Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 708 Return of Official Documents and Meeting of the Seven Cabinet Ministers

The three-quarters-hour wait felt agonizingly long, stretched out by the increasingly intense sun. Finally, the prison cart procession moved past the intersection, turned onto another street, and headed towards Xuanwu Gate.

The crowd dispersed like the receding tide, the chatter gradually subsided, and the flow of people in front of Zhengyangmen Street resumed its usual slow pace.

Wang Yingjiao lowered the sedan curtain and gently exhaled a breath of stale air. As the sedan chair was lifted again, he briefly informed Zhang Sixiu in the donkey cart beside him through the curtain: "Brother Siyong, we can go now."

"Okay." Zhang Sixiu's voice came through the curtain, revealing little emotion. Wang Yingjiao had already relayed the information he had just gathered to him through Wang Fu.

The donkey carts and sedan chairs rejoined the flow of people, still moving slowly, but at least they were able to keep going. The carts and sedan chairs passed through the bustling outer city and entered the inner city through Zhengyang Gate.

After passing Qipan Street in front of Daming Gate, and traveling for another quarter of an hour, the sedan chair and the carriage finally stopped in front of the Ministry of Personnel.

The sedan bearers slowly bent their arms and smoothly lowered the sedan chair. At the same time the sedan chair came to a stop, Wang Fu stepped forward and rolled up the curtain. "Sir, the Ministry of Personnel has arrived."

Wang Yingjiao didn't reply. He simply straightened his robe, which was slightly wrinkled from sitting for so long, and then crouched down and crawled out. He subconsciously glanced at Zhang Sixiu's donkey cart and saw Zhang Sixiu jump off the cart and lightly dust off his clothes.

"Which government office are you from? Why are you dressed like that?" The guard at the gate walked up and looked the white-haired old man in front of him up and down, who was not wearing an official's robe.

"I am Wang Yingjiao, the Minister of Revenue in Nanjing, who has been ordered to take up the post of Minister of Revenue." Although Wang Yingjiao is the newly appointed Minister of Revenue, he has not yet officially taken office, so he still refers to himself by his original post in Nanjing.

"Wang Ying." The yamen soldier subconsciously wanted to repeat Wang Yingjiao's name to confirm, but when the words reached his lips, he swallowed the last one back. "Are you Minister Wang?" When he spoke again, his tone and eyes were much softer, even carrying a hint of flattery.

“It’s me.” Wang Yingjiao waved to Wang Fu. Wang Fu then handed over the official document issued by the Ministry of Personnel. “This is the document the Ministry of Personnel gave me. Take a look.”

The yamen soldier extended both hands and respectfully accepted the official document, but didn't examine it closely. He merely glanced at the signatures and the vermilion seal of the Ministry of Personnel at the end before returning it. "Minister Wang, please come in," the yamen soldier said, stepping aside and gesturing for him to enter.

Wang Yingjiao did not move, but turned his head to look at Zhang Sixiu beside him.

"And who is this?" The yamen soldier followed Wang Yingjiao's gaze.

"Zhang Sixiu, formerly a compiler at the Hanlin Academy," Zhang Sixiu said, taking out his official document from his pocket. "He has been granted a pardon and is returning to the capital to resume his post."

"So it's Editor Zhang," the yamen soldier thought he'd seen the name somewhere before, but couldn't quite place it. However, he didn't bother to think about it further, simply glanced at it, and handed the document back. "No problem, please come in."

Zhang Sixiu carefully put away the documents and chuckled silently. "Brother Qianfu, please go first."

"Please." Wang Yingjiao nodded and then stepped inside without hesitation.

The light inside the Ministry of Personnel's main hall was slightly dimmer than outside. The blue brick floor still carried the chill of last night. Tall beams and pillars supported the spacious area, and the air was filled with the tranquil scent of paper, ink, and old wooden furniture.

Wang Yingjiao entered the main hall, only to find that Zhou Jiamo, the Minister of Personnel who should have been seated in the main seat, was not present. In the entire hall, only a third-rank official, dressed in a scarlet robe with a peacock embroidered on his chest, sat to the right of the main table. He had a lean face and a composed demeanor befitting someone with years of experience in officialdom, and was reviewing a document.

The third-rank official looked up at the sound, but seeing two unfamiliar faces not wearing official robes, he did not speak.

"May I ask who you two are?" The clerk waiting in the hall greeted them.

"I am Wang Yingjiao, the Minister of Revenue in Nanjing, here by imperial decree." Before Wang Yingjiao could finish speaking, the third-rank official sitting down moved his chair and stood up.

"I am Zhang Sixiu, the former compiler of the Hanlin Academy. I have been pardoned and returned to the capital to resume my post." After Zhang Sixiu finished speaking, a murmur arose in the Ministry of Personnel. Unlike the guards at the gate, the officials and clerks in the hall knew Zhang Sixiu's identity all too well.

"This humble servant greets Minister Wang and Editor Zhang." The clerk had no suspicions. Although he had not yet officially confirmed the two men's identities, the fact that they were allowed to enter the Ministry of Personnel meant that they had been simply verified. The clerk bowed deeply and then returned to his original position, making way for the third-rank official.

The official walked up to the two men and first bowed to Wang Yingjiao. "Your humble servant, Sheng Yihong, holds the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. I pay my respects to Minister Wang."

“Minister Sheng, there’s no need for such formalities,” Wang Yingjiao replied with a cupped-hand salute.

"This humble official greets Vice Minister Sheng." Turning around, Zhang Sixiu was the first to bow to Sheng Yihong.

"Please rise, Mr. Zhang." Sheng Yihong made a gesture of support, and after Zhang Sixiu straightened up, he took the initiative to give Zhang Sixiu a student's salute: "Student Sheng Yihong greets Mr. Zhang."

Sheng Yihong was a third-class Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the Wuxu year of the Wanli reign (1688), later becoming a Shujishi (a probationary official in the Hanlin Academy), and was appointed Jiantao (a compiler in the Hanlin Academy) in the 28th year of the Wanli reign (1689). Zhang Sixiu, on the other hand, was the second-ranked Jinshi in the Dingchou year of the Wanli reign (1687), and was directly appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. Therefore, in terms of the official history of the Hanlin Academy, Zhang Sixiu was Sheng Yihong's senior.

"Please rise, Minister Sheng!" Sheng Yihong's humble attitude greatly pleased Zhang Sixiu, who quickly returned the greeting.

After exchanging pleasantries, Wang Yingjiao glanced around the empty main hall and asked, "May I ask, Vice Minister Sheng, is Grand Chancellor Zhou in the ministry?"

Before Wang Yingjiao could officially assume office, there were still many procedures to go through. The first of these was to return his official documents to the Ministry of Personnel to inform the court that he had arrived in the capital. After that, he had to go to the Office of Transmission to submit a memorial to the Forbidden City requesting an audience with the emperor.

"What bad timing." Upon hearing this, Sheng Yihong's face showed a perfectly timed apology. "Minister Zhou was just summoned by the Cabinet." "Prime Minister Zhou went to the Cabinet?" Wang Yingjiao was taken aback. "What for?"

“It seems to have some connection with North Koreans,” Sheng Yihong said.

"Koreans?" Wang Yingjiao asked. "Isn't that a matter for the Ministry of Rites?"

“The cabinet did not elaborate. Therefore, I am not clear about the details either.” Sheng Yihong spread his hands and said, “If you two do not mind, you may show me the documents from our headquarters.”

“Very well.” Wang Yingjiao nodded slightly, took out the official document from his pocket, and said casually, “This morning when we entered the capital, we encountered a procession of prison carts parading through the streets near Zhengyang Gate. We heard from passersby that it was Du Chengshi, the governor of Gansu?”

“That’s right, it’s him.” Sheng Yihong paused, took the document, and his face was expressionless.

"Could you please give me a brief explanation, Minister Sheng?" Wang Yingjiao then asked.

"This case involves many aspects, but the details are relatively clear." Sheng Yihong glanced at it and then placed the document on his desk. "In the 46th year of the Wanli reign, the former Governor-General, Wang Gongke, submitted a memorial requesting the purchase of foreign horses to alleviate the urgent needs of Liaodong. Subsequently, the Court of Imperial Stud and the Ministry of Revenue each contributed 60,000 taels of silver, totaling 120,000 taels, and sent Wan Youfu, a clerk in the Ministry of Revenue, to purchase horses at the Xuanfu-Datong market. During this time, Wan Youfu colluded with Du Chengshi, the then Deputy Military Commissioner of Xuanfukou North Circuit, to falsify horse prices and embezzle silver. The amount embezzled was no less than 30,000 taels."

"If I remember correctly, all of these horses were delivered at that time, right?" On his way to the Ministry of Personnel, Wang Yingjiao had already roughly recalled the official gazette announcements he had seen in the 46th year of the Wanli reign that were related to the embezzlement case involving market horses.

“That’s right, all the horses were delivered, and the reinforcements left the pass on time. Wan Youfu and Du Chengshi were also promoted because of this case.” Sheng Yihong took the official document from Zhang Sixiu’s hand. “However, according to their own confessions, when they bought the horses, Wan Youfu quoted the court 24 taels of silver per horse, and he bought 5,000 horses, which cost exactly 120,000 taels. But the Shunyi Prince quoted them 15 taels of silver per horse.”

“If one horse embezzled nine taels, and there are five thousand horses in total, shouldn’t it be forty-five thousand taels?” Zhang Sixiu couldn’t help but chime in.

Sheng Yihong put down the official document and looked at Zhang Sixiu. “Mr. Zhang, the 45,000 taels is only the difference in the price of the horses. The fodder and provisions for the horses on the way from Xuanfu to Shanhaiguan were also paid from this horse price. Moreover, in order to expedite the deal, they also bought a lot of gifts to bribe the Shunyi Prince’s envoys who were responsible for transporting the horses. When calculating the embezzled funds, both of these sums were recorded as normal expenses. After deducting them, the total is 36,214 taels.”

"I see." Zhang Sixiu nodded.

"Buying horses was something that happened in the 46th year of the Wanli reign. Why is it suddenly being brought up again after three years?" Wang Yingjiao frowned slightly and asked, "Did someone report it?"

“No one filed a complaint. This case was uncovered by accident. If we must say, the person who discovered the beginnings of this case should be…” Sheng Yihong paused, then raised his hand and bowed towards the Forbidden City. “Your Majesty.”

"Your Majesty!?" Wang Yingjiao's eyes widened in surprise.

Sheng Yihong nodded heavily. "In February of this year, Hu Dun Tu Han sent his uncle, Nao Mao Da, to the capital for an audience with the emperor, where he was received. During the audience, Nao Mao Da inadvertently mentioned that they had used the court's annual rewards to buy iron pots in the market in Guangning. As you should know, although the court has opened the horse market to the Cha Han tribe, it still prohibits ironware from leaving the country. If they wanted to buy iron pots, they could only do so through smuggling."

Wang Yingjiao nodded silently.

"So the Emperor ordered Yang Lian, the Imperial Inspector of Liaodong, to thoroughly investigate this matter in Guangning," Sheng Yihong continued. "Following the clues, Yang Lian quickly traced it back to Wan Youfu, the Assistant Prefect of Fuyi. After Wan Youfu was arrested, he confessed to this old case before being subjected to severe torture. He claimed that when he bought horses in Xuanfu, Du Chengshi extorted bribes and coerced him into complicity. Later, when the case reached the capital, the Emperor was furious and immediately dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Guard to Gansu to arrest him."

Wang Yingjiao pondered, "No wonder the trial was so quick; it turns out it was an imperial case."

“Yes,” Sheng Yihong agreed. “Du Chengshi was only brought to justice at the beginning of this month, and a verdict was handed down in just half a month.”

Normally, a case involving a high-ranking official takes at least several months from the time the crime is discovered to the investigation and its conclusion. If the case is exceptional, it is not impossible for it to drag on for several years. For example, Yang Hao, the former military commissioner of Liaodong, has been imprisoned since he stepped down in the 47th year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, with no further developments.

"So, the case was handled by the Embroidered Uniform Guard?" Zhang Sixiu asked.

“No, that’s not it. The Embroidered Uniform Guard only arrests people; the cases are still handled by the Three Judicial Offices.” Sheng Yihong seemed unwilling to discuss this further. After saying this, he pointed to the documents on the table and said, “There are no problems with the Ministry of Personnel. You two may wish to submit a memorial to the Office of Transmission to request an audience. When Grand Chancellor Zhou returns from the Cabinet later, I will inform him of the situation.”

"Then I'll have to trouble you." Wang Yingjiao and Zhang Sixiu exchanged a glance, then turned and left.

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At this moment, the doors and windows of the cabinet office were tightly closed. The faint smell of ink and sweat mingled with the somber aroma of aged wood, lingering in the sweltering air and making one feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Outrageous! Utterly outrageous! To arbitrarily depose and install emperors—where does this place the laws governing tributary states?!" Left Censor-in-Chief Zhang Wenda's hair stood on end, his withered fingers almost stabbing at the face of Minister of Rites Xu Guangqi. "Even if Korea is a vassal state, it has its own ruler! How dare you do this without court deliberation and without informing your ministers?"

"Zhang, be careful what you say!" Grand Secretary Shen's voice, though not loud, was like a blade chilled to the bone, instantly silencing Zhang Wenda's angry rebuke. He sat upright, his sharp gaze sweeping over Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe and Second Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao, finally settling on Xu Guangqi's slightly weary face. "'Guardianship'? That sounds nice! Isn't this tantamount to forging an imperial edict and usurping power? Deposing the emperor, stationing his troops, controlling his government! Such a momentous matter, and you've kept the Six Ministries and Seven Ministers, the entire court, in the dark? Minister Xu, you are in charge of the Ministry of Rites. Ceremonies and rituals, the submission of foreign tribes—these are all your responsibilities! Such a rebellious act against ancestral rules, such usurpation and deception of the emperor—you are the mastermind?"

He emphasized the words "deceive the emperor" with extreme force, his gaze sharp as lightning, piercing Xu Guangqi.

Xu Guangqi's expression remained calm, but the weariness in his eyes deepened. He didn't immediately refute, but instead picked up the slightly cool teacup beside him, his fingertips gently tracing the rough porcelain surface, as if trying to draw a touch of coolness to calm his mind. Only after Shen finished speaking did he slowly put the teacup down.
"Your Excellency Shen, you flatter me. I would never dare to accuse you of 'deceiving the Emperor.' The policy of monitoring Korea was entirely Your Majesty's decision. Moreover, the deposed King Yi Hun secretly colluded with the Jurchen envoys and harbored rebellious intentions, as evidenced by reports from Liaodong. Now that the Jurchen army is advancing eastward, if we sit idly by and watch them invite wolves into our home, we will lose our flank in Liaodong and the capital region will be in grave danger! For the sake of the nation, Your Majesty has taken swift and decisive action, deposing the incompetent and establishing a wise ruler, and stationing troops to monitor Korea. This is truly to secure our eastern border and prevent future troubles!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the faces of Zhou Jiamo, Minister of Personnel; Wang Ji, Acting Vice Minister of Revenue; Huang Kezan, Minister of Justice, and others—a mix of surprise, indignation, and deep thought. He continued, “The reason we kept this secret before was not to deceive you, but because it involved military secrets. We feared that leaks would alert the deposed king’s faction and the slaves, causing our efforts to be in vain! Now that the situation in Korea has stabilized somewhat, we should issue an imperial edict to announce it to the world. This is not a rash decision, but a necessary expedient, and also a profound strategy for the safety of the nation!”

(End of this chapter)