Huangming

Chapter 79 The Emperor Attends the Imperial Lectures, Confiscating Property and Amassing Wealth

Early this morning.

The sun had not yet fully risen.

Zhu Youxiao, along with cabinet ministers, officials of the Six Ministries, and scholars of the Hanlin Academy, held a lecture at the Qianqing Palace.

Beneath the throne, the officials who were giving lectures and reading aloud all had furrowed brows and looked listless, as if they were preoccupied with their own thoughts.

This morning, the Embroidered Uniform Guard made a big move in the Forbidden City, especially arresting those eunuchs, many of whom were involved in collusion with the outer court.

Among these people, there were more or less informants within the palace.

Fearing that the emperor might use this as an excuse to implicate everyone, they were naturally filled with apprehension.

After all, the "crime of 'colluding with eunuchs'" in the Criminal Law clearly stipulates that any official outside the capital who privately communicates with eunuchs, offers bribes or solicits favors, regardless of whether he seeks personal gain, shall be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane and exiled three thousand li, or, in serious cases, be hanged.

If the emperor acts according to the law, the capital will surely be ravaged by bloodshed!

But since the Wanli Emperor, especially since the late Emperor, who hasn't had a spy in the palace?
How can one survive in the court without an informant in the palace?
Now that they have encountered a monarch who makes sagacious judgments, they truly do not know what to do if this is used to convict them.

They were like fish on a chopping board, afraid that the emperor would use his knife to kill them!

At this moment, when the main speakers, Fang Congzhe and Liu Yizhu, saw the "Zhou Guan" chapter of the Book of Documents that they were lecturing on that day, they suddenly understood.

The Book of Documents (Shangshu) in the section on Zhouguan details the establishment of official positions and the division of duties in the Zhou Dynasty, emphasizing that "when an enlightened king establishes a government, he does not only consider the officials, but the people," advocating the selection of virtuous and capable individuals and the fulfillment of their respective duties.

No wonder His Majesty personally selected this piece; is it an implication or a warning?
The emperor saw all of the people's reactions.

While the ministers were filled with suspicion, Zhu Youxiao spoke.

"Do you all understand the profound meaning of the Zhou Guan (Rites of Zhou) that 'When an enlightened king establishes a government, he does not only rely on the officials, but also on the people'?"

The courtiers held their breath and bowed their heads, but Fang Congzhe replied, "The Emperor's teachings are brilliant, stating that the establishment of official positions and the assignment of duties should be based on the candidate's abilities."

Fang Congzhe, being a seasoned veteran, immediately stepped forward to cooperate with the emperor.

Zhu Youxiao commented on the case: "Indeed! In the past, the Duke of Zhou established the rites, and the six ministers were each in charge of their respective rites. Now, looking at the 'Regulations on Criminal Procedure,' those who 'colluded with eunuchs' were punished with a hundred strokes of the cane and exiled. This is not a harsh law, but rather a way to protect the order of the court."

At this point, Zhu Youxiao glanced down the steps and saw that many people in the hall were trembling slightly. The emperor continued, "I have observed in recent memorials that the outer court often tries to find out what the Directorate of Ceremonial is up to when discussing state affairs. This is not the conduct of a subject!"

A court scholar stepped forward in a flustered manner: "Your Majesty's light shines across the land; we, your humble servants..."

Liu Yijing also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this is all hearsay!"

Zhu Youxiao is not here to punish, but to warn.

And this is the last warning!
He rose with a flick of his sleeve, his tone growing increasingly serious, and said, “Since you have studied the ‘Rites of Zhou,’ you should know that ‘one should be mindful of danger when in favor, and fear nothing’! If collusion between the inside and outside is like a spider’s web, then official positions will be usurped and government orders will be ineffective. At that time, not only will you ministers be unable to escape the law, but I too will be ashamed before my ancestors!”

The emperor's voice resounded throughout the palace, echoing and lingering endlessly.

All the officials in the hall bowed their heads and prostrated themselves, saying, "Your Majesty, we will heed your decree!"

Sweat soaked through Liu Yijing's scarlet robe. Suddenly, he felt as if the words of the "Zhou Guan" presented at the lecture had turned into shackles, pressing heavily on his shoulders.

He looked at Zhu Xi's annotation in his hand: "Officials should each have their own duties and should not mix. When internal and external affairs are mutually supportive, the national system will be respected." He then fell silent.

The emperors of the most centralized dynasties gradually reclaimed their power.

This time it was the emperor's warning; next time, it might really be dealt with according to the law.

After all, if someone is guilty, His Majesty really will kill them!

This is no joke!

After the lecture, Zhu Youxiao went to the East Warm Pavilion to handle government affairs.

Wei Zhongxian, who hadn't slept all night, entered the palace with dark circles under his eyes and respectfully paid his respects.

"This servant, Wei Zhongxian, respectfully wishes Your Majesty a long and peaceful life!"

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "Please take a seat."

Wei Zhongxian had barely sat down when he stood up again and took a small booklet from his chest. Eunuchs were skilled at flattering and fawning over the emperor, and Wei Zhongxian was a prime example of this.

Now he has gradually figured out some of the emperor's preferences.

That's money!

As long as he can get money for the Emperor, the Emperor will surely reward him and give him an important position!

Therefore, even before the trials of the convicted eunuchs in the imperial prison were fully completed, he presented the gold and silver he had obtained through torture to the emperor.

His loyalty is as clear as day!
Your salt, my vinegar—in Wei Zhongxian's heart there was only one sun!
That is His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!
"Your Majesty, please examine the gold and silver that those who have betrayed Your Majesty's grace have embezzled."

Zhu Youxiao took the booklet expressionlessly and began to read it carefully.

The booklet is divided into categories in tiny, neat characters, and the details exude the fragrance of ink.

Among them were gold and silver, pearls and jade, foreign tributes, stationery and antiques, and deeds to houses and fields.

There are just too many items.

For example, gold and silver items include gold-threaded dragon bridles, pure gold bricks, and various gold artifacts.

There are even more categories of pearls, jade, and precious trinkets.

South Sea blood amber eighteen-bead rosary, Hetian mutton fat jade pendant, Ru kiln sky blue glaze sunflower-shaped washer, Dongzhu pearls, and so on.

Zhu Youxiao almost fainted from reading it, but thankfully there were annotations in vermilion ink at the end of the book:
"The above items are worth approximately 1.72 million taels of silver, and there are also more than 400 boxes of antiques and paintings to be appraised. The corrupt officials in charge of the case have also confessed to nine other cases, including the Ministry of Works falsely reporting the price of palace tiles and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices embezzling sacrificial offerings. These will be submitted to the emperor in separate reports by the servants."

Since he ascended to the throne, his main way of acquiring wealth has not been through taxation, but through confiscation of property.

It's funny, really.

After copying the civil officials, they copied the eunuchs.

Of course, this is not a long-term solution.

But it is the fastest and most profitable way to make money, while causing the least harm to the Ming Dynasty.

Our Great Ming Dynasty has its own national conditions.

Zhu Youxiao smiled and said to Wei Zhongxian, "Zhongxian, Zhongxian, you are indeed loyal and virtuous. You have handled this matter to my liking. I hereby grant you this three-courtyard house in the south of the city as your residence outside the palace."

Wei Zhongxian beamed and said loudly, "Thank you for your generous reward, Your Majesty. It is thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune that I was able to achieve this. My meager contribution is not worth a second glance."

After flattering him, Wei Zhongxian continued, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will continue to interrogate those corrupt eunuchs in the imperial prison, as well as the officials implicated in their crimes, until they return all the money they embezzled!"

Zhu Youxiao pondered for a moment and said, "If it involves foreign officials, write down their names first, then keep them at bay."

Although he didn't know what the emperor was planning, that wasn't something he should be thinking about.

Wei Zhongxian immediately replied, "This servant obeys!"

However, as if he had thought of something else, a look of hesitation appeared on his face, and he said, "Your Majesty, there are five people on the list who have connections with the outer court. Why not deal with them as well? These people have some dirty deeds, so it wouldn't be difficult to take them down along the way."

Moreover, Wei Zhongxian believed that the five people left behind by the emperor posed a significant threat.

The two were from the Directorate of Ceremonial, one from the Imperial Horse Administration, and the other from the Palace Attendants' Office.

The eunuchs in these four prisons had varying degrees of power, but they all shared one characteristic.

That means you can travel freely throughout the entire palace.

Another position is in the Imperial Kitchen, a crucial post concerning His Majesty's life.

Keeping these people around is like having a ticking time bomb.

However, the emperor smiled slightly and said, "I have great use for these five people. You only need to send someone to keep a close watch on them. Don't alert them."

Although he didn't know the emperor's thoughts, Wei Zhongxian knelt down and immediately accepted the order.

(End of this chapter)