Late Ming Dynasty: So what if Emperor Chongzhen was inactive?!

Chapter 78 Upholding virtue and emulating the wise, achieving success through practical application, thus ensuring the prosperity of the Zhou Dynasty.
The next morning at court, the officials once again enjoyed a good show of infighting among the eunuch faction.

Cui Chengxiu, the Minister of War and originally the head of the Five Tigers of the eunuch faction, was impeached by other members of the faction. Members of the Donglin Party, the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party, and the New Party, although they did not understand why Wei Zhongxian would target his top henchman, also joined in to beat him while he was down.

In an instant, Cui Chengxiu, having lost the protection of Wei Zhongxian and the emperor, became a lonely ghost, with no one speaking up for him.

Zhu Xieyuan stood among the assembled officials, silently observing the scene, secretly astonished by the emperor's control over the court. However, he had somewhat overestimated Zhu Youjian; in reality, Cui Chengxiu's case was merely an exception. He was simply too unpopular, his foundation shallow and his virtue unworthy of his position. When Zhang Heming was impeached, quite a few people stood up to protect him!
Choi Seong-soo was impeached by the court officials, who pieced together five major charges against him:

First, they embezzled and accepted bribes, corrupting the administration.

When Cui Chengxiu was inspecting Huaiyang, he brazenly solicited bribes. When Zheng Yanzuo, the magistrate of Huoqiu County, was exposed for embezzlement, Chengxiu first demanded a thousand taels of silver to pardon him, and then accepted another thousand taels to recommend him for promotion. Such behavior was tantamount to openly selling official positions and corrupting the court's discipline.

Secondly, he attached himself to the eunuch faction, causing chaos and disorder in the court.

Chengxiu was impeached for embezzlement and fled to Wei Zhongxian overnight, tearfully begging to be adopted as his son. He presented "The Record of Comrades" and "The Record of Heavenly Mirror" to frame loyal officials, and Wei Zhongxian was implicated in the attack.

Third, he abused his power and practiced nepotism.

His son, Cui Duo, was incompetent in literature, yet he passed the provincial examination in Shuntian Prefecture by bribing the chief examiner, Sun Zhixie, and cheating in the examination hall; his younger brother, Cui Ningxiu, became the General of Zhejiang; his son-in-law, Zhang Yuanfang, was promoted to the position of Principal of the Ministry of Personnel; and his concubine's younger brother, Xiao Weizhong, was appointed as the Military Commander of Miyun. All of them were people whose virtue did not match their positions.

The saying goes, "When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven." Now, Cui Chengxiu's fall from grace has implicated a whole host of others. He was merely the Minister of War, yet he was able to place so many high-ranking officials in his service. Zhu Youjian was secretly alarmed. Even though he knew that nepotism had been unavoidable for thousands of years, he was still shocked by the seriousness of the matter. After all, the Ming Dynasty relied on the imperial examination system!
It is said that the imperial examination was a great innovation that promoted social mobility and enhanced social fairness, so how did it turn out like this today? Cheating in the imperial examination has always been a major case in the dynasty, but people have become accustomed to it. How is this any different from the aristocratic families under the Nine-Rank System?
The imperial examination system was arguably the lifeline of a feudal state; when it failed, the country was doomed. Zhu Youjian felt a chill run down his spine and ordered the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Rites, and the Censorate to jointly investigate the case. This was a serious matter; there was no going back to downplaying it. Cui Chengxiu was doomed.

The remaining accusations of "disregarding mourning duties, being disloyal and unfilial, failing to return home after his mother's death, and violating human ethics" and "claiming military merits in Ningjin without authorization, receiving promotions and titles, and deceiving the emperor" are no longer important.

Cui Chengxiu was arrested in court and taken to the imperial prison; his relatives were also unable to escape.

The officials felt a sense of satisfaction in criticizing and denouncing him, but when they actually saw Cui Chengxiu imprisoned, they couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow and unease.

However, the emperor's orders were perfectly correct in procedure. Even if everyone knew about cheating in the imperial examinations, it was ultimately something that could not be discussed openly. Once it was brought to the court and the evidence was verified, no matter how high-ranking the official was, he could not cover it up. Even the emperor himself could not pardon those involved in the cheating, because cheating in the imperial examinations harmed the interests of the entire scholar class.

This year happens to be a year for the imperial examinations, and the first metropolitan examination of the Chongzhen era will be held in a few days:
On the ninth day of the second month, examine the interpretation of the Four Books and their meanings; on the twelfth day of the second month, examine essays, imperial edicts, and memorials; on the fifteenth day of the second month, examine essays on classics, history, current affairs, and policy.

It is estimated that 350 people will pass the exam and obtain the status of Gongshi (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), with the best candidate being selected as the top scholar in the metropolitan examination. If someone can achieve first place in the provincial examination, the metropolitan examination, and the palace examination, they will be awarded the title of "Triple Crown," a prestigious achievement in the literary world.

Cui Chengxiu was dismissed, and Zhu Youjian announced that Zhu Xieyuan would succeed him as Minister of War. Zhu Xieyuan already held the title of Minister of War and was qualified enough, but he had served as an official for decades, mostly in local positions and rarely in the imperial court, so he was not well known to the public.

It was awkward to directly say that someone wasn't qualified, so many ministers advised the emperor to choose someone else, arguing that "Zhu Xieyuan had only recently been reinstated as Governor-General of Five Provinces, the situation in the southwest was unstable, and he still needed to continue guarding it." The left and right vice ministers of the Ministry of War reacted most strongly; having finally outlasted the disgusting Cui Chengxiu, they also wanted advancement.

"I hereby appoint Zhu Xieyuan to the cabinet, concurrently serving as Minister of War, and bestowing upon him the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. In recognition of his meritorious service, I hereby appoint his third son, Zhu Zhaoxian, as Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, in charge of its affairs, and grant him a hereditary title, to be passed down without fail, as a sign of exceptional favor." Zhu Youjian ignored the dissenting voices and announced directly. The officials were shocked, no longer able to object to the emperor's appointment of Zhu Xieyuan as Minister of War. Everyone was now green with envy: Emperor, do you even have a Crown Prince? Appoint him Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince!

Zhu Xieyuan was also taken aback by the emperor's series of bestowals, so he hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, I am but a mediocre man, undeserving of this high position. It is thanks to Your Majesty's divine wisdom and the soldiers' valiant efforts that we were able to quell the rebellion. Now, I am deeply honored by this extraordinary favor, holding a high position in the imperial court and concurrently in charge of key affairs, with the potential to extend to my descendants. I am trembling with fear and dare not accept such a position. I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree!"

Zhu Youjian then took the opportunity to say, "My dear minister, do not be modest. You deserve such a reward."

At the height of She'an's rebellion, he had gathered hundreds of thousands of followers, swept through several southwestern provinces, and captured major cities one after another. Our Great Ming suffered heavy losses, and no one could withstand their onslaught. The rebels were extremely rampant and eventually besieged Chengdu.

If it weren't for your efforts in turning the tide and holding Chengdu, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Our Great Ming would have almost lost Sichuan and nearly lost half of its territory.

My dear minister, you commanded the troops of five provinces, quelled the rebellion, and pacified and governed the people of the southwest, truly saving countless lives. For a loyal minister of your illustrious military achievements and outstanding political accomplishments, what is this small reward I bestow upon you?

When Emperor Taizong of Tang set the reign title as "Zhenguan," he meant that he would set an example for the world and uphold the right path.

My reign title is 'Chongzhen', which means 'to promote virtue and emulate the wise, so that success may be achieved and the Zhou dynasty may prosper'.

I am of limited talent and virtue, and cannot compare to Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, but I hope to learn from his way of upholding justice. Those who have made merits will surely be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes will surely be punished. Perhaps only in this way can our Great Ming Dynasty be revitalized!
"My mind is made up; please do not refuse, my dear minister!"

Whether the ministers believed him or not, Zhu Youjian didn't know, but he himself believed it.

Zhu Xieyuan bowed again, expressed his gratitude, and accepted the emperor's reward by performing the kowtow.

Subsequently, Zhu Youjian appointed Grand Secretary Bi Ziyan and Zhu Xieyuan, Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall and Minister of War, as the chief examiners for this imperial examination.

In fact, Bi Ziyan is very busy, but it is necessary to have him take time out of his busy schedule to be the chief examiner.

Both Bi Ziyan and Zhu Xieyuan were suddenly propelled to high positions by the emperor, but faced the predicament of having shallow foundations in the court. Generally, a teacher-student relationship would form between the chief examiner and the successful candidates; the chief examiner would regard the candidates as his disciples, and the candidates would address the chief examiner as their teacher. Zhu Youjian deliberately allowed them to cultivate their own factions.

Of course, those who passed the final imperial examination could also become "disciples of the emperor".

These are like hometown associations; they can be used to build connections when needed, but they're useless when not needed, and it all depends on individual effort.

(End of this chapter)