That night, the two memorials approved by Zhu Houjian immediately reached the cabinet. When Xu Jie heard that the Emperor had named him to investigate, he was so scared that his face turned pale.
Zhou Yi Long and Lu Yuancai were not from his faction, but the Emperor was determined to kill them.
Xu Jie could smell the Emperor's killing intent, which was a test for him…
The "Trickster Xu", who was known as Country Elder Gancao, already knew what he should do next.
Soon, Xu Jie brought the imperial edict to capture the two censors and their families, and they were all imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice.
Before
the morning court session began, the cabinet received other memorials approved by the Emperor. Xu Jie, Wang Yangming, and the six ministers looked at each other.
They all thought that the Emperor was warning the other censors to behave themselves.
The Minister of Justice, Mao Jinyu, had a different opinion after reading it.
"Dear cabinet members, I think this matter is far from being so simple. His Majesty has always been swift and decisive in his actions. He will never hold it high and let it go lightly. Those censors will suffer."”
"Those people have gone too far. Their words are too harsh. They brought disaster to themselves and their entire family. They really have themselves to blame.”
Xu Jie put all the memorials to the cabinet aside, then took out two of them and said to everyone,
"The ban on the sea and impeachment of the cabinet are indeed a bit too much. It is necessary for the Emperor to punish them. However, this humble official will offend a large number of censors this time. The Emperor has decreed that this official will handle this matter. This humble official is really in fear and trepidation.”
Wang Yangming pointed to another memorial and said,
"It's not just the ban and impeachment. I think the censors are opposing the emperor's reform and restoring the ancestral system. They say that the ancestral law cannot be changed."”
"Cabinet members, it's the Jiajing Dynasty now. How can you use some of the laws of the Hongwu Dynasty to restrict us? Things could only succeed if the times changed and the changes were adapted. What disadvantages did the emperor bring about when he implemented the reform?”
"In my opinion, it's the complete opposite. The reform brought endless benefits to the Ming Empire, rolling in wealth, illustrious military strength, and brilliant national prestige.”
Lu Huacheng, the Minister of Revenue, carefully read through a few of the memorials. He read out the memorials accusing Wang Yangming of accepting bribes and colluding with merchants for profit.
"There are many people whose interests have been affected, and they have driven these censors to come up with these things to beat people. They have not paid taxes to the national treasury, and now that business is open, those merchants have paid taxes according to the law. They really don't understand the emperor's temperament!”
Most of the traditional financial groups had monopolized their businesses. Now, after the reform, most of the goods could be freely circulated. The monopoly was broken, and the financial resources were cut off. For those financial groups, it was a disaster... The
emperor's temperament mentioned by the Minister of Revenue, Lu Hua Cheng, referred to the hidden meaning of the emperor's approval:
"The cabinet and the Ministry of Revenue, you go all out and do whatever you want. The imperial censors and officials will punish you. I will be your big backer. The empire's commercial reform will never stop halfway. The reform will not only continue to push forward, but it will also increase the intensity of the push..."
Xu Jie walked to the side of the Minister of Revenue, Lu Hua Cheng, and then whispered to Lu Hua Cheng,
" Jun An (Lu Hua Cheng's handwriting), you mean that the Emperor's approval is not just to kill two censors? Furthermore, they had to increase their efforts to crack down on that group of people? Or will he attack the others?"
Lü Hua Cheng nodded and said softly,
"Lord Second Assistant, you are the Second Assistant, and I am the Minister of Revenue. I'm afraid that His Majesty is not just referring to the people below. To put it more seriously, the cabinet and the six ministries are all within the scope of His Majesty's action. His Majesty did not say it explicitly, but the meaning behind it is self-evident.”
After Xu Jie heard this, he took a deep breath. He felt that Lü Hua Cheng could be said to be better at figuring out the meaning of the superior than him…
So, the two of them left the cabinet and walked into the corridor to continue their discussion.
Xu Jie was not as familiar with business reform as Lü Hua Cheng. Lü Hua Cheng had always been in charge of business reform.
Therefore, he decided to listen to Lü Hua Cheng's opinion. Otherwise, he would definitely be the target of the Emperor's attack, or even the main target, because he was backed by the wealthy Zheshang…
Then, Xu Jie asked about the current business trends of the Empire, the movements of other consortia, and the expenditure of the national treasury…When
the two of them were in a secret conversation, the people from the East Military Hall secretly recorded their conversation and sent it to Yangxin Palace Hall quickly.
Zhu Houzhen had just gotten up and sat on the dragon chair to have breakfast. After reading the secret note, he threw it to Huang Jin and smiled.
"Huang Jin, people say that Xu Jie is the country elder of Gancao. In my opinion, he is as slippery as a loach. He turns around really quickly."”
Huang Jin watched the end of the game and knew that Xu Jie was the old cunning man who had been the censor. He had to admire Xu Jie's political sense of smell.
"Your Majesty, Xu Cifu and Minister Lu are still on Your Majesty's side. Their secret conversation was not an act, it was a very natural secret conversation. Xu Jie is usually very cautious when he speaks, and he is not as open as in a secret conversation. He wants to be the chief assistant, and everyone knows that, but he does not dare to offend Your Majesty.”
"You're right, Xu Jie and Lu Hua Cheng indeed won't stand on the opposite side of Zhen, but their position wasn't firm before, and Zhen has an account in his heart.”
"Your Majesty is wise. Everything is under your control. The East and West Chambers and the Brocade Guard are ready today. As long as Your Majesty gives us a look during the court meeting, we will arrest them.”
"Come over, I have something for you to do.”After Zhu Houjiu softly instructed Huang Jin, Huang Jin asked in a somewhat confused manner,""Your Majesty, are we really going to do it?"
"Mm, just do it. Since the few censors keep saying that they want to restore the ancestral system, I have always listened to their advice.”Zhu Houjin confirmed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Huang Jin lowered his head in agreement. But in his heart, he smiled at the Emperor's words. The Emperor was really shrewd and ruthless. He played the art of the Emperor as easily as eating and drinking tea…
If the etiquette of the court followed the ancestral system, then the civil and military officials of the court would suffer greatly!
The Ming Empire had a strict hierarchy. The monarch was the monarch, and the subjects were the subjects.
All the rules of conduct had to follow etiquette. It was a very serious and solemn matter for a minister to attend court. There was no room for mistakes.
In the Ming Dynasty, the civil and military officials were arranged according to their ranks.
If there were people who did not abide by the etiquette, they would be impeached by the picket officials.
In October of the 20th year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Li Yuanming, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, to be responsible for re-formulating the etiquette of the court meeting and promulgated it as a fixed rule at home and abroad.
Li Yuan summoned the officials of the Ministry of Rites and formulated twenty-six rules based on the old rules.
There are eight of them. The first rule was the order of the classes, which stipulated that the first class would be the Duke, the Marquis, the Prince Consort, and the Earl.
After that, officials from the first grade down according to the grade, Wen Dong Wu Xi in turn.
Other than the officials of the Chang Dynasty, the officials in charge of picketing stood facing north, supervising the etiquette of the officials.
The chronicle officer was placed behind the first class of civil and military officers to facilitate observation and recording.
According to the regulations, all officials were not allowed to step over.
If there is something to report, you must go from the end of the class to kneel in front of the emperor to report, not allowed to cross the class.
In the twenty-fourth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the Ministry of Rites to set up a plaque for all officials to attend the court, with the grade written on it, which was arranged on the wooden fence on the left and right sides of the Dan Bi. The civil and military officials set up their attendants according to the order of grade, and those who violated the order were punished.
Other than the positions of the officials, there were also strict rules regarding the order of entry.
Although dukes, marquises, sons-in-law, and earls were at the front of the court ranks, they entered the court after the court generals and attendants.
According to historical records,"The general entered first, followed by the personal attendants, followed by the duke, marquis, son-in-law, and uncle. The five prefectures and six departments were followed by the second son, followed by Yingtian Prefecture and the miscellaneous officials in the capital.
Those who do not conform to the etiquette system shall be investigated and verified by the censor and the etiquette department.”
After the Hongwu period, the order of the civil and military officials had been made clear, and the dynasties had changed it according to the needs of the specific situation.
Because Emperor Wanli had not gone to court for a long time, the etiquette of the court class had long been unfamiliar. Occasionally, he held a court meeting. All officials competed with each other for the order. They did not know the rules of etiquette and law. Officials often went beyond the order, but the picket officials actually turned a blind eye to it and let the dispute be noisy.
Therefore, in order to ensure that the established etiquette could be carried out, it was necessary to formulate corresponding measures to restrain officials and punish those who violated the etiquette.
The etiquette of the imperial court was related to the supreme authority and dignity of the emperor, so it had to be solemn and grand.
In the eyes of the emperors, disobedience meant contempt for the sovereign's power and must be severely punished.
Starting from Zhu Yuanzhang, he had already made detailed regulations on all kinds of disrespectful behavior.
Even the small details such as walking posture, coughing, spitting, whispering, and talking were mentioned again and again.
In the early years of Hongwu, it was stipulated that all officials who were not familiar with etiquette, new officials, and military officials would practice outside the Meridian Gate every day. The two censors were responsible for monitoring, and those who did not abide by etiquette would be corrected.
Baiguan into the court lost the instrument also according to the law to correct, later stipulated that every day Ducha Yuan rotation appointed supervision censor two people, wait on the class picket lost the instrument.
However, court etiquette was complicated and cumbersome. No matter how careful the officials were, it was still inevitable for them to make all kinds of disrespectful actions.
Sometimes, because he walked unsteadily, he would be caught and questioned by the Royal Guards.
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