I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 76 Three Questions to Prime Minister Zhang! Linchuan Candidate Tang Xianzu (2 in 1, monthly ticket requested)

April 10th, afternoon, Hanlin Academy, Editing Hall.

Shen Nian was sitting at his desk, concentrating on drafting a confession of guilt.

According to convention, the edict of repentance should be drafted by a cabinet minister or a Hanlin academician.

But the three cabinet ministers and Ma Ziqiang, a Hanlin scholar who also served as the Minister of Rites, were busy writing letters of apology.

In addition, Shen Nian knew best the importance of this edict, so the task fell on him.

Sin yourself.

Avoid being insincere, vague, perfunctory, and deceptive.

Because I want to tell the world.

The local officials of Liaodong should read it to the people in front of the government office, and it should be engraved on the stone tablet in Liaodong, leaving it for future generations to analyze and interpret word by word.

As a historian, Shen Nian did not find it difficult to write this.

Little Wanli was not like his imperial grandfather, who was ridiculed by the people at that time as "Jiajing Jiajing, every family is clean."

His current reputation is decent.

Just write around the theme of "If one is not sincere in respecting Heaven, he is not competent as a ruler, and does not rule people properly, one should cultivate virtue to prevent disasters and treat the people as if they were one's own flesh and blood."

……

It was almost dusk and the court was about to be dismissed.

Shen Nian submitted the draft edict to the cabinet.

After reading it, Zhang Juzheng did not change a single word and was very satisfied. He presented it directly to the palace.

Since Prime Minister Zhang has no objection, the young Wanli will basically have no objection either.

at the same time.

The cabinet ministers and officials also wrote letters of apology, accusing themselves of "failure to assist in government affairs and receiving rewards without any merit."

Their apology letters are harder to write than confessions of guilt.

Because the fate of the Ming Dynasty rests on their shoulders, they must conduct a deep self-examination, shoulder all responsibilities, and share the worries of the emperor.

If the intensity of self-punishment and self-reprimand does not meet the censors' expectations, he will inevitably be subjected to fierce impeachment.

Shen Nian heard that Zhang Siwei, the young minister of the Zhang family, had not slept all night and wrote an apology letter of more than 2,000 words.

……

Early the next morning, Shen Nian received news from the Ministry of Rites.

The edict of repentance will be issued early tomorrow morning and then copied throughout the country by the Ministry of Public Administration.

In the afternoon of the same day.

The three cabinet ministers and six hall officials (Shangshu or Shilang) will lead all officials to the northern suburbs of the city to apologize to the victims of the Liaodong disaster.

This incident caused a huge response among the people.

Some praise, some criticize, and some even say cryptic things.

Some angry young scholars said: This is just a superficial act by the court. The emperor is afraid of riots on the border, and officials are trying to gain fame and reputation. Everything is a drama deliberately arranged by Zhang Juzheng, the chief minister of the cabinet.

Whenever there was something wrong with the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Juzheng would always be blamed.

Of course, there are also some people who have sharp eyes.

It is true that the imperial court provided one million taels of silver for disaster relief, it is true that corrupt officials in Liaodong were severely punished, and it is even more true that the emperor and his ministers apologized sincerely.

There are tangible benefits and full sincerity.

If we do this, how can we criticize the imperial court? How can we criticize the cabinet? How can we criticize Zhang Juzheng?

……

The next day, the sky was slightly bright.

The young Wanli led all the officials to the Taimiao to offer sacrifices, and the official on duty from the Ministry of Public Administration read out the "Edict of Confession of Sins".

"I inherited the throne at a young age and have ruled the country for four years. Since ascending the throne, I have wished to revive the greatness of Taizu and perpetuate my grand vision. However, disasters have struck Liaodong, and the people are suffering. I am deeply distressed and cannot sleep peacefully..."

Young Wanli knelt in front of the Taimiao, and all that came to his mind was the miserable living conditions of the victims in the shanty towns.

His eyes were red and he felt very guilty.

After reading the "Edict of Confession of Sins", he decided to punish himself by reducing his meals and observing a fast for a month to comfort the people of Liaodong.

after that.

The three cabinet ministers and six hall officials, along with hundreds of civil and military officials, rushed towards the northern suburbs of the city.

This time.

There were no gongs to clear the way, no people to avoid the crowd, and no large number of servants and guards.

Travel light and with a small entourage.

There were only a few soldiers protecting him.

Not long after leaving Deshengmen, Zhang Juzheng asked all officials to walk towards the shanties of the victims.

This time.

No official dared to order the victims to clean their homes in advance, no public servant dared to pretend to be a victim and stand in the front, and no one dared to prepare false excuses for the victims.

Many people in the capital also gathered around.

There are merchants, scholars, doctors, farmers, and some writers for folk tabloids.

Zhang Juzheng did not order anyone to drive them away.

Since we have promised to apologize to the victims, we should not be afraid of letting more people see it.

……

After a while.

Zhang Juzheng and others came to an open space where the victims' shanties were located. At the signal of some soldiers, the victims from Liaodong gradually gathered around.

The victims of the Liaodong disaster all know that the high-ranking officials from the capital came here today to apologize to them.

But everyone's face was full of panic.

Nowadays, there is no good citizen who is not afraid of officials.

They all lowered their heads, looked at their feet, and placed their hands on their thighs, as if they had made a mistake.

The highest-ranking official some of the victims had ever seen was the county magistrate, and they had only glimpsed him from afar.

Now a group of high-ranking officials in red robes were standing here, and they didn't even have the courage to take a peek.

soon.

Zhang Juzheng, Lu Diaoyang and Zhang Siwei walked towards the open space in the middle, followed closely by the six ministries.

At this moment, the people around subconsciously knelt down.

Hurrah!

In the blink of an eye, they all knelt on the ground.

Zhang Juzheng hurriedly said, "Fellow villagers of Liaodong, please don't kneel! Don't kneel! We are here to apologize to you today. How can we ask you to kneel? Get up! Get up!"

At the suggestion of Zhang Juzheng.

The soldiers not far away hurried to support the victims kneeling on the ground.

After the victims were helped to their feet, Zhang Juzheng looked around and said loudly: "Fellow villagers, I am Zhang Juzheng, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. Please look up and look at us and accept our apology!"

Swish!Swish!Swish!
The victims slowly raised their heads at the sound of Zhang Juzheng's gentle voice, and gradually saw Zhang Juzheng, the chief minister of the cabinet, whose name was well-known and had spread to Liaodong, although they had never met him.

The victims raised their heads, while some officials behind them lowered their heads.

Some officials simply don't have the courage to look the victims in the eye.

What's more.

He was afraid that some disaster victims would see his face and seek revenge in the future.

Zhang Juzheng turned around and shouted, "My fellow officers, please look the people of Liaodong in the eye and don't bow your heads!"

As soon as Zhang Juzheng spoke.

The officials had to raise their heads and look at the victims around them.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Juzheng began to speak on behalf of all officials.

"When disaster struck Liaodong, less than one-tenth of the relief money was used for the people. This is truly the fault of the imperial court, the cabinet ministers, and the six ministries."

"The court's inappropriate selection of talented individuals and failure in oversight have allowed corrupt officials to run rampant and plunder the people's wealth. This is our fault in every way."

……

Zhang Juzheng's tone was very sincere.

And there are no empty words of courtesy or explanations to cover up.

In summary, he failed in assisting the government and made mistakes in selecting talented people, and he felt ashamed of the people of Liaodong. He also stated that such a situation would never happen again.

After Zhang Juzheng finished speaking, he took a step back and said loudly: "The scandal of corruption in the Liaodong disaster relief is actually the scandal of officials like us. I must learn from my mistakes, work diligently and not slack off, to make up for my past mistakes and live up to the people of the world!" Zhang Juzheng bowed deeply.

"I must learn from my mistakes, work diligently and never slack off, make up for my past mistakes, and live up to the people of the world!" All the officials shouted in unison, and then bowed deeply.

The disaster victims in Liaodong were shocked and moved.

They will certainly spread this matter to Liaodong so that the people there will also know the court's attitude.

After about five breaths.

Zhang Juzheng slowly stood up, and the officials behind him also stood up one after another.

Shen Nian, who was standing at the back, looked at the expressions of the victims and felt a little relieved.

In his eyes, this was definitely not a face-saving job for the court.

This is a statement of attitude and a promise to honor one's commitment, which will make officials throughout the world reflect on themselves.

If such scandals happen again in the future, the officials who apologized today will be tied to the pillar of shame in history.

Zhang Juzheng looked around and said, "If anyone needs any help or has any questions, please let me know."

None of the victims left.

In their eyes, the court had treated them very well, allowing them to return home soon.

After about ten breaths.

Just as Zhang Juzheng was about to leave with the officials, a loud voice came from the crowd.

"Please stay, my Lord. I have something to ask you."

A young man in his twenties, wearing a gray-white gown and looking very scholarly, walked out from the crowd at the back.

Shen Nian took a closer look.

It looks familiar, but I can't remember where I've seen it.

The young scholar bowed to Zhang Juzheng and said, "Your Excellency, I am a scholar from Linchuan. I have three questions for you regarding this disaster. I wonder if you could answer them?"

Hearing this, some officials frowned slightly.

Zhang Juzheng has always disliked Confucian scholars talking about politics.

This young scholar is obviously the candidate who will take part in the imperial examination early next year.

He suddenly stood up and asked, if he criticized the government like many angry young scholars, he would definitely not be on the list next year.

Zhang Juzheng looked at him and said calmly, "Okay!"

"One question: During this Liaodong disaster, the imperial court acted with complete openness. Your Majesty, with all officials apologizing, comforting the victims, and severely punishing corrupt officials, this is truly commendable compared to past actions. Is this action taken because Liaodong is a borderland of the Ming Dynasty, and the imperial court is concerned about civil unrest? If such a situation were to occur elsewhere in the future, would the imperial court handle it in the same way?"

"Second question: The Liaodong disaster was discovered only after a few Liaodong victims went to the Ministry of Revenue to file a complaint. Currently, the victims have difficulty in bringing their grievances to justice, and their channels of expression are blocked. I wonder how the court will resolve this issue next?"

"Question three: It's rumored that the military and political leaders in charge of Liaodong are all close confidants of the Grand Councilor. Could it be that the court inspectors, fearing the Grand Councilor's power, didn't dare conduct inspections, which led to this incident? Please speak frankly, Grand Councilor!"

After hearing these three questions, some officials began to sweat on their foreheads.

That’s such a bold question!

Every sentence is like a knife stabbing you.

Many officials were unwilling to debate with scholars in public, and were even unwilling to accept any lawsuits.

I'm just afraid that this kind of thing will happen.

If you are left speechless when asked a question, your reputation may be ruined and your career may be affected.

When Shen Nian heard these three questions, he looked at the young scholar with great admiration.

These three questions are not considered as irresponsible discussions on state affairs, and they all hit the nail on the head.

This is exactly the doubt that many Confucian scholars on the streets have.

If Zhang Juzheng could answer correctly, it would reduce a lot of criticism of the government.

at this time.

Someone in the crowd exclaimed, "He... he is Tang Xianzu of Linchuan!"

"Tang...Tang...Xianzu?"

Hearing this name, Shen Nian immediately understood why he looked so familiar.

Tang Xianzu is the Tang Xianzu who wrote the Four Dreams of Linchuan.

In the fourth year of the Longqing reign, the 21-year-old Tang Xianzu passed the imperial examination and became a juren.

Then in the fifth year of Longqing's reign, he and Shen Nian took part in the imperial examination together. Shen Nian passed, but he failed.

Afterwards, Tang Xianzu took the exam again in the second year of Wanli, but still failed.

Although Shen Nian was not familiar with him, Tang Xianzu was very famous in the capital.

He is good at writing eight-legged essays and is famous for his poetry and prose. He is a favorite to get a top spot in next year's imperial examination.

This person is very talented, but also has an extremely bad temper.

I never make friends with the powerful.

Zhang Juzheng listened to Tang Xianzu's three questions, thought for a moment, stroked his beard, and said, "I will answer you one by one."

"First, the imperial court provided disaster relief to the victims and severely punished corrupt officials, completely adhering to ancestral regulations and Ming Dynasty laws. Naturally, the people were treated equally. Disaster relief is disaster relief, and an apology is an apology. From this point forward, all subsequent actions will follow this example. If the people riot, that's another matter."

"Secondly, the victims' grievances are difficult to redress because of the incompetence of local officials and the corruption of the government. The imperial court is currently using the performance evaluation system to rectify the government, and overall improvements are being made. I believe that within three years at most, the people will be able to obtain justice without further appeal!"

"Third, I promote the virtuous regardless of personal connections. I employ people with a clear conscience, and I can be scrutinized by the world!"

Zhang Juzheng looked righteous as he looked straight at Tang Xianzu.

At this moment, Tang Xianzu was a little afraid to look Zhang Juzheng in the eye.

The other party's words gave him a feeling of being unable to refute, feeling that "the facts are all there and my conscience is clear."

He is still very young at the moment.

He was completely incapable of debating with Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng continued, "If you don't believe what I say, you can try your best to pass the exam next spring and become an official to supervise me!"

Tang Xianzu blushed slightly and said, "I am grateful for your guidance!"

Zhang Juzheng nodded, looked around, and seeing that no one asked any more questions, he turned and left.

……

More than half an hour later, Zhang Juzheng strode into the cabinet duty room.

A clerk trotted up to Zhang Juzheng and said, "Lord, the man who asked three questions outside the city is Tang Xianzu, a scholar from Linchuan. He has a good reputation. Do you want to..."

Zhang Juzheng turned his head and glared, "What do you want? He's right. Don't target him!"

"Yes, yes!" the clerk answered hurriedly. He wanted to take credit for it, but unexpectedly bumped into the wall.

……

soon.

All officials apologized to the victims on the outskirts of the city, and the news that Tang Xianzu had asked Zhang Juzheng three questions spread to the streets and alleys of the capital.

Most people were happy because it showed that the court respected the people.

Confucian scholars were discussing the matter and focused their attention on Tang Xianzu.

Some Confucian scholars admired Tang Xianzu very much and praised him for his courage to question the prime minister of the time.

Some Confucian scholars believed that Tang Xianzu wanted to gain a reputation, just like the censor Liu Tai at the beginning of the year.

There were also some Confucian scholars who felt that Tang Xianzu's questions were not appropriate and were dismissed by Zhang Juzheng with just a few words. If they had asked the questions themselves, they would definitely have received a lot of applause and left Zhang Juzheng speechless.

This type of scholar would talk a lot in teahouses and wine alleys, and every sentence he said would be about state affairs.

He seems to have countless good ideas for governing the country.

After the political discussion, they turned around and went to the red-light district, which seemed to be more important to them.

……

April 16th, near dusk.

Liaodong Regional Military Commission, Guangning City.

Zhang Xueyan, the governor of Liaodong, Li Chengliang, the general of Liaodong, and three special inspection envoys: Wang Zhen, the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, Cao Wei, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Yu Xiu, the inspector of the Censorate, were all shocked and broke out in cold sweats after reading the imperial edict.

I didn’t expect the court to punish itself in this way!

Zhang Xueyan and Li Chengliang both had gloomy faces.

Although the two did not embezzle disaster relief funds, they were the military and political leaders of Liaodong.

An apology letter must be written, salary will definitely be fined, and people all over the world will definitely scold you, and you may even be demoted.

Jinyiwei Commander Cao Wei let out a long sigh and said, "According to the imperial decree, the Liaodong territory may soon be ablaze with bloodshed!"

The other four nodded.

If we do not kill a group of corrupt officials, it will not be enough to comfort the suffering of the victims in Liaodong, nor will it be enough to make up for the current scandal of embezzlement of disaster relief funds in Liaodong.

(End of this chapter)