Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

While Zhu Youtang was enjoying his imperial vacation, the outside world was not peaceful.

He Qiaoxin, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, is one of the banners of the civil service group. He has always been known for his integrity. Especially after decades of shaping the image of "not taking a penny", it has long been known to everyone.

For example, this year is obviously the New Year for the Beijing Police Department, and officials from all over the country have come to Beijing to manage relations before the Spring Festival, but He Qiaoxin did not accept money from any officials.

Recently, He Qiaoxin violated the will of the treacherous minister Wan An on the national debt issue, causing Wan An to be angry to death, and decided to become one of the leaders of Qingliu.

The results of it?

Emperor Hongzhi deliberately retaliated against an upright official who had not taken a penny for a treacherous minister, and even ordered the Metropolitan Procuratorate to imprison He Qiaoxin, who was preparing to celebrate the New Year, on New Year's Eve.

Faced with such injustice, many scholars or officials who claim to be knowledgeable people have come forward to denounce it.

Although no one dared to say anything in Fengtian Hall during the New Year's Day meeting, the seeds of resentment had already been planted.

Even though it is still the Spring Festival holiday, a rescue operation concerning He Qiaoxin, the Minister of Punishment, has quietly begun. They are bound to rescue the virtuous minister He Qiaoxin from prison.

"This move is clearly retaliation!"

"If you retaliate against honest officials because of traitors, the country will not be a country!"

"Since the Zhou Dynasty, how can the emperor be close to the villain and stay away from the virtuous minister?"

…

Officials led by Qiu Jun, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, and others quietly launched a public opinion offensive, and secretly encouraged the wise men to express their grievances against He Qiaoxin, causing public opinion in the capital to turn against He Qiaoxin.

"Tea and wine are common gifts. The high and low are due to the merchants' profit and publicity!"

"China has always valued human relations since ancient times. Is there any reason not to accept some common things as gifts?"

"If you want to incriminate someone, why don't you have any words to say? How can Shangshu not get a single penny from being an official? He is the most upright official!"

…

Even though the news about He Qiaoxin accepting gifts worth 100,000 taels came out, the direction of public opinion did not change, but they still tried their best to exonerate He Qiaoxin.

Their public opinion campaign was very clever, deliberately concealing physical objects worth a hundred thousand taels, and silently devaluing things that were worth more than gold as worthless.

As for ambergris, which is a hundred times more expensive than gold, they didn't even mention it.

Ordinarily, this kind of public opinion attack will not affect the overall situation, but if more people say it, more and more people will believe that He Qiaoxin is really wronged.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, a large group of people wanted to express condolences to He Qiaoxin in prison but were refused. As a result, a large group of young scholars went to the gate of the Metropolitan Procuratorate to cause trouble the next day.

"You are just a stinky soldier, you are not even worthy of carrying my shoes!"

"You think killing a few barbarians on the battlefield will make you powerful? My words can be worth a million soldiers!"

"Nowadays, villains are in power and the court is in a state of chaos. You guys are still helping the tyrants to perpetrate their misfortune. It's a disgrace to your parents!"

…

Most of these scholars are the children of wealthy families in the capital, and many of them are even related to He Qiaoxin. This time, they all accused Hu Jun and others who were standing in front of the door.

Now the public opinion in the capital has been building momentum. If this trend is not curbed, it will not only be detrimental to the prestige of the Ming Dynasty, but may also cause even greater disasters.

From ancient times to the present, it is true that scholars have not been able to successfully rebel, but when it comes to their ability to make trouble, they still have two abilities, especially their ability to curse.

In this era, those who could study in the capital were not ordinary people, and they looked down on such reckless men from the bottom of their hearts, so much so that their spit flew into the faces that stopped them.

"I want to see if your mouth, which is worth a million soldiers, can block this punch!" A strong man took action and immediately clenched his fist and hit the young man who screamed the loudest.

puff!

The fist appeared to be very solid, and it hit the young man's face hard. Even though his face was distorted by the blow, a bloody tooth came out.

When the scholar saw this, he immediately said, "Kill these stinky soldiers!"

"Brothers, let him see what a hot-blooded man is!" Wang Yu and Hu Jun were already furious. When they saw a group of scholars surrounding their companions, they unceremoniously joined the battle group.

puff! puff! puff!

It was a one-sided fight. The helpless scholars could only be beaten, but the men led by Wang Yu and Hu Jun used their punches to the flesh, leaving them with teeth everywhere.

Due to the seriousness of the situation, some officials had already filed a complaint, so the storm reached the emperor, and the time had quietly arrived on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

The sky is blue, as if washed by water.

Most areas of Xiyuan are still shrouded in white snow, while the Yangxin Hall is already burning with sandalwood.

"This can help He Qiaoxin wash his hands. It's really shameless!" Zhu Youtang couldn't help but laugh out loud after learning the whole story.

Although the law of the Ming Dynasty does not have a definition of physical objects, only "more than eight hundred cuts" in name only, the physical discount that He Qiaoxin received can already be slashed eight hundred times.

Now this group of people had no conscience to complain about Qiao Xin, but they didn't know whether it was because they thought highly of themselves or because they thought the emperor was dead.

Based on He Qiaoxin's corruption and perversion of the law, and now that Wang Yue has collected all the evidence, what reason does he have to forgive this hypocrite who has not taken a penny?

Although Wang Yue is over sixty years old, his waist is still straight and his eyes are bright. Due to his insistence on boxing every morning, his figure still looks strong and retains the demeanor of an old general.

Due to the wounding incident in front of the Metropolitan Procuratorate just now, he also took the initiative to come to the palace to be a saint.

Wang Yue knew that the emperor in front of him was a rare wise king, and responded seriously: "The relationship between teachers and students, fellow villagers and classmates among scholars is complicated. Some senior scholars can often respond to everything at once. They must be behind this matter!"

After experiencing so much, he also saw clearly the true face of scholars, and even more understood that there were actually various circles of scholars.

Although they shouted to love the country and the people every day, when He Qiaoxin, who was related to their interests, was imprisoned, the so-called justice was also forgotten.

Because of this, he knew that the most hateful people were not the group of scholars who made trouble, but the group of Confucian scholars who hid behind and fanned the flames.

"Wang Qing, can the Metropolitan Procuratorate handle the nonsense of these scholars?" Zhu Youtang knew that the scholars in the capital had a huge network of connections, and looked at Wang Yuedao seriously.

Wang Yue knew that Zhu Youtang didn't want to alert the enemy, so he smiled and said: "Although this group of scholars is really making trouble, the sergeants in the search hall have all been on the battlefield!"

"If you use the knife, it may not end well. You have to restrain the sergeant in the search hall!" Zhu Youtang reminded him immediately, not wanting to make the matter too big.

Wang Yue was a measured person and immediately nodded gently: "I have told them earlier! If they really can't bear it, they can use their fists. Anyway, they have the strength to fight one against a hundred!"

"You did the right thing this time! Let's do this. As long as they only use their fists, I will cover them if anything happens!" Zhu Youtang not only did not intend to punish the search sergeants of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, but also made his position clear.

Originally, it was difficult for him to deal with the troublemaking scholars, but now that these fearless soldiers can take action at any time, things have become easier to handle.

Wang Yue was stunned for a moment, then asked softly in confusion: "Your Majesty, what does the cover mean?"

"If something happens, I'll take care of it!" Zhu Youtang glanced at Wang Yue, who was not very smart, and explained.

Wang Yue was secretly happy, but he knew that his grandson was going to be overjoyed, and he said respectfully: "Your Majesty, you are wise!"

It was at this time that Liu Jin came over carefully holding a tea cup.

"Wang Qing, if you don't enter the palace today, I will actually summon you!" Zhu Youtang's face straightened and he said very seriously.

Wang Yue knew that it would be a big deal for Zhu Youtang to find him. He couldn't help but think of the provocation of the Haixi Jurchen tribe, and immediately raised his hand seriously: "Please give me your Majesty's orders!"

"Mr. Wange has passed away, and now only Mr. Liu Ge is left in the cabinet, so I plan to arrange for a few people to join the cabinet! You will put your name in the cabinet, and your main job will still be in charge of the Metropolitan Procuratorate!" Zhu Youtang picked up Liu Jin and sent it to him. The tea cup that came was light and airy.

Although I am sad about Wan An's death, there have been major changes in the cabinet now, so it is natural to make adjustments, especially to reorganize the cabinet.

In the past, Wan'an was completely devoted to him, so he naturally did not need to arrange for personnel to come in to add any extra details, but now that only Liu Ji is left in the cabinet, he has to make other arrangements.

Liu Ji's loyalty is less than Wan'an, but Liu Ji is a scheming cabinet minister. In order to prevent him from taking charge of the cabinet alone and to prevent the cabinet from getting out of control, it is natural to increase the number of cabinet ministers.

Although Xu Qiong, the Minister of Rites, is still loyal to him, his ability is too poor, and he is likely to be eaten to death by Liu Ji. After much thought, he decided to bring Wang Yue into the cabinet, creating a multi-party situation in the cabinet.

Of course, Wang Yue is a minister worthy of training, and even an ideal candidate for the first assistant in the future.

Wang Yue has always been away from the center of power. Even now, he cannot participate in the deliberations of the Supreme Council. He suddenly pointed at his nose in surprise: "Ah? I... I am not an imperial scholar, how can I join the cabinet!"

In the unspoken rules of the Ming Dynasty's officialdom, non-Hanlin officials were not allowed to join the cabinet. This was almost an iron rule, so Hanlin officials seemed more and more aloof.

Wang Yue, an official who was not from the Hanlin Academy, never thought that one day he would join the cabinet and become the prime minister, but now the prime minister's position has hit him strangely.

"In my case, it is not true that non-Hanlin people cannot join the cabinet! What I want is cabinet ministers who can truly assist me in bringing the Ming Dynasty to power, unless you don't have this wish at all!" Zhu Youtang took a sip of tea and deliberately used irritating words. Dharma.

Wang Yue had never been a mother-in-law kind of person, so he immediately knelt down to express his gratitude and said, "I thank your majesty for your appreciation. I will definitely not disappoint you!"

But at this moment, he seemed to have had an incredible dream.

From the criminal minister who was exiled to Anlu to the powerful Zuodu Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, this has been a fantastic journey.

What's the result now?

Although he was not a Hanlin official, His Majesty actually broke the tradition for him, a man who had been relegated to exile, and promoted him to the cabinet that all officials dreamed of.

From being relegated to the imperial palace to becoming the Prime Minister, this is probably the first time since the Ming Dynasty that I have experienced this.

cough……

Guo Yong, who was standing aside, noticed that Wang Yue was a little absent-minded, and immediately coughed lightly to remind him not to lose his composure.

"After the new year, I will hold a supreme meeting to discuss the posthumous title of Wange Lao. What do you think?" Zhu Youtang knew that he wanted to give Wan'an a posthumous title, so he asked seriously.

In the original history, because Wan'an was squeezed out by the civil service group, although he was not given a bad posthumous title, the posthumous title he received was actually very ordinary.

It's just that he is in power now, and Wan'an has really done his best over the years, so he has no reason not to get a good posthumous title for Wan'an.

Wang Yue and Wan An didn't have much interaction, so he thought for a while and said: "Wange was always loyal to the late emperor, and now he is loyal to your majesty. I thought we could use Wen Zhong!"

Huh?

When Guo Yong heard this posthumous title, he looked at Wang Yue in surprise.

The best posthumous title for civil servants in the Ming Dynasty was Wenzhen, followed closely by Wenzhong. Wang Yue's suggestion of this posthumous title was undoubtedly to praise Wan'an.

However, as far as he knew, Wang Yue and Wan An had no friendship, but he did not expect that Wang Yue would fight for this top posthumous title for Wan An, who was beaten by everyone in Qingliu.

"If we use Wen Zhong's words, I'm afraid those scholars won't be willing to do it!" Zhu Youtang shook his head bitterly, thinking of those scholars who were afraid of the world being in chaos.

Wang Yue's face straightened, and he looked extremely serious and said: "Although your father wants to open up his voice, the success or failure of a family and a country is decided by the Lord!"

He is not flattering Hong Zhi, but this is his life creed.

During a march and battle, if the commander-in-chief cannot give orders and the generals below are allowed to express their own opinions, it is impossible to form a rope.

Like the raid on Weining Sea, he and Wang Zhi suppressed all the noise of timid enemies and diversions, and rushed all the way towards Weining Sea.

Now Wan'an's posthumous title is beautiful or evil. In fact, it is up to the emperor to decide, and there is no need to be influenced by those scholars.

The imperial court and the marching army have the same principle. If they listen to this minister today and listen to that minister tomorrow, he will seem to be a very enlightened king, but he will not get anything done at all.

Zhu Youtang nodded with enlightenment, knowing that he really needed to show more decisiveness, and now he no longer needed to look forward and backward too much.

After sending Wang Yue away, he summoned Liu Ji who had already arrived.

Liu Ji was a Jinshi for the 13th year of the orthodox year and was a native of Northern Zhili. He was selected as a Shujishi to study in the Hanlin Academy. After completing the exam in three years, he stayed at the Hanlin Academy as an editor due to his excellent results, thus starting their career as a poet.

Because he was the emperor's master, and he was cared for by Gao Gu, his former chief assistant, his official career seemed to be very smooth. In the eleventh year of Chenghua, he joined the cabinet and paid homage to the prime minister.

Now it can be said that the daughter-in-law has become a mother-in-law. With the death of the former chief minister Wan An, he naturally became the new chief minister of the Ming Dynasty.

After Liu Ji respectfully saluted Zhu Youtang, he said in an astonishing way: "I beg your Majesty to forgive He Qiaoxin!" (End of this chapter)