The impeachment memorial flew into the cabinet like snowflakes, and both Cao Nai and Zhang Yi were shocked.
The literati of the Ming Dynasty have always paid attention to character, and the most tough among them was the group of supervisory censors.
Since the time of Emperor Taizu, these people have been given the privilege of hearing and reporting, and they have always criticized the emperor. However, like today, everyone standing behind the emperor waving flags and shouting is simply an unprecedented spectacle.
.
Cao Nai read several memorials one after another and wondered: "What's going on with the Metropolitan Procuratorate? Why did everyone change their temper overnight?"
Zhang Yi shook his head and said: "It's strange. It's really strange. There must be something weird about this matter!"
"Why don't you come here with the royal censor and ask why?"
"Very true!"
After Zhang Yi finished speaking, he immediately sent someone to invite Wang Wen, the censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
Not long after, Wang Wen hurried over and asked, "Mr. Cao, Mr. Zhang, why are you so anxious?"
"We still want to ask you!"
Cao Nai pointed to the memorial on the desk and asked, "What's going on with these?"
Wang Wen casually opened the two volumes and said helplessly: "To be honest with you, I don't know about these memorials either!"
Zhang Yi was dissatisfied and said: "These memorials all come from the Metropolitan Procuratorate. As the censor of Zuodu, you don't know?"
"I was also surprised when I saw it!"
Wang Wen shook his head and said: "Before the memorial was sent to the cabinet, I also asked a few people to question it. They said that the reasons for impeachment are very sufficient and well-founded. Why can't the memorial be submitted?"
"Who asked you this?"
Zhang Yi frowned and said: "Don't you see that everyone's tone has changed? In the past, you all took the lead in opposing the emperor, but now why, why... like this, tell me, what's going on?
?”
"Why what?"
"Wang Yushi, did you do this on purpose?"
"No, I just...actually, I think what they said is fine. Those who are impeached are guilty. The evidence is conclusive. Is there any reason not to impeach?"
Zhang Yi paused and then said: "If the Metropolitan Procuratorate does not dare to speak out in the future, it will only follow what others say, which will not be a good thing for the country."
Wang Wen smiled bitterly and said: "You two, I have said these things, but they don't listen, what can I do?"
Cao Nai waved his hand and said: "Then I will report it truthfully. If someone comes, send it to the imperial study!"
Wang Wen saluted and said, "I'll take my leave!"
"Don't leave!"
Cao Nai stopped him and said: "The right deputy censor of the Ducha Yuan and the censor of the right Qiandu are vacant. Have you considered the candidate?"
Wang Wen nodded and said: "The original censor of the left capital was promoted to the deputy censor of the right capital. The vacated censors of the left and right capitals will be selected from the local areas."
"Have you decided who to choose? The officials are waiting for your list!"
"This...is a little difficult..."
"What's the difficulty in choosing two people?"
"There was originally a suitable candidate, but it turned out to be... that one!"
Cao Nai immediately understood that the emperor was going on a killing spree and was getting out of hand. Nearly 30% of the officials in the world were imprisoned. There were too many vacancies and there were very few candidates. This was evident from the situation in the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
"Forget it, let's discuss this later!"
Wang Wen saluted again: "Farewell!"
In the public house, only Cao Nai and Zhang Yi were left, and both of them felt a little heavy.
Cao Nai raised his head and said: "It's better to go and persuade the emperor. If we continue killing like this, the court will be paralyzed!"
Zhang Yi shook his head and said: "Your Majesty is very angry. If you try to dissuade him at this time, I'm afraid it will be counterproductive."
Cao Nai immediately said: "As assistant ministers of the cabinet, we are supposed to be forthright in admonishing people. Do we have to follow the example of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and adapt to the wind?"
Zhang Yi thought for a while and said: "What Mr. Cao said is true!"
The two of them got up and went to the imperial study. Wynn stood guard outside the door and said, "The emperor is discussing something with others. Please wait a moment."
Cao Nai asked: "Who is in the imperial study?"
Wynn said matter-of-factly: "Toutuobuhua!"
Cao Nai looked at Zhang Yi and found that Zhang Yi was also looking at him. The two of them immediately thought that what the emperor and Tuotuo Buhua were discussing must be important matters. The important thing is that the cabinet was not involved.
Could it be that the emperor has completely lost trust in the civil servants and even excluded the cabinet?
This is definitely not a good sign, and it may even be worse than you think!
Cao Nai said: "Eunuch Huai'en, please go and report it. We two have something important to report."
Wynn looked troubled and said, "You two should wait for now. The emperor has not given any instructions, and it is not good for our family to disturb you."
"The two of us..."
While Cao Nai was talking, the door opened.
A burly figure appeared at the door and said in less than proficient Chinese: "You two, His Majesty the Emperor invites you!"
Cao Nai and Zhang Yi looked at each other and then walked in.
"Your Majesty Cao Nai greets the Holy Gong!"
"Your Majesty Zhang Yi greets the Lord!"
Zhu Qizhen nodded slightly and said: "Get up and answer!"
"yes!"
"What's going on with the two noble families?"
Cao Nai said: "To report to the emperor, as the rebellion case spreads, the number of people involved in the case and their family members has exceeded 100,000, including a large number of officials. As a result, there are too many vacancies in the imperial court, and many yamen are no longer able to operate normally."
Zhu Qizhen asked with a cold face: "You mean, because there are too many people involved in the case, I can't continue the investigation?"
"This...that's not what I meant..."
Cao Nai has already seen that the emperor's face is ugly and things are difficult to handle.
"what does that mean?"
"What the veteran wants to say is that in order to ensure the normal operation of local government offices, the court should fill the vacancies as soon as possible."
Zhu Qizhen said in a deep voice: "In this case, the cabinet and the staff should come up with a charter as soon as possible!"
"emperor……"
Cao Nai looked helpless and said: "There is really... a shortage of people!"
Zhu Qizhen didn't know clearly that too many people had been killed this time.
However, he has no regrets at all. Even if he kills all the officials in the world and causes chaos in the world, he will still kill them!
I would rather teach me to betray the world than teach the world to betray me!
Cao Mengde's words of wisdom are still fresh in my ears. If these people are not killed cleanly, they will not be sorry for the soldiers who died in the rebellion!
"Pass on my will, Kai Enke!"
Cao Nai was a little confused and looked at Zhang Yi.
Zhang Yi said: "Your Majesty, should you... think about it again?"
"What to consider?"
"Since ancient times, Kai Enke has been held during court celebrations or when the new emperor ascends the throne. Now...it seems there is no good reason."
Enke is an exam in addition to the normal imperial examination. It is equivalent to an extra test for any happy event in the country.
Let alone happy events now, funerals are being held everywhere. What reason can be given to open an encore?
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PS: Thanks to the book friend "Mourning Wu Huaxia" for the reward. Brother Mourning Wu is a deaf-mute scholar who specializes in the history of the Ming Dynasty. He provided many excellent suggestions and detailed historical materials during the creation of this book. Jueshengwei's creativity is
The adoption of Brother Miao Wu's suggestion is also a tribute to Brother Miao Wu in this book. Thank you again!!