"You go back first!" In the Chui Gong Hall, Emperor Liu's voice was still cold and faint, and he looked at Wang Jien who was kneeling in front of the emperor with an indifferent expression.
When Wang Jien came here, he naturally wanted to plead guilty to Emperor Liu. He first characterized himself as someone who did not know people well and had lax discipline, hoping that Emperor Liu would punish him severely.
However, Emperor Liu's plain expression and cold attitude made Wang Jien extremely uneasy. He would rather let the emperor scold him severely than experience this "difficulty in understanding the holy will."
Kowtowing solemnly, Wang Jien continued to work hard: "You are guilty of a crime, please your Majesty to punish him, to serve as a warning to others!"
"Whether you are guilty or not is not up to you. The country has its own laws and the court has its own system!" Emperor Liu said in a dry tone.
Wang Jien's expression also became more solemn. After hesitation, he bowed: "Your Majesty, the prisoner Zhang Jinjie has been captured by the young man. Please tell me how to deal with it."
Hearing this, Emperor Liu glanced at Wang Jien with a hint of seriousness in his eyes. After thinking for a moment, he said leisurely: "They've all been arrested! It seems that the crime committed by Zhang Jinjie is true after your Imperial City Department self-examination." Already?"
Hearing what Emperor Liu said, Wang Jien's face changed. He raised his eyes to meet the old emperor's meaningful gaze. He suddenly realized that he seemed to be anxious again!
The emperor didn't even understand what he was thinking, so he was busy arresting Zhang Jinjie. This was simply a self-inflicted crime! However, now that the matter has come to this, we can only go on with the story. Wang Jien said in a sincere tone:
"It's all because of the lax control of the subordinates and the ignorant management of the officials, which made them arrogant and domineering to this point. This led to the emergence of such people in the Imperial City who messed up the law and harmed the people. I regret my mistake and beg your Majesty to punish him according to the canon to set the record straight. ..."
"It is said that Zhang Jinjie is your favorite adopted son. Are you planning to exterminate the family out of righteousness?" Emperor Liu reminded him in an inexplicable tone.
Wang Jien, almost without thinking, said in a deep voice: "The national laws are strict and far outweigh personal relationships. What's more, he deserves what he deserves. If he has done something ungrateful, he is deeply regretful. He wishes he could deal with it with his own hands in order to satisfy the laws of nature and the country!"
Hearing what he said, Emperor Liu's smile became more playful, but his eyes were still indifferent, giving people a cold feeling.
"Having this kind of understanding is not in vain for my decades of trust in you!" Finally, Emperor Liu's tone became more "normal" and he said, "I'm afraid the news has spread. This is someone from your Imperial City Department. , it is up to your department to conduct self-examination. No matter what the result is, I am afraid it will be difficult to convince the public. Now that the person has been detained, please hand it over to the Ministry of Criminal Justice for trial!"
"Yes!" Wang Jien said in a deep voice without much hesitation.
"Go! I'm tired..." Emperor Liu said, giving Wang Jien a somewhat thoughtful look.
"Please excuse me!" This was the second time Emperor Liu had driven someone away, and Wang Jien did not dare to have any more entanglements.
Wang Jien, who left the Chui Gong Hall, still walked steadily, and although his face was solemn, he looked calm. However, under the calm surface, Wang Jien was anxious inside. Worry arose from his heart and went straight to his forehead, causing him to be in a trance.
Emperor Liu's reaction really didn't make him feel at ease. For a long time, Wang Jien was loyal and fearful of Emperor Liu, but now, he was only afraid. As for loyalty, he couldn't care less.
Wang Jien clearly realized that he had fallen out of favor, just like a pitiful dog that might be abandoned at any time... This feeling was extremely uncomfortable for people like Wang Jien.
In addition to the difficulty of adapting, there is also endless fear. I want to help myself, but I don’t know where to start. We can only have a trace of expectation, hoping that this storm will pass quickly and end with Zhang Jinjie, but in the end it depends on the attitude of the old emperor.
As a result of today's meeting with the old emperor, Wang Jien really couldn't have any more confidence. Wang Jien was not afraid of attacks from foreign ministers, opponents, and enemies. He was only afraid that Emperor Liu would lose trust in him. For a slave and a hawk, this was the end of the world. It is the most desperate situation.
Wang Jien is also reflecting on how he got to the current situation. He can't understand it, but in the end it points to one point. It is not that Wang Jien has a problem, but that the official family has changed.
Over this period of time, or to extend the timeline a little longer, in recent years, Wang Jien has been like someone who has been beheaded. Everything has not gone smoothly, and mistakes have been made step by step. It seems that everyone is against him, and nothing will happen anymore. In the past few decades, everything went smoothly and everything went smoothly.
Why is there such a big contrast? Looking to the bottom of it, there may be only one answer: all problems and changes were brought about by the old emperor...
Thinking of this section, Wang Jien couldn't help but tremble, and his relatively strong legs couldn't help but feel weak. If there weren't palace people and guards around, he would have wanted to slap himself twice.
How could such an idea arise! Blame the officials? What a bastard!
"****!" Wang Jien cursed in a low voice and hurried back to the Imperial City Division.
The great eunuch secretly swore in his heart that if he could get through this smoothly, he would make those villains who made trouble and oppose him look good. At this time, in Wang Jien's heart, in addition to worries about his future, there was also a strong desire for revenge. mood......
Zhang Jinjie was quickly taken away. Zhang Xun, the Minister of Punishment, personally brought people to the Imperial City to interrogate him, and he personally interrogated him, which shows that he took it seriously. Zhang Xun came from an extraordinary background. He was the stepson of the late Duke Wei Renpu of the State of Yu. He had a profound background and was shrewd and capable. His official career was even greater than that of Wei Xianxin, who succeeded the Duke.
As the Zhang Jinjie case entered normal interrogation procedures in accordance with the imperial system, the already restless court quickly became troubled again, and the bureaucrats' attention quickly shifted away from Helong. Compared with the evils in Helong, which are two thousand miles away, the turmoil in Beijing is more eye-catching, especially when it involves the Imperial City Division.
One person can tell that the situation this time is different from the past. The Imperial City Division has been rampant in the Han Dynasty for more than thirty years. With its accumulated prestige, even the highest officials in the government dare not look down upon it.
From Qianyou to Kaibao, so many major and important cases occurred in the Han Dynasty, and many political changes occurred, many of which involved the activities of the Imperial City Secretary Eagle Dog. I have only seen the Imperial City Division investigating and arresting people, but I have never seen anyone from the Imperial City Division being captured, and it was a core personnel like Detective Superintendent Zhang Jinjie.
Compared with Xue Chedeng's complaint, Zhang Jinjie was taken to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation, which was a clearer and clearer signal. Rumors and signs all vaguely indicate that His Majesty the Emperor has no intention of protecting the Imperial City Division.
Otherwise, even if Zhang Jinjie's crime is confirmed, it would be enough to let the Imperial City Division deal with it on its own and give him a briefing and explanation, and there would be no need to use the Criminal Department at all.
There has always been a conflict between the Imperial City and the Wude Second Division and the court's judicial system. There is no doubt that on some major issues, the Second Division has far more independent power than the Third Justice Division. .
Nowadays, the situation seems to have undergone some changes that the "Gungun Dukes" are happy to see. The "big mountain" of the Imperial City Division seems to be unstable, and it can be pried up...
Unsurprisingly, on the second day of Zhang Jinjie's trial, dozens of articles of impeachment were submitted to the political affairs hall. Although they were all ordinary courtiers and censors, they all spoke with the same hatred and the same momentum. Full.
Although the finger is still pointed at Zhang Jinjie, anyone with a little political insight knows that the real target is the Imperial City Envoy Wang Jien and the Imperial City Secretary. In those impeachment chapters that coincide with each other, if Zhang Jinjie were replaced by Wang Jien or the Imperial City Secretary for the crimes specified, there would be no sense of inconsistency at all.
For three consecutive days, more and more people submitted impeachment memorials to the Political Hall, almost doubling the number, and their weight became more and more substantial. It can be said that half of the imperial court was involved in this "defeat" operation.
Compared with the newly revealed crimes, framing the Xue family and exterminating families and seizing wealth, it can even be said to be insignificant. In the writings of the court officials, all the little Imperial City Inspectors suddenly became the most greedy, cruel and treacherous officials in the Han Dynasty.
The imperial court was in shock, and everyone was looking at him. The Imperial City Department did not stop. Under Wang Jien's order, almost all the subordinate investigators were dispatched to spy around, swaggering around, and even threatening to disrupt the law.
On the face of it, it is more rampant than before, and targeted retaliation has been launched directly. The evidence of a large number of officials' illegal crimes, and the shame and ugliness behind the sanctimony, have been exposed to the fullest. Basically, whoever participates in the impeachment of Zhang Jinjie will be exposed.
Even Wang Jien would not know how many criminal evidences and serious illegal acts the Imperial City Division had collected over decades of accumulation, perhaps without digging through secret files. Under such circumstances, how could Wang Jien and the Imperial City Secretary not be feared by others.
Wang Jien also completely clashed with the outer court, releasing evidence one after another. The situation in the court was like boiling oil, boiling. No one would have thought that Zhang Jinjie could lead to a head-on confrontation between the Imperial City Department and the foreign court officials.
It has to be said that Wang Jien's madness and ruthlessness really scare many people, especially those who follow the crowd. Even the instigators behind the scenes may not have felt some retreat in their hearts. If Wang Jien blew himself up, the power and influence would be too great for ordinary people to bear.
As the wrestling continued, the situation in the court fell into a stalemate, but this stalemate was short-lived. What progressed smoothly was the trial of Zhang Jinjie. This was probably the smoothest of the many major cases investigated by the Criminal Department.
Zhang Jinjie confessed to all the numerous crimes that he had reported back and forth, with no intention of defending himself at all. He had the same attitude: I, Zhang, will bear all the blame.
Such a result is obviously unacceptable to many people. At this time, the tendencies and attitudes of the upper-class dignitaries are gradually revealed. To achieve the goal, a key push is needed. This is not what ordinary courtiers and officials can do. If you want to make a difference, you have to use your hands and feet. Impossible to hide.
Take Zhang Xun, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, for example. No matter how Zhang Jinjie took the initiative to plead guilty, he dragged on the process of the case trial, step by step, and interrogated and confirmed every count, as if he respected the majesty of the Punishment Bureau. However, what is dragging on is not the case, but the development of the situation.
Until Emperor Liu sent someone to investigate, Zhang Xun could no longer withstand the pressure and had to pronounce the verdict and submit it to Dali Temple for review and start the next step of the process.
By this time, Zhang Jinjie's case had long been a superficial issue, and the punishment he received was irrelevant. Whether he was sentenced to death or exiled, no one except Xue Che cared. What the court really cares about is how this matter will end and whether it will end with Zhang Jinjie.
Finally, someone stepped forward to break the fragile balance created by Wang Jien's ferocity. Lu Mengzheng of Luoyang Prefecture issued an impeachment seal and directly addressed Emperor Liu, and pointed his finger at the imperial envoy Wang Jien.
This is what shocked the government and the public with his words. Luoyang Prefecture Yin, who usually kept silent, was actually the first "sage" to stand up and confront Wang Jien head-on. For a time, Lu Mengzheng's "righteousness" flooded the government and the public. , there are praises for him inside and out.
Only then did the storm officially enter a new stage, and the seriousness of the matter truly became apparent, and things that were previously invisible gradually emerged from under the water.
Firstly, the attack on the imperial envoy Wang Jien was officially launched; secondly, the leader was Lu Mengzheng.
At the moment when Emperor Liu lives in Ziwei City, Xijing is undoubtedly the number one capital in the world. As the governor of Luoyang, no matter how low-key Lu Mengzheng is as an official on weekdays, his status in the Han court will always be special and powerful. There is always a place for him on the list, which is brought to him by the special nature of the capital.
Therefore, the demonstration effect of such a powerful bureaucrat coming forward is huge. In just one day's work, following in the footsteps of Lu Mengzheng, another large wave of memorials flew to Chui Gong Hall and Guangzheng Hall like snowflakes, and this time, it was no longer the small fight before, and not everyone came forward. It's small fish and shrimp.
Among them, the ministers of the Ministry of Justice include Zhang Xun, the Minister of Punishment, Song Zhun, the Minister of Household Affairs, Fan Min, the envoy of salt and iron, Du Zai, the censor of the right governor, Wen Zhongshu, the minister of rites, and others.
A group of ministers, either holding power or naming names, seemed to be announcing to the world that the Han Dynasty court and the world were not a place where a eunuch could make trouble, and some people dared to challenge his despotic power. At the same time, they seemed to express their will to Emperor Liu in the Chui Gong Hall: The eunuch Wang Jien has been angry with heaven, people, and gods. It is difficult to offend when the public is angry. Your Majesty should make a decision.
Such a situation was obviously not what Wang Jien wanted to see, and it could also be said that he was afraid of seeing it. It made him feel troubled and felt real danger. Even though he had expected that he might be involved, when he suddenly looked back, he realized that his feet were not only wet, but half of his body was already submerged in water.
Wang Jien was never one to sit back and wait for death. Even if he was panicked and anxious, his counterattacks were still fierce without any compromise.
First of all, he reported Zhang Xun, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, to Emperor Liu. He also happened to have something to do with him. This person had once facilitated others and broke the law to help relatives open the checkpoints for selling Qin and Long's giant trees. Logging trade is prohibited.
As for the others, Wang Jien did not let them go, finding faults one by one and seizing the excuses. But among so many ministers, the one Wang Jien resented the most was obviously Luoyang Prefecture Yin Lu Mengzheng. However, he did not have any black information about Lu Mengzheng. Looking back, he realized that Lu Prefecture Yin had hidden it too deeply. After being a Luoyang Yin for several years, I didn’t leave anyone with any clues.
What made Wang Jien even more annoyed was that there was never any conflict between him and Lu Mengzheng. Of course, this is what Wang Jien thinks. The Imperial City Division has been running rampant for more than thirty years and has offended many people and forces. He can't even remember how many people and forces he has offended.
Only now did Wang Jien truly realize how terrifying it would be if thirty years of resentment broke out, and it even overshadowed his confidence in Emperor Liu.
When faced with unbearable pressure, Wang Jien finally begged Emperor Liu, crying out loud, recalling the past, showing his loyalty, but also pouring out his bitterness. Wang Jien denied all the criticisms made by those bureaucrats, and repeatedly complained that they were wronged. He shouted at the top of his lungs, hoping that Emperor Liu would make the decision for him.
Emperor Liu only comforted him lightly, neither giving him a positive response nor giving him clear hope. All questions return to the beginning. What is Emperor Liu's attitude?
It has to be said that Wang Jien, who was extremely sensitive to this, was already a little chilled after asking for help to no avail.
So, every move went wrong, and he made two nasty moves. One is to instruct some officials he bribed in the past to provide some evidence and ask them to report for impeachment, with the intention of further confusing the situation and confusing the public.
The second is to secretly visit and meet with the ministers, half requests, half threats, to let them speak for him or change their stories. The evidence and handles collected in his hands become his weapon to manipulate the court situation. In short, he wants to change the court. The ministers unanimously targeted Wang Jien's situation.
It can be said that at the critical moment, Wang Jien showed all his trump cards, and it was very effective. Under the noisy voice of "defeating the king", the voice of "supporting the king" gradually raised its head. This was like opening a magic box. For the first time in decades, Wang Jien enjoyed the pleasure of manipulating those well-dressed and human-looking ministers without any scruples. The satisfaction he felt in it was hard to explain to outsiders.
However, this was also a complete end to Emperor Liu. Regardless of whether he was forced to do so or for other reasons, his actions were all taboos, and they violated Emperor Liu's taboos. For Emperor Liu, these were much more serious crimes than the impeachment of Lu Mengzheng and others. , to be even more unforgivable.
It's a pity that Wang Jien today failed to realize this.
"Wang Jien is in danger!" Zhao Kuangyi, who had been silently watching the development of the situation between the DPRK and China in Guangyang Mansion, sighed leisurely.
