While Wang Xian and Zhu Zhanji were discussing, the prince was also talking to several masters in the study room of the East Palace.
"Unexpectedly, Zhou Xin was arrested and imprisoned as soon as he arrived." Young Jin Wen said with a solemn expression on his face: "Unexpectedly, Ji Gang actually turned the tables."
"This has been planned for a long time," Yang Pu said solemnly: "We forwarded Zhou Xin's report, but the emperor didn't even read it. This is obviously just Ji Gang's words."
"Although Zhou Xin is the chief judge, His Highness is the one in charge. The emperor cannot be allowed to only listen to Ji Gang's words." Huang Huai frowned and said: "As long as the emperor sees the crimes that Zhou Xin has tried, he will realize it.
Ji Gang’s sinister intentions.”
"It makes sense," Jin Wen praised.
"It's not that simple..." Zhu Gaochi shook his head slowly. He was a big fat man who couldn't stand the hot weather. At this moment, everyone else was wearing strict official uniforms, but he was the only one wearing a single shirt. He also frowned and said: "It is said that Ji Gang
It was because Zhou Xin was involved in Jianwen's case, and there was evidence in hand to prove that he could not escape, that the father would be furious. So this case is not easy to overturn."
"So that's it." Several East Palace officials looked surprised. They believed in the prince's words. As the prince's most trusted confidant, they knew that although Zhu Gaochi had a fat face, he was deep in the city and had spies in the palace. This was definitely true.
There is evidence.
"But we have to save this person." Yang Pu said solemnly: "After all, in the eyes of the world this time, Zhou Xin was ordered by His Highness to investigate the Jin Yiwei. Now he is imprisoned because of this case. If His Highness is not willing to do anything for
What he said will inevitably disappoint people." He paused and said, "What's more, Zhou Xin's reputation is so great and his official reputation is so good, the impact will be even more far-reaching."
"Yes, an upright official like Zhou Xin has to be protected. Otherwise, the world will inevitably be alienated." Huang Huai nodded, hesitated and said, "It will give the King of Han an opportunity to take advantage of."
"If you don't steam the steamed buns to gain reputation, you have to let the world see that Your Highness loves and protects his loyal ministers," Jin Wen also agreed.
"Zhou Xin..." Zhu Gaochi pondered for a long time, then Fang slowly asked: "What do you think?"
"The sharp weapon of the country!" Jin Wen said loudly.
"Well said." Huang Huai praised. Yang Pu nodded and said: "You can be called a civil servant."
"The sharp weapon of the country, the spirit of the civil servants." Zhu Gaochi patted the desk, then leaned back on the chair and closed his eyes: "Well said, well said..."
Several lecturers knew that he was thinking about it, so they looked at him quietly.
Sure enough, after drinking tea, the prince opened his eyes and made up his mind: "Is there any way to save this man?"
"We can only compete..." The lecturers were all gentlemen and knowledgeable, but they were a little weak in making suggestions. The matter was so important that they did not dare to make random ideas. Yang Pu said: "I will go to see you first tonight.
Brother Shiqi, please convey His Highness’s wishes.”
The so-called brother Shiqi is called Yang Yu, also known as Shiqi. This man lives by his words, so he is called Yang Shiqi. As his name suggests, he is a strange man, talented and intelligent, and has a photographic memory of reading. However, he was poor since he was a child and followed his mother.
He remarried an official. Unexpectedly, just a year later, his stepfather was demoted to the frontier for a crime... In the Hongwu Dynasty, this was too normal. It was abnormal for officials not to be convicted... The lives of Yang Shiqi and his mother were once again plunged into
Dilemma.
Studying is a costly occupation. Because his family is poor, he cannot take the imperial examination like other scholars, but can only start from the most basic level... He taught in a private school at the age of fifteen, and later got involved in the system and became a
The county magistrate... The magistrate is the assistant of the magistrate, the teacher of the county school. He finally has an official status. Just when his life has improved a little, he tragically lost his official seal... This is a serious crime that will lead to imprisonment.
, but Yang Shiqi was not an honest nerd. He simply abandoned his official position and ran away, and then lived in exile for twenty years. In the Ming Dynasty, where household registration was strict and identity checks were required everywhere, Yang Shiqi was able to live in exile for twenty years, which is enough to illustrate this person's ability.
.
During his escape, he still insisted on studying hard, and actually gained quite a reputation in the circle of scholars. In the second year of Jianwen, Zhu Yunkang summoned Confucian scholars to write "Records of Taizu", and 36-year-old Yang Shiqi was recommended as the successor.
After compilation, he successfully came ashore to clear his name. What’s even more amazing is that because of his knowledge and responsibility in the compilation work, he was appreciated by Fang Xiaoru, the editor-in-chief of the book, and he actually became the vice president of "Records of Taizu" in one fell swoop
In the Yongle Dynasty, Yang Shiqi was truly reused. Together with Xie Jin and others, he was appointed as one of the seven academicians in the first cabinet of the Ming Dynasty. From then on, he became an important minister of the court and a confidant of the Yongle Emperor.
Although Zhu Di adheres to the ancestral system everywhere, this emperor is actually a pragmatist in nature. He pursues two principles. When the ancestral system is in line with his own interests, he will abide by it. If it is not in line with it, he will pretend to be stupid.
You can do whatever you want, such as the cabinet.
After the Hu Weiyong case, Zhu Yuanzhang announced that he would permanently abolish the position of prime minister. He also left an ancestral motto that future generations should not reinstate the prime minister. Ministers who dare to make suggestions will be severely punished. In this way, all the power of the country will be vested in the hands of the emperor.
The authority of the emperor was unprecedentedly great, and of course the emperor's burden also became unprecedentedly heavy.
For example, from September 14th to 21st in the 17th year of Hongwu, a total of 1,160 documents and reports of various kinds were sent to Zhu Yuanzhang's desk across the country, involving 3,390 various matters.
One thing. On average, Zhu Yuanzhang had to read 200,000 words of memorials and deal with 423 state affairs every day. Even if he didn't eat or sleep for 12 hours, he still had to read more than 8,000 words in an hour, and in 20
Decisions were made on many state affairs. Only a person like Zhu Yuanzhang, who had extraordinary physical strength, intelligence, energy, and ability, and who loved his work infinitely, could persevere.
But even Taizu felt it was too strenuous at his old age, so he set up the Huagai Hall, Wenhua Hall, Wuying Hall, Wenyuan Pavilion and Dong Pavilion to select those with lower grades, older age and mediocre political achievements.
He serves as a cultural and historian to help him handle paperwork and reports as a consultant, but he cannot participate in political affairs.
Although Emperor Yongle is a great and talented hero, he does not have the skills of his father. In order to be freed from the hard work of state affairs and focus on more important things, Zhu Di began to let those academicians participate in military affairs.
Although his official rank is only fifth grade, he has no subordinates, no governing body, and even no special office space. It can be said that he has neither the name nor the actual status of a prime minister. However, these academicians are all close associates of the emperor.
He serves the emperor every day, runs around the palace, and especially can participate in machine maintenance. His powers and responsibilities are not insignificant, so he is regarded as a prime minister at home and abroad.
However, in order to avoid the ominous word prime minister, and add the name "Zhi Wenyuan Pavilion", people work in the inner court, and people vaguely call it "cabinet".
The Cabinet and the Sixth Section are the only two institutions that work in the palace. The direct residence of the Cabinet is located in the Wenyuan Pavilion behind the Wenyuan Hall in Donghua Gate... Wenyuan Pavilion is the library of the palace and the Cabinet University.
Naturally, the scholars could not work in the library, but worked in the low wing rooms on both sides of Wenyuan Palace. The conditions were very poor. The houses were low and cramped. They were like steamers in summer and ice cellars in winter. When it rained, water accumulated.
, which is unspeakably painful.
Just looking at the value of the room, the cabinet bachelor is indeed not related to the prime minister, but it is the emperor's confidant advisory body. In all matters such as war, employment, and even the establishment of a prince, the emperor has to make decisions with the cabinet discussion party, and it is located in
The inner court was well aware of the emperor's movements, all of which made him the focus of attention. The status of several bachelors naturally increased. Although they were only fifth-rank, they did not dare to neglect even the second-rank ministers.
At this time, the number of people in the cabinet was not high, and the first seven bachelors... Xie Jin was imprisoned, Hu Guang, Ding You, and Huang Huai were responsible for tutoring the prince. In order to avoid suspicion, they had not returned to the cabinet for a long time. Hu Yan went out to offer wine to the Imperial Academy, leaving only
The next three were Yang Rong, Yang Shiqi and Jin Youzi. But the rest were all elites. The three assisted the emperor in handling the state affairs in an orderly manner, and won Zhu Di's trust. All major matters in state affairs must be informed by the three scholars in advance.
The three of them were at work that day. The eunuch next to the emperor came to deliver a decree that tomorrow he would try Zhou Xin, the rebellious minister, in the Wenhua Palace. They should be present at that time and figure out how to question this person so that he would not be able to quibble. In order to let them
On target, Zhu Di also sent the files on Zhou Xin's rebellion case.
After reading it, the three of them were stunned, no one spoke, they were shocked, extremely shocked.
After a long while, Yang Rongwang sighed: "It's unbelievable, it's really unbelievable."
"Yes." Jin Youzi nodded and said: "There are witnesses and physical evidence. The case that Zhou Xin forged the Zhejiang capital commander's transfer order and let go of the Zheng family fleet should be true." He sighed and said: "A province in Taiwan, a cold face.
Tie, he actually cheated and perverted the law, so no wonder the emperor is furious."
The two bachelors expressed their opinions, but Yang Shiqi, who was highly regarded by Yang Pu, said nothing and only looked at the setting sun outside the duty room. Only when the sun was about to go down would the sunlight shine into the cabinet duty room.
.
"Brother Shiqi, please tell me." Jin Youzi always felt inferior to these two people in the cabinet. Therefore, when encountering problems, he first asked their opinions: "Tomorrow, what should we do when the Wenhua Palace Court Judges?"
"Since all the personal and material evidence are available, why does the Emperor still want us to criticize him?" Yang Shiqi finally came back to his senses and asked.
"Although the emperor didn't say it clearly, his meaning was very clear, that is, he wanted to alert all officials." Jin Youzi said.
Yang Shiqi shook his head.
"Actually, it's because there are loopholes in the evidence." Yang Rong is a double-ranked Jinshi, but he is not a nerd, but extremely resourceful. He is on par with Yang Shiqi. At this moment, he can see the problem at a glance: "The Zheng family on the ship is a Jinyiwei.
A carefully screened person made sure that there was no such person before letting them board the ship. And the emperor had no explicit intention to eliminate the Zheng family. It was Tang Yun who assumed his intentions and made good decisions, so strictly speaking, Zhou Xin
Saving the Zhao family is not a treasonous act, but a forgery of military orders from the capital, and convicting him like this will definitely dissatisfy the emperor."