Volume 2: The Capital, I’m Back Chapter 83: Pure and Flowing Character
"The Emperor has arrived!"
All the officials were shocked, knelt down and shouted "Long live the emperor".
The emperor actually came to court again, which is rare!
That's perfect. You were the one who sent the person out, and you must ask for an explanation in front of all the officials today.
Zhu Qizhen sat on the dragon throne and waved his hand, saying, "All the ministers, please stand up!"
All the officials thanked him in unison and then stood up.
"Your Majesty, I, Tang Xinggu of the Censorate, impeach Bei Lin, the Imperial Observatory. This person has killed the people in Yulin Prefecture, causing thousands of people to leave their homes and become homeless. I implore Your Majesty to punish him severely and eliminate this harm to the people!"
The other censors were also well prepared, but unfortunately they were overshadowed by Tang Xinggu and had to leave later.
"I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!"
Seven or eight people came forward one after another, all to impeach Belin.
Tang Xinggu is full of confidence, and it's time to show his face.
As an imperial censor and a clean official, his first priority is to impeach.
If you don't like someone, impeach him first.
At the beginning, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang had established a family precept that when the emperor was in power, censors would take turns on duty. If they found anything unreasonable, they would speak out directly without any scruples. They could speak out against any military or civilian, system or officials.
If the emperor is deceived and does not reflect on himself, he will require the censors to sacrifice themselves to give him advice, even at the cost of criticizing him and stroking his whiskers!
As a result, these scholars developed the habit of complaining to everyone and the emperor.
Zhu Qizhen knew very well that behind this seemingly simple impeachment was a head-on confrontation between himself, the emperor, and the literati.
"Does Tang Qing's family have any evidence that Beilin killed civilians in Yulin Prefecture?"
Tang Xinggu remained calm and replied, "I have the memorial from Yulin Prefecture as proof!"
Zhu Qizhen nodded and continued, "When you saw the memorial from Yulin Prefecture, did you go and check it yourself?"
"Your Majesty, it will take several days to get to Yulin Prefecture even if we gallop. I don't have time to check."
"Since there is no inspection, aren't you afraid that you might make a wrong impeachment and wrongly accuse a good person?"
Tang Xinggu continued to speak eloquently: "I am the Censor. The duty of the Censor is to make reports based on hearsay. As for the facts, the six ministries and the Imperial Guard will handle them. I am only responsible for reporting."
As for the evidence, sorry, it’s none of my business!
Zhu Qizhen looked at the indignant expressions of these censors and knew very well in his mind that impeachment and getting rid of harm for the people were nothing more than a way to gain fame for himself.
Emperor Taizu did leave behind instructions that censors could report anything they heard. In other words, as long as they heard any news, they did not need to verify it and could just report it directly.
Moreover, these upright officials always called themselves Wei Zheng and pretended to be loyal to the country. Even though they knew that Beilin was sent by the emperor himself, they still dared to impeach him.
If you don’t agree, hit me!
Zhu Qizhen glanced around and asked again, "Cao Qingjia, what do you think?"
Cao Nai was the chief minister of the cabinet and knew that he was not innocent, so he said, "I think that since Yulin Prefecture has already reported the case, the court should immediately issue an order to recall Beilin and hand him over to the Jinyiwei for a thorough investigation."
Hearing what Cao Nai said, Tang Xinggu felt more confident.
He didn't care what Beilin had done, nor did he care what kind of harm the people had suffered. Today he just wanted to gain a reputation, even if it meant contradicting the emperor.
Zhu Qizhen was certainly aware of this, but as an emperor, facing the blatant challenge from these people, he could not use force and had to fight with his wits and courage.
If these censors were beaten with a stick in the court for offending the emperor, that is, spanking, they would not be afraid even if their skin was torn and flesh was exposed. Some of them even took pride in being beaten!
In fact, this is the mentality of the literati seeking fame.
According to traditional Confucian concepts, a minister who dares to speak out must be a loyal minister of the country and his reputation will be passed down through the ages.
To put it bluntly, people like Tang Xinggu's job is to find fault.
And because of his identity as an imperial censor, to a certain extent, everyone has to take the problems he points out seriously.
If you beat him today
Thinking of this, Zhu Qizhen also felt a headache, mainly because he didn't know whether the earthquake predicted by Beilin was accurate or not, and he had no confidence!
The current situation is that I possess knowledge and wisdom that transcends this era, but I am still helpless in front of this group of scholars.
It’s difficult!
At this time, another voice came from below.
"Your Majesty, I am old and have been feeling increasingly powerless these days. I am in a state of panic all day long. I beg to retire!"
Li Shimen was seen crawling on the ground, tears streaming down his face.
A man in his seventies, who had assisted four generations of emperors, was beaten by an unknown junior. The emperor didn't even care about it. Who could bear such an injustice!
Seeing Li Shimen resign in public, there were bursts of sighs in the hall.
Even Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, Beilin's actions in Mizhi have aroused public resentment. In my opinion, you should recall him first and then make plans."
Zhu Qizhen glanced around again and asked, "Is this what you all mean?"
Tang Xinggu hurriedly said: "This man is using the emperor's name to harm the people. He deserves death!"
This move will undoubtedly force Zhu Qizhen into a desperate situation. If you don't kill him, it means he is under your instructions. You have to choose between sacrificing pawns to save the chariot or sacrificing the chariot to save the pawns, right?
Zhu Qizhen suddenly looked at someone and asked, "Yu Qian, what do you think?"
Yu Qian was stunned and thought, what does this have to do with me?
I'm from the Ministry of War. You can either consult the Imperial Observatory, the Ministry of Personnel, or the Ministry of Rites or the Ministry of Justice. Why are you asking me this?
Under the gaze of the crowd, Yu Qian said calmly: "Your Majesty, this matter has nothing to do with the Ministry of War, and I do not want to make any comments."
Everyone couldn't help but show a look of contempt. What a coward, without any backbone, and he still has the nerve to say that he is a disciple of a saint?
Zhu Qizhen didn't want to let him go, and said, "How can it have nothing to do with the Qing family? The Qing family is now a member of the cabinet. How can you stay out of such a big event?"
Yu Qian had no choice but to say, "I think there is no solid evidence for Beilin's speculation. It is really inappropriate to start a war over a groundless speculation."
"You said Belin was just guessing?"
Zhu Qizhen seemed to have found a breakthrough and continued to ask: "I would like to ask, who can prove that his guess is wrong? Who dares to guarantee to me that there will be no earthquake in the northwest region?"
Yu Qian had no choice but to say: "I don't understand astronomical phenomena, so I dare not comment on them. I just think they are inappropriate, that's all."
At this time, Li Shimian, who was kneeling on the ground, rubbed his numb knees, raised his head with difficulty, and said: "Your Majesty, the earthquake is a warning from heaven. Your Majesty has not done anything immoral, so how could you..."
Boom!
Li Shimian was halfway through his speech when suddenly, a muffled sound came from the ground. The entire Fengtian Hall was shaking, and the doors and windows clanged.
Everyone's expression suddenly changed.
What happened?
The sky is falling?
