I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 46: Observing Political Affairs! The Young Wanli Who Rises Up (Please Read)
Perhaps it was Shen Nian's four words "a flaw in a perfect jade" that stimulated the young Wanli.

In recent days, little Wanli has performed very well.

He is very active in both academic and political studies.

He even thought about state affairs at night. If there was something he didn't understand, he would write a note the next morning and ask someone to give it to Zhang Juzheng.

Although Zhang Juzheng was busy.

But when it comes to little Wanli's education, he absolutely spares no effort and devotes his heart and soul.

Whenever the young Wanli asked questions, he would immediately rush to the Forbidden City to answer his questions and resolve his doubts. Although he was a serious person, he would even reveal the smile of a kind old father from time to time.

Little Wanli was diligent and studious, which also made it easier for Shen Nian to write his daily notes.

October 17th, near dusk.

Shen Nian wrote in his daily journal: "On that day, the emperor went out to ask questions of the prime minister three times. The minister Zhang Juzheng praised him, saying: 'The emperor is so devoted to learning, it is a blessing for the country.'"

After finishing writing.

Shen Nian felt that he would have a clear conscience if he ate the fresh lotus root given by the young Wanli and wore the mink coat given by the young Wanli.

In this way, no one makes mistakes, which is great.

……

On October 19th, the regular court session was held in the Huangji Hall.

Shen Nian stood at the northeast corner of the throne, taking turns recording the emperor's words and actions, while a group of ministers sat below, discussing politics on the spot.

Just as the court meeting was about to end.

The young Wanli suddenly picked up two memorials from the imperial desk and said seriously, "Prime Minister, yesterday afternoon, I saw two memorials from Zhili Inspector Bao Mengqi and Zhang Xianxiang, reporting on the sentencing of serious prisoners. Attached is the November memorial submitted in the second year of the Wanli reign. Why is the date and month wrong by nearly a year?"

"Furthermore, the current Zhili Inspector Censors are no longer Bao Mengqi and Zhang Xianxiang, so why are the memorials still filed under their names? What's the reason?"

"Also, there was an imperial decree this year to pardon sentences. Could this serious prisoner's case be included in the list of pardons?"

Little Wanli looked serious and asked three questions in succession.

There was silence in the hall, and no one knew how such a strange thing could happen.

Later.

A eunuch brought two memorials to Zhang Juzheng.

After reading it, Zhang Juzheng, Lu Diaoyang and Zhang Siwei all frowned and handed the memorial to Chen Zan, the Left Censor-in-Chief.

After reading it, Chen Zan frowned slightly, turned around and handed the memorial to Wang Zongmu, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice.

After reading it, Wang Zongmu also frowned and turned to hand the memorial to Jiang Duo, a doctor in the Ministry of Justice.

This report made the faces of Zhang Juzheng, Lu Diaoyang and Zhang Siwei gradually gloomy.

Isn't this a slap in their face?
The Cabinet didn't know, the Censorate didn't know, and even the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice didn't know.

It was really embarrassing to do it in front of the emperor and all the civil and military officials.

The current Minister of Justice is Wang Chonggu.

He was a famous general guarding the border and also Zhang Siwei's uncle. He was not in the court at the moment. Wang Zongmu, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, had just returned from an inspection tour of Shanxi, so he did not know much about the affairs of the Ministry of Justice.

At this moment, everyone looked at Jiang Duo, the doctor of the Ministry of Justice.

If he doesn't know either.

These two memorials could no longer be passed down.

During the regular court sessions, if the emperor asked about government affairs and none of his ministers could answer them, they would be recorded in history books and cursed.

After reading it, Jiang Duo, a doctor in the Ministry of Justice, thought for a moment and showed an expression of sudden realization.

He wanted to whisper to Wang Zongmu, but when he remembered that this was a regular court session, he immediately stepped out and bowed.

"Your Majesty, these two memorials were indeed submitted in November of the second year of the Wanli reign. After Bao Mengqi and Zhang Xianxiang executed the prisoners, they handed the memorials to Liu Tidao, the head of the Ministry of Justice who was on inspection according to the imperial order. Liu Tidao should have submitted them to the capital immediately, but due to mourning, he returned home halfway and left these two memorials behind. Now the execution of the prisoners has been completed, but... it's just that I'm late in reporting!" Jiang Duo's voice trembled a little.

At this time, little Wanli stood up.

"How can it be that a prisoner was sentenced last year and only reported this year? Order the Censorate to conduct a detailed investigation and come up with an explanation!" Young Wanli said angrily.

"I obey your command!" Left Censor-in-Chief Chen Zan stepped out and bowed.

At this time, Zhang Juzheng strode forward, knelt on the ground and said: "Your Majesty, the cabinet failed to supervise, and I am guilty!" "I am guilty!" Lu Diaoyang and Zhang Siwei also knelt down.

"I am also guilty!" Left Censor-in-Chief Chen Zan, Vice Minister of Justice Wang Zongmu, and Doctor of Justice Jiang Duo all knelt down.

Little Wanli hurriedly said: "Everyone, please stand up quickly!"

"These two memorials were sent directly to the Ministry of Public Security. Any accountability lies with Liu Tidao, the head of the Ministry of Justice. It has nothing to do with you!"

Say it.

Little Wanli glanced at Shen Nian who was not far away, as if to say, "Today, do you know how to write the daily record?"

Shen Nian almost laughed out loud.

Today's young Wanli can be said to be proud and has demonstrated the power of an emperor.

This is also the little Wanli that Shen Nian wants to see.

If he hadn't held back, the fate of the Ming Dynasty might have changed.

Zhang Juzheng did not stand up immediately, but bowed his head again.

"Your Majesty, for today's mistake, the cabinet, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Justice should all punish themselves. I humbly request that the cabinet ministers be fined six months' salary, and the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice be fined three months' salary, as a warning to others!"

Zhang Juzheng has always been serious about his work.

I'm afraid that the various government offices in the capital will have a hard time from now on.

"Prime Minister, I have no intention of blaming you. Please stand up first. We will discuss this matter after the results are known!"

These words not only show virtue, but also show benevolence.

Zhang Juzheng and others felt their faces flushed and they slowly stood up.

At this moment, Empress Dowager Li, who was behind the curtain, looked at the back of little Wanli and murmured in her heart: "My son has grown up!"

After the meeting.

Zhang Juzheng, Lu Diaoyang and Zhang Siwei jointly submitted a memorial of self-punishment and ordered the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice to investigate the matter as soon as possible.

At this moment, Liu Tidao, the head of the Ministry of Justice, was still at home in mourning.

The memorial was delivered via the post station and traveled a little faster.

It wouldn't be long before he would be treated like a bundle by the Imperial Guards, strapped to a horse's back, and taken to the capital as quickly as possible.

……

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

Little Wanli walked back and forth in front of the hall with his hands behind his back and the gait of a dragon and a tiger.

His eyes were very bright, like a victorious general.

Today, he felt for the first time that the court was his territory and the Ming Dynasty was his world.

This feeling of being in power is so addictive.

At this moment, Empress Dowager Li coughed lightly from not far away.

"Emperor, it's time to write big characters!"

Little Wanli instantly turned into a cat whose tail was stepped on. He hurried to the desk and started writing.

……

Near dusk, in the review hall.

Shen Nian picked up his pen and copied it down in the daily record book.

On October 19th, the Emperor attended court and suspected that Zhili Provincial Inspector General Bao Mengqi and Zhang Xianxiang had made errors in their reports on the sentencing of serious prisoners... The Emperor said: How could it be that in northern Zhili, prisoners were sentenced last year and only reported back this year... He personally reviewed all the memorials submitted, demonstrating his meticulous scrutiny..."

The image of the young Wanli as diligent, intelligent and attentive to government affairs comes to life on paper.

……

Note: The fact that the prisoner memorial was submitted nearly a year late because Liu Tidao, the head of the Ministry of Justice, was away in mourning is not fabricated but is historically true. See the Wanli Daily Notes for details, recorded on October 119, the third year of the Wanli reign, on page . This suggests that the thirteen-year-old Wanli was already participating in political decision-making and possessed the potential to be a virtuous ruler.

(End of this chapter)