Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 171 The Table of Power

The atmosphere in the Wuying Hall suddenly became tense.

Apart from the nobles who seemed somewhat indifferent and the reformers who were emboldened by their position,

All eyes, whether intentionally or unintentionally, were drawn to one focal point—Qiao Yunsheng, the Minister of Justice.

This elder of the Donglin Party is now stepping out of the queue, his posture upright, like a lone pine tree about to face the wind and rain.

The ministers have already witnessed the new emperor's demeanor through the three matters concerning the hearts and minds of the people discussed earlier.

They truly believed in his abilities and reputation.

Even though this new ruler has not yet actually distributed any rewards.

but……

At the table of power, the more crucial reality is who gets to sit at the table and who gets an extra piece of meat in their bowl.

Otherwise, even if the Ming Dynasty truly ushered in a period of revival, even if His Majesty bestowed titles upon twenty-four meritorious officials in the Lingyan Pavilion, what would it have to do with you, a retired old man who has been dismissed and sent back to your hometown?
Mr. Wolong was Zhuge Liang, who became Prime Minister Zhuge after he left the mountains.

If he had remained confined to Nanyang his entire life, he would have been nothing more than a humble villager, and who would remember him a thousand years from now?

This is the true nature of factional strife in the imperial court!

This is not something that Zhu Youjian can solve simply by restoring the credibility of the dynasty.

—In fact, the more trustworthy the dynasty is, and the more sage-king His Majesty appears, the more fiercely these people fight over it!
The factional struggles of the Ming Dynasty, which began during the Wanli era and continue to this day, all stem from the desire to secure a place on the dining table.

Whether for fame, power, or profit, it must be fought for.

The imperial inspection and major cases are the two sharpest knives in this arena of power.

The capital inspection was held every six years, but the result was nothing more than dismissal; it would eventually come again.

Major cases are the truly deadly methods.

Once the case is established, morality is divided, and the victor can crush the loser to the point of no return.

During the Wanli era, there were the "Two Shen Controversies," the "Li Sancai Case," and the "Succession Crisis."

Later, it even directly involved the inner court, resulting in the "Red Pill," "Palace Transfer," and "Clubbing" cases.

During the process, various parties rose and fell one after another. Although some suffered defeats, they were still relatively dignified, merely exiled to their hometowns, and there was still a chance for them to make a comeback.

However, after Yang Lian submitted his shocking case of twenty-four crimes in the fourth year of the Tianqi reign, the factional strife suddenly intensified.

The cases of Wang Wenyan, Yang Lian, Wu Huaixian, Zhou Yingyuan, and Huang Shan... all these cases resulted in rivers of blood.

Wei Zhongxian and the Tianqi Emperor used the most ruthless methods to firmly grasp the power of the entire court; those who obeyed prospered, and those who resisted perished.

But as long as this stage of power exists, the struggle will never end.

With the fall of the Donglin Party, internal power struggles arose within the eunuch faction, including between Feng Quan and Cui Chengxiu, and between Sun Rulie and Xu Xianchun.

The cake on this table is only so big. If you take one more bite, others will have one less bite. How can we not compete and fight?

Zhu Youjian sat high behind the imperial table, taking in the expressions of everyone below him.

He knew that after being put on hold for so long, his final decision on the Donglin cases would once again define the direction of the court.

Even though he has repeatedly stated that the direction he wants to set is not here at all.

But these old foxes, after fighting for so many years in the old version, probably still think this is the real trend indicator!

This is also the key trend they've been waiting for so long, after much hesitation and uncertainty!
Damn, they're all stubborn old men who won't listen to reason!

Finally, Zhu Youjian spoke.

"Qiao Qing, I have read all the opinions on the cases you submitted."

He paused, his gaze falling on Qiao Yunsheng's weathered face.

"But you seem to have never understood my point."

"What I seek is Zhang Juzheng and Qi Shaobao, not some 'full of upright officials in the court'."

His voice suddenly turned sharp, like a drawn sword, its edge fully revealed.

"What is good? What is evil?"

"Everyone claims to be a loyal minister and a capable general, but when it comes to doing things, they all say it's forming cliques for personal gain!"

"Whom should I trust? And who can I trust?!"

Zhu Youjian's gaze swept across the faces of every minister in the hall, his words growing sharper with each sentence.

"In the first year of the Tianqi reign, it was said that the court was full of upright officials, but then what happened? The defeats at Liaoshen and Guangning occurred!"

"Four years after the Tianqi reign, it was said that the court was full of upright officials. And then what happened? There was the defeat at Liuhe, the defeat at Korea, and the near-death experience at Zhenyang County, Runing Prefecture!"

"To this day, the moral character of scholars has declined, corruption among officials is rampant, and the imperial treasury's revenue is decreasing year by year! Whose fault is this?!"

"Whenever something fails, it's because there are treacherous officials in the court, and we must get rid of them as quickly as possible. But after that, what happens? Is the country better now?!"

"Now, let alone comparing it to the early years of the dynasty, even compared to the Wanli era, is it any better?!"

"These officials have been filling the court for seven years since the first year of the Tianqi reign, and the Liaodong affair has also dragged on for seven years! Since the founding of our Great Ming Dynasty, when has there ever been a war that has not been resolved for seven years?!"

The barrage of questions struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.

Minister of Justice Qiao Yunsheng's face flushed red and then turned pale. His lips moved a few times, but he couldn't utter a single word. He could only stand there and listen to the merciless reprimand.

Zhu Youjian, however, had not yet finished speaking. His tone became increasingly sharp and sarcastic, filled with undisguised sarcasm.

Do you take me for a foolish king who doesn't eat meat porridge?

"How dare you bring such trivial matters to my doorstep every day?!"

"Place of origin, students, relatives by marriage, old friends—where in the world are there no factions, no place are there no cliques!"

"Do I need you to tell me such a thing?"

A barrage of sarcastic remarks brought the temperature in the entire Wuying Hall to a freezing point.

Many ministers were suddenly jolted awake from the illusion of "benevolence" and "the style of Emperor Taizu of Han" that the emperor had previously created.

No matter how much this new emperor imitates the demeanor of a benevolent ruler, the blood flowing in his veins is still that of the Zhu family emperors!
Zhu Youjian's eyes were cold.

Party strife? Screw you!
Regardless of whether you belong to the Donglin Party or the eunuch faction, if you can implement the new policies well, you can stay; if you can't, you have to leave!
If you want a bigger slice of the pie at the table of power, then work hard on the new policies.

Attack your political enemies on their corruption, attack their double-dealing, and attack their oppression of the people and their cover-ups!
The Yongchang New Deal was not about not fighting, but about fighting within the rules set by Zhu Youjian!
Now that he has ascended the throne, he is no longer the new ruler who would greet everyone with his shoes askew.

Not just anyone can be treated with his handshake and personally bestowed with a plaque by him.

He has more and more cards in his hand; he is no longer the new emperor who can only play the role of a courteous and virtuous ruler and the style of Emperor Taizu of Han!
From then on, his kindness and care were reserved only for those who could be close to him and support him.

Regardless of loyalty or treachery!
Zhu Youjian's gaze returned to Qiao Yunsheng, his tone as cold as ice.

"Today, I have only one opinion on all past cases: regardless of loyalty or treachery, judge them impartially."

"If the Ministry of Justice can handle it, then handle it; if not, then find someone else to handle it!"

He leaned forward slightly and asked, word by word:

"Minister of Justice Qiao Yunsheng, can you handle this matter, or can't you?!"

This is no longer a discussion, but blatant coercion.

Everyone was stunned into silence by the emperor's tyrannical and domineering actions.

Qiao Yunsheng was held in place, feeling a surge of blood rushing to his head. He almost couldn't help but want to follow the example of the ancients, take off his official hat on the spot, and beg to retire.

But out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of greed mixed in with the gloating looks of the eunuch faction.

He thought of his longtime friend, who was tortured to death in the imperial prison and who, to this day, cannot even have a memorial tablet for public worship.

He thought of the current court officials and ministers, and realized that he was the only one who could still be considered a member of the Donglin faction.

If he leaves, who will the emperor choose to succeed him?

Is there even a need to think about it?

As people get older, they become less reckless.

The fierce spirit in Qiao Yunsheng's chest transformed into a long, helpless sigh.

Qiao Yunsheng slowly bowed and replied in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty... the Ministry of Justice can handle this matter."

Zhu Youjian looked at him expressionlessly, as if he did not see the extremely embarrassed expression on his face.

He sat back on his throne and spoke directly, his voice cold and clear.

"Among the cases reported by the Ministry of Justice, one is the case of Xiong Tingbi."

"Having lost the army and the country, and having lost territory, there is no doubt that they should be beheaded."

“Wang Huazhen and Yang Hao should also be tried together and executed as a warning to others.”

He surveyed the crowd and asked coldly, "Gentlemen, does anyone have any objections?"

No one spoke.

Everyone was quickly calculating in their minds, trying to deduce the direction the order represented.

Wang Huazhen was a student of Ye Xianggao and was initially a key figure promoted by the Donglin Party. However, after the Liaodong campaign failed, he defected to Wei Zhongxian and turned against him.

Therefore, to this day, the Donglin faction wants him dead, while the eunuch faction wants him alive.

However, the eunuch faction today may not have the heart to protect such a mediocre newcomer; they merely see him as a political signal. Xiong Tingbi is more complex; he comes from the Chu faction but has a high opinion of himself and disdains to curry favor.

When he was governor of Liaodong, he was even more stubborn and wouldn't give face to anyone.

After the Liaodong campaign failed, the Donglin faction argued endlessly about whether or not to provide aid, and Xiong Tingbi, in order to survive, turned to Wei Zhongxian for help.

As a result, Wei Zhongxian seized on this incident to bring down the Donglin Party, making it a truly disastrous situation.

But this man was already dead, yet the emperor brought him up again to sentence him to death, which is truly puzzling.

As for Yang Hao, the main culprit in the Battle of Sarhu, he had already been sentenced to death with reprieve and had been imprisoned for seven years. He had little to do with either party, and no one wanted to get involved with his bad luck.

So……

Where will the first gust of wind from this new dynasty blow?
For a moment, no one could see clearly, and they all fell silent.

Seeing that no one objected, Zhu Youjian continued:
"However, while the crime of losing the army is established, it should also be determined reasonably."

"Xiong Tingbi twice served as the governor of Liaodong. He was able to expose corruption and reorganize the troops. He was also sincere. Why would he need to send his head to the nine border regions?"

"Order the Ministry of Rites to determine the posthumous title, grant him permission to perform sacrifices, and restore his posthumous honors!"

Lai Zongdao, the Minister of Rites, was taken aback upon hearing this, and then stepped forward to receive the imperial decree.

Qiao Yunsheng breathed a sigh of relief and then bowed to accept the order.

Convicting him first and then awarding him honors was an odd move, but it ultimately preserved Xiong Tingbi's last shred of dignity.

Zhu Youjian nodded, then looked at Qiao Yunsheng.

"Secondly, the Huangshan case. It involved forced confessions, the recovery of stolen goods and the destruction of families, and had far-reaching implications."

“The Wu family of Shexian County, a prominent clan, has donated no less than several hundred thousand taels of gold to the country since the Wanli era, truly a loyal and righteous merchant family.”

"How can such harsh and cruel laws not cause loyal and virtuous people throughout the land to become disloyal and alienated?"

"The Ministry of Justice is hereby ordered to immediately overturn the case and return all the recovered stolen silver."

“Those of his clan members who are still alive shall be specially granted the title of Imperial Secretary and ordered to come to the capital to meet him.”

In Zhu Youjian's mind, this case was of the highest importance among all the cases.

For this reason, he even threw Wu Kongjia out.

The three cases of Xiong Tingbi were intended to establish the standards for rewards and punishments in the nine border regions. However, the border affairs were still preoccupied with the previous matter of granting titles, so this matter was merely a patch to "punish" the border regions.

As for the other cases involving the Donglin faction, the aim is to win over the hearts and minds of the Donglin members. However, winning over the hearts and minds of the Donglin members has both advantages and disadvantages for his current administration, so he cannot be too hasty.

The Huangshan case marked the beginning of his expansionist policies towards businesspeople.

During the second phase of road construction in the capital, there was a policy that offered a position as a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat for those who donated 10,000 taels of silver, but few people responded.

—It's not just a few, it's that there aren't any for the time being.

How is this possible?

You merchants can rely on nobles, eunuchs, and civil officials, so why can't you rely on me?

The Huangshan case is precisely the new benchmark that Zhu Youjian wants to set.

If one Wu family member from Shexian County isn't enough, then a few more, five more, ten more will eventually create a trend of merchants donating to the family.

The Eight Great Imperial Merchants?

If the Manchu Qing dynasty could have it, why couldn't I, Emperor Yongchang (Zhu Youjian), have it too?
However, none of the courtiers could discern the emperor's strategic move.

The affairs of merchants were considered trivial matters by these ministers, so naturally no one objected.

Qiao Yunsheng cupped his hands again and said, "The Ministry of Justice can handle this matter."

Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction, and then addressed the issue that everyone was most concerned about:
"As for the cases of Wang Wenyan, Yang Lian, Zhou Yingyuan, etc..."

His voice trailed off, and Qiao Yunsheng's heart leaped into his throat.

"...All requests from the Ministry of Justice were denied."

"His Majesty!"

Qiao Yunsheng's heart sank, and he could no longer hold back. He cupped his hands and stepped forward, intending to offer his advice.

Zhu Youjian simply waved his hand, stopping him from saying anything more.

"Since the reinstatement of those who had been dismissed from their positions, factional strife has re-emerged in the court."

“Among the daily memorials, as many as 30% are filled with mutual attacks, and very few are capable of speaking on matters of state.”

"All the impeachments were based on the pretext of 'forming a faction'."

"Forming factions, forming factions... I have already said before, who in the court is not guilty of such fabricated charges? Who is not guilty of such charges?!"

"If this is shown to me, how can I possibly know the truth about the cases and the wrongdoings?"

"How can we guarantee that these cases won't become the source of a new round of partisan strife?!"

Zhu Youjian's voice turned cold again.

"In my eyes, at this critical juncture of life and death, whoever can save the day is a loyal minister! Whoever stirs up factional strife and engages in internal strife is a treacherous minister!"

"The distinction between loyalty and treachery lies not in factional strife, but solely in matters of state!"

"The new policies will be implemented, and I will be watching how you all perform."

"At this time next year, the true and the treacherous will be revealed."

"Let's talk about these cases then!"

"If one's conduct is deemed virtuous, then one's innocence will be clear. When the time comes, I will not let any case that should be overturned or any person that should be arrested go unpunished!"

Zhu Youjian slammed his hand on the table, causing everyone in the hall to tremble.

"Now that we've said this, the future is yours to choose!"

After speaking, Zhu Youjian looked at Qiao Yunsheng with a blank expression.

"Does the Ministry of Justice have any objections to this?"

Qiao Yunsheng stood frozen in place, his old face turning red and white in turns, as if struck by lightning.

He felt a barely perceptible shake of his head from Cheng Jiming, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, on his left side.

He was torn between his inner turmoil and his own conscience.

In the end, all the resentment, anger, and sorrow turned into a silent sigh in his heart.

He slowly and deeply bent over, his voice devoid of any spirit.

"Your Majesty... has no objection."

Zhu Youjian waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

If Qiao Yunsheng quits, he'll replace him with someone more rational, like Dong Lin.

If the newly appointed Donglin faction dares to disrespect them, then the only option is to let the eunuch faction take their place.

But that would cause the balance of power he establishes to get slightly out of control, which is ultimately not a good thing.

Power, power!
The power of eunuchs comes from the emperor, and the power of civil officials also comes from the emperor.
Throughout history, in every major case and factional struggle, in the end, didn't they all boil down to vying for the emperor's opinion?

As for the eunuch faction, we must give them hope for survival and make them shift their loyalty from Wei Zhongxian and Tianqi to ourselves.

As for the Donglin faction, they must be suppressed and their innocence cannot be cleared so quickly.

Even if these cases are indeed cruel and ruthless, they still evoke sympathy from later generations.

However, politics has no right or wrong, only advantages and disadvantages.

The grievances of a few civil officials are nothing compared to the cries of hundreds of millions of people during the change of dynasties.
Once these cases are classified, their moral standing is determined.

In the political landscape of the Ming Dynasty, whoever occupied the moral high ground held power.

How is this possible?

On the moral high ground, only I can stand!

Zhu Youjian looked around at everyone, able to see their expressions but not their inner thoughts.

In his previous life, he was not a seasoned official.

While workplace struggles exist in internet companies, they pale in comparison to the political arena, where fame and power intertwine, and life and death hang in the balance.

Therefore, he was not good at such intricate factional manipulation and could only try his best to maintain a balance of power among the various forces from a macro perspective.

But it doesn't matter. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and one's strengths lie elsewhere.

Zhu Youjian turned his head to look at the next person, and the coldness on his face instantly melted away:

"Minister Yang, I heard that you caught a cold a few days ago. Are you feeling better now?"

Treat enemies with the ruthlessness of winter, and treat comrades with the warmth of spring.

And coincidentally, among all his skills, Zhu Youjian's greatest strength was discerning...

Who exactly is the enemy, and who is the friend?

(End of this chapter)