Di Ming

Chapter 261 The Little Tiger's Four Crimes!
Everyone had mixed feelings upon hearing this imperial edict.

The fifteen-year-old Vice Minister of War and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince!
This has never happened since the Sui and Tang dynasties!
Could Zhu Zhihu really be a reincarnation of a star deity? His rise through the ranks is just too fast. And yet, he's so young and already holds such a high position, and nobody dares to say a word against it!
He truly deserves the title of a prodigy who achieved the highest honors in all three imperial examinations. Others can only marvel at him, not feel any envy or jealousy.

"Your subject Zhu Yin is filled with trepidation and gratitude for Your Majesty's grace!" Zhu Yin accepted the imperial edict and raised it high with both hands. "I will write a memorial of thanks and present it to Your Majesty shortly. Your subject will be diligent and humble, and will not fail Your Majesty's kindness."

The eunuch who delivered the imperial decree was Gao Huai, who was also a member of Consort Zheng's faction. He said in a sarcastic tone, "Young Marshal Zhu, my grandfather said that there is no need to write a letter of thanks."

Other ministers might not have grasped the deeper meaning of these words, but Zhu Yin understood them perfectly.

There's no need to write a thank-you note; the gratitude still needs to be expressed. But instead of a written thank-you note, it should be expressed with real gold and silver.

Gao Huai relayed the emperor's words, still worried that Zhu Yin might not understand. He carefully stared into Zhu Yin's eyes, and only when he saw the knowing look in Zhu Yin's eyes did he feel relieved.

Yes, Zhu Zhihu is indeed exceptionally intelligent. He can understand the meaning of a song without needing a heavy hammer.

That's great, I don't need to go through any more trouble.

Zhu Yin said aloud, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty..." but inwardly he was full of complaints.

You damn money-grubber! I've given you so much money, and you're still insatiable, always wanting more.

But Zhu Yin also knew that if he hadn't bribed the emperor with silver beforehand, Emperor Baijin, under the influence of Consort Zheng, would never have agreed to his promotion. He could have easily found a reason to suppress him for several years without rewarding his merits.

For example: young.

He entered officialdom in less than four years and became a third-rank official at the age of fifteen. Besides his prestigious title of "winning the top three prizes in the imperial examinations" and his genuine achievements, he also had the influence of his connections and connections.

This time, it looks like he'll have to send tens of thousands of taels of silver to the imperial treasury again. Even if Caiwei is good at making money, he'll still feel the pinch. Does he really think his wife's money grows on trees?

Emperor Bai Jin had previously approved the court recommendation for his own promotion to Vice Minister of War, but later hoped to impeach him through a court debate. He was truly a hypocrite, capable of both taking office and standing firm, and capable of manipulating events at will.

Seeing that Zhu Yin was aware of the situation, Gao Huai chuckled and said, "Congratulations, Junior Commander Zhu. I'll be returning to the palace to report now."

Zhu Yin said, "Please make yourself at home, sir. Take your time."

The two understood each other implicitly; anyone who didn't know better would think they had a very good relationship.

Zhu Yin looked at the back of the powerful eunuch who had once wreaked havoc in Liaodong, his gaze turning slightly cold.

Yes, the eunuch system within the Twenty-Four Offices needs to be infiltrated more quickly.

Three years later, Huya plans to secretly control more than 30% of the important eunuch positions in the Twenty-Four Offices; five years later, he plans to control half of them!
As soon as Gao Huai left, the officials immediately congratulated Zhu Yin on his promotion to Vice Minister of War and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.

Zhu Yin also cupped his hands and said, "I am ashamed. This is all thanks to His Majesty's grace. Even if I am diligent and conscientious and avoid arrogance and impetuosity, I am afraid I will not be able to perform my duties. After taking office, I hope you will all teach me."

Political rivals like Zheng Guowang and Hao Yunlai also offered perfunctory congratulations and made some polite remarks. Congratulating a colleague on their promotion is the norm these days, even in the Wenhua Hall.

Hao Yunlai felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He and Zhu Yin passed the imperial examination in the same year, but Zhu Yin is now the Right Vice Minister of War and the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. Hao Yunlai, on the other hand, is only a seventh-rank censor.

Although this reward for merit could lead to a position as a senior official in the Ministry of Personnel with the support of the Zheng family, which would be a very lucrative post, it was still far inferior to the position held by the "Little Tiger."

……

After all the officials finished offering their congratulations, it was already the beginning of the Chen hour.

The court debate is finally about to begin.

The first topic of the court meeting was the impeachment of Zhu Yin by Zheng Guowang, Hao Yunlai, and others.

After they impeached Zhu Yin, the emperor did not offer any opinion, but simply instructed that the matter be sent back to the court for discussion.

This is worth pondering.

Everyone understood perfectly.

If the emperor believed the impeachment, he should have ordered the relevant officials to investigate and report the facts, or have Zhu Yin submit a letter to defend himself.

If the emperor does not believe it, then he should issue an edict to reprimand or even dismiss Zheng Guowang and others, or reject the impeachment, or at least keep it in the dark.

However, the emperor sent the matter back to the court for discussion.

This shows that the emperor disliked Zhu Yin because of the Zheng family and the succession dispute, and intended to suppress him. However, the emperor was also concerned about his reputation and did not want to be known for mistreating meritorious officials and being cruel and ungrateful.

Only then did they take a middle ground and come up with a compromise solution to send the matter back to the court for further discussion.

Whether Zhu Yin's impeachment will be passed depends on the outcome of the court deliberation.

If the court debate was in Zhu Yin's favor, Zhu Yin remained steadfast. If the debate was against him, Zhu Yin could only make the gesture of submitting a memorial requesting resignation; whether the emperor would try to persuade him to stay was up to him.

If that's the case, the emperor most likely won't try to keep him.

So once Zhu Yin lost his official post and went home to live in seclusion for ten or eight years, he would be over twenty years old when he was reinstated, which would not be very young.

This is perhaps the result the emperor wanted to see.

Grand Secretary Wang Xijue was also happy to see this outcome. He hoped to take this opportunity, under the pretext of making amends for his crimes, to let Zhu Yin go home and retire for ten or eight years.

He asked himself if he had any selfish motives, but was acting for the sake of the court.

Wang Xijue still vividly remembers the words Wang Shizhen said in his letter before his death:

"Zhu Zhihu is a cunning and deceitful young man, whose true nature is deceitful, whose mind is treacherous and whose scheming is deep and unpredictable. He may well resemble Yan Zhenqing and Zhang Yong. Given time, this young man may very well be the one to bring chaos to the nation..."

Wang Xijue sat regally beneath the steps, like a clay Buddha statue in a temple. As he recalled Wang Shizhen's words, his somewhat dim old eyes grew even more frosty.

Wang Shizhen was a scholar of both ancient and modern times, a leading figure in the literary world, and also adept at observing people, always possessing unique insight.

Wang Shizhen was a relative of mine and a dear friend.

He certainly couldn't remain indifferent to Wang Shizhen's evaluation of Zhu Yin.

After Zhang Juzheng fell from power, righteousness prevailed and evil was driven away. The court was filled with upright officials, and there was no room for a second Yan Song or Zhang Juzheng.

As the Grand Secretary, he assists the Emperor in governing the country; how could he not plan for the future? If Zhu Yin is truly a scourge to the nation, even if we kill him today, it would be for the sake of the country.

Unfortunately, the one presiding over this court meeting was Li Shida, the Left Censor-in-Chief. And as far as he knew, Li Shida greatly admired Zhu Yin.

Before Li Shida could speak, Wang Xijue raised his thick eyebrows and spoke first:
"Grand Censor, may I say a few words first?" He picked up the teacup on the coffee table, took a slow sip, and looked very composed. Every wrinkle on his face was etched with the majesty and vicissitudes of the Grand Secretary of the nation.

Everyone immediately turned to look solemnly at the Grand Secretary.

"Please speak, Your Excellency, I am attentive and ready to listen," said Li Shida, the Left Censor-in-Chief, bowing respectfully. He and Wang Xijue were actually the same age, both fifty-nine this year. Li Shida was also a renowned minister of the dynasty, highly qualified, having passed the imperial examination six years earlier than Wang Xijue. This was why Wang Xijue referred to himself as a junior in his presence.

However, Wang Xijue was the second-place scholar in the imperial examinations and a member of the Hanlin Academy, which allowed him to surpass Li Shida. Li Shida entered officialdom six years earlier, but while Li Shida was still serving as a local governor, Wang Xijue had already become a cabinet minister.

This shows how important one's background was as a member of the Hanlin Academy.

Wang Xijue said, "I heard that when the Grand Censor was serving as the Grand Minister of Justice, he refuted the court officials who advocated paying grain to redeem crimes, saying, 'The law cannot be abolished; it is better to pardon than to redeem. Pardoning means that the favor is bestowed upon the superiors, and the law still exists. Redeeming means that the effort is exerted by the inferiors, and the law is no longer valid.'"

Li Shida vaguely guessed Wang Xijue's meaning, nodded and smiled, "This is indeed my opinion, and I would appreciate your guidance, Your Excellency."

Wang Xijue said, “How dare I offer my guidance? The Grand Censor’s words are spot on, and I wholeheartedly agree. The emperor’s words are law, and thus all laws originate from the emperor. The subtlety of the emperor’s will is where the principles of law reside. While public opinion is important, it ultimately comes from below and is inevitably subject to public opinion, deviating from the established norms.”

"The so-called sharing of the ruler's worries means being able to understand the ruler's intentions and to be able to win the hearts of the people. Whether it is court discussion or court recommendation, if we take this as the standard, then the ruler and his ministers can get along well and the people inside and outside can be of one mind. Then we will have fulfilled our duty."

His words were grand and impeccable, but at first glance they seemed like empty platitudes, just meaningless drivel.

However, the seasoned old foxes who were experienced in officialdom all understood what was going on.

The Grand Secretary is deliberately misinterpreting Li Shida's words, claiming that the Emperor's subtle and profound will is more important than the will of the people. The Emperor's will is the law, not the will of the people.

Is it right or wrong? I can't say it's wrong.

Does it make sense? Well, it can't be said that it doesn't.

But that meaning shouldn't be used here!

In this context, it means turning straight into crooked, creating a false impression and confusing the public. Isn't this a classic case of "a white horse is not a horse"?
The Grand Secretary was reminding the Left Censor-in-Chief that he should prioritize the Emperor's "subtle and profound intentions" rather than the "public opinion" expressed in court discussions.

What was the emperor's subtle intention? He certainly hoped the court would pass the impeachment motion against Zhu Yin. In this way, it wouldn't be that the emperor was cruel and ungrateful, but rather that the officials believed Zhu Yin had committed wrongdoing.

The Grand Secretary is always very protective of his reputation and rarely says such things. But today, disregarding criticism, he has made an unprecedented statement, which shows how much he dislikes Zhu Yin.

Shen Yiguan and the others felt dissatisfied upon thinking about this.

Wang Taicang is making a mountain out of a molehill; he lacks the magnanimity of a prime minister. As the Grand Secretary, second only to the emperor, why make things difficult for a junior? It shows a lack of tolerance.

Is it a sin for a rising star to be too outstanding? The Ming Dynasty finally produced a prodigy, a child prodigy unparalleled in history, and he's become a thorn in your side? As the Grand Secretary, why do you insist on being the evil wind that destroys promising talents?

Zhu Yin gave Wang Xijue a deep look, thinking to himself, "Has this Grand Secretary Wang finally lost his temper? Fine, you can beat me to death today, but I will definitely get my revenge in the future."

Li Shida thought to himself, "Does Wang Taicang want to solidify Zhu Yin's guilt to curry favor with His Majesty, or is he himself dissatisfied with Zhu Yin?"

Li Shida reasoned that, given Wang Taicang's temperament, it was unlikely he would flatter the emperor. It was probably Wang Taicang himself who wanted to suppress Zhu Yin.

Was Wang Taicang trying to suppress Zhu Yin because Zhu Yin was too young and had too good a reputation, fearing that Zhu Yin would seize power and cause chaos in the future?
Haha, Wang Taicang is really overthinking things.

Li Shida also picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly:
"Yuan Fu is a scholar of the Spring and Autumn Annals. Among the great scholars of the Spring and Autumn Annals in modern times, none surpasses Yuan Fu. The profound meaning of the Spring and Autumn Annals is also the subtle intention of the sages. The Spring and Autumn Annals says: 'When appointing officials, one should not fail to reward them for their virtues, nor should one fail to reward them for their efforts. One should not let a single fault overshadow great virtues.'"

"In my humble opinion, the imperial decree to impeach Zhu Yin is a testament to His Majesty's compassion for his meritorious officials. It is both a favor and an indication of His Majesty's trust in our impartiality. We can only uphold justice in court, consider public opinion, and act in accordance with the rules in order to understand His Majesty's will."

This statement was equally eloquent and meticulous.

You misinterpret my meaning, and I will misinterpret the emperor's meaning. We're even.

Li Shida would not yield to Wang Xijue's will, even if the other party was the Grand Secretary.

Wang Xijue nodded calmly and said, "Excellent. I have learned from the Grand Censor's words."

Although his words were veiled in sarcasm, there was not a trace of anger in his tone.

Shen Yiguan seized the opportunity to say, “Both the Grand Secretary and the Grand Censor have made valid points, and I deeply agree. Mencius said, ‘Governing with virtue is like the North Star, which remains in its place while all the other stars revolve around it.’ The sage’s intention is virtue, and the people’s intention is also virtue.”

He appeared to be a peaceful and easygoing person, but through Li Shida's suggestion, he subtly and deliberately provoked Wang Xijue, effortlessly binding public opinion and imperial will together.

The meaning is very clear: the court debate on impeaching Zhu Yin should not be decided based on the emperor's likes or dislikes; the opinions of the people must be adopted fairly and impartially.

Li Shida, who had received support, immediately said, "What Grand Secretary Shen said is absolutely right. To make the ruler like Yao and Shun is the natural order of things."

Zhang Wei, who had always been on good terms with Shen Yiguan, immediately cooperated with Shen Yiguan, stroking his beard and nodding, saying:
“When ministers are in charge, they are often afraid of making mistakes and are hesitant to act. But those who do things always make more mistakes. Who among us has not been impeached? If it weren’t for His Majesty’s understanding and tolerance, and his widespread application of benevolence and forgiveness, we would have no face to stand in the court and serve the country.”

"His Majesty cherishes his ministers, which is why he allowed us to deliberate and reach a verdict in court. He did not listen to one side or believe another, nor did he use fabricated charges to imprison ministers with just a few words. His Majesty is not only impartial but also benevolent. We should follow the rules and guidelines of this court deliberation."

Zhang Wei was a straightforward person. He simply said that the emperor's decision to impeach Zhu Yin in court was a kind gesture from the emperor, showing his appreciation for Zhu Yin.

If the emperor knew about him, he would probably be so angry that he would beat another eunuch or palace maid to death.

Zhao Zhigao patted the ivory tablet in his hand, "Grand Secretary Zhang made it clear, that's exactly what he meant."

He wasn't siding with Shen Yiguan. But his grandson had a good relationship with Zhu Yin and always spoke well of Zhu Yin in front of him, so he naturally spoke up for Zhu Yin as well.

The officials immediately understood that three of the four Grand Secretaries were on Zhu Zhihu's side!
Most of the Nine Ministers also sided with Zhu Zhihu!
Zheng Guowang and Hao Yunlai finally realized what was happening, and their faces immediately turned somewhat gloomy.

Their impeachment is unlikely to be effective.

Wang Xijue sighed inwardly and couldn't help but give Zhu Yin a deep look. This boy…

This young man has been an official for less than four years, yet he has already gained such influence in the court. What will he be like in ten or twenty years?
In less than thirty years, he will likely become another powerful minister!
Look at the mess Yan Song and Zhang Juzheng made back then, causing unrest and widespread public resentment. Our nation must never produce such tyrannical officials again.

If he is truly wicked, then he is not a blessing or auspicious sign for the country, but a calamity for it!
I'd rather wrong him than let his career be too smooth.

With the backing of Shen Yiguan and others, Li Shida disregarded the Grand Secretary's thoughts and went straight to the point. He coughed and said:
“Censors Zheng Guowang and Hao Yunlai, who previously served as imperial inspectors, accompanied Zhu Yin on his expedition to the Northwest and spent several months with him, witnessing his words and actions in the Northwest. Therefore, they have made some impeachments.”

He picked up two impeachment documents and gestured to the crowd, "Although these are petitions and their contents are not secrets, I will still explain them here. The two circuit inspectors, Zheng Guowang and Hao Yunlai, have jointly impeached Zhu Yin for four major offenses."

"First, he was impeached for being autocratic and dictatorial. He never consulted with the Censor-in-Chief on any major military matters, but made decisions on his own, which violated the rules of the court. He regarded the Censor-in-Chief as a mere figurehead and monopolized military power."

"Secondly, I impeach Zhu Yin for using confiscated gold and silver to reward soldiers without requesting permission or deliberation from the ministry, amounting to more than 300,000 taels. The confiscated gold and silver are public funds, and according to regulations, they must be recorded and handed over. How could a commander-in-chief misappropriate them? Therefore, I accuse Zhu Yin of trying to win over the army and gain favor with his subordinates."

"Thirdly, it impeaches Zhu Yin for being frivolous and reckless, disregarding the safety of the army, and treating matters of national importance as child's play. It accuses Zhu Yin of being fond of taking risks, rashly advancing, and neglecting the battlefield with a侥幸 mentality, even if he wins, the losses will be heavy."

"Fourth, it impeaches Zhu Yin for deserting his post in the face of battle, abandoning Li Rusong at Jiluzhai, and fleeing south in panic with only a few hundred men, only to be besieged by Huoluochi on the way. It is said that if it were not for the two men leading their troops to rescue him, Zhu Yin would have been defeated and killed."

"As far as I know, these four charges lack concrete evidence and are highly debatable, with many doubts remaining."

"Young Master Zhu, do you intend to defend yourself in public on these four charges?"

PS: Zheng Guowang and Hao Yunlai have impeached the "little tiger" on four counts. What do you suggest we do?
(End of this chapter)