marquis of jingan

Chapter 1472: The Prince’s Tutor!

Chapter 1472: The Prince’s Tutor!

Time passes day by day.

On the third day after the emperor ordered the three judicial departments to thoroughly investigate corruption, Wang Zhengming, the Minister of the Dali Temple, and Cheng Hong, the Left Imperial Envoy, knelt in unison in the Ganlu Hall before the emperor, bowed their heads deeply, and said with shame: "Your Majesty, I am guilty."

Wang Zhengming, the Minister of the Dali Temple, even touched his forehead to the ground and almost shed tears on the spot: "Your Majesty, please punish me severely."

These two are the chief officers of the three judicial departments, and are listed as the nine ministers together with the six ministers. They can definitely be regarded as important officials in the court. On weekdays, they are holy in private, and sometimes they just bow their hands and do not even need to kneel on the ground.

And now, the two of them were almost prostrating themselves, obviously it was a big deal.

His Majesty the Emperor was looking through the letter of apology handed over by the two people, his face changing from gloomy to bright.

After a long while, he looked at the two of them and said slowly, "Where did Wang Qing work ten years ago?"

Wang Zhengming looked ashamed and bowed his head, saying, "Your Majesty, ten years ago I was the Junior Minister of the Dali Temple."

"Where's Cheng Qing?"

Cheng Hong lowered his head, his face also flushed: "Your Majesty, ten years ago, I was granted the position of Assistant Chief Censor of the Censorate."

The emperor asked again: "If I remember correctly, you are all Jinshi of the Hongde Dynasty."

"Yes."

The two were even more ashamed. Wang Qing lowered his head and said, "I am a Jinshi in the fourth year of Hong Deyuan."

"I am a Jinshi in the seventh year of Hongde."

His Majesty the Emperor closed the document in his hand and said silently: "In other words, you were all promoted by me, and you also grew up in the Sanfasi Yamen."

"especially you."

The emperor looked at Cheng Hong and said slowly, "The examination in the seventh year of Hongde was the first examination after I took power. It is also the one I value most. Now many important officials in the court are Jinshi of that examination."

It is worth mentioning that Shen Yi was the Jinshi in the seventh year of Hongde, and was undoubtedly the first among the Jinshi in the same year.

Ten years ago, most of Shen Yi's classmates were still fourth- or fifth-rank officials, or even fifth- or sixth-rank officials, and they couldn't even see the back of Master Shen. However, as Shen Yi had no more titles to offer, today, ten years later, those of his classmates who were promoted faster have already caught up with the level of the Nine Ministers.

"When I saw the documents you handed over, I felt sad and ashamed."

The emperor said with a stern face: "What makes me sad is that the officials I promoted to help me rectify the administration have also fallen into corruption and become corrupt along with other officials in the court!"

"What makes me feel even more ashamed is this."

The emperor coughed, and could not help patting the table, angrily saying: "Our officials from Jiankang are so despicable! Look at Zhou Yuanlang, why is he not listed among them?"

The reason why the two heads of the Three Judicial Departments knelt here to apologize was naturally because they were on Luo Yong's list.

And the implications are not small.

More importantly, Luo Yong had relatively clear evidence. After three days of investigation, the two chief officials had reached an irrefutable point. They could only honestly write a letter of apology and request His Majesty the Emperor to strip them of their qualifications to handle the matter and remove them from their posts and punish them.

"I am guilty."

Both of them had red eyes and kowtowed, saying, "I was confused for a moment, I am willing to be dismissed and punished, please Your Majesty, please punish me!"

The two men had already prepared themselves mentally before coming. They took off their official hats and put them aside, then kowtowed and shed tears, saying: "We are deeply indebted to the emperor's grace, and even death cannot redeem us."

Seeing that the two great ministers were shedding tears, His Majesty the Emperor stood up silently, walked in front of the two of them, was silent for a long while, then sighed, stretched out his hand and helped the two of them up.

"If I really convict you two, wouldn't the power to handle the case this time fall into the hands of outsiders?"

The "outsider" the emperor referred to was obviously Zhou Yuanlang.

Of course, as the Son of Heaven, one has to speak differently to different people. These words are obviously an attempt to win over people, so just listen to them and don't take them seriously.

However, both parties were moved to tears.

There is no way. They are all old ministers and know the rules. Since the emperor has shown favor, as a minister you have to cry.

If you don't cry, you may really cry later.

After patting the two on the shoulders, His Majesty the Emperor returned to his seat, closed his eyes and thought for a while, then looked at the two and said silently: "How much money have you two taken over the years, I..."

"I'm too lazy to ask."

"Regarding today's matter, I will first consult Luo Yong and ask him to remove the two of you from the list."

"As for Zhou Yuanlang, I will send someone to greet him, but he is from the old Qi after all. Who knows if he will be stubborn and want to make our Great Chen court look bad?"

"so…"

The emperor glanced at the two of them and said slowly, "You should also meet him in private and improve your relationship with him. Don't make it too awkward."

The two of them bowed their heads again, filled with shame.

"I understand."

His Majesty the Emperor nodded and continued, "In short, this matter cannot involve the two chief officials of my three judicial departments. Otherwise, it will not only be a matter of you two being stripped of your positions and imprisoned, but also the reputation of me and the court will be lost."

The two looked at each other, then fell to their knees and thanked the emperor for his grace.

The emperor looked at the two people kneeling on the ground, and a smile appeared on his lips. Then he quickly became serious again and said in a deep voice: "You two, continue to work with Zhou Yuanlang and handle this matter properly."

"This time, the amount of corruption is so huge that it shocks me. Although I have pardoned you, you cannot pardon others."

"Those below the third rank should be arrested and those who should be tried should be tried."

"Third rank and above, send them to me and I will make the decision personally."

The two looked at each other, then bowed their heads deeply and said, "Your subjects, we will obey the imperial edict!"

The emperor said "hmm" and waved his hand, "Everyone, please leave and do your job well."

He said meaningfully: "Don't let me down again."

The two of them knelt down again, kowtowed to express their gratitude, and slowly retreated.

After the two people left, His Majesty the Emperor lowered his head and drank a sip of tea. After coughing twice, he suddenly smiled and said, "Now, they will be obedient."

Shen Yi, dressed in a dragon robe, walked out from the back hall, bowed to the emperor, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty is wise."

"What's smart or not."

His Majesty the Emperor laughed at himself and said, "Gao Ming is still in Jiankang."

Mr. Shen was startled when he heard this, then he reacted and smiled: "Yes, Eunuch Gao is in Nanjing..."

The emperor looked at Shen Yi, and the smile on his face faded a little. He said slowly: "If they are not greedy and do not take advantage of others, I can't do anything to them. Unfortunately, in such a big court, there are too few people who are not greedy and do not take advantage of others."

Shen Yi nodded and said, "Even if it's Zhou Yuanlang, it's impossible for him not to be greedy. It's just that Zhou Yuanlang is a bit more skillful. It's not easy to find out that he took the benefits."

This time, the court's anti-corruption campaign is a combination of measures by His Majesty the Emperor.

Now, the other two chief officials of the Three Judicial Departments have been caught with evidence, and they can only cooperate with Zhou Yuanlang in the investigation. It is foreseeable that a large number of officials will be brought down in the future.

Among officials above the third rank, a number of those who do not conform to the emperor's will will also be dismissed.

At that time, these vacancies will be filled in part by the surrendered officials of the old Qi, and in part by new people.

But no matter whether it is the surrendered ministers of the old Qi or the new people who came to power, they will not oppose any policy of His Majesty the Emperor because of this favor. In other words, the relocation of the capital will be implemented smoothly.

In the court, the surrendered ministers of the old Qi will gradually become a new force.

This new force will not be too strong, at most it will occupy about 10% to 20% of the power in the court, but it is already large enough. As the leader of this force, Zhou Yuanlang will probably take this opportunity to become prime minister and enter the Secretariat.

This is the new court structure after the capital was moved.

His Majesty the Emperor looked at Shen Yi and said, "When they hand over the list of officials above the third rank, Shen Qing, you should also come to the palace. We can look at it together and have a discussion."

Master Shen frowned and lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, this... seems like something we should discuss with the prime ministers..."

"There are not many clean prime ministers."

The emperor looked at Shen Yi and sighed: "Shen Qing, please help me a little more. I really don't have much energy now."

"No outsiders will know about this."

Master Shen hesitated for a moment, but still bowed his head and said, "When the time comes, I can serve as an advisor to Your Majesty."

The emperor smiled with satisfaction and said, "I have already started to work on the matter of the Ministry of Revenue and Land Administration that Mr. Shen mentioned last time. When the time comes, I will let the fourth son be the first doctor of the Land Administration. However, in order to make the third son feel at ease."

He looked at Shen Yi and said with a smile: "How about giving you a part-time job, Shen Qing?"

Mr. Shen was somewhat puzzled: "What does your Majesty mean?"

Emperor Hongde was calm and composed.

"Prince and Grand Master."

(End of this chapter)