Chapter 155. The First Conflict with Emperor Deqing (2).
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, many officials in the Hall of Supreme Harmony couldn't help but frown.
Now is a rare opportunity to criticize the prince, but Zhao Junchen’s words have the intention of changing the topic and excusing the prince.br />
Emperor Deqing's expression flashed with satisfaction, and he nodded in appreciation and said: "Zhao Aiqing wins my heart so much that it is Lao Cheng's advice to seek the country. I also mean the same thing. Now that the people's hearts are unstable, it is natural that they should
The top priority is to quell the impact.”
After a few words of praise, Emperor Deqing asked again: "Then according to Yi Aiqing, how should we calm down the influence?"
Zhao Junchen replied slowly: "Your Majesty, there are two reasons why the current Southern Inspection's mistakes have had such a bad impact. The first is that the local government exploited and persecuted the people when preparing for the Southern Inspection. Many people
Because of this, they were all displaced and even had their families broken up, making everyone in the world think that the imperial court was harboring evil; secondly, when the victims came to Beijing to complain, the three judicial departments all refused to accept the case, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate also made many extraordinary actions.
It also makes the world question the unfairness of justice in the court.”
Hearing that Zhao Junchen changed the subject and wanted to help the prince to excuse himself, Shen Changmao snorted softly and planned to say something.
But Emperor Deqing was the first to speak: "That makes sense, so how do you plan to solve it, Ai Qing?"
Zhao Junchen replied: "I believe that the top priority now should be three things. First, an important minister with a distinguished status and good reputation should be selected from the court as an imperial envoy and given arbitrary power to investigate and deal with the flaws in the preparations for the southern tour.
.Those local corrupt officials who used the preparations for the southern tour to discredit His Majesty and make profits for themselves will be tried one by one and severely punished. Return justice to the people and show that the court has done its best to eradicate evil?a href='/txt/16711/4977324/'>. Determination, and
Publicizing it to the world, and only in this way can we stabilize people's hearts and fundamentally cut off the bad influence caused by this matter."
After a pause, Zhao Junchen added: "However, in view of the fact that His Majesty's southern tour is about to begin, and in order to calm down the impact as soon as possible, the trial of the case should use thunderous means. The judgment should be speedy and all should be completed within two months.
Your Majesty, your Majesty, will be troubled by rumors about this matter during your southern tour. I hope your Majesty will learn from it."
After hearing what Zhao Junchen said, many officials were stunned again.
Two months may seem like a long time, but you must know that the flaws in the preparations for the Southern Inspection are not limited to one state or one prefecture. From North Zhili to South Zhili, Emperor Deqing's Southern Inspection will pass through
Trouble occurs everywhere. There are no less than dozens of local officials who need to be interrogated. All cases must be concluded within two months. Unless the interrogation is conducted in a prison situation, it is absolutely impossible.
.
…………
As for the reason for this approach, Zhao Junchen also explained to Emperor Deqing that the apparent reason was that only by closing the case quickly could he prevent the matter from getting worse and cut off the possibility of local officials biting the prince. However,
Only Zhao Junchen himself knew the secret reason.
Therefore, Emperor Deqing didn't seem to notice the rush of time at all, and just asked: "Oh? Zhao Aiqing has considered it carefully, but I don't know who Yi Aiqing thinks is more appropriate to entrust the appointment of this imperial envoy?"
Under the attention of hundreds of officials, Zhao Junchen said: "For such an imperial envoy appointment, only a noble status can show the importance of the court, and only a good reputation can be convincing. In my opinion, the only one in the court who It would be most suitable to have His Highness the Crown Prince."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, all the officials in the court were in an uproar.
Because of the preparations for the southern tour, Prince Zhu Heyu's originally virtuous reputation has been seriously damaged and has attracted countless rumors. This is exactly what many officials are happy to see. But if the prince is made an imperial envoy to punish local corrupt officials, return If the people are fair, won't the prince's reputation be restored soon?
Especially the prince's party did not expect that Zhao Junchen had such "good intentions", and for a moment they all looked at Zhao Junchen in disbelief.
Shen Changmao on the side couldn't bear it anymore. After giving Zhao Junchen a fierce look, he said: "Your Majesty, I think Zhao Shangshu's suggestion is out of consideration. The prince is in charge of the preparations for the southern tour. Now that there are flaws in the preparations for the southern tour, how can the prince be allowed to become an imperial envoy to investigate the case? How can such an approach convince the world? I think it is inappropriate!"
Huang Yourong also came out and said: "Your Majesty, I also think it is inappropriate. Now that the southern tour is coming, the prince has the important task of supervising the country. During this time, he has been studying and preparing hard, but he has been distracted."
However, unexpectedly, after Zhou Shangjing pondered for a moment, he glanced at Zhao Junchen thoughtfully and stepped out to express his agreement, saying slowly: "Your Majesty, I agree with Zhao Junchen. Now because of The preparations for the southern tour have damaged the prince's reputation. However, the prince is a prince. Such damage to his reputation may also lead to instability in the society. Entrusting the prince with the imperial envoy's errands is a good opportunity to change the prince's reputation. .”
Both Shen Changmao and Huang Yourong did not expect that Zhou Shangjing would support Zhao Junchen's proposal. They couldn't help but look shocked and didn't know how to express their stance.
But Zhao Junchen was shocked. Unexpectedly, in just a few moments, Zhou Shangjing had already figured out Zhao Junchen's real plan.
When Emperor Deqing saw that Zhou Shangjing actually agreed, he couldn't help but be startled. A trace of surprise flashed across his expression, but while he was pondering, he still took the opportunity to say: "Since even Zhou Aiqing thinks so, then the matter is settled. Let the prince do it."
After saying that, Emperor Deqing turned to look at Prince Zhu Heyu, with a serious look on his face, and said slowly: "Prince, I will leave the imperial envoy's errand and the trial of the case to you. Don't let me down again. "
After hearing what Emperor Deqing said, Crown Prince Zhu Heyu glanced at Zhao Junchen with a complicated look, and seemed to be a little surprised. After he came out of the queue, he just said in a deep voice: "My son, I obey."
…………
Seeing that the matter had settled, Emperor Deqing relaxed a little and asked Zhao Junchen again: "Zhao Aiqing, you just said that the court has three things to do. Now you have only said one, and the remaining two are What is it?"
Zhao Junchen replied: "Your Majesty, the blunders of the southern tour are so big now. If we just punish local corrupt officials, I'm afraid it won't be enough. Those people who have been displaced or even lost their families have now become refugees. If It is not appropriate to leave it alone after all. They need the imperial court to provide relief and compensate for their losses. For example?a href='/txt/16711/7020261/'>. The Ministry of Household Affairs. Yan Qian drives away the aluminum vulgar and wastes the gray grain, but still I hope your Majesty will issue an order to cut off the maidservants and soldiers to compensate the suffering people, and let the people of the world care about the people?a href='/txt/16711/4849414/'>. Thoughts. This is the second thing I want to say. ?br />
Emperor Deqing didn't think too much this time. He just nodded and said: "Ai Qing is right. This matter will be left to your Ministry of Household Affairs to handle. It is necessary to let the people regain their confidence in the court."
Emperor Deqing did not think much about such a trivial matter. As long as the money used for relief and compensation did not come from the inner treasury, Emperor Deqing would not care.
What's more, according to Emperor Deqing, the Ministry of Revenue does not have much money left now. The so-called relief compensation is just a matter of face, and there is nothing wrong with leaving it to the Ministry of Revenue.
If Emperor Deqing knew that Zhao Junchen actually transferred 100,000 taels of silver from his own house to the Ministry of Household Affairs in order to provide relief and compensation to the victims in various places, he would probably give such an opportunity to earn fame to the prince.
Got it!
However, in the next two months, Prince Zhu Heyu will have to seize the time to travel around to try cases, and he is afraid that he will not have the time and energy to help the people.
Moreover, Emperor Deqing was also afraid that the amount of silver used by the Ministry of Revenue to provide relief and compensation was too shabby, so he did not inquire carefully. Such an opportunity to earn fame eventually fell into the hands of Zhao Junchen.
The thoughts of all the officials in the court were similar to that of Emperor Deqing. They believed that such relief and compensation was just a matter of face, so there was no dispute. They all tacitly agreed to Zhao Junchen's second proposal.
"Zhao Aiqing has been doing things more steadily and meticulously in recent days." Emperor Deqing praised Zhao Junchen again, and then asked again: "So, what is the third thing Aiqing said?"
Zhao Junchen's eyes flashed, but he said loudly: "Your Majesty, the bad impact caused by the preparations for the southern tour and the actions of the local government are just an introduction. The fundamental reason for the uproar is that the people came to Beijing to complain.
After that, not only did the three judicial departments refuse to accept the case, but the Metropolitan Procuratorate even did a lot of extraordinary things. They not only beat refugees in the street, but also intercepted and arrested people from all over the country who came to Beijing to complain. Now in the hearts of the people, our DPRK is no longer
There is no justice in the law. In order to calm the people's hearts and regain confidence in the laws of our court, I suggest that those related to the Metropolitan Procuratorate should be severely punished, the top and bottom censors of the Metropolitan Procuratorate should be replaced, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate should be purged.
Rectify!"
As Zhao Junchen finished speaking, there was another uproar in the court.
No one expected that Zhao Junchen, who had just been defending the prince, would suddenly point his finger at the Metropolitan Procuratorate!
For officials from the three factions, Zhou Shangjing, Huang Yourong, and Shen Changmao, such proposals and impeachments were essentially the topic of the meeting this morning. After criticizing and impeaching the crown prince, they would have to mention it sooner or later.
But I never expected that Zhao Junchen would bring it up first!
Could it be that when Zhao Junchen made such a proposal, he was not afraid of offending Emperor Deqing?
When Emperor Deqing heard Zhao Junchen's proposal, his face darkened even more!
Emperor Deqing also knew that the Metropolitan Procuratorate would inevitably usher in the impeachment of hundreds of officials. However, the Metropolitan Procuratorate is now the headquarters of the prince's party. If the Metropolitan Procuratorate is rectified and purged, then Prince Zhu Heyu will not be able to rule in the court.
There is no longer any power at all.
Therefore, Emperor Deqing originally planned to select a few scapegoats from the Metropolitan Procuratorate to take the blame, without damaging the fundamental power of Prince Zhu Heyu.
But what Zhao Junchen meant was to eradicate all the influence of Crown Prince Zhu Heyu in the Metropolitan Procuratorate?
Emperor Deqing knew that someone would make such a suggestion in court this morning.
But Emperor Deqing did not expect that such a proposal would come from Zhao Junchen!
Could it be that Zhao Junchen felt that his wings were hardened and he no longer had the same heart as him?
Thinking of this, Emperor Deqing felt a flash of sadness.
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ps: The second update today, there will be another update before midnight! (To be continued...)