On the third day after the emperor asked the three magistrates to thoroughly investigate corruption, Wang Zhengming, the minister of Dali Temple, and Cheng Hong, the imperial envoy of Zuodu, all knelt down in the Manlu Palace in front of His Majesty the Emperor, bowing their heads deeply.
He looked ashamed and said, "Your Majesty, I am guilty."
Wang Zhengming, the minister of Dali Temple, even touched his forehead to the ground and almost shed tears on the spot: "Your Majesty, please restore the order."
These two are both the chief officials of the Three Laws Department, and they are ranked as the Great Nine Ministers along with the Six Ministers. They can definitely be regarded as important ministers in the court. They usually visit the saints in private, but sometimes they just give it up and don't have to kneel on the ground.
But now, the two of them are almost in awe, obviously it's something serious.
His Majesty the Emperor was looking through the apology letter handed over by the two men, with a gloomy expression on his face.
After a while, he looked at the two of them and said slowly: "Where did Wang Qing work ten years ago?"
Wang Zhengming looked ashamed, lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, ten years ago I was appointed as the Young Minister of Dali Temple."
"Where's Cheng Qing?"
Cheng Hong lowered his head, his face also turning red: "Your Majesty, ten years ago I received the Holy Grace and was appointed as the Censor of Yushitai Qiandu."
The emperor asked again: "If I remember correctly, you are all Jinshi of the Hongde Dynasty."
"yes."
The two of them were even more ashamed. Wang Qingzheng lowered his head and said: "I am a Jinshi in the fourth year of Hong Deyuan."
"I am a Jinshi in the seventh year of Hongde."
His Majesty the Emperor closed the document in his hand and said silently: "In other words, you were all promoted by me, and you were also raised in the Sanfa Si Yamen."
"especially you."
The emperor looked at Cheng Hong and said slowly: "The subject in the seventh year of Hong De's reign was the first subject after I came to power, and it is also the subject that I attach the most importance to. Many important officials in the imperial court today are Jinshi in that subject."
It is worth mentioning that Shen Yi was Hongde's Jinshi for seven years, and was undoubtedly the first person among the Jinshi in the same subject.
Ten years ago, most of Shen Yi's classmates in the same year were still fourth-, fifth-, or even fifth-grade officials, and even Mr. Shen's back could not be seen. However, as Shen Yi became unblockable, today, ten years later
, the one who was promoted faster among his fellow subjects has already reached the level of Da Jiuqing.
"When I saw the documents you handed over, I was both sad and embarrassed."
The emperor said with a sullen face: "What saddens me is that the officials I single-handedly promoted to rectify the government for me have also fallen into this trap and are colluding with other officials in the imperial court!"
"What makes me feel even more embarrassed is..."
The emperor coughed, couldn't help but patted the table, and said angrily: "Our officials from Jiankang are so unworthy! Look at Zhou Yuanlang, why is he not listed among them?"
The reason why the two heads of the Three Law Divisions knelt here to plead guilty was naturally because they were on Luo Yong's list.
And the implications are not small.
More importantly, Luo Yong had relatively clear evidence. After three days of investigation, the two chief officials had reached the point where they were irrefutable. They could only honestly submit a letter to plead guilty and ask His Majesty the Emperor to remove their chief officers.
He was qualified to handle this matter and was asked to take charge of his position.
"I am guilty."
Both of them had red eyes and kowtowed: "I was confused for a moment and would rather be dismissed from my post and punished. Please forgive me!"
The two of them had already made some mental preparations before coming. They both took off their official hats and put them aside. Then they kowtowed and said with tears: "I owe you the divine grace deeply, and I will never redeem it even if I die."
Seeing that both Dajiu Qing shed tears, His Majesty the Emperor stood up silently and walked in front of them. After being silent for a while, he sighed and stretched out his hands to help them up.
"If I really convict you two, wouldn't all the authority to handle the case fall into the hands of outsiders this time?"
The "outsider" in the emperor's mouth was obviously referring to Zhou Yuanlang.
Of course, as the emperor, you also have to talk to people and talk to ghosts. Such words are obviously meant to win over, so just listen to them and don't take them seriously.
However, both parties involved were moved to tears.
There is no way, they are all veteran ministers and they all know the rules. Since the emperor has shown kindness, as a minister you have to cry.
If you don't cry, you may really cry later.
After His Majesty the Emperor patted the two of them on the shoulders, he returned to his seat, closed his eyes and thought for a while, then looked at the two of them and said silently: "How much money have you two taken over the years, I..."
"I'm too lazy to ask anymore."
"For today's matter, I will first vent my anger on Luo Yong and ask him to take you two off the list."
"As for Zhou Yuanlang, although I will send someone to say hello, he is from the old Qi after all. Who knows if he will bite the bullet and want to see our Chen court make a fool of himself?"
"so…"
The emperor glanced at the two of them and said slowly: "You also need to meet him in private, so that you can have a better relationship with him and don't make it too tense."
The two of them lowered their heads again, ashamed.
"I understand."
His Majesty the Emperor nodded and continued: "In short, the two chief officers of our Third Law Department cannot be implicated in this matter, otherwise it will not only be the matter of the two of you seizing your posts and being imprisoned, but also the face of me and the imperial court will be ruined. Again."
The two of them looked at each other and fell to their knees with a plop, thanking the Holy Grace.
The emperor looked at the two people kneeling on the ground, and the corners of his mouth curved, and then he quickly became serious again, and said in a deep voice: "You two, continue to run errands with Zhou Yuanlang, and handle this matter properly."
"This time, the amount of corruption is so huge that I am shocked. Although I have forgiven you, you cannot forgive others."
"Below the third rank, those who should be arrested should be arrested, and those who should be interrogated should be interrogated."
"If you are in the third grade or above, bring it to me and I will make the decision myself."
The two looked at each other, then bowed their heads deeply and said: "I, my ministers, please obey the Holy Instructions!"
The emperor said "hmm" and waved his hand: "Please step back, let's go about our business."
He said meaningfully: "Don't let me down again."
The two knelt down again, kowtowed and thanked them, and slowly retreated.
After the two people left, His Majesty the Emperor lowered his head and took a sip of tea. After coughing twice, he suddenly smiled and said, "Now, they will be obedient."
Shen Yi, dressed in a python robe, walked out of the back hall, bowed to the emperor and saluted, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty is wise."
"It's very clever but not very clever."
His Majesty the Emperor laughed at himself: "Gao Ming is still in Jiankang."
Mr. Shen was startled when he heard this, then he reacted and smiled: "Yes, Eunuch Gao is in Nanjing..."
The emperor looked at Shen Yi, the smile on his face faded a little, and said slowly: "If they are not greedy or possessive, there is nothing I can do against them. It is a pity that in such a large court, there are really people who are not greedy and possessive. It’s too little.”
Shen Yi nodded and said: "Even Zhou Yuanlang can't be greedy and possessive. It's just that Zhou Yuanlang is a more clever man. He took advantage, but it's not easy to find out."
This time the imperial court's anti-corruption campaign is a combination of His Majesty's moves.
Now, the other two chief officials of the Third Law Department have been caught. They can only cooperate with Zhou Yuanlang in investigating the case. It is foreseeable that a large number of officials will be arrested in the future.
As for officials of third rank and above, a group of people who do not conform to the emperor's will will be dismissed.
When the time comes, some of these vacancies will be filled by the surrenders of the old Qi, and some of them will be filled by the new people.
However, neither the surrendered ministers of the old Qi nor the newcomers who have received this kindness will oppose any of His Majesty's policies. In other words, the matter of moving the capital will be implemented smoothly.
In the court, the surrendered ministers of the old Qi Dynasty will gradually become a new force.
This new force will not be too strong. At most, it will occupy about 10% to 20% of the force in the court, but it is still large enough. As the person in charge of this force, Zhou Yuanlang will probably use it to pay homage to the prime minister. Enter Zhongshu.
This is the new layout of the court after the capital was moved.
His Majesty the Emperor looked at Shen Yi and said, "When they hand over the list of officials of third rank and above, Shen Qing, please come to the palace as well, so that we, the monarch and the ministers, can look at it together and have a discussion."
Mr. Shen frowned, lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, this... seems to be something that should be discussed with the prime ministers..."
"Not many prime ministers are clean."
The emperor looked at Shen Yi and sighed: "Shen Qing, please help me more. I really don't have much energy now."
"No outsiders will know about this."
Mr. Shen hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "When the time comes, I can serve as a staff advisor to His Majesty."
The emperor smiled with satisfaction and said: "I have already started to deal with the matter of the Land Department of the Ministry of Household Affairs that Shen Qing mentioned last time. When the time comes, I will let the fourth child be the first doctor of the land department. But in order to make the third child feel at ease. ."
He looked at Shen Yi and said with a smile: "How about giving Shen Qing a part-time job?"
Mr. Shen was a little confused: "What does your Majesty mean?"
Emperor Hongde's wind is light and the clouds are calm.