I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 134 A Hole-Cut Off! The Young Wanli Emperor, nicknamed Little Chongba
On the third day of the third lunar month, at the Huangji Gate.

Regular meetings.

Civil officials were seated on the left, military officials on the right, and Empress Dowager Li, who sat behind a curtain, in the back.

Shen Nian, as the official in charge of recording the emperor's daily activities, stood to the southeast of the throne.

Ma Ziqiang, Minister of Rites and Academician of the Hanlin Academy, was the first to step forward and report on the overall situation of this year's spring imperial examination.

This imperial examination produced 480 successful candidates.

This number far exceeded the 400 Jinshi (successful candidates in the imperial examinations) of the fifth year of the Longqing reign (1571) and the 300 Jinshi of the second year of the Wanli reign (1587), making it the largest number of Jinshi ever admitted since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

The list of candidates who passed the provincial examination will be posted tomorrow.

Shen Maoxue, Tang Xianzu, Zhang Sixiu, Lü Xingzhou and other famous figures from the capital were all on the list.

Also.

The examination papers of twenty newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) will be randomly selected and displayed in front of the examination hall.

At Zhang Juzheng's instruction, the examination papers of his second son Zhang Sixiu and Lü Tiaoyang's son Lü Xingzhou were both made public.

This is the best way to stop rumors.

at the same time.

The Ministry of Rites also began preparing for the palace examination in mid-March.

These 480 people will fill many vacancies in state and county government, and will also let many local officials who complain about the difficulty of being an official and implementing new policies know that the Ming Dynasty is not short of talent, and no official has the right to be picky or bargain with the court.

If you can't do it, just resign.

……

Followed by.

The officials on duty at the Office of Transmission read aloud the memorial submitted by the Imperial Inspector Zhang Jian.

The officials were all quite astonished when they heard about this.

They could imagine that officials in Henan would resort to underhanded and dishonest means to complete the land survey, but they never expected that some common people would bring up the "Great Proclamation" of Emperor Taizu, bind the corrupt officials, and take them to the capital to file a complaint, with the censor Zhang Jian even helping him to do so.

"The cabinet's proposed response to this memorial is: to send Master Zhou back and dispatch the Imperial Guard to Henan to investigate the matter of the fake bow and arrow with the Imperial Inspector Zhang Jian."

Upon hearing the word "repatriation," many officials breathed a sigh of relief.

If they are not sent back, the court is inclined to reinstate the punishments imposed by Emperor Hongwu, which is absolutely unacceptable to the officials.

The official on duty at the Office of Transmission continued, "His Majesty's reply is: He will not be sent back. He intends to send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to bring Master Zhou to the capital. His Majesty (I) will personally meet with Master Zhou and personally investigate this case. He will also send an imperial envoy to Henan to investigate this matter."

In fact, a team of Imperial Guards went out of the capital last night to pick up Master Zhou in case something happened to him.

Hear this.

Many officials stared wide-eyed, thinking they had misheard.

This is a rare instance where the emperor's decree and the cabinet's draft proposal do not match.

Furthermore, the fact that the young Wanli Emperor ordered Master Zhou to bind the corrupt officials and bring them to the capital signifies his approval of the laws outlined in the "Great Proclamation."

This move was unacceptable to the vast majority of officials.

The Great Proclamation is a law for killing officials, not a law for governing the world. If it is revived because of this, the Ming Dynasty's officialdom will surely be in great chaos.

this moment.

The officials did not step forward to object; they were waiting for Zhang Juzheng to refute the young Wanli Emperor.

It is a very serious matter that the cabinet's proposed vote is rejected.

If no specific reason can be given, it would be tantamount to slapping Zhang Juzheng in the face. Given Zhang Juzheng's temperament, he would definitely resign, and it would be the kind of resignation that would be very difficult to persuade him to stay.

Just then, the young Wanli Emperor spoke first.

"My lords, my personal meeting with Master Zhou and my personal trial of this case do not equate to my agreement to restore the laws of the Great Proclamation of Emperor Taizu. This is a special exception I have granted to Master Zhou. He risked his life to file this complaint entirely for the sake of the people, and I cannot let down the hearts of such people!"

Upon hearing the young Wanli Emperor's explanation, the officials all felt it was somewhat weak.

This special case cannot be made.

Furthermore, this matter currently only concerns one county and is not yet worthy of the emperor's personal investigation.

The officials all felt that the young Wanli Emperor's actions were somewhat willful, and they were all waiting for Zhang Juzheng to reprimand him.

At this time.

Zhang Juzheng, who was at the very front, stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, most of the laws in the Great Proclamation have already been incorporated into the Great Ming Code, so there is naturally no need to revive or restart them. However, Your Majesty believes that this is a special case for Master Zhou, and I have no objection.”

"After careful consideration, I realize that I have not thought things through. This matter involves the new policies, and even if it is the loss of a single county, it is a matter of great importance. Your Majesty personally met with Master Zhou and investigated this matter, and I believe there is nothing wrong with that!"

Upon hearing these words, many officials found it unbelievable.

Unexpectedly, the usually meticulous Zhang Juzheng allowed the young Wanli Emperor to act so willfully.

Just as an official was about to step forward.

Lü Diaoyang was the first to step forward, and he loudly proclaimed, "I second that proposal!"

"I second that opinion!" Zhang Siwei also stepped forward.

Immediately, none of the officials dared to voice their opposition.

The three Grand Secretaries shared the same idea as the young Wanli Emperor, and were the first to express their opinions in court, clearly indicating that it was pre-arranged.

At this point, refuting it is pointless.

Emperor Wanli looked around and, seeing that none of the officials below had any objections, straightened his chest and said loudly, "My lords, the policy of measuring land and the Single Whip Law are both national policies of the Ming Dynasty. No matter who dares to distort national policies, take shortcuts, or try to take advantage of the people, I will never let them off lightly!"

"I will not reinstate the laws of the Great Proclamation, but I may still impose the punishments stipulated in the Great Proclamation on some corrupt officials who have no country or people. I hope that all of you will not overstep the mark. Otherwise, I will punish them severely, whether they are high-ranking officials, nobles, or members of the royal family. I will show no mercy!"

The young Wanli Emperor's voice was clear and crisp, carrying an aura of imperial dominance.

These words were very forceful and very firm.

Like a sudden clap of thunder in the warm spring of March, it made many officials so nervous that their hair stood on end.

in their impression.

The current Wanli Emperor is very similar to the Jiajing Emperor when he first ascended the throne, decisive and efficient, and eager to create a prosperous era with new policies.

But after hearing this...

They felt that the young Wanli Emperor was more like the founding emperor, Taizu, who hated evil, was decisive in killing and ruthless, and governed the country with severe punishments.

If the young Wanli Emperor were to become a second "Zhu Yuanzhang," their lives would be far from easy.

Some officials who had always opposed the new policies thought that while they were still young, they could outlive Zhang Juzheng and perhaps the new policies would be abolished.

Hearing what the young Wanli Emperor said, his little scheme instantly shattered.

It was easy to outlive the 53-year-old Zhang Juzheng, but it was much more difficult to outlive the 15-year-old Wanli Emperor.

If one opposes the new policies, it would be jeopardizing one's own career.

At this moment, the young Wanli Emperor was extremely pleased with himself.

He enjoyed being surrounded by all the officials, and he enjoyed the feeling of giving orders and dictating the course of events.

He couldn't help but glance at Shen Nian out of the corner of his eye.

It was Shen Nian, his strategist, who made him more and more confident and enabled him to make rapid progress in the past two years.

And this moment.

Shen Nian looked down at the officials below, feeling quite pleased.

He saw fear of imperial power and tension on the faces of these officials, a fear of making a mistake.

this moment.

He felt that the "Zhang Juzheng Reform" was about to become the "Wanli Reform," so that the reform could last longer and Zhang Juzheng could have an easier time.

Shen Nian felt that she had made a great contribution.

this moment.

Shen Nian suddenly thought of a line of poetry.

"She is beautiful but does not vie for spring's favor; she only announces its arrival. When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, she (he) smiles among them."

Shen Nian felt that her current position in the imperial court was like that of a plum blossom.

The morning assembly then ended.

Some officials who opposed the new policy looked as if they had lost their parents.

They could attack Zhang Juzheng's private morality, way of doing things, family members and disciples in order to delay the damage that the new policies would cause to their interests.

But now, the young Wanli Emperor has suddenly moved to the forefront.

They were immediately at a loss.

Although the young Wanli Emperor was too young to rule in his own right, who dared to oppose imperial power, and who dared to go against the emperor?

……

March 4th, afternoon.

Master Zhou brought Shi Danian, the head of the bailiffs in Xiangfu County, to the capital.

The Imperial Guards took the two directly to the Imperial Prison.

In Xiangfu County, Shi Danian acted arrogantly and looked down on everyone, as if the government office was his own private property.

But after leaving Xiangfu County, he was first beaten several times by Zhang Jian's yamen runners, and yesterday he was reprimanded by two Imperial Guards. He was filled with fear.

Upon seeing the words "Imperial Prison," he immediately lost control of his bladder and bowels.

In the eyes of the common people, the imperial prison was truly a hell.

In contrast, Master Zhou looked serious as he pondered the petition he had been preparing.

He was prepared to be imprisoned, tortured, and even die in the imperial prison.

At that moment, he was fearless.

……

Half an hour later, the young Wanli Emperor brought Shen Nian to the imperial prison. The reason for bringing Shen Nian along was...

This was because the young Wanli Emperor personally tried Master Zhou and redressed the grievances of the people, which was the highlight of his imperial career.

Naturally, he wanted Shen Nian to record this matter in the daily records.

This is evidence of his virtue and benevolence.

At his age, his reputation is his top priority.

He is currently hoping to do more good deeds for the country and the people, to suppress the past incidents of being forced to kneel by Empress Dowager Li and being reprimanded by Zhang Juzheng, and to let more people see his excellence.

……

After a while.

Cao Wei, the pacification commissioner of the Northern Garrison, invited the young Wanli Emperor and Shen Nian to the torture chamber.

"His Majesty has arrived!" a eunuch shouted.

Immediately, Master Zhou and Shi Danian both knelt on the ground, not daring to utter a sound.

The two never imagined that they would meet the emperor of the Ming Dynasty in their lifetime.

The young Wanli Emperor looked at Master Zhou.

“Master Zhou, raise your head.”

Master Zhou slowly raised his head, and after seeing the true face of the young Wanli Emperor, he immediately lowered his head again.

Emperor Wanli smiled and said, "Please take a seat."

Immediately, Master Zhou was helped to a bench by two Imperial Guards, while Shi Danian remained kneeling on the ground.

Emperor Wanli spoke up: "Master Zhou, I already know the general outline of your experiences. Now I want to know exactly how many times you have been bullied by corrupt officials and bureaucrats. Tell me in detail, and I will surely uphold justice for you!"

After calming down, Master Zhou reported to Emperor Wanli on a series of events, including the counterfeiting of bows in Xiangfu County, which harmed the people; his attempt to seize the bows from the county government; and how Magistrate Wu Qing of Xiangfu County threatened him with his married daughter and grandson, which led him to contemplate suicide.

The meticulous Shen Nian, while Master Zhou was explaining the fake bow, deliberately placed the fake bow and the real bow in front of young Wanli for comparison.

Emperor Wanli had never seen such an item before.

Only by letting him see for himself can he know how bad those officials are.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli was moved to tears.

He knew the people had it tough, but he never imagined it would be this tough, that they would be bullied by local officials to the point of being unable to speak out or even becoming numb.

On the other hand, Shi Danian, the head of the soap-making squad, was terrified and felt that he was not far from being beheaded.

After asking Master Zhou his question, the young Wanli Emperor looked coldly at Shi Danian standing to the side.

"Shi Danian, tell the truth about everything. If there is not a single word of truth, I...I will exterminate your entire family!"

There was no need for the young Wanli Emperor to question Shi Danian further.

The latter dared not lie, because he was truly afraid that the young Wanli Emperor would execute his entire family.

"Yes...yes...yes..." Shi Danian trembled all over and kowtowed hard to the ground.

……

In less than an hour, Master Zhou and Shi Danian had finished writing their confessions.

The forgery of the bow in Xiangfu County is confirmed, and Xu Daren, the Left Councilor of Henan, is also implicated.

That night.

Emperor Wanli then ordered a team of Imperial Guards to head towards Henan and then towards Kaifeng.

Their purpose in going to Henan was to quickly dismiss the provincial officials to prevent them from fabricating evidence and covering up for each other.

……

Early the next morning.

Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng and Minister of Revenue Yin Zhengmao appeared before the young Wanli Emperor.

Emperor Wanli appointed Yin Zhengmao as imperial envoy to Henan to thoroughly investigate the case of the fake archer.

Judging from the testimonies of Master Zhou and Shi Danian, this matter increasingly resembles a provincial issue rather than a county-level one.

Shen Nian recommended Yin Zhengmao.

The real reason is that if the forgery of the bow and arrow was done by the provincial officials of Henan Province, it would cause errors in the dragon scale register compiled by the Ministry of Revenue.

Given Yin Zhengmao's temperament and the stakes this matter holds for him, it is highly unlikely that he would show favoritism.

They might even start cursing when they get to Henan!

His temperament makes him particularly suited to handling these kinds of incidents.

The reason why Emperor Wanli did not appoint officials directly in court, nor did he announce the dismissal of all provincial officials in Henan, was because he was worried that someone would tip off Henan.

The young Wanli Emperor looked at Yin Zhengmao.

"Minister Yin, I believe you can easily deal with those provincial officials, but you may have concerns about dealing with the imperial princes."

Yin Zhengmao nodded very honestly.

The imperial princes and the young Wanli Emperor were still connected by blood, after all, they were family. He really couldn't decide how to punish them.

"If any member of the imperial clan violates the law, you may deal with them in accordance with the Great Ming Code and the regulations drafted by the Imperial Clan Court. If anyone dares to disobey, tell them that anyone who dares not to cooperate will have all their privileges revoked, be demoted to a commoner, or even have their head taken!"

The emperor was the nemesis of the imperial clansmen; with a single word, he could reduce them from imperial clansmen to commoners.

"With Your Majesty's words, I will certainly handle this matter properly and ensure that the land survey in Henan continues as normal!" Yin Zhengmao said, puffing out his chest.

Emperor Wanli thought for a moment and then said, "To secure the country, we must first secure the people's interests. The face of the court is nothing compared to the interests of the people. Even if the land survey in Henan is not completed this year, the court can accept it, but it cannot accept it being completed in a way that harms the interests of the people!"

"Your subject understands!" Yin Zhengmao bowed deeply to the young Wanli Emperor.

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng was also somewhat excited.

If the young Wanli Emperor could think this way, then the subsequent new policies would be easier to implement. He would no longer need to worry about the princes who were constantly eroding the wealth of the Ming Dynasty, and could simply follow the "Great Ming Code" in everything.

……

Two days later, near dusk, in the back hall of the Kaifeng Prefectural Government Office.

Henan Governor Shi Mengzhong, Henan Left Provincial Administration Commissioner Zheng Yunying, Henan Left Councilor An Jiashan, Henan Left Councilor Xu Daren, and other provincial officials gathered together.

Shi Mengzhong just received the news.

"The Emperor personally met with Master Zhou and angrily denounced the practice of falsely measuring land to harm the people, and wanted to send an imperial envoy to Henan to thoroughly investigate!"

Zheng Yunying, the Left Provincial Administration Commissioner of Henan, looked anxiously at Shi Mengzhong, the Governor of Henan.

"Governor Shi, what should we do now? His Majesty has dispatched an imperial envoy, who is either the head of the Three Judicial Offices or the head of the Six Ministries. If they come to investigate, they will surely find out that the forgery of the bows was our...our idea!"

Shi Mengzhong's face was gloomy.

He only wanted to complete the task of measuring the fields within a year, but he never expected it to turn out like this.

Now, it's too late for regrets.

Shi Mengzhong thought for a moment and said, "Later, you shall immediately order all counties to destroy all non-standard bows and arrows, burn all fake dragon scale registers, and immediately make a set of genuine dragon scale registers."

"In addition, instruct your subordinates to keep their mouths shut and find a county magistrate to take the blame in advance. When the imperial envoy arrives, we will stay with him and prepare in advance whatever he wants to investigate."

"In Henan, we still call the shots. Even if the imperial envoy comes, if we don't want him to see the truth, he won't see the truth!"

"It seems we won't be able to complete this year's land survey, but that can also serve as our excuse. Gentlemen, we are all in this together, sharing both glory and ruin. Anyone who betrays us, I, Shi Mengzhong, will make sure they suffer a terrible death!"

Shi Mengzhong made a harsh statement to everyone.

For now, they can only tough it out and deal with whatever comes their way. Once they confess, they will all go to jail.

He hadn't expected the imperial court to take this matter so seriously.

Just as the provincial officials were about to leave and go about their business, a constable ran over.

"Governor Shi, something terrible has happened! The Embroidered Uniform Guards have broken in!"

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard?" The provincial officials were all taken aback, not expecting the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrive so quickly.

at this time.

Shi Qing, a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, led a group of Embroidered Uniform Guards in.

At the beginning of this month, General Shi Qing was promoted to centurion, an exceptional promotion. This is the benefit of following the emperor; promotions are not based on precedent, and as long as one makes meritorious contributions, one can be continuously promoted.

Shi Qing strode up to the assembled provincial officials.

"Shi Qing, a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, conveys His Majesty's oral decree: From this moment forward, all officials of the fifth rank and above in the Henan Provincial Administration Commission are to be dismissed from their posts. Further action will be taken after Imperial Envoy Minister Yin arrives in Kaifeng!"

"what?"

The provincial officials all looked on incredulously.

They never expected that before the imperial envoy arrived and before it was determined whether the case was related to them, the court would directly remove all the provincial officials of Henan.

This move is unprecedented.

at this time.

Zheng Yunying, the Left Provincial Administration Commissioner of Henan, and An Jiashan, the Left Vice Commissioner of Henan, suddenly collapsed to the ground, convulsed a few times, and then fainted.

Shi Qing glanced at the two of them.

"There's no need for you two to act like this. I won't imprison you before Minister Yin arrives. Of course, I won't let you go home either. I've already arranged for Imperial Guards to guard your homes, and none of you will be able to leave. You should just stay here and refrain from any more underhanded actions!"

Hear this.

Zheng Yunying and An Jiashan opened their eyes somewhat helplessly, and then slowly stood up.

Feigning fainting is a common trick used by officials.

By feigning unconsciousness, they can avoid being immediately sent to prison and have the opportunity to recuperate at home.

Once you are able to contact outsiders.

They could then pass on information to find a powerful patron, or secretly transfer valuables from their homes that could not be seen by others.

Shi Qing clearly wouldn't give them that chance.

Judging from the expressions on these officials' faces, Shi Qing was certain that the Henan Provincial Administration Commission was about to undergo a major change.

(End of this chapter)