Wang Xijue came on horseback. As a cabinet minister, he could naturally reach the emperor directly.
Therefore, Wang Xijue suddenly appeared at this time.
Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Xijue after hearing this: "What grievances do you have to redress?"
Wang Xijue replied at this time: "The grievances I reported are your Majesty's own grievances."
"What grievance do I have?"
Zhu Yijun asked pretending to be surprised.
At the same time, Ning Chengan and other local celebrities from Shaanxi who were invited by Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Xijue with deep eyes, and some could not help but frown because of this.
For a while.
As a result, the atmosphere of the entire banquet suddenly changed from joy to silence. The only thing that could be heard was the howling wind from outside the palace, blowing the candles at the banquet flickering.
Wang Xijue continued to reply here: "After investigation, it was found that many local bureaucrats in Shaanxi have turned a deaf ear to His Majesty's decree to permanently exempt Shaanxi and Shanxi from corvee work since the 15th year of Wanli! In other words, they only pay attention to the officials and gentry. Haoyou no longer levied dingyin from corvees, but still levied dingyin from the common people. Some bureaucrats even levied additional dingyin. In the name of immigrating overseas, they levied additional dingyin from the hometown. This is called "if you want to avoid being moved away, stay in your hometown". If you continue to farm in your hometown, you have to pay the hometown bank."
"Thanks to His Majesty's hard work for so many years, they have been bullying and abusing the people in His Majesty's name, causing Your Majesty to be misunderstood by the people as a cowardly tyrant!"
"So your Majesty, can you not be unjust?"
"Is there such a thing?"
"What you said is true. How is this possible? I have eyes and ears like factory guards, and the courtiers are all selected through strict inspection. How could such a situation happen?"
Zhu Yijun stood up and asked again pretending to be shocked.
Wang Xijue raised his hands and said, "How dare I frame them? I all have proven evidence!"
At this time, Li Ruhua, who was the patrol censor, also arrived in front of the emperor:
"Your Majesty, I also have a grievance report, and it is the same as what Mr. Wang Ge told me. In many places in Shaanxi, there is still a phenomenon of enslaving the people and even making excuses. Your Majesty has given great favors to the people, but this favor has been withheld by them until now. If you can’t get it out of their hands, it will only enrich them!”
After saying that, Li Ruhua said: "I have not framed you, and all of them are true!"
"Bring me the evidence and let me see for myself."
Zhu Yijun said something at this time.
So, not long after, a sergeant came up carrying two large boxes.
After the two large boxes were opened, Zhu Yijun left his seat, walked over, and then picked up a stack of confessions, notices about increased taxes, and private messages exchanged with each other and read them.
Especially Wang Xijue seized the most.
Zhu Yijun couldn't help but look back at him.
This old man with thick eyebrows, big eyes, a beard, a long face, and a long face was still keeping a concubine a few days ago. He hid in his room and discussed the philosophy of life with his concubine. How could he find out so much in the blink of an eye?
Zhu Yijun then looked at it carefully, and couldn't help but throw the evidence in his hand to the ground.
Then.
Zhu Yijun said nothing.
He had nothing to say.
Because this is all reasonable.
History has told him countless times with bloody facts that as long as the bureaucracy does things, it is impossible for these things to not happen.
Even under the rule of the wise and mighty Hongwu Emperor.
And whether Zhu Yijun believes it or not, it is the truth.
And there was no need for him to reprimand or blame anyone. In other words, there was no need to even be angry.
But emotionally, Zhu Yijun still inevitably has emotional fluctuations.
He's not completely indifferent yet.
"Have all these people been arrested?"
Zhu Yijun only asked at this time.
Wang Xijue replied: "Caught some, killed some, and some committed suicide."
Li Ruhua also replied at this time: "The same goes for me."
"Where are the people who were arrested, where are the people who were killed, and where are the people who committed suicide?"
Zhu Yijun asked.
Wang Xijue continued to reply: "They are all outside."
After hearing this, Zhu Yijun walked straight out.
Then, Zhu Yijun saw many crying sounds coming from the courtyard outside the palace. Many people in gorgeous clothes were being tied together with unkempt hair. There were several large boxes filled with human heads on the ground, and some people who had committed suicide were being carried away in fear of crime. Several corpses came, all lying on the ground.
"Let them all go and see."
After Zhu Yijun took a look, he walked back and pointed at Ning Chengan and other celebrities and officials.
Therefore, all these celebrities and dignitaries came over to take a look.
Many people were so frightened that their feet gave way and collapsed on the ground.
Some even vomited on the spot.
There are even those who shed tears on the spot when things hurt others.
Dang Chongyuan, a scholar-official, began to cast a cold look at Zhu Yijun's back.
Immediately, more and more celebrities and dignitaries looked over, staring directly at Zhu Yijun over the emperor's personal guards holding fire guns and giant shields.
Zhu Yijun turned around at this moment.
The eyes of these celebrities suddenly softened, and they lowered their heads with a look of sadness.
"Take this as a warning!"
After Zhu Yijun turned around, he only left this sentence, and then said: "Password, today's banquet is cancelled, I am tired!"
"His Majesty!"
Sudden.
Ning Chengan shouted, and then stood out from the crowd of celebrities.
Zhu Yijun stopped on the spot, looked back, and asked, "What does Ning Qing want to say?"
"I believe that what Mr. Wang Ge and Li Fengxian said are all framed, and the so-called evidence of guilt is all forged, and they are all trying to frame local officials and people!"
"Your Majesty, please give me a clear warning!"
Ning Chengan spoke without blushing and without a beating heart.
Zhu Yijun felt angry for a moment. He didn't know where Ning Chengan had the courage to confuse right and wrong like this.
But Zhu Yijun did not immediately burst out in anger, but suppressed his anger and asked: "You said it was forged, but please tell me how it was forged."
"Your Majesty, Wang Xijue and Li Ruhua are both villains. How can the villain's words be trusted? How can the evidence given by the villain not be perjury?"
Ning Chengan replied directly, with a firm look in his eyes.
Zhu Yijun stared at him for a while: "You should know that I don't like others. You use this method of denying a person first and then denying his language to convince me."
"His Majesty!"
"I agree, Mr. Wangge and Li Fengxian are obviously seeking fame and reputation, deliberately slandering the virtuous parents of this town, and also deliberately denying you. It is obvious that the world has been blessed by your holy heart, and the world has been governed for a long time. How can there be so many people who abuse the people and bully them? People, it can be seen that they are obviously deceiving the emperor!"
"Even the factory guards didn't find so many heinous people. How could they find it? It's obvious that they are lying!"
Before Ning Chengan could respond to Zhu Yijun's words, fellow eunuch Daocheng, who had been the minister of Guanglu Temple in the Longqing Dynasty, also stood up and echoed Zhu Yijun's words.
"Your Majesty, I also agree that Mr. Wang Ge and Li Fengxian deliberately framed our fellow villagers in Shaanxi, and even killed good people and took credit for their merits. If your Majesty believes these two treacherous officials, they may cause a civil uprising!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, it has long been known to the world that Wang Xijue is duplicitous, forms cliques for personal gain, and puts his name on others to sell his integrity. He is also corrupt, so much so that the Wang family has become rich through corruption!"
"And Li Ruhua in our Shaanxi Province only knows how to make money by using the power of patrol. The people of our Shaanxi Province have long hated him to the bone, and they had planned to denounce him in front of the emperor today!"
"So, how can we trust their words?"
"Your Majesty, what they are doing now may have aroused public resentment. At this time, they should be killed to show the anger of the people!"
"Your Majesty, please kill them!"
…
At that time, many local celebrities and officials in Shaanxi strongly refuted, and even directly began to slander Wang Xijue and Li Ruhua.
"Your Majesty, I already know a lot about Wang Xijue, Li Ruhua and other ruthless officials who have caused harm to our country, and I wanted to expose it to Your Majesty at today's banquet."
Ning Cheng'an continued to speak at this time and said: "After Duke Zuo Yude, the former prince of the imperial family, committed suicide, his grandson Hou Yaozu fled to the minister's place, and the blood letter left by the marquis was handed over to your majesty, accusing Wang Xijue. In order to avenge the inscription that he was not sure of in the Hanlin in the past, now he is being framed for enslaving the people to death, and he has no choice but to commit suicide to avoid the humiliation!"
"Your Majesty, the Marquis is a Confucian minister of this dynasty, and he has a teacher-student relationship with Your Majesty. However, Wang Xijue is so brutal, not only insulting Si Wen, but also bullying the king and destroying the ancestors!"
As he spoke, Ning Chengan knelt on the ground, took out the blood book from his sleeve, and said, "If your Majesty doesn't believe it, you can call the student counselor Hou Yaozu into the palace to ask questions."
"Your Majesty, I also have a complaint submitted by the slave of my former friend Sun Zhixian. It is said that the imperial censor Li Ruhua forged the notice that he issued a notice to take in the rural bank. He can only prove his innocence by hanging himself. At the same time, I asked the minister to bring Li Ruhua to justice. During the patrol, he did not dare to investigate Governor Dang Xin's smuggling of military rations, and even looked for an opportunity to report the crime to the court, which prevented him from filing a complaint."
At this time, Dong Daocheng also took out a complaint and knelt on the ground to speak to Zhu Yijun.
"Your Majesty, I also have a complaint!"
"Your Majesty, I have one too!"
…
At that moment, many celebrities and dignitaries also came up with complaints, as if they had already prepared them.
"We want to see His Majesty!"
"We want to see His Majesty!"
"We want to see His Majesty!"
…
at the same time.
There were many shouts outside.
Zhu Yijun couldn't help but ask: "Who is shouting?"
Not long after, Zhang Jingxiu came in and said: "Your Majesty, there is a group of scholars, no less than two thousand people, carrying some bureaucrats and Confucian scholars who hanged themselves to cry out for injustice, saying that they want to accuse Mr. Wang Ge and Li Fengxian."
Zhu Yijun walked out immediately after hearing this, and then saw a large number of scholars kneeling on the snow outside, all holding blood books or quilt papers, kneeling in the cold wind.
"Your Majesty, we will accuse the cruel officials Wang Xijue and Li Ruhua!"
"Your Majesty, please kill the cruel officials Wang Xijue and Li Ruhua!"
…
These Shaanxi scholars shouted loudly.
After hearing this, Zhu Yijun asked Ning Chengan: "Do they really hate Wang Xijue and Li Ruhua so much?"
"Your Majesty, the public sentiment cannot be violated. Please kill Wang and Li to thank the world!"
Ning Chengan only said this.
"What if I don't kill him?"
Zhu Yijun asked.
For a moment, Ning Chengan and other celebrities and officials all looked very embarrassed.
But after a while, Ning Chengan took the initiative to step forward and said to Zhu Yijun: "Your Majesty, I dare to say something bold. If we don't kill the corrupt officials Wang Xijue and Li Ruhua at this time, I'm afraid there will be another surprise. The folk customs of this town have always been tough." , and we all hate these two people to the core of our being. If Your Majesty protects them, I fear your holy name will be damaged, and your status as Emperor Zuo will also be damaged!"
This was a direct threat to Zhu Yijun. If he didn't do this, he might be assassinated.
Zhu Yijun laughed after hearing this: "This is the second time someone has threatened me with reasons that will affect my Emperor Zuo."
"I dare not threaten His Majesty!"
"I am just extremely loyal and considerate of Your Majesty and Ming Dynasty!"
Ning Chengan said in a deep voice.
"The same applies to you, your majesty. Please punish the treacherous ministers and corrupt officials Wang Xijue and Li Ruhua! And protect your majesty's own safety!"
Dong Daocheng also started talking.
At this time, Zhu Yijun only ordered Qi Jiguang: "Let them all retreat and wait for the order outside the palace."
Qi Jiguang raised his hand and said yes.
So, Ning Chengan and others retreated.
When Ning Chengan retreated, Dong Shouyue took advantage of everyone's discussion and whispered to Ning Chengan: "Your Majesty is still afraid that something bad will happen to him."
Ning Chengan sneered: "Who is not afraid of death? The more prosperous the emperor is, the more afraid of death he is! Originally, as long as he was willing to turn a blind eye, he would not be able to escape the title of emperor through the ages, so he There is no need to risk your life to fight for the profits of those stupid people, and there is no need to risk your life to protect those stupid and loyal ministers who are willing to fight for the profits of the stupid people!"
"So the wise man is still Yue Weng. He knows that the emperor is compromising on the surface, but in fact he has already asked ministers such as Wang Xijue and Li Ruhua to inspect him on his behalf. Therefore, he has been prepared to contact the local sages to confront him, and even persuaded the prince to commit suicide. This method has aroused the salaries of the scholars and others, and now our Majesty must really compromise and have to stop."
Dong Shouyue continued to smile.
"The emperor must really kill Wang Xijue and Li Ruhua to be considered as a compromise and to ensure that the order of hierarchy will no longer be disrupted."
As he spoke, Ning Chengan looked at the gradually falling snowflakes in front of him and said, "Your Majesty can kill officials and gentry for anyone's selfish interests, but you cannot kill officials and gentry just for the sake of your body!"
"Don't leave!"
But just as Ning Cheng'an and others exited the palace to wait for the order, Shen Yongmao, Wei Peng and other pro-military guardsmen suddenly stopped in front of these celebrities, dignitaries and ministers with their arms tied in red scarves.
Ning Chengan and others couldn't help but stopped.
Zhu Yijun saw this and walked out: "What do you want to do?"
Shen Yongmao didn't say anything, just pulled out the sharp blade, walked up the steps step by step, walked into the crowd where Ning Chengan and other celebrities were sitting, walked up to Ning Chengan, and then stabbed Ning Chengan directly in the abdomen. .
Shen Yongmao had a stern look on his face and just stabbed Ning Chengan again and again.
The blood was constantly brought out and left on the snow, like plum blossoms blooming, which suddenly bloomed very brightly.
Ning Chengan asked with astonishment on his face: "Why did you kill me?"
Zhu Yijun pretended to be furious: "How dare you, are you going to rebel?! How can you not kill the eunuchs according to the order!"
"Kill the traitors!"
At that time, Wei Peng, a recipient of military medals, shouted, came over with a knife, and knocked Dong Daocheng to the ground. Suddenly, a foot-long gap appeared in his whole chest, and blood was pouring out.
"presumptuous!"
"Stop it!"
Zhu Yijun was shouting this, but no one listened.
The other celebrities and officials who were far away from Ning Chengan were very surprised: "Is this a rebellion? The emperor's personal guards no longer listen to your majesty, but listen to Wang Xijue?!"
Among them, Dong Shouyue was also confused.
(End of chapter)
