General Administration Office
Early in the morning, Cheng Xin, the general envoy, got off his sedan chair in front of the stone lion in front of the government office. He heard bursts of noise in his ears. He was stunned and whispered: "Why are there so many people?"
As far as the eye can see, there are officials of the seventh rank, including officials, censors and chief ministers, as well as officials of the sixth and seventh rank from Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment, gathered around and discussing in secret.
At this time, as Cheng Xin entered the Office of the Secretary of General Affairs, the officials under the eaves of the Secretary of General Affairs all bowed and saluted to Cheng Xin, who was one of the nine ministers of the dynasty.
Cheng Xin bowed his hands in return, and then walked towards the group of General Affairs Secretary Zuo Tongzheng Zheng Xulin who came out of the Yamen archway.
It is recorded in the Han Hui Dian: "The envoys of general administration received internal and external chapters to submit reports and refutations."
"Let's talk after we enter the Yamen." Seeing Zheng Xulin opening his mouth to say something, Cheng Xin waved his hand to indicate that he didn't need to say more, and then, surrounded by his entourage and retinues, he entered the official hall.
Cheng Xin had just sat down behind the eucalyptus and asked, "Why are there so many people here today?"
"It's not just yesterday that the earth dragon stirred and the imperial mausoleum collapsed. Jin Yiti rode across the city and arrested officials from the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This morning, these officials came to the door. Deliver the memorial." Zuo Tongzheng Zheng Xulin, who was wearing a fourth-grade crimson official robe, with gray hair, slender eyebrows and a thin face, said in a low voice: "Just now, someone from the cabinet came over and said that the cabinet has just drafted an edict. The person who supervised the construction of the imperial mausoleum was corrupt and has been deposed as a commoner!"
Cheng Xin's face changed slightly when he heard this and said, "No wonder."
As he said that, he waved his hand and said, "Bring over the classified memorials and let me see what they are."
In the early system of the General Secretary, even the General Secretary did not have the right to read the memorials, but could only forward them to the emperor. However, as time passed, the prevalence of the "unsealing and sorting" and "copy preparation" systems made some memorials Before the report was made to the imperial court, it would have been known to the general envoys, and it might have been leaked to the parties concerned.
Of course, once the trend of impeachment has formed and you want to cover up the parties involved, the risk of getting involved yourself is very high.
Of course, after Jia Heng established the Military Aircraft Department, all military aircraft memorials were sealed in the casing and sent directly to the Military Aircraft Department without going through the General Affairs Office. For this reason, the Military Aircraft Department and the Internal Supervisor set up a receiving memorial near the palace gate.
Cheng Xin flipped through the memorials and frowned, suddenly feeling that the memorials in his hand were particularly hot to the touch.
Because this is a memorial to impeach the current cabinet minister Zhao Yi.
Clearly, with the imperial edict that King Zhongshun should be punished, and through the cabinet's official edict, all the officials and people in Shenjing City knew that the current king's brother had been punished by the Supreme Emperor, deposed as a commoner, and was sent to work in the imperial mausoleum.
The corruption scandal in the imperial mausoleum also replaced the recent Beijing inspection plan, which has been a hot topic in the capital, and entered the vision of the court officials. One after another impeachment memorials were sent to the Daming Palace.
Who to impeach?
The first person to bear the brunt of this was Zhao Yi, a bachelor of the cabinet and minister of the Ministry of Industry. He neglected his responsibilities in the ministry, so that two ministers and ministers were involved in the affair. Zhao Yi cannot escape the blame!
It seems natural for a cabinet minister to be removed from his position or demoted.
Below them are the two ministers of the Ministry of Industry, who should be handed over to the Three Laws Division to judge the case, strictly discuss the punishment, and investigate the evil in detail. This type of memorial can be said to be the most numerous.
Without him, the use of factory sanitation to build large prisons has seriously damaged the normal judicial process.
No civil servant wants to live in an environment where the imperial power is unrestricted and he can kill people at will.
On the contrary, King Zhongshun had already been dealt with by two generations of emperors, Emperor Taishang and Emperor Chongping. There was almost no suspense. There were only a few civil and military officials who impeached him. However, the establishment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was mentioned by officials and ministers, and it was abolished. The Ministry of Internal Affairs dismissed all provincial mining and tea envoys and refused to compete with the people for profit.
It can be said that for a time, public opinion about the collapse of the imperial mausoleum and corruption gradually fermented, and discussions began to boil in Shenjing City.
"Category these and deliver them to the Daming Palace." Cheng Xin ordered Zheng Xulin and sighed secretly, thinking that Mr. Zhao Ge would only be deposed.
The current Chen-Han cabinet, not counting the governor Li Zan, still has five people in the cabinet. However, for such a big event as the collapse of the imperial mausoleum, it is impossible for a cabinet minister not to be responsible for it. So Zhao Yi, one of the two Zhaos, Naturally, he became a suitable candidate to take the blame. Even if a person is sitting at home, disaster will come from the sky.
Jinyi Mansion
At this moment, in the hall, Jia Heng is sitting behind the eucalyptus. Behind him is the majestic figure of the descending tiger painted in brass. On the black lacquered paulownia eucalyptus are placed an inkstone, a writing brush, a sign tube, official paper and other items.
The bright floor reflected the generals and commanders of the Jinyi Mansion wearing Feiyu uniforms.
Not far away, in the Daming Palace, Xiang Daiquan led several internal eunuchs, sitting on a nanmu chair beside them, holding a tea cup in their hands, lowering their heads to taste it.
Jia Heng glanced at the Fusi in Beizhen and responded to the thousands and hundreds of households. He pondered for a moment and said loudly: "The Holy One has an order to confiscate all the property and goods of the criminals involved in the emperor's mausoleum to make up for the shortfall. Qu Zhenfu, give the order." , first of all, arrest the officials yesterday, use brocade attire and cavalry to guard the residence, and seize the property to prevent their family records from being hidden or transferred."
This is preparing for a house raid. In the original Dream of Red Mansions, when the Zhen family in Jiangnan was raided, a lot of property was transferred to the Jia family in advance, and the Jia family actually dared to help hide it, so that they later became the seat of the Jia family. evidence of guilt.
Sometimes he had to admire the level of intelligence of some people in Rongguo Mansion. How dare they deceive the emperor?
Qu Lang, the governor of Fusi in Beizhen, held orders with two palms holding thousands of households in charge.
At this moment, a man dressed in brocade hurriedly entered the official hall from under the eaves, cupped his hands and said, "Sir, Pan Bingyi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, heard that King Zhongshun was deposed as a commoner, and he has something to report to your lord."
Jia Heng said in a deep voice: "It seems that I have figured it out."
After King Zhongshun was deposed as a commoner, and the relevant evidence fell into the control of the Jinyi Mansion, Pan Bingyi could not excuse himself even if he tried to quibble. During the overnight interrogation by the Jinyi Mansion, he began to relax.
However, he only has one request, to see Jia Heng.
Jia Heng said in a deep voice: "Bring Pan Bingyi here."
Not long after, I saw the executioner from the execution room of Jinyi Mansion carrying Pan Bingyi to the Yamen.
The former third-rank official of the imperial court was now wearing a prison uniform and became a prisoner. After just one night, his cheeks were sunken, his eyes were bloodshot, and his hair was unkempt.
"Kneel down!"
With a deep shout, the captain of Jinyi Mansion behind him pressed Pan Bingyi tightly.
"The lower official is a third-rank official in the imperial court. According to Han law, he should be tried standing up!" Pan Bingyi said loudly, holding his neck.
The minister of the Ministry of Industry was considered to be one of the two people with the highest official rank here. Therefore, he was not executed in the imperial prison last night. Instead, he was the target of Jia Heng's key breakthrough interrogation today.
And this undoubtedly gave the minister some kind of misunderstanding, and the Jinyi Mansion was wary!
Jia Heng said coldly: "I have been ordered by the emperor to interrogate you and other prisoners. There are no officials of the third rank here, only prisoners under the rank. Pan Bingyi, kneel down!"
Do you think you are Haigangfeng?
Still claiming the law of the Han Dynasty and being tried standing up?
There are no civil servants such as Xu Jie and Gao Gong here to make secret comments, only factory guards who are like wolves and tigers.
Captain Jinyi, who was pressing Pan Bingyi's shoulder behind him, heard Jia Heng's words and kicked his legs. Pan Bingyi immediately let out a muffled groan and knelt down.
Dai Quan picked up a tea cup and watched the scene quietly without saying a word.
Jia Heng said coldly: "The prisoner Pan Bingyi, a loyal and obedient official of the Internal Affairs Office of the King, has already confessed, stating that the three offices of the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Revenue were all involved in the imperial mausoleum matter, cutting corners and embezzling ICBC, and the relevant evidence of the crime They have been searched and found in the secret room of Prince Zhongshun's palace, and Prince Zhongshun has also been dealt with and deposed as a commoner! Mr. Pan, until now, you still haven't recruited him from the truth in order to seek the favor of the court, when will you wait!?"
When Pan Bingyi heard this, his heart was shocked and he shouted: "This official is unjust."
Jia Heng sneered and asked: "I want to ask you, according to Luo Chengwang's confession, you, as the left minister of the Ministry of Industry, got 10% of the money allocated by the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance to supervise the construction of the imperial tomb. That's right. no?"
According to the testimony of Luo Chengwang, a lieutenant in the Construction Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 50% of the embezzled money went to Prince Zhongshun, and the remaining 50% was divided between the two ministers of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and 15%.
Because only the Ministry of Revenue can allocate money, without the cooperation of Liang Yuanzhi, the right servant of the Ministry of Revenue, Taimo would never have gone so smoothly.
Pan Bingyi hesitated and did not dare to respond.
Jia Heng said in a deep voice: "It seems that I won't shed tears until I see the coffin. If you come, I will be punished!"
There is evidence, and it cannot be said that someone has been wronged.
Pan Bingyi's heart trembled, and he said anxiously: "Master Jia, I said..."
Once tortured, how could his body withstand it?
Dai Quan looked at this scene with a sneer at the corner of his mouth. These civil servants have very soft bones.
Just when Jia Heng signaled the experience department to record the confession, suddenly, a captain in Jinyi quickly entered the official hall and whispered: "The governor, Xu Zongxian of the Metropolitan Procuratorate has been waiting in the front hall and said that he has something to see. grown ups."
Jia Heng's expression paused for a moment, he looked at the Jinyi captain, and secretly thought, what is Xu Lu doing here at this time?
There are some vague guesses in my mind.
When Pan Bingyi heard this, his eyes rolled, but his thoughts quickly became vivid, and he said loudly: "Master Jia, the imperial mausoleum is corrupt, the lower officials sincerely don't know the details, and have never divided the stolen money!"
He knew that the officials in the court would not tolerate the rampant and unscrupulous factory guards.
And Xu Deqing is a well-known direct minister. Once he is watching from the sidelines, he will never sit back and watch Jinyi Mansion "succumb to defeat"!
When he survives this period, his life and fortune may be saved.
When Jia Heng heard this, he was startled, and said with an indifferent expression: "Go and tell Mr. Xu that I am carrying out errands under the emperor's orders. If there is no important military and national affairs, no one will be seen!"
Pan Bingyi: "???"
"Get the stick on!"
Jia Heng slapped the alarm, and immediately two captains in Jinyi came from both sides, one on the left and one on the right carrying sticks, and came to Pan Bingyi.
"ah……"
Not long after, groans of pain came from the government hall. Pan Bingyi was sweating profusely as he was pinched with sticks, groaning in pain again and again.
"I'm recruiting... I'm recruiting, I'm recruiting."
Pan Bingyi shouted feebly, his fingers were swollen all over. Youdao means that the fingers are connected to the heart, not to mention such a corrupt official who has no faith.
Jia Heng nodded and signaled Pan Bingyi to continue.
As Pan Bingyi's confession was taken, the chain of evidence regarding the corruption in the imperial mausoleum became more and more complete, with black and white letters and irrefutable evidence.
But he said that in the front hall of Jinyi Mansion, a middle-aged official wearing a black gauze on his head and an official robe embroidered with Xiechi patchwork was sitting on the coffee table, waiting quietly.
Xu Lu had a thin face and a gloomy face. He raised his eyes and looked at the orderly captain in brocade clothes, flying fish suit and embroidered spring knife coming in and out. His eyes were blurred for a moment.
More than ten years ago, he had been here to visit a senior in the examination room who was dismissed for fighting for the crown prince. The smell of blood from more than ten years ago seemed to linger in the air, and the screams could also be vaguely heard.
"It's just a matter of one thought whether Luo Zhi is implicated and the ghost of grievance is lingering when Jin Yi reopens the prison, or whether he can distinguish right from wrong and punish his crime accordingly." Xu Lu put down the tea cup and thought.
The scribes accompanying him were a little curious and wondered what the General Constitution was thinking.
At this moment, a captain in Jinyi came in and said, "Sir Xu, my lord is on an imperial mission. It's not easy to meet him at the moment. If you have nothing urgent, can you wait here?"
Hearing this, Xu Lu's expression changed, as if he was a little surprised by the result. He raised his eyes to look at the Jinyi Colonel. The second-grade officer's eyes were calm, but his demeanor was not angry and intimidating, which actually made the Jinyi Colonel slightly agitated. He lowered his head, not daring to look at each other.
Xu Lu was silent for a moment and said, "I have a letter here. Please pass it on to Jia Ziyu."
As he spoke, he took out a letter from his sleeve and placed it on the small table.
"Don't worry, sir, I will hand the letter to the governor." The captain in Jinyi cupped his hands and said.
After Xu Lu finished speaking, without saying another word, he stood up and left the official hall of Jinyi Mansion with a group of scribes.
Not long after, Jia Heng, who was recording the confession in the Yamen hall, received the letter, opened it and looked at it, his face moved slightly.
The letter is not long, only a short paragraph.
The general meaning is that although the big prison was caused by corruption, it should not be implicated. It is a big violation of the country's laws. If you don't hear about the culprits, will there be no consequences?
"Really, if others see it, I'm afraid they will feel disgusted... Are you teaching me how to do things? But Xu Deqing is this kind of person." Jia Heng slowly put down the letter and thought.
I originally thought that Xu Lu was fighting for his right to rule, but it turned out to be a letter of remonstrance. The purpose was simply to let him stick to his heart and make decisions based on law.
"This is an era where imperial power is supreme. I can guarantee that no innocent people will be implicated, but that's all. Besides, dealing with extraordinary people requires extraordinary means." Jia Heng shook his head and thought.
There was no need to meet Xu Lu. This time, he had no intention of casting a wide net, but no one in the net could escape.
Although they were both members of the imperial party, he and Xu Lu were destined not to go together. Not only did they have different paths and did not work together, but in the eyes of the emperor, their relationship could not be too close.
"Let him sign and sign." Jia Heng looked blank, staring at Pan Bingyi below, and ordered, and then said in a deep voice: "Come here, bring Lu Chengan, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, to the court for questioning!"
The sooner this affair comes to an end, the less turmoil it will cause. Otherwise, if it continues like this, those who ask for mercy and accommodation will have to cross the threshold. At that time, they will not be able to respond to requests, and they will easily suffer resentment.
Because, as the presiding judge, as long as he has priorities in the final proceedings, or even speaks a word for any prisoner, his life can be spared.
On the contrary, if he wants to implicate Luo Zhi, all relevant officials from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be arrested and imprisoned.
In fact, just as Jia Heng expected, when the news of King Zhongshun being deposed as a commoner spread to Shenjing, at nearly noon, some imperial officials from Ningguo Mansion and Rongguo Mansion came to visit, and even Concubine Nan'an also asked Jia Mu here.
After many years, Jia Mu once again realized what it meant to be crowded with people and cars and horses.
Even the wife of Zhao Yi, minister of the Ministry of Industry, approached Jia's mother through Princess Zhen of Beijing, an old relative of the Jia family.
Otherwise, I hope that Jia Heng will defend himself for his husband, that he will not be involved in the imperial mausoleum, and that he will know nothing about the shortcomings of Pan and Lu.
If Jia Heng, an important minister of the emperor, said even one word, things might turn around.
Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall
Jia Mu is sitting on the Arhat bed, with Yuanyang, Hubo and others waiting behind her. Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue, Feng Wan, Chai Dai, Ying Chun, Tan Chun and Xiang Yun are also sitting at the bottom to accompany her.
Not far away, the silver-haired Concubine Nan'an, the so-called concubine, in the Chen Han sense, is not the concubine of the late emperor in the usual sense, but the husband of Concubine Nan'an, the legacy of the old King of Nan'an - —The Dowager Princess.
Princess Nan'an smiled and said, "Sister, your body looks strong."
Mother Jia looked at Princess Nan'an, who had a rosy complexion, and said with a smile, "It's the younger girls who get younger as they live."
The two old ladies talked about the past, and Princess Nan'an smiled and said: "Old sister is a lucky one. Now the clan has a handsome young man like Jia Ziyu who has been waiting for a long time. He has established a family with his family, and he is the ancestor of Ning Guogong. wind."
These words naturally mentioned Jia Heng, which made it easier to talk.
In fact, it is only now that Jia Heng's power has been completely consolidated.
When Jia Heng paraded troops in front of Anshun Gate, he was still just the commander of the regiment and camp. When he took over as the deputy envoy of the Jingying camp, he was on the rise, but he still didn't see any signs of taking off until he was appointed as Jinyi again. The governor once again entered the military aircraft department and heard about state affairs, and finally became a decisive political force in Beijing.
However, even though Jia Heng is extremely powerful at the moment, his understanding of Jia Mu and others may not be very profound. Until now, official orders have been coming in waves since the morning.
Mrs. Wang's expression was complicated after hearing this, and Sister Feng's face moved slightly. Her red and phoenix eyes flashed with an inexplicable color, and she cast her gaze on Princess Zhen Xue of Beijing, who was sitting not far away and was talking to Yuan Chun.
It was clearly Princess Zhen Xue of Beijing Shuirong, sitting aside with a few nannies.
This young woman wore a pale red dress, a green bun with clouds, bright eyes and white teeth, and lips like red clouds. She held Yuanchun's hand and smiled gently: "Sister Yuanchun has become more and more charming after years of separation."
This second lady of the Zhen family is different from Zhen Qing, the eldest lady of the Zhen family who married the King of Chu. She has a cold personality, even a little harsh.
Zhen Xuehua has a beautiful face, skin as good as snow, a gentle and gentle temperament, and speaks softly and softly, like a willow brushing water. When she smiles, there are light pear dimples on her cheeks that are full of girlishness, but there is a lingering feeling in the corners of her eyebrows and eyes. The lightness and charm of a married woman.
Even the head of the Zhen family, Zhen Yingjia, often joked to his wife that, in terms of temperament, perhaps changing their names would be more appropriate for their two daughters.
"Princess is a busy person, I don't want to bother you." Yuan Chun's plump and jade face was filled with a smile. Turning his eyes, he looked at the little girl holding grandma's hand. The little girl was wearing a pink coat and skirt with horns. Her pigtails are pink and jade-cut, and she is cute and charming. She is looking at Xiangyun and the others curiously.
Xiangyun also smiled and made a face at the little girl. The little girl wanted to go, but she was a little scared.
Then he saw Yuanchun looking at him, knowing that he was his mother's best friend, with bright eyes, childish and smart, he smiled, and showed the same shallow pear dimples as his mother.
It was Shui Xin, the daughter of Zhen Xue and Beijing Wang Shuirong.
Yuanchun stared at the girl, feeling a little sad.
Zhen Xue is only a few months older than her, but her daughter is already three or four years old.
Under Zhen Xue's head, sitting was a woman in her early forties, wearing a pale yellow silk skirt and a jade hairpin. She was Mrs. Zhao Yi, the Minister of Industry, Wu Shi.
The Wu family came from the Wu family, a famous eunuch in Jinling, and had been friends with the Zhen family for many generations. This time, she asked Zhen Xue to come over to meet Jia Heng.
Of course, Zhao Yi, who regarded himself as a Confucian classics teacher, did not know that his wife, who was more than ten years younger than him, had the rashness to marry Wu Xun's Jia family. If he found out, he would be furious.
Under Princess Nan'an, there was also a young woman with a sad face sitting. She was the wife of Yu Congdian, a member of the Ministry of Industry's Tuntian Cleaning Department, Wailang Yu Congdian. One of her sisters was married to Yan Pan, the second son of the Nan'an County Prince. Side room.
In other words, Yu Congdian, who was involved in the corruption of the imperial mausoleum, and Yan Pan, the second son of Nan'an County Prince, were still brothers-in-law.
