"Min Shouzheng and others are suspected of fraud in the examination room. We still need to report it because we cannot let the court think that we were behind the massacre of these people."
Du Ruojia said.
Sun Qin said: "That's natural! It's a pity that one of them was leaked."
"Even if one is leaked, nothing can be found."
"Killing them is just to scare other humble soldiers. Even if the Jinyiwei is so powerful that he has spies in these gangs, he can only find out the powerful people behind them. Can he also find out about us official officials?"
"Besides, even if his royal guards find the right people behind him, they will probably take the initiative to silence him before he can protect him."
Du Ruojia replied.
Sun Qin nodded.
Not long after, Min Shouzheng learned about this from Yang Yingkui and asked, "What do you mean, all the poor people who made trouble were killed?"
Yang Yingkui nodded: "It is said that the gangsters broke into Yingtian Mansion."
After saying that, Yang Yingkui smiled and said: "Of course, Mr. Min should know that in fact it is our family of officials who are just trying to intimidate those poor scholars."
Min Shouzheng was silent for a while and then asked: "Are you really shocked? What if the remaining low-ranking soldiers continue to make trouble and disturb the superiors?"
“During the make-up recording, we recorded everything they could, so naturally they wouldn’t be able to say anything else!”
"Anyway, the number of supplementary admissions is no longer enough to affect the overall situation of the candidates being mainly officials and officials. If a few more humble scholars are ranked first, doesn't it just show that this provincial examination is actually fair?"
"Besides, most of the fallen soldiers who did not make trouble are docile and honest people. After being recruited, they can be guided as our people."
Yang Yingkui said.
Min Shouzheng nodded: "That makes sense."
And then, Min Shouzheng did exactly that.
The poor men who were defeated were not killed because they did not follow them to the governor's Yamen to complain. Then, as expected, they were selected by Min Shouzheng to be included in the quota of candidates for the provincial examination.
But the results were not as good as they expected.
Time goes back to one month ago, in October of the 16th year of Wanli.
Due to the small glacier climate in the capital, it has started to snow frequently at this time. The whole city is plain again, and the court has become more and more quiet at this time.
This is mainly related to the fact that after the price of silver coins fell, there was no big disturbance in the court.
After all, officials from both the new and old parties are now focusing on the value of the subscription tickets, so the court is much more peaceful than before.
On the contrary, there are still constant turmoil in the local area.
Twenty years have passed since the Longwan Reform. A large number of prosperous citizens, workers, and farmers have begun to frequently fight with the original landlords and gentry over the grassroots voice and political and economic interests.
It can be said that an increasingly large emerging class is beginning to be dissatisfied with the social order dominated by big landlords and big bureaucrats. They also want to participate more in the struggle for political power and compete for more say.
Back to the topic.
In the capital in October of the 16th year of Wanli, Zhu Yijun discussed the matter with Shen Shixing and others again because of the constant turmoil in the local area.
"It is not enough to make the local right-wingers fear the imperial court's regulations through the reform of the official system. It is necessary to use newly emerged groups, more refined and struggle-minded groups, to further suppress the right-wing ones and let them learn to respect them. With Awe, they already have a natural advantage in financial management, and we cannot let them have an advantage in the competition for power."
Zhu Yijun said and told Zhang Jingxiu: "Jinyiwei will send more people from Xingming Academy to organize local movements and use them to promote new rituals and new culture."
Then, Zhu Yijun ordered Qi Jiguang: "Officials and soldiers are not allowed to participate. We strictly order all commanders and generals to not do anything beyond their authority."
Immediately, Zhu Yijun ordered Shen Shixing: "Officials at all levels are ordered to exercise their powers in accordance with the law and not to act recklessly."
"yes!"
Shortly after Zhu Yijun gave these instructions, he received a tip from Yingsheng member Chen Zhongyong.
"Examination fraud!"
Zhu Yijun then looked at Shen Shixing: "I will never allow fraud in the examination room. If even the imperial examination cannot be fair, then I really don't know how much trouble will happen!"
Shen Shixing said: "Your Majesty, it is very difficult to verify fraud in examination halls nowadays. This is because when fraudsters engage in favoritism, it is not illegal in terms of criminal law."
"For example, if a scholar's article by a high-ranking official has been circulated by the Qingliu Hanlin officials, once he starts his career, the examiner will select him as long as his writing style is consistent. But if a scholar's article by a disciple of a poor family has already been circulated, Once he has established his career, the examiner will dismiss him as long as he remembers his writing style;"
"There are reasons for whether it is right or not, such as whether the article is unique or too out of the ordinary, but the essence is that it comes from different backgrounds."
"No matter how difficult it is to investigate, we must investigate. As many as we find out, we will deal with them strictly and kill them to serve as a warning to others."
Zhu Yijun said: "I have actually asked Jin Yiwei to focus more on the examination fraud case, but I don't believe it. They can't find any clues!"
"Even if, as the master said, these fraudsters use very obscure methods, that is, there is no direct act of selling test questions and no specific target of favoritism, there will always be one or two fish that slip through the net, as shown by Chen Zhongyong It’s a good way to solidify the evidence.”
Zhu Yijun therefore ordered: "The Zhenfu Division sent an imperial envoy to arrest the person reported by Chen Zhongyong, collect evidence, and protect witnesses."
"According to the order!"
A month and a half after Zhu Yijun made this arrangement, Jin Yiwei and Ying Tian asked about the massacre of Han Shi and arrived in the capital by express delivery almost at the same time.
"I apologize. The Jin Yiwei failed to respond in time this time and found out in advance that traitors were massacring the scholars, resulting in the death of a large number of the scholars."
Zhang Jingxiu even directly apologized when he reported the crime.
Zhu Yijun only sneered and said: "What a coincidence, I just met the governor and was slaughtered when he came back!"
"Such a coincidence. If the governor colluded with Hao You to improvise, unless the local Jin Yiwei was also involved in the matter, how could they find out in advance?"
Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Jingxiu and said:
"So, after all, maybe the other party has a sudden murderous intention. I will give you a chance to make meritorious service and investigate both internally and externally. Who dares to be so bold!"
Zhang Jingxiu raised his hand and said yes.
Then, Zhu Yijun asked Shen Shixing: "What is Governor Yingtian's explanation for this? The fallen Hanshi was killed as soon as he came back from seeing him. He has to give an explanation to the court!"
"Both the governor and the governor of Yingtian came to plead guilty. They said that they did not expect this to happen, and they felt deeply guilty of dereliction of duty. They also said that there might be fraud in the Yingtian Township Examination this year, which angered Hao You and made him retaliate. And ordered Jiangyang thieves to massacre the poor people."
Shen Shixing played at this time.
Zhu Yijun lowered his face and said, "Are you bullying me for not having clairvoyance?! I know it was Hao You who did it. Didn't they themselves participate? I don't believe that they are so incompetent that they couldn't stop Hao You from killing people in broad daylight! First of all! Put them in jail and investigate strictly!”
(End of chapter)
