Autumn is high and the air is crisp, Chongwenmen. Although this is not the main south gate of Beijing, this easterly south gate is the first choice for ordinary people and scholars to enter the city, so it has always been bustling and lively.
It was noon at this time, which was the busiest time for traffic at this city gate. A fair-skinned old man wearing commoners, wearing a bamboo hat on his head and leading a donkey in his hand, was walking out of the city with the flow of people.
Everyone is rushing for life, so they are in a hurry, so they don't pay special attention to the people next to them.
Even if Zhu Youtang appears here, if he doesn't reveal his identity, they probably won't take a second look.
But at this moment, a young scholar suddenly rushed out of the middle of the street inside Chongwenmen, and violently pushed down a passing pedestrian, causing the pedestrian to scream in surprise and couldn't help but cast concerned glances.
"Master Li, Master Li, you are leaving Beijing quietly today and are going to live in seclusion in the wilds away from us. You must take care of yourself!" The young scholar's eyes were moist and he shouted affectionately to the old man leading the donkey in front of him.
Huh? The people around him all looked at the young scholar, and also noticed the old man in common clothes who was stamping his feet in front of him. They thought that this old man in common clothes was an official.
A meddlesome person saw that the other party was actually wearing civilian clothes, and he couldn't help but said in confusion: "Which official is this? He doesn't look like a high official!"
"Li Shangshu, you have been in charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs for several years. You asked the late emperor to practice frugality and make the warehouses spend money appropriately. All the people in the world did not have to pay a penny in taxes and reduced useless expenses by more than one million yuan. Now you are resigning and leaving with only a donkey and a bag of luggage." My hometown is as clean as water, please accept my worship!" The young scholar's tears slid down his cheeks, and then he knelt down and worshiped on the ground.
"Is this Minister of the Ministry of Finance an upright official?"
"Yes, didn't you hear that you live in a big house?"
"You know what the heck, that house was rented by Li Shangshu!"
"It's not easy for Li Shangshu! For the sake of the dignity of the court officials and the convenience of going to court, all the official salary is spent on renting a house!"... Only then did the people present realize that they dared to admire this man in civilian clothes and wearing a hat. The little old man wearing a bamboo hat and holding a donkey turned out to be Li Min, the former Minister of Household Affairs, an upright official who was ignored by them.
"Li Shangshu, why did you leave?"
"The Ming Dynasty lost Li Shangshu, just like Shu lost Kong Ming!"
"Li Shangshu has been an official for decades without taking any money. He is worthy of being an upright official of our Ming Dynasty!"... Several scholars suddenly appeared from the crowd and praised Li Min again, who was holding the donkey. An emotional scene is staged on this wide blue brick street.
"Is this Li Shangshu really a good official?"
"Of course he is a good official. Li Shangshu is upright and honest!"
"Isn't it true? Today, I attach great importance to the eunuch, but despise the virtuous king. It is really sad!"
"If your majesty can reuse good officials like Li Shangshu, why worry about the prosperous times not coming?"... Under the encouragement of some thoughtful people, Li Min resolutely became the most upright official in the Ming Dynasty, and they all pointed the finger at that man. Emperor Hongzhi, a foolish king who was far away from his virtuous ministers.
An emperor who abolishes upright officials is naturally the most foolish emperor in the world. Li Min got on his donkey, turned his back to the soldiers who were seeing him off, and waved goodbye: "Gentlemen, I, Li Min, have been an official for decades, and I only want to serve the country and be loyal! Although I am not able to fulfill my great ambitions now, I am worthy of heaven and earth. This time I Go, let’s meet again if we are destined to do so!”
"Li Qingtian, have a good trip!" Several scholars exchanged glances and immediately knelt down to Li Min who was riding on the donkey.
The scene of all the scholars sending Li Qingtian off couldn't help but make the people nearby shed tears. Due to the deep-rooted class concept, ordinary people have natural awe and trust in scholars. An official who is praised by scholars is naturally a good official.
"Li Shangshu has a pleasant trip!"
"What a shame for such a good official!"
"The court is unjust, and today it allowed such an honest official to hang up his boots and leave!"... The people present looked at such a touching scene. Although they did not know Li Min, an upright official, many simple people also did They all knelt down to say goodbye.
The difference in class means that ordinary people are destined to be unable to see the truth about the upper class. This has been the case from ancient times to the present. We only know that wealthy people advocate frugality and wear watches worth two hundred yuan. Little do they know that they live in luxury houses worth billions and even collect luxury watches worth hundreds of millions.
Now Li Min is an upright official riding a donkey empty-handed, but ten miles away there are already beauties waiting for him, and his family even prepares a seventeen-year-old girl to fill his concubine.
Li Min, who was reading a book, heard the commotion behind him getting louder and louder, but he knew that more and more people were kneeling to see him off, and the corners of his mouth could not help but raise slightly.
Foolish people are stupid and ignorant people. The soldiers guarding the Chongwen Gate had already noticed the movement on this side. When they saw that the high-ranking Minister of Hubu was about to leave on a donkey, they immediately cleared all obstacles and gave the green light to let him go.
Just as Li Min was riding a donkey and was about to leave the greatest city in the world through Chongwen Gate, there was suddenly a burst of rapid horse hooves behind him, galloping towards this direction.
When the scholars and people who were kneeling here to see him off saw this, the young scholar who was leading the attack at first wanted to stop him, but seeing the menacing approach of the other party, he had no choice but to get out of the way.
"Master Li, please stay!" Song Cheng, a member of the Zhejiang Civil Service Department of the Ministry of Punishments, chased after him with his men and horses, and called out to Li Mindao with an expressionless face.
Li Min naturally heard the movement behind him and saw that the person coming was a young man wearing a fifth-grade official uniform. He wanted to curry favor with him, so he said arrogantly: "Which yamen are you from?"
"Song Cheng, a member of the Zhejiang Qing Li Division of the Ministry of Punishment, is here to invite Mr. Li back to the prison of the Ministry of Punishment!" Song Cheng looked at the once-high-ranking Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and directly explained his purpose.
At first, Li Min felt that a foreigner who was a member of the Criminal Department was not worthy of publicity at all. But when he heard that the other party wanted to invite him back to the prison of the Criminal Department, he immediately stared and said, "Are you here to arrest me?"
"Exactly, sir, please follow me back to the prison of the Criminal Department now!" Song Cheng met Li Min's surprised gaze and looked businesslike.
"Ah? Is this upright official going to be arrested?"
"What kind of upright official is this? Have you ever seen an upright official who is going to jail?"
"Haha... In my opinion, this is simply a corrupt official, and now the scandal has come to light!"... When the onlookers saw that the officials from the Ministry of Punishment were trying to arrest Li Min, they finally realized that the officials in front of them were probably not a corrupt official. They seemed to be behind the scenes. They started talking like they were belatedly aware of it.
Li Min heard the comments and comments around him, and suddenly felt his face darken and said angrily: "Why do you, a junior member of the Criminal Department of the fifth rank, arrest me? I am an official of the second rank!"
"It's based on national law! Come on, take Mr. Li back to the Yamen of the Ministry of Justice!" Song Cheng naturally knew that he was not worth mentioning in the eyes of the big shots, but he still gave the order very forcefully.
Two of the accompanying people were Jin Yiwei, who looked very rude and said: "Master Li, please!" Li Min couldn't figure out what happened, and asked angrily: "What crime am I guilty of? I have been an honest official all my life, but you have clearly abused your power. His Majesty must have deliberately targeted me!"
"Stop pretending to be an upright official, we have just found the account books!" Song Cheng revealed calmly when he saw how dishonest the other party was.
Just earlier, when Zhu Youtang got the 13,213 tael deposit ticket, he suddenly told Xie Ke the number he had revealed earlier.
"Thirteen thousand two hundred and thirty taels of silver. When they went to Xinyi Money Store with their deposit checks, they not only got thirteen thousand two hundred and thirty taels of silver, but also got the account book that they had been searching for for many days without success. Ah. ? When Li Min heard this result, he looked at Song Cheng in disbelief, then shook his head violently and said: "Impossible! If you had found the account book from Xie's house, you would have arrested him as ordered! "
"Xie Yikui hid the account book deep. Didn't he come to arrest people as soon as he found them? The water transport people are really rich. Mr. Li, come back with us!" Song Cheng looked at Li Min with a determined expression. His appearance was immediately revealed.
Water transport? When Li Min heard these words, he immediately realized that the other party was not blackmailing him. Even though he fell to the ground, he knew that he was indeed in trouble this time.
The people around him realized that the Minister of Household Affairs was actually pretending to be an upright official, and they all looked at him with disdain.
Throughout the ages, there have been many officials seeking fame, but there are indeed not many who can spend so much money. On the other hand, those Qingliu officials who were gearing up for a big fight were hit hard again. The news that Xie Yikui's account book was found was like a sharp sword thrust into their chests.
