Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

In the capital city at the end of June, the days are now long and the nights are short. At this time, the sky and the earth are already bright.

In the square in front of Fengtian Gate, more than a thousand officials were standing in their respective positions. At this moment, sitting in the middle of the corridor was a young official wearing a fifth-grade official uniform.

Sun Jiao is from Anlu, Huguang. He is a young man with ordinary appearance. In fact, Sun Jiao was his original name, and his current name is Sun Jiao.

Officials in the Ming Dynasty valued the teacher-student relationship first. A good teacher-student relationship not only paved the way for the student, but could even change his or her name.

Qiu Jun was highly regarded by Qiu Jun because of the provincial examination. Qiu Jun knew that Sun Jiao was a talent that could be developed, so he changed the name of this clever student to Sun Jiao.

Sun Jiao's luck didn't stop there. In the 17th year of Chenghua's high school, he became the second-class Jinshi in high school. Because of his high ranking, he became Xu Pu's favorite student.

Having two mentors who are at the top of the ci bureau just after entering the official career is a good thing that a non-commissioned officer dreams of.

Thanks to the support of Xu Pu and Qiu Jun, although Sun Jiao had only been in the officialdom for a few years, he had now been inserted into the most critical position of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, assuming the position of Wailang, the most important member of the literary selection department.

The Wenxuan Department official, Wailang, was only an official of the fifth rank, but the Wenxuan Department of the Ministry of Personnel controlled the promotion of officials below the fourth rank, which can be said to be a humble but powerful position.

Holding an important position at such an age can be said to have a bright future. As long as he endures it honestly, although he will not be able to join the cabinet and become the prime minister in the future, it is not a problem to aspire to be the six ministers.

Just being favored by a teacher has its price after all. In particular, Xu Pu had hanged himself, and now only the thick thigh of Qiu Jun, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, was left, so naturally he had to hold on tightly.

Sun Jiao, as the director of the Wenxuan Department responsible for evaluating hundreds of officials, was also an out-and-out Anlu person, so he was indeed the most suitable person to stab Liu Zhong in the back.

Killing innocents indiscriminately is the biggest label he puts on Liu Zhong, and Liu Zhong may not be able to take it off.

Qiu Jun, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, had a gloomy face. At this moment, he suppressed the resentment in his heart and looked at the emperor sitting on the throne.

If it hadn't been for this emperor's mischief, granting Shang Fang the Sword at random, and even preferring to appoint lunatic officials, his nephew would not have died.

But of course he couldn't accuse the emperor in front of him. He just wanted to make this bastard pay the corresponding price for Liu Zhong who killed innocent people indiscriminately.

This time, even if he risks his own future, he still wants to send that villain Liu Zhong to hell.

this……

Li Yu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, saw that the morning dynasty was out of control again, and the person who jumped out to cause trouble turned out to be an official of the Ministry of Personnel. He couldn't help but turn his head and look at his subordinate angrily.

Now that I am deeply favored, this damn subordinate actually jumps out to cause trouble. Even if His Majesty believes that it is not his instructions, His Majesty will feel that he is not doing his job in running the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Xu Qiong, the Minister of Rites, and Du Ming, the Minister of Punishments, seemed to have seen through Li Yu's thoughts. They immediately reflected on themselves and decided to go back and give their subordinate officials a good beating.

"Your Majesty, Liu Zhong killed innocent ministers indiscriminately, please punish him!"

"Your Majesty, Qiu Jing is a fifth-rank official of the Ming Dynasty. How can he be killed without guilt?"

"Your Majesty, Liu Zhong is behaving cruelly in the local area. These evil officials should be recalled to the capital immediately to face charges!"

…

Officials from the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Ministry of Personnel all stood up and agreed. They seemed to have been relieved in advance, and they all pointed the finger at Liu Zhongdao.

this……

Xu Qiong, the Minister of Rites, and Du Ming, the Minister of Punishments, had just sympathized with Li Yu, but now they saw officials from their own yamen standing up to cause trouble, and they immediately wrote down their names with a sullen face.

Led by Wai Lang Sunjiao, a member of the Literary Selection Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, seven or eight officials stood up and pointed the finger at Liu Zhong, the governor of Huguang.

Although Liu Zhong had Wang Yue's courage, he seemed not to have Wang Yue's wisdom.

Killing the dignified Anlu Zhizhou just because of a small crime, even if he was holding Shang Fang's sword, there was something wrong with this approach after all.

Zhu Youtang sat on the throne, looking at the group of officials who jumped out one after another, and realized that he seemed to have thought wrong.

Originally, he deliberately left the official officials without rectification. Firstly, there were very few officials in the world who did not interact with the ministers. Secondly, he needed the official officials from the Qingliu camp to balance the power of the six ministers.

It's just that Qingliu is the biggest villain after all, but because he is led by his teacher, he dares to jump out and sing against his emperor.

Liu Zhong, this was the sharp knife he used to clear his father-in-law's land, but in the end, these people forced him to take the sharp knife back, and the work of clearing his father-in-law's land in Huguang was abandoned halfway.

"Your Majesty, Qiu Jing is an upright fifth-rank official of our Ming Dynasty! If he is slaughtered for just a small mistake, all local officials in the Ming Dynasty will be in danger in the future. There will be no upright officials in the local officials in the future. Your Majesty, please punish Liu Zhong severely!" Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, glanced at Qiu Jun and immediately stood up and stabbed him.

Huh?

When Li Yu saw Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, jumping out, he couldn't help but frowned slightly. I bet Liu Jian was leading these officials to force the emperor to go to the palace!

It's just that Liu Zhong really went too far this time. After all, he was a fifth-grade official. How could he be executed just because he released a few unruly people who hindered the Qing Dynasty?

Zhu Youtang couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw Liu Jian jumping out impatiently.

If I hadn't investigated in advance, if I hadn't already seen Qingliu's face clearly, I might have really wanted to punish Liu Zhong according to their wishes.

It's just that Liu Zhong's identity is not only one of his own, but also a sharp knife for his father-in-law.

Zhu Youtang's eyes fell on Sun Jiao, and he asked calmly: "Sun Jiao, you said that Liu Zhong was slow in getting married. Do you know why Liu Zhong was slow in getting married?"

Sun Jiao was stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect Zhu Youtang to ask this question. He couldn't help but secretly glance at his mentor Qiu Jun, but he didn't get any hint, so he said cautiously: "I don't know!"

Officials such as Li Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, had limited information and looked at Zhu Youtang in confusion.

Zhu Youtang knew that he was facing more than just a grandson, so he looked at all the officials present and said: "Qingzhang Tianmu, this is the emperor's mission I gave to Liu Zhong! When Liu Zhong arrived in Huguang, he chose the first The station is Anlu, and we arrived in Anlu a month ago, and then Liu Zhong personally took people to the fields to clear out the land!"

"Your Majesty, what we are talking about now is Liu Zhong killing innocent people indiscriminately. This has nothing to do with what Liu Zhong did in Anlu!" Liu Jian frowned, but he stated the topic authentically.

"Liu Shilang, what are you in a hurry? Your Majesty will explain it to you!" Xu Qiong had long been unhappy with Liu Jian and scolded him as if he were a superior.

Zhu Youtang turned to look at Liu Jian, the former East Palace lecturer, and said calmly: "The imperial envoy sent by the imperial court to take charge of Huguang on my behalf was attacked on the way to Anlu. Death! Liu Zhong spent more than a month in Anlu to rectify his father-in-law's death. He was frequently obstructed by unruly people, and the state government frequently disobeyed orders. A few days ago, Liu Zhong was set on fire at the post station and almost died. His beloved concubine was buried in the flames! Such an Anlu , so uncooperative with the imperial decree, I would like to ask, is Anlu still my territory of the Ming Dynasty?"

When he finally said it, he looked at the officials present and said it loudly.

Officials such as Li Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, originally thought that Liu Zhong did something wrong, but after hearing Zhu Youtang's remarks, they immediately reconsidered.

Although it was inappropriate for Liu Zhong to kill a dignified magistrate for a small crime, the problems in Anlu were indeed not small. In particular, clearing the father-in-law's land was indeed a new policy of the imperial court. How could a small magistrate dare to obstruct it like this?

this……

Liu Jian and Qiu Jun didn't expect Zhu Youtang to give Anlu such a definite opinion, and couldn't help but look at each other worriedly.

Sun Jiao found that his mentor was looking towards him, and he straightened up his chest and said: "Your Majesty, even if the land of Anlu is not peaceful, Liu Zhong cannot kill Qiu Jing, the governor of Anlu. Loved by the people, he is a model for Ming officials!"

The officials who had just jumped out to support him all said yes, but they still insisted on Liu Zhong's accusation of indiscriminate killing of officials.

"Be diligent and love the people? When Liu Zhong was in Anlu to clear his father-in-law, he was constantly obstructed by unruly people, and Qiu Jing repeatedly disobeyed orders! Liu Zhong led the governor's escort team to arrest 300 troublemakers and threw them into the state prison, but Qiu Jing Some unscrupulous people have been released. Is he protecting traitors?" Zhu Youtang had already experienced the ability of these officials to play with words, and they must point out the facts directly.

Although Liu Zhong's crime of beheading Qiu Jing seems reckless, it is untenable to say that Qiu Jing should not be beheaded. The magistrate would have died just for obstructing the imperial court from clearing his father's land.

"How dare Qiu Jing disobey the governor's orders?"

"Such behavior is simply abominable!"

"The imperial envoy arrests people, and he lets them go. He really loves traitors like his own children!"

…

When Du Ming, the Minister of Punishment, and other officials learned that Qiu Jing, the magistrate of Anlu, had behaved like this, they couldn't help but think of the face of local officials who violated local officials, and they criticized him one after another.

Liu Jian and Qiu Jun suddenly realized that they seemed to have miscalculated. They not only underestimated the emperor's shrewdness, but also underestimated the emperor's eloquence.

I thought that as long as Liu Zhong was held captive to kill officials indiscriminately, no matter how much the emperor protected him, it would be of no avail, but he found that things had developed unexpectedly.

Sun Jiao knew that there was no turning back, so he immediately explained: "Your Majesty, you may not know something. Due to the sudden increase in bandits in Anlu City, the state prison was overcrowded, so Qiu Jing released some people! Even if he did something wrong, Yes, that’s a small mistake, and you will definitely not be massacred!”

"What kind of excuse is this? I have been a prefect. How many thieves can there be in one city?"

"If thieves can overcrowd the state prison, then this magistrate should be held accountable!"

"I think Qiu Jing is just looking for an excuse to prevent the imperial court from clearing the emperor. How can he be so indiscriminate of his importance and cannot be killed?"

…

Officials such as Li Yu, the Minister of Personnel, are all shrewd people, so how can they listen to this obviously flawed rhetoric, even if they express their positions one after another?

If Qiu Jing just released some unruly people, he really shouldn't be killed, but if Qiu Jing was actually obstructing the Qing Dynasty, then he should be cut to pieces.

"Liu Zhong went to Anlu Prefecture for more than a month to purify his father-in-law according to the imperial decree, but the results were not good! Why? The prefecture's Yayang violated the law, Anlu created trouble for the people, and even lawless people wanted to harm the imperial envoy. Such a place, such If you want to investigate the officials, you should blame the officials!" Zhu Youtang immediately characterized the matter, and then pointed the finger at the officials.

Li Yu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, saw that the matter was on his own head, so he bit the bullet and went out and said: "Li Yu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, has betrayed the divine grace. Please forgive me!"

"The Ministry of Personnel is responsible for the selection of hundreds of officials in the world. Qiu Jing does not obey the imperial decree and cannot protect the people. How can Qiu Jing be the governor of Anlu?" Zhu Youtang's eyes fell on Li Yu. , even if it is a question.

When Liu Jian heard this question, he immediately knew that something was wrong, so he turned to look at Qiu Jun.

Qiu Jun's face was still stable, but there were beads of sweat on his forehead, but he knew that things might burn him.

Li Yu's heart suddenly moved, and he pretended to report: "Your Majesty, although I am the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, local officials below the fourth rank have always been rated by the Department of Examination and Recommendation, and the Anlu Zhizhou Qiu Jing was recently appointed by the Department of Wenxuan Be elected as the governor of Ganzhou!"

ah?

Du Ming, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, and other officials heard that the Anlu magistrate could be promoted, and immediately felt ridiculous, but they all turned to look at the officials of the Examination Department of the Ministry of Personnel.

Dong Shan, the newly appointed Right Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, noticed the strange looks from around him and immediately stood up and explained: "Your Majesty, when the Department of Literature and Selection recommended Qiu Jing, the magistrate of Anlu Province, to be the magistrate of Ganzhou, I was already lucky enough to be promoted to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Right Minister, this matter was recommended by Sun Jiao, a member of the Literary Selection Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs!"

As soon as this was said, the surrounding officials couldn't help but become happy.

This foreigner, a member of the literary and anthology department, pretends to be righteous, but in fact he is still committing crimes of male theft and female prostitution.

The Anlu magistrate who disobeyed the government in this way, a local official who made Anlu bandits, bandits and traitors everywhere, was promoted to the Ganzhou magistrate. This is a typical case of favoritism.

The two directors of the Literary and Selection Department were glanced at by Li Yu, and even if they knelt down obediently, they knew that they could not escape the blame this time.

"If I remember correctly, the Anlu governor was beheaded by Wang Yue last year. This Anlu governor, who has been in office for less than a year, has done some great achievements, so that the Department of Literature and Selection can recommend this person to be promoted to the governor of Ganzhou?" Zhu Youtang looked at the officials of the Literature and Selection Department headed by Sun Jiao and asked with a smile on his face.

Beads of sweat broke out on Sun Jiao's forehead, but after searching, he discovered that Qiu Jing's greatest achievement was to acquire land for his family, and that he was the nephew of his mentor.

But, can this be said?

"Since the Department of Literature and Selection is unwilling to say it, then the Department of Examination will tell you. If the Ministry of Civil Affairs can promote Qiu Jing to the position of prefect of Ganzhou, it must be above the top!" Zhu Youtang saw the reaction of Sun Jiao and others. Inside, he looked towards the examination director.

At this moment, he knew it was time to clean up the official department that was in charge of the promotion of officials all over the world, and use their heads to alert the officials all over the world.