I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 272 Feng Bao's Fury! The Truth is More Important Than the Royal Face
September 16th, afternoon, Nanjing Garrison Command, front hall.

The four imperial envoys gathered together.

Shen Shixing put aside the confessions of Wei Guogong Xu Bangrui, Wang Yue, Sun Long and others, and said angrily, "They admit to minor crimes but not major ones. None of these people are easy to deal with!"

After the disaster relief and people's aid work in the three affected prefectures were carried out, the four imperial envoys continued to interrogate the Duke of Wei and others.

Based on the detailed evidence provided by Hai Rui.

Duke Wei and others had to admit that the grain reserves in the Ever-Normal Granaries of the three affected prefectures had been diverted to last year's tax grain and last year's weaving expenses, and the granaries were already empty when the flood occurred.

The main culprits in this incident were the garrison eunuch Wang Yue, Duke of Wei Xu Bangrui, and the Suzhou and Hangzhou textile commissioner Sun Long, while the accomplices were the prefects of the three affected prefectures.

They confessed to the crime.

On the one hand, the evidence is substantial and cannot be denied.

On the other hand, admitting this crime would certainly lead to dismissal, but not necessarily the death penalty, because their misappropriation of grain reserves was for public purposes rather than private ones, essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul.

This involves deceiving the court and misappropriating disaster relief funds for the royal textile industry, as well as the assassination of Cao Zheng, the imperial inspector of Southern Zhili.

Xu Bangrui, Wang Yue, and Sun Long each shifted blame, claiming the other was the principal offender.

In both of these cases, the main culprits will undoubtedly die.

They were well-versed in the "Great Ming Code" and knew exactly how to confess their crimes so that punishment could be minimized.

Hai Rui stroked his beard and said solemnly, "The facts are all there. They are just making excuses and trying to find loopholes. I suggest a retrial, and that we should try to win them over psychologically!"

Currently, the evidence points to them, but it is difficult to determine who the principal offender and who the accomplices are.

Hai Rui was skilled at persuading people through his interrogation of cases.

By finding loopholes in the other party's explanation during interrogation, it is possible to identify the principal offender and accomplices, and thus make a conviction.

“Okay, let’s go for a retrial right now!” Shen Shixing said.

Just as Shen Shixing, Feng Bao, Shen Nian, and Hai Rui stood up, Shi Qing, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, strode in.

"The four imperial envoys, Duke of Wei Xu Bangrui and the garrison eunuch Wang Yue, have changed their testimonies. They claim that they were the masterminds behind the embezzlement of disaster relief funds and that they misappropriated the funds for the royal textile production. The Suzhou and Hangzhou textile production eunuch Sun Long was unaware that there was not a single grain of stored grain in the Ever-Normal Granary."

"what?"

Shen Shixing looked surprised as he took the confession from Shi Qing's hand.

After reading it, he looked serious and handed the confession to Hai Rui. Shen Nian and Feng Bao, who were standing nearby, quickly went over to read it.

Before long, Shen Nian finished reading the two men's testimonies.

The two men claimed that it was their idea to request the court to provide disaster relief funds because the grain reserves in the Ever-Normal Granaries of the three affected prefectures had been destroyed by the flood. Although Sun Long, the eunuch in charge of textile production in Suzhou and Hangzhou, had misappropriated grain reserves due to the royal textile production, he was unaware that the Ever-Normal Granaries were empty.

The reason they did this was—

The 100,000 taels of disaster relief funds, while enabling more disaster victims to survive, would lead to further suffering from cold and hunger and homelessness when winter arrived, triggering a series of problems and causing continuous trouble for Southern Zhili, thus affecting their political achievements.

If the flood delays Sun Long's work on making winter uniforms for the Jingwu Academy, the two will also be punished.

Therefore, it would be better to put on a show of disaster relief by diverting the disaster relief funds to royal affairs, which would also allow Sun Long to speak well of them to the young Wanli Emperor.

They also emphasized that Sun Long was unaware that the Ever-Normal Granary was empty, and that he gladly accepted the 80,000 taels of silver offered by the two men in order to complete the imperial mission.

In addition, they were also the masterminds behind the assassination of Cao Zheng, the Imperial Censor in charge of the Southern Zhili Circuit.

The reason is that Cao Zheng is unlikely to collude with them like the prefects of the three disaster-stricken prefectures; if he is not killed, their conspiracy will be exposed.

This statement was made.

Xu Bangrui and Wang Yue were sentenced to death, while Sun Long escaped.

Shen Nian frowned slightly, not believing the confession. Last night, these two stubbornly denied being the mastermind, but today they suddenly confessed. It was highly likely that someone had tampered with their statements and secretly told them something.

The purpose is also very clear.

This confession, ostensibly to save Sun Long, was in reality an attempt to save face for the Twenty-Four Offices of the Inner Court and for the young Wanli Emperor.

Sun Longfei was the mastermind behind the embezzlement of disaster relief funds.

This means that it wasn't the powerful eunuchs who harmed the people for the emperor's sake, but rather that it was all local officials who committed crimes for political achievements and to curry favor with their superiors.

This was undoubtedly the best outcome for the young Wanli Emperor.

But Shen Nian would never allow such a false outcome to occur.

Otherwise, the eunuchs will become even more powerful in the future, allowing various imperial edicts to influence national affairs and treat the people like dirt.

He was even thinking of using this incident to weaken the power of the eunuchs outside the palace!
Feng Baochang breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "With this confession, the truth about the embezzlement of disaster relief funds and the assassination of the imperial inspector has come to light. We can now report back to His Majesty!"

After speaking, Feng Bao looked at Shen Shixing, waiting for him to nod.

If this person were to nod in approval, the matter would be considered resolved smoothly, and he would have fulfilled the task assigned to him by the young Wanli Emperor: to prevent the royal family from losing face.

At this moment, Shen Shixing's expression was conflicted.

He knew there was something fishy about the testimony, but considering the bigger picture, this conviction was the best option to protect the overall situation.

If Sun Long, the eunuch in charge of textile production in Jiangnan, is listed as the mastermind, then it is equivalent to the fact that the disaster relief funds were misappropriated because Emperor Wanli ordered the eunuch in charge of textile production in Jiangnan to make winter clothes for the instructors and students of the Jingwu Academy. The root of the crime is Emperor Wanli.

Just as Shen Shixing was struggling with this dilemma.

Hai Rui said in a deep voice, "This confession is not credible. What official would be foolish enough to risk committing a crime punishable by confiscation of property and beheading to help someone else complete an imperial mission? I suggest we conduct a more thorough investigation!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Bao became somewhat anxious.

"Hai Qianyuan, what do you mean by this? Is it wrong for local officials to complete their imperial duties in order to meet performance targets? They are just gambling that they won't be discovered. If they are not discovered, they have won the gamble. If you don't believe the confessions given at the time, will the confessions given during the retrial be reliable?"

Hai Rui glared at Feng Bao.

"If Eunuch Feng has any objection to the confession during the retrial, the retrial can still be overturned until everyone has no objection. Such important cases should be handled with caution, with both a first trial and a second trial to ensure there are no mistakes. The case must not be decided hastily!"

“I agree with what Elder Hai said! If their confessions are true, they will say the same thing again in the retrial, and there will be no loopholes!” Shen Nian said.

“I agree!” Shen Shixing also spoke up. Although he liked to practice Tai Chi, he dared not be ambiguous about such an important matter.

brush!
Feng Bao stood up, flicked his sleeve, and said coldly, "Let me remind you three that when you work for the court, you must consider the overall situation and think about His Majesty, otherwise... otherwise you are simply ignorant of the bigger picture!"

After saying that, Feng Bao strode out of the hall.

His words practically ripped through the window.

If it is found that Sun Long was the mastermind behind making the royal mission the main reason for the suffering of the disaster victims, then he was going against the emperor and would cause the young Wanli Emperor to lose face.

Feng Bao came to Nanjing on the emperor's orders to prevent this situation from occurring.

Shen Nian watched Feng Bao's retreating figure and said loudly, "Eunuch Feng, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs cannot represent His Majesty, and even the imperial censors cannot overshadow national affairs and the people's livelihood. What we want is the truth, and to seek justice for the disaster-stricken people!"

Although Feng Bao had already left the hall.

But Shen Nian's words reached his ears completely.

In his eyes, all the eunuchs dispatched by the Directorate of Ceremonial were the hands of the young Wanli Emperor, and attacking the Directorate of Ceremonial was tantamount to disobeying the emperor's orders.

Hai Rui looked at Shen Shixing, who was standing to the side with a nervous expression, and said, "Grand Secretary Shen, Eunuch Feng seems to be thinking of His Majesty's best interests, but in reality, he is making the people of the three prefectures who are suffering from disasters resent the court and curse His Majesty for his harsh policies. You must not be confused about which is more important!"

Hai Rui's words suddenly enlightened Shen Shixing. He clenched his fist and said seriously, "Yes, the truth is the most important thing, and seeking justice for the people is the most important thing!"

(End of this chapter)