Huangming

Chapter 49 Tiger's Faction and Fox's Collusion: Submitting Oneself for Self-Preservation

September 16th, the first year of the Taichang reign.

The sky was overcast, the clouds were dark and hung very low, and even the slightest autumn breeze had disappeared.

It's nothing but oppression, nothing but oppression.

A torrential rain is about to hit!

The Office of Transmission is very busy today.

I had just started my shift when impeachment memorials from the Censorate began arriving one after another.

Like snowflakes fluttering down.

Within a quarter of an hour, forty-seven impeachment memorials had been submitted.

The Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review, Cao Yubian, registered the impeachment memorials in the "Memorials of the Censorate" and noted them as "Impeachment Memorials of the Censorate".

"What is the Grand Secretary trying to do? Does he think the court is already in enough chaos?"

Although Cao Yubian was from Haining, Zhejiang, he was neither a member of the Donglin Party nor the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party, and was known for his neutrality and pragmatism.

He felt heavy-hearted upon suddenly receiving so many memorials impeaching members of the Donglin Party.

"Lord Tongzheng, this is factionalism and suppression of dissent. I think we should submit a memorial to the Emperor and send these memorials to the Cabinet, keeping them pending further notice."

Zhou Xisheng, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, said.

He was nominally neutral, but in reality he leaned towards the Donglin Party. He once secretly sent Yang Lian's memorial impeaching Fang Congzhe to the Directorate of Ceremonial.

"No!"

Wang Shunding, the Right Vice Minister of the Court of State Affairs, immediately shook his head.

Wang Shunding was a member of the Zhejiang Party and a confidant of Fang Congzhe. He had previously intercepted more than ten memorials from the Donglin Party impeaching Cui Wensheng.

How can we allow the impeachment memorial sent by our own party to remain in China?

What they wanted was speed, to catch the Donglin Party members off guard.

"His Majesty now intends to thoroughly investigate corruption, and these memorials are the sword to slay it! Does the Duke of Tongzheng intend to defy His Majesty's will?"

Cao Yubian pretended not to hear Wang Shunding's accusation and simply said, "Many of these memorials are based on hearsay. If they were all reported, it would probably ruin the reputations of many people and cause turmoil in the court and the country!"

He had already been handling a lot of memorials at the Office of Transmission these days, but at that time the factional strife was still hidden beneath the surface.

Now that it's out in the open, how can he not hesitate?

"Does Lord Cao, the Grand Secretary, also intend to get involved in factional strife?"

Wang Shunding's words sent a shiver down Cao Yubian's spine.

"I, Cao Yubian, am a person without party affiliation or faction, and I am only loyal to the country."

"Then why don't you send these memorials to the cabinet!" Wang Shunding pressed on relentlessly.

When Zhou Xisheng saw that Wang Shunding was no longer going to act, he stopped being polite.

"Wang Shunding, are you trying to destabilize the court and the country? The late emperor's body is barely cold, do you want my Great Ming Dynasty to perish even faster?"

After rebuking Wang Shunding, Zhou Xisheng quickly looked at Cao Yubian and said, "Lord Tongzheng, this matter is of great importance. The cabinet should be informed in advance. If any trouble arises, the cabinet will take the blame. It has nothing to do with our Office of Tongzheng. I hope you will think it over carefully."

Impeachment memorials are not just empty words.

There wasn't much going on when I was in the Office of Transmission.

If it is submitted to the Emperor, then it will be made public!
Once an impeachment memorial is made public, the impeached person must defend themselves or resign, otherwise they will face moral stigma.

For example, Zhang Juzheng, the Grand Secretary during the Wanli reign, was impeached and forced to resign. Although he was not dismissed from office, his reputation was greatly damaged, and his new policies were ultimately thwarted.

Unless you have the emperor's favor. If the emperor is biased towards the person being impeached, he can either keep the memorial (without commenting or responding) or reject the impeachment.

For example, the Jiajing Emperor ignored the accusations of corruption against Yan Song and even punished those who impeached him.

However, if the emperor does not show favoritism to the one being impeached, then the rules must be followed.

Handle it as it should be handled.

How many of the officials in this court who are now full of beasts are truly clean?
Cao Yubian was terrified after reading the contents of these impeachment memorials.

If the investigation were to proceed, it's likely that seven or eight out of ten of those impeached would be punished.

How to do?
How to do!
Cao Yubian was like an ant on a hot pan.

"Lord Tongzheng, we cannot delay any longer, please make a decision quickly!"

Wang Shunding pressed on relentlessly.

suddenly.

Cao Yubian's mind suddenly lit up, and his ingenious idea came to him!
"You guys, you guys oh my god~"

Cao Yubian let out the same scream as Wang Lang and actually fainted on the spot.

"Lord Tongzheng, Lord Tongzheng, wake up! You can't faint at a time like this!"

Wang Shunding immediately bent down and pinched Cao Yubian's philtrum hard.

However, even after he pinched Cao Yubian's philtrum until it bled, Cao Yubian still did not wake up.

Wang Shunding was dumbfounded.

Can you still play like this?
Zhou Xisheng's face lit up with joy.

"Wang Shunding, it seems things won't go your way now!"

Still want to impeach him?

Still want to engage in factional strife?

Your impeachment memorials won't even leave the Tongzheng Office.

Zhou Xisheng made sarcastic remarks from the side.

A ruthless glint flashed in Wang Shunding's eyes. He immediately stood up and said to his subordinates, "The matter is urgent. I just asked the Duke of Tongzheng whether we should send the impeachment memorial to the cabinet. The Duke of Tongzheng did not say anything. If he did not say anything, it means he agreed. Send the impeachment memorial to the cabinet immediately!"

After saying this, without waiting for Zhou Xisheng to stop him, he immediately ordered his subordinates to quickly send the impeachment memorial to the cabinet.

"You, you!"

Now Zhou Xisheng is the one who's dumbfounded.

Can you still play like this?
"Wang Shunding, do you think you're the only one with the authority to impeach? Is your Zhejiang Party clean too?"

Wang Shunding raised his head smugly and said, "This impeachment isn't just against the Zhejiang faction, but also against the various factions in Qi and Chu. If you're so capable, impeach us all!"

He was full of confidence.

With His Majesty standing behind us, what can you possibly use to fight us?
"Yeah!"

Zhou Xisheng was so angry that he almost fainted. He kicked out suddenly, and whether it was intentional or accidental, he actually kicked Cao Yubian, the Commissioner of the Court of State Affairs, in a vital spot.

Cao Yubian's body twitched once or twice, and then he truly fainted.

She fainted from the pain.

"Then let's see who's clean!"

(End of this chapter)