Daming prepares the emperor

Two pieces of paper were placed on the table, one left and one right, right in front of Zhu Yuanzhang. The words on them seemed to have a voice, and they were transformed into specific faces, mocking him.

"Kill them all. Kill the nine clans, kill his wives, concubines, children, relatives and old friends!" Zhu Yuanzhang tightly squeezed the bright yellow silk cloth on the table, "Cut Zhang Chang in half!"

Standing at the bottom, Zhu Biao slowly closed the documents reported by Jin Yiwei, frowned and said, "Father, there is plenty of time, we can detain Zhang Chang, and the rest will be interrogated slowly."

The pre-noon sun shone into the hall, it was transparent and bright, there was no place to light the lamp, the emperor's indifferent expression was so conspicuous.

It took him almost no time to think about this decision. As soon as Zhu Biao's words fell, he wanted to see blood. The experience and lessons from the past lingered in his mind, supporting him to make a choice that was no different from the past.

"Trial for what? How?" Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You can't make sense in the trial. His family members and servants, who knows which one is spying and who knows which one is lying."

"You can use demon-suppressing..."

"Use the demon division?" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, "Biao'er, you can try to see whether we oppose you first or the ministers oppose you first. If you use people today, tomorrow's impeachment memorial will flood the Wuying Hall If not, the Dengwen drum will also be smashed."

Indeed, the interests of the collective and one's own future are more important than the life and death of one's companions.If demon suppressors are used, it will be a precedent for ghosts and gods in the official system. No one wants to be confused and manipulated by magic without knowing anything, and lose the ability to choose.

That was terrible, far more terrible than decapitation.

In this world, since human beings had a real social structure, it took them thousands of years to achieve harmony with monsters, ghosts, and imaginary god worship. It is so difficult and abrupt to change any chess piece.

In ancient times, human beings were dominated by ghosts and demons. Although there were some practitioners, they were rare and could not affect the overall situation. Just like ordinary people, the leaders of the tribe were slaughtered if they were careless.

It wasn't until the first emperor established a dynasty and learned to connect the dragon veins and earth energy that the upper-level system was protected and able to operate some basic methods, integrate the struggling people at the bottom, and contact the monks to get rid of the rampant big monsters and ghosts. The casualties were heavy.

Over time, some ghosts have shown harmless qualities and even intermarried with humans.But for the general public, they only exist in word-of-mouth stories, like beasts in cages, looking fluffy from a distance, and if you put them together, it will be fatal.

Now that the troubled times are at the beginning, people have the strongest ability to accept "changes". With Zhu Yuanzhang, a powerful and powerful person in power, coupled with the performance of the town demon division, they can tolerate them serving people and participating in work. It is a great progress.

Thinking of the mutilation incidents of water in the belly, hair growing in the eyes, hair growing on the face, drawing out the heart, and sleeping with the skeleton, mosquitoes are scary, let alone these.How many people can bear it?

If Taoist monsters are used to participate in the investigation, it is equivalent to allowing evil spirits to cause chaos and disrupt order. Presumably this is one of the reasons why Tiandao used to restrict it.

Zhu Biao had no choice but to change his mind: "Then let the three judicial divisions jointly try the case. How can Zhang Chang also be a political counselor of Zhongshu, so we should not deal with it hastily."

"The evidence is convincing, how can it be called hasty." Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed the two pieces of paper on the table, "Look at these, report it secretly, Yang Xian moved his hand once, indicating that the other one is true. Which one do you think it is? "

Before Zhu Biao could answer, Zhu Yuanzhang continued: "No matter who it is, he must die, and we want him to be worse than death!"

"My son is only against the Zhu Jiu Clan..."

Before the words were finished, someone came in from outside the door.

"My minister Yuan Kai, the tea censor of Zhejiang Dao Xun, kowtowed to His Majesty."

The person who came was an old man with a slender beard. It could be vaguely seen that the head under the hat was a little bald.

Huang Xi should have been given an order to let someone in after they came, so Zhu Biao didn't hear the communication.

"Get up." Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You came just in time. We have a dispute with the prince, and you come to judge."

Unlucky.

Zhu Biao and Yuan Kai thought of this word at the same time.

One is for Yuan Kai, and the other is also for Yuan Kai.

"I don't know what His Majesty and Your Highness are talking about." Yuan Kai said carefully, "I don't dare to speculate."

"Prince. You tell him."

Zhu Biao explained the decision of the two of them.

Yuan Kai's cold sweat immediately flowed down. He knew about Zhang Chang's affairs. Few officials in Beijing would be unaware of the impeachment at the court meeting that day.

The incident was a big mess, and it became even bigger after Jin Yiwei inspected it.

How to do it?If you stand on His Majesty's side, you will offend the Crown Prince, if you stand on the Crown Prince's side, you will offend His Majesty, if you don't kill Zhang Chang's family, you will be suspected of collaborating with the enemy and traitor, but if you kill them, you will have a reputation of being cruel and cruel. Embarrassment, no matter what you do, it will hinder your future.

silence.

Both Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao looked at Yuan Kai, eyes of persecution and pity acting on him together.

Yuan Kai's brain was running fast, and he knew that if he had to offend someone, it was best to offend the prince.

Once the emperor and the courtiers, no matter how good the relationship between the emperor and his son is, the ministers can only call one person His Majesty after all.But once those bureaucrats in the Eastern Palace offended, wouldn't they offend [-]% of the imperial court?Furthermore, there have long been jokes among the government and the opposition that His Majesty himself is the biggest princeling. If His Majesty is really refuted, His Majesty may be the first to be anxious...

"Why don't you speak?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Yuan Kai's sweat was already dripping down on his forehead, he decided to make a compromise: "Your Majesty's method is righteous, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is kind. I think that both methods are right, and both are respected by the world."

Zhu Biao sighed silently, and turned his head unbearably.

Sure enough, at the next moment, Zhu Yuanzhang was furious, and suddenly overturned a table of memorials, pointing to Yuan Kai and said: "We let you go to Zhejiang for a tea tour. Now I look at it, we are really blind. You can go on a tour." Come on!"

Yuan Kai panicked and knelt down, bowed his head and said, "Why did your majesty say that? Your majesty, I ask your majesty to clarify."

"You're a treacherous and cunning man!" Zhu Yuanzhang rushed out from behind the table, like an angry lion, "A villain like you must have colluded with local officials and businessmen to corrupt ink when he goes to patrol the tea."

"minister--"

"I asked you a question, and you said that we and the prince are right, what use do we need you? Call a dog, and it will bark at both of us!"

"What I say is from the bottom of my heart, Your Majesty!"

"Come here, drag him down. If he doesn't want to tell the truth, let him go to prison to accompany Zhang Chang!"

After the imperial decree, two guards came in from outside the door, grabbed Yuan Kai's arms from left to right, and dragged him out. Yuan Kai seemed to be frightened by this sudden change, and he didn't even cry out for injustice, he just stood there in a daze like a piece of wood. Because of the high speed of the stick, the heels made a series of stabbing sounds.

When the figure disappeared completely, Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang who ran up to him because of the confrontation with Yuan Kai, and asked, "Father, what are you doing? It is impossible to ask anyone to get an answer to such a question."

"Your mother can."

"The queen mother is the emperor's wife, so is Yuan Kai?"

"Bullshit!" Zhu Yuanzhang was almost amused, "How can he compare with your mother!"

"Father said just now that if you bring a dog over, it will bark at two people, but even if it is a dog, there is only one real owner. Yuan Kai is an official of Father, why insult him like this because of a problem. Zhang Chang's We can discuss it again, why go to extremes on others?"

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Zhu Biao, as if he saw the teacher he used to see when he was a child. The cows were grazing on the slope, and he was taking classes outside the school at the foot of the mountain.

"Biao'er, why do you look like an old man?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao's face.

Zhu Biao took a deep breath: "Father, my son is speaking seriously! Is there any crime on Yuan Kai that I don't know about? Does my father have other far-reaching plans? If so, please tell my son. If not, my son I really can't understand what my father is doing."

Zhu Yuanzhang thought of the lesson he had learned not long ago, and said honestly: "We have read the playbook that Yuan Kai returned from his tea tour not long ago, and I remember that you have also read it."

"Yes." Zhu Biao said, "shocking. The tax on the tea fields can't be collected at all. The local big tea-picking households have formed a habit when the Yuan court was in power. land."

"Over time, they got used to this kind of life. They knew that they had suffered a loss, but they dared not resist. The officials sent over could not break this vulgar custom. Individuals directly colluded with big households, which made them dare not appeal and did not trust the government. "

"The profit of tea is large and small, so small that it is nothing. Tea merchants ship out two catties of tea, and only report one catty. The market sells at a consistent price, but the household department says half. If there is no business, businessmen with backers monopolize the business, the whole Zhejiang tea market is full of smog, but the officials are all fat. Other salt and iron taxation, I don’t know how disgusting it is!”

"Dare to write such a memorial, which shows that Yuan Kai still has the guts." Having said that, Zhu Biao paused, "Although there is also the suspicion of using Xiaoyu as a substitute, but it is probably not enough to be collude."

"So you're quite satisfied with him?"

Zhu Biao nodded.

"I don't even have the courage to comment on who is right between us and you, and dare to say it."

"Of course it's different!" Zhu Biao said, "No one is perfect, one is the father of the emperor, and the other is the prince, so it's okay to lie about which is right and which is wrong."

"It's better than others." Zhu Yuanzhang said, "It's a dream to fight against the tea merchants. Let's give him a chance. If he can hold it, he will be our knife. If he can't hold it, he will go home and accept it." Brush the urinal with the sole of your shoe."

Zhu Biao said: "Okay, this is the decision of the father, the minister will stop asking, and continue to talk about the killing of the nine clans."

"Biaoer, you're going against us again, right?" Zhu Yuanzhang said unhappily, "Okay, let's make a bet with you, first lock Zhang Chang and others for ten days. Ask that question after ten days, Yuan Kai If you dare to oppose us, we will listen to you. He is still cunning, so we will do the same, cut the grass and roots, and let your subordinate Lu Jinai go to Zhejiang to inspect tea."

Zhu Biao was silent for a moment, nodded, and stopped talking.

Yuan Kai, who had been imprisoned for three days, was released and appeared in the court room waiting to go to court.

His colleagues had already figured out his situation, and they thought it was bad luck, but they didn't think of any other reasons. The current emperor is notoriously bad-tempered, and if he hit the muzzle of a gun, even the prime minister would have to take a shot. Who do you look down on?

Even Yuan Kai himself didn't think it was a big deal. He was released after only three days of detention. Apart from the fact that the Holy Spirit had calmed down, was there any other reason?Things have been turned over, so there is no need to think about it.

When entering the palace in line, Yuan Kai accidentally bumped into the back of the person in front of him, and hurriedly cupped his hands to apologize: "Brother, the road is slippery in the snow, I'm really sorry."

Turning around, it was Lu Jin'ai, dressed in a thin padded jacket in heavy snow, like an iron man, and said, "So it's Mr. Yuan, I'm not in the way."

The two were the same censors, and they had occasional contacts before Yuan Kai went to Zhejiang.

Although Yuan Kai was not a straightforward person, he was shrewd and experienced. He knew Lu Jinai's character well, so he wouldn't feel that he was too annoying. He came and went, and it had something to do with him. Compared with other officials, he could say a few words.

"Brother Lu." Seeing the prince's close minister, Yuan Kai couldn't bear it any longer, and asked at the risk of being alienated by Lu Jinai, "Brother Lu, have you heard what happened a few days ago?"

To Yuan Kai's surprise, Lu Jin'ai's expression was mild, and he replied, "I heard."

"Then what do you think of my answer?"

"very bad."

"Ah?" Yuan Kai steadied his mind, "Then if you were in the hall, how would you answer?"

"Speak up directly." Lu Jinai said, "If your majesty is wrong, please advise your majesty, and if your majesty is wrong, then advise your majesty. This is the duty of a courtier. Master Yuan, you shouldn't be so scruples, let alone your majesty asking you to answer. , you can answer whatever you ask.”

"But this is a big case of treason and collusion with the enemy. How dare I, a mere seventh-rank official, speak up?" Yuan Kai said, "Besides, in front of those two, officials of lower rank are nothing more than skins."

"Then put life and death aside, speak freely, and believe that with the wisdom of His Highness, Lord Yuan will not be severely punished."

Easy for you to say!

Yuan Kai suddenly wanted to punch Lu Jin'ai, grabbed his collar and told him, do you think everyone is protected by His Highness the Crown Prince just like you?

Seeing Yuan Kai's disapproval, Lu Jin'ai shook his head, turned around and continued walking until the court meeting began, without saying anything else.

After kneeling, all the ministers were waiting for someone to stand up and report the matter. Unexpectedly, Zhu Yuanzhang opened his mouth, pulled up his sleeves, pointed to the team behind and said, "It's the one holding both ends!"

As soon as this remark came out, all the people in front turned around and looked at Yuan Kai one after another, while the people behind all stretched their necks and looked at Yuan Kai in unison.

Countless eyes watched Yuan Kai silently, the dark square was extremely silent, and Yuan Kai was overwhelmed by a great sense of shame.

He felt as if he was the only one in the world, trembling all over, feeling ashamed, wishing he could find a hole to get in.

At this time, it doesn't matter right or wrong, Yuan Kai is willing to do anything if he can escape from this scene.

"Master Yuan, why don't you speak?" Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Do you dare to do it or not?"

Zhu Biao never expected that Zhu Yuanzhang would use such a shameful means to win the bet.

Criticize this set of methods in public. A thin-skinned civil servant may write a letter to his death when he returns home.

"I am so ashamed that I have nothing to say." Yuan Kai ran out and knelt down, "Please punish me, Your Majesty."

"That's unnecessary." Zhu Yuanzhang leaned back on the dragon chair and tidied his sleeves slowly, "It's not a big deal, we can't take care of that much. If all the officials in the world are like you, we don't need our salary It’s over, it’s better for you to do whatever you want than to be an official.”

"The minister is terrified."

The ministers all knelt down. Although they moved in unison, Yuan Kai, who was kneeling outside the queue, was still very conspicuous.

"Are you terrified? We are even more terrified!"

"A secret worker who secretly liaised with foreign enemies actually got into the Ministry of Education and became a political adviser! Are all the people in Ming Dynasty dead? If you want you to deceive us like this! If you don't learn from him, we will be thankful."

"I dare not wait."

The mighty words dare not, the ending echoed between the palaces, bumping into walls everywhere, it seemed like a moment, and it seemed like it took a long time before it disappeared.

"Don't dare?" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, "Did you dare to collude with Yuan Ting, or did you dare not let us find out? Since you like to kneel, then continue to kneel. You don't have to go to court today, kneel until noon!"

Sensing the indistinct gaze of his colleagues around him, Yuan Kai's chest jumped like a firecracker, his face turned red and purple.