At the end of the great court meeting on March 28th of the fifth year of Wanli, except for Wang Yongji who committed suicide by hitting a pillar and was still recovering in the hospital, Lu Shusheng, Zhang Han, Wan Shihe and Wang Xilie were also exempted from the imperial staff, and the remaining thirty-two A total of thirty-four officials, including Liu Tai and Fu Yingzhen who were brought out from the imperial edict, were collectively sentenced to death.
The imperial rod of the Ming Dynasty was an extremely cruel and humiliating form of corporal punishment. Before the Chenghua year, those who received the imperial rod did not need to take off their clothes. Instead, they wore thick cotton bottom clothes. The main purpose was to show humiliation. However, those who received the imperial rod still stayed in bed for several months and then recovered.
During the period of Liu Jin's dictatorship, those who received the cane began to be stripped of their clothes and caned - this was also called Zhu Yijun's "big white butt".厽厼
Perhaps after the imperial power humiliated the ministers too much, the ministers suffered from Stockholm Syndrome. After the mid-Ming Dynasty, the ministers who received the scepter immediately became famous all over the world for their courage to face court disputes, and their names went down in history as "Silk Bamboo". . In fact, it was caused by the imperial power losing its position in public opinion and the right to speak being deprived by the gentry.
Since a few slaps on the butt can make a name go down through the ages, there are many people who rely on their reputation to make a living, and there are also many people who take the risk of defrauding the imperial staff. In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the emperor also became a thief. Before giving the imperial staff, he usually had to try to figure out the mind of the person receiving the imperial staff to see if he wanted to make a name for himself with the imperial staff. If so, he would immediately kill him and bring him down.
The imperial staff is divided into "hitting with heart" and "hitting hard". As for which method to use, the prison officer decides according to the emperor's secret order. If the toes of the prison officer are spread out, it is "hitting with heart", which will result in disability at most; If the prison officer's toes are closed, then it is a "real beating", and the minister who is being punished will definitely die.
Since Zhu Yijun had set the tone at the court meeting, this time it was a light punishment. Each of them had ten sticks to let them "seek benevolence and gain benevolence" - so this time it was neither careful nor practical, just ten gentle blows.
The tool of the court staff was originally made of chestnut wood. The striking end was cut into a mallet shape and covered with an iron sheet. There were also undercuts on the iron sheet. Once the stick was struck, the executioner would pull it along, and the sharp undercuts would hit the victim. A large piece of flesh and skin was torn off the person's body.
Although Zhu Yijun wants to make a political statement, he is not a pervert. Therefore, it was decreed that the iron sheet on the tip of the imperial staff be removed. Not only did the recipients of the staff not take off their clothes, but each one was also given a piece of woolen felt to show the world's kindness.
But since then, the person who was caned no longer has the motivation to perform heartbreakingly, and the Jin Yiwei who used the cane has no desire to show off their incredible skills with the imperial cane. The whole process was slapped ten times, and everyone felt that It was boring - there were a few people who were eager to take off their pants, but after looking at the relieved expressions of the fellow victims around them, they were too embarrassed to speak.
But the subsequent edicts issued by the emperor were more severe. All the ministers who forced the palace, including Liu Tai and Fu Yingzhen, except Lu Shusheng returned to his hometown to live idle and retained his retirement benefits, all the remaining officials were beaten to death and became white. ——In order to show the world that they are committed to reform, they also took away their birth certificates, which meant that these people did not even have the tax-free treatment of scholars.
Zhang Han, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, felt the greatest sense of loss. Although he had become the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in recent years, he was basically Zhang Juzheng's marionette, and he was full of resentment. This time he finally got a chance, but he lost all his wealth - ever since he was dismissed from office, he started talking to himself, he must be half crazy.
Wang Xilie, Wan Shi and the two brothers are all famous Neo-Confucian officials. They are the kind of people who are not looked down upon by high-ranking officials and generous salaries, so they can survive. But Zhu Yijun's tricks were not over yet. Because Wang Xilie was with him a lot, the two had some feelings for each other. The emperor gave Wang Xilie a parting gift, a large calligraphy letter "Wei Xing Yan Sun" - a royal fine product framed, signed by Yubi, and also Stamped with the private seal of "Sheng Yu Shenxun".
Wang Xilie saw the emperor's words and was completely discouraged. These four words come from the Analects of Confucius, and the full text is "If a state has the Way, threatening words will endanger its deeds; if a state does not have the Way, deeds will endanger its descendants." The meaning of the emperor giving him these four words is that since you think the emperor's reform is wrong, you should be a "state" If you do something unethical, then you must also practice "dangerous behavior and speaking out", that is, while doing things with caution and integrity, you must keep your mouth shut.
He understood that the word "Emperor Ci" has two meanings. One is that although we have different political opinions, we still have some personal feelings. The local officials should be more discerning and not bully Wang Xilie. This is a good intention; the second meaning is that through these four words , warning all dismissed officials to keep their mouths shut when they return home - it is not okay to criticize government affairs in the opposition!
You must not throw away the words given by the emperor. You must go home and offer them to you. Wang Xilie and others drank heavily in the capital for a few days, and after being praised a lot, they packed up their things and went home obediently.
The "Thirty-Four Gentlemen" who were raped by the court were not injured at all, but their buttocks were only red and swollen for a few days - so this high-ranking person was also a little embarrassed, and not many people invited them to participate in cultural gatherings on their way back home, and they disappeared from then on. Everyone.
Zhu Yijun here temporarily convinced all the officials and wanted to coax Zhang Juzheng. Zhang Juzheng was accused by his protégé Liu Tai of a 5,000-word reference to being good at bullying, and the black dog was covered in blood. He was really angry and a little discouraged; and the core party member Zhang Han cut him to pieces with a knife that penetrated three points to the bone. I was so frightened that I resigned from two books in succession.
Of course, it was the duty of a minister to submit his first resignation memorial after being impeached. Therefore, in the first book, he said, "The affairs of the imperial court have not yet been fully prosperous, and the Li and Yuan Dynasties in the country have not yet become strong, and the reform will only come into being. It is indeed not the time to leave." But "The speaker said that ministers are good at doing power and blessing, but the ministers who take charge of administration on their behalf are not power, so the blessings are also discussed based on their approximation. Everything can be a power, and everything can be a blessing."
Zhang Juzheng first said that it was really not the right time for him to resign now, which meant that you had to keep me here. Then he put forward conditions, Liu Tai and these people said that I am good at doing Weifu, you have to give me an explanation, otherwise I won't be able to do things.
To his surprise, the emperor's statement exceeded his most optimistic estimate. Zhang Juzheng thought that it was enough for the emperor to arrest Liu Tai and put him in jail. Unexpectedly, the emperor held an impromptu court meeting and killed two ministers, two ministers, and a bunch of miscellaneous fish in one go!
Although Zhang Juzheng could see the emperor's determination to implement reforms, Wang Yongji's death remonstrance really frightened him. In the Ming Dynasty, it was unheard of for ministers to resign en masse and force Zhang Juzheng into the palace; as for Wang Yongji's dynasty, Zhang Juzheng only knew about it from history books - such people are all loyal ministers recorded in history books, and those who were impeached were basically all Some villains.
Zhang Juzheng, who was supposed to come back immediately, retreated a little. He deeply realized the power of the conservative forces and said to his eldest son Zhang Siwen at home: "Although the emperor is a wise man, the slanderous words are loudly heard day by day. Even if he cannot be blamed for them, as a father, Is it not appropriate for me to be humble and slanderous?" - There are many slanderous words. Although I have been a virtuous person, and my mother threw a tree into a tree and walked away from the wall, how long can the emperor maintain his confidence in me? After saying this, Zhang Juzheng almost cried.
Zhang Siwen listened to his father's true words and cried: "My father has been the prime minister for five years, and the country has been declining and rising. Looking at it from my son, you have become one of the famous prime ministers of the country. The emperor is concerned about politics this time and wants to do great things." Reform - The son sees the outline of the reform given by the emperor to his father. It is an earth-shaking change! Why should you bear the doubts and slander yourself and do the unthinkable? "
Therefore, Zhang Juzheng, in a conflicting mood, wrote another memorial on the second day of the meeting. His words were very sad: "Looking at the emperor's will to pity his ministers and his stupidity, he will give it back. In the mountains and forests of Boqiu Temple, there must be talented and virtuous people who will benefit the country and not harm everyone." I am just taking the post on the emperor's side..." This time I really wanted to give up my job.
After Zhu Yijun read the memorial, he wrote a letter in his own hand out of frustration: "The late emperor entrusted me to my husband because I was young. My husband was extremely loyal to assist me. He worked tirelessly, did not avoid slander, and did not take credit for his achievements. The emperor, the emperor, and his ancestors will surely We all know that some beasts lose heart for the party, speak wildly, and shake the country. It is up to me to make the decision for you. Sir, you don’t have to mind so much. I just want the late emperor to take care of his life. I rely on him to protect the country and revolutionize the world. If it's important, then we'll give you an assistant..."
He also sent Sun Long, the eunuch in charge, to deliver the letter to Zhang's house with eight items inside and outside, four bottles of royal wine and a jade pendant.
When Zhang Juzheng saw Sun Long coming, he expected it and ordered the incense table to be set up to receive the order. Sun Long said: "Your Majesty specially told this slave, this is not a decree, but a letter." He handed Zhu Yijun's autographed letter to Zhang Juzheng to read. After reading it, Zhang Juzheng held it in his hand and communicated in tears in front of Sun Long. Although he did not agree to come back, he expressed his sincerity. Shaken again.
In the next few days, Zhu Yijun sent people around him to deliver things, pass on oral instructions, and comfort Zhang Juzheng with gentle words. Zhang Juzheng could not refuse, and he was also ambitious. Finally, on April 3rd, he expressed his stance to Sun Long, who came again, and came back to take charge of the situation and began to reform!
