At the end of the great court meeting on March 28th of the fifth year of Wanli, except for Wang Yongji who committed suicide by hitting a pillar and was still recovering in the hospital, Lu Shusheng, Zhang Han, Wan Shihe and Wang Xilie were also exempted from the imperial staff, and the other thirty-two
A total of thirty-four officials, including Liu Tai and Fu Yingzhen who were brought out from the imperial edict, were collectively caned.
The imperial rod in the Ming Dynasty was an extremely cruel and humiliating corporal punishment. Before the Chenghua year, those who received the imperial rod did not need to take off their clothes. Instead, they wore thick cotton bottom clothes. The main purpose was to show humiliation. However, the recipients were still bedridden for several months.
And then get better.
During Liu Jin's dictatorial period, those who received the cane began to be stripped of their clothes and caned - this is what Zhu Yijun called his "big white butt".
Perhaps after the imperial power humiliated the ministers too much, the ministers began to suffer from Stockholm Syndrome. After the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the ministers who received the scepter immediately became famous all over the world for their courage to face court disputes, and their names went down in history as "Silk Bamboo".
.In fact, it was caused by the imperial power losing its position in public opinion and the right to speak being deprived of by the gentry.
Since a few slaps on the butt can make a name go down through the ages, there are many people who rely on their reputations, and there are also many people who take the risk to defraud the royal staff. In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the emperor also became a thief, and before giving the imperial staff, he usually had to figure out the mind of the person receiving the imperial staff.
, see if he has the intention of making a name for himself with the imperial staff, and if so - beat him to death and bring him down.
The imperial staff is divided into "hitting with heart" and "hitting with real strength". As for which method to use, the prison officer decides according to the emperor's secret order. If the prison officer's toes are spread out, then it is "hitting with heart", which will result in disability at most;
If the prison officer's toes are closed, then it is a "hard hit", and the minister who is being punished will definitely die.
Since Zhu Yijun set the tone at the court meeting, this time he would give a light punishment, with ten sticks per person to let them "seek benevolence and gain benevolence" - so this time it was neither careful nor practical, just ten gentle blows.
The tool of the imperial staff was originally made of chestnut wood. The striking end was cut into a mallet shape and covered with an iron sheet. There were also undercuts on the iron sheet. Once the stick was struck, the executioner would pull it, and the sharp undercuts would hit the victim.
A large piece of flesh and skin was torn off the person's body.
Although Zhu Yijun wanted to make a political statement, he was not a pervert. Therefore, he issued an order to remove the iron sheet from the tip of the imperial staff. Not only did the recipients of the staff not take off their clothes, but each person was also given a piece of woolen felt - to show the world's kindness.
But since then, the person being caned no longer has the motivation to perform heartbreakingly, and the imperial guards who are applying the cane have no desire to show off their incredible skills with the imperial cane. The whole process was slapped ten times, and everyone felt that
It was boring - there were a few people who were eager to take off their pants, but after looking at the relieved expressions of the fellow victims around them, they were too embarrassed to speak.
But the subsequent edict issued by the emperor severely punished all the ministers who forced the palace, including Liu Tai and Fu Yingzhen. Except for Lu Shusheng, who returned to his hometown to live idle and retained his retirement benefits, all the remaining officials were beaten to death and became white.
——In order to show the world that they are committed to reform, they also took away their birth certificates, which meant that these people did not even have the tax-free treatment of scholars.
Zhang Han, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, felt the greatest sense of loss. Although he had become the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in recent years, he was basically Zhang Juzheng's marionette, accumulating a lot of resentment. This time he finally rose up, but all his wealth was lost.
Bare - since he was dismissed from office, he started talking to himself, he must be half crazy.
Wang Xilie and Wan Shihe, two brothers, are both famous officials in Neo-Confucianism. They are the kind of people who do not look down upon high-ranking officials and generous salaries, so they can survive. But Zhu Yijun's methods are not over yet, because Wang Xilie is accompanied by many people, and the two of them are a little bit
In order to express his feelings, the emperor gave Wang Xilie a parting gift, a large calligraphy letter "Wei Xingyan Sun" - a royal fine product framed, signed with Yubi, and stamped with the private seal of "Saint Yu Shenxun".
Wang Xilie was completely discouraged when he saw the emperor's words. These four words come from the Analects of Confucius. The full text is "If a country has the way, it is dangerous to speak at the risk of deeds; if the country is not up to the way, it is dangerous to act and talk to the descendants." The emperor gave him the meaning of these four words.
, since you feel that the emperor's reform was wrong and that it was an act of "immorality for the country", then you must also practice "dangerous actions and words for future generations", that is, while doing things cautiously and upright, you must keep your mouth shut.
He understood that the word "Emperor Ci" has two meanings. One is that although we have different political opinions, we still have some personal feelings. The local officials should be more discerning and not bully Wang Xilie. This is a good intention; the second meaning is that through these four words
, warning all dismissed officials to keep their mouths shut when they return home - it is not okay to criticize government affairs in the opposition!
The emperor had bestowed the inscriptions on them, so they must not be thrown away, and they had to go home to pay tribute. Wang Xilie and others drank heavily in the capital for a few days, and after being praised a lot, they packed up their things and went home obediently with these inscriptions.
The "Thirty-Four Gentlemen" who were imprisoned were not injured at all, but their buttocks were only red and swollen for a few days - so this high-ranking person was also a little embarrassed, and not many people invited them to participate in cultural gatherings on their way back home, and they disappeared from then on.
Everyone.
Zhu Yijun here temporarily subdued all the officials and wanted to coax Zhang Juzheng. Zhang Juzheng was accused of being good at bullying by his protégé Liu Tai's 5,000-word reference. The black dog was covered in blood. He was really angry and a little discouraged.
He was cold; and the core member Zhang Han's knife that penetrated three points to the bone made him frightened, so he resigned two times in a row.
Of course, he wrote the first resignation memorial after he was impeached, which was originally the duty of a minister. Therefore, in the first memorial he said, "The common people in the imperial court have not yet been well-off, and the Li Yuan in the country has not yet been strong, and the reform
It is indeed not the time to say goodbye when talents arise." But "the speaker said that ministers are good at doing power and blessings, and the ministers are the ones who take charge of administration on their behalf. They are not power, but blessings are also discussed based on their approximation. Everything can be used as power.
, everything can be a blessing."
Zhang Juzheng first said that it was indeed not the right time for him to resign, which meant that you had to keep me here. Then he put forward conditions. Liu Tai and these people said that I am good at doing things, and you have to give me an explanation, otherwise I will not be able to do things.
To his surprise, the emperor's statement exceeded his most optimistic estimate. Zhang Juzheng thought that it would be enough if the emperor could arrest Liu Tai and imprison him. Unexpectedly, the emperor held an impromptu court meeting and said it in one breath.
Not only the two ministers, the two ministers, but also a bunch of miscellaneous fish were all imprisoned!
Although Zhang Juzheng could see the emperor's determination to implement reforms, Wang Yongji's death remonstrance really frightened him. In the Ming Dynasty, it was unheard of for the ministers to resign en masse and force the palace to force Zhang Juzheng; and Wang Yongji's conflict with the dynasty, Zhang Juzheng only learned from the history books
You see - such people are all loyal ministers recorded in historical records, and those who were impeached are basically villains.
Zhang Juzheng, who was supposed to come back immediately, retreated a little. He deeply realized the power of the conservative forces, and said to his eldest son Zhang Siwen at home: "Although the emperor is a wise man, slanders are loudly heard day by day. Even if he cannot be criticized by them, as a father,
Is it appropriate for me to be humble and slanderous?" - There are many slanderous words. Although I have been a virtuous person, and my mother threw a tree into a tree and walked away from the wall, how long can the emperor maintain his confidence in me? After saying this
, Zhang Juzheng almost cried.
Zhang Siwen listened to his father's true words and cried: "My father has been the prime minister for five years, and the country has been declining and rising. From my son's perspective, you have become one of the famous prime ministers of the country. The emperor is concerned about politics now and wants to do great things."
Reform - The son sees the outline of the reform given by the emperor to his father. It is an earth-shaking change! Why should you bear the burden of doubt and slander and do the unthinkable?"
Therefore, Zhang Juzheng, in a conflicted mood, wrote another memorial to Shuqiu on the second day of the meeting. His words were very sad: "Looking at the emperor's ambition to pity his ministers and his foolishness, I gave him a special gift and returned home. Boqiu
Among the temples, corridors, mountains and forests, there must be talented and virtuous people, who are beneficial to the country and not harmful to the public. They are just appointed to the emperor..." This time I really wanted to give up the job.
After Zhu Yijun read the memorial, he wrote a letter in his own hand out of frustration: "The late emperor entrusted me to my husband because I was young. My husband was extremely loyal to assist me. He worked tirelessly, did not avoid complaints and slander, and did not take credit for his achievements. The emperor, the emperor, and his ancestors will surely
We all know that some beasts lose heart for the party, speak wildly, and shake the country. It is up to me to make the decision for you. Sir, you don’t have to be so concerned. I just want the late emperor to take care of his life. I rely on him to protect the country and revolutionize the world.
If it’s important, then we’ll give you an assistant..."
He also sent Sun Long, the eunuch in charge, to deliver the letter to Zhang Mansion with eight items inside and outside, four bottles of royal wine and a jade pendant.
When Zhang Juzheng saw Sun Long coming, he expected it and ordered the incense table to receive the order. Sun Long said: "Your Majesty specially gave this instruction to the servants. This is not an order, but a letter." He handed Zhu Yijun's autographed letter to Zhang Juzheng for reading. Zhang Juzheng held it in his hands and read it.
They communicated with each other in tears in front of Sun Long. Although he did not agree to come back, his mind was shaken again.
In the next few days, Zhu Yijun continued to send people around him to deliver things, pass on oral instructions, and comfort Zhang Juzheng with gentle words. Zhang Juzheng could not refuse, and he was also ambitious. Finally, on April 3rd, he expressed his stance to Sun Long, who came again, and came back to take charge of the situation and began to reform!