'll rest for half a day tomorrow, and then head to Datong in the afternoon. We should head to the border to learn about the border trade situation in Shanxi!"

Upon arriving in Datong, they will face Wang Chonggu directly.

In front of Wang Chonggu, Hai Rui was just a minor censor. He would not give Hai Rui any face at all, and might even target Hai Rui.

Until then.

Their patrols will become more difficult and even life-threatening.

"Old Hai, you've made it this far, are you... are you alright?" Yao Bin said, his stomach growling loudly.

From dusk until now, he has only drunk two cups of tea, and has not dared to touch a single bite of the delicious food on the table.

At that moment, Hai Rui's stomach also growled.

“When we get back to our lodgings, we’ll have noodles. Shanxi noodles are especially chewy!” Hai Rui said with a smile.

Since Yao Bin followed Hai Rui, he has rarely been able to eat food with oil or fat. Even in the countryside, he would only have two steamed buns and a pickled vegetable to eat.

The Imperial Guards served meat to Hai Rui, but he refused to taste it.

At first, Yao Bin was a little unaccustomed to it.

But every time he ate with Hai Rui, looking at Hai Rui's straight back and listening to Hai Rui talk about the way of being a minister, he felt that everything tasted delicious when he was by Hai Rui's side.

……

On the first day of the first month of the fifth year of the Wanli reign, at the fourth watch of the night.

Shen Nian, dressed in the court robes of a civil official, gathered outside the Meridian Gate with other officials.

Civil officials stood on the east side, and military officials stood on the west side.

A moment later, bells and drums sounded in unison.

Guided by the official on duty at the Court of State Ceremonial, the civil and military officials proceeded to the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

then.

As the music began, the young Wanli Emperor arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony in his palanquin, where officials performed the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows.

Next came the ceremony where civil and military officials knelt to present congratulatory memorials, praising the emperor's virtues and praying for national peace, prosperity, and favorable weather.

Following this was the audience with the foreign envoys and the bestowal of gifts by the young Wanli Emperor.

This segment, designed to showcase the might of the Ming Dynasty with its "tribute from all nations," proceeded particularly slowly, featuring numerous congratulatory messages.

Shen Nian was getting drowsy listening to this, so she kept pinching her thigh. In such a situation, being impolite could result in a six-month salary deduction at best, and a demotion or being sent to a remote post at worst.

As a historian who was compiling the "Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty" and the emperor's daily lecturer, Shen Nian naturally could not make mistakes in such matters of etiquette.

He could only try his best to persevere.

Then came the emperor's address and pronouncement of the imperial edict.

Feng Bao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, read aloud a series of instructions to officials, a summary of new policies, and pardons and rewards on behalf of the young Wanli Emperor.

This speech was personally written by Zhang Juzheng.

As Shen Nian listened, she even heard her own name mentioned.

In the section on the daily lectures at the Imperial Lectures, the imperial court specifically commended lecturers such as Shen Nian, Wang Jiaping, and Shen Yiguan.

Being commended at the New Year's Day grand court assembly means that you will receive a generous reward in the future.

Furthermore, in the new year, as long as you don't make any major mistakes, your career will be smooth sailing, and there may even be opportunities for exceptional promotion.

By the time this speech was finished, it was nearly noon.

Finally, it was time for the banquet.

Officials of the fourth rank and above held banquets inside the palace, while those of the fifth rank and below held banquets on the Dan Chi (red steps) or outside the Meridian Gate.

Shen Nian breathed a sigh of relief. After finishing this banquet, the five-day New Year's Day holiday would begin.

Half an hour later.

Halfway through the banquet, the young Wanli Emperor set off to return to the Forbidden City.

The atmosphere at the banquet became lively.

The officials toasted each other and chatted idly, creating a lively atmosphere, much like a birthday or wedding banquet held in a rural household.

As in previous years, Shen Nian stood next to Ma Ziqiang and Shen Shixing to avoid being forced to drink by other officials.

At this moment, Shen Yiguan had drunk too much.

He was very excited to receive the commendation for the first time at the New Year's Day court assembly. Holding up his wine cup, he kept talking to himself, thanking the court for its grace.

Before long, he even knelt on the ground.

boom! boom! boom!
Shen Yiguan frantically kowtowed to the ground, and the officials beside him couldn't pull him up.

He muttered to himself, and soon began to sob, praising the young Wanli Emperor, the cabinet, and himself, claiming that he would become a pillar of the Ming Dynasty in the near future.

This is clearly a drunken tantrum; he's desperate to get into the cabinet.

When the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial saw that they could not pull him up, they immediately found two Imperial Guards to drag him away.

His actions will almost certainly result in a three-month salary deduction.

After getting slightly tipsy, Shen Nian returned home.

This year will be an extremely important year for the Ming Dynasty. Taking advantage of this holiday season, he plans to take a good rest before making a big push.

(End of this chapter)