The first morning court meeting after ascending to the throne is actually more symbolic than practical.
Generally speaking, as the early court was the place where the emperor and courtiers actually discussed government affairs, arguments and even quarrels often occurred.
This kind of conflict not only occurred between courtiers of different factions and different opinions, but sometimes also occurred between courtiers and the emperor.
It is recorded in the history books that most of the offenders were given direct remonstrances in the morning court.
Although it is said that the new monarch has held court meetings and Japanese dynasties as a supervisor before, but after all, the supervisor is different from the king.
Therefore, during this first morning court meeting, most of the courtiers were very careful and deliberately shelved many controversial issues and instead reported some court affairs that may be urgent or not urgent, but not very controversial.
For example, the normal transfer of local chief envoys, the promotion list of seventh-grade censors, the recruitment of brave soldiers, etc.
Zhu Qiyu listened briefly and realized that it was basically the right thing to do, so he understood it.
Now that the new king has succeeded to the throne, the courtiers and him, the new emperor, are still in the process of getting used to each other, so he simply waved his hand to the ministers to stop these indifferent remarks and said.
"My dear ministers, the national situation is critical now. We should report important military and state affairs to the court early. For other matters, if there are precedents to follow, each government office will send the memorial to the court. If there are any disputes that cannot be decided, it will not be too late to discuss them at the court.
"
The ministers below were silent for a moment, and then Yu Shiyue, the minister of Dali Temple, came out.
"Your Majesty, on the 22nd of last month, I was ordered to join the Ministry of Punishment and the Metropolitan Procuratorate to preside over the trial of Wang Zhen's party's rebellion against the country. The trial has now been concluded. A group of people have been sentenced as follows. Please see it before Your Majesty."
Well, this matter can barely be considered a big deal. Although the ministers thought it was not too controversial, they still raised their spirits.
Yu Shiyue's memorial was not lengthy. Zhu Qiyu raised his eyes and knew the content clearly. He handed it to Jin Ying who was standing aside and ordered him to read it out in front of everyone.
No one was interested in listening to the previous charges and evidence, and focused directly on the final sentence.
"...Wang Zhen, the eunuch in charge of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, committed a heinous crime. Among the nine clans in Zhuzhu, he lost his family property. His ancestors' graves were found and their bones were discarded to serve as a warning to the world."
"His nephews Wang Lin and Wang Shan, the commander of the Jinyi Guards Ma Shun, the eunuch and eunuch Guo Jing, the eunuch Chen Yu, the junior eunuch Mao Gui, the internal officer Wang Changsui, and the imperial eunuch Peng Deqing, rely on Wang Zhen's power
, whoever commits any evil will be sentenced to death by beheading, their property confiscated, and their relatives taken to the palace as slaves."
"The rest include Senglu Si Youjueyi, Gong Ran, Shengdao, Lusi Youxuanyi, Wang Daohong, Jinyiwei Zhenfu Zhouquan, craftsman Shen Cheng, Xiaoqi Zhang Botong and more than a hundred people, including King Afu.
"Zhen Zhen, one of his cronies, has also committed illegal acts, and will be sentenced to death by beheading."
Jin Ying's voice fell, and the officials below couldn't help but burst into discussion.
Some clapped their hands and applauded, while others gnashed their teeth.
But most of the courtiers looked at Yu Shiyue with a little more admiration.
This sentence is really cruel!
Not only ruthless, but also ruthless, so ruthless that no escape route is left for oneself.
Needless to say, Wang Zhenzi said that among the punishments imposed by the court for implicating the nine tribes and abandoning the bones, there was no heavier punishment than this. If there was, the only one who was implicated was Fang Xiaoru, who was implicated in the ten tribes.
But even for Fang Xiaoru, there were disciples and disciples who collected his body so that it would not be exposed in the wilderness, and his ancestral graves would not be dug up.
This Wang Zhen can be regarded as the first of its kind for the imperial court!
Not to mention Ma Shun, Mao Gui, and Wang Changsui, they all deserve to die, have their property confiscated, and have their relatives enslaved.
What shocked the ministers was the last paragraph.
In addition to Wang Zhen and his close associates, everyone down to the craftsmen and Xiaoqi who had been used by Wang Zhenzhong were sentenced to death.
This is to completely uproot everyone related to Wang Zhen!
At that moment, someone said: "Your Majesty, I think that although Wang Zhen has committed a heinous crime, his accomplices should also be killed. However, although Wang Daohong, Zhou Quan and others are attached to power, they go in and out of Wang Zhen's family and do things for Wang Zhen.
It is a serious crime, but it is not a crime that cannot be forgiven. The emperor has newly ascended the throne and should govern the world with kindness and forgiveness. I beg you to forgive his death penalty and change it to exile."
If there is opposition, there will be support.
"Your Majesty, I think it's inappropriate. The king's party has brought disaster to the country and the people, and has destroyed more than 200,000 officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty. The three ministers have discussed his crimes. They are all heinous crimes. Is this the disaster of one person?"
"No, in fact, everyone in Wang Zhenyi's party worked together to do this. Therefore, regardless of the severity of Wang Zhenyi's crimes, all those who are his close followers should be severely punished. They must be beheaded to warn the world."
Zhu Qiyu was watching the quarrel below.
Sure enough, Li Wenchen could never change this bad habit. At first, both sides explained their reasons, but soon turned into attacking each other.
Those who advocate light sentences accuse the other side of harsh punishments and excessive killings, which are inconsistent with the saint's way of benevolence and forgiveness.
Those who advocate severe punishment turn to mock the benevolence of women on the other side and shield the sinners, which shows their bad intentions.
Not long after the meeting, the two sides started to quarrel.
Of course, those who came forward were basically censors, Liubu Langguan and other low-ranking officials. Their official positions were not high and their weight in the court was not important. It would not hurt to speak too much or speak and behave a little beyond the rules.
Usually at this stage, the chief official of the Yamen involved in the matter, that is, Yu Shiyue, the minister of Dali Temple who presides over the joint trial of the three divisions, should intervene to mediate.
Either he changes his mind and gives a lighter sentence, or he reiterates his reasons for handling it this way.
If no one of the same rank raises any objection, then the matter should be settled.
If there is, it will escalate into a battle between big bosses and become a matter on another level.
At that time, there will be a new round of quarrels, or even quarrels that last for several rounds...
This is the standard procedure for court meetings. Zhu Qiyu has seen this scene countless times in his previous life, and he naturally feels at ease.
However, despite the quarrel for a long time, Yu Shiyue never stood up and stood still as if roots had taken root under his feet.
On the contrary, Jiang Yuan, the minister of the Ministry of Punishment, came out and said: "Your Majesty, this case trial is carried out in accordance with the will of the emperor. The civil engineering matter involves a lot, and Wang Zhen and his party should handle it with caution. I think that if the involvement is not deep,
, maybe it can be forgiven, but it needs a holy judgment!”
Chen Yi, the censor of Zuodu, came out immediately and said: "Your Majesty, Wang Zhen's party is arrogant and domineering, has committed many crimes, has harmed the country and the people, and needs to be severely punished. However, this matter is serious. The Third Division has clarified the crimes of a group of people and sentenced them to punishment.
, I also believe that it should be decided by the Holy Spirit."
Zhu Qiyu's eyes swept over the three people in the center of the hall one by one, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
If I remember correctly, this joint trial of the three divisions was presided over by Yu Shiyue, the Minister of Dali Temple. Also participating were Jiang Yuan, the Minister of Punishment, and Chen Yi, the Censor of Zuodu.
Now among the three people, Yu Shiyue, as the host, remained silent after presenting the results.
Jiang Yuan and Chen Yi, one believes that "those who are not deeply involved may be forgiven," the other believes that "it is harmful to the country and the people, so severe punishment is needed."
They seem to be in opposition to each other, but at the same time they both express the need for Holy Judgment!
Look at the group of ministers and cabinet ministers standing in front, looking at their noses with their eyes and their hearts with their noses.
He got it!
This is not the courtiers debating how to deal with Wang Zhenyi's party, they are clearly testing his new king's attitude towards this matter!