As expected, Wang Xian apologized first.
Not only Wang Xian, but also Wu Tingju, who previously served as Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War and now serves as Minister of Household Affairs.
Yang Tinghe, Jiang Mian, Cui Yuan, and Yao Rong also stood up to plead guilty.
Jiang Mian is the cabinet minister in charge of major affairs in the Beijing camp, Yao Rong is the assistant in charge of the military affairs of the Beijing camp, and Cui Yuan represents the five palaces. As for Yang Tinghe...his younger brother Yang Tingyi was the former right minister of the Ministry of War and the current left minister of the Ministry of War.
After Fei Maozhong was "driven away" by Yang Tinghe, He Ao, the newly appointed bachelor's student in the imperial study room in the 12th year of Zhengde, watched this scene nervously.
Although the two seniors Zhang Bi and Gu Dingchen have made up for it, the Beijing camp is the lifeblood of His Majesty's implementation of the new law. Now that such a major event has occurred, what will Your Majesty do?
"Your Majesty, now that we have this case, it will be easier to handle."
To He Ao's surprise, this group of people seemed to be just asking for forgiveness as a routine, and then Yang Tinghe said: "If it is just embezzlement of military pay, why resist the imperial edict and commit rebellion? The Three Laws Division will conduct a strict investigation, and the Ministry of War will handle the positions of Fang Si Qing Li. The lieutenant, the lieutenant, and the principal are all guilty. Your Majesty, the chief of staff is in charge of maps, military systems, city gods, garrisoning, conciseness, and conquests. The affairs are complicated and the officials are few. If this matter is investigated, it can only serve as a warning. two."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Zhu Houcong and continued: "In the old system, although the Ministry of War was responsible for providing supplies, salaries were still issued by the generals in charge of the troops. It was really difficult to be called a governor, especially the generals in the Beijing camp, most of whom were honorary ministers. How can a fifth-grade doctor supervise the real hair?"
"Your Majesty has an explicit order, if anyone blocks it, can't the Ministry of War report it?" Cui Yuan choked dissatisfied, "The Military Selection Department is in charge of the selection of military attachés all over the world. Elder Yang's remarks are suspected of shirking responsibility on behalf of the Ministry of War!"
Yang Tinghe said seriously: "I cannot shirk my responsibility. The Ministry of War cannot select military attachés from the capital camp and other important generals. Your Majesty, if you want to prevent generals from embezzling money and money, if the authority is unclear, there is no way to guarantee the actual payment of money." Send it to every soldier."
Zhu Houcong spoke: "Reforming the military system is not an immediate matter. In the case before us, the focus of the investigation is not whether the system is appropriate or not, but whether the generals and the people involved in the Ministry of War have bad intentions. Cui Yuan is right, I have If there is a clear purpose, any generals who dare to block his actions and civil servants who do not fulfill their new responsibilities should be replaced and replaced with those who are willing to obey orders."
Li Chongsi asked: "Your Majesty, Hui'an Bo Zhang Wei has resisted the decree and led the people to rebel. How should I handle the case?"
There was silence in the imperial study room, everyone looked at the emperor.
Should we deal with it secretly first, or publicize it?
Li Xiang's case first attracted Hui Anbo and the Zheng family, and now Zhang Wei and others have been brought back by Jinyiwei. Will the case be handled by Jinyiwei or the Sanfa Division?
Should the emperor make a public statement and let the world know that Zhang Wei's rebellion was all because of the new law?
The way this case is handled determines the direction and pace of events starting this year.
"Ding Guogong is temporarily in charge of the fifth military camp, and he has leaked that twenty-seven rebel soldiers have not been captured. The matter cannot be hidden, and there is no need to hide it." Zhu Houcong reassured them and said seriously, "My decision, you and others should have already made it. It’s clear. Let’s continue with Li Xiang’s case.”
Everyone was in awe, and after a while, Yang Tinghe hesitated and asked: "Is it ominous for the emperor's legitimate son to come into the world, and the war and bloodshed?"
Everyone couldn't help but glance at him.
Zhu Houcong was unfazed: "Li Yi, Tang Xianzhong, and Deng Jiye all made meritorious deeds. Although Chang Xuanzhen has not yet made any meritorious service, plus the descendants of Liu Bowen, the Ministry of Rites should report all the restoration matters of these five families. Please pass on my decree, and the three A total of 50,000 forwards have been selected for the camp and the army has been prepared for war. In the third year of Jiajing, one salary will be issued first. If there is chaos or meritorious service, another one will be issued this year. The necessary silver taels will be approved by the Ministry of War and borrowed from the Ministry of Household Affairs. I will prepare them."
"...I obey the order!"
He Ao, just like his predecessors, was trembling with fear as he thought about how to write this daily note.
The bow is about to be fired. If this major case continues, it will probably be no less important than several major cases in the Hongwu Dynasty. How many relatives, senior officials, even vassal kings and aristocratic families will be wiped out after this major case?
"Pass the message, the emperor's legitimate son is born. This year's Longevity Festival, the lords and relatives from all over the country will come to the capital to congratulate." Zhu Houcong then ordered, "I have been in power for three years, and I have not yet gathered together with my relatives and relatives. By the way. , Yanshenggong also sent envoys to spread the message."
His Longevity Festival is at the end of September.
In the past three years, the Xinjun Wanshou Festival has not been a big deal.
This year, His Majesty is also eighteen years old. It's Wanshou Festival, and it's eighteen years old.
This is indeed something worth doing.
But the current situation will undoubtedly make many people think complicated.
From now to September, there is still half a year. In the past six months, there must have been an undercurrent.
The local government is rectifying water conservancy, Li Xiang's case has been determined to be dealt with, and the new law will decide whether it will be extended to the whole country after Jiajing five years later this year and next.
Are some vassal princes and relatives willing to come to Beijing in person?
And after the vassal kings and relatives of some places enter the capital, what will other local forces do?
…
After the birth of the emperor's legitimate son, temporary sacrificial activities naturally took place in the capital.
When the good news came out, relatives of various families and officials in the capital were preparing congratulatory forms.
But when he was about to ask Zhang Wei for instructions on what gifts the mansion should prepare, Hui'an's Mansion welcomed the Jin Yiwei.
People in Feiyu suits filed in, all with knives on their waists.
Without any extra words, Wang Zuo only said: "Take all the children away and lock up the slaves."
Zhang Wei's son Zhang Lan shouted in fear: "What crime does my family have?"
Wang Zuo doesn't care about so much: "Resist the decree and commit rebellion. Search!"
The same thing happened to several other Xunchen families.
The case is being tried by the Sanfa Division, but Jin Yiwei can only do it to Xun Chen to see if there are any other letters and other evidence at home.
In Xuancheng's residence, the fifty-one-year-old Wei Chun had a serious look on his face: "Did you hear that right?"
"How could there be a mistake?" His son Wei Shou was saying in panic, "Uncle Hui'an, Uncle Zhangwu...the mansions of seven kinship families were surrounded by Jinyi guards, saying they were resisting the decree and treason! There were people on the streets. It is said that there was a fire in the southeastern suburbs last night, and the 3,000 battalion sent out 1,000 cavalry to suppress the rebellion! Hui Anbo and others were escorted into the palace by Commander Luo and others early in the morning, and the Ministry of Punishment has already arrested people in the city!"
"Who else are you going to arrest?" Wei Zhao asked quickly.
Before Wei Shouzheng had time to answer, Wei Chun's housekeeper rushed in and reported: "Uncle, there is an imperial edict."
Wei Tao did not dare to be rude and went to receive the order quickly.
After hearing about the arrangements for this year's Longevity Festival, Wei Qian was shocked: His Majesty has been on the throne for almost four years, and he is finally going to invite Yan Shenggong to Beijing to meet the saint?
But what was more important at this time was the change in the fifth military camp. He continued to question Wei Shouzheng.
"Officials, supervisors and others who were born in the Zheng family in Pujiang."
"...Quick! Go and tell Zhewen, don't act rashly!"
The emperor's legitimate son was born last night, the five military camps mutinied, and today the capital city was invaded.
The head of the Staff Department of the Ministry of War is none other than Zheng Xiao, who was a Jinshi in the second year of Jiajing last year.
"After you were appointed Chief Fang last year, you will go to each camp to supervise the distribution of pay and wages in the Beijing camp." In the lobby of the Ministry of Justice, Li Chongsi looked at him, "His Majesty has an explicit order that the Beijing camp implements a recruitment system, and the pay and wages must be paid by the Ministry of War. Supervisors in the camp are sent to the soldiers. Nowadays, the soldiers in each camp are more or less in arrears with pay. What do you say?"
Zheng Xiao still has an official status, so this matter would not be a serious crime that would immediately punish him, but now he has been stripped of his official uniform and is kneeling on the ground.
"Xiaoguan is only a sixth-rank official, and he is a new official. How can he refute the honors of all honorable ministers? This official has indeed committed a crime of dereliction of duty. If there is any punishment, he is willing to accept it." Zheng Xiao said sadly and indignantly, "This official is indeed guilty of dereliction of duty." I know that the five military camps are in arrears with pay, but the generals need to be aware of it. Every guard and camp in the world is afraid that they are all in arrears with pay! What can I do if I am appointed as the head of the Ministry of War's Position Department?"
Li Chongsi looked at his confession record and asked calmly: "You were born in Haiyan County, Jiaxing Prefecture, Zhejiang Province, and have the same clan as the Zheng family in Pujiang, Jinhua Prefecture, right?"
Zheng Xiao was stunned for a moment, and then replied solemnly: "There are many Zheng families in Zhejiang. In terms of origin, they all migrated south since the Han and Tang Dynasties. The Haiyan Zheng family, who was born in Xiaguan, is branched off from the Quzhou Zheng family, and the Pujiang Zheng family is Branched from the Zheng family in Sui'an."
"Last year, when I visited the Ministry of Government and Military Affairs, Wang Sima asked me to test you. He said that you would like to read old documents to know the difficulties in the world and the strength of the soldiers and horses." Li Chongsi stared at him, "Zheng Xiao, your Majesty has entrusted me with this task." You have such an important task, but you don’t pay attention to overseeing the payment of military pay to the troops in the capital, but you still use your duties to survey maps and conduct garrison work around the world. What are your intentions?"
Zheng Xiao seemed to be even more sad and angry: "How can the chief of the postal department not go to work on military affairs tomorrow? The chief minister asked the subordinate what his intentions were. How should he answer?"
"Li Xiangshi is Zhang Wei's son-in-law, and his wife is actually the child of Zhang Wei's wife. Zhang Wei's wife is from the Zheng family in Pujiang." Li Chongsi looked at him coldly, "Zhang Wei's master Shen Wenzhou confessed after he was captured, and he also I have visited you many times. If it is just for the convenience of paying, then it can only be said to be the usual practice, and there is nothing you can do about it. But now Zhang Wei actually rebelled against the order because he was greedy for military pay? Zheng Xiao, do you want to eat it? If you are willing to speak out only after suffering a lot, then I will have no choice but to torture you severely."
"The lower official was wronged!"
Zheng Xiao shouted immediately.
Whether he was wronged or not, the case has already been started.
In the prison of the Criminal Department, Shen Wenzhou was screaming in agony.
"I...I...recruited them all yesterday...recruited them all!"
During the gap, Shen Wenzhou answered feebly.
"Those people you talked nonsense about have been arrested first and are being interrogated one by one." A prison warden from the war department sat aside and drank tea and said leisurely, "You were caught by the Jin Yiwei last night. You wanted to run away. You didn't make it. Do you think you can fool many people by just talking nonsense? Jin Yiwei can catch you in time, don't you think you have been watched for how long? That's not what I want. Yesterday you entered the city and met the prison student Kong Zhewen ,What did you say?"
Shen Wenzhou's eyes were frightened.
If they thought they were talking nonsense, why did those people arrest them all first?
Is this case being handled so roughly? Are the Emperor and the New Party crazy? Are you really not afraid that people in the world will be panicked?
Now, he actually wants to involve the Kong family...
People in the capital are indeed panicking. Last night, news spread that the commander of the fifth military camp, Zhang Wei, rebelled against the order and that the officers and soldiers of the first battalion mutinied.
Under such circumstances, it seems understandable that the emperor would be furious and investigate the case thoroughly.
But this kind of grand and special approach really makes too many people worry about being implicated in the future.
Two questions linger in the minds of many relatives: Where did Zhang Wei have such courage? How can His Majesty calm down his anger?
Now in Wuying Hall, Zhang Wei and others were kneeling in front of Zhu Houcong.
"Stop talking about those lies about loyalty." Zhu Houcong looked down at Zhang Wei, "You are greedy for the money I send you, and you are obstructing the new law and rebelling against the emperor in the name of loyalty to the emperor. Who gave you what kind of promise? 15 Say it ten times."
"I am loyal to your majesty. The official store has been handed over, and the Emperor Mingji has also taken out the money. Why was your majesty deceived by Yang Ting and those people to be so harsh on your relatives?" Zhang Wei heard that Jinkou Yuyan had already sentenced him to the crime of treason. Now the situation is completely broken, "Can't Your Majesty see that the New Party is messing up the Ming Dynasty?"
Zhu Houcong sighed: "I'm only asking this for the last time. If you don't say anything here, go to the prison and try Wang Zuo's methods. Without any other confidence, do you dare to take the risk and mutiny? Who gave you guarantees, and how did they plan it? of?"
Zhang Wei sneered: "I am loyal, your Majesty said that I am treasonous. Your Majesty wants to find some excuse to kill some of your relatives, just kill me and others!"
If you can ask something easily, you should naturally give it a try.
Since he couldn't ask, Zhu Houcong didn't bother to ask.
After Luo An took them away again, Cui Yuan accompanied Zhu Houcong to the Yangxin Hall.
"There will definitely be many honorable ministers coming to visit you. You can convey my wishes this time."
"...My lord, listen."
"Honored relatives should do whatever I ask them to do, and only by being obedient can they be truly loyal." Zhu Houcong said as he walked, "If anyone has ever contacted you, said anything, or encouraged you, I will only Give me a chance and submit the report quickly. If you are found out, seizing the title will only be the lightest thing."
Cui Yuan could only reply softly: "I will remember it."
Zhu Houcong walked slowly in front, Cui Yuan looked at his back.
Zhang Wei said that he treated his relatives harshly, which means the standards were completely different.
This will also be the simplest conflict in this new law chaos.
Whether they are relatives, officials or gentry, too many people think that they enjoy preferential treatment in today's order as a matter of course.
Now, the emperor wants to re-establish rules for the world.
The military generals must pay the amount of food and salary according to the regulations. According to the law, no one should even think about escaping.
Should it be so? That's the way it should be.
But behind this, there is still selfish desire.
How many people are unwilling to let the old system be broken due to selfish desires? How can we ensure that this rule can be enforced in the future?
Cui Yuan didn't think there would be a good solution. He only knew that the emperor was probably on the road to implementing harsh laws.
The Forbidden City is peaceful, but a violent war between the old and the new is about to heat up everywhere.
The changes in the capital also began to spread outwards, and many people in the world were once again forced to change their plans.
Gu Shilong, the Marquis of Zhenyuan, sent an apology letter, and the Marquis of Jing'an and Sun Jiao asked to stay in Huguang for a while. The Tiqi troops sent by the Jin Yiwei to Nanzhili and Zhejiang, and the troops who went to various places to announce the decree to the vassal king Xun Qi left the capital.
From now on to Wanshou Festival, it will be a critical half year that determines the future direction of the Ming Dynasty.
I got sick from drinking yesterday, so I’ll just update one chapter today, T_T
(End of chapter)
