Hai Rui is able to appear here because of his extensive experience in handling cases. Over the years, he has seen too many strange officials in the circuit court trial process, and many of them are daring.
Hong Yingming investigated the murder of Ma Wenying, the Nanjing Daily office was burned down, and Ma Junxian was almost silenced after leaving the circuit court. These already understood situations allowed Hai Rui to judge that there was a big problem in Zhejiang.
But in the absence of specific clues, Hai Rui had no good idea. Inspector Zhang Wenxi had been thoroughly checking Hangzhou Daying Warehouse these days, but could not find any problems with the accounts of Ma Wenying, the warehouse ambassador. Until "Martyr Ma Wenying"
"The incident exposed a corner of the Zhejiang garrison problem from another angle.
At this time, the military reform of the imperial court had not yet been completely completed, and the local garrison was still under the command of the governor. Wu Shanyan could not be blamed for the "Martyr Ma Wenying" case. Hai Rui hesitated again and again, but still used his authority to send a direct report to Zhu Yijun.
To ensure completeness, he also sent a clear letter to Zhang Juzheng at his own expense. In order to explain the matter clearly, he still spent more than 400 taels even though he tried his best to compress it. Fortunately, after the reform of Huoxia Guigong, Hai Rui's salary increased greatly.
, otherwise even if you beat him to death, you won’t be able to get the money.
In fact, the money was spent unjustly. As long as Hai Rui, a poor official, casually sent a few words to Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Juzheng would know the seriousness of the matter based on Zhang Juzheng's judgment of Hai Rui's integrity and assets.
After the memorial and the letter arrived in Beijing at the same time, they indeed attracted the attention of Zhu Yijun and Zhang Juzheng. Zhu Yijun was extremely sensitive to military reform. The issue mentioned in Hai Rui's memorial that some people were pretending to be martyrs and receiving false wages must be investigated.
in the end.
After Hai Rui became the minister of Dali Temple in Nanjing, he rarely used his silver medal to pay his respects directly like other high-ranking officials. His memorials were meaningful and he could solve policy problems every time. However, due to the tight reporting line,
Hai Rui has never used the light newspaper to issue a memorial. Now he has used the light newspaper uncharacteristically, which shows that the problem in Zhejiang has reached the point where it is urgent to delay.
However, like Hai Rui, the imperial court did not know much about Zhejiang's problems. In recent years, the Security Bureau had not received any information about changes in Zhejiang. Zhu Yijun and Zhang Juzheng discussed it and concluded that no matter what happened in Zhejiang, Wu Shanyan, the highest official,
There must be a problem, so the best solution is to suspend him immediately, replace him with a decisive official, and cooperate with the Metropolitan Procuratorate to dig out the root causes of Zhejiang's problems.
Zhang Jiayin is Zhang Juzheng's best friend, and his official position has steadily risen to the third rank over the years. He is decisive in killing and cruel to officials. He was the one who hunted and killed the great hero Shao Fang who had risen in the past. After Zhang Juzheng recommended him to Zhu Yijun, Zhu Yijun also
I felt that this person was suitable, so I issued the imperial edict of "Guang Bao".
At the end of February, there was turmoil in the camps in Hangzhou, and Hai Rui also got the news. He didn't know any officials he trusted in Hangzhou, so he couldn't grasp the inside information, so he could only be anxious.
Starting from the end of February, he sent several groups of people to the Guangbao Bureau to inquire and ask if the imperial court had any edicts for him. As a result, the Guangbao did not receive it, and Zhang Jiayin, the minister of the Nanjing Ministry of War, arrived at his residence first.
Hai Rui asked him where he came from, and Zhang Jiayin smiled and said: "The Prime Minister sent me a message two days ago, asking me to come to you to receive the order. He said that since he will succeed Wu Shanyan, the order should be coming soon." Hai Rui was overjoyed and will
Tell everything you know about the situation.
On the second day of March, when he heard that the soldiers from the camp had gone to the Yi Zheng Hotel to complain, Hai Rui knew that Wu Shanyan had already launched an attack. Like Zhang Jiayin, he could not do anything without an edict. In desperation, the two officials went directly to Guangzhou.
Report to the office and wait.
Fortunately, at ten o'clock that day, the imperial edict passed through the heavy fog in Beizhili and arrived at the Hangzhou Guangbao Bureau. Due to the urgency of the matter, Hai Rui and Zhang Jiayin immediately rode straight for fear of Zhang Wenxi's misfortune, and finally captured Wu Shanyan.
...
Although Zhang Jiayin was anxious, the procedures for taking over the high-ranking official's seal were complicated. The most important thing was to straighten out the yamen's accounts, otherwise the successor would have to deal with the old debts of his predecessor.
Although Zhang Jiayin and his staff worked overtime, without Wu Shanyan's cooperation, it was already the fifth day of March by the time he checked the governor's Yamen accounts and received the seal.
At this time, Hai Rui and the other three people had time to sit and drink tea and figure out the whole story together.
After the exchange of information they had learned, Hai Rui said with lingering fear: "I didn't expect Wu Shanyan would dare to be so cruel. Fortunately, Nianhua was smart, otherwise it would have been too late by the time Governor Zhang and I left."
Zhang Wenxi also felt that his performance was extraordinary these days. Hearing this, he laughed and said: "This Wu Shanyan can't think about things. Now that the Holy Emperor is in power, he just used the mutiny to kill me, and how can he hide it from others? The patrol officer died in the mutiny. He
At least he has to go to jail - even if the leader can be saved, he will be in jail."
Hai Rui and Zhang Jiayin looked at each other, and Zhang Jiayin gritted his teeth and said, "In this case, if Wu Shanyan's crimes are exposed, the consequences will be much more serious than triggering a mutiny! I don't know what he is hiding. It's a pity that I was not authorized in the edict.
The right to interrogate Wu Shanyan..."
After hearing this, Hai Rui smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. The imperial court issued a new edict yesterday, and there are new rules for how officials should be treated."
Zhang Jiayin asked confused: "Why didn't I receive it?"
Hai Rui said with a smile: "Zhang Jiangling sent me the message first. He wanted me to interpret the edict for you. There are too many words in the official edict, so there is no way to report it. It will take another five or six days to arrive."
"The letter from the Prime Minister was also brief, but I understood it immediately. This edict is referred to as 'Shuanggui', and requires the officials to explain the issues involved in the case at the specified time and place - in other words, it is called isolation review!"
"
...
The "Edict on the Isolation and Examination of Officials from Kankan" had been brewing in the court for a long time, and was finally triggered by the case of martyr Ma Wenying in Zhejiang. After it was issued in Beijing, it was sent to Hangzhou by express means.
The system of "punishment cannot be punished" comes from the "Book of Rites" and is a governing idea in the feudal dynasty to govern the country by virtue. Its core idea is "the superior should set up integrity, shame, etiquette and justice to treat his ministers, but the minister does not repay him with integrity."
, then it is not human." At the same time, this system also maintains the integrity of the superstructure and helps to fool the people.
Concerning the etiquette system of "not punishing an official", all dynasties have taken specific measures to protect it. For example, when Emperor Wei Ming formulated the "New Code", for the first time, he formally wrote "relatives, virtuous people, meritorious service and diligent guests" into the code, so that
The judicial privileges of feudal aristocrats and bureaucrats were openly, clearly, and strictly protected. From this time to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the "Eight Discussions" became an important system in the codes of subsequent dynasties and remained unchanged for more than 1,600 years.
.
After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Taizu also tried to discuss the etiquette of treating ministers with his ministers. Taishi ordered Liu Ji to say to him: "In ancient times, when officials were guilty, they usually committed suicide and never easily imposed humiliating punishments. The purpose was to preserve the ministers."
"In ancient times, the principle of not punishing officials was applied to encourage the formation of integrity. If this can be done, the kindness and propriety between monarchs and ministers can be realized."
Zhu Yuanzhang deeply believed in this.
Although the later emperors of the Ming Dynasty often used canes on ministers, it could not be said to be "courteous treatment of ministers". However, in judicial practice, officials were indeed given obvious preferential treatment. The most obstructive factor in judicial investigation is that when the crime is not clear,
Under the circumstances, officials cannot be easily interrogated - except those who are imprisoned by the emperor's decree.
However, as a special system outside the country's formal legal system, the prerequisite for its reasonable functioning is not based on a certain system, but the will of the power holders and exercisers, so it has a strong
Attributes of human governance.
Because of this, the possible rationality of the "Prison and Prison" system itself will be greatly reduced or even disappear due to the personal selfishness of those in power, or even transformed into a tool for self-fulfillment of selfish desires; once the monarch is fatuous, the powerful ministers will
When in power, people in power often use the name of "prison" to vent their personal anger, show off their power, and attack dissidents, causing endless harm.
The "Edict Prison" of the Ming Dynasty, also known as the "Jinyi Prison", has caused too many unjust cases to be described. Although from the emperor's point of view, Zhu Yijun felt that this system was very easy to use, but after having children, he often considered the problem of a weak emperor in his descendants.
, therefore after the assassination of Zhang Wenming, he did not continue to use imperial edicts.
Last year, after years of experience in the circuit courts, Hai Rui, the first legal expert in the Ming Dynasty, wrote a memorial in which he painfully expounded on the disadvantages of imperial prison and hoped that Zhu Yijun would permanently abolish the imperial prison system from the legislative level. His sincere words moved Zhu Yijun:
"The method of building a perfect foundation has three feet. However, people who are skillful in dance and writing, and the officials who want to be harmonious, still have their hands high and low, keeping the importance in mind, forging and polishing, and not using spiritual control. What's more, there are many
Zhang Wangzheng opened the imperial edict and prison nearby. The officials could not discuss it, and the court officials did not hear their opinions. The matter was done in the hands of the close ministers, and there are two or three gates in the law! This is the leader of the people who showed the world that he was selfish and had a big handle, so he lost it and was in chaos.
The origin of life." [Note]
In Hai Rui's memorial, Zhu Yijun knew the answer. He did not give an affirmative answer at that time, but his idea of abolishing the imperial edict was firm: only after a system that can partially replace the function of the imperial edict is established can the imperial edict system be abolished.
time, otherwise it would be difficult to break through the obstacles to judicial practice brought about by the etiquette system of "not punishing a doctor".
In his previous life, as a middle-level cadre, Zhu Yijun was familiar with the isolation and review measures. He also watched many documentaries about heroes reforming in Shuanggui places and turning from ghosts into humans again. At that time, he would have wondered why the punishment was not used for these people.
Have you repented from the bottom of your heart?
With this question in mind, he communicated with the personnel of the supervisory department at that time and learned about some methods, which were used in the newly issued edicts of the imperial court. After the edict was finalized, the Metropolitan Procuratorate and other ministries
The court put forward two more rounds of revision opinions.
Coinciding with Wu Shanyan's case, the imperial court promulgated it, and Wu Shanyan was fortunate enough to become the first high-ranking official in this time and space to be "double-regulated".
On March 10, the edict was issued to Hangzhou. At the same time, the document appointing Zhang Wenxi as the leader of Wu Shanyan's investigation team from the Metropolitan Procuratorate also arrived.
On March 11, in a villa by the West Lake in Hangzhou, Wu Shanyan faced a table and the Four Treasures of the Study, and sneered at Zhang Wenxi: "Stop talking nonsense, what do you want me to write?"
Zhang Wenxi smiled warmly and said: "Don't get me wrong, Mr. Wu. The policy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is just four words: cure the disease and save the patient. As the saying goes, if something is wrong, change it, if not, encourage it. Just write down those things during your years as an official.
You made a mistake - it's a self-report. Well, let's review and understand, it's almost the same as that. No matter what you write, we will verify it. If it is correct, you will be reinstated, right?"
"Think about Governor Zhang Jiayin and Chief Secretary Cai Guoxi. Weren't they both suspended from duty for investigation? After investigation, they were still good officials! Why don't they still have good official fortunes now?"
Wu Shanyan sneered and picked up the brush, and the brush moved like a dragon and a snake: "The breeze is blowing with both sleeves facing the sky, so as not to make Lu Yan short and long."
Zhang Wenxi looked at it and said: "Well, I am also new to this review process. Let's go over the details together with my brother - Mr. Wu's handwriting is good, continue, continue."
On the second day, Wu Shanyan, who had not slept all night, continued to write "Song of Lime" and "Song of Righteousness" countless times.
On the third day, Wu Shanyan, who had not slept for two nights, was inspired by Zhang Wenxi and began to write an autobiography. He started from fishing and catching shrimps when he was a child, and wrote about his elderly mother, smart son, daughter, and the happiness of being with them.
time.
On the fourth day, Wu Shanyan, who had slept for two hours in three days, wrote about the concubine he married last year. He described her as a flower-like, considerate woman, and even made up a little order using Hunjiangjiang’s head,
Zhang Wenxi added chicken legs.
.........
On the sixth day, Zhang Wenxi brought over a copy of the private complaint of Gong, a member of the Nanjing Ministry of War, and showed Wu Shanyan Gong's autograph. He rubbed his hands and said: "Hey, brother, your situation is not good. This is
Gong Zhiqiang is pouring beans out of a bamboo tube. Hey! I'm pushing it on your head. This is very suspicious of false accusation."
On the seventh day, the private complaint of the concubine who was praised so much by Wu Shanyan was also brought in. Zhang Wenxi rubbed his hands and said: "Brother, we have verified it. Of course, your wife Ru is specially taken care of by her mother-in-law, brother.
I didn't even look at it. This is not good. She said that a lot of frivolous wealth in your house has been taken away by your third wife. This is not good. I have sent people to arrest the third lady. She should not be there yet.
Out of Zhejiang. Look, look at what happened..."
...
On March 25, Zhang Wenxi: "Wu Shanyan, you haven't fully understood your mistakes! You still have a sense of luck! Weng Dali and Weng Shangshu can't protect you! He was isolated and examined yesterday. I advise you to recognize the situation clearly.
——Please note that your private complaint and attitude of admitting your mistake will be used as the basis for your future sentencing! You must think carefully and don’t make a mistake!”
Wu Shanyan: "..."
...
At the end of March, Zhang Wenxi took the final draft of Wu Shanyan's private complaint and said with a sad face: "Brother, looking at what you have told me, this is enough to kill seven or eight times. If you don't want to break into the house and ransack the house, you have to commit merit! I think.
Just think about it, check the list I gave you, are there any accomplices who haven't been confessed yet? I promise, from today on, if you reveal one, I will record your meritorious service - if you do it well, you won't have to die. Brother
, listen to my brother’s advice, I am doing this for your own good. After all, we are both officials in Zhejiang, so we can be considered fellow villagers.”
Wu Shanyan cried and said: "I have already explained everything. If I write it again, it will be a false accusation, and the sin will be even greater. I was wrong, I was wrong, I am sorry for the emperor, and I am sorry for the people's wealth and support I have received over the years. Brother, I want to die - yes