Chapter 1061
Clash Inside the Qianqing Palace
Chapter 1061 Clash Inside the Qianqing Palace
Inside the Qianqing Palace,
The gilded dragon pillars, reflecting the sunlight outside the hall, cast distorted and intertwined shadows of the officials. Chang Zuo, the Vice Minister of Justice, stood below the Dan Hall in a red official robe, holding heavy scrolls in his hands, his knuckles white from the effort.
at this time,
Not to mention those who knew something of the sort, even those who were clueless could see that something was amiss. Even if the matter in Jiangnan was a major case, why would it be sent by express courier at the Grand Court Assembly? And the key point is that it was sent at this time. Many people secretly glanced at the retired emperor sitting on the east side.
"Alright, since Vice Minister Chang is willing to read it, then read it carefully and see who wrote the memorial and what it is about?"
The Empress nodded. Since someone was willing to read it, there was no need to force the Minister of Justice. Judging from Song Zhen's appearance, he should be retiring to his hometown.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly recite it well."
Then, witnessed by civil and military officials, they prepared to tear open the envelope. At this moment, even Zhang Jinyu felt something was amiss. What could have brought the Emperor Emeritus here? Moreover, it was an urgent report from Jiangnan. It shouldn't be caused by bandits or soldiers. Or perhaps it was because of the case in Jinling. Why had it taken so long to investigate?
Although he had read the memorial last night, Zhang Jinyu still couldn't understand the specifics of it and was completely baffled. He turned to look at the princes beside him, who remained completely unmoved. It seemed that this matter was of no concern to them. Since it was of no concern to them, the Emperor Emeritus's presence here was quite intriguing.
Just then, Chang Zuo, the Vice Minister of Justice, who was about to open the envelope, suddenly stopped what he was doing, pulled out the envelope, and walked up to the several Grand Secretaries.
"Your Majesty, esteemed Grand Secretaries, this letter is still unopened. I need to have it checked by you all to see if the seal is intact. Your Excellency, please take a look first."
Chang Zuo then grabbed Dai Quan's sleeve and led him to Chief Minister Li, handing him the envelope.
"Your Excellency, please take a look and verify it first,"
Li Chonghou squinted, his gaze merely sweeping over the envelope—it was intact—but his eyes lingered on his student. It seemed he had discovered something amiss. This quagmire was not easy to extricate himself from.
"Yes, it's unopened, I've checked it."
Now that the teacher had seen it, the others wouldn't be spared either. Chang Zuo took another step and stood before Elder Lu.
"Lord Lu, you should also have it checked,"
"Yes, the letter is unopened."
Lu Wenshan's eyes flickered as he continued to ponder the deeper meaning behind the message. Did the people in the Ministry of Justice already know the contents, or did His Majesty already know all along?
Next, Grand Secretary Gu and others also checked one by one. Finally, even the Wu Xun group, after only a brief glance, had their impatient Earl Changyong, Yue Qingwen, unable to contain his frustration, ask a question.
"Lord Chang, the envelope can't be faked. If the seal is damaged, it'll be obvious at a glance. Since His Majesty wants you to read it, why don't you open it and take a look?"
These rude words did not elicit any rebuttal from the others; rather, they were met with considerable agreement.
"Yes, Lord Chang, how could an envelope be switched in front of everyone?"
Earl Chengyi, Song Daichun, fearing that Earl Changyong might not understand the gravity of the situation, deliberately chimed in, and with someone interjecting, things became lively on the Wuxun side.
"Yes, it's gone around in circles, and the envelope still hasn't been opened."
"Exactly, even tearing a woman's clothes doesn't involve this much trouble."
The more they talked, the more outrageous it became.
Dai Quan frowned and reprimanded;
"quiet!"
Almost instantly, the hall fell silent again, and the Vice Minister nodded and bowed once more.
“In that case, Your Majesty, I shall begin the demolition.”
Perhaps it was Chang Zuo, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, who possessed considerable strength. With a swift movement, he had already torn open the envelope, revealing a stack of files, confessions, and two memorials.
Because there were too many files, two eunuchs were summoned, one for each of them. In his hands was the memorial from Xu Changwen, the magistrate of Chunyang County, to pay his respects.
"Your Majesty, esteemed ministers, the memorial in my hand is written by Xu Changwen, the magistrate of Chunyang County, recording the case of the breach of the dike and flooding of farmland in Jiangnan, and the case of the opening of the seal in five counties in Jiangbei. Another memorial is a record submitted by Xu Dong, the magistrate of Yongning County, along with other documents."
After the introduction, the Vice Minister unfolded the memorial and began to read it aloud in a hoarse voice;
"Your Majesty, I, Xu Changwen, the magistrate of Chunyang County, humbly request Your Majesty's well-being. As the deputy judge of the major case in Jinling, I have recorded the entire process truthfully. The case of the breach of the dikes and flooding of fields in Jiangnan appears to be due to the torrential rains before the summer, which overwhelmed the dikes. However, it was actually the tacit approval of a group of officials in Jinling. The Jinling prefectural magistrate was responsible for issuing the order, and the head constables and others were responsible for carrying it out. Furthermore, there was a military officer from Yangzhou who served as a witness. As a result, the people in Chunyang, Yongning, Shangyu, Anning, and five counties north of the Yangtze River suffered disasters. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced, and countless people were killed or injured. The best farmland in Jiangnan was destroyed in an instant."
Having said this, Chang Zuo paused for a moment, then continued reading, "Although the memorial was forceful, it was not inappropriate."
"Behind all this, the Grand Eunuch Yang Chi, the head of the Jiangnan Textile Bureau, was also involved. He conspired with Jing Cunliang, the Jiangnan Inspector General, to take advantage of this disaster to acquire these prime farmlands at low prices, annex the people's land, and use the profits from silk production to convert farmland into mulberry fields. Now, this has become a scheme to combine land conversion with disaster relief. In the end, the two cannot be achieved simultaneously. I asked Ma Guangcheng, the Vice Prefect of Jinling, 'Why do you treat human lives so lightly?' He replied, 'The Textile Bureau is under the control of Eunuch Yang, who is in charge of the palace. The palace naturally listens to the Emperor and the Retired Emperor. Everything they are doing now is for the Retired Emperor.' I asked again, 'Why is it for the Retired Emperor?' He replied, 'The Textile Bureau is in charge of making money. The five counties north of the Yangtze River are mining jade, extorting the people's wealth, all for the Retired Emperor's Taoist cultivation.' I angrily rebuked him!"
Before Chang Zuo could finish speaking, the Emperor Emeritus's expression changed, and many nobles turned deathly pale. The officials whispered amongst themselves, creating a buzzing sound in the empty hall. What kind of trial was this?
Even Zhang Jinyu was deeply shocked. Whose general was so brave, interrogating a case and bringing it into the palace? Little did he know that the Prince of Jin beside him nudged him with his elbow.
"My lord, why is your student sending these documents at this time? Isn't that a bit presumptuous?"
His gaze held a hint of inquiry, but beneath it, there was a touch of excitement. At that moment, Zhang Jinyu suddenly snapped back to reality. Wasn't Xu Changwen her student? And that Xu Dong—he seemed to be a disciple of Lord Nan of the Martial Valor Hall. Right, where was Nan Zixian?
"Your Majesty, I haven't finished reading yet,"
Seeing the commotion inside the hall, Vice Minister Chang had no choice but to stop, and Dai Quan called out at the opportune moment;
"quiet,"
The hall fell silent instantly. The Empress Dowager rested her hands on the dragon throne, her grip on the handles lightly. Her gaze swept over the assembled officials, her eyes constantly fixed on the Retired Emperor. It seemed the Retired Emperor was unaware of the memorial from Jiangnan.
“Continue reading. Since he dared to bring the memorials and documents here, it’s an ironclad case. I also want to hear how the officials and people of Jiangnan view the court.”
"Yes, Your Majesty. Your subject, Xu Changwen, assumed the post of magistrate of Chunyang County a month ago. Since then, countless people have starved to death. After the disaster struck the five counties north of the Yangtze River, there has been no relief effort. The case of the unsealing of the jade mines in the previous dynasty is outrageous. The Imperial Household Department colluded with the local government and gentry to seize the people's land, embezzling from their own fields. The people, no longer interested in production, have turned to banditry, all for those jade stones."
This resulted in the destruction of families and deaths in the five counties north of the Yangtze River. The officials in charge were led by Hu Wenxuan, the Assistant Magistrate of Jinling; the Imperial Household Department was responsible for transporting the jade; the Yangzhou military was responsible for seizing it; and the Imperial City Guard was responsible for inspection. Officials colluded with each other. When I questioned Hu Wenxuan, "Why did you do these heinous things?" he replied, "Just because of a word from Eunuch Yang and a document from the Imperial Household Department, I dared not disobey. These jade stones are for the palace, for the Emperor Emeritus's Taoist practice." I asked again, "How do you know they are for the Emperor Emeritus's Taoist practice?" He replied, "The Imperial Household Department works for the palace. Everyone knows that the Emperor Emeritus wants the jade stones for his Taoist practice. Using Taoist practice to seize the court's fortune is just like Jia Zhen of the Ningguo Mansion's Taoist practice. As a subject, who dares to disobey?"
Upon hearing this, I was greatly shaken. How could a wise and sage like the Retired Emperor possibly practice such unorthodox methods and disrupt the court? Take Jia Zhen of the Ningguo Mansion as an example; how could the Emperor defy the world by reopening a jade mine that the previous dynasty had ordered sealed off—an act that could lead to the downfall of the nation! Such a person who deceives the Emperor must be thoroughly investigated to restore justice and clarity to the people and the court!
Upon hearing this, all the officials turned pale, and many broke out in a cold sweat. The contents of the memorial were almost entirely true. Many officials had also taken out their silver to buy jade from the Imperial Household Department. Some were curious, while others wanted to curry favor with the Emperor Emeritus. The jade was crystal clear and had a warm luster; most of it was of superior quality. If this case were investigated thoroughly, would those who had redeemed the jade be implicated?
Inside the Qianqing Palace,
As the clouds outside the hall swirled and the sunlight reflected off them swayed, casting flickering shadows, Chang Zuo's hoarse voice boomed like thunder. He recounted the story of the breached dikes and flooded fields, the case of the jade mine in Jiangbei, and the crimes of corruption and embezzlement committed by the Jiangnan Textile Bureau, the Imperial Household Department, and the Jiangnan officialdom. The air inside the hall seemed to freeze.
The princes' faces turned ashen, staring in disbelief at the person reciting in the center of the hall. This was utter disrespect—daring to slander the Emperor Emeritus! But in their hearts, they already knew that since he dared to recite it in public, the evidence must be irrefutable. Moreover, they would also know that the Emperor Emeritus had achieved considerable success in his cultivation.
Grand Secretary Li Chonghou's eyes were slightly open, a smile playing on his lips. The truth of the case had been revealed, but if they were to investigate further, they could only reach the palace, specifically Chang Le Palace. He wondered if this action was orchestrated by the Emperor. "Ahem, the memorial was written clearly, and the questions were asked clearly. I suppose all the case files, documents, and confessions sent were the same?"
Grand Secretary Li spoke first, inquiring whether he, as the head of all officials, should be given priority.
The Vice Minister nodded and sorted the dossier and confession.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Secretary's confession and the case file remain unchanged, with the magistrate of Yongnian County, Xu Dong, acting as guarantor and signing the document."
"Yes, that's right. According to the Great Martial Law, interrogation and recording should be conducted by two people."
He shuffled unsteadily to the center of the hall, observing the somewhat flustered expressions of the civil and military officials, but remained unperturbed.
"Your Majesty, since the case files and testimonies are all available, it would be better to close this case here. Jiangnan should prioritize stability. The actions of the Textile Bureau are also for the sake of the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Household Department. This old minister dares not interfere."
It seemed to be a brief mention, and many civil and military officials were secretly pondering the meaning behind the Grand Secretary's words. Should they investigate or not? Why did it stop here, and to whom should it stop?
To everyone's surprise, the censors were already unable to contain themselves, especially the few who had returned with the army, who looked displeased. Cao Guangzheng was the first to stand up and refute them.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Secretary is mistaken. Now that the case is clear, we must investigate it thoroughly to find out whether someone framed us or deliberately framed us. We must restore justice to the world. How can we let personal matters interfere with public duty?"
"Your Majesty, I second your opinion. Jiangnan is the place where our dynasty's funds and grain are stored. Now it is in such a state of ruin that it is both man-made disaster and natural calamity. I believe that it should be thoroughly investigated."
"I second the motion,"
"I second the motion,"
"I second the motion,"
The officials of the Six Ministries, along with other officials, all seconded the motion, creating an almost unanimous situation. Seeing the Emperor Emeritus's increasingly cold and grim expression, the princes could no longer stand firm. Their plans for the day had come to naught. Prince Zheng, with a solemn expression, stepped forward and spoke.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say,"
With an almost impatient and oppressive aura, the Martial Emperor stepped forward, but he was not in a hurry. His eyes showed contemplation as he first asked the Grand Secretary.
"Prime Minister Li, I remember that on that day, two confessions were sent from Jiangnan. One was a letter from Jing Cunliang, the Jiangnan Inspector General, and the other was the interrogation confessions of Su Chong and Lan Jili. I told you to take them back and read them. Have you read them both?"
"This old minister took it back and examined it,"
Li Chonghou nodded, and that very day, he took the manual back and read it with everyone.
"I have read three memorials in total. In addition to the two mentioned above, there was also a memorial submitted by Zhuang Shouzhi, the Provincial Treasurer of Jiangnan. I interrogated them twice, and their testimonies were consistent."
"Hmm, if that's the case, why are there two different confessions in the case, one from the previous reports and the other from the report Xu Changwen submitted this time?"
The Empress's words were loaded with meaning, conveying the key point to all the civil and military officials, and even the retired emperor.
"Your Majesty, Su Chong, Lan Jili, and many officials who interrogated Ma Guangcheng and Hu Wenxuan were present earlier. However, Xu Changwen and Xu Dong were later re-interrogated, and their testimonies were not compared, resulting in discrepancies."
Li Chonghou didn't hide anything. Since the statements were inconsistent, either he had recanted his testimony or he had concealed something earlier. This matter involved the palace, and no one wanted to get involved. Therefore, it was only natural that many things might not have been recorded.
Furthermore, only someone like Xu Changwen, new to officialdom and unfamiliar with the rules, would alter or delete the testimonies recorded by the person taking them.
Emperor Wu had already considered this point, but deep down he might have held some approval for the two county magistrates.
"Chief Minister Li, if I'm not mistaken, the confessions submitted earlier did not record the facts truthfully. On the contrary, two lowly county magistrates dared to record the facts in their written confessions. What if they were changed?"
"Your Majesty, according to the laws of the Great Wu Dynasty, the confessions of prisoners must be recorded truthfully. If they are to be presented to Your Majesty for preview, they must not be altered. To alter them would be the crime of deceiving the emperor. In my opinion, the trial must be conducted, and the record must be made truthfully."
He agreed with this point; if everyone arbitrarily altered the case files, the case would never be solved.
"Hehe, I'm confused. It seems we can't investigate what happened in Jiangnan. Where is Yang Chi, the person in charge of the Imperial Household Department and the Textile Bureau?"
"Your Majesty, the person is still in Jiangnan,"
Dai Quan's forehead was beaded with sweat, and he quickly replied.
"Alright, if that's the case, arrest them and let them—no, let Su Chong and Xu Changwen interrogate them."
Emperor Wu waved his hand, intending to settle the case, but Prince Zheng waited for a long time without the emperor intervening. Just then, Prince Han and Prince Song, noticing the situation was not going well, stepped forward together.
"Your Majesty, I have something to report,"
These shouts immediately silenced the murmurs of the court officials and drew everyone's attention. The Empress rubbed her hands together and finally nodded.
"Alright, since you have something to say, then say it. King Zheng asked first, he asked first,"
"Thank you, Your Majesty,"
King Zhou Changde of Zheng immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the case in Jiangnan is obscure and difficult to investigate. Although there are many testimonies, I think that all the officials in Jiangnan, including this Magistrate Xu, are harboring evil intentions. Since the case is being tried in Jiangnan and Jiangnan is causing trouble, the presiding judge and the deputy judge should recuse themselves. The magistrate of Chunyang even slandered the palace and showed contempt for the Emperor Emeritus, which is naturally a great disrespect and should be punished. I think it would be better to send all the guilty officials, including the Inspector General and the Provincial Governor, along with Xu Changwen, back to the capital for a joint trial by the three judicial departments, so as to restore justice to the world."
Almost righteously, he also ordered the deputy judge and the chief official of Jiangnan to be escorted back to the capital. He was determined to find out what was going on. As for Xu Changwen, he was a protégé of Luo Yun. If he was guilty of embezzlement, he would be punished as well, to make an example of him. Besides, what official in the world is not corrupt?
"Your Majesty, I second that opinion. It is said that the more things are discussed, the clearer they become. Since both are guilty, the trials in Jiangnan are nothing but a case of officials protecting each other. If a trial is to be held, the three judicial departments should conduct a joint trial, and all the officials should be invited to participate. I do not believe that anyone is manipulating things behind the scenes."
The Prince of Song's eyes lit up. It was indeed a strategic retreat; now that he was in the capital, he couldn't fool these people anymore.
"Your Majesty, I also agree. Since this involves the imperial granary and is a serious case, I believe it should be thoroughly investigated. Xu Changwen, relying on his position as deputy judge, is making baseless accusations. Could it be that he has accepted bribes and acted with such audacity?"
The King of Han's gaze had already turned back to Marquis Luoyun. The four counties of Jinling were the richest counties in the country. How could a county magistrate not be corrupt? Especially under the guise of disaster relief, who in every dynasty didn't collude to embezzle and conceal the disaster relief grain and funds? Even the most timid ones would eventually take a lot. If that Magistrate Xu had touched the disaster relief money and grain, it would give them a perfect excuse.
Seeing the princes' righteous indignation and their unwavering words, Zhang Jinyu felt uneasy. Could it be that they already had something on them? But that seemed impossible. So what was the purpose of the Emperor Emeritus's visit?
"Your Majesty, this old minister requests permission!"
(End of this chapter)