Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 709 Interrogation and Escape

"A deep conspiracy?" Huang Kezan, the Minister of Justice, stroked his sparse beard and spoke coldly, his voice as dry as sandpaper scraping a table. "Xu Zongbo, aren't you being a bit too grandiose with your words?"

"Even if Li Hui has a thousand faults, how can such a major matter as deposing and installing emperors not be reported to the imperial court, not investigated by the three judicial departments, and not subject to a public deliberation in court, but simply carried out based on a few vague secret reports from Liaodong? If this precedent is set, where will the moral order be? Where will the law be? If in the future, if other vassal states follow suit and falsely accuse the emperor in the name of 'the state' and presumptuously depose and install emperors, where will they be dealt with?"

"Minister Huang, you are mistaken!" Cui Jingrong, the Minister of War who had been silent all along, finally couldn't help but speak up. "To relieve the people and punish the guilty, to depose the incompetent and establish the virtuous, is the right of the sovereign of the country! Whether someone is virtuous or not, incompetent or not, is for the Emperor to decide."

"Furthermore, Liaodong is in grave danger, and Korea is in a cowardly position. If this deposed King Li Hui really makes peace with the Jurchen traitors, leaving Liaodong vulnerable on two fronts, how can we continue the war? His Majesty made a decisive decision to eliminate this great threat at the lowest possible cost, which is truly a wise and enlightened act! If we were to be bound by formalities and delay the opportunity to win the war, that would be the real disastrous outcome for the country!" As one of the earliest people in the know, Cui Jingrong had no choice but to support Xu Guangqi.

"Korea has always been submissive, and Yi Hun has been very cautious in serving the Celestial Dynasty. Although our Celestial Dynasty is their parent country and exercises suzerainty, if we were to arbitrarily depose and install emperors based solely on some unfounded rumors, it would likely cause upheaval throughout the land and unrest within the country." Left Censor-in-Chief Zhang Wenda spoke again, this time with a much gentler tone than before. "Minister Cui, Minister Xu, can you produce any concrete evidence?"

"Of course!" Luo Sigong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, replied loudly. "My son, Yangxing, has also been ordered to go to Korea to thoroughly investigate the case of the deposed king's treason!"

“Luo Weishuai,” Zhang Wenda turned his head and said, almost emphasizing each word, “I’m talking about ‘concrete’ evidence!”

“Hehe.” Luo Sigong could easily understand Zhang Wenda’s implied meaning. He raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly, “General Zhang, there’s no need to worry. My Embroidered Uniform Guard has already found a witness and is escorting him to the capital.”

"Witness? Who?" Huang Kezan, the Minister of Justice, interjected.

“Li Minhuan,” Luo Sigong said.

"Who is this person?" Zhang Wenda asked.

“He was an aide to General Kang Hong-rip of the Joseon Army,” Luo Sigong said with a smile. “After the defeat at Sarhu, the Jurchen rebels kept him in their lair until July of last year when he was released. His confession will surely prove that Kang Hong-rip defected to the enemy in the face of battle and that Yi Hun harbored treacherous intentions.”

"How did your Embroidered Uniform Guard find this person?" Huang Kezan's cloudy old eyes stared intently at Luo Sigong.

“It wasn’t us looking for him, it was him looking for us,” Luo Sigong shrugged. “After being released by the slaves, he stayed in Yizhou. When the army marched south, he came looking for us himself.”

"Where did this person go?" Zhang Wenda asked.

“We’ve already passed Shanhaiguan,” Luo Sigong said confidently. “In a few more days, you can even interrogate him yourself.”

"Gentlemen!" Minister of Personnel Zhou Jiamo interjected in a deep voice. His brows were furrowed, his expression heavy with worry, as he looked at Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe. "Grand Secretary, things have come to this point, and perhaps the debate can be postponed. What worries me is that once this matter becomes public, the court and the public will be in an uproar! How can the upright officials and censors let this go unpunished? At that time, impeachments will rain down like snowflakes. How will the Cabinet, along with the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War, quell this raging public opinion and stabilize public sentiment?"

Zhou Jiamo's words effectively brought the entire cabinet together. Shen was completely unaware of the situation and didn't want to side with Xu Guangqi, so he instinctively wanted to refute it. But having heard this far, he roughly understood that regardless of who came up with the idea of ​​supervising Korea, the Emperor had definitely approved it. If he were to publicly distance himself now, not only would he risk offending other cabinet members, but he would also certainly leave a bad impression on the Emperor.

Shen's lips twitched, but she swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

"Sigh," Fang Congzhe sighed deeply. He had long anticipated this scene, but facing it all still made his head throb with pain. "I invited you all to the Cabinet meeting today to ask you to work together with one heart and mind, to share the Emperor's burdens." He then looked at Zhang Wenda, "Chief Censor Zhang, don't you agree?"

Zhang Wenda instantly understood that Fang Congzhe wanted him to suppress the censors of the Censorate. He raised an eyebrow, snorted coldly, and looked around at everyone, saying, "As subjects, it is our duty to share the Emperor's burdens. But the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Works, and even my Censorate have only heard these few words today. How can we possibly share the burdens of the Cabinet? Grand Chancellor Zhou, don't you agree?"

“Yes,” Zhou Jiamo nodded. “The capital inspection lasted two months, and so many people were dismissed. There’s a lot of resentment building up inside and outside the court, and if this resentment is released through this outlet, it probably won’t be contained anytime soon. And…”

Zhou Jiamo paused, his gaze shifting left and right before finally settling on the face of Wang Ji, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. "Where will the military pay for those 25,000 troops that Commander Cui just mentioned be transferred from? And what about the subsequent appeasement, control, training, and equipment manufacturing? Won't all of that cost money? How will the Ministry of Revenue cover this extra expense?"

Wang Ji was the only third-rank official among those present, and a temporary acting official in charge of the seal. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have uttered a word. But this matter had far too great an impact on the Ministry of Revenue; just thinking about it was enough to drive Wang Ji to distraction. Therefore, Wang Ji had maintained a stern face. Now, being called upon, Wang Ji let out a heavy snort, his resentment blazing as he said:

"How will the expenditures be made? I'd like to ask the same question. The Ministry of Revenue is living beyond its means, and the hole in Liaodong is already overflowing! Now, this huge expense of Korea has appeared out of nowhere! Troops need to be stationed, and officials need to be dispatched! Where will the money come from? Where will the grain come from? Did the Cabinet not give any prior notice, and then expect the Ministry of Revenue to conjure up money out of thin air afterward?"

Wang Ji's words plunged the Cabinet Office, where the atmosphere had calmed slightly, back into chaotic arguments and questioning. Fang Congzhe, sitting in the main seat, felt his temples throbbing and beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. He tried to unite with Vice Minister Ye Xianggao to maintain order, but his voice was drowned out by the clamor of "pragmatism" or "idealism."

Although Xu Guangqi tried his best to defend himself, citing classical texts and analyzing the pros and cons, he still seemed quite overwhelmed by the accusation of "deception" and the suddenly increased financial pressure. His brows were furrowed. Cabinet members Liu Yizhu, Han Kuang, Shi Jixie, Shen, and others, who had initially harbored their own thoughts, could only secretly unite when the focus shifted from Fang Congzhe and Ye Xianggao to the entire cabinet, exchanging worried glances in silence or whispers.

Just as chaos was brewing, the door to the duty room was gently pushed open a crack. A secretary from the Imperial Secretariat, with his head bowed, walked briskly to the desk of Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, placed two newly arrived memorials on top of the mountain of documents on the desk, and then fled as if escaping a disaster.

This minor incident, like a block of ice thrown into boiling water, strangely halted the argument. Everyone's gaze, intentionally or unintentionally, fell upon the newly arrived official documents. Fang Congzhe almost immediately reached for a memorial, as if grasping at a lifeline, temporarily escaping the accusations from all sides. His eyes swept over the memorial's title, where the signature clearly read—

Memorial Regarding My Arrival in the Capital by Imperial Decree to Express Gratitude to the Emperor and Request an Audience

Upon opening it, the first sentence read: "Your subject Wang Yingjiao, Minister of Revenue in Nanjing, respectfully submits this memorial."

Fang Congzhe's eyes immediately lit up. Without waiting to read it carefully, he picked up another book, on which the title slip clearly stated—

"A Memorial to the Throne on Being Pardoned, Returning to the Capital, and Resuming Official Duties; Expressing Gratitude to the Emperor and Requesting an Audience"

Fang Congzhe slowly opened the memorial, and the signature above his eyes added a layer of doubt and contemplation: "Respectfully submitted by your subject Zhang Sixiu, former compiler of the Hanlin Academy."

Fang Congzhe's gaze lingered briefly on the three characters "Zhang Sixiu" before shifting away. He slammed the memorial shut, the hard cover clattering against the short stack of soft paper, producing a dull but clear sound that once again drew everyone's attention.

Xu Guangqi looked at Fang Congzhe and asked, as if changing the subject, "Grand Secretary, whose memorial is this? What is it about?"

"These two are memorials from the newly appointed registrar Wang Yingjiao and Zhang Sixiu, the son of Zhang Wenzhong." Fang Congzhe's voice returned to its steady tone, with a hint of deliberate officialdom. "The two arrived in Beijing today and, as is customary, submitted their memorials requesting an audience."

Fang Congzhe took the memorial in his hand, stood up smoothly, his movements unlike those of a man nearing sixty: "The newly promoted ministers and reinstated officials request an audience. I must report to His Majesty immediately." He glanced at the crowd, "Gentlemen, please discuss the matter of Korea for now. I will report this to His Majesty and then return immediately." After saying this, he walked around the desk and strode towards the door.

"Grand Secretary, wait!" Ye Xianggao spoke almost immediately, instinctively raising his arm to stop him. His face showed obvious surprise and a hint of anxiety. With Fang Congzhe gone, wouldn't all the pent-up anger and sharp questioning in the room fall on him, the Second Grand Secretary? "Such ordinary memorials can be sent to the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs by a mere attendant; why trouble the Grand Secretary to go personally?"

Fang Congzhe's pace slowed slightly for a moment, but he did not truly stop. He turned his head and gave Ye Xianggao a faint smile: "What Grand Secretary Ye says is true. However, Wang and Zhang are of special status. Wang Yingjiao is the newly appointed Minister of Revenue, in charge of the nation's finances. His prompt appointment will also benefit the affairs of Korea. Zhang Sixiu is a descendant of Wenzhong Gong. His Majesty is wise and enlightened, and has restored order by personally summoning him back to his post. We cannot be negligent. It would be more appropriate for me to personally present his petition to His Majesty for review."

"With Grand Secretary Ye and the other gentlemen here to discuss the Korean affairs in detail, we are sure to make thorough plans. I'll be right back!" Before he finished speaking, Fang Congzhe had already strode past Ye Xianggao and headed straight for the door, ignoring the sudden surge of discussion behind him and Ye Xianggao's awkward expression as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Fang Congzhe pushed open the heavy door almost roughly, and the intense light and the clearer chirping of cicadas instantly flooded into the stuffy duty room. He walked out without looking back, his figure quickly disappearing into the light and shadow outside the door, leaving only the door still swaying slightly.

Ye Xianggao stood frozen in place, slowly lowering his raised arm. His face turned pale and then flushed, eventually turning into a barely audible sigh and a deep sense of helplessness.

The atmosphere of the argument was abruptly interrupted by this sudden departure, but it didn't dissipate. Zhang Wenda snorted heavily, Huang Kezan stroked his beard, his eyes growing even more gloomy. Wang Ji pinched his temples in frustration. Xu Guangqi lowered his eyes to look at the cold teacup, his lips pressed into a straight line. Luo Sigong, on the other hand, gazed at Ye Xianggao's profile with a faint smile.

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Fang Congzhe almost rushed out of the suffocating heat and noise of the Wenyuan Pavilion duty room. As soon as he stepped out the door, the scorching afternoon sun beat down on him, making him squint. The cicadas chirped even louder, but compared to the confrontational questioning inside the duty room, this natural noise seemed somewhat peaceful.

He was alone, walking hurriedly. Sweat quickly soaked through his inner shirt, sticking stickily to his back. Fine beads of sweat on his forehead were dried by the wind and then seeped out again, leaving a slightly itchy salt stain.

After several turns and twists, the massive vermilion doors of the Qianqing Gate came into view. The guards of the Qianqing Palace, clad in gleaming armor, stood solemnly at the gate. Inside the gate lay the Forbidden Garden, where the emperor lived and governed.

Fang Congzhe straightened his slightly wrinkled robe sleeves at the foot of the steps, took a deep breath to calm his slightly rapid breathing from walking so fast. He ascended the steps, and as soon as he stepped onto the platform, Shi Fuming, the chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, came out from the guardhouse beside the door to greet him. This senior eunuch, who served the emperor, was fair-skinned and beardless, with shrewdness and composure in his eyes. His face was now full of flattering smiles, and he bowed respectfully from afar.
"Prime Minister Fang, you've had a hard time. Why did you come all this way in this sweltering heat?" Shi Fuming's voice was clear and melodious, with the gentle tone characteristic of a eunuch. "Has the situation with the Cabinet been resolved?"

"Uh..." Fang Congzhe's expression froze for a moment. He shook his head slightly and raised the memorial in his hand a little: "It is a memorial from the newly appointed Minister of Revenue, Wang Yingjiao, and the reinstated Hanlin Compiler, Zhang Sixiu, requesting an audience with the cabinet. Since it involves newly promoted ministers and officials pardoned by His Majesty, I dare not be negligent. I have come to present it to His Majesty for review and request His Majesty to decide on the date of the audience. Please ask Eunuch Shi to go in and inform him."

"I see." Shi Fuming's eyes quickly swept over the sealed title of the memorial, and his smile widened. "So it's Minister Wang and Editor Zhang who have arrived? Grand Secretary Fang is truly loyal to the country and personally attends to everything. Please wait a moment, I'll go in right away." He stepped aside and then winked at his godson Shi Fangyi, who was standing beside him.

Shi Fangyi was quite quick-witted. He immediately understood, jogged over to bring a brocade stool, placed it in a cool, ventilated place, and respectfully said, "Mr. Fang, please have a seat."

"Thank you for your trouble, Steward Shi." Fang Congzhe nodded slightly and sat down with a smile. "Thank you for your trouble, Young Eunuch Shi as well."

"You're too kind." Shi Fuming didn't linger any longer. He turned around and quickly disappeared into the deep courtyard surrounded by the towering palace walls.

(End of this chapter)