Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 182 If You Don't Be the Eunuch, Who Will? [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"..."

The first to be moved by Yan Maoqing's words were the officials of the Imperial Household Department.

They all looked at Yan Maoqing's back as he stood on the ladder, laughing and shaking his head slightly, and felt a mix of emotions.

They couldn't see Yan Maoqing's expression or fathom his thoughts.

But combined with the words he spoke, they saw utter helplessness in his retreating figure…

Yes.

Although the Emperor granted the Court of Imperial Sacrifices privileges comparable to those of the Western Depot, when has the Court of Imperial Sacrifices ever used these privileges?

Not everyone in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was loyal. There were upright people who were only interested in punishing evil and reforming the bureaucracy, but there were also wicked people who had ulterior motives and wanted to use their privileges to seek personal gain in the name of punishing evil.

Only they themselves know what they are really thinking.

However, most of the officials in the Imperial Household Department have been eager to try their hand at this task these past few days.

If it weren't for Yan Maoqing, their superior, constantly keeping things under control and ordering that no one should act rashly or face severe punishment, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices would likely have already stirred up a bloody storm in the court, just like the former Western Depot.

If that's really the case, then there's some reason why so many people came today.

But now, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices has clearly done nothing yet, but it has still become the target of public criticism, attracting the insults and siege of these court officials.

this moment.

Regardless of their character, whether they were upright or wicked, all the officials in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices felt the same sense of grievance.

Perhaps it's time to do something; this is a crucial battle for the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to establish itself!
Under no circumstances should we back down easily; otherwise, even if we hold the highest privileges, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices will never be able to hold its head high in the court, and we will be at the mercy of others in the future!
“Brother Jingqing, let them see for themselves your prowess in front of the Tatars!”

Gao Gong clenched his fists, his gaze towards Yan Maoqing filled with determination and expectation.

"Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. This applies to governing an army, and it also applies to governing people. Niu Bishanren, do it. I will share the responsibility with you!"

Shen Kun exuded a steely aura that he usually kept hidden. His ancestors were all military men, and he had been trained in both literature and martial arts since childhood.

"Minister Yan, today we'll show them what the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is all about..."

Kong Jian, Chen Yingda, Li Chengzhi, and other officials who had previously been assigned to the lecture hall by Yan Maoqing also unconsciously straightened their posture.

"Uncle, you should have done this a long time ago. Kind people are often bullied, and good horses are often ridden!"

Yan Shifan's obese face, almost wrinkle-free, faintly glowed with a ruddy light, and his single eye gleamed with a bright, intelligent light.

"Although those fools in the Imperial Household Department probably can't help you much, don't worry, your nephew will definitely do everything in his power to help you this time!"

“Minister Yan, no matter what you have done this time, I, Lü, will never again report a single word to the Emperor in secret. This is a matter for our own Court of Imperial Sacrifices…”

Even the Crown Prince Xianma Lü Maocai, who repeatedly went to the Qianqing Palace to report on the matter, gritted his teeth and secretly swore an oath in his heart...

Apart from Yan Maoqing, no one else realized it.

In just a few words from Yan Maoqing, not only did he instantly intimidate the court officials outside the courtyard, but he also united the entire Court of Imperial Sacrifices into a single force, creating an unprecedented unity.

"..."

The court officials outside the courtyard also fell silent.

The Imperial Household Department, comprising over forty officials and clerks, had previously been unable to achieve unity of purpose.

Moreover, these court officials were already a mixed bag, each with their own ulterior motives. Among them were many who were merely filling positions, many who were stirring up trouble, and many more who were simply trying to protect themselves and seek fame.

If this time they hadn't come to discuss matters concerning the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and not directly addressed the Emperor like the "Zuo Shunmen Case" during the previous Great Rites Controversy, there simply wouldn't have been so many people.

After all, this time there were more than 300 people, while in the "Zuoshunmen Case," there were only more than 200 people who knelt at Zuoshunmen to ask Emperor Shizong to change his decree.

This scale of comparison already reveals just how many people here have ulterior motives.

Moreover, during the "Zuo Shunmen Incident," Yang Tinghe, the Grand Secretary who had held power for many years and had contributed to the rise of the new emperor, was still in office, and the protest was initiated by Yang Tinghe's son, Yang Shen.

And this time?

Even though Yan Maoqing had not yet had time to confirm their identities one by one, he knew that no one in the court at present possessed the power and prestige that Yang Tinghe had at the time.

There was no real leader to take the lead, and the proportion of incompetent officials in the court was so high.

Now it's time to test whether they truly have a leader. Can you really expect them to be united?
This is why they suddenly fell silent and started looking around at each other.

Because apart from a few loyal and upright officials, most people have begun to waver, and no one is willing to really pay the price for it, even if it is only a possible price.

Some people have even considered quitting.

In particular, a small number of court officials had not previously thrown out their scepters, or even carried them at all.

They didn't want to continue to be exposed, lest Yan Maoqing remember them.

Because Yan Maoqing had already made it clear that they were no longer facing a Crown Prince's tutor, but a head of the Western Depot who was about to exercise his privileges.

Everyone knows what the head of the West Depot really does.
at this time.

An official dressed in a green court robe, with an imperial edict insignia on his chest, stepped forward from the crowd, looked directly into Yan Maoqing's eyes, and asked solemnly:
"You just said that you haven't stopped thinking about how to get the Emperor to retract his order. How can you prove that?"

"Who are you?"

Yan Maoqing's gaze turned slightly cold as he asked a question in return.

This court attire indicates a seventh-rank civil official; barring any unforeseen circumstances, he is highly likely to be a Censor.

If the official on the other end is incompetent and merely filling a position, he probably wouldn't step forward at this time.

If Yan Maoqing were to question his identity now, he would naturally not dare to answer directly unless he had already thrown the tablet into the courtyard of the Imperial Household Department.

"Like Minister Yan, he never changes his name or surname. He is currently the Right Deputy Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Zhao Zhenji."

"You are Zhao Zhenji?"

Yan Maoqing was slightly taken aback and looked the thirty-something-year-old seventh-rank civil official up and down.

This person is no ordinary person either; he will eventually join the cabinet and become a cabinet minister, but that will have to wait until the next Longqing era.

Moreover, in the TV series that aired later, he was actually the one who was most unfairly maligned and wronged.

Because of the fictional character design in the TV series, he was once considered by netizens to be the well-deserved "non-stick pan of the Ming Dynasty" in the entire series.

But the true history is not like that.

Yan Maoqing had checked the records and found that Zhao Zhenji was an even more irritable person than Gao Gong. He was strong-willed, easily angered, and never considered the situation.

Let's put it this way: starting from the Jiajing reign and continuing until the next reign, the Longqing reign.

This man offended almost every Grand Secretary in the Cabinet, first Yan Song, then Xu Jie, and later Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng. He argued with them without giving them any face, insisting on his own opinions. Once he lost his temper, he didn't even give his superiors any face and called them by their first names.

He was eventually dealt with by Gao Gong and retired to his hometown to live out his days.

Ultimately, after Emperor Muzong's death, he suffered from a cough due to excessive grief and passed away peacefully at home...

It was also because of this personality trait that his career was very bumpy.

As early as the imperial examination in the year 1555 (the 14th year of the Jiajing reign), Wang Tingxiang, the Left Censor-in-Chief who served as the examiner, praised his examination paper as comparable to Jia Yi's "On the Security of the State" from the Han Dynasty. The cabinet also nominated him as the second-best candidate in the first class.

As a result, after reading his palace examination paper, Zhu Houcong disliked the few truthful sentences he wrote in the paper, and insisted on placing him second in the second class.

Because of this hasty decision, Zhao Zhenji lost his chance to become the new runner-up.

However, Zhu Houcong soon regretted his decision and appointed Zhao Zhenji as a probationary official. After completing his three-year studies, Zhao Zhenji was retained as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. He then submitted a memorial, "A Petition for True Confucian Scholars," opposing Zhu Houcong's obsession with metaphysics and neglect of state affairs. This angered Zhu Houcong, who had to ask for leave to return to his hometown to continue his studies.

Next, although Zhao Zhenji's career was still full of ups and downs, looking at the whole process, it was somewhat like another version of Yan Maoqing today.

A few years later, he left the Directorate of Ceremonial to teach, and later rose to the position of Right Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, in charge of the affairs of the Imperial Academy.

He then served as the Left Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and later as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. After Zhu Houcong's death, in the first year of the Longqing reign, he was appointed as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and concurrently a Hanlin Academy Academician, in charge of the affairs of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Then in the third year of the Longqing reign, he entered the cabinet as Minister of Rites, continued to assist in the management of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and took charge of the Censorate. He was also granted the titles of Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent and Grand Master of the Palace, and was bestowed with a python robe and a phoenix belt...

In short, there were ups and downs along the way, but I also participated in many important events.

For example, the "Gengxu Incident" in which the Tatars marched south to plunder and harass, directly threatening the capital.

At that time, all the officials in the court were silent as cicadas in winter, but he alone dared to raise his sleeves and shout out his opinions.

For example, he also made significant contributions to the later "Longqing Peace Treaty".

In these events, Zhao Zhenji was able to calmly assess the national situation and make pragmatic and accurate decisions that benefited the country and its people amidst the chaos.

So it is.

Despite the extremely bumpy road of his official career during the Jiajing reign.

However, he was always on Zhu Houcong's mind, and his repeated demotions were all due to Zhu Houcong's question, "Where is Zhao?" which forced the officials of the Ministry of Personnel to recommend and promote him again.

Upon learning of Zhu Houcong's death, Zhao Zhenji broke down in tears, sighing, "The late emperor knew me well..."

to be frank.

This strange and unusual relationship between ruler and subject has always been something Yan Maoqing has never been able to understand.

One is a sadist, the other a masochist; their relationship is like a long and tedious sadomasochistic affair.

Why bother? Are you sick?
If one had to choose between the two to determine who was more seriously ill, Yan Maoqing felt it would definitely be Zhu Houcong, whose illness was practically terminal.

If you like someone, why not treat them better?
Neuropathy!
"Minister Yan has not yet given a direct answer to my question. Do you really not stop thinking about how to get the Emperor to retract his decree?"

Zhao Zhenji nodded, still staring into Yan Maoqing's eyes, and then asked again.

"Hehe, times have changed."

Unexpectedly, Yan Maoqing suddenly grinned again upon hearing this.
"I have suffered such humiliation from you all today, and my colleagues in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices have also been implicated. I no longer need to think about it; you have made the choice for me."

"Once the struggle begins, ending it won't be something you can control, unless I agree to it too!"

"You come and go as you please, curse and beat as you please, what do you take my Imperial Household Department for? What are the Emperor's edicts for?"

"Are those public outhouses on the street? Or toilet paper for wiping your bottom?!"

"Who am I? Am I the cruel and tyrannical head of the Western Depot? Or am I the Crown Prince's tutor assisting the heir apparent in overseeing the country? It's all up to you to decide!"

"Execution!"

The voice just fell.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!..."

The sounds of beating with a board echoed from the courtyard of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, interspersed with cries of agony, reaching the ears of the court officials outside the courtyard with crystal clarity.

Some people inevitably showed signs of panic.

Some even retreated silently, hiding behind the court officials, waiting for an opportunity to slip away.

"Yan Maoqing, you!"

Zhao Zhenji's eyes widened in fury upon hearing the voice; he knew from the volume of the voice that it was not something pleasant.

Indeed, a small group of people did not retreat but advanced, stepping forward to stand beside Zhao Zhenji, looking as if they were ready to die, preparing to denounce Yan Maoqing together.

"I know!!!"

However, Yan Maoqing, who was holding a megaphone, interrupted them at just the right moment by raising the volume even higher:
“I know that some of you have not yet thrown your scepters at me, and some of you have not carried them, thinking you can get away with escaping my capture.”

"But there's no need to worry, the palace guards will keep a detailed record of each of your comings and goings."

"From this moment on, apart from the three Grand Secretaries who were summoned by the Emperor, all officials who leave the palace are subject to arrest."

"I will ensure that each of you has the integrity to die rather than submit and the determination to advance and retreat together, and I will also help you achieve your wishes and solidify my infamous reputation as the head of the West Depot."

"..."

Upon hearing this, the court officials who had still held onto a sliver of hope turned pale.

At this moment, everyone could tell that Yan Maoqing was so meticulous in his thinking that he was serious and did not intend to let any of them go.

at this time.

"Master Eunuch! Bah! Minister, someone... is dying!"

Suddenly, a minor official reported from inside the courtyard.

"How many strokes were given?"

Yan Maoqing tilted his head slightly and asked calmly.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, he only received twenty-six strokes..."

“If you wake him up, continue beating him. According to the Ming Dynasty law, the crime of disrupting the order of the palace means that even if he has died, he should still be given a hundred strokes of the cane.”

Yan Maoqing said coldly, then turned to look at the court officials whose faces had become even more grim after hearing the news.

“The people being tortured right now are all your colleagues who share the same ideals. While you are sitting quietly and resting, they are still pounding on the door and crying bitterly. I wonder if you can feel their pain?”

"It's not that I can't be merciful and give them a chance to live."

"But whether they live or die is up to you to decide."

"Bring it!"

As he spoke, Yan Maoqing took several canes handed to him by minor officials from inside the courtyard and threw them over the courtyard wall one by one, scrutinizing the assembled court officials with a half-smile:
“If each of you takes one stroke of the cane, you should be able to finish the rest of the caning for these people, and I will promise not to torture them anymore.”

"!!!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Shifan, who was in the courtyard, immediately became agitated and stared intently at Yan Maoqing.

My uncle-in-law is amazing!
From this day forward, you will be my role model. If you don't become the factory manager, who will?
I only thought about killing their bodies, but I never imagined you would be so ruthless as to also destroy their spirits.

If they were to take the rest of the caning for these people at this moment, at least they wouldn't have a moral stain on their record. However, this would give the Court of Imperial Sacrifices a complete advantage in this matter!

If anyone is unwilling to stand up and take the beating in place of their colleagues, it proves that they are all self-serving people who disregard the lives of their colleagues. This matter will become a moral stain that they can never wash away. These people will also be regarded as a group of unscrupulous rabble. What persuasive power will their political views have?

There was just one thing that Yan Shifan didn't understand at the moment.

What was the meaning behind Yan Maoqing throwing out those court rods?
"Does Yan Butang mean... we should fight it ourselves?"

Outside, court officials were watching the canes being thrown out of the courtyard and tentatively asked Yan Shifan the question that had been on his mind.

"The Court of Imperial Sacrifices is currently short-staffed, please proceed."

Yan Maoqing said indifferently.

(End of this chapter)