The two people looked at each other, and Baihu took a step forward and said: "My lord, it is true that nothing was asked! But the time was too short, and there was no time for torture. The confession after the torture will count."
Liu Haojia said: "I guess you won't be able to get any useful confessions even after the execution. But you already know the murderer's method of poisoning, so I give you a job, which is to follow the confessions and find out who the murderer is. Who is it? I will protect you as a hereditary Qianhu! If you can't find out, just start over from Xiaoqi!"
After saying that, he turned back to the stall owner and said: "You are from Dongchang, but don't think that I can't do anything to you! Likewise, if it is found out, I will tell Zhang Banban that I will guarantee you a bright future." ! If you can’t find out, just purify yourself and enter the palace!”
Liu Haojia's words turned both of their faces pale! But Liu Haojia didn't care about the two people's expressions, and directly took a pen and paper to write a warrant. Moreover, the seal he stamped this time was not a private seal, but the official seal of the commander of the Imperial Guard.
Liu Haojia took the warrant and pushed it to the front of the table and said: "Then you go to Zhang Banban with this warrant. Ask him to sign it, so that you can mobilize all the power of Jinyiwei and Dongchang, and you can Check any paperwork."
The two of them had seen each other and had nothing to say. Baihu reached out and took the order and said, "Sir, who has the final say between us?"
Liu Haojia said without hesitation: "You have the final say!"
Baihu then said, "Sir, I need time."
Liu Haojia hesitated and said: "There will be no mourning here in the capital for the time being, but it cannot be delayed for too long. Twenty days at most. If it is less, it may not even be fifteen days."
Baihu said: "This time is enough! But I need the news that the chief assistant is ill to spread more lively."
Liu Haojia sneered and said: "You don't need to say that! You think the noise is not big enough now, right? The palace door was opened once at night. All the imperial doctors gathered at Mr. Zhang's house. Maybe there is news in the capital now. It’s spread.”
Liu Haojia arranged for the two of them to disperse, leaving only himself, who was distraught, to arrange for his entire family! Then, just as he said, all kinds of rumors began to appear in the capital. From Zhang Juzheng being seriously ill and about to die to him having horse wind, various rumors emerged. Of course, the rumors released by Liu Haojia are also among them. But fortunately for him, everyone thought Zhang Juzheng was really sick, and no one thought he was dead.
Subsequently, numerous people came to visit Zhang's house, but they were all blocked. But the senior ministers in the cabinet cannot be blocked. They came out soon after entering the mansion. Although their faces were a little gloomy, they showed no other signs. Therefore, those who spread the rumors felt that Zhang Juzheng was indeed just ill.
Of course, these elders must have received the order from Emperor Wanli before they came to visit the patient, telling them to keep the news of Zhang Juzheng's death secret! This made Liu Haojia certain that the real cause of Zhang Juzheng's death would not be spread out again. And in historical records, he only died of a sudden illness.
After all, it was not a glorious thing for the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty to be poisoned. Especially Zhang Juzheng's death was witnessed by him personally. This gave him a sense of participation in history and a sense of absurdity! At this moment, he didn't know what else he could believe in what was recorded in history?
After the news of Zhang Juzheng's serious illness circulated in the capital for a while, no one soon paid attention to it. It is normal for an old man to get sick, especially when the entire Ming Dynasty cabinet is still operating peacefully, no one can talk about it!
It's just that under this calm undercurrent, I don't know how many people are ready to take action! That old man has stayed in the position of chief assistant for too long! I don’t know how many people want someone else to sit on it! Just seeing that several ministers in the cabinet did not move, the people below had to suppress their thoughts!
But if they are old in the pavilion, they will find that things have actually changed! In these days, Zhang Siwei seems to be giving orders as the chief assistant! Although what he did is not particularly obvious, several people in the cabinet are the best among people. How can you not feel it?
But it happens that Zhang Siwei occupies the title of second assistant. This is called righteousness! In this case they had to obey his arrangements in some respects! Especially when they already knew about Zhang Juzheng's death, their control of the overall situation forced them to cooperate with Zhang Siwei in some aspects! Even if they knew that this would enhance his power, there was nothing they could do!
Eighteen days later, news suddenly broke out that Zhang Juzheng, the chief assistant of the Ming Dynasty, passed away due to illness!
This news is rolling back and forth across the land of Ming Dynasty like thunder! Everyone who heard the news was stunned, and then it became an uproar! Even the common people are spreading the news like crazy! Even the news that Beijing Camp suddenly conducted four consecutive days of large-scale drills ten days ago was suppressed!
What happened after that went as everyone expected! The imperial court decided on Zhang Juzheng's posthumous affairs and gave him the posthumous title Wenzhong! Just by hearing this posthumous title, people who understand the rules will know that it is extremely valuable! It can be seen that the court and the royal family value Zhang Juzheng!
After the grand funeral was over, the capital also calmed down! But the undercurrents in it are unknown to ordinary people! If someone observes carefully, they can observe that the homes of the elders have never been idle!
Likewise, the palace was not quiet either! Emperor Wanli was being served by Zhang Jia and looking at various reports from Jinyiwei and Dongchang. All the reports marked on them were about the collaboration between officials at all levels!
After reading a few copies, Emperor Wanli threw the documents on the table and said with a sneer: "My husband has just passed away, and the people below can't hold it in anymore! Is the position of chief minister so fascinating?"
Zhang Jia apologized and said with a smile: "This is a position below one person and above ten thousand people. Who wouldn't want to? What's more, these scholars regard becoming the first minister as the highest literary position in the world, so naturally they are not willing to let it go!"
Emperor Wanli snorted and said, "Then they have to know who owns the world! They can't leave Zhang Juzheng and another Zhang Juzheng come up!"
At this time, Zhang Jia took out another document and handed it over. Emperor Wanli took it and asked casually: "What is this?"
Zhang Jia said: "I only remembered it after being reminded by Wu Ninghou, and then I specially compiled a list of people who asked to see the Queen Mother one month before and after Mr. Zhang's accident."
