I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

March 12th, near dusk.

West of Zhengyang Gate, southeast corner of the Imperial City.

A man in his forties, dressed in a gray robe, was striding eastward.

This man's name was Xu Liang. He was currently serving as a supervising secretary in the Ministry of War, a position of the seventh rank. To demonstrate his integrity and approachability, he usually walked home after leaving the office.

Just then, a person appeared from not far away.

"Xu, the censor, I've been waiting for you! I have important intelligence to report to you!" This man was Zheng Dian, the official in charge of the Court of State Ceremonial, the same scoundrel who had given Zhao Shizhen the idea of ​​sending gifts.

He had provided Xu Liang with some intelligence, but they weren't exactly acquaintances.

"So it's Zheng Mingzan!" Xu Liang puffed out his chest and said, "If it's just a minor matter like improper etiquette or incorrect document format, Zheng Mingzan, please don't bother asking. You can go to the Ministry of Rites. I don't like to hear about such trivial matters!"

In Xu Liang's eyes, it would be difficult for an unranked official to provide the information he wanted.

Although he was only a seventh-rank official, he was quite arrogant and disdained to submit memorials to correct the mistakes of officials below the fifth rank in the capital.

Zheng Dian took a step closer to Xu Liang and lowered his voice, saying, "I wonder if Secretary Xu is interested in intelligence involving cabinet ministers violating the law?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Liang's eyes lit up.

"Which cabinet minister?"

Zheng Dian smiled slightly and said, "It's neither Grand Secretary Zhang nor Grand Secretary Yin."

"Who exactly is it?" Xu Liang couldn't help but ask excitedly.

As a clerk, if one wants to achieve great merit and leave a good name, the best way is to fight against the Grand Secretaries and the heads of the Six Ministries.

However, at present, if the intelligence involves Zhang Juzheng and Yin Zhengmao, the officials dare not fight against them.

Because these two are nearing the end of their careers, wield considerable power, and have a long history of scandals, fighting against them will only bring misfortune unless you commit a serious crime.

Zheng Dian held up five fingers.

"Fifty taels of silver, plus help to make me the registrar of the Court of State Ceremonial!"

"Zheng Dian, how dare you solicit bribes from me! Do you believe I can send you to the Ministry of Justice tomorrow?!"

Zheng Dian smiled dismissively.

“This information is worth the price. If you are unwilling to pay, then I will tell others!” With that, Zheng Dian walked forward.

Xu Liang's eyes darted around, and he quickly followed, saying, "As long as the intelligence is accurate, I think it's worth it, so I'll agree!"

"Okay, let's find another place to talk in detail!"

Immediately, the two walked one after the other toward the teahouse on the street ahead.

Although Xu Liang held a low official position, his salary was also low.

However, since the officials in charge of the censors were responsible for investigating the six ministries and all departments, they knew a lot of information about officialdom. Sometimes they would exchange information with some officials, and sometimes they would exchange information for money.

The earnings from intelligence trading far exceeded his salary.

The officials in charge of the clerks only appeared to be poor; in fact, most of them were not poor at all.

As for securing Zheng Dian a position as a registrar in the Court of State Ceremonial, a position of the eighth rank, a word from Xu Liang to the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial would be very useful.

No one in the court wanted to offend a clerk; everyone wanted the clerk to owe them a favor.

……

Inside a private, enclosed room in a teahouse.

Zheng Dian and Xu Liang sat facing each other.

Zheng Dian informed Xu Liang that Zhao Shizhen, the former registrar of the Court of State Ceremonial, had given gifts to his fellow townsman Shen Nian, and then went to take up a post in the Ministry of War's Office in less than three days.

Immediately afterwards, Zheng Dian took out a document from his pocket.

“Xu, this is Zhao Shizhen’s performance evaluation document over the past three years. Based on this evaluation alone, he is absolutely not qualified to serve as the Director of the Department of War Affairs.”

"Because he was from the same hometown as him and had a copy of Du Fu’s Collected Works from the Song Dynasty, Grand Secretary Shen abused his power and secretly manipulated the Ministry of Personnel to get him into the Ministry of War."

"Accepting bribes, abusing power for personal gain, and interfering with the Ministry of Personnel's selection process—these charges, even if they don't remove Grand Secretary Shen from office, will certainly ruin his reputation and prevent him from ever again using the guise of selfless service to make life difficult for officials across the country..."

"If you were to report this matter, you... you would surely be remembered in history, and would very likely become the foremost censor in the land, revered by the people like Hai Rui..."

Hearing this praise, Xu Liang was somewhat dazed; what he really needed was this kind of "great achievement."

"Is this information truly accurate?" Xu Liang asked Zheng Dian.

"The facts are irrefutable! I know Zhao Shizhen gave gifts. If Grand Secretary Shen hadn't abused his power for personal gain, how could Zhao Shizhen, with his abilities, have entered the Ministry of War within three days of being dismissed? As long as you make this public, once the Three Departments investigate Zhao Shizhen, I guarantee Grand Secretary Shen won't be able to deny it!"

"There can't be any saints in this world. Grand Secretary Shen has been promoted through special exceptions only because he claims to be 'wholeheartedly for the people and for the greater good.' Now that you've torn off this disguise, you'll surely have the support of many officials..."

Xu Liang was tempted!

He reviewed Zhao Shizhen's performance evaluation documents again. The latter was dismissed from his post during the capital inspection and then quickly transferred to the Ministry of War, which was obviously suspicious.

It only makes sense if Shen Nian were involved.

He immediately became certain that it was true.

A cabinet minister promoted a dismissed eighth-rank official to a ninth-rank official.

For Zhang Juzheng and Yin Zhengmao, it wouldn't have been a big deal; for Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue, it wouldn't have been a big deal either.

But for Shen Nian, it was a big deal.

Because Shen Nian's family was cultivating an image of "serving the people wholeheartedly and prioritizing public interests," Shen Nian had been suppressing officials who abused their power for personal gain.

If this is confirmed, Shen Nian's reputation will be ruined, and many officials will attack him.

If an official is disgraced, his career is over.

When Xu Liang submits his remonstrance and impeaches the emperor, it will surely cause a stir in the imperial court.

Xu Liang looked at Zheng Dian and said, "I agree to your conditions. Someone will bring you the money later, but you must promise me that you will not tell anyone about this!"

"Of course, I congratulate Xu, the Imperial Censor, on your widespread fame!" Zheng Dian said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Xu Liang smiled faintly, stood up, and walked outside.

……

Half an hour later, in front of the house Xu Liang rented.

"My lord, the investigation has been completed. The copy of 'Du Fu's Collected Works' that Qin Xiucai's bookstore had been bought a few days ago. In addition, Zhao Shizhen's performance at the Court of State Ceremonial was generally considered poor; he was only good at calligraphy. In the past two days, his performance in the Department of War Affairs after entering the Ministry of War has been mediocre, but Wang Yi'e, the Right Vice Minister of War, has summoned him several times..." "I understand!" Xu Liang waved his hand.

After the informant left, Xu Liang broke into a bright smile.

"The evidence is conclusive. I'd like to see how this hypocrite explains himself. My chance to become famous is about to arrive!"

Xu Liang rubbed his hands together and walked into the house. He planned to stay up all night to write an impeachment memorial.

……

The next morning.

Having spent a sleepless night and filled with excitement, Xu Liang, a supervising secretary in the Ministry of War, presented his "secret memorial" impeaching Shen Nian for "accepting bribes and abusing his power for personal gain" to Fang Ping, a junior eunuch in the Directorate of Ceremonial who was working in the Forbidden City.

On his way back to the Six Ministries Corridor, an excited Xu Liang suddenly stopped and murmured, "What if His Majesty keeps this memorial and then forbids me from mentioning this matter again?"

Xu Liang frowned, the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

After all, Shen Nian is currently the emperor's favorite minister, and if he were to be disgraced, it would affect the implementation of all the new policies.

It is highly likely that the young Wanli Emperor will protect Shen Nian.

Before long, Xu Liang's brows relaxed.

He has a new idea.

According to custom, after the young Wanli Emperor saw the contents of the secret memorial, he would immediately inform the cabinet. Shen Nian would then request to be suspended from his post. Afterward, the matter would be handed over to the Three Judicial Offices and the Imperial Guard for joint investigation.

If the young Wanli Emperor had kept this memorial.

Xu Liang would not stubbornly continue the impeachment, but instead resell the information, allowing more officials and ordinary people to participate.

Once these people get involved, things will escalate again, and then Xu Liang will release his secret report and publicly impeach Shen Nian.

Thus, he became the leader of the officials impeaching Shen Nian.

With many officials protecting him, he will definitely not be dismissed; on the contrary, he will become the new representative of the current censors.

With such a record, he is sure to have a bright future.

"If no one knows about this matter after the yamen is closed today, it means the secret report has been detained. I will have no choice but to resell this information. I should be able to sell it for a hundred taels of silver!" Xu Liang said with a smile.

……

An hour later, after finishing his daily lecture, the young Wanli Emperor opened Xu Liang's secret memorial.

Upon closer inspection, he couldn't help but scoff and say, "This fool! Zhao Shizhen can enter the Ministry of War in three days without my special permission. Even the Grand Secretary can't do that. Does he think I have no real power?"

The young Wanli Emperor thought for a moment and looked at the young Fangping beside him.

"Keep this memorial, and also inform Xu Liang to stop discussing this matter!"

The reason why the young Wanli Emperor did this was that he did not want more people to know that Zhao Shizhen was a talent for developing firearms. Such talents must be protected so that they can be kept from interference and make a name for themselves.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xiao Fangping replied, bowing.

……

In the afternoon, Fang Ping, a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial, appeared before Xu Liang and informed him that the secret report had been detained and that His Majesty had issued an oral order for him not to speak of the matter again.

Xu Liang immediately cupped his hands and said, "Yes, sir."

Then he was already planning how to sell this information quietly and at a good price.

……

March 14th, early morning.

The news that Shen Nian, a cabinet minister, abused his power for personal gain, accepted bribes, controlled the selection process in the Ministry of Personnel, and allowed his fellow townsmen to be appointed to the Ministry of War quickly reached the ears of many censors and officials.

Officials from the Six Ministries, censors from the Censorate, and a host of other officials were all fired up and submitted memorials impeaching Shen Nian.

Before noon, hundreds of impeachment memorials had piled up on the emperor's desk in the Wenhua Hall.

As usual.

The censors could impeach officials based on hearsay, but other officials needed evidence to impeach them.

However, after many officials went to the Ministry of Personnel to read Zhao Shizhen's performance evaluation documents and confirmed that he had been dismissed from his post and transferred to the Ministry of War three days later, and that he was a fellow townsman of Shen Nian, they were all convinced that Shen Nian had abused his power for personal gain and had given him preferential treatment. So they all impeached him.

Some officials who suffered significant losses due to Shen Nian made very sharp impeachment accusations.

They called Shen Nian a hypocrite rarely seen in a thousand years, who not only abused his power for personal gain and accepted bribes, but also deceived the emperor and the people...

According to the charges they set, Shen Nian was guilty enough to be executed by slow slicing.

Emperor Wanli was furious when he saw these memorials.

Many officials impeached Shen Nian out of revenge. Their words were sharp, sarcastic, and extremely insidious. Moreover, any attempt to explain would inevitably expose Zhao Shizhen's expertise in developing firearms.

After thinking for a moment, Emperor Wanli immediately ordered Zhang Juzheng, Shen Nian, Wang Yi'e, Zhangwubo, and other officials who knew why Zhao Shizhen was able to enter the Ministry of War to not explain the matter for the time being, but to let the officials continue to submit memorials to impeach him. He would resolve the matter in the daily court sessions in the future.

Zhang Juzheng, Shen Nian, and others all expressed their agreement.

As the saying goes: words can kill.

This time, the officials who impeached Shen Nian went too far. Even if Shen Nian had abused his power for personal gain, he did not deserve such humiliation.

These people need to be disciplined by the young Wanli Emperor, otherwise this bad atmosphere in the court will only get worse.

Seeing that Zhang Juzheng and others remained silent, Xu Liang, a supervising secretary in the Ministry of War, immediately began to make his move at the Office of Transmission.

He claimed that he was the first to discover Shen Nian's crimes and submitted a secret memorial, but it was detained by the young Wanli Emperor. Now he will risk his life to submit another memorial, earnestly requesting the court to severely punish Shen Nian and restore order to the officialdom.

at the same time.

This matter gradually spread to the streets and among the common people, and the scholars and literati all felt that Shen Nian was about to fall from power.

When Qin Xiucai's bookstore owner heard about this, he was somewhat bewildered, but before he could explain, he was taken to the imperial prison by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

The young Wanli Emperor looked at Feng Bao beside him.

"Your Excellency, this matter is definitely being deliberately spread. Order someone to investigate. I need to know where this information is coming from. Keep a close eye on that idiot Xu Liang, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of War!"

"This old servant obeys!" Feng Bao said, bowing respectfully. (End of Chapter)