Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 152 Yan Song Marches Towards Becoming a Leader of the Clean Stream (First Update)
"Your Majesty, the Yixin Society has finished compiling the case file of Hao's murder of her husband."

"bring here."

Zhu Houcong took the case file and opened it to examine it.

At first, we just took a cursory look, since it was just an old case from the common people, not a major case like Guo Xun's involving the debate on the new elites over the Great Rites Controversy.

But soon, he slowed down and began to examine it carefully.

This file not only conforms to the format specifications, but its content is also refreshing.

First, the testimonies are complete. From the testimonies of the plaintiff, defendant, and witnesses in last year's case to all the witnesses in this year's retrial, they have been recorded word for word. Some of the words are clearly spoken by ordinary people. They have not been modified or deleted to avoid misinterpreting the original meaning.

Secondly, there is the evidence: physical evidence includes the murder weapon and stolen goods, documentary evidence includes contracts and wills, and the investigation record includes the body and a scene diagram, all clearly attached.

Finally, there was the interrogation process, during which Haiyue arranged for several female prisoners to step forward and have the residents of Dengcao Hutong identify Hao's details.

The legal basis is also interspersed throughout, all citing the "Great Ming Code".

This part wasn't written by Haiyue herself, but rather it was added by her younger brother Hairui after they returned to the academy.

"This document will be circulated within the Ministry of Justice, and all subsequent case files will follow this example!"

Zhu Houcong gladly gave the order.

This case came as a complete surprise; he had originally planned to handle it.

The energy that should be devoted to discussing the new elites should be focused on implementing new policies, which are of paramount importance to the strength of the nation. Such trivial matters should not distract them.

And the hope rests on Xia Yan, who performed outstandingly last year during the Heaven and Earth Separation Ceremony.

Zhu Houcong believed in Xia Yan's abilities and gave him this opportunity to prove that he was not a sycophant who flattered the emperor, but a capable minister who shared the emperor's burdens. At the same time, it also made Zhang Cong feel a sense of crisis, so that he would not be complacent because of his past achievements.

As a result, Xia Yan's actions could not be said to disappoint him, but rather that he was completely outclassed by Yixin Hui.

Zhu Houcong couldn't help but reveal the truth of the case during the journey, instructing the eunuch to tell him the truth of the case. As a result, Xia Yan actually went to join forces with the Yixin Society!

This step cannot be said to be wrong, after all, it was the most advantageous choice for the situation. However, what Zhu Houcong hated most was the tacit understanding among his subjects that they were intertwined with each other.

Even among loyal ministers, such private collusion leaves the emperor in a terrible position.
Fortunately, one's mind will become more pure; investigating a case is investigating a case, and doing what one can do is the most loyal way to do so.

"My discerning eye has not been in vain!"

While Zhu Houcong was pleased, another thought suddenly occurred to him.

Originally, he wanted to make good arrangements for Xia Yan to counterbalance the growing power of Zhang Cong. Even though the official rank of the Censor was low, as long as he gained the emperor's favor, he was not afraid that he would be promoted quickly.
But looking at it now...

Perhaps there is a more suitable candidate?
He is a person with a deeper reputation in the academic community and a more profound experience in officialdom!
"Let's see if Yan Song has the courage to take responsibility!"

……

Imperial College.

The north wind howled outside the window, and inside the dormitory, Haiyue and the other three huddled under the covers.

It has to be said that Beijing is really cold. It's almost March now, and the wind and snow are still blowing and the cold is biting.

Not to mention Hai Rui and his two companions who didn't practice martial arts, even Hai Yue loved the warm and cozy bed. She was engrossed in reading a copy of Water Margin when Yan Shifan, who had specially moved his bed to the side, came over and asked, "Mingwei, are we really not going to take care of what happened to the Tang family?"

"We don't need to worry about it."

Hai Yue didn't even look up: "His Majesty has the style of the founding emperor; such a thing as officials coercing the emperor will not happen to him."

Yan Shifan thought of Zuo Shunmen's tearful remonstrance and Li Fuda's imprisonment, and said "Oh".

But a moment later, he crept closer and whispered, "If it were my father who did it, Mingwei, do you have any suggestions?"

"Ok?"

Haiyue finally shifted her gaze from Lin Chong at the Snow Mountain Temple, her expression turning serious: "Really?"

Yan Shifan said in a low voice, "My father warned me that this matter must never be told to outsiders, but in my heart, Mingwei is no longer an outsider, but a brother. So naturally I can tell you this!"

'Did Jiajing appoint Yan Song to oversee this major case?'

Haiyue was somewhat surprised. After thinking carefully, she said in a low voice, "His Majesty trusts Uncle Yan. This is a good opportunity for him to enter the cabinet in the future!"

Yan Shifan rubbed his hands together under the covers and said excitedly, "Yes! Yes!"

Haiyue continued, "But this political matter is extremely difficult. If we are not careful, Uncle Yan will be infamous!"

Yan Shifan stopped rubbing his hands and became uneasy: "Yes...yes..."

When the jade seal of loyalty and integrity, along with His Majesty's oral decree, reached the Ministry of Personnel, Yan Song's feelings upon receiving the decree were a mixture of elation and trepidation.

He had tried every means to gain His Majesty's attention, even sending his only son to study alongside Gui'e's youngest son, serving as her attendant for three years. However, due to the exclusive nature of the Great Rites Controversy circle, he still failed to become a member. As the saying goes, "The flowers you plant with care may not bloom, but the willows you plant without intention may thrive." Now, by a twist of fate, he has obtained this long-awaited opportunity, but the task he faces is also extremely dangerous.

With precedents laid bare, high-ranking officials such as Zhang Cong, Gui E, and Fang Xianfu faced numerous difficulties and obstacles in implementing their new policies.

Zhang Cong's health was deteriorating, Gui E's complexion was so poor that even the court officials could see it, and Fang Xianfu was already considering retiring while he was still at the peak of his career, which shows how difficult his situation was.

These high-ranking officials were supported by many courtiers. Even though Yan Song had trained many students during his tenure as Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, he was still far inferior to them.

If he handles this case decisively, will he rise to the highest ranks of officialdom and truly enter the core of the ruling circle? Or will he not even be able to keep his current position as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel?

Therefore, Yan Shifan's question also represents Yan Song's predicament, to the point that he even sought advice from a junior.

Haiyue paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Emperor Taizu was strict in governing officials. Any corrupt or cruel magistrate was allowed to go to the capital to appeal. Anyone who embezzled more than sixty taels of silver was beheaded and their skin was peeled off and stuffed with straw!"

Yan Shifan's expression changed slightly: "Isn't this too harsh?"

His family did not embezzle; they relied on the wealth of his maternal clan, the Ouyang family. But was the Ouyang family's business dealings really that clean?
Therefore, even Yan Shifan at this time dared not agree with the strict laws of Emperor Taizu.

"It's truly impossible to go back to the era of the founding emperor!"

Haiyue sighed with emotion. Although Zhu Yuanzhang had many limitations, he was indeed ruthless in killing corrupt officials. Moreover, the salary of the Ming Dynasty in his era was enough to support a family. Corruption was simply insatiable greed and could not be compared to the current situation: "Now we cannot implicate many people, nor can we be too lenient with these corrupt officials. If we cannot even control the officials in the capital, where will Your Majesty's authority be? How can the new policies be implemented in the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the country?"

"These people must be thoroughly dealt with!"

"The key question is, after they step down, who will be able to take their place and ensure the smooth operation of the court, so as not to hinder the implementation of government affairs?"

Yan Shifan nodded repeatedly: "Yes! This is the biggest problem. Even I, Yan Shifan, am at a loss! If too few people are punished, it won't be a big deal, and His Majesty won't be satisfied. But if too many officials are punished, the vacancies in the Six Ministries will be difficult to fill in a short time. Should we transfer officials from the prefectures and counties of the thirteen provinces?"

He had one more thing he didn't say: if that were to happen, His Majesty would probably suspect that his father was using the opportunity to cultivate his own faction...

Isn't this just being stubborn and blocking both ends?

Haiyue knew that Emperor Jiajing was notoriously difficult to please; he had no bottom line when he was old, and was sensitive and suspicious when he was young. She pondered for a moment and said, "Actually, there is a group of court officials who would be suitable for Uncle Yan's use."

Yan Shifan perked up and hurriedly asked, "Who? Mingwei, just recommend someone. If there are many suitable candidates in Guangdong and Guangxi, I, your father, will definitely dare to use them!"

"Not Guangdong and Guangxi..."

Haiyue shook her head: "Donglou, have you forgotten that four years ago a group of officials were demoted and exiled from the capital?"

Yan Shifan was suddenly stunned.

Haiyue said, "In the sixth year of the Jiajing reign, a key central official was demoted and sent out of the capital because of the Li Fuda case!"

Yan Shifan's expression changed: "No! Absolutely not! How can we overturn Li Fuda's case?"

Haiyue corrected: "It's not about exonerating Li Fuda, but about pardoning some of the officials involved and allowing them to return to Beijing to atone for their crimes."

The reason why Xu Jie in history specifically exonerated Li Fuda in the form of a will after Jiajing’s death was because Li Fuda’s major case did indeed implicate many talented and capable people.

Following the original trajectory, these officials, after being demoted and sent away from the capital, gradually returned to the court within ten years, because their talents were enough to earn them important positions in the early Jiajing period when the political situation was still relatively clear.

Haiyue had just realized that she could speed up the process so that these capable ministers wouldn't waste their time abroad.

The key point is that a case with a huge impact occurred before this: "After the case of the Imperial Academy, His Majesty already knows that Guo Xun, the Marquis of Wuding, whom he once trusted, has been betraying His Majesty's grace. Naturally, he has a different opinion on the case of Li Fuda. Perhaps he will miss those capable ministers who had a good reputation in the Six Ministries back then. Uncle Yan might as well try to mention it."

Yan Shifan's expression gradually changed: "If His Majesty intends to pardon, recalling the disgraced official and appointing him would fill the vacancy, and this problem would be easily solved?"

Haiyue whispered, "If these people are reinstated to their original positions, Uncle Yan will not only be praised by scholars, but will also be a leader of the upright officials!"

"Oh dear! No, you mustn't! You mustn't!"

Yan Shifan thought about it more and more and it seemed more and more reliable.

The biggest challenge in this case is how to ensure smooth political operations after purging a group of officials from the six ministries.

It's impractical to promote officials from various provinces. Even the newly appointed officials in the Great Rites Controversy wouldn't dare to arrange their cronies in this way. But if we pardon a group of former criminals and let them return to fill the vacancies of officials who deserved their punishment, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?

Since Your Majesty has earned a reputation for magnanimity and benevolence, and these officials are all qualified, they will not defect to Yan Song's side because of this matter.

Of course, gratitude is essential.

Although my father has a good reputation, he is not worthy of being called the leader of the "pure stream".

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Then wouldn’t I be...

The future young leader, Yan Shifan, buried his head under the covers, too excited to sleep all night.

(End of this chapter)