Chapter 593: Guo Zhishun pleads guilty and destroys relatives for justice
Author: grid fish
The Yu Zhong Dynasty case can be said to be the largest corruption case that has occurred in hundreds of years since the founding of the Song Dynasty. This person pretended to be a famous and honest official through the ages and swaggered through the city. For decades, he was admired by both the government and the public, as well as scholars.
And the iron-clad facts are before our eyes, which undoubtedly gave many courtiers and the entire scholar class in Dayan a resounding slap in the face.
I don’t know how many people feel embarrassed.
For a time, Yu Zhongchao became a hot topic of discussion between the government and the public.
And many discussions attached to Yu Zhongchao and his people are rampant.
The students of Yanjing Academy jointly submitted a petition to the emperor, issuing a proclamation against hypocrites like Yu Zhongchao, strongly demanding that the court thoroughly eliminate Yu Zhongchao's remnants of his party, and dig out many officials like Yu Zhongchao who are good at deceiving the world and stealing their reputation.
It's actually corruption.
The Yushitai and admonishment system under Yu Zhongchao's management were also agitated. Almost all the admonishment officials and admonishment officials were impeaching Yu Zhongchao, vowing to draw a clear line between them and completely eradicate such scum from the court.
For several days, the topic about Yu Zhongchao has not diminished at all. This is the first time in the Great Yanchao Hall.
Some people scold hypocrites and they must have bad looks.
He accused Yu Zhongchao of having cloudy eyes, dull and deep eyes, a smile with hidden knives, a sweet mouth and a sword in his belly, a cold aura, and a hooked nose.
Since ancient times, people with this "nose shape" tend to have a cold temperament and are full of scheming intentions.
He also cited two particularly obvious examples, one is King Gou Jian of Yue during the Spring and Autumn Period, and the other is Sima Yi during the Three Kingdoms period.
The former worked hard for many years, and finally defeated the State of Wu and eradicated its roots.
At the same time, Gou Jian also killed all the ministers who knew his humble experience, such as Wen Zhong, who inevitably committed suicide.
The latter endured for decades and endured the death of three generations of Cao Cao, Cao Pi and Cao Rui. In the process of capriciousness, he seized the power of Cao Wei and finally killed all the Cao family.
There is a folk saying that a nose is like an eagle's beak, pecking at the heart's marrow.
Therefore, a vigorous "Hooked Nose Self-examination Movement" broke out in the entire court, and any courtier with the same hooked nose as Yu Zhongchao immediately became the object of suspicion.
When the emperor heard about this, he just laughed it off.
Of course this is nonsense, but if they let them fiddle around for a while, the gust of wind will pass, so it's no big deal.
Moreover, the emperor's original purpose was to create suspicion and division within the inherent small groups in the court, so as to prevent them from forming a monolith, so that the courtiers would form cliques and resist the imperial power.
More importantly, which courtiers and local officials Yu Zhongchao colluded with? Many clues and evidence are in the hands of the emperor and the imperial guards. This is like a sword of Damocles, hanging high above some people's heads.
It makes some people uneasy.
Therefore, many courtiers came forward one after another and asked Jin Yiwei to transfer the case to the Department of Sanfa.
The emperor forbids it.
Tables of music continued to flow into the emperor's study room like a tide.
In the end, even the five veterans of the cabinet could not withstand the invisible pressure and took the initiative to seek an audience with the emperor, begging the emperor to transfer the case to the court.
In fact, this was a reason, because after all, even Li Gang was not sure how far the emperor wanted to investigate the case... The cabinet ministers entered the palace collectively, just to test the emperor's attitude.
Li Gang cleared his throat in embarrassment, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I think... if Yu Zhongchao's case is widely implicated, I am afraid it will destabilize the court and be detrimental to the country. Moreover, this person has always been the leader of the Qingliu Party in the court. This
Now that he has been defeated, there is no one to preside over the entire Yushitai and the Court of Admonition, so it would be better for Your Majesty to decide on the candidate as soon as possible."
Wang Lin smiled indifferently and glanced at Wu Min, Zongze, Huang Qishan, Guo Zhishun and the others, "You guys? Do you have anything else to say?"
Wu Min composed himself and said: "Your Majesty, I think it would be a good thing for Dayan to take advantage of the Zhongchao case to clean up the court and remove some well-hidden black sheep.
But as it concerns an important official of the imperial court, should the case be handed over to the Three Law Departments?"
Huang Qishan cupped his hands and said: "I second the proposal!"
Zongze also said in a low voice: "I second the proposal!"
Only Guo Zhishun remained silent and stood quietly behind Li Gang and the others.
Wang Lin looked deeply at Guo Zhishun and suddenly said: "What does Mr. Guo think? Like Mr. Li and others, does he ask me to hand over the case to the Three Laws Division?"
Guo Zhishun twitched the corner of his mouth and said slowly: "Your Majesty, I... think that since your Majesty is personally presiding over this case, he should continue to take the lead in finding out the truth and understanding the case as soon as possible to avoid turmoil in the court."
Wang Lin laughed in his heart, thinking that Guo Zhishun could be considered a real old fox.
Unlike Li Gang and the other four, who only serve the public good, Guo still has some personal interests in mind.
After all, he is Guo Yuan's father, and he is considered a relative of the emperor.
In any case, he must stand on the same stand as the emperor, otherwise, he feels that the Guo family's status will not be guaranteed.
Therefore, Guo Zhishun rarely expressed his position on issues related to the emperor's attitude.
Li Gang and the other three also knew about his difficulties, and often pretended not to know, and did not pierce this layer of paper.
If the emperor had not asked him face to face today, Guo Zhishun would not have expressed his position anyway.
But Guo Zhishun's financial management ability is the best in the world, unmatched by anyone.
With him in control of the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Industry, Dayan's business flourished, all industries prospered, and the treasury was no longer in danger of being empty.
And Guo Zhishun is very clear-headed.
He has never had anything to do with public children.
It's not that he didn't have any greed at all, but he maintained a tacit understanding and balance with the emperor.
The emperor continued to send benefits to the Guo family through Guo Yuan.
The various forms of gifts from the emperor were enough to ensure that the Guo family and their descendants would have enough food and clothing for several lifetimes. Guo Zhishun knew the seriousness of the problem and would not offend the emperor on fundamental principles or shake the foundation of the Guo family.
Guo Zhishun's own dedication to his duties also supervised and promoted the integrity of the entire Ministry of Household Finance and Taxation system.
Wang Lin smiled softly: "My dear friends, if you don't tell me, I also want to hand over this case. To tell you the truth, just after Xiao Yi left, Xiao Yi repeatedly requested that Jin Yiwei take the initiative to hand over all the case files and physical evidence.
The witnesses were handed over to Dali Temple.
But after repeated consideration, I don’t agree. Do you know why?”
Li Gang and others cupped their hands and said, "Your Majesty, please make it clear."
Wang Lin smiled: "Actually, the so-called Yu Zhong Dynasty's reputation as a hypocrite has been hidden for decades and deceived the world. It is simply nonsense.
The Yu Zhong Dynasty case involved dozens of courtiers and more than a hundred local officials. The Yu family was domineering in the local area and bullied the market. In his hometown and everywhere he served as a local official, the people were well aware of his reputation for hypocrisy.
Detective Jinyiwei learned that there have been countless complaints against the Yu family for controlling merchant trade over the years, but they have all been suppressed by local governments.
Therefore, Yu Zhongchao's Qing name was originally a false proposition. Many people in the court knew his true identity. The one who hid it was actually just me!
Of course, maybe there are also some of you cabinet veterans!"
Li Gang and others looked at each other in embarrassment.
"That's why I hesitated. If I handed this case over to the Third Law Department, it would really turn into an earth-shattering case. It involves the majesty of the imperial court's national laws. With the detectives of the Imperial Guards on the side, I think that the officials of the Third Law Department would not dare to do this.
This is a time of favoritism.
But if it is in the hands of me and Jin Yiwei, the consequences can be controlled... Do you understand what I mean?"
Li Gang took a deep breath, he understood the emperor's intention.
In other words, the emperor has his own opinion as to how far this case should be handled.
Of course, it depends on the development of the situation.
In other words, those who the emperor wants to deal with will definitely be involved in the case, and those who the emperor is unwilling to touch will probably pass the test this time.
Li Gang and Wu Min looked at each other, and they were worried that the emperor would hold on to him and take the opportunity to clean up the court. Since the emperor was "targeted", Li Gang felt that there was nothing to worry about.
Li Gang and others resigned, but Guo Zhishun was retained by the emperor: "Mr. Guo, Yuan'er has been feeling a little unwell these days. Why don't you go visit her palace."
Guo Zhishun was slightly stunned, then bowed and said: "I accept the order!"
…
Guo Yuan's palace garden is quiet and quiet, with many green bamboos planted there.
Covered by a sea of bamboo, Guo Yuan wore a pink palace dress. She didn't apply makeup on her face, but she was still very beautiful.
She was sitting in the pavilion, reading the emperor's collected works with her head down, when she suddenly heard that the female official came to report that her father had come to visit, and she couldn't help but feel a little surprised and surprised.
Now that Guo Zhishun is in such a powerful position, he has become very taboo about many things.
He rarely visited Guo Yuan in the palace, and he did not even allow Guo Yuan to return to her parents' home often when she had nothing to do.
There were close contacts between powerful ministers and concubines, which was enough to arouse the emperor's suspicion.
But today it was the emperor who took the initiative to ask Guo Zhishun to come. In fact, Guo Zhishun was more surprised than his daughter Guo Yuan.
"My lord, Guo Zhishun, pays homage to the empress!"
"The daughter has met her father."
The father and daughter exchanged polite greetings, and seeing Guo Yuan's beautiful face and eyes full of happiness, Guo Zhishun felt a warm feeling in his heart.
On that day, he took the initiative to present his daughter to the then King of Qi. His original intention was to promote his career. But from his perspective as a father, it was a blessing for his widowed daughter to marry someone like Wang Lin.
Moreover, the emperor treated Guo Yuan very well.
This made the guilt in Guo Zhishun's heart gradually dissipate.
"My father has not visited his daughter in the palace for a long time. Why today..."
Guo Zhishun also frowned slightly and said: "His Majesty just said that you are not feeling well and asked me to come and visit you. As a father, I feel a little uneasy. Could it be from your side..."
While they were talking, the female officer Shangguan Qing Yingying came closer and said with a smile: "I have met your empress, Prime Minister Guo."
Although Shangguan Qing was only in the fourth rank, she was the first female official around the emperor and was equivalent to the chief steward of the internal affairs. The emperor relied heavily on Shangguan Qing.
Therefore, even though there was a huge disparity in status, Guo Zhishun did not dare to be arrogant. He stood up and smiled and said: "Where did the Shangguan female officials come from?"
Guo Yuan also nodded slightly to Shangguan Qing.
Shangguan Qing said with a smile: "Xiang Guo, Your Majesty asked me to come to Concubine Guo to give her something."
Shangguan Qing said and handed over a letter in his hand.
Then he bowed and left.
Guo Yuan opened the letter and saw that it was the emperor's own handwriting.
And as she hurriedly scanned the contents of the letter, her pretty face changed drastically and her shoulders were trembling slightly.
Guo Zhishun had an ominous premonition in his heart.
He said anxiously: "Daughter, what did your Majesty say?"
Guo Yuan looked pale and slowly handed the letter in her hand to her father.
Guo Zhishun took it and looked at it, his expression suddenly changed.
He was so angry that he trembled all over, and cursed on the spot: "Guo Liang, this beast, is evil, he is trying to kill our Guo family!"
Guo Liang is the second son of Guo Zhishun.
Guo Zhishun's eldest son, Guo Peng, is a gentle man and was born as a Jinshi. Now he is serving as a local official in Jiangnan. After three to five years of experience, he will definitely be able to be promoted to a senior official in the ministry when he returns to Beijing.
The second son, Guo Liang, did not like to study and was a very important one among the dandies in the capital.
It's nothing more than hanging out with friends, drinking with prostitutes, having a good time, and causing trouble over nothing.
But he wouldn't do too much evil, so Guo Zhishun usually didn't bother to care about him.
However, Jin Yiwei found out that Guo Liang was actually one of the key figures in the Yu family's business and obtained no less than 100,000 yuan from the Yu family every year.
Guo Zhishun's face was terrifyingly gloomy, because he knew that this incident alone was enough to destroy the Guo family.
If it were exposed, he would no longer have to serve as a cabinet minister.
Just the curses of the people in the world can drown him.
And this matter can be big or small. If the emperor takes advantage of this, the Guo family...
Guo Zhishun's face turned pale and he was sweating profusely.
He stood up and bowed and said: "Your Majesty, please intercede in front of Your Majesty. Guo Liang is involved in the Yu Zhongchao case. My father really doesn't know about this evil. My father will send him to the Jinyiwei Prison right now."
As a father, I will never allow this beast to destroy our Guo family..."
At this time, Guo Yuan had actually calmed down slowly, and Guo Zhishun was also concerned but confused.
Guo Yuan said quietly: "Father, my second brother has always behaved wildly, and my father neglected to discipline him, which led to this disaster. But your Majesty's move is obviously to let you and my daughter discuss a countermeasure, and then... Your Majesty should have protected our Guo Yuan."
The meaning of home.”
Guo Zhishun took a deep breath: "I'm all relying on you."
Obviously, the emperor did not pierce this layer of window paper, but quietly ordered the Guo family father and daughter to meet each other. This was to preserve the Guo family.
The emperor's care was undoubtedly for Guo Yuan's sake.
He doesn't want his daughter's natal family to be ruined and their reputation to be ruined.
Guo Yuan sighed and said: "Father, since Your Majesty said that the second brother was involved in the case, and the evidence is conclusive, I am afraid that it will be difficult to escape from punishment. I wonder what my father plans to do this time?"
Guo Zhishun's complexion changed from blue to red.
The safest way is of course for the emperor to order the Jin Yiwei to suppress the matter, let Guo Liang go by the way, and pretend that nothing happened.
But Guo Zhishun knew the emperor's character well, and it was absolutely impossible for him to abolish public service for personal reasons.
It is already a gift from the emperor to allow his father and daughter to meet and discuss countermeasures first.
After a long time, Guo Zhishun secretly gritted his teeth and said softly: "Daughter, my father knows what to do. To save the Guo family, the only way to save the Guo family is to kill his relatives as a father and personally escort Guo Liang to the Jinyiwei Prison and have him punished. Otherwise, the impact can be restored.
Our Guo family will definitely be involved in this major case. As a father, and your eldest brother, at least our official position will not be guaranteed, and at worst, our family and property will not survive."
Guo Yuan burst into tears and kept sobbing.
But she knew this was the only way.
The emperor ventilated the baby in advance just because he hoped that Guo Zhishun would make the right choice. But tiger poison does not eat its seeds, and no matter how ineffective Guo Liang was, it was still the blood of the Guo family. How could Guo Zhishun be able to do this?
But if Guo Liang doesn't die, the Guo family will be finished.
This is a very painful choice.
But without politicians like Guo Zhishun who are good at making decisions, it would be difficult for ordinary people to make decisions in a short period of time.
…
Guo Zhishun left the palace. When the news came back to the imperial study, Wang Lin sighed. He hoped that Guo Zhishun could make the right decision, not only to make quick decisions, but also to act quickly.
Otherwise, after the case is discovered, the Guo family will be trapped in a huge wave of verbal and verbal criticism from both the government and the public, and there will be no room for recovery.
Wang Lin originally wanted to protect Guo Zhishun.
At present, no one is more suitable to take charge of Dayan's finance than Guo Zhishun.
And he is Guo Yuan's father after all.
Wang Lin couldn't do anything that was too selfish and perverted the law, but as the emperor, he didn't want to see his woman heartbroken because of family affairs.
Moreover, Jin Yiwei has already made it clear that Guo Liang was the only one who was lured onto the pirate ship by the Yu family, and the entire Guo family was not involved in the case.
This is an example.
In fact, among the children of senior officials in the capital who were dragged into the trap by the Yu family, there were also the children of Chen Zixuan and other six chief officials.
It's just that Wang Lin doesn't bother to care about these people.
It is hard to imagine how many officials in the DPRK and Central Government Yu Zhongchao has corrupted through the ups and downs of officialdom in the past few decades by spending a lot of money to clear the way.
Guo Zhishun returned to his house and went straight to the Duyuan where his son Guo Liang lived with murderous intent.
Guo Liang was having sex with prostitutes and drinking wine in the middle of the night with a group of friends last night, and he was still unable to sleep. Suddenly he heard the door being kicked open. He frowned and opened his sleepy eyes. He was about to scold the servants for being ignorant, and suddenly
He saw his father Guo Zhishun holding a sword and looking evil.
Guo Liang suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
He rolled out of the bed naked, covered his inconvenience with his robe, and shouted: "Father, what are you doing? Do you want to kill your son?"
Guo Zhishun struck the table next to him with a heavy sword strike.
He roared angrily: "Come here, let me catch this evil obstacle and kneel down!"
…
Guo Liang was distraught in his clothes and was restrained by the servants of the Guo family, kneeling on the ground. He honestly confessed his private dealings with the Yu family and how much money he had received from the Yu family in the past three to five years.
Back and forth, Yu's family sent no less than one hundred thousand guan of money to his benefit. In addition, they also had a farm outside the city and two beautiful concubines.
Guo Zhishun looked gloomy and coldly asked Guo Liang what he had done for the Yu family in these years.
As expected by Guo Zhishun, what the Yu family wanted was not what Guo Liang, a playboy, could do, but Guo Liang, the cabinet minister who controlled the Ministry of Household Affairs and world trade. There was no doubt that the Yu family was plotting against him behind his back.
Banner has done a lot of forced buying and selling.
If Jin Yiwei were to follow the clues and find out, Guo Liang would be dead.
Guo Zhishun looked up to the sky and sighed.
The hatred in his heart.
He wished he could kill this evil son with one sword.
Does the Guo family lack this 100,000 yuan?
A mere 100,000 guan, to him as a financial minister, what does it mean to the Guo family, who are relatives of the emperor?
Guo Zhishun gritted his teeth and said: "Load all the money and money in Guo Liang's house into a cart, tie up this evildoer, and I will personally take him to the Jinyiwei Prison and hand him over to the Holy Lord for judgment!"
…
Not long after, Guo Zhishun took off his official robes and wore only civilian clothes. He knelt down and worshiped outside Chaotian Gate with a pale face and a bundle of thorns on his back.
As for his son Guo Liang, he had been whipped all over his body with his own hands long before tea time and was sent to Jinyiwei Prison.