I'm really not the carpenter emperor

This is the turbulent shouting and cursing of the common people.

"The country has been supporting scholars for two hundred years, yet such a corrupt official has emerged!"

"This is the misfortune of the world, and the catastrophe we are waiting for! Fortunately, His Majesty is so wise that he can be arbitrary, eradicate corrupt officials, restore the world to a clean place, and give us justice!"

"I just don't know if I have to wait another three years after the eradication of corrupt officials, and how many years in my life can I wait..."

This is the murmur of the unsuccessful scholars.

Since this incident itself has been spread far and wide among the people, the "Beijing News" doesn't even need to publicize it much, and the people have almost decided that Zheng Wopu who was arrested must be a corrupt official.

In such an atmosphere, even the guards of the Ministry of Justice who escorted him felt thrilled. If it weren't for people like himself, I'm afraid that the former servant of the Ministry of officials would be torn to pieces in a blink of an eye!

As the sound of prison cars passing on the stone road stopped abruptly, Zheng Wopu felt a chill in his heart, he knew that the end of his life, Chess and Cards Street had arrived.

In the past, Zheng Wopu rode a horse proudly passing by this most prosperous road in the capital many times, but he never thought that this place would become his final destination.

Zheng Wopu was pushed down on the execution ground, he took advantage of the time when the executioner was drinking, he raised his head and glanced around, and soon fell down.

All around, no matter the ignorant people or those scholars and students who like to talk, are all scolding him, and all are praising the sages of the current emperor.

He didn't understand that he had just done what many people did, why he was the one who suffered the eternal infamy, and some people behind them were still hiding in the dark and counting money.

Anyway, his time has come.

"cut--!"

With the loud roar of the supervisor, the executioner swung down the big knife that had been brewing for a long time, blood flew out momentarily, and a head rolled to the ground with the loud applause from the surroundings.

……

The Forbidden City, Maoqin Hall.

A three-legged tripod-style incense burner was burning sandalwood, surrounded by cigarette smoke. Although the main hall was not as majestic as the three main halls, it still had a solemn atmosphere.

Under Majesty Dan, the civil and military ministers of the Apocalypse Dynasty are standing respectfully.

At the front is Han Yu, the well-known chief minister of the cabinet and leader of Donglin, followed by the second minister of the cabinet, Wei Guangwei, a scholar of Dongge University, and Cui Chengxiu, Zhang Weixian and others from the military computer room.

Behind them, there are important ministers of the humerus in the court, Liu Zongzhou, the censor of the left capital, Gu Dazhang, the right servant of the Ministry of punishment, Feng Quan, the minister of the Ministry of industry, and others.

The next batch is the imperial censor Yuan Huazhong, the minister of the Ministry of official affairs Chen Yuting and other nine officials, and the last ones are the deputy officials of the government's various ministries, such as Du Lide, the official secretary of the Ministry of War.

In addition to these people, there are two new factions in the current court.

These officials are generally young, but they are worthy of great use, and most of them made their fortunes in the earthquake in the three provinces, and only entered the center of the court this year.

One is the New Emperor Party headed by Yang Sichang, Lu Xiangsheng, Sun Chuanting, Zhu Xieyuan and others.

Almost all these officials were promoted or promoted because of the new policies of the imperial court. They all took it as their duty to help the current emperor do things.

Because they are young, these newcomers are more energetic, and there is no shortage of talents in both civil and military fields.

The second is the Zhejiang Party headed by Wen Tiren.

After the national struggle, the Zhejiang Party gradually disappeared, and the Donglin Party monopolized scholars as officials, resulting in nine new officials becoming Donglin every year.

It wasn't until Wen Tiren was born that this monopoly was broken.Right now, the Zhejiang Party is making a comeback with the secret support of Zhu Youxiao.

In the main hall, apart from the civil and military officials, the imperial guards, the internal prison guards, and many Han generals, they all stood around Dan Bi.

Facing the hundreds of prostrate officials in front of them, these people's mentality is different from theirs after all.

"...You all have heard, I ordered to search the hometown of Zheng Wopu, the right servant of the Ministry of Officials. At that time, I remembered that someone persuaded me, saying that he was Zhongliang."

Zhu Youxiao's eyes were like sharp knives, he slowly swept across the officials under Majesty Dan, and sneered: "Now, does anyone still say he is Zhongliang? Does anyone still say he is Qingliu?"

"The word Qingliu has corrupted you all!"

The hall was silent, and none of the officials dared to say a word. Not without accident, Zhu Youxiao threw a memorandum down the steps and among the officials, saying:

"A total of more than 400 million taels of silver!"

"Do you know how much silver taels the imperial court spent in the battle of Liaodong that started in September last year? Including the silver rewards for appeasing Taining and Duoyan tribes, the total is more than 400 million taels!"

"Do you know how much the court's annual tax is? It's only over 200 million taels!"

"This is after Wang Zaijin inspected Jifu and increased tariffs!"

Zhu Youxiao has been silent on the rumors for two months and has not shown his attitude. Everything is as usual.

But between these two days, Jin Yiwei suddenly ordered Jin Yiwei to search the mansion of a fourth-rank official. Although everyone was prepared for this admonition, they had no way to deal with it.

This act of pretending to be a pig and eating a tiger caught the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty by surprise.

Having said that, Zhu Youxiao's voice is getting closer and closer to the core issue of this court meeting, accusing corrupt officials, why should he say it to those who are "not" corrupt officials?

Some of the courtiers who understood were already trying to restrain their trembling.

Chapter 415 Give Justice to the Underprivileged

"Since I came to the throne, although I have not been as diligent and diligent in government affairs as Taizu and Chengzu emperors, I am not a lazy king."

While speaking, Zhu Youxiao looked around at the officials under Majesty Dan, and continued in a slow voice:

"Every time I worry about it, I glorify the merits of my ancestors every time, so as to bring peace to the bottom of the day, overcome the heart of the sky, and improve the people's property. Nowadays, there are frequent floods and droughts, the government is corrupt, and the people's livelihood is haggard. I should cultivate myself."

In fact, up to this point, Zhu Youxiao's tone was very flat, and he didn't turn his face directly, at least it sounded kind and reasonable.

Baiguan's mind was settled for a while, at this moment Zhu Youxiao changed the subject and said:

"It is my grace for the imperial court to select scholars. Now there are rumors inside and outside the capital that the examiners are clinging to the powerful, engaging in selfishness and fraud, and inciting each other."

The hearts of all the officials trembled, they all knew that the emperor went around in a circle, and finally came back.

"Who are you, you are all ministers of my humerus!"

"I just regarded these words as gossip, and even Wei Zhongxian reported about Zheng Wopu, I still have high hopes for you!"

Hearing this, Baiguan was not without surprise.

After all, although Zheng Wopu's story has been spread for a long time, it has been limited to folk anecdotes. Except for Wei Zhongxian's chewing tongue, it is impossible for the emperor to pay attention to it.

For a while, the officials who claimed to be clean, hated Wei Zhongxian and his subordinate eunuchs even more.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at everyone, and said lightly:

"But how did Zheng Wopu repay the court's favor? Forming a party for personal gain, cheating in the examination room, he did everything, and the cash seized was more than 100 million taels. Should this be the money that a servant of his should have!"

"So, now I'm thinking about whether there are other rumors, and some of them have actual basis."

Zhu Youxiao sighed, leaned on the chair, and said slowly:

"I'm afraid, I'm afraid that these rumors are true, I'm afraid that this test will be a deception by the court, and I've mistrusted you..."

Having said that, Zhu Youxiao stopped talking, stopped playing, and looked at the officials under Majesty Dan silently.

All the officials look at me and I look at you, all of them are uneasy and silent, because no matter who they are, they have something hidden in their hearts.

Even if it's not related to the matter, it's always bad to go out and show your face.

"Gu Dazhang, are you waiting for me to call you in person?" When Zhu Youxiao said this, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a strong murderous look was already on his body.

"As the chief examiner of this exam, didn't you realize that Gongsheng accounted for half of the places on the gold list this time?"

All the officials were silent, and they didn't dare to say anything at all. At this time, they avoided it for fear that no one would rush to get dirty.

Gu Dazhang wanted to hide at first, but when he heard the emperor's call, his heart sank. Then he stood up tremblingly, saluted, and said:

"Return to Your Majesty, I have checked again and again with twenty fellow examiners, and there are absolutely no omissions!"

Seeing his bewildered expression, those who didn't know thought that the rumors really wronged him.

Zhu Youxiao didn't say anything yet, but the rest of the fellow examiners were blown up in their hearts. You Gu Dazhang, you thought you didn't die fast enough, and you actually dragged us along.

Just as their eyes were spinning around in their sockets and thinking about countermeasures, Zhu Youxiao looked over, hehe laughed, and said:

"You are right in saying something. I forgot about these fellow examiners. Except for Wei Guangwei, Zuo Guangdou, Liu Zongzhou, and Cui Chengxiu, none of the other sixteen did not post their names."

"Yuan Huazhong, Li Yuanjian, when are you two going to come out and explain, what are the current rumors in Beijing?"

Yuan Huazhong is one of the six gentlemen of Donglin, and he has a very high reputation among the people. Although he is only the deputy capital censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, his status is extremely prominent.

He immediately stood up and said righteously:

"Qizou Your Majesty, this is a rumour. The whole court knows what kind of person and official you are, so you don't need to say anything!"

"Those juniors who wrote the debunking posts are just not good at learning, and the indignation cannot be appeased after failing the rankings. I suggest that those who spread rumors and make troubles be severely punished!"

Yuan Huazhong, the leader, and the other people involved in the case who were panic-stricken all surfaced, and their courage grew. Li Yuanjian then said:

"Think twice, Your Majesty!"

"I have a son of the family who came to Beijing to take the exam, but I have been placing him in a relative's house and cutting off contact with him, in order to avoid trouble and bring influence to your majesty and the court!"

"Your Majesty, please investigate this case thoroughly, don't believe rumors easily, and return me to justice!"

When he heard what he said, Zhu Youxiao's face became extremely exciting.

Good guy, look at this guy's aggrieved and indignant look, pretending to be real!

If I hadn't received the news from Xu Xianchun and Huang Huatang earlier that Li Zhiling was selling test questions with Gongsheng in Li's residence, I really couldn't tell the difference at this moment!

"Severing ties? What a severing ties!" Zhu Youxiao sneered, and threw out a secret note, saying: "A dignified third-rank official, a famous scholar in Donglin, bullied the king under my nose, but he didn't blush or get angry. asthma!"

"I rely on you, and I will give justice to the underprivileged people in the world!"

This secret memorial fell to the ground, and was circulated successively by Han Yu, the chief assistant of the cabinet, Wei Guangwei, the second assistant of the cabinet, and everyone in the military computer room.

Some of the people who saw it were pale, some were holding back their anger, and some were trembling and sweating profusely, afraid that they would be the next one.

When Li Yuanjian saw the secret performance, his heart buzzed.

This play was played by Xu Xianchun, the commander of Jin Yiwei, and it is evidenced by the confession of businessman Huang Huatang and the test questions obtained in advance from Li Zhiling.

According to the secret memorial, Beizhen Fusi secretly investigated the fact that Li Yuanjian, the servant of the household department, took advantage of his position as a fellow examiner, and colluded with the other [-] fellow examiners, so that his clansman Li Zhiling, Gongsheng Wang Pingan, Zheng Jianluo and others conspired to sell test questions. evidence.

The ironclad evidence is like a mountain, and the certified physical evidence is all there, so it is useless to say anything.

It's over, it's over...!

The secret melody in Li Yuanjian's hand fell to the ground unconsciously, and he also imitated hearing the thunder, and collapsed on the main hall in a daze, under Majesty Dan.

"Your Majesty, please behead Li Yuanjian!"

"What this beast has done is rare in thousands of years, and unprecedented in ancient times! If you don't punish severely, how will you show your prestige to the people, and how will you be able to protect the poor and be virtuous!"

"Your Majesty, Li Yuanjian must die!"

"Shame, this is a great shame!"

Under such a wave, Han Yan only spoke out with hindsight. He stood up tremblingly, and said with tears: "As the chief assistant of the cabinet, I command hundreds of officials. I don't know how to deal with politics. I can't help your Majesty solve problems. But something like this happened.”

"There was cheating in the exam, and I didn't know it beforehand...Your Majesty, this incident shows that I am old and dormant. I beg Your Majesty to allow you to resign and go back to live your life."

As soon as the evidence came out, the civil and military talents of the Manchu Dynasty suddenly realized that no matter whether they had an enmity with Li Yuanjian or their accomplices who had traveled to the poetry club, they all spoke out and cursed.

It wasn't until Han Yu's resignation was heard that the hall became silent.

Zhu Youxiao turned his gaze away and stared at Han Yu who was kneeling on the ground, but this time he didn't directly allow him to get up like before.

Chapter 416 Han Yu becomes an official and kills corrupt officials again

In fact, Han Yu knew in his heart that even if the cheating in the scientific examination was not planned by Emperor Tianqi, he would be extremely happy to see it.

Since the 48 years of Wanli, Donglin has been purged repeatedly, and it is time to completely withdraw from the court. There is no permanent banquet in the world, just as there will be no party in the Ming Dynasty that will stay in power for a long time.

Zhu Youxiao was still thinking about it, but Han Yu went one step further and said earnestly:

"Your Majesty, the old minister is nearly sixty years old, and it is very difficult to even go to the cabinet on weekdays. The current imperial court no longer needs a chief assistant like a veteran, but needs someone who is determined to innovate and can help His Majesty create a new business. "

"The old minister is willing to abdicate to let the virtuous, and I hope that your majesty can forgive the many crimes of the scientific research, and allow the minister to return to his hometown to retire..."

In fact, it was not Zhu Youxiao's original intention to kill Ye Xianggao.

It's just that he repeatedly disobeyed and committed crimes, and even dared to fight for the imperial power for the benefit of Donglin. Zhu Youxiao killed him in order to maintain the centralization of power.

Han Yu's words did not show the slightest affectation. On the contrary, Zhu Youxiao saw many emotions such as exhaustion and helplessness from this old man with white beard and hair.

Of course, there is still fear, and I know very well the fear of sitting in this seat and escaping death!

Zhu Youxiao looked at Han Yu for a long while, then stepped down to help him up, and said slowly: "Mr. Ge, please get up. Mr. Ge has worked hard. There is hard work even if there is no credit. I see it all. What is the crime? "

Han Yu looked at Zhu Youxiao who was close at hand, choked up and was speechless.