Zhu Zhanji also enacted a law that, in addition to sixty sticks, also included dismissal from office and never employment for officials who engaged in prostitution. He also told the literati all over the world that anyone who engaged in prostitution would be stripped of their academic honors and prohibited from participating in the imperial examination.
Zhu Zhanji's anti-pornography efforts were the largest in the entire history of the Ming Dynasty, and even the largest in the entire feudal history. Soon after, almost all the brothels across the country were wiped out. The scenery on both sides of the Qinhuai River was no longer beautiful. The official atmosphere took on a new look. Zhu Zhanji believed that he had won.
But that's just an appearance. As the saying goes, wildfire never burns out, and spring breeze blows again. Institutional issues are the fundamental issue, and custom issues are the fundamental issue. Abolition of overt organizations like brothels only treats the symptoms but not the root cause.
In the tenth year of Xuande's reign, Zhu Zhanji died. The emperor who created an unprecedented high-pressure anti-pornography environment is dead. Officials have been suppressed for many years, and the romantic customs that have been suppressed for many years among the people have begun to revive.
During the Wanli period, there was a censor named Xing Dong in Jiangnan. He was ordered to go to Suzhou to investigate an important case. In this case, a famous prostitute from Jiangnan named Liu Ba was involved. When Xing Tong went to prison to interrogate her, he coveted her beauty and had an affair with the prostitute Liu Ba Xing directly in the cell. What happened is extremely ridiculous.
Zhang Juzheng, the current chief minister of the cabinet, has many wives and concubines at home, most of them are prostitutes from Jiangnan who were given to him by officials in bribes. Zhang Juzheng was good at governing the country and was even more skillful in his life. He often took aphrodisiac drugs to maintain his "high energy."
The promiscuous culture spearheaded by upper-level officials has accelerated the recovery of the prostitution industry. By the middle and late Ming Dynasty, most of the houses of vassal kings and royal family members had hundreds or even thousands of prostitutes, dedicated to providing services to their owners and guests.
When Zhang Yangu heard Liu Haojia's words, he immediately felt sweat on his forehead! And what’s interesting is that Liu Haojia is really upright when talking about ancestral system this time!
The last time he used military regulations to argue something was a bit unreasonable, because military regulations have changed over the years. However, the ban on prostitution by officials has never changed. Instead, it has become more stringent with the successive emperors! It's just that life has become easier for officials over the years, and they have long forgotten this rule!
After hearing Liu Haojia's words, Zhang Yangu stopped struggling, but he closed his mouth tightly, looking completely unconvinced! Seeing his appearance, Liu Haojia sneered and said, "Record a confession and nail his case!"
After hearing Liu Haojia's instructions, one of the four Jinyi guards who had been standing still behind him immediately came out, loudly asked the name of the girl next to Zhang Yangu, then took a pen and paper from the counter and began to write a confession. .
At this time, Zhang Yangu was really panicked! He didn't know if his charge of prostitution could be proven, and he believed that his family would help solve the problem, but no matter what, as long as he was taken away today, his reputation would be completely ruined! I'm afraid that no one in the family will be able to spare him, not to mention that he will definitely not be able to keep his official position in the Ministry of Personnel! After all, as the old saying goes, some things are better to be known than seen!
Seeing this scene in front of her, Han Liuniang, who was sitting on her knees, felt shuddering! He already knew that Liu Haojia was serious! But she must not let Liu Haojia take Zhang Yangu away! Once people in the capital know that Chunfeng Tower can't even keep their customers, they won't be able to open it again in the future!
So Han Liuniang made up her mind instantly and rushed towards Liu Haojia rolling and crawling. But then a royal guard blocked him. Seeing that she couldn't get close to Liu Haojia, Han Liuniang grabbed Jin Yiwei's lapel with one hand, stretched out her other hand to Liu Haojia and shouted loudly: "Master Liu, I will pay the money now, don't take him away!"
Liu Haojia looked at the pale Han Liuniang and said slowly: "Now do you think of paying the money? It's too late! Now it's no longer two hundred taels. If you want four hundred taels, you have to pay it for three consecutive months!"
Not only was Han Liuniang not frightened by this number, but she felt that things were turning around. She nodded frantically and said, "Sir, wait a moment, I will raise money for you right away!"
But Liu Haojia didn't want to let her go easily, and said: "I don't have time to wait for you to raise money. Either pay the money now, or..."
But what I didn't expect was that Han Liuniang still nodded and said: "There is money, there is money! As long as you send two people to follow me upstairs, the money will be available immediately! I just ask you to stop immediately!"
Liu Haojia turned back and said: "Two people go and get the money from her. The other people should do whatever they are supposed to do! Don't stop until you see the money!"
Upon hearing this, Han Liuniang jumped up from the ground like a rabbit that had been hit by an arrow, and ran towards the second floor! Everyone who saw this spectacle was stunned. No one expected that such a weak woman could run as fast as the wind!
Liu Haojia felt funny looking at her, but he still waved his hand and motioned for the two guards behind him to follow her.
Not long after, two Jinyi guards walked out of the accounting room on the second floor, each carrying a package. Before that, Han Liuniang had already rushed downstairs and said to Liu Haojia: "Sir, the money has been brought. Please give the order to stop!"
Liu Haojia turned his attention to the two Jinyi guards who were walking over quickly. When they came closer, one of them said: "Sir, more than two hundred taels of cash have been collected here, and there are also two hundred taels of bills from the gold and silver shop. Counting the discounts, It must be enough!”
Liu Haojia waved his hand lazily and said, "Okay, stop now! Write her a note again!"
After receiving the order, the Jin Yiwei behind him loudly passed it on. The other Jin Yiwei slowly stopped and began to gather around Liu Haojia. Han Liuniang was relieved when more than a dozen guards came out of the back door.
At this time, she also understood that Liu Haojia didn't want to get things done. At least the guards who rushed to the backyard only stood guard at the door and did not really go back. Because the Liu Haojia family also knows that the people who can play in the courtyard behind are definitely real high-ranking officials. He is here to collect money, not to offend anyone! It's okay to clean up the low-level officials outside. There is no need to provoke too many enemies for yourself.
However, he had no intention of letting Zhang Yangu go. He pointed at Zhang Yangu and said, "Take him away from me and send him to the court tomorrow. I will also take a copy of him!"
At this time, Zhang Yangu remembered Liu Haojia's record of defeating thirty people at one time, and finally screamed in fear and started struggling! But no matter how hard he struggled and jumped, he couldn't escape the control of Jin Yiwei!
Seeing this scene, Han Liuniang shouted: "Why are you arresting people if you don't give me money? Let Master Zhang go!"
