The Prosperous Era of Longwan

"Wenhua was ill with Gu, and was condemned to lie in a boat. He couldn't talk to himself. One night, he touched his abdomen with his hands, and his abdomen split and his internal organs came out. He died."

Zhao Wenhua died, and after the news reached the capital, there was another big shock.

Everyone felt a little horrified. What kind of death was this?

Before, many people thought that Zhao Wenhua was pretending to be ill, but when he left the capital, many people saw Zhao Wenhua being carried out of the car at the gate of Zhao's house, which seemed to confirm that Zhao Wenhua was indeed seriously ill.

After leaving the capital, a place of right and wrong, everyone thought that the matter was over, but who could have known that in just two or three days, people would die on the boat.

The death method reported in the key report is also extremely strange, "the abdomen was touched with hands, the abdomen was split, and the internal organs came out."

Your stomach was pierced?

When most people heard about this incident, they were first shocked, then laughed a few times, and then sang loudly, "Everyone can punish traitors and traitors." No matter what their relationship with Zhao Wenhua was in the past, they were all quick Cut with the Zhao family.

Only a handful of people could remain calm and couldn't help but look in the direction of Beizhen Fusi with fear and fear.

It was an unheard-of way of death. Regardless of whether Lu Bingcheng admitted that Jin Yiwei had done it or not, the officials who thought about it would all think that he had ordered someone to do it.

Emperor Jiajing was also stunned when he received the report. First of all, he still felt it was extremely ridiculous. He could blow up his stomach by slapping it. Zhao Wenhua was a master of iron sand palm.

If you die, just die. I have already let him go once for Yan Song's sake. This is also my fate. I threw the report aside and ignored it.

When word reached Wei Guangde's ears, Wei Guangde was more willing to believe that someone sent by Lu Bing stabbed the pregnant Zhao Wenhua. Later generations had never heard of any disease that could tear a person's stomach open.

Acute appendicitis can cause the intestines to rupture, but that is still in the stomach, so it is impossible for the belly to rupture.

Zhao Wenhua's death seems to have brought an end to the campaign to overthrow Zhao, and everything should be over.

Wei Guangde goes on duty every day and edits his leave application form. Everyone else is doing their own thing. Even if nothing happens, he still has to look for trouble. He can't be said behind his back that he is a vegetarian.

But at this time, in the lobby of the Ministry of Rites, Wu Shan, the Minister of Rites, and the left and right ministers were a little worried about how the court should handle this matter.

To others, Zhao Wenhua is dead when he dies, but after all, he was a second-rank official of the imperial court during his lifetime. Although he was dismissed by Emperor Jiajing, he was not guilty of the crime, and the imperial court should express it.

For someone who has served as a high-ranking official like Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, does the court allocate some burial expenses to his family, give him a posthumous title or something like that?

These matters cannot be handled by other yamen and fall under the control of the Rites Department.

Everyone knows what happened to Zhao Wenhua, but at the last step, when Zhao Wenhua left the capital in a hurry, Emperor Jiajing did not hold him accountable, which made the things Jin Yiwei did before useless.

Of course, Jinyiwei is not without gains. At least they have a large number of prisoners in their hands. Most of them have admitted their crimes. Naturally, they are not allowed to escape alive.

In accordance with the decree of Emperor Jiajing, the stolen goods were pursued.

Prisoners with rich families who could afford compensation and give red envelopes were naturally released early, while those who could not afford the money could only have their homes confiscated and exiled.

Wu Shan and others were a little unsure, wondering whether they should submit a petition to Zhao Wenhua.

After two days of hesitation, we can no longer delay. The Ministry of Rites must discuss and come up with a result today. If you want to ask for a favor, the memorial will be sent to the palace early tomorrow morning. This is also the court's system.

"Are you still undecided?"

Wu Shan sat down and asked his two ministers. In fact, he also had such thoughts.

Ordinarily, one should ask the court to allocate some burial expenses and give him a posthumous title. Even if there are some problems with that person, it is nothing more than giving him a posthumous title.

"Master Wu, we all know why Mr. Zhao left the capital. If he hadn't left, he would have died in the prison by now. How can I ask for an order from the guilty minister?"

"Yes, but the difficulty is that when he died, the court did not reach a conclusion and did not impose any additional charges. This is really difficult to decide."

It was still the same rhetoric as the previous two days, nothing new. Wu Shan looked at them helplessly. Could it be that he could only do what he wanted, write a memorial and go to the palace to see Emperor Jiajing's reaction?

Wu Shan is upright, but he is not a stubborn old man who doesn't know how to adapt.

Of course he looked down upon Zhao Wenhua, but since everyone was dead, he naturally didn't say anything.

Just when Wu Shan had made up his mind to write a memorial and kick the ball down in front of Emperor Jiajing, a clerk suddenly appeared outside the door and looked inside.

That was the clerk next to him. He was usually very discerning. I wonder what happened today. He was so reckless. Did he know that business matters were being discussed in the room?

"What's up?"

Wu Shan still suppressed his dissatisfaction and asked the person outside the door.

After hearing Wu Shan's question, the clerk walked in cautiously, bowed to the three adults in the hall, and then said: "Three adults, I just heard the news from outside, the military department Send a letter to the emperor to impeach Luo Wenhua for embezzling military pay, amounting to more than 100,000 silver."

"What?"

Wu Shan couldn't help but lost his voice. He had just planned to ask Zhao Wenhua for a favor. He also thought that everyone was dead and the previous grudges should be wiped out. However, he never thought that there would still be Qingliu who was unwilling to let Zhao Wenhua go and chose to continue the impeachment.

The ministers on the left and right were also surprised. This kind of thing was rare in the past. If a person dies and the debt is gone, any grievances in the past should be wiped out. But they didn't expect that someone would write a letter of impeachment at this time.

With this impeachment memorial, Wu Shan knew that the Ministry of Rites' side of the memorial would have to wait a little longer to see what the palace wanted.

If he is punished for this, naturally there is no need to mention the posthumous title given to Zhao Wenhua. Why should the guilty minister enjoy the posthumous title? If he is not guilty, he will immediately ask for a reward.

After thinking for a moment, Wu Shan came up with a plan, and then said to the left and right ministers: "That's good. We don't have to worry about whether to report it to the emperor. We will know what to do when this memorial is approved."

"Exactly."

"It makes sense, it depends on what the palace wants."

The two ministers naturally supported Wu Shan's decision. News of such a memorial should come out in a day or two. Even if the Ministry of Rites moves slower this time, other colleagues should be able to understand their embarrassment.

"Go to the General Affairs Department and give me a copy of Luo Jiabin's memorial."

After the left and right ministers left, Wu Shan gave instructions to the scribe.

At this time, the news about the impeachment of Zhao Wenhua by the Ministry of Military Affairs to Luo Jingyan once again spread in the officialdom of the capital. The difference from before was that most officials frowned slightly after hearing about the incident. They no longer looked like they had before hearing about the impeachment. Zhao Wenhua was so happy.

When Wei Guangde heard the news, he just shook his head. Why should he complain if he is dead? Are you planning to get involved?

If you don't understand, you don't understand. Wei Guangde definitely won't get involved. He didn't intend to get involved in the beginning. It would be bad for his little arms and legs.

Most of those who impeached Zhao Wenhua wanted to use impeachment to gain power, hoping to clear their names and benefit their own careers.

Now Wei Guangde has no chance to be promoted, so naturally he doesn't want those false reputations.

Zhao Wenhua is dead, and Yan Song's resentment towards him has naturally disappeared. Looking back on the past, it is still a bit sad.

It was just that when Luo Binbin's memorandum reached the cabinet, he had to deal with it. According to the customary rules, he suggested that a supervisor should check it and that would be it. As for what choice Emperor Jiajing would make in the end, he didn't bother anymore.

Yan Song smelled a dangerous atmosphere from this impeachment memorial, because the memorial mentioned that Zhao Wenhua embezzled military expenditures from the year before last, which was the 34th year of Jiajing.

When was that?

That was the most troublesome time for the Japanese rebellion in the southeast. The imperial court was greatly troubled by the Japanese rebellion in the southeast. Under extremely difficult circumstances, it mobilized a large number of troops and military resources to suppress the Japanese. At this juncture, Zhao Wenhua's greed for Mo was really confirmed. I don’t know if Emperor Jiajing’s anger will be ignited again.

"Can the Zhao family eat all the 140,000 shi of military rations?"

Yan Song muttered something in a low voice. It's not that he didn't believe in Luo Binbin. It was really possible for something like this to be done. It was this time. It was really...

In the evening, this memorial was sent to Yongshou Palace.

Neither the cabinet nor the Supervisor of Ceremonies dared to suppress any memorial about Zhao Wenhua at this time, and could only release it and send it to Emperor Jiajing's imperial desk.

When we saw that the year before last, during the most difficult period for the Ming Dynasty, Zhao Wenhua, the governor of Jiangnan, embezzled 140,000 shi of military rations, which was more than 100,000 taels of silver.

Since the construction of the city wall outside Beijing, the central finances of the Ming Dynasty have been extremely tight. At that time, in order to repel the harassment of Japanese pirates, some people actually took advantage of the grain that was squeezed out of the canal.

Before the chamberlain could finish reading the memorial, Emperor Jiajing reached out and motioned for the memorial to be handed over to him. He wanted to read it in person.

Soon, Huang Jin got Luo Jinbin's impeachment memorial from the chamberlain and presented it to the emperor. Emperor Jiajing read it back and forth several times. Several pieces of evidence mentioned in the memorial did not seem to be forged. Then he thought about Zhao Wenhua's occupation of Xiyuan's building materials and construction. In his mansion, new and old hatreds suddenly broke out.

Not thinking about anything else, he turned to Huang Jin and said, "It's reported to Lu Bing that after verification, the house will be ransacked and compensation will be paid. The more than 100,000 taels of silver must be vomited to me."

"According to the order."

Huang Jin answered with a low eyebrow, then took two steps back before turning around and leaving the palace gate to order people to do things.

Early that morning, Wei Guangde left his house in his carriage and headed for duty.

In the past, he always walked, but today it was a bit special. He had to go to the General Affairs Office to submit a leave application and prepare to go home and get married.

That's right, when Wei Guangde wanted to ask for leave, he didn't ask Yin Tai for approval, but asked Emperor Jiajing for instructions. The emperor could only leave after he nodded and approved the memorial.

Silently all the way, the carriage carried Wei Guangde to the gate of the General Affairs Office. The clerk at the door saw Wei Guangde and greeted him with a smile, but there were countless flames of gossip burning in his eyes.

Wei Guangde has not been here for a long time, but the deeds of two memorials about defeating a first-grade military general and a super-grade prince are still circulated in the yamen.

Obviously, the petty officials thought that Wei Guangde's sudden visit to the General Affairs Office might, should, or maybe impeach someone again.

Ignoring the eyes of the person at the door, Wei Guangde walked directly into the General Affairs Office and handed in his leave request.

"Congratulations, Master Wei, which family are you marrying?"

Naturally, the General Secretary wanted to read the contents of Wei Guangde's memorial, and they also had to copy and file it first. The news that Wei Guangde was getting married naturally could not be hidden from others, and it soon spread in the yamen, and then spread.

After the Zhao Wenhua incident, the Ming Dynasty fell into a brief news vacuum. Not much happened recently, and minor family matters became the main content spread during this period.

Zhao Wenhua's matter has been completely revealed. Forget about anything else, these more than 100,000 taels of silver are indispensable.

Officials who were ordered to confiscate Zhao's home four or five times, but only found property worth tens of thousands of taels, which was far from being able to offset Zhao Wenhua's embezzlement of public funds. Most of the money was used for gifts and expenses. Used up.

As a result, before the case was reported to Emperor Jiajing, Emperor Jiajing first scolded the official responsible for ransacking his house, and then issued an extremely severe imperial edict, accusing Zhao Wenhua of corruption, transferring stolen money, and selling his family members as official slaves and serving his men as soldiers to pay off debts. .

By this time, naturally no one will care about the Zhao family anymore. They are already a lost dog, and they will be like that if they are beaten again.

After handing in the memorial, Wei Guangde returned to the Hanlin Academy for duty. After signing his signature on the book, Wei Guangde walked straight in and entered within a few steps.

"Um?"

At this time, Wei Guangde noticed that the situation was a little different from the past. Today, there were many people standing in the garden inside the gate of the Hanlin Academy, chatting enthusiastically around an official in his thirties.

Wei Guangde had good eyesight, and he quickly saw that this person was of the same rank as himself, a seventh-grade official, but he had never seen this person in the courtyard before.

Wei Guangde walked into the door and was quickly noticed by people in the crowd. Some colleagues waved to Wei Guangde. Naturally, Wei Guangde couldn't avoid the crowd and left, so he walked over with a smile on his face.

As he got closer, Wei Guangde saw the man clearly. He had a handsome appearance, bright eyes, and a beautiful beard, which was a beard that was neatly combed.

"Come on, Guangde, let me introduce you. This is Zhang Juzheng and Uncle Zhang. Like you, he is the editor of our Hanlin Academy."

At this time, the official next to him who was familiar with Wei Guangde naturally acted as the introducer to introduce the two parties. After all, they would both work in the courtyard from now on, so they could not see each other without looking up.

Zhang Juzheng, is this handsome guy Zhang Juzheng?

Wei Guangde was a little surprised. There were a few paintings circulated in later generations that were unknown as to whether they were authentic or not. They were said to be portraits of Zhang Juzheng, one wearing a python robe, and another one wearing a python robe and sitting in a python robe. However, Wei Guangde was not impressed by the character in the painting, so he just glanced at it casually.

However, since he was a senior, even though everyone was an editor, Wei Guangde still took the initiative to bow his hand and bowed deeply, and Zhang Juzheng immediately returned the bow.

Zhang Juzheng took leave in the 32nd year of Jiajing's reign to recuperate in his hometown in Huguang. He just returned to the Hanlin Academy today to end his leave. He is not familiar with Zhu Dashou, Tao Dalin and others, nor is he familiar with Wei Guangde.

Participating in the conversation, Wei Guangde soon learned about Zhang Juzheng's past in the Hanlin Academy.

Zhang Juzheng was a Jinshi in the 26th year of Jiajing's reign, and he was selected as a scholar. After being selected, he served as a reviewer at the Hanlin Academy, and was later promoted to editor. Then he took leave to recuperate until now. His resume is simple.

"San Sheng came to see me yesterday and told me about you."

Zhang Juzheng saw that Wei Guangde was so young, and perhaps he couldn't help but think of himself nine years ago.