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

Chapter 189 My Minister Yan Maoqing is in league with the White Lotus Sect? [Seeking monthly votes]

"..."

Zhu Houcong ultimately did not show up.

He left so quietly, just as he came so quietly, without taking away a single cloud.

Although the matter may seem to have come to an end, everyone knows in their hearts that Yan Maoqing is about to turn a new page in the history of the court and the public.

This chapter turned a bit suddenly.

Even Zhu Houcong was caught off guard and had to go back and calm down to think things through.

He guided the matter in a direction that was truly beneficial to him and to the Ming Dynasty, ensuring that he could be the helmsman of this great ship.

As for whether Yan Maoqing's actions constituted a breach of the emperor's authority or judging the emperor with the mind of a petty person, whether he deserved to die or not.

This has become a trivial matter, not worth his time.

However, to be honest...

Today, he couldn't help but wonder once again if he and Yan Maoqing truly shared a telepathic connection, or even a deep understanding...

Because he had just mentioned Su Shi's "On Ministers" with Zhai Luan, Xu Zan and Zhang Bi when he was in the Wenhua Hall.

Just now, Yan Maoqing also publicly mentioned Su Shi's "On Ministers".

Even the excerpted sentences are exactly the same.

If there were some coincidences that had occurred before, he could suspect that a close attendant had secretly informed Yan Maoqing.

Then this time it's absolutely impossible!

Because when he was talking to Zhai Luan, Xu Zan and Zhang Bi, Huang Jin was on his way to check on the situation of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and there were no other eunuchs in the hall.

Zhai Luan, Xu Zan, and Zhang Bi stayed by his side the whole time, and finally went to the shrine together.

Under such circumstances, it was absolutely impossible for anyone to inform Yan Maoqing, who was still trapped in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices at that time!
"Interesting, really interesting..."

A mysterious conjecture suddenly arose in Zhu Houcong's mind.

Let's talk about this thing that's emitting blue smoke...

Is it possible that Heaven extracted a wisp of my essence, combined it with the creation of Heaven and Earth, and the essence of the sun and moon, to create a clone of me that walks outside the palace?
It was created by nature, but a wisp of impurity accidentally got in, which is why it became such a smoky scoundrel.

……

Just as Zhu Houcong and many others had predicted.

The grand flogging banquet orchestrated by Yan Maoqing, in which no one escaped punishment, quickly changed many things and triggered a series of repercussions in the court and among the people.

The biggest link was a group of powerful and influential people in Beijing.

Duke Dingguo, Xu Yande, suddenly decided not to drag things out any longer.

Like the other three dukes, he also voluntarily returned some of the ill-gotten gains that had been seized from the people, and handed over some of the accounts and a few scapegoats.

However, the number and proportion of those dismissed were clearly less than those of the other three dukes.

Because he was the only duke who did not receive an imperial edict to return all the property he had confiscated, and because powerful nobles could share their property with the emperor, he naturally could not be so quick to comply.

Under the joint leadership of the four dukes, many powerful and influential people who had previously blatantly exploited the common people began to surrender themselves to the authorities without the Censorate even having to investigate.

Civil and military officials went to the Censorate.

The relatives and nobles of the imperial family went to the Northern Garrison Command.

……

"This……"

Wang Tingxiang, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, inevitably felt a sense of "I haven't even made a move yet, and you've already fallen."

Because he was threatened by Yan Maoqing and was acting on the emperor's orders, he was recently working to crack down on the Censors of the Censorate, who were not only incompetent but also colluded with powerful officials in private.

Moreover, even the internal investigation by the Censorate alone had already caused him a great deal of trouble, with extremely slow results.

Therefore, the Censorate had not even begun to investigate the matter of powerful figures in the capital encroaching on the interests of ordinary people.

Wang Tingxiang felt that this should be called "sharpening the axe before chopping wood," because if the censors of the Censorate could not be properly dealt with, and they went on to investigate those powerful figures, they would probably only find Guo Xun after the investigation.

Then he could indeed submit his family genealogy as Yan Maoqing had threatened and as the emperor had ordered...

Of course, feelings are feelings.

Wang Tingxiang also knew what was going on.

These powerful figures weren't afraid of the Censorate, nor could they be afraid of him; what they were actually afraid of was Yan Maoqing.

The grand banquet with caning in court a few days ago truly solidified Yan Maoqing's status as the "Director of the Western Depot".

The establishment of the Jixia Academy truly made these powerful figures understand the emperor's determination this time.

At this time, nobody wants to be the first to stick their neck out...

As the saying goes, "A new broom sweeps clean," and even though every powerful figure believed that Yan Maoqing, the "Director of the Western Depot," would have a hard time staying in office for long, because they would seize any opportunity to make a move.

But no one would dare to provoke Yan Maoqing at this time, otherwise they would be the first to suffer, and no one wants to be dragged down with them.

Therefore, now that the Emperor is determined to investigate, and Yan Maoqing holds the special privileges of the Western Depot, he is clearly here to be the Emperor's scapegoat.

Even the four dukes had to avoid their sharp edge. They didn't want the Emperor and Yan Maoqing to look at them either, so they might as well be more sensible and consider it a loss to avoid trouble.

……

"Hey... first there was Shen Lian, and now there's Yan Maoqing, what's going on here?"

Lu Bingze, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, felt as if he had just shot himself in the foot, and now someone was defecating on his head.

Since Shen Lian had repeatedly rendered meritorious service to Yan Maoqing, he had been promoted to the rank of Fourth-Rank Southern Garrison Commander.

This guy's upright, unyielding, and stubborn nature, which he hated as if it were his enemy, immediately began to backfire on the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard, and even on him, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Northern Garrison Command was responsible for handling cases designated by the Emperor and held the power of arrest, interrogation, and execution.

The Southern Garrison Command was responsible for the law and discipline of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and military discipline.

The problem lies in the fact that this person in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was responsible for law enforcement and military discipline!

Shen Lian, that scoundrel who betrayed his own side, hadn't even warmed his seat before he started harping on the bribery, corruption, and promotions of the Jinyiwei officials.

This stubborn mule has already forced him to demote two of his commanders and is currently submitting a memorial to impeach a deputy commander...

Nowadays, the entire Imperial Guard is furious with him, and people come to him every day to complain and lodge grievances.

Please ask him to control this stubborn mule and stop him from making a big deal out of nothing and targeting his own people.

Lu Bing was also quite helpless about this.

Who in the Embroidered Uniform Guard doesn't know that the Northern Garrison Command is the core of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

The Southern Garrison Command was supposedly responsible for the law and discipline of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but in reality, it was just a complaint box that hung more than ten feet high. It was for the emperor and outsiders to see, and it was not for their own people to use at all.

As a result, he called Shen Lian over and subtly tried to persuade him.

This stubborn donkey actually retorted with a question:
"Commander, I have only one question: just because it has always been this way, does that mean it is correct?"

These words nearly made Lu Bing choke on his own breast hyperplasia; he slammed his fist on the table and told the stubborn mule to get out of the duty room. Most importantly…

This stubborn donkey kept investigating, and recently the investigation even traced back to him, and it was related to the recent large-scale encroachment on the interests of the people.

Fortunately, this stubborn donkey had not forgotten the kindness of his initial promotion.

Instead of treating him like the others, they secretly approached him with a pile of evidence, knelt on the ground, and begged him to surrender himself like the four dukes...

Yes!

This stubborn mule actually made him, the dignified commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, surrender himself at the Northern Garrison Command, which he himself controlled!

Lu Bing was both annoyed and amused, but for the time being, he couldn't do anything about this stubborn mule.

Because Shen Lian has been promoted to the fourth rank, he is now a high-ranking official in the court. He can no longer do whatever he wants with him. He not only has to submit a memorial and go through the procedures, but also needs the emperor's personal approval.

What should he say to the Emperor?
My lord, please transfer Shen Lian away. He not only investigated me, but also found some irrefutable problems.
He regrets it so much now...

How could he have thought that Shen Lian, this stubborn and upright mule, was a good candidate to become a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? How could he have let him climb to the position of Commander of the Southern Garrison?

Then, Yan Maoqing was suddenly granted the special privilege of the Western Depot by the Emperor, which allowed him to sit on the heads of the Embroidered Uniform Guards!
Even just a few days ago.

That fellow took full advantage of this privilege, having all three hundred-plus court officials who went to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to cause trouble flogged, and even forcing them to flog themselves.

and so.

Considering the life-or-death bond between Yan Maoqing and Shen Lian in the desert, and also considering the situation where the four dukes and powerful figures in the capital voluntarily surrendered and paid bribes to avoid further trouble...

"Husband, are we really going to hand over thirty percent of our family fortune? Is there really no other way?"

Seeing that all the family's valuables had been loaded onto the truck, and even the farmland and real estate had been put on the liquidation list, the legal wife couldn't help but check again and again.

"Stop asking, my chest hurts, let's do it this way!"

Lu Bing covered his chest and said impatiently.

In any case, the Emperor's intention this time is that those who voluntarily resign will not be investigated, nor will the relevant authorities be held accountable.

If we don't seize this opportunity, and Shen Lian seizes on it and takes it to Yan Maoqing, wouldn't that cause trouble for the Emperor and put him in a difficult position?
As a subject, one must first understand the emperor's difficulties and never cause the emperor any trouble or distress.

If you can do this, and show the emperor your loyalty, then you can remain invincible in the court...

……

After dealing with a group of court officials in one fell swoop that day, Yan Maoqing also enjoyed a brief period of peace.

Recently, no one has been deliberately trying to provoke him.

However, that doesn't mean no one saw the people around him as a potential point of attack, such as our notorious young Grand Secretary Yan Shifan.

Not only did someone submit a memorial to Zhu Houcong impeaching Yan Shifan, but someone also submitted a document of accusation to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

How could Yan Maoqing not see through their intentions?

They simply wanted to use Yan Shifan, this rotten apple, to spoil the whole pot of porridge in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and even the Jixia Academy, and incidentally create problems for Yan Maoqing.
After all, Yan Maoqing is now Yan Shifan's aunt's husband.

While it may not be common knowledge, it's certainly no secret.

Little did they know that this matter would not only not cause Yan Maoqing any trouble, but would also give him a perfect opportunity to settle personal scores.

"Ah! Ah! Uncle, I know I was wrong, I'll never do it again! Ah!"

"Uncle, please, no, no, please don't... Ahhh!"

"Uncle, I can explain this. The shop was given to me by someone else. I didn't steal it. I swear to God... Ah!"

"Uncle, don't look at me. Whatever documents you're holding are none of my business... Ah!"

"..."

That is, before Yan Song became the Grand Secretary, Yan Shifan had not yet become a Junior Grand Secretary.

Although this guy has a long history of bad behavior, he has only committed minor offenses that are not life-threatening.

Furthermore, Yan Maoqing also knew that Yan Song was handling a crucial matter in Datong that could not afford to fail. Even the Southeast issue could only be resolved after this crucial matter was successfully handled, so that Zhu Houcong could have the confidence and strength to solve the problem.

It was really inappropriate to kill Yan Shifan at this time, as it would jeopardize the nation's overall plans.

Therefore, the death penalty can be temporarily waived, and in accordance with the "Great Ming Code", he was dragged to the Thousand Step Corridor to be publicly subjected to some punishments such as flogging and caning.

This can be seen as receiving interest in advance, and it can also shut up those who are trying to use this to smear the Court of Imperial Sacrifices...

However, to be honest...

Yan Shifan's recent behavior does indeed differ slightly from the historical records, and the reason for this is unknown.

Anyway, he's currently in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and he gets along quite well with the officials there.

At least Yan Maoqing did not see his arrogant and domineering behavior and his bullying of his colleagues.

The officials of the Imperial Household Department also had a high opinion of this one-eyed fat man, and sometimes even took the initiative to plead for him...

……

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

"boom!"

Zhu Houcong was furious again, this time it was still related to Yan Maoqing. A furious, mocking laugh appeared on his face.

"Do they mean that my Minister Yan Mao is also in league with the White Lotus Sect?"

If Yan Maoqing weren't here right now, he probably wouldn't have been able to resist reciting a poem on behalf of Zhu Houcong:
[I have come to ask you this question, but there is nothing more to say. Does even my son have dealings with the Japanese?]

"..."

Huang Jin knelt down, holding the memorial, utterly shocked by the phrase "My Yan Maoqing".

He had followed Zhu Houcong for many years and knew that such an extremely intimate form of address had only appeared on a very small number of his closest relatives.

One was his "Huang companion," who would sometimes do things that pleased Zhu Houcong, and would then praise him as "my good servant."

Another category consists of the concubines, princes, and princesses in the harem, who are referred to as "my concubine" or "my son (daughter)".

This was an unprecedented privilege for any official in the court; even Lu Bing did not receive this treatment.

However, the current issue concerns Yan Maoqing's accusation of "colluding with the White Lotus Sect"...

Huang Jin could only say that it was extremely serious!

This is extremely serious!
What does the White Lotus Sect do?

That's a cult that plots rebellion. Anyone who gets involved with the White Lotus Sect is doomed to die, no matter how close they are to the Emperor!
Today's memorial was not read by Zhu Houcong himself, but was read aloud by him.

Therefore, he was fully aware of the contents of the memorial, and the basis for this accusation was a statement made by Yan Maoqing when he had previously flogged court officials:

"I could have endured the darkness if I had never seen the light."

This statement aligns perfectly with the doctrine repeatedly mentioned in the so-called "precious scrolls" recited by the White Lotus sect:

[To dispel darkness and yearn for light, for light will ultimately triumph over darkness; this is the essence of our teaching!]

In plain language, it means: "Oppose darkness, pursue light, and light will ultimately triumph over darkness..."

(End of this chapter)