I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 269 Three Imperial Envoys Enter Nanjing! It would be a disservice to the people not to behead them.
Disciple of Huangji.

Just as the young Wanli Emperor was at a loss as to how to handle Hai Rui's memorial, Zhang Juzheng stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, deceiving the court, misappropriating disaster relief funds, and assassinating censors are all capital offenses. This matter involves many officials in Southern Zhili. I suggest that an imperial envoy be dispatched to Nanjing to verify the report submitted by the Maritime Affairs Commission. If the situation is true, the disaster victims must be comforted immediately, and the officials involved must be punished swiftly and severely!”

Zhang Juzheng's meaning was quite clear.

It was impossible for Hai Rui to be impeached without evidence. Moreover, such scandals had already been exposed in the court, causing a huge negative impact. The court had to send an imperial envoy to handle the matter and deal with whoever was in the wrong swiftly.

Hai Rui had the power to impeach, but he couldn't interrogate these people. However, if he sent an imperial envoy, he could directly convict and punish them.

Hear this.

Yin Zhengmao, a cabinet minister and concurrently Minister of Revenue, and Chen Kai, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, stepped forward almost simultaneously.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to go!"

This matter involves meritorious officials and garrison eunuchs of the current dynasty, and only cabinet ministers or heads of the three judicial departments are qualified to serve as imperial envoys.

At this moment, both Yin Zhengmao and Chen Kai were ashen-faced and holding their breath!

Since Yin Zhengmao became Minister of Revenue, he has been in charge of the finances of the Taicang Treasury, living within his means and detesting misappropriation and waste.

However, the local authorities used only 3,000 taels of the 100,000 taels of disaster relief funds for disaster relief. How could he not be furious!
If he were to go to Nanjing, he would surely be met with a sea of ​​people.

As the head of the censors, Chen Kai could not tolerate the assassination of censors, as assassinating an imperial inspector was tantamount to regicide.

If he were to become the imperial envoy, he would administer a severe trial to ensure that such an incident would never happen again.

……

Little Wanli frowned slightly.

"Grand Secretary Yin is advanced in years and should not travel such a long distance. In addition, the land survey must be completed this year, and Grand Secretary Yin is needed to take charge of the overall situation. He is not a suitable candidate."

"As for Chief Censor Chen, there is the Imperial Censor in Nanjing, so you don't need to make a trip. I think it would be better to let Grand Secretary Shen make the trip. In addition, this matter involves the inner court, so let Grand Secretary Shen go as well. It is more convenient for Grand Secretary Shen to handle matters involving Wang Yue and Sun Long!"

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials understood what the young Wanli Emperor was thinking.

Since Shen Shixing joined the cabinet, he has been known for his "proficiency in reconciliation and skill in bridging disputes." If he were to handle this matter, along with Feng Bao's involvement, the matter would certainly be dealt with leniently, and the impact would be minimized.

However, Emperor Wanli's arrangements this time did not overstep any boundaries.

Officials can't very well come out and say that Shen Shixing is a peacemaker and shouldn't be investigating the case.

At this time.

Left Censor-in-Chief Chen Kai stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Shen and Eunuch Feng are going to Nanjing together. I wonder who will be the chief envoy and who will be the deputy envoy?"

"I have made myself very clear. The Grand Eunuch is in charge of matters involving the dispatched eunuchs, and Grand Secretary Shen is in charge of investigating the impeachment cases submitted by the Imperial Secretariat!" The young Wanli Emperor's tone became stern.

What this statement actually means is that eunuchs sent to the capital were under the direct control of the emperor and the inner court, and the officials had no power to judge or punish them.

At this point, the young Wanli Emperor was making decisions so capriciously that he no longer cared about Zhang Juzheng's opinion.

Upon hearing this, Yin Zhengmao stepped forward again.

"Your Majesty, the matter in Nanjing is actually one thing. If the outer court is treated as the outer court and the inner court as the inner court, then this case may not be resolved until the end of the year. As the Minister of Revenue, I have been accused of maliciously misappropriating 97,000 taels of the 100,000 taels of silver I allocated. I implore Your Majesty to dismiss me from my position as a cabinet minister and allow me to go to Nanjing to investigate the matter thoroughly!"

"Pfft!"

Yin Zhengmao knelt on the ground.

If he went to Nanjing with Feng Bao, and if Feng Bao dared to use the young Wanli Emperor to pressure Yin Zhengmao, and if he dared to show favoritism, Yin Zhengmao would definitely dare to take a knife and kill Feng Bao.

At present, Yin Zhengmao has no chance of promotion, and he is already over sixty years old, so he is not afraid of anything.

Not far away, Feng Bao kept his head down, completely unwilling to work with Yin Zhengmao, that good-for-nothing.

Emperor Wanli looked helpless.

He was afraid of Yin Zhengmao, who was domineering, ruthless, and completely unreasonable.

"Prime Minister, what do you think?" The young Wanli Emperor looked at Zhang Juzheng. When he had no other options, his greatest reliance was still on Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng walked out slowly.

"Your Majesty, I believe it is indeed inappropriate for Grand Secretary Yin to be appointed as Imperial Commissioner. At present, the Ministry of Revenue still cannot do without him."

Upon hearing this, Wanli's expression softened somewhat.

“Eunuch Feng is conducting the investigation on the Emperor’s orders, and I think there is no problem. However, since it is an imperial envoy, there must be someone who makes the final decision. I suggest that Grand Secretary Shen be appointed as the chief envoy to oversee the whole situation.”

"Then, I appoint Eunuch Feng as his deputy, focusing on investigating the embezzlement of disaster relief funds by dispatched eunuchs; I appoint Vice Director Hai as his deputy, focusing on investigating the assassination of Inspector-General Cao Zheng; and I appoint another deputy from the Ministry of Revenue to conduct in-depth investigations in the countryside to determine the detailed use of the disaster relief funds and to comfort the disaster victims. As for the candidate for the deputy from the Ministry of Revenue, I recommend Vice Minister Shen Nian!"

As soon as Zhang Juzheng finished speaking, the young Wanli Emperor saw officials below nodding in strong approval.

As expected of Zhang Juzheng, he arranged things in a very organized manner.

Emperor Wanli coughed lightly and said, "I think the Grand Secretary's plan is excellent. Do any of you ministers have any objections?"

The young Wanli Emperor was already quite satisfied that Yin Zhengmao and Chen Kai were not allowed to go.

"Your subject has no objection!"

"Your subject has no objection!"

"Your subject has no objection!"

……

The civil and military officials bowed in unison, and even Yin Zhengmao and Chen Kai had no objections. With Hai Rui and Shen Nian around, Feng Bao couldn't cause any trouble at all.

At this moment, Feng Bao looked helpless.

He felt both fortunate and unlucky.

Fortunately, Yin Zhengmao didn't go. His life was safe, and even if Hai Rui and Shen Nian were angry, they wouldn't dare to cut him with a knife.

Unfortunately, with Hai Rui and Shen Nian there, he really couldn't do anything in private.

At that moment, he only wanted the Changchao court session to end as soon as possible, and then immediately send someone to Nanjing to inform Sun Long, Wang Yue and others so that they could make preparations.

At the very least, news that "eunuchs in charge of textile production in Suzhou and Hangzhou misappropriated disaster relief funds for royal silk production" should not be allowed to spread, as this would damage the image of the young Wanli Emperor.

"Then let's do it that way! Grand Secretary Shen, Minister Shen, and Grand Master, you should set off as soon as possible!" said the young Wanli Emperor.

"Your subject obeys!" Shen Shixing and Shen Nian both bowed deeply.

Just as the young Wanli Emperor was about to adjourn the court session, Zhang Juzheng stepped forward again.

"Your Majesty, I suggest that the three imperial envoys depart before noon today. After the morning court session, all those who attended today should go to the Six Ministries or the Cabinet office and are not allowed to go out or contact any clerks or officials. They may leave the palace only at dusk. In addition, I order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to strictly investigate all postal soldiers who have traveled by post within the last three days. All those going to Nanjing should be strictly investigated to prevent any officials from tipping off the officials in Nanjing in advance."

"Approved!" said the young Wanli Emperor.

Those who leak information must use relay stations to quickly transmit messages, but using relay stations will lead to the leak.

As for carrier pigeons, they are unreliable, easily affected by weather and predators, and without long-term experience flying between Beijing and Nanjing, they are simply unable to transmit messages.

If the information is not leaked within three days, any subsequent dissemination will be far slower than the speed of the imperial envoy's team.

Zhang Juzheng was meticulous in his work, considering every possible possibility.

Followed by.

Zhang Juzheng bowed to the young Wanli Emperor and said, “Your Majesty, according to ancestral rules, secret and urgent memorials from officials should be opened by the emperor himself, rather than read aloud in court. Your Majesty must never do this in the future!”

"I understand, thank you for your guidance, Yuanfu!" the young Wanli said, bowing his head.

Normally, Zhang Juzheng would only offer such reminders in private, to save face for the young Wanli Emperor.

Now, he speaks directly in the court.

In fact, it was a sign of dissatisfaction with the young Wanli Emperor's attitude of trying to downplay the matter and appease the situation.

Then, the morning court session ended.

Just as all the officials were being led to the Six Ministries' Hall or the Cabinet's office, Yin Zhengmao strode up to Shen Nian and whispered in his ear, "Ziheng, kill him if you must, I'll back you up!"

In Yin Zhengmao's eyes, Hai Rui's impeachment must be true, and for an official who had committed such a heinous crime, the imperial envoy would be sent to carry out the death penalty. "Your Excellency, rest assured, I will not tolerate this!" Shen Nian said. With Hai Rui around, Shen Nian was not afraid of being unable to defeat Feng Bao.

……

Around noon, on East Chang'an Street, at the southeast corner of the Imperial Wall.

Emperor Wanli specially arranged for Shi Qing, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to lead more than a hundred plainclothes Embroidered Uniform Guards as the escort team for the three imperial envoys.

They had bows and crossbows, as well as firearms, and the Imperial Guards, who were to be used as "secret guards," had already set off ahead of time. At their speed, they would arrive in Nanjing in five days.

There are two ways to travel from the capital to Nanjing.

One route was by land, which involved riding horses or traveling by horse-drawn carriages or donkey carts. The courier soldiers could travel 500 li a day and arrive in Nanjing in four days. However, for ordinary people, it would take about seven or eight days to ride a horse, and more than ten days to travel by horse-drawn carriage.

One option is by water, which involves taking a boat from the Grand Canal directly to Nanjing. Although the waterway is convenient, it takes at least twenty days.

Shen Nian and his two companions were on an urgent mission, so they naturally had no choice but to travel by land.

Shen Nian frowned slightly as she looked at the three luxurious carriages prepared by Shi Qing, and then looked at Shen Shixing.

"Lord Shen, if we travel by carriage, it will probably take at least twelve days, and on horseback it will take about seven or eight days. I suggest we ride to Nanjing. The sooner we arrive, the less suffering the disaster victims will endure!"

Forty-five-year-old Shen Shixing glanced at Feng Baodao, who was preparing to get into the carriage not far away, and said, "I have no problem riding a horse, but Eunuch Feng is getting on in years and I'm afraid he won't be able to keep up!"

Feng Bao is fifty-eight years old this year.

Having lived a life of luxury for many years, and with no beard on his face, he looks like he's the same age as Shen Shixing.

"If Eunuch Feng doesn't want to ride a horse, then let's go first!" Shen Nian said.

Shen Shixing couldn't help but glance at Shen Nian; he was very clear about Shen Nian's plans.

“Eunuch Feng, Ziheng and I are concerned about the suffering of the disaster victims and wish to reach Nanjing as soon as possible. Can you ride a horse? If not, we will go ahead first!” Shen Shixing said to Feng Bao.

Upon hearing this, Feng Bao immediately came over.

“Riding horses? No way! This…this is a carriage His Majesty arranged for us, how can we ride horses! Besides, we are both imperial envoys, we must go together!”

Shen Nian looked at Feng Bao.

“Eunuch Feng, His Majesty’s arrangement of carriages shows his care for us, but our choice to ride horses for the sake of the country shows our care for the disaster victims of the three prefectures. If His Majesty knew, he would be deeply moved. If you cannot ride a horse, we will not force you. We will take our leave first!” Shen Nian said.

Feng Bao opened his mouth as if to speak, but didn't know how to defend himself.

He could ride a horse, but if he were to gallop two thousand miles at the age of fifty-eight and reach Nanjing, his body would fall apart.

Feng Bao thought for a moment.

"No, we must arrive together, otherwise I... I'll go back now and let His Majesty decide!"

“Then let His Majesty decide!” Shen Nian retorted.

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Shen Shixing immediately looked at Feng Bao and said, "Eunuch Feng, let's do this: we two will ride horses slowly, and you and a courier will ride on horseback. It will take about seven or eight days to get there. We'll go slower, traveling two hundred li a day, and we can reach Nanjing in ten days. What do you think? Taking a carriage is indeed too slow!"

Shen Shixing looked at Shen Nian first.

"I have no objection!" Shen Nian said decisively, thus making a concession.

"Alright!" Feng Bao had no choice but to nod.

If he disagreed, Shen Shixing and Shen Nianzhen would not wait for him and would ride their horses to Nanjing first. He really wouldn't be able to find fault with them. The only mistake he could make was that he was too old.

soon.

Shi Qing selected a skilled horseman for Feng Bao and then prepared a strong and fast horse for him.

The large entourage soon left the capital and headed towards Nanjing along the official road beside the Grand Canal.

……

Two days later, the imperial envoy's entourage had traveled four hundred li.

Feng Bao complained incessantly while traveling, but he still managed to persevere.

Upon arriving at the post station, Feng Bao immediately ordered the young eunuch accompanying him to massage his feet and soak them in herbal medicine.

During his breaks, he would also take the time to flip through a couple of pages of a book and practice his calligraphy.

He seemed more like a scholar-official than Shen Nian, who fell asleep as soon as he arrived at the post station and chatted and laughed with the Imperial Guards.

……

While the imperial envoy's entourage was on their way.

Hai Rui continued to send people to investigate secretly and obtained some new evidence.

He knew that once the memorial was submitted, the court would definitely send an imperial envoy, and his task was to hand over the irrefutable evidence to the envoy, who would then punish the main culprit according to the "Great Ming Code".

Hai Rui felt that at least ten heads should be chopped off this time.

at the same time.

In order to complete the weaving task, Sun Long, the eunuch in charge of the Suzhou and Hangzhou textile industry, ordered both official and private textile workshops to work hard and forced many disaster victims to participate in labor. Their only compensation was two meals a day and no money at all.

As for Xu Bangrui, the Duke of Wei, who was in charge of Nanjing, and Wang Yue, the eunuch who was in charge of Nanjing, they both relaxed.

In addition, Hai Rui also discovered that high-ranking officials such as Zhang Siwei, Minister of Rites in Nanjing, Zhao Jin, Minister of Justice in Nanjing, Song Yiwang, Minister of Justice in Nanjing, and Tu Yiying, Minister of Ceremonies in Nanjing, gathered every night on pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River to drink and make merry.

While they were indulging in debauchery.

Local officials in Yingtian Prefecture, Songjiang Prefecture, and Suzhou Prefecture forcefully suppressed people who had rebellious tendencies and had turned into bandits due to the disaster.

Those who committed serious crimes were imprisoned or even beaten to death; those who committed minor crimes were treated as river workers and made to build river embankments for free.

During this period, some people criticized the imperial court as utterly worthless.

Hai Rui learned that some people were spreading rumors on the streets, claiming that Zhang Juzheng's reforms, which involved taking profits from the people, had angered Heaven, and that the suffering of the disaster victims was due to Zhang Juzheng.

The people believed this wholeheartedly, and when they were hungry, they would curse Zhang Juzheng.

The spread of this rumor brought Zhang Siwei, the Minister of Rites in Nanjing, to Hai Rui's attention.

This message appears to have been sent at his behest.

In addition, Hai Rui also discovered that Gao Gong's "Last Words on His Sickbed" was widely printed and disseminated in Jiangnan last year, and Zhang Siwei played a significant role in this.

……

On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the Double Ninth Festival, night fell.

Inside a post station.

Shen Shixing, Shen Nian, and Feng Bao sat at a table, drinking wine and admiring the moon.

These three are generally on good terms, but if Yin Zhengmao were here, he would definitely flip the table.

After drinking half a pot of wine.

Feng Bao looked at Shen Shixing and asked, "Grand Secretary Shen, I suggest that after we enter Nanjing, we should not make too much of a commotion. Let's first ask Wang Yue and Sun Long to find out if there is a problem with the officials below. Maybe the investigation by the Imperial Censorate is wrong!"

Shen Shixing shook his head decisively, glaring at the Imperial Censor and saying, "I believe in the Imperial Censor!"

Although Shen Shixing was gentle, he could not tolerate others slandering Hai Rui, the great swordsman of the Ming Dynasty.

"I think that after entering the city, we should immediately place the Nanjing garrison commander, Duke Wei, the Nanjing garrison eunuch Wang Yue, the Suzhou and Hangzhou textile commissioner eunuch Sun Long, along with the prefects of the three disaster-stricken prefectures, under house arrest! Once they are under house arrest, it will be easier to search for the evidence presented by the Imperial Censorate!"

“Agreed! After we put them under house arrest, I suggest we search the warehouses of the Suzhou and Hangzhou textile factories to find the disaster relief funds and provide food and shelter for the victims,” Shen Nian said.

"Agreed!" Shen Shixing smiled and raised his glass.

Immediately, Shen Nian also raised his glass and clinked glasses with Shen Shixing. Seeing that Feng Bao did not raise his glass, the two did not mind and drank it all in one gulp after clinking glasses.

Feng Bao looked up at the bright crescent moon in the night sky and suddenly longed to return to the capital.

(End of this chapter)