Chapter 31: Receiving the think tank Kangxi and making a name for Confucianism, punishing the ink officer Yinren
Ouyang Hong kowtowed and recited loudly: "Forgive me for the death penalty! The monarchs of the previous Ming Dynasty did not follow the law and often imposed unjust punishments on their ministers. They often skinned their servants and fed them to dogs, indiscriminately imposed punishments, and left the six departments in a useless place. This is The Ming Dynasty collapsed and the government was ruined, so I call it the voice of the country's ruin!" Kangxi chuckled and said: "The Ming Dynasty collapsed because bandits were rampant in the East and West factories, and eunuchs had exclusive power. What does it have to do with the emperor's punishment of corruption and elimination of violence? It is unheard of. Ouyang Hong said: "The country has its own laws and regulations to punish corruption and eliminate violence. There are no murderers in the grass and green forests. How can the imperial court lower its status and associate with them? Please make a wise decision. In accordance with your opinion, hand over this country to the Ministry of Finance." It is proposed that according to the law, the canonical punishments should be clearly stated, and the people of the world should be informed. In this way, corrupt officials will be frightened and they will not dare to take any chances, and it will also prevent the historians from saying that our lord kills people without punishment. Isn't it not good?"
"Hmm!" Ouyang Hong didn't say it clearly, but Kangxi already understood his intention: killing Feng Shengyun in this way is no different from a green forest hero robbing the rich and giving to the poor. As soon as he wrote it in his daily life note, he was known as a murderer without punishment. There is also a sect, if future generations follow suit, it will lead to the rampage of evildoers like Dongchang, which will really cause endless troubles. With this little foresight, Zhang Tingyu around him cannot reach it! Kangxi then smiled and said: " Be on guard against the slightest, and what you say makes sense. But only you can say this. Zhang Tingyu is in the middle of this, so if you say it, you will be suspicious."
Zhang Tingyu really didn't expect this level. Hearing Kangxi fight for his face, he couldn't help but feel moved in his heart, and said: "Long live Ouyang Hongcai, who knows people well, and I can't match him. I should just step out and serve the country!" Kangxi nodded with satisfaction! , and when he was about to speak, Ouyang Hong trembled all over and kowtowed: "I bowed down in the prosperous age, met the emperor by chance, and used my body in common clothes to desecrate the majesty of ten thousand chariots. This is a great honor. I don't dare to think any more. I am shy." Yan is turning sideways to the temple. Long live the lesson!"
"Everyone is eager to be an official." Kangxi saw that his refusal did not seem to be pretentious, so he smiled and said, "You are lucky enough to meet me. Wouldn't it be a pity to miss such an opportunity?" Ouyang Hong kowtowed, trembling and crying: " To be honest, my surname is neither Ouyang nor Hong. In order to escape the crime, I used a false name..."
Kangxi and Zhang Tingyu were both surprised and looked at each other. Zhang Tingyu asked: "What is your real name?"
"The guilty minister...Fang Bao...will die!"
Kangxi's heart suddenly sank: the person kneeling down was actually the criminal in Dai Mingshi's "Nanshan Collection" case. The main criminal had been executed long ago. Because Fang Bao was famous in the world, several of the emperor's elder brothers interceded with the ministers in the study room to free him. Returning home, I didn't expect to meet here by chance! Kangxi looked at the dark night outside and said nothing for a while. He only heard a gust of autumn wind passing by, and the willows in the courtyard were swaying and making a subtle rustling sound. After a while, Kangxi said: "You are Why do you need to change your name if you are released from prison under my pardon, as if you are avoiding a cat and mouse?" Fang Bao kowtowed: "There was no announcement of a pardon in the prison. At that time, I only heard that the imperial court was going to clean up the prison and investigate and deal with Zai Bai. "Duck," they were released and replaced in prison overnight. The guilty officials thought they had been released by mistake, so they escaped overnight. Long live, the guilty officials still thought that the court was still looking for them..." Kangxi also found it funny. He thought of Fang Bao's escape. The situation in prison made Kangxi feel terrible again. He sighed and said nothing.
"I am also from Tongcheng, and I have read your articles. When I pardoned you, I went to look for you, but you left." After a long time, Zhang Tingyu said, "I am very surprised that you are so knowledgeable, why shouldn't you try to be an official? Instead, you followed Dai Mingshi to talk nonsense and misunderstood the meaning of the sage's scriptures?" Fang Bao smiled bitterly and said: "When asked about the reasons for my crime, it's hard to explain in one sentence. I took the exam several times. In the 26th year of Kangxi's reign in Nanwei, I opened the paper. It was Jie Yuan. Later I met Zuo Yuxing, the chief examiner, and he frowned and said, "How can I meet the Holy Master with such a living appearance like Zhong Kui?" He deposed me to the last place. In anger, I rolled my sleeves..."
Kangxi sighed: "You don't have to say it. The examiner has offended you, so you don't have to follow others to scold me! As of today, there is no need to mention this matter again - you can step aside for now. I and Zhang Tingyu have something to discuss." Seeing that.
Fang Bao walked out, and Zhang Tingyu hesitated and asked: "Long live, look at this..." Kangxi half leaned on the chair, stared blankly for a while, and after a long time, he breathed out and said:
"You pass the order and ask him to enter the study room to wait on you immediately."
Zhang Tingyu was stunned. He couldn't figure out what Kangxi was thinking at this moment! The upper study room was in charge of six departments. It was the center of the central government. Officials were regardless of their size. As soon as they stepped into the upper study room, all officials were regarded as prime ministers. He murmured for a long time.
, Zhang Tingyu said: "Master, this..."
"What's inappropriate?" Kangxi sat up straight and said coldly, "How talented is Mingzhu? He has been in charge of the study for nearly twenty years; Gao Shiqi has no fame, so isn't it good to be in the study? You want
I know that there are still a lot of literati down there scolding me, saying that I cannot accommodate Han people, and I just want to show them how big I am! Go to the study room, after all, it is a study room, can't you raise a literati? I didn't set up one when I was young.
In the study, there is only one Mr. Wu Ciyou to live with day and night, which is great! He is just an official. Are you as good as Mr. Wu? - Ask him to come in!"
This was a serious question. Zhang Tingyu did not dare to reply. He bowed silently and left with Fang Bao in. Fang Bao knelt down and listened to Zhang Tingyu's announcement. He didn't seem to be surprised. Tears rolled in his eyes and he kowtowed.
He raised his head and sighed: "The guilty minister is already a thing of the past, and I may not be able to live up to the emperor's high hopes... Alas! The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it's almost dusk!"
"God will pity the grass, and the world will be sunny again!" Kangxi chanted. He was also very emotional, and said in thought, "I didn't ask you to hunt the cheetah and the bear, so why do you sigh like a sima ox? I asked you to enter the study room.
, different from Zhang Tingyu, Ma Qi. You still retain your commoner character, and I don’t intend to make you an official!" Hearing this, Zhang Tingyu couldn't help but widen his eyes, but heard Kangxi say deeply, "Human beings are the spirit of all things.
But when it comes to being a human being, it is really not easy. Hundreds of civil and military officials, wealthy businessmen, who doesn't have a study? Whose study is like mine, located on the ninth floor. When my ministers and ministers arrived at my place, they said, "The emperor is a sage, I am guilty."
I'm going to die!" He smiled bitterly, "When I'm old, I have neither a place to retreat to nor a happy family. You can't imagine how desolate and lonely I am - alone, alone. In short, I'm alone.
..." As he said this, his eyes were filled with tears.
Zhang Tingyu and Fang Bao were both stunned for a moment, and they lowered their heads together. Kangxi's monologue came from the heart, and every word was true. There was nothing to say, and there was nowhere to remonstrate. While in a daze, Kangxi asked
: "Tingyu, do you understand what I mean?"
"Slave...understand." Zhang Tingyu felt a little choked up in his throat for some reason.
Kangxi nodded, cheered up and said with a smile: "Just understand - Fang Bao, Zhang Tingyu is young, ask him to kneel. You are my friend, get up and sit down! This time on my southern tour, you will accompany me for a few more walks."
Here, let’s entertain him happily for a few days!” Fang Bao realized at this moment that Kangxi’s true intention of ordering him to go to the study in white was very moved. Seeing that Kangxi was happy, he kowtowed and stood up with a smile: “Although I don’t dare to ask Your Majesty for it.
As a 'friend', I am willing to grind inkstones and wash pens for the Emperor in accordance with the holy orders, and be a commoner." After saying this, he looked at Kangxi and smiled.
On the second day when Kangxi drove to Nanjing, Yinreng received the imperial edict from Zhang Tingyu from Luoma Lake. Only then did he know that Feng Shengyun, the newly appointed governor of the river, had been dismissed. Looking at the edict, Yinreng felt a little bit in his heart. The prisoner muttered: Feng Shengyun's official position was recommended by donations. Although it was passed through the hands of the fourteenth elder brother, Yinreng himself also received the benefit of one thousand taels of gold, so he felt quite uncomfortable. After hesitating for a long time, Yinreng ordered The imperial edict was sent to Ma Qi, who approved the use of the official seal, and sent the details of Zhang Tingyu's involvement in Feng Shengyun's corruption, embezzlement of ICBC, and flattery for glory to the Ministry of Punishment.
Wang Tuan, Zhu Tianbao, and Chen Jiayou were all writing abbreviations and reading folded books in Yuqing Palace. When he heard that Yin Reng was leaving the palace to go to the fourth master's house, Wang Tuan stood up and asked: "Prince, Shi Shilun, there are a lot of things over there at the household department." Things haven't been settled yet. I originally arranged for him to come in and see you today. What's the business of going to Fourth Master's house this time?" Yinreng's face sank: Why does this old man have to take care of everything? But Wang Wan is the first person he "resets". The hero didn't know what to do, so he said: "Shi Shilun, Lao Si, Lao Thirteen, and the others are not the same thing? Maybe they are all discussing matters in Prince Yong's Mansion right now! Can we see them all when we go?"
"Prince," Chen Jiayou also stood up and said, "You tell the Fourth Master, I'll ask him to come in." Yinreng said with a smile: "It's just a few steps, and I want to walk around. If I go, it won't be the same if he comes. ?”
Zhu Tianbao straightened his body and said: "Of course it is different! The third master, the fourth master, and the eighth master have all been promoted to princes now. The prince always goes to the fourth master's house. What will the other brothers think? A great gift for the king and his ministers. The prince has to think carefully about where he is." Yinreng heard what they said and felt that it was reasonable. However, several people objected to this trivial matter in a serious way, but they couldn't save their face, so he sneered and said: "You should be slapped for saying this. !Have I never been to the Eighth Master’s house? What’s the problem with the Eighth Master and me? I’m not particularly close to the Fourth Master. We brothers can’t even speak privately?”
"What are you talking about in private?" Zhu Tianbao said hard, "The prince is a public servant of the world, what are you talking about in private with your ministers?"
Zhu Tianbao's tone seemed almost rude, but there was a tradition to follow. When Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty succeeded to the throne, before entering the palace, Chen Ping paid a private visit at night. Emperor Wen's close ministers stood in the way and said that the emperor has no private affairs and has official matters to be discussed at the court. Of course Yinreng knew this well. However, his pride couldn't bear this story. He was searching for reasons to criticize these three people when he saw Yinxiang holding up the corner of his robe and walking hurriedly to Yuqing Palace. Several eunuchs hurriedly greeted Yinreng. He took a breath, changed his smile and said, "Old Thirteen, you are so impatient, what's the big deal?"
"In reply to the prince," Yinxiang came in and greeted Qian'er, "The fourth prince just received the decree in the custody room of the Ministry of Personnel. I thought that the list of dismissed persons drawn up in the first few days had been approved, but after reading it, I realized that it was Feng Something has happened to your luck. I came here to ask for permission and ask about the list."
Yinreng asked with a smile: "Is this the Fourth Master's idea or yours? Maybe Shi Shilun encouraged you to ask, right?" Yinxiang guessed what he meant and said: "It was the three of us together. This time There were forty-one dismissed officials who were found guilty of corruption, bribery, and bad laws. Although the investigation was solid, nine out of ten were Taoist priests or lower, but it still felt that some of them were not enough to shock the audience. Since the emperor wanted to investigate Feng, this was the answer. Together with two high-ranking officials of the second rank, two foreign ministers from the Ministry of Revenue, Huang Yushen and Luo Sijie from the Ministry of Etiquette, they gathered together to seize the Dali Temple together, and the momentum was considerable."
"Don't be busy now. I'll think about it carefully." Yin Reng waved his hands and sat down. He turned to Wang Deng and the other three and smiled, "You guys have been sitting here for most of the day and it's time to relax for a while. Go to the study to see Ma Qi and tell the provinces
Let’s sort out the excerpts. If there is any military information about Alabutan of the Jungar tribe, it will be sent to Nanjing in a hurry for 600 miles for the emperor to deal with. Regarding river affairs and water transportation, we will also submit them together. The rest will be brought here in categories so that we can consider it.
Let’s do it.”
Seeing that Yin Reng was pretending to be avoiding, the three of them looked at each other. Unexpectedly, Yin Reng was so dishonest. Wang Dang left his seat calmly and said to Zhu Tianbao and Chen Jiayou, who were ashen-faced: "Let's go." So the three of them bowed and dismayed.
Then he left. Yinxiang asked in surprise: "I'm talking about serious missions. They happened to be brainstorming together. Why did you send them away instead?"
"Don't worry about them. The way to control a subordinate is to use both grace and power. We'll discuss it with them before discussing it." Yinreng motioned for Yinxiang to sit down and turned away the eunuch. Fang asked, "How did you do the thing I entrusted you with last time?"
Did it?" Yinxiang felt a burst of anger in his heart: Baba kicked out several people who were doing things. He didn't talk about a lot of difficult official matters, but only asked about his own private matters! After thinking about it, he said calmly: "It's done, it's pretty clean.
. I found a cemetery for her in Zuojiazhuang and buried her ashes. When I mentioned this, I felt uncomfortable... Prince, you have to say that although the steel knife is fast, you should not kill the innocent person..."
Yinreng's eyes flashed excitedly, then dimmed. He lowered his head and pondered for a long time before saying: "You think I am willing to do this? It's all forced... How could Li Longji want Yang Yuhuan -" He suddenly thought that Tang Xuanzong was the king of subjugation.
, felt that it was unlucky, so he changed his words and said: "She died for me, which can be regarded as a sacrifice for the country, and she died a worthy death. As for her posthumous reputation, I will decide when I can make the decision - Lao Ba, I can't spare him!" Yinxiang thought of it.
Sister Qiao, Alan, these two eyesores, don't you also want to find an opportunity to get rid of them? Listening to Yinreng's heartache, he choked and couldn't control himself. He also felt that his feelings were unbearable, and he sighed and was lost in thought. Yinreng walked over
He picked up a thick stack of files at the desk, weighed them, and said with a smile: "Let's not talk about it anymore. This is the list and abridgement of the crimes you asked for. I approved it. There are additions and subtractions. They are all done carefully by me.
You have to take a look at the ruling first."
Yinxiang glanced at the file, and wrote on the first page, "Fifty corrupt criminals including Fan Xiu and others were dismissed from their posts and brought to Beijing. The Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple will jointly interrogate them. After obtaining the true confessions, they will be reported to the Holy Spirit for approval.
Department." When he took a closer look, Yinxiang couldn't help but gasped: it turned out that all the names of the pro-prince faction officials involved in the case were deleted, and the newly added ones were all the "Baye Party" that Yinreng talked about on weekdays! Yinxiang was heartbroken.
He hesitated and asked, "Have Ma Qi and Master Wang read this list?"
"Ma Qi's place is just a formality." Yinreng said neither coolly nor hotly, and his cold eyes actually made Yinxiang shiver for no reason. "Wang Dong and the others are not court officials after all. They should not get too involved in government affairs. I want to give you some advice first.
You and the fourth child should take a look and see if there's anything wrong, and we'll discuss it later."
Since there was room for negotiation, Yinxiang felt relieved. He knew very well: Don't just say it would be approved, it would just be revealed. This list would immediately cause great panic among the officials who opposed the prince. Yinxiang was stunned for a moment, and suddenly he felt blessed and said
"Prince, since we still need to discuss it, I don't have to rush to take it out. I have to go to the Master De'er later to say hello on behalf of the fourth brother. Then I will pass the message and call the fourth brother, Shi Shilun, to come in and you can give the order in person, is that okay?"
"That's fine." Yinreng smiled, raised his hand and said, "I'm sorry."
Yinzhen and Shi Shilun were still waiting for the letter in the official department. Yinxiang hurried back and talked about the list in detail. Shi Shilun suddenly broke out in cold sweat and said: "Thirteenth Master, it's a shame that you didn't bring that list with you."
! If you bring this red charcoal dumpling to the Ministry, we will have a good fire." Yinxiang said: "I am too cautious - in fact, you Lao Shi don't have to be afraid, there is no injustice.
The debt belongs to the owner, so why is it your turn to take the blame?"
Yinzhen kept the fire nearby and remained silent. He used chopsticks to stir up a pot of lily-scented charcoal to stir up the flames. The red light shone on his face, which was silent and contemplative. He looked very peaceful. Only the muscles on his forehead twitched occasionally.
After a while, Yinzhen threw away the chopsticks and said, "I don't think it's a big deal to be so unconscious. I failed in my job of clearing up the deficit, and I've already followed him to death. This is a matter of ignorance.
It can't be like last time - after checking, no matter whether you have grievances or grievances with him and the Eighth Master, they must all be dealt with! If you do anything random, you have to do your own thing, and after all, there is the emperor above you!"
"Fourth Master," Shi Shilun murmured, "don't forget that the prince is sitting in Beijing!" Yinzhen said coldly: "I was already an imperial envoy when he was not sitting in Beijing. I am responsible to the emperor. After all, he is not
Your Majesty." After saying that, he stood up and shouted outside: "Come!"
Dai Duo was standing guard at the door. Hearing the greeting, he stepped in and said, "Fourth Master!"
"Incoming official Wen Yaozhen!"
Dai Duo agreed and went. Yinxiang asked with a smile: "Fourth brother still wants to be Bo'an? I said, don't worry about it, Wen will not touch him even if you die. Why do you have to chop down the elm roots for others?"
Woolen cloth?"
"I have a weapon, and I'm not afraid of its entanglement." Yinzhen's face was expressionless, "Don't worry about this matter!" Shi Shilun frowned and said: "Fourth Master, do you want to be punished? Wen Yaozhen is a minister and has examples.
Forbidden, Fourth Master must think twice before he acts." As soon as he finished speaking, Wen Yaozhen, the Minister of Civil Affairs, had followed Dai Duo in, and Shi Shilun stopped talking.
"Yao Zhen," Yinzhen said kindly, "this vassal came to inspect the official department, and you were the first to be stripped of your crown. I remember that on the day you were stripped of your crown, we had a conversation and we had something to say. As long as you say
Come out, why did you give Ren Bo'an 30,000 silver? The fourth master is responsible for this big thing. - Have you thought about it now?"
Wen Yaozhen replied: "The prison officer is naturally very grateful to the fourth master for his protection. The thirty thousand silver was borrowed by Ren Bo'an from the Ministry of Personnel. It is difficult for the prison officer to refuse."
"Humph!" Yinzhen smiled sinisterly, "You are a second-rank official in the imperial court, why is it so hard to refuse! Now you are willing to pay in advance, isn't it weird? What is your relationship with him? Or do you have something to do with it?
In his hand?" Wen Yaozhen was startled by this coercive question. She kowtowed and replied: "Although Ren has been deposed for a long time, because he is from the capital, he often goes back to the ministry. He sometimes cannot borrow money when doing business.
Yes, it is common to borrow money from the ministry. The fourth master clearly knows that the officials in the capital are poor and only have a salary of more than one hundred taels a year. The prison officials also want to get three cents of their silver, so they cannot borrow money. They are always the prison officials.
I'm confused, please be more careful!" After hearing this, Yinzhen nodded to Wen Yaozhen and said with a smile: "Thirteenth brother, listen to this slave's sharp tongue!"
Yinxiang smiled and said: "I also read his previous confession. It seems to have been made up on the fly. It's not the same as the horse's mouth. But this time I have been 'thinking' about it for many days, and it seems to be something serious."
"I beg the Thirteenth Master to make a clear decision!" Wen Yaozhen kowtowed, "I dare not make up lies." Shi Shilun, a veteran in investigating cases, seized the topic and asked: "Old Wen, half a month before you lent Ren Bo'an the money, you opened a new building
The pawn shop has a hundred thousand yuan. If you talk about poverty, where did this money come from?" Wen Yaozhen was stunned when asked, and she just pretended to be deaf and said nothing.
Yinzhen stood up, walked around for two steps, and asked with a smile: "You are from the Zhengbai Banner of the Han Army, right?" Wen Yaozhen glanced at Yinzhen in surprise, not knowing what it meant. She had to reply: "My slave is from the Zhenghong Banner." Yinzhen
He hummed and said: "Let me tell you, you are no longer a member of the Zhenghong Banner! I recently made a transfer with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to transfer your flag status to the Zhengbai flag under my jurisdiction. From now on,
You are my flag slave. How about following me as your master?" After saying that, he took out a transfer document from the boot page and handed it over.
"This..." Wen Yaozhen only glanced at it, her face immediately turned pale, she kowtowed in panic, and said incoherently: "The fourth master is taking care of me, I am... grateful... I wonder if my master, the ninth master, approves?
This servant knows... the fourth master is the most considerate of his servants..."
Yinzhen glanced at Yinxiang and Shi Shilun proudly, and said: "This is a matter of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, what does it have to do with Master Jiu? You know my nature, and I have clear grudges. If you really have such a pious heart, you have to respect my nature.
.Isn’t there a decree not to torture ministers? Okay! How about I deal with you according to the righteous Baiqi family law?"
No one expected that Yinzhen would not hesitate to secretly trick Chen Cang and use this trump card. Everyone was stunned for a moment! (To be continued)