The emperor appeared at the Meridian Gate, in front of the throne.
Before the ministers saluted, they were surprised to find that beside the emperor, in addition to several eunuchs in charge of rites, there was also Zhang Zhou.
What surprised them even more was that Zhang Zhou passed by them majestically and walked out of the Meridian Gate.
"My lords, today is the day when the examination results will be released. Some things should be decided." Zhu Youtang said, "Dongchang, please bring people in."
After receiving the order, Xiao Jing quickly walked out of the Meridian Gate and gave the order to the Jin Yiwei.
The ministers present were also curious about what the emperor was going to do. After waiting for a long time, they saw a group of scholars in blue shirts coming under the escort of royal guards. They were even more confused. mind.
Zhang Zhou, who had walked out earlier, turned around and stood with this group of people.
The total number of these scholars is forty or fifty.
Liu Jian turned around and glanced at the scholars in the distance, and quickly asked, "Your Majesty, what are you going to do?"
Zhu Youtang pointed at the scholars in the distance. He said, "Many of them were people who met Cheng Minzheng when they came to Beijing to prepare for the national examination, and some were just people who discussed issues outside. Dongchang selected these people after a strict investigation, and they were all or more Maybe they are involved in the case. Today I am going to do something for Tingji, so I should call them all and explain it clearly."
"This"
Liu Jian. He doesn't look good.
It doesn’t matter if the emperor wants to personally review the case, but if so many ordinary scholars are summoned at once, it won’t be a big deal.
This seems to be contrary to the original intention of calming down troubles.
"Bring the other people involved in the case over." Zhu Youtang ordered again.
"Yes."
This time Xiao Jing was much more relaxed and calm.
As Dongchang escorted several more people, the officials present could only recognize the leader, Cheng Minzheng, a Hanlin scholar. Behind Cheng Minzheng, there were two sloppy-looking scholars on the left and right. In fact, it was Tang Yin and Xu Jing, and there were three more people behind them. They didn't look like they were studying, but more like servants doing chores for others.
"Read it out."
Zhu Youtang said this to Dai Yi this time.
Dai Yi came out with a memorial, but he did not read it out immediately, but explained: "Dear ministers, this is Xu Jing's confession. He was in Fusi, Beizhen. In it, he confessed that when he came to Beijing to meet Cheng Minzheng, he bribed the Zhike of the Cheng Mansion with gold coins, and was supported by the confession of the Zhike of the Cheng Mansion. The three Zhike of the Cheng Mansion also made identifications, and it was confirmed that Xu Jing was undoubtedly in the hands of the Zhike of the Cheng Mansion at the same time. , a booklet of bribes and bribes was found, detailing the bribes paid to them by the scholars who visited them in the past few years. "
"Your Majesty's intention is that those before September last year will not be counted, only those before September last year. For example, those who came to Beijing to take part in the examination in October and later were called together to make on-site identifications to see who came to visit and bribe them to seek good luck."Advocate for action"
Wait for Dai Yi to finish speaking.
Then he read Xu Jing's confession and Cheng Minzheng's memorial in public.
The ministers present were in an uproar.
Even Liu Jian, Xu Qiong and Bai Ang, who had learned the news in advance, thought that the emperor was planning to sacrifice Cheng Minzheng and Xu Jing as a result to calm the external discussions and do something. To put things to rest.
Now they know that the emperor is planning to play a big game.
It is not that Zhang Zhou, Xu Jing and Tang Yin were involved in the matter. In the end, only Xu Jing and Tang Yin went to visit. Cheng Minzheng’s evidence
Let’s not just involve these few people in the case. Anyone who went to see Cheng Minzheng, especially those who had given property to Cheng Minzheng’s family, were all taken away
< p>What is this called?Expand influence and divert conflicts
Previously almost everyone was targeting Zhang Zhou, Tang Yin and Xu Jing, but with this group of people here. , things become complicated, the roles played by those three people are no longer important, and public opinion will turn to criticize the scholar's tendency to seek advancement despite fate.
Min Gui hurriedly came out and said, "Your Majesty, this is the case. Will the expansion of the implication damage the dignity of the imperial court?"
Zhu Youtang said coldly, "A good-looking meeting can turn into a big case without any evidence, which will make the government and the opposition disturbed. Now I just want to ask for an answer. Isn’t this what the Qing family wants?”
The emperor almost said, now you, Min Gui, feel that it is not good to expand your influence
You guys When attacking Cheng Minzheng, no one seems to have considered the stability of the court. Now you feel that the matter is beyond your control, so you have to persuade me to stop
"Identify it" Zhu Youtang He said sharply.
The more than fifty candidates present are all candidates for this examination. There are many people who go to visit Cheng Minzheng. Those who are not candidates will not be arrested. Of course, some of them are talking outside. Candidates with more serious questions are asked to be witnesses.
On-the-spot identification always requires some unrelated people to come and serve as foils.
" It was him, Yuan Ye of Shuntian Mansion. When he went to the mansion, he took six taels of grain silver and some tea from Jiangnan."
It was said that he was three knowledgeable guests of Cheng Mansion, including the housekeeper. , Menzi, and Huyuan went directly to identify those who had gone to Cheng Mansion and gave gifts, and were immediately pulled out by Jin Yiwei.
"It's unfair."
"It's not unfair." I went to see them, how could they be recognized and even be polite?"
The people in Jinyiwei are not used to their mistakes, so they identified each one and pulled them out.
Not long after, More than 20 people have been pulled out, and all of them have given gifts more or less.
The identification over there is still going on, while Cheng Minzheng, who is kneeling in front of the Meridian Gate, has a look of regret on his face. The look on his face at the beginning, with his head lowered and a look of self-reproach and regret, was that he simply hated himself for being a human being.
He said it was a gift for his servants, but in fact most of it didn't go into his own pocket
>Cheng Minzheng was also thinking, everyone else is doing this, why can't I do this?
"Yeah."
Zhu Youtang cleared his throat.
Those ministers who were looking back to identify the bustling ministers all turned back.
"Dear gentlemen, is it unfair for me to ask this?" Zhu Youtang asked.
The ministers present did not know what to say.
Now Xu Jing is the only one giving gifts. There are so many people giving gifts, and Xu Jing is not the only one. Strictly speaking, this is the fairest way to check.
Zhu Youtang said, "I also know that when the examination is approaching, candidates from all over the country will gather in the capital. There will always be people who want to cling to famous scholars in the court to gain fame. The court did not have this before. It is clearly stated that this is not allowed, and it also gives some people an opportunity to take advantage of it. I believe that besides Cheng Minzheng, there are also many people who have been invited to receive scholars."
The ministers also remained silent.
There were all civil servants present, and no one had ever seen the candidates. When the candidates came to see them, many of them brought some gifts. Some of them they did not know or were valuable were also turned away, but many of them were themselves. Who would turn away an old friend from aristocratic family who comes to give some gifts
Just like when Li Dongyang visits his scholars every year, there are hundreds of people. Could it be that everyone goes empty-handed
"I will make a rule here. In the future, before the Great Competition or the Spring Festival, no officials are allowed to meet with scholars from all over the country. Even if they want to meet in normal times, they cannot be bound by the ceremony of apprenticeship. They are not allowed to meet each other. Talk about exam questions and other matters."
Zhu Youtang set the rules on the spot.
"I sincerely obey the imperial decree." The ministers present seemed unable to hate Cheng Minzheng now.
Cheng Minzheng sacrificed himself to set a rule for the court.
Some people are still thinking, fortunately His Majesty asked Cheng Minzheng to be the examiner this time, and the dirty water of the question was only poured on his head. Otherwise, if I were the examiner, I might get the same result.
After Zhu Youtang set the rules, he fell silent, as if waiting for the identification to end.
After waiting for less than half an hour, everyone was finally identified. There were originally more than fifty candidates standing there, but less than ten people were left, and Zhang Zhou was still standing there. With.
"Your Majesty, we have inquired clearly." Xiao Jing came over and informed in front of the ministers, "The ones who have been taken down now are all candidates who went to see Cheng Minzheng. There are forty-two people. Thirty-six of them brought property worth more than two taels to meet them first. This is the detailed list and the status of the property gifts."
As he spoke, Xiao Jing presented the list of gifts to the emperor. .
Zhu Youtang asked, "Do all those scholars recognize it?"
"There are a few who don't recognize it." Xiao Jing said, "Only a few."
"Yeah."
Zhu Youtang's face was somewhat annoyed.
Even the minister felt that those candidates who refused to admit were seeking death. Everyone in the Cheng family recognized them, and everyone else also admitted them honestly, but these few still insisted on it. NoHe was willing to admit it because he wanted to go to prison to loosen his bones
Xiao Jing said, "Most of the people who deny it are talking about vendetta issues. Some of them are even making public claims about Cheng Minzheng and Zhang." Zhou, Tang Yin, and Xu Jing secretly exchanged letters and so on."
"Bastard"
Zhu Youtang said angrily, "They themselves have done things to seek advancement through good luck. , but deliberately slandering others, such people are the most unforgivable. If they are on the list of successful candidates in the examination, they will be removed from the list, so that they will never participate in the examination or be an official. The imperial court does not need people like this."
Xiao Jing said, "Your Majesty, I have checked the list of tributes submitted to the Ministry of Gifts, and these people are not on the list."
This statement was understood by all the ministers present.
The more nonsense the articles are written, the more likely they are to cling to powerful people to find backdoors, and after things fail, they will become more purposeless in talking about others in an attempt to unsettle the government and the opposition.
"The atmosphere of scholars is that they are disturbed by this group of people, and their hearts are distracted. Even the justice of the Rites Examination must be criticized. What is the purpose?"
Zhu Youtang At this time, it seems that there is no fear of the expansion of the impact of the title.
Because there are already ready-made "scapegoats", these knights went to give gifts to Cheng Minzheng. They did not get the title, but turned around and attacked others
As long as they get into trouble If it is made public, the point of venting public opinion will no longer be on the impartiality of the trial, but on these villains.
Their actions also cut off the way for others to cling to them.
In the future, if you want to gain reputation by visiting famous scholars before the examination, this road will not work.
Zhu Youtang said, "Dear gentlemen, do you think there is anything wrong with my handling of this matter?"
No one here is willing to be the bad guy.
Li Dongyang, who had not spoken in the court for a long time, came out and said, "Your Majesty, I also believe that these people should be expelled from their fame and deposed to the people to set the record straight."
" Okay."
The emperor is not in a hurry.
Anyway, now that the conflict has been transferred, maybe some of these people have really been wronged
Before, I hoped that the public opinion would calm down as soon as possible.
Now I hope that public opinion will spread even more.
Zhu Youtang nodded, "Mr. Li Ge has always set an example for literati. I think your suggestion is very appropriate. First, these people will be detained in the Fusi of Beizhen. After the interrogation is over, they will be punished." The rest of the people who gave gifts to Cheng Minzheng"
Originally Xu Jing thought that his career was over, but now he seems to have some hope again.
The law does not punish the public.
I'm not the only one doing this.
So many people have been put on trial together, otherwise His Majesty and all the cabinet elders and ministers should be merciful
Li Dongyang suggested again: "I think that if there has ever been a good relationship, we should seek progress." If he succeeds in this examination, he will be deposed, and he can be punished with a rod and sent to the local government to serve as an official."
Xu Jing's heart sank, but it was over.
Those who have given gifts to those who won the Jinshi will be deposed, and those who have not won the Jinshi will have to pay money to redeem their punishment and be sent to work as minor officials. Doesn’t that mean that they will never have the chance to take the National Examination in the future
< p>It's just a little better than the villain who changed his fame.Zhu Youtang said, "I didn't give any gifts, but I just paid him a visit."
"I don't ask."
Li Dongyang said this because he actually considered it. own situation.
With so many people coming to visit him and many giving him gifts, it is considered a good thing that the emperor did not pursue the matter further. If he simply went to see Cheng Minzheng and there was no evidence of any wrongdoing, he would have to hold him accountable. Then in the future I am afraid that all the ministers and scholars in the court will be in danger, and social interactions among the literati will also be cut off.
"It makes sense." When Zhu Youtang said this at this time, he was actually slapping the face of the civil servant present.
Mainly anti-customer.
Zhu Youtang said again, "Cheng Minzheng is a Hanlin scholar. He cannot avoid suspicion when he comes to make money. He has been criticized for his dishonorable Wenheng. He is asked to become an official and live in the capital and no longer interferes with the affairs of the court."
"Old minister, thank you for your grace."
Cheng Minzheng knelt down to express his gratitude.
He achieved the result of becoming an official without being punished, which not only calmed the discussion, but also made himself feel better. Cheng Minzheng did not dare to complain.
Zhu Youtang looked at Xiao Jing again and asked, "By the way, Zhang Zhou is probably not involved in this case."
Xiao Jing smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I will give birth to Zhang Zhou. I have never been to Bachelor Cheng's house in the beginning, and the two of them have never exchanged letters, so they will naturally not be involved."
"Well, you should hear it and stop talking about it. From now on, we will serve as ministers together." Zhu Youtang nodded to remind the civil servants present.
Zhang Zhou is my dearest general, and it would be a bit uninteresting for you to talk about him.
I just want to tell you that now that Zhang Zhou has become a Jinshi, you will never see him again without looking up and looking down. It is also good for yourselves to be kind to him.
"Where's Tang Yin?" Zhu Youtang pointed to the kneeling Tang.
Xiao Jing said, "Tang Yin only went to visit with Xu Jing. He didn't know about the gift-giving. There is no evidence for the so-called vendetta."
Zhu Youtang said, "Then what happened to him?" , I won’t ask. As for the other person, Hu Ke, who was involved in Zhonghua Chang, he made many mistakes by not investigating the facts and should be severely punished.”
The people involved in the case have basically already had their own affairs. Belong.
The only person left is Hua Chang.
In terms of crime, Hua Chang is actually not guilty, but he is the initiator and the culprit who amplified the situation.
The emperor hated Hua Chang even more for insisting on involving Zhang Zhou. This was what the emperor felt Hua Chang could not forgive.
"Your Majesty, you should not be held accountable for your actions." Min Gui said.
Zhu Youtang shook his head, "If everything is reported without careful investigation, and just based on hearsay, what prestige will there be in the court? Hua Chang transferred to Nanjing Taipu Temple." The chief registrar shall be fined for half a year and the other persons involved shall be punished by the Three Laws Division for the circumstances.The severity will be determined as appropriate. ”
“The matter has come to this. The results of the examination and the matters agreed upon in this case can be announced to the outside world at the same time. ”
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