I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 270 The Art of Shifting Blame! Sun Long: Making me take the blame is making His Majesty take the blame.
September 13th, near noon.

The imperial envoy's entourage entered Nanjing and headed straight for the Nanjing Garrison Command.

The Imperial Guards, who had arrived in Nanjing ahead of time, received orders yesterday to immediately take control of the Nanjing Garrison Command and arrest Xu Bangrui, the Duke of Wei, the Nanjing Garrison Commander, Wang Yue, the Nanjing Garrison Eunuch, Sun Long, the Suzhou and Hangzhou Textile Commissioner Eunuch, as well as the prefects of the three disaster-stricken prefectures. They were all taken to the Nanjing Garrison Command and placed under house arrest.

The duties they were assigned were handled by officials designated by Shen Shixing, with the Embroidered Uniform Guard providing round-the-clock supervision to prevent local unrest.

When Shen Shixing, Shen Nian, Feng Bao and their party arrived at the Nanjing Garrison.

Xu Bangrui, Wang Yue, Sun Long, and Zheng Jia, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, have all been placed under house arrest in the backyard, each occupying a room. None of them know that the others have been arrested, nor do they know why they have been arrested.

Zhou Shi'an, the prefect of Suzhou, and Yu Xiong, the prefect of Songjiang, were expected to be taken to the Nanjing garrison before noon.

These people wielded considerable power in the region.

However, the Embroidered Uniform Guards were acting on imperial orders, claiming that if they dared to resist, it would be considered disobeying the imperial decree and treason.

……

The front hall of the Nanjing Garrison Command.

Shen Shixing, Shen Nian, and Feng Bao ate some snacks to fill their stomachs while waiting for Hai Rui.

The four imperial envoys, one chief and three deputy, could only begin their duties once all four had arrived.

Not long after.

Hai Rui, with his white hair and beard, and a slender figure, but with bright eyes, arrived at the front hall of the Nanjing Garrison Command, followed by Shi Qing, who was carrying a stack of documents.

These documents are the evidence that Hai Rui found. Once verified, they can prove the crimes of the officials involved.

"This humble official, Hai Rui, greets Grand Secretary Shen!" Hai Rui bowed slightly, then looked at Feng Bao and said in a cool tone: "Eunuch Feng, you've come too!"

This form of address was naturally given out of respect for the young Wanli Emperor.

Shen Shixing and Feng Bao both smiled and nodded.

Immediately, Hai Rui turned to look at Shen Nian.

"Old Hai, how are you feeling?" Before Hai Rui could speak, Shen Nian quickly walked up to him, took his hand, and asked with great concern.

"I'm doing great, I can eat two bowls of rice in one meal!" Hai Rui said, puffing out his chest. He was the kind of person who became more energetic the busier he was.

A few moments.

Shi Qing began to read out the imperial edict appointing the four as imperial envoys.

The official in charge of the Shenshi (3-5 PM) was in charge of everything, while Hai Rui and the other two served as deputy officials, each with their own specific tasks.

Before long, the four of them sat down, with Shi Qing standing to one side.

Shen Shixing looked at Hai Rui and said, "Hai Qianyuan, the most important thing right now is to comfort the disaster victims. Please tell us again about the current situation of the disaster victims."

Hai Rui's expression was serious.

"Although the floods have receded, the people in the countryside are still suffering greatly. Because the disaster relief funds were misappropriated, the people have no food to eat and no houses to live in. The young and strong have gathered into bandits, and robberies are rampant in the counties and villages. In order to show that the floods have been quelled, the local government has hired some scholars to paint a picture of peace and tranquility. Then, those who speak the truth, criticize the court, or become bandits are either imprisoned, forced to work on the dikes and rivers, or forced to work in the textile industry. As for the old and weak, they can only wait to die... In addition, some people are spreading rumors that the floods in the three prefectures of Yingtian were caused by the court's new reforms and the seizure of profits from the people, which has led many people to curse Grand Secretary Zhang."

When Shen Nian heard someone instigating the people to oppose the new policies and cursing Zhang Juzheng, he subconsciously thought of Zhang Siwei, the Minister of Rites in Nanjing.

He's the most likely person to do something like that.

"Currently, there is no major unrest in the three affected prefectures, counties, and townships. This is not because the disaster victims have been properly resettled, but because the prefects of the three affected prefectures have been ruthless, making the people afraid to speak out. However, once winter comes and the people are starving to the point of near death, there will definitely be major unrest."

"I have already found out the exact whereabouts of the 100,000 taels of disaster relief funds. I just need to verify the testimonies with Sun Long and others, the eunuchs in charge of textile production in Suzhou and Hangzhou."

"Furthermore, I believe we can complete the verification of testimonies today and then recover the misappropriated disaster relief funds."

"After that, I suggested that we first issue a public notice to inform the people of the three affected prefectures about the misappropriation of disaster relief funds, and then use the recovered disaster relief funds to build shelters for disaster victims, purchase grain, and distribute it to the people so that they can rebuild their confidence in the imperial court."

"Furthermore, the royal weaving operations involving the three disaster-stricken prefectures should be immediately halted, and weaving should not be carried out for at least a year, allowing the people to recuperate. As for whether the grain reserves in the three prefectures' granaries were destroyed by the flood, the cause of death of the investigating censor Cao Zheng, and how the officials involved should be dealt with, these should all be addressed after the people are at peace..."

Hai Rui thought things through very comprehensively and was very clear about what should be done first and what should be done later.

Shen Shixing and Shen Nian both nodded in agreement.

Feng Bao frowned slightly and said, "Hai Qianyuan, I have almost no objection to your suggestions, but since it concerns the royal textile industry, I suggest that we stop for half a month and continue after the matter has been thoroughly investigated. If we stop for a year, it will delay many of His Majesty's affairs!"

Hai Rui turned to look at Feng Bao.

"Delaying so many things? Will those students from the Jingwu Academy freeze to death if they can't wear winter clothes at the end of the year? Can't they wear the winter clothes of the Beijing Garrison to get through the winter?"

“Eunuch Feng, ancestral precepts say that even when carrying out imperial orders, one should not disturb the people. Do you know how the people of Jiangnan have cursed you eunuchs because of the textile manufacturing issue? The dispatched eunuchs represent His Majesty's face. To curse them is to curse the court. What in the world is more important than the lives of disaster victims?”

"I believe His Majesty would never think like you. If you think there is a problem with what I said, you are free to report it to His Majesty!"

Hai Rui glared, exuding an imposing aura.

"Then...then...let's stop for now, I'll handle this personally!" Feng Bao was powerless to refute this person who dared to confront even the Jiajing Emperor.

……

Not long after.

Zhou Shi'an, the prefect of Suzhou, and Yu Xiong, the prefect of Songjiang, were also captured and taken to the Nanjing Garrison.

Shen Shixing looked at Hai Rui and said, "Hai Qianyuan, our task today is to find out where the disaster relief funds went and how much disaster relief funds are still in existence. You have compiled all the evidence, so you will be the chief judge, and the three of us will supplement the evidence."

With Hai Rui, who was familiar with the situation, present, Shen Shixing naturally had to entrust the presiding judge task to Hai Rui; otherwise, if he were the presiding judge, Hai Rui might keep correcting him.

"Your humble servant obeys!" Hai Rui replied, cupping his hands in greeting.

……

About a quarter of an hour later.

Six people, including Xu Bangrui, Duke of Wei, the garrison commander of Nanjing; Wang Yue, the eunuch garrison commander of Nanjing; Sun Long, the eunuch in charge of textile production in Suzhou and Hangzhou; Zheng Jia, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture; Zhou Shi'an, the prefect of Suzhou Prefecture; and Yu Xiong, the prefect of Songjiang Prefecture, were all escorted to the front hall of the garrison commander's residence.

When the six people saw the four people sitting in front of them, they were all dumbfounded.

They all knew Shen Shixing, Hai Rui, Shen Nian, and Feng Bao. This combination meant that local officials would kneel to greet them wherever they went in the Ming Dynasty.

Just then, Shi Qing began to read the imperial edict.

The imperial edict was read aloud.

Only then did the seven realize that their schemes of defrauding the imperial court of disaster relief funds, embezzling disaster relief funds, and assassinating the investigating censor Cao Zheng might all have been exposed. Wang Yue and Sun Long subconsciously looked at Feng Bao; of the four above, only Feng Bao could save them.

But Feng Bao kept his head down and avoided eye contact with the two men below, afraid that Hai Rui and the others would think that he had ordered the two eunuchs to do this.

At this moment, Hai Rui spoke.

"I have been secretly investigating in Nanjing for a long time and know all about the various shady dealings you have done. Today, let's find out where the 100,000 taels of disaster relief funds went!"

Hai Rui waved his hand.

Immediately, a clerk handed over the evidence documents that Hai Rui had found to Duke Xu Bangrui of Wei.

Xu Bangrui was stunned to see that 80,000 taels of the 100,000 taels had been misappropriated, and then he looked at the remaining 20,000 taels, with only 3,000 taels actually used for disaster relief. He felt like he wasn't even human anymore.

After reading it, Xu Bangrui did not say anything and handed the document directly to Wang Yue, the eunuch in charge of the Nanjing garrison.

After reading the document, Wang Yue was also surprised that Hai Rui had investigated so thoroughly that they could not deny it and could only think of ways to explain it.

Then, the others also began to read it.

After the Suzhou and Hangzhou textile commissioner Sun Long reviewed the document, Wang Yue spoke first: "Four imperial envoys, it is true that the 100,000 taels of disaster relief funds were misappropriated, but... it was not our own doing. It was... it was Eunuch Sun who pressured us under the pretext that 'the imperial mission is urgent and we need money,' and forcibly took away 80,000 taels of disaster relief funds!"

"I... I and the Duke of Wei only had 20,000 taels left, so we had no choice but to hand it all over to Zheng Jia, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, and Zhou Shi'an, the prefect of Suzhou Prefecture, which were the hardest hit by the floods. I never expected... I never expected that they would embezzle it again. I... I am guilty of dereliction of duty!"

After Wang Yue finished speaking, Duke Xu Bangrui of Wei immediately cupped his hands and said, "Four Imperial Envoys, that is indeed the case, that is indeed the case!"

The two were unaware of the extent of their sins, but they tried to deny as many as they could.

Upon hearing this, Sun Long, the eunuch in charge of textile production in Suzhou and Hangzhou, and the prefects of the three disaster-stricken prefectures both turned grim.

In order to protect themselves, the two men were clearly pushing them toward the fire.

Zheng Jia, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, thought for a moment and immediately explained, “Your Excellencies, Yingtian Prefecture only received 10,000 taels of disaster relief funds. The Duke of Wei and Eunuch Wang instructed that grain be purchased and porridge be cooked to save the people. I knew that 10,000 taels was too little and not enough to save the people of the prefecture. So I used 9,000 taels as funds to mobilize local merchants, gentry, and monks to set up soup kitchens outside the city to save the people. By doing so, I... I spent the money wisely. Not only did I not embezzle a single coin, but I also made the 10,000 taels of silver work in a much better way!”

It has to be said that this explanation is actually quite plausible.

Zhou Shi'an, the prefect of Suzhou, continued, "Four imperial envoys, I am almost in the same boat as Prefect Zheng. Ten thousand taels of silver is simply not enough to repair the dike. I had no choice but to spend the money on local scholars and literati, asking them to spread the news that the dike is secure. I did this not for performance evaluation or to gain fame, but to reassure the people. It was truly an act to appease the people!"

As soon as Zhou Shi'an finished speaking, a sob could be heard from the side.

Prefect Yu Xiong of Songjiang Prefecture was about to speak when tears streamed down his face.

"Four imperial envoys, I am in a worse state than Prefect Zheng and Prefect Zhou. Songjiang Prefecture has not received a single tael of disaster relief silver. I have been working day and night to relieve the disaster and have even injured my waist. I thought the disaster relief silver had not been purchased yet, but I did not expect..." Yu Xiong lifted the clothes around his waist, revealing the plaster plaster inside.

The medicated plaster is definitely genuine, but it's hard to determine whether the back pain is due to disaster relief or something else.

It must be said that, as expected of those who passed the imperial examinations, all three prefects possessed quick wit.

Not only did they exonerate themselves from all charges, but they also made people feel that even if they had no merits, they had worked hard and were all good officials who loved the people like their own children.

this moment.

All the blame was poured on Sun Long, the eunuch in charge of manufacturing in Jiangnan.

The 80,000 taels of silver were embezzled by him for the royal textile industry, and Hai Rui's evidence forced Sun Long to admit it.

Sun Long's eyes were red.

After pausing for a moment, he said slowly and deliberately, "Your Excellencies, after the flood, His Majesty specially sent a messenger to deliver an imperial edict, saying that the original weaving tasks should be stopped, and only the winter clothing task of the Jingwu Academy should be left. He also emphasized that the people should not be disturbed and local funds should not be used."

“This old servant is acting entirely on His Majesty’s orders. If I were to forcibly misappropriate 80,000 taels of disaster relief funds, wouldn’t that…wouldn’t that be a violation of His Majesty’s virtuous character?”

After saying this, Sun Long glanced at Duke Xu Bangrui of Wei and the garrison eunuch Wang Yue, and sighed deeply.

"Just now, when I saw the evidence documents from the Maritime Court, I realized that I had been deceived!"

"During the flood, I complained that the flood had destroyed a large number of private weaving workshops, and that there was a shortage of funds for weaving, making it difficult to complete His Majesty's task. Then the Duke of Wei and Eunuch Wang took my words to heart. They gave me a plan, saying that we should use the excuse that the three granaries of the capital were flooded and the stored grain was destroyed to extort disaster relief funds from the court. Then, the stored grain would be used for disaster relief, and the disaster relief funds would be used for weaving. With this money, we could recruit craftsmen and looms in Huguang and Hangzhou, and in this way, we could complete the task."

"Their request was that, after the matter was settled, I would put in a good word for them with Eunuch Feng in order to get a promotion. After the 100,000 taels of relief silver arrived in Nanjing, I was worried that the grain reserves would be insufficient, so I specially kept 20,000 taels of silver. But I didn't expect... I didn't expect that there really was no grain reserves in the granaries of the three disaster-stricken prefectures. I did embezzle some at the time, but only a little bit. If I had known that the disaster victims had not received the relief silver, how could I have taken 80,000 taels of relief silver? This... isn't this just smearing His Majesty?"

After Sun Long finished speaking, the Duke of Wei and the others were dumbfounded.

It's unbelievable that such a claim could be fabricated. The key point is that this claim not only does not contradict the evidence against Hai Rui, but also connects to the matter of the grain reserves in Changping Granary.

At that moment, Feng Bao's eyes lit up.

He liked the answer.

This time, it doesn't matter if the Duke of Wei dies, the garrison eunuch dies, or the prefects of the three prefectures die. As long as the suffering of the disaster victims is not caused by the royal textile bureau, he can successfully complete his mission.

Sun Long was clearly much smarter than Duke Xu Bangrui of Wei and the garrison eunuch Wang Yue; he directly used the young Wanli Emperor as his shield.

"Sun Long, you're talking nonsense! You're the one who forcibly demanded 80,000 taels of silver from us!" Wang Yue cursed angrily.

“I’m forcing you? I’m just a lowly textile eunuch, while you are the garrison eunuch of Nanjing. Do you need to listen to me?” Sun Long retorted.

……

The two of them cursed and made up stories, but neither of them revealed Zhang Siwei, who had given the idea.

Once they implicate Zhang Siwei, and Zhang Siwei tells the truth, they're all doomed.

What the two are now fighting for is who can save themselves without everyone going to die; that will be the one who has the ability.

"Shut up, both of you!" Feng Bao shouted, stopping the two from arguing.

“Gentlemen, I think Sun Long’s words are more credible. Without His Majesty’s order, how could he dare to seize the disaster relief funds?” Feng Bao said.

Shen Nian slightly pursed her lips.

Feng Bao's move was clearly intended to minimize the negative impact of the royal textile industry on disaster relief.

But the truth is that, starting from the Jiajing era, every eunuch dispatched to the capital used his privileges to complete his imperial missions without any restrictions.

They often neglected other political affairs in order to complete imperial orders, and because they were not only never punished but were also repeatedly rewarded, this fueled the arrogance of the dispatched eunuchs.

Upon hearing this, Hai Rui said, "There is currently no evidence to prove who is telling the truth and who is lying. Making assumptions is a major taboo in solving cases. I hope that Eunuch Feng will not draw any conclusions rashly."

"I suggest that, regardless of whether it's true or false, we should first gather the misappropriated disaster relief funds together and use them to reassure the people!"

Shen Shixing and Shen Nian both nodded in agreement.

(End of this chapter)