Chapter 116 The Great Dynasty
Today, many ministers were surprised to find that Emperor Zhengyong, who had not been in court for more than a month, suddenly went to court!
At the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, His Majesty's sedan chair was parked. A group of eunuchs and guards had obviously been waiting for a long time.
Their eyes were full of surprise, surprise, and a hint of weirdness and suspicion.
Something big happened?
Otherwise, Emperor Zhengyong would not have been waiting for them in the Hall of Supreme Harmony so early.
All the civil and military officials looked at the five people at the front in surprise, and the five cabinet members also looked at each other, wondering what they were thinking.
Some officials gathered together and discussed quietly.
"Your Majesty is in court today. What happened?"
"I don't know..."
"Is it because of the state merger?"
"It's possible!"
"Liu Cheng'en, that eunuch, dared to take advantage of the opportunity to go to Bingzhou for official business to collect military expenses and apportionment, squeezing Bingzhou's good people. Yesterday, he even heard that he wanted Bingzhou's squires and aristocratic families to hold something for his fiftieth birthday. He deserves to be damned!"
"I heard that he has looted more than 10 million taels of silver in Bingzhou. This is really abominable!"
"It can't be His Majesty's order, right?"
"Shh..."
A group of people were talking a lot, but the expressions of the cabinet ministers at the front of the team were as usual.
Wang He said: "It seems that His Majesty finally couldn't hold on anymore and wants to deal with Liu Chengen."
Wang Ze snorted coldly and said: "Liu Cheng'en is just a dog by His Majesty's side. He actually dares to pretend to be powerful and extort the merchants and people of Bingzhou. He deserves to die!"
"Today I must take part in another book, at least to remove Liu Chengen from his position as Chief of Ceremonies and Eunuch of the Eunuch!"
"I think so too."
Wang He nodded, and then looked at the other people: "What do Mr. Lu, Mr. Li, and Prince Bing think?"
The other three cabinet ministers also nodded and said: "Liu Chengen's trouble this time is really too big, and it won't end well."
"As long as these two colleagues speak out, I will definitely help you."
Among the five people, only Prince Bing hesitated and asked: "Is this matter related to your Majesty?"
Wang Ze immediately said: "Your Majesty just asked Liu Chengen to go to Bingzhou to collect military expenses. This matter is considered normal."
"But Liu Cheng'en relied on His Majesty's trust to misbehave in Bingzhou. Not only did he collect more 'shares', he even used his fiftieth birthday to amass a fortune."
"I've already received a letter from home telling me that Liu Cheng'en got at least four to five million taels of silver. He deserves to be damned!"
"Four to five million taels? The eunuchs are causing harm to the country! I am the king in this matter!"
"Your Majesty is righteous!"
A group of people filed into Baohe Hall and stood according to their positions.
Just after they entered the main hall, groups of royal guards, recruits and shadow guards surged up from the surroundings, surrounding the entire Baohe Hall.
"Your Majesty is here!"
In the main hall, Zheng Yi's figure slowly walked out, and all the civil and military officials immediately knelt down and shouted long live:
"We pay homage to your Majesty, long live my emperor!"
"Plain body!"
Zheng Yi said softly, holding his hands slightly.
The hoarse voice of the eunuch next to him immediately rang out: "If you have something to do, leave the court!"
"Chen..."
"I have a starting point!"
Wang Ze arrived first, suppressed the voice of the first official who was about to start the performance, and walked quickly.
Zheng Yi smiled and said: "What important matter does Wang Aiqing have to announce?"
"Return to Your Majesty!"
Wang Zedao said: "Half a month ago, Liu Cheng'en, the eunuch in charge of the rites and seals, went to Bingzhou on business and blackmailed the merchants of Bingzhou in Jinyang County. He obtained a total of more than 15 million taels of silver and many antique calligraphy and paintings, gold and silver jewelry, etc."
"Not only did this person enrich his own pockets and embezzle a large amount of money, but he also used the name of his fiftieth birthday to force the merchants of Bingzhou to donate a large amount of money and treasures for him to squander."
"In addition! Liu Chengen also generously accepted more than 30 fireworks women from Bingzhou merchants for his sexual pleasure..."
"Wow...!"
Before Wang Ze could finish his words, the whole hall was bustling with excitement.
"Eunuch Liu can actually do such a thing?"
"More than thirty Datong aunts, can't you tell that Eunuch Liu actually likes to play so much?"
"He is a useless eunuch, what a fool!"
"Master Zhang, be more elegant and elegant."
"I heard that my aunt Datong has acquired the unique skills of being graceful and charming, and her skills in bed are even more amazing..."
"I have also seen Aunt Datong. She is tall, has plump hips and breasts, and delicate facial features. She has the charm of a mature woman, which makes people forget to leave!"
Many officials in the hall were talking about it, and Zheng Yi heard it clearly. He coughed lightly and said, "We will discuss this later."
Wang Ze was anxious.
Discuss later?
What's the meaning?
He immediately said loudly: "Your Majesty! In the more than three hundred years since the founding of Dayu, no eunuch has ever been so presumptuous!"
This sound was very loud, but it also calmed down the noisy hall. Even Zheng Yi, who was sitting on the dragon throne, looked at Wang Ze with interest.
On both sides of the hall, many eunuchs serving respectfully lowered their heads, but their eyes looking at Wang Ze were filled with anger and malice.
"Your Majesty!"
Wang Ze immediately knelt down on the ground and said loudly: "For the millions of merchants in Bingzhou, for the sake of the country, for the sake of the country, and for the sake of the world, I ask you to kill Liu Chengen!"
"I second the proposal!"
As soon as Wang Ze finished speaking, Wang He immediately knelt down on the ground and said loudly: "Liu Chengen's move is to use His Majesty's divine power to fake the power of the local fox and the tiger. It is a case of flesh and blood, blackmailing good people, and even interfering in local political affairs."
"If things go on like this, the country will be ruined, the people will complain, and it will even lead to civil unrest."
"Therefore, I ask you to kill Liu Chengen!"
"My lord, second the motion!"
"My lord, second the motion!"
"My lord, I second the proposal..."
At least one-fifth of the officials in the court fell to their knees, begging Liu Chengen to be executed.
Most of the remaining officials were replaced, and many people agreed, but most of them were looking at the faces of others.
The smile on Zheng Yi's face disappeared, he looked at the people in the front and said quietly: "Lu Aiqing, what do you think?" Lu Xiangqing thought about it and said: "Your Majesty, Liu Chengen must represent the emperor's face, he looks like a fish. Neighbors, blackmailing good people, this is conclusive evidence and cannot be refuted.”
"He can be captured and imprisoned and handed over to the three judicial departments to prove the law."
"My lord, second the motion!"
"My lord, second the motion!"
"My lord, I second the proposal..."
A large number of officials stood up and expressed the same intention as Lu Xiangqing.
The same was true for Li Yuanhao and Zheng Zongbing, who expressed their intention to severely punish Liu Chengen.
At this time, at least 70% to 80% of the officials in the entire temple agreed to severely punish Liu Chengen.
There were less than twenty officials left, standing on both sides without expressing their attitude.
At this time, Zheng Yi looked behind the five cabinet ministers.
There was also a minister there who did not express his attitude.
"Master Zheng, what do you think?"
Zheng Xuanyue, the former chief secretary of Jiangzuo, is now the minister of punishment.
Zheng Xuanyue was from Jiangnan. He did not belong to any aristocratic family faction. He was a great Confucian of the time and had great talents all over the world.
Due to the case of Tian Wenjing, the Minister of Civil Affairs, he was transferred to the central government and became one of the six ministers.
He looks elegant and is about sixty years old, but his hair and beard are all black, and he does not look like an old man at all.
Zheng Xuanyue immediately stood up and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I have just entered the government and I don't know much about this matter. Therefore, I have no opinions. Please ask your Majesty for your judgment."
Zheng Yi said: "It doesn't matter, you are the new Minister of Justice, and this matter is also within your jurisdiction. Please express your opinion."
Zheng Xuanyue said respectfully: "Your Majesty, Liu Chengen, as the eunuch in charge of the ceremonial department, uses the name of official business to get along with each other and blackmail the squires. According to the law, he should be executed!"
Wang Ze, Wang He and others who were kneeling on the ground looked happy. It seemed that the Minister of Punishment from the south was still on their side.
"But..."
Zheng Xuanyue paused again and then said: "Whether Eunuch Liu is acting in accordance with His Majesty's imperial edict, I don't know, but someone can bring Eunuch Liu back and let Your Majesty personally review it."
Old fritter!
Zheng Yi put a label on Zheng Xuanyue in his heart.
After wasting nearly fifty years, he finally became one of the six ministries and a member of the Central Committee. Zheng Xuanyue still has some abilities.
And now, he needs exactly this kind of person to balance the power of the imperial court.
Wang Ze said again: "Your Majesty, what Mr. Zheng said is absolutely true."
"As the saying goes, the emperor is guilty of the same crime as the common people, so why should he be just a domestic slave beside His Majesty?"
"I ask the royal guards to bring back Liu Chengen, and the three departments will interrogate him, and restore peace to Dayu!"
Is the emperor guilty of the same crime as the common people?
Who are you ordering?
Zheng Yi's eyes were a little cold.
These aristocratic families paid less and less attention to him.
A few years ago, he might have endured it.
But now...
"Wang Aiqing, this matter is not urgent. I will handle it with Jin Yiwei and the Third Division."
Zheng Yi said indifferently: "By the way, someone else wanted to play just now. What was going on?"
Seeing Zheng Yi reveal the matter easily, Wang Ze became anxious.
His father and the rest of his family were still detained in the military camp by Liu Chengen. If they were not rescued, where would the Wang family lose their face?
"Your Majesty, I..."
"I have a starting point!"
Wang Ze turned around suddenly and looked fiercely to see who had ruined his good deeds.
Not far behind him, Yuan Qichang was standing in the center holding the wat board in both hands, preparing to start playing.
"Yuan Qichang, I am reporting important matters to His Majesty. Why are you anxious?"
"This matter of Xiaguan is also an important matter."
"You...!"
"Okay Wang Aiqing."
Zheng Yi said: "When the dynasty is over, I will give you an explanation."
"Your Majesty~!"
Wang Ze gritted his teeth and finally stood up helplessly.
His Majesty insisted on this, and he had no choice but to think of a way in private before reporting to His Majesty.
Many officials returned to their posts, Zheng Yida said:
"Yuan Qichang, what do you want to say?"
"Your Majesty, I am suing the Bingzhou family. The Datong Wang family and their associates, who are known as the eight major merchants in Bingzhou, secretly smuggled salt, iron, weapons, armor, etc. to Wu during the war between Dayu and Wu, and bribed the border troops of Dayu. The generals led the Wu Kingdom to march straight in and plunder our great Yu cattle, horses, livestock, and countless gold and silver..."
"You fart!"
Before Yuan Qichanghua had finished speaking, Wang Ze jumped out and said angrily: "Your Majesty! This person is slanderous, full of nonsense, and slanderous. Your Majesty, please wear a royal guard and beat this person out!"
Yuan Qichang sneered and said: "Master Wang, what are you in a hurry for? I haven't finished speaking in official terms yet."
"Oh, you, a small fifth-rank official, dare to sue me. Who ordered you? Do you have any real evidence?"
Wang Ze said indifferently: "I am from the Wang family of Datong. I, the Wang family, have followed Taizong to conquer the world since the Taizong period. I, the Wang family, are loyal to Dayu. Your so-called evidence is nothing but bloody words!"
Wang He's expression on the side was even more ugly, but he did not say anything. Instead, he glanced at Yuan Qichang and Zheng Yi, who was expressionless on the dragon chair.
In my heart, a bad premonition suddenly arose.
"Oh?"
Yuan Qichang said without flinching: "Master Wang, why don't you take a look at my evidence?"
"Hmph! Just ignore the false evidence that slanders me."
Wang Ze cupped his hands again and said: "Your Majesty, I, the Wang family, are loyal to Dayu and have no second thoughts. This feeling can be learned from the world. I hope that your Majesty will severely punish Yuan Qichang, a treacherous villain!"
"Oh? Yuan Qichang, what evidence do you have?"
Zheng Yi did not pay attention to Wang Ze, but looked at Yuan Qichang.
Yuan Qichang immediately took out more than ten letters from his sleeves and said: "Wei Chen, here are letters from the Wang family and the former Heishan Pass guard Turga, as well as Qian Mou, the leader of the Wu State spy organization 'Feiyanlin'!"
"The contents clearly record the evidence of Wang's crime. Please read it clearly!"
Happy Labor Day everyone
(End of chapter)