Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, many officials in the Hall of Supreme Harmony couldn't help but frown. 【Read the latest chapter】
Now is a rare opportunity to criticize the prince, but Zhao Junchen's words are intended to change the topic and excuse the prince!
Emperor Deqing's expression showed a flash of satisfaction, and he nodded in appreciation and said: "Zhao Aiqing wins my heart so much, it's just what Lao Cheng said in planning for the country. I also mean the same thing. Now that the people's hearts are unstable, I should Mitigating the impact is a top priority.”
After a few words of praise, Emperor Deqing asked again: "Then according to Yi Aiqing, how should we calm down the influence?"
Zhao Junchen replied slowly: "Your Majesty, there are two reasons why the current Southern Inspection's mistakes have had such a bad impact. The first is that the local government exploited and persecuted the people when preparing for the Southern Inspection. Many people As a result, they were all displaced and even had their families broken up, making everyone in the world think that the imperial court was harboring filth; secondly, when the victims came to Beijing to complain, the three judicial departments all refused to accept the case, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate also made many extraordinary actions. It also makes the world question the court’s unfair administration of justice.”
Hearing that Zhao Junchen changed the subject and wanted to help the prince to excuse himself, Shen Changmao snorted softly and planned to say something.
But Emperor Deqing was the first to speak: "That makes sense, so how do you plan to solve it, Aiqing?"
Zhao Junchen replied: "I believe that the top priority now should be three things. First, an important minister with a distinguished status and good reputation should be selected from the court as an imperial envoy and given arbitrary power to investigate and deal with the flaws in the preparations for the southern tour. , try those local corrupt officials who used the preparations for the southern tour to discredit His Majesty and make profits for themselves, try them one by one, severely punish them all, return justice to the people, show the determination of the court to eliminate evil, and make it public to the world. Only in this way can we stabilize the people's hearts. Fundamentally cut off the negative impact caused by this matter.”
After a pause, Zhao Junchen added: "However, in view of the fact that His Majesty's southern tour is about to begin, and in order to calm down the impact as soon as possible, the trial of the case should use thunderous methods and speedy judgment. It should be completed within two months. Your Majesty, Your Majesty of the Province, will still be troubled by rumors about this matter during your southern tour, and I hope that Your Majesty will learn from it."
After hearing Zhao Junchen's words, many officials were stunned again.
Two months seems like a long time. But you must know that the mistakes made in the preparations for the Southern Tour are not limited to one state or one prefecture. From North Zhili to South Zhili, there are all the places where Emperor Deqing will pass through on his Southern Tour. There are troubles that need to be asked. interrogating local officials. There are no less than dozens of people involved before and after, and all the cases will be closed within two months. Unless the interrogation is conducted in a prison situation, it is absolutely impossible.
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Regarding the reason for this approach, Zhao Junchen also explained to Emperor Deqing that the apparent reason was that only by closing the case quickly could the matter be prevented from getting worse. It also eliminated the possibility of local officials attacking the prince, but only Zhao Junchen himself knew the secret reason.
Therefore, Emperor Deqing didn't seem to notice the rush of time at all, and just asked: "Oh? Zhao Aiqing has thought carefully about it, but I don't know who Yi Aiqing thinks is more appropriate to hand over the appointment of the imperial envoy?"
Under the attention of all the officials, Zhao Junchen said: "For such an imperial envoy appointment, only a noble status can show the importance of the court. Only a good reputation can be convincing. In my opinion, the only one in the court who It is most suitable to have His Highness the Crown Prince."
Hearing Zhao Junchen say this, officials all over the court were in an uproar.
Because of the preparations for the southern tour, Prince Zhu Heyu's originally virtuous reputation has been seriously damaged and has attracted countless rumors. This is exactly what many officials are happy to see. But if the prince is made an imperial envoy to punish local corrupt officials and return justice to the people, wouldn't the prince's reputation be restored quickly?
Especially the prince's party did not expect that Zhao Junchen had such "good intentions", and they all looked at Zhao Junchen in disbelief for a moment.
Shen Changmao on the side couldn't bear it anymore. He glared at Zhao Junchen fiercely and said: "Your Majesty, I think Zhao Shangshu's suggestion is out of consideration. The prince is the person responsible for the preparations for the southern tour. , now that there are flaws in the preparations for the southern tour, how can the prince be allowed to become an imperial envoy to investigate the case? How can such an approach convince the world? I think it is inappropriate!"
Huang Yourong also came out and said: "Your Majesty, I also think it's inappropriate. Now that the southern tour is coming, the prince has the important task of supervising the country. During this time, he has been studying and preparing hard, but he can't be distracted."
However, unexpectedly, after Zhou Shangjing pondered for a moment, he glanced at Zhao Junchen thoughtfully and stepped out to express his agreement. He said slowly: "Your Majesty, I agree with Zhao Junchen. Now because of The preparations for the southern tour have damaged the prince's reputation. However, the prince is a prince. Such damage to his reputation may lead to instability in the society. Entrusting the prince with the imperial envoy's errands is a good opportunity to change the prince's reputation. .”
Both Shen Changmao and Huang Yourong did not expect that Zhou Shangjing would support Zhao Junchen's proposal. They couldn't help but look shocked and didn't know how to express their stance.
But Zhao Junchen was shocked. Unexpectedly, in just a few moments, Zhou Shangjing had already figured out Zhao Junchen's real plan.
When Emperor Deqing saw that Zhou Shangjing actually agreed, he couldn't help but be startled. A trace of surprise flashed across his expression, but while he was pondering, he still took the opportunity to say: "Since even Zhou Aiqing thinks so, then the matter is settled. Let the prince do it."
As he said that, Emperor Deqing turned to look at Prince Zhu Heyu, with a serious look on his face, and said slowly: "Prince, I will leave the imperial envoy's errand and the trial of the case to you. Don't let me down again. "
After hearing what Emperor Deqing said, Crown Prince Zhu Heyu glanced at Zhao Junchen with a complicated expression, and seemed to be a little surprised. After he came out of the queue, he just said in a deep voice: "My son, I obey."
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Seeing that the matter had settled, Emperor Deqing relaxed a little and asked Zhao Junchen again: "Zhao Aiqing, you just said that the court has three things to do. Now you have only said one, and the remaining two are What is it?"
Zhao Junchen replied: "Your Majesty, the blunders of the southern tour have caused such a big fuss. If we just punish local corrupt officials, I'm afraid it will not be enough. Those people who have been displaced or even lost their families have now become refugees. If It is not appropriate to leave it alone after all. It is the imperial court that needs relief and compensation for their losses. Now that the Ministry of Revenue has prepared enough money and grain, I hope that Your Majesty will issue an order to have the Ministry of Revenue come forward to rescue and compensate the suffering people, so that the world can People understand that the imperial court cares about the people, and this is the second thing I want to say."
Emperor Deqing didn't think too much this time, he just nodded and said: "What Ai Qing said makes sense. This matter will be left to your Ministry of Household Affairs to handle. It is necessary to let the people regain their confidence in the court."
Emperor Deqing did not think much about such a trivial matter. As long as the money used for relief and compensation did not come from the inner treasury, Emperor Deqing would not care.
What's more, from the perspective of Emperor Deqing. The Ministry of Household Affairs does not have much money left now. The so-called relief compensation is just a matter of face, and there is nothing wrong with leaving it to the Ministry of Household Affairs.
If Emperor Deqing knew that Zhao Junchen actually transferred 100,000 taels of silver from his own house to the Ministry of Household Affairs in order to provide relief and compensation to the victims in various places, he would be afraid that he would give such an opportunity to earn fame to the prince. Got it!
but. In the next two months, Prince Zhu Heyu will have to seize the time to travel to various places to review cases, and he is afraid that he will not have the time and energy to help the people.
Moreover, Emperor Deqing was also afraid that the amount of silver used by the Ministry of Revenue to provide relief and compensation was too shabby, so he did not inquire carefully. Such an opportunity to earn fame eventually fell into Zhao Junchen's hands.
The thoughts of the officials in the court were similar to that of Emperor Deqing. They believed that such relief and compensation was just a matter of face, so there was no controversy. As for Zhao Junchen's second proposal, they all agreed implicitly.
"Zhao Aiqing has been doing things more steadily and meticulously in recent days." Emperor Deqing praised Zhao Junchen again, and then asked again: "Then, what is the third thing Aiqing said?"
Zhao Junchen's eyes flashed, but he said loudly: "Your Majesty. The bad impact caused by the preparations for the southern tour and the actions of the local government are just the introduction. The reason why there is such a fuss is that the people came to Beijing to complain. After that, not only did the three judicial departments refuse to accept the case, but the Metropolitan Procuratorate even did a lot of extraordinary things. They not only beat refugees in the street, but also intercepted and arrested people from all over the country who came to Beijing to complain. Now in the hearts of the people, our DPRK is no longer There is no justice in the law. In order to calm the people's hearts and regain confidence in the laws of our country, I suggest that those related to the Metropolitan Procuratorate should be severely punished, the top and bottom censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate should be replaced, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate should be purged. Rectify!"
As Zhao Junchen finished speaking, there was another uproar in the court.
No one expected that Zhao Junchen, who had just been defending the prince, would suddenly point his finger at the Metropolitan Procuratorate!
For the three factions of officials, Zhou Shangjing, Huang Yourong, and Shen Changmao, such proposals and impeachments were essentially the topic of the meeting this morning. After criticizing and impeaching the crown prince, they would have to mention it sooner or later.
But I never expected that Zhao Junchen would bring it up first!
Could it be that when Zhao Junchen made such a proposal, he was not afraid of offending Emperor Deqing?
When Emperor Deqing heard Zhao Junchen's proposal, his expression even sank!
Emperor Deqing also knew that the Metropolitan Procuratorate would inevitably face the impeachment of hundreds of officials. However, the Metropolitan Procuratorate was now the headquarters of the prince's party. If the Metropolitan Procuratorate was rectified and purged, then Prince Zhu Heyu would not be able to rule in the court. There is no longer any power at all.
Therefore, Emperor Deqing originally planned to select a few scapegoats from the Metropolitan Procuratorate to take the blame, without damaging the fundamental power of Prince Zhu Heyu.
But what Zhao Junchen meant was to eradicate all the influence of Crown Prince Zhu Heyu in the Metropolitan Procuratorate?
Emperor Deqing knew that someone would make such a proposal in court this morning.
But Emperor Deqing did not expect that such a proposal would come from Zhao Junchen!
Could it be that Zhao Junchen felt that his wings were hardened and he no longer had the same heart as him?
Thinking of this, Emperor Deqing's eyes flashed with a hint of sadness.
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ps: The second update today, there will be another update before midnight! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation. Please go to m.qidian. to read.)
