I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 168 Negotiations Fail! The Three Judicial Offices: Seize Titles and Expel the Officials; Young Wanli: Deduct One Year's Salary

September 3rd, afternoon.

The Northern Garrison Command handed over the interrogation documents of the case of altering the death row inmate files of Hejian Prefecture to the Three Judicial Offices for review.

After reading it, Liu Yingjie, Minister of Justice, Lu Guangzu, Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, and Chen Zan, Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, almost fainted from anger.

After the interrogation by the Northern Garrison Commander, the conclusion was—

Marquis Li Wei of Wuqing was kind-hearted, but he was deceived by his steward Feng San, who had accepted a bribe of 10,000 taels of silver. He believed that the death row inmate Shang Qudong did not deserve to die, and that his wife (concubine) Xu Sanniang was pitiful and helpless. Therefore, he reminded the Empress Dowager that in the year of the Emperor's great joy, the punishment of execution in the autumn should be abolished.

After Empress Dowager Li withdrew her imperial edict, Sun Desheng, a eunuch in the Directorate of Ceremonial, in order to curry favor with the Earl of Wuqing, used informants from the Imperial Guard to tamper with the death row inmates' files.

After this matter was leaked.

To prevent Xu Sanniang from reporting him, Sun Desheng ordered her to be killed and her body to be buried outside the city.

at the same time.

The executors of the Three Judicial Offices and the Hejian Prefecture who tampered with the death row inmate files have been arrested and imprisoned, and all of them have admitted that Sun Desheng was the mastermind behind it all.

While in prison, Wu Qingbo wept bitterly, saying that he had been misled by others, committed a grave offense, and disgraced the royal family, and requested that he be severely punished.

……

This case file is complete in evidence, well-organized, and rich in detail.

In a word.

"The money was taken by Feng San, the steward of the Marquis of Wuqing, the bad things were done by Sun Desheng, and the people were also killed by people sent by Sun Desheng. Marquis Li Wei of Wuqing was completely deceived and his good deeds failed."

Minister of Justice Liu Yingjie, clutching his chest and panting slightly, said, "I thought the Northern Garrison Command would pin the main blame on Sun Desheng, but I never imagined they could be so shameless as to claim that the Earl of Wuqing was completely innocent. If he hadn't accepted that 10,000 taels of silver as a bribe, I would have drowned in the Yuhe River!"

"This...this...this has made our three judicial departments lose face, and then we're treated like complete fools!" Chen Zan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, said angrily.

"Let's go to the cabinet and demand a retrial of this case. As long as the Earl of Wuqing is in our hands, we can find a different result!" said Lu Guangzu, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, with a confident expression.

At this time.

Left Censor-in-Chief Chen Zan shook his head and said, "Going to the Grand Secretariat is not as good as going directly to the Forbidden City!"

The other two thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

If they go to the cabinet, the three cabinet ministers will most likely uphold the attitude of "putting the overall situation first" and resolve this matter.

However, going to the Forbidden City could escalate the matter significantly.

The three of them were so emotional.

On the one hand, it was to uphold the fairness of the Ming Dynasty's judiciary; on the other hand, if a conviction were based on this case file, the people of the world would condemn the Three Judicial Offices.

The three adhered to the principle that the process must be fair.

The emperor has the power to reduce the punishment for serious crimes, but if favoritism and perversion of justice occur in the process, or if cases are found to be fabricated, it is the fault of the three judicial departments for their inadequate supervision.

They must ensure that the procedures they are responsible for are impartial; otherwise, the three judicial departments will find it difficult to maintain public trust.

……

A moment later, the three arrived at the Wenhua Hall.

Besides the young Wanli Emperor, Feng Bao and Cao Wei were also in the main hall.

Chen Zan spoke first: "Your Majesty, the Northern Garrison Command investigated the case hastily, and the Three Judicial Offices suspect that the confessions are untrue. Therefore, we earnestly request that this interrogation document be rejected and the case be transferred to the Three Judicial Offices for retrial!"

"How dare you! The Northern Garrison Command is directly under His Majesty's jurisdiction. What right do the Three Judicial Offices have to question it?" Cao Wei said, glaring.

Liu Yingjie met Cao Wei's eyes.

"This matter concerns the judiciary of the Ming Dynasty, and the Three Judicial Offices are the review offices appointed by His Majesty. If we are not qualified to question it, then who is?"

It should be placed during the Jiajing reign or other periods when imperial power was at its peak.

The Three Judicial Offices did not dare to go against the Northern Garrison Command, because the latter represented imperial power, and everything they carried out was an order from the emperor.

The Northern Garrison Command could even fabricate a reason to imprison the heads of the Three Judicial Offices.

However, at present, the young Wanli Emperor has not yet assumed personal rule, and his imperial power is suppressed by the cabinet and the six ministries. The Northern Garrison Command is not yet able to completely suppress the Three Judicial Offices.

Moreover, the three judicial departments are in the right!
At this time.

Lu Guangzu, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I suspect that Cao Wei, the Commander of the Northern Garrison, has been unfair in his interrogation and has acted out of personal favoritism. I humbly request that he be removed from his post as the presiding judge of the case of altering the death row inmate files in Hejian Prefecture!"

The young Wanli Emperor had a gloomy expression.

"We will discuss this matter again once the Grand Secretary arrives at the palace!"

soon.

Zhang Juzheng arrived at the Wenhua Hall, accompanied by Shen Nian.

Shen Nian was ordered by Zhang Juzheng to enter the palace to record the emperor's daily activities.

In the afternoons, when it was Emperor Wanli's private time, his words and actions were mostly recorded in the "Daily Records of the Emperor's Reign." But now that it involved court affairs, Shen Nian was needed to record them.

Just as Zhang Juzheng was about to lead Shen Nian into the palace.

Feng Bao walked out of the hall and appeared before the two of them.

"Grand Secretary Zhang may enter, but Lecturer Shen may not!"

Shen Nian frowned slightly.

His inability to enter indicates that what happened next was something the young Wanli Emperor did not want recorded in the daily records.

“Eunuch Feng, recording the emperor’s daily activities is my duty. Even His Majesty cannot stop me!” Shen Nian said.

Zhang Juzheng also looked at Feng Bao.

He even wanted to use Shen Nian's daily records to suppress the young Wanli Emperor's willful behavior!

Feng Bao said unhurriedly, "According to the usual practice of our dynasty, when His Majesty summons the Grand Secretaries for an audience, the officials in charge of recording the emperor's daily activities need not stand nearby. Afterwards, the Grand Secretaries can compile the contents of the records."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Juzheng and Shen Nian were speechless in their rebuttal, as this was indeed a common practice in the court.

Immediately, Zhang Juzheng strode into the main hall. Feng Bao looked at Shen Nian and said, "Shen Nian, you understand His Majesty. No one can kill the Marquis of Wuqing right now. You should share His Majesty's burdens, not add to the chaos!"

Shen Nian shook his head slightly.

“Eunuch Feng, if we don’t severely punish Wu Qingbo this time, given his character, he might commit even greater mistakes in the future. Can the Empress Dowager and His Majesty protect him indefinitely? Is it more important to uphold the laws of the Ming Dynasty or to protect Wu Qingbo?”

Feng Bao ignored Shen Nian and turned to walk into the hall.

Shen Nian stood outside the hall waiting. Even if Zhang Juzheng didn't tell him the truth later, the three angry old men from the Three Judicial Offices would tell him the truth.

Shen Nian knew that she could not sentence Wu Qingbo to death at the moment.

He only asked to have the title of Earl of Wuqing revoked, and it would be even better if he could be expelled from the capital.

……

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

After Zhang Juzheng finished reading the interrogation document, the young Wanli Emperor asked, "Prime Minister, what do you think should be done?"

Zhang Juzheng's opinion was very important.

Only he could suppress all the displeased voices of the young Wanli Emperor in the court.

Zhang Juzheng paused for a moment, then solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your Majesty, I believe the Three Judicial Offices' request is valid, and this case should be retried by them!"

Zhang Juzheng could accept the young Wanli Emperor's lenient punishment of the Earl of Wuqing, but he could not accept the Northern Garrison Command treating the Ming Dynasty's judicial system as a joke.

Upon hearing this, all three judges straightened their chests.

If Zhang Juzheng does not support them, their next target will be Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng's approach was undoubtedly correct in order to ensure the stability of the Ming Dynasty court.

The young Wanli Emperor looked troubled and said, "Ever since the Empress Dowager learned of the Earl of Wuqing's transgression, she has cried for two whole days and is in a very bad state of mind. I have no heart for state affairs..."

Emperor Wanli spoke at length, trying to gain sympathy, but neither Zhang Juzheng nor the three judicial officials responded.

The hall suddenly fell silent.

Helpless, the young Wanli Emperor turned to look at Feng Bao, who was not far away. Feng Bao nodded to him.

"Cough cough..."

Emperor Wanli coughed twice and said, "The interrogation document you just saw is not real. It was modified by Cao Wei at my order. The real interrogation document is with me. I personally interrogated the Earl of Wuqing the night before last. He would never lie to me. Take a look!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Juzheng and the three judicial officials all looked up with helpless expressions.

The young Wanli Emperor's actions were a grave mistake; he dragged himself into the mess in order to lightly punish the Earl of Wuqing.

This underhanded trick must have been taught by Feng Bao.

Immediately, Feng Bao handed a copy of the interrogation document to Zhang Juzheng, who quickly read it and then passed it on to the three chief officials of the three judicial departments.

The difference between this interrogation document and the previous one is:
Wu Qingbo admitted that he helped Xu Sanniang for 10,000 taels of silver. He entered the palace claiming that in the year of Xiao Wanli's great joy, the autumn execution punishment should be abolished.

As for the alteration of death row inmate files, it had nothing to do with Wu Qingbo; it was entirely instigated by Sun Desheng.

Zhang Juzheng knew that the interrogation document might not be genuine, but it was the bottom line for the young Wanli Emperor.

Wu Qingbo absolutely cannot admit to the crime of tampering with death row inmate files.

Confessing would be a capital offense.

Seeing the grim expressions and furrowed brows of the three judicial officials, who seemed dissatisfied with the interrogation document, Emperor Wanli immediately said, "This was obtained through my own interrogation. If you still have doubts, you can interrogate me as well!"

"Your Majesty, we dare not!" Chen Zan and the other two immediately knelt on the ground.

Zhang Juzheng hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have no objection to this interrogation document. Since Your Majesty personally conducted the interrogation, I believe there is no need for it to be retried by the three judicial departments!"

Zhang Juzheng ultimately chose to prioritize the overall situation.

If Wu Qingbo is executed, Empress Dowager Li will definitely break with the previous dynasty, and at that time, the entire court will probably be in chaos.

After exchanging glances, Chen Zan and the other two bowed and said, "Since Your Majesty personally presided over the trial, we naturally dare not have any objections. According to this interrogation document, the crime committed by the Marquis of Wuqing is accepting bribes. I wonder how Your Majesty intends to punish him?"

Knowing they could not execute Wu Qingbo, the three judicial officials backed down, wanting to see how the young Wanli Emperor would determine his sentence.

Little Wanli slowed down.

"The Marquis of Wuqing was also deceived. He has already handed over the 10,000 taels of bribe he received, and his attitude of admitting his guilt is very good. In addition, relatives of the empress dowager have the privilege of being punished lightly. I have decided to fine him one year's salary!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zan and the other two were filled with disbelief.

Can a year's salary deduction be considered a punishment?

Liu Yingjie, the Minister of Justice, bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, such crimes should be severely punished even if the person is a relative of the emperor. I suggest that he be stripped of his title, demoted to a commoner, and driven out of the capital!"

"I second the proposal!"

Lu Guangzu, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Chen Zan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, bowed to each other at the same time.

The young Wanli Emperor stood up, his face grim.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible! That was my maternal grandfather, the one who gave birth to my mother! How could I treat him like that!"

boom! boom! boom!
Liu Yingjie, Minister of Justice; Lu Guangzu, Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review; and Chen Zan, Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, kowtowed to the ground and refused to raise their heads.

The implication is quite clear.

If the young Wanli Emperor did not grant their request, they would continue to kneel like that.

"Humph!"

At this moment, the young Wanli Emperor also became angry. He flicked his long sleeves and walked directly towards the side hall.

Zhang Juzheng thought for a moment, then strode towards the side hall.

Whether he can resolve this stalemate or not, it is up to him to do so.

(End of this chapter)