Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 138 Yan Song Angrily Demotes Zhao Wenhua (Second Update)

"Do you still remember Zhao Wenhua, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Justice?"

"I remember, this Manager Zhao wanted to join the association before, right?"

"I want to now, and I really do! This person may have a bad reputation, but he's very proactive and has provided a crucial clue: there's a practice of replacing death row inmates within the Ministry of Justice!"

"Oh?"

After listening to Yan Shifan's mysterious explanation, Haiyue frowned.

In ancient times, human life was indeed as cheap as grass, but it was not something that could be killed casually.

For example, the death penalty execution process involved local officials reporting death penalty cases to the Ministry of Justice, followed by a joint review by the central government, a centralized review every August, and finally, the emperor's final decision, which was confirmed with a vermilion imperial edict, before the execution took place in the autumn.

In the TV series "Da Ming Dynasty", there is a plot about whether or not to kill Hai Rui. It is about whether Jiajing will mark Hai Rui's name as a criminal. In the end, Jiajing had already made up his mind not to kill Hai Rui. Instead, he took a roundabout way and had the lame Huang Jin walk step by step to the execution ground. In the end, he spared Hai Rui's life.

While the plot is fictional, the execution process is not wrong.

Some people in later generations believe that in ancient times, as long as one had power and influence, one could kill without any scruples and without any evidence. But that's not the case. There were many wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice, but even the Embroidered Uniform Guard had to go through a formality of providing evidence afterward to cover it up. They couldn't just pick up a butcher's knife without a reason, unless the world was in chaos and order had completely collapsed...

So at this moment, Haiyue was quite surprised: "Replacing a death row inmate is no small matter. Did Chief Zhao find out about this? Is there any evidence?"

"Without evidence, he himself couldn't be completely sure, so I didn't pay much attention to it until I learned about the mission of our One Heart Society!"

Yan Shifan lowered his voice again: "That secret society wants to recruit loyal people. If they can exchange prisoners from the Ministry of Justice's death row inmates, and save the already dead prisoners, will they have to spend the rest of their lives working for them?"

Haiyue thought for a moment and said, "That's true, but if that's the case, it's not just one or two death row inmates who would be replaced. And wouldn't it require too many connections to pull strings like that?"

Yan Shifan rubbed his hands together eagerly: "That's why I want to investigate. If we can really get to the bottom of this, then our Yixin Society will be able to establish a firm foothold!"

He has also firmly established himself and is now firmly in the unshakeable second position!

"it is good!"

Hai Yue pondered for a moment, then nodded. Just as the man was overjoyed, she continued, "However, I have a suggestion. I should consult your father first. In the case of Marquis Wuding, your father's words were very helpful to us. Such an important matter cannot be kept secret!"

Yan Shifan laughed and said, "Of course, of course, my father will definitely agree to my request!"

……

"Have you lost your mind?"

Yan Song shouted sternly, "Kneel down!!"

In the main hall of the Yan family mansion, a heart full of joy, Yan Shifan bent his knees with a reluctant expression, and after several tentative attempts, finally knelt down: "Father! Mingwei has agreed..."

"He agreed, so why did he send you back to ask me?"

Yan Song sighed: "He's just giving you face, he can't directly refute you, so he asked me, his elder, to do it! Have you been too successful lately, daring to meddle in the Ministry of Justice's affairs?"

Yan Shifan was somewhat unconvinced: "In the case of Li Fuda, the Minister of Justice Yan Yishou and two vice ministers were all dismissed and purged. This shows that once His Majesty is angered, he will not tolerate it. As long as I find any clues and obtain solid evidence, it will be a great achievement!"

Yan Song said coldly, "Replacing one minister with two vice ministers is far from enough to cleanse the waters. The waters in the Six Ministries are very deep! Your father has been transferred to the Ministry of Rites for nearly two years, and now I'm going to the Ministry of Personnel as the Left Vice Minister, but I haven't even figured out the waters in the Ministry of Rites!"

Yan Shifan still trusted his father, and his expression changed: "Father, I don't understand, what could the Ministry of Rites possibly have?"

"Imperial examinations, diplomacy, religion!"

Yan Song said three things: "Don't ask any more questions, even if you do, I won't go into details!"

Yan Shifan's expression changed again: "What about the Ministry of Justice?"

"Ministry of Justice... Ha!"

Yan Song sneered: "Among the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites wield the most power, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue have the most abundant funds, and the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice are the most dangerous! Don't even touch them!"

Yan Shifan frowned: "Then what Zhao Wenhua said to my son was a lie?"

"I might not be lying to you, but you'll never get anything done with someone like that!"

Yan Song commented: "This man was always boastful and arrogant when he was at the Imperial Academy. He was ambitious but incompetent, and he flattered and fawned. He even wanted to become my godfather. Humph! I, Yan Song, have always been upright and fearless of eunuchs and powerful figures. Do you think I would take in such a scoundrel when I'm old?"

"Yes! Isn't this tarnishing Father's reputation?"

Yan Shifan said angrily, "He swore at the time that there was something important going on in the Ministry of Justice, and that there was some kind of Hundred Flowers Wine that would make you never forget it. It turns out he was just trying to trick me! Humph! I'll definitely teach him a lesson!" Yan Song waved his hand and said, "Just ignore such people."

"But……"

Yan Shifan hesitated for a moment before honestly recounting Xu Jie's situation: "Father, will I be outshone by these people in the future?"

"Xu Jie?"

Yan Song knew this young compiler of the Hanlin Academy and had read his memorial. The content was reasonable and well-founded. What was even more commendable was that he argued with the Grand Secretary Zhang Cong in the court, and Zhang Cong almost lost the argument to this young man. This showed his talent and learning. Now, Yan Song was determined to recommend this person first, which was indeed appropriate.

At the same time, Yan Song understood his son's worries, and his tone softened as he comforted him, "Don't let your mind wander. Focus on your studies. If you can both enter the Hanlin Academy as classmates and classmates, it would be a wonderful story! With your intelligence, why would you worry about others surpassing you? Just be down-to-earth for now. No one can rise to the top in one step..."

At this point, his voice lowered, and he cautioned, "As for that secret society, don't put in any effort. If it were easy to investigate, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would have done it already. Why would they need you? There are immense dangers involved!"

"Fortune and honor are found in danger; it is precisely because of the peril that His Majesty values ​​and utilizes such talents!"

Yan Shifan, however, did not think so. He had seen Haiyue’s every move. When it was time to fight, one should fight. If she hadn’t risked her life to protect the Empress Dowager from the assassins, how could she be in the Emperor’s heart today?
Seeing his son's expression, Yan Song knew that the boy hadn't listened. He sighed inwardly and, after returning to his room, told his wife, Ouyang, what had just happened.

After hearing this, Madam Ouyang immediately frowned: "That Zhao Wenhua has repeatedly seduced my son, he is truly hateful! Mencius' mother moved three times to guard against such a wicked person. Sir, don't you have a way to arrest him and protect Qing'er?"

Yan Song smiled bitterly. He hadn't expected that his wife wouldn't blame their son for being impetuous, but instead would vent her resentment on Zhao Wenhua.

However, Zhao Wenhua's actions this time truly disgusted him. Regardless of whether the matter concerning the Ministry of Justice was true or false, it was all about dragging Yan Shifan into it.

He is now the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, even though the powerful Minister of Personnel, Fang Xianfu, is above him. He still holds the power of an official, unlike when he was the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. He said calmly, "This person is indeed not suitable to stay in the capital. I will make the arrangements."

……

"Zhao Wenhua misjudged the case, leading to a wrongful imprisonment, and was demoted from the capital to serve as a judge in Yanping Prefecture?"

Haiyue was quite surprised when she saw this latest official transfer notice.

This development is quite interesting. Xu Jie was not demoted by Zhang Cong, but Zhao Wenhua was instead demoted out of the capital.
After further deduction, Haiyue vaguely sensed the influence of Yan Song, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

This Vice Minister Yan was previously looked down upon by many and was still addressed as Chancellor Yan, which was actually an implication that he did not have any real power or achievements in his position as Vice Minister of the Six Ministries.

This idea cannot be said to be entirely wrong. After all, we are currently in a stage where the newly rich from the Great Rites Controversy control the court. The core power is firmly held by this group of people, and other officials, even if they have high ranks and positions, are more or less nominal.

However, Yan Song's methods should not be underestimated. Although he has always hovered outside the core of power, he has been steadily rising in rank. Compared to Xia Yan's sudden rise, the foundation of this path is undoubtedly much more solid.

This time, Yan Song mobilized not only the newly appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, but also the Ministry of Justice. Otherwise, he would not have been able to expose Zhao Wenhua's wrongful judgment and demote him to a post outside the capital with a reasonable basis.

Haiyue was pleased to see this.

Zhao Wenhua left a very bad impression. Apart from passing the imperial examination, which proved that he was not bad at studying, he was otherwise useless. However, he was good at flattery and sycophancy, and such a person would not do badly in officialdom.

Putting aside everything else, Yan Shifan was tempted time and again, wanting to associate with her for fame and fortune.
Now this person has been punished by Yan Song and exiled to Lingnan, his official career has come to an abrupt end, which can be considered as getting rid of a scourge.

We'll keep an eye on it later and find an opportunity to completely crush it.

As for Zhao Wenhua's claim that there were cases of wrongful imprisonment in the Ministry of Justice, Haiyue kept it in mind and wanted to ask Zhou Xuan, the former Guangdong Provincial Surveillance Commissioner. Although that iron-faced judge had served in local positions his entire life, he must be familiar with the ins and outs of the Ministry of Justice.

However, after careful consideration, Haiyue did not act rashly.

It is a person's virtue to know his own limitations. The Yixin Society has indeed gained the Emperor's attention and can gradually gain some power. However, the Ministry of Justice is a hornet's nest that should not be stirred up for the time being, and Zhou Xuan should not be dragged into it.

"elder brother!"

Just as Hai Rui put the Ministry of Personnel's transfer order aside, he walked in: "The Zhang brothers are to be executed in the West Market tomorrow. Shall we go and witness the execution?"

Haiyue raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Go! How could I not go to such a gratifying scene?"

Normally, executions are carried out in the autumn, with death row inmates being executed uniformly every autumn. However, there is also a form of execution called "immediate execution," which is usually reserved for those who have committed heinous crimes such as treason, and they are executed much earlier than the autumn.

The Zhang brothers were convicted of treason because armor, a dragon robe, and a counterfeit imperial seal were found in their home. Unlike in history, when they were executed in the imperial prison, they were simply taken out for execution.

Liu Jin received the same treatment back then.

Now, on the 18th day of the first month of the tenth year of Jiajing's reign, the emperor's brothers-in-law Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling were executed in the West Market, causing shock throughout the capital.

(End of this chapter)