I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 125 I Cannot Be Deceived! The Young Wanli Emperor's New Skill: Confiscating Houses
The sixteenth day of the first lunar month, in the afternoon.

Just as many officials were still enjoying the joy of the Lantern Festival, Shi Qing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, suddenly led a group of Embroidered Uniform Guards into action.

More than twenty people, including Ma Yi, deputy commander of the North City Military Command, Xie Zhen, the censor of the North City, Song Qi'an, the judge of Shuntian Prefecture, Wang Xincheng, the clerk, Li Peibo, the vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Peng Chong, the judge of the Court of Judicial Review, Yu Xiu and Wang Enlong, eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department, Wen Da, the eunuch of the Seal and Ribbon Department, Liu Xin and Chen Wei, the eunuchs of the Directorate of Imperial Household, Liu Dieniang, a female official of the Palace Bureau, and Wu Huiyi, a female official of the Palace Administration Department, were all imprisoned in the imperial prison.

Such a scale.

It also involved multiple government departments, including eunuchs, female officials, the Five City Garrison Command, Shuntian Prefecture, Dali Temple, and the Censorate, so the news naturally spread quickly.

The first person to learn of this news was Feng Bao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who controlled the inner court.

Inside the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs.

When a young eunuch woke Feng Bao, who was taking a nap on a soft couch, and told him about it, Feng Bao was first taken aback, and then pondered for a long time, but still couldn't understand what crime these people had committed.

This matter involves far too many government departments and officials!

The only thing he was certain of was that this was the will of the young Wanli Emperor.

Among those arrested were four of his adopted sons, all of whom held important positions in the inner court.

Based on the young Wanli Emperor's personality and the degree of dependence he had on him.

Unless something serious happened, it's impossible that he wouldn't have been informed before these four eunuchs were arrested and imprisoned.

After a moment's thought, Feng Bao felt it might be related to the royal selection of a queen.

Because his four adopted sons and two female officials in the inner court were involved in this matter.

But I wasn't entirely certain.

Because the officials of the Military Affairs Bureau, the Censorate, the Shuntian Prefecture, and the Court of Judicial Review had no connection with this matter.

"Change your clothes! Enter the palace!" Feng Bao shouted.

To find out the truth, going to the palace was naturally the best option.

His adopted son, Zhou Hai, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who was serving in the imperial prison, did not report to him immediately. This was either because he was kept in the dark or because he was ordered by his superiors not to speak.

Lean slightly.

Just as Feng Bao finished dressing and was about to leave, a junior eunuch on duty in front of the emperor ran over.

"Grand Ancestor, His Majesty has already traveled to the Imperial Prison in his imperial carriage and orders you to go there immediately as well!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Bao panicked.

Some matters, when resolved privately in the Wenhua Hall, will have completely different outcomes than when resolved in the imperial prison.

Feeling uneasy, he quickly boarded the carriage heading towards the imperial prison.

Since the young Wanli Emperor ascended the throne, he had never been so nervous. Feng Bao was not afraid of Zhang Juzheng, the Six Ministries, or the censors and officials, but he was afraid of the young Wanli Emperor.

Once he falls out of favor, he will lose everything in an instant, and may even be beheaded.

……

at the same time.

After writing down the events of the past few days and handing them to Shi Qing, Shen Yaoshan and Gu Dongyi walked out of the Shuntian Prefecture prison.

Aside from their clothes being gnawed by the large rats from the previous night, the two were unharmed.

Shen Yaoshan carried in his arms a handwritten letter from the young Wanli Emperor, as well as a thousand taels of silver notes that Ma Yi had extorted from them.

The letter contained very little information.

Emperor Wanli expressed his gratitude to the two men, saying that he owed them a favor and that if they encountered any problems they could not solve, they could seek his help with this letter.

This letter is priceless; it's like giving the Shen and Gu families an extra layer of protection.

……

Soon, Zhang Juzheng, who was at home, also learned of this matter.

As the current chief minister.

He had to be informed immediately of any movement or disturbance in the Forbidden City or any government office in the capital.

this moment.

He didn't know why the young Wanli Emperor wanted to arrest these officials.

However, the young Wanli Emperor neither summoned him to the imperial prison nor summoned the heads of the Six Ministries to the imperial prison, indicating that this matter was unrelated to the new policies.

In addition, most of those detained were eunuchs, leading Zhang Juzheng to speculate that it was most likely due to matters within the inner court.

At present, the cabinet and the inner court have always maintained a relationship of mutual respect and non-interference. Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao do not provoke each other and sometimes even help each other.

However, Zhang Juzheng still hoped that the young Wanli Emperor would take action to punish the eunuchs in the inner court.

The eunuchs in the palace today wield too much power and have overreached themselves, engaging in numerous acts of embezzlement and corruption behind the court's back.

The only one who can punish them is the young Wanli Emperor.

Soon after, officials in the capital learned of the matter.

Some timid officials hurriedly ordered their men to inquire with familiar colleagues; others with questionable conduct quickly checked for omissions and concealed evidence to avoid being arrested and imprisoned as well.

Some officials in charge of censorship had already prepared paper and ink at home, ready to submit their reports as soon as news came from the imperial prison.

All unexpected events can potentially become a source of excellent performance for them.

……

After a while.

Shen Nian, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, was also summoned to the imperial prison by the young Wanli Emperor under the pretext of "annotating before the emperor".

Shen Nian was overjoyed.

The fact that he was ordered to record this before the emperor is enough to show the young Wanli Emperor's attitude towards this matter.

Recorded in history.

Naturally, one should handle it with an attitude of selflessness and "not fearing that the world will know, nor needing that future generations will know."

Shen Nian was certain that a group of people would lose their heads this time.

These people dared to manipulate even the emperor's wedding, touching the emperor's sore spot; they were clearly tired of living.

……

Half an hour later, in the front hall of the imperial prison.

The young Wanli Emperor sat upright on a large chair, his face gloomy.

Feng Bao stood beside him.

He appeared calm on the surface, but inside he was in turmoil.

Since he came to the side of the young Wanli Emperor, the young Wanli Emperor has not given him a second glance. Even the tea that he had just poured was pushed aside by the young Wanli Emperor, who then ordered the Imperial Guards to pour him another cup.

This clearly shows they have a problem with him.

Shen Nian held the daily record book in his hand, and sat on the lower side for easy recording.

Cao Wei, the garrison commander of the Northern Garrison, and Zhou Hai, a commander of a thousand households, were also standing to the side, both looking completely bewildered and unaware of what had happened.

The young Wanli Emperor only said one sentence to them: "Today, I am the presiding judge."

Seeing the young Wanli Emperor's gloomy expression, the two dared not ask any questions.

Directly below the front hall.

Kneeling were Ma Yi, deputy commander of the North City Military Command; Xie Zhen, the censor patrolling the North City; Song Qi'an, the judge of Shuntian Prefecture; Li Peibo, the right vice minister of the Dali Temple; Peng Chong, the judge of the Dali Temple; as well as Yu Xiu and Wang Enlong, eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department; Wen Da, the eunuch of the Seal and Ribbon Department; Liu Xin and Chen Wei, eunuchs of the Chief Eunuch; and Liu Dieniang, a female official of the Shanggong Bureau.

Most of them also looked completely bewildered.

For some unknown reason, he was arrested and imprisoned after the Lantern Festival, which even alarmed the emperor and required his personal trial.

After a moment, the young Wanli Emperor looked at Shi Qing, the captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. "Shi Qing, show it to them!"

Shi Qing immediately understood and handed over the complaint written by Shen Yaoshan and Gu Dongyi to these people, which stated that Ma Yi, the deputy commander of the Beicheng Military Command, had extorted one thousand taels of silver from them and that someone in the capital was seeking personal gain through the imperial selection of a queen.

"Take a look!"

Ma Yi, deputy commander of the North City Military Command, Xie Zhen, the censor of the North City, and Song Qi'an, the judge of Shuntian Prefecture, had all seen the complaint and immediately understood why they had been arrested and imprisoned.

Li Peibo, the Right Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Peng Chong, the Judge of the Court of Judicial Review, who were responsible for reviewing the case, finally understood why they had been arrested.

The eunuchs and female officials all tensed up.

Extortion is not necessarily punishable by death, but using the royal selection process for personal gain is certainly a capital offense.

This is a capital offense that should be beheaded; you must never confess to it, no matter what.

At this time.

Ma Yi, who was kneeling on the ground, shuffled forward to the very front of the crowd.

“Your Majesty, this is a complete fabrication. These two small merchants from Jiangnan fabricated this outrageous lie to avoid making false accusations about the selection of the Empress. They…they have absolutely no evidence! That thousand taels of silver was…it was a bribe they offered to me, and I refused to accept it…” Ma Yi argued.

Since the thousand taels of silver notes had been found by the Imperial Guards, he could only claim that they were a bribe from someone else.

"Furthermore, the claim by those two merchants from Jiangnan that I told them someone was using the royal selection of an empress for personal gain is utter nonsense. I am merely a minor deputy commander of the Northern City Garrison; how could I possibly know such a thing? Even if I did, I would not casually discuss it with two merchants from out of town!"

Ma Yi was certain that Shen Yaoshan and Gu Dongyi lacked sufficient evidence, which was why he dared to say such a thing and shift all the blame onto the two of them.

The young Wanli Emperor did not refute Ma Yi, but looked at the others and said, "The rest of you should also explain yourselves. I want to hear your reasons and see if you have been wronged."

After saying that, the young Wanli Emperor looked at the two clerks recording the confessions and said to them, "Every word and phrase must be recorded!"

Followed by.

The arrested officials then began to fabricate reasons.

"Your Majesty, I am innocent, absolutely innocent! I received this confession, but since this matter involves the selection of the Empress, I sent them to Shuntian Prefecture. As for their accusation that Ma Yi, the Deputy Commander of the Northern City Garrison, was extorting money, I have investigated and found that it was all just their words, without any evidence!" said Xie Zhen, the Imperial Censor of the Northern City.

He gave a false testimony, so he had to claim that the testimony was true and then shift the blame onto the two businessmen.

immediately.

Song Qi'an, the prefectural judge of Shuntian Prefecture, stepped forward and then knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, on the afternoon of the Lantern Festival, I ordered the officials on duty to hear this case. The testimonies show that the two men made false accusations about the selection of the empress, framed officials, and provided false evidence. They should be sentenced to one month in cangue, sixty strokes of the cane, and exiled two thousand li. I have handled this case entirely in accordance with the 'Great Ming Code'!"

"Your Majesty, the Court of Judicial Review is responsible for reviewing the cases submitted by Shuntian Prefecture. The details of the crimes, the witnesses and physical evidence are sufficient. I really cannot find any error in the review of this case!"

……

After the officials finished their explanations, the eunuchs and female officials also began to explain, all claiming that they had never used the royal selection of an empress for personal gain.

The young Wanli Emperor listened attentively without saying a word, occasionally glancing at the clerk recording the testimony beside him.

Before long, everyone had given their explanations.

No one admitted to extortion, nor did anyone admit to abusing their power to manipulate the royal selection of a queen.

Each voice was loud and clear, and their reasons were quite valid.

The young Wanli Emperor truly experienced what it meant to lie through one's teeth.

……

At this time.

The young Wanli Emperor stood up and slowly walked to the people in front of him.

"The royal selection of the queen involves seven rounds of screening. Within the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture, the price is 1,000 taels for the first round, 2,000 taels for the second round, 3,000 taels for the third round, 5,000 taels for the fourth round, and 10,000 taels for the fifth round. If it is difficult to advance, half of the money will be refunded. It is a transparent price list and a business with no cost. You have never done such a profitable business before?"

The young Wanli Emperor looked at a eunuch kneeling on the ground.

boom! boom! boom!
The eunuch first kowtowed to the young Wanli Emperor, then sobbed and said, "Your Majesty, I am paid for by the Emperor and share his burdens. Although I cannot do anything great for the country and the people, I would never ruin the important matter of the selection of the Empress. That would be disloyal to Your Majesty, and I would rather die than do it!"

"We will not do anything that would harm Your Majesty or the Ming Dynasty!" the officials said almost in unison, each sticking their heads out.

Emperor Wanli had heard these words countless times since he ascended the throne.

I'm becoming increasingly distrustful.

These people know that admitting guilt is a capital offense, so they will never admit it unless they can produce evidence.

At this moment, Feng Bao vaguely felt that something was wrong.

The fact that the young Wanli Emperor was able to accurately capture these people here must mean he had ample evidence.

Emperor Wanli paused for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

Do you know what the crime of deceiving the emperor is?

"Your Majesty, we would never dare to deceive you!" came another unanimous voice.

Officials and eunuchs could say such things quite naturally, almost without thinking.

The young Wanli Emperor had a cold expression.

He sensed that these people still treated him like a child and thought he was very easy to fool.

“Those two Jiangnan merchants were my informants. I ordered them to report you to the higher authorities to test you. All your actions have been recorded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I questioned you repeatedly, but I never expected you to try to deceive me again. Based on this alone, I can exterminate your entire clan!”

The young Wanli Emperor raised his voice, his tone extremely angry.

Swish!
The front hall of the imperial prison suddenly fell silent.

this moment.

Officials such as Ma Yi, Xie Zhen, Song Qi'an, Li Peibo, and Peng Chong, who had handled the matter, were dumbfounded.

They know perfectly well what they've done.

Their argument was based on the fact that the two Jiangnan merchants were making baseless accusations.

Now that these two merchants are the emperor's informants, how can they fabricate stories? How can they deceive him?
At this moment, there is no room for argument.

"Pfft!"

Feng Bao, who was standing to the side, suddenly knelt on the ground and cried out, "Your Majesty, it is my fault for not disciplining you properly. I am guilty and beg Your Majesty to punish me severely!"

Ignoring Feng Bao, the young Wanli Emperor continued to look at the crowd below and asked, "Do you have anything else to argue?"

Ma Yi and the others knelt on the ground without saying a word.

At this moment, any rebuttal is tantamount to deceiving the emperor.

"Take them all away and make them write their statements. If any of them are found to be fabricating evidence, execute them on the spot!" the young Wanli Emperor said coldly.

At this moment, the young Wanli Emperor exuded imperial aura.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Several Imperial Guards dragged these people away.

Emperor Wanli looked at Shi Qing and said, "Shi Qing, these people deserve to die. Immediately confiscate their property and calculate their assets within three days. I want to see exactly how much money they embezzled from the court."

"Your humble servant obeys!" Shi Qing bowed deeply.

……

A moment later, only the young Wanli Emperor and Feng Bao remained in the front hall of the imperial prison.

Feng Bao knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head at all.

"Your Majesty, it is my fault for failing to discipline you properly. I deserve to die!"

Looking at Feng Bao's gray hair, the young Wanli Emperor said, "My lord, this case ends here. You will not be investigated. I can protect you once, but I'm afraid I can't protect you a second time. Take care of yourself!"

After saying this, the young Wanli Emperor strode away.

Feng Bao gazed at the departing figure of young Wanli, his eyes brimming with tears, and murmured, "His Majesty has grown up! His Majesty has truly grown up!"

(End of this chapter)