Chapter 680 779 Busy with Official Duties

After leaving the prison of the Ministry of Justice and walking out, Wei Guangde was still thinking about what news Chen Yiqin would give him when he returned to the cabinet.

Yes, has Emperor Longqing lost his anger? Or is he still angry and unwilling to let him go?

Thinking of this, Wei Guangde, who had already walked to the sedan, suddenly stood still.

Yin Shizhen, who was about to bend down and get into the sedan next to him, stopped unconsciously and looked over suspiciously.

Wei Guangde only thought about it for a moment, then walked over, pulled him to a quiet corner of the wall and whispered: "Brother Zhengfu, I'm thinking about this matter in case something goes wrong.

Brother Yifu, if we don't persuade His Majesty, then we have to find a way. At the very least, let the Ministry of Punishment delay the verdict until His Majesty calms down. "

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Yin Shizhen asked.

"The area around here is the territory of the Ministry of Justice. I will visit Mao Shangshu to find out what he says. If he also sympathizes with Eunuch Li, this matter will be easier to handle."

Wei Guangde said.

Yin Shizhen nodded after thinking about it, "That's fine, you go see Mao Kai, and I'll go back to check on Yifu's news. There are a lot of things in the pavilion. Let's work on both sides to make sure nothing goes wrong."

They have already come here, and they have actually expressed their discord with Teng Xiang and others.

However, they and Li Fang have been in a relationship for many years anyway. Teng Xiang and the others are not happy at all, but they don't dare to make any small moves.

"I think he should have come out of the palace by now."

Wei Guangde shook his head and said.

At this time, Chen Yiqin did not send anyone to send a message, and there was no decree. The result can be imagined.

Wei Guangde actually had some ideas at this time, but he couldn't express them to Yin Shizhen.

In his opinion, Li Fang had been with Emperor Longqing for so many years, and their relationship was quite deep.

Therefore, Li Fang's life should be safe.

It's just that Emperor Longqing was also angry that he didn't know how to praise him and often displeased him. Maybe he had the idea of ​​​​teaching him a lesson.

But Wei Guangde knows better that the so-called feelings are actually just like that, what kind of feelings can be discussed with Tianjia.

Last year, Li Fang's favor in front of Emperor Longqing was probably gone, but he just couldn't get the emperor to be cruel to him.

So why did Emperor Longqing lose his temper this time, beat Li Fang to the ground, and send her directly to the prison of the Ministry of Punishment?

Wei Guangde guessed that it might be a warning to them.

Don't think that just because Yu Zhuan's old friend can be pampered, he can deal with Li Fang ruthlessly.

After breaking up with Yin Shizhen, Wei Guangde got into the sedan chair and ordered: "Go to the Criminal Department."

The bearer obeyed the order, lifted up the sedan and went to the Yamen of the Criminal Department.

Not long after, I got off the sedan outside the gate of the Xingbu Yamen.

Wei Guangde appeared in official uniform, so the guard guard naturally did not dare to stop him. While welcoming him into the Yamen, he quickly ran to the Shangshu's duty room to report the news.

Not long after, Wei Guangde saw Mao Kai coming out to greet him.

"Master Mao, Mr. Wei is disturbing me."

Wei Guangde first bowed his hands.

"Mr. Wei Ge is too polite. Why bother? Please go inside and talk."

Mao Kai hurriedly returned the gift, invited Wei Guangde to the Shangshu's duty room, and asked for tea.

After the others exited, Mao Kai asked with a smile: "Mr. Wei Ge has come to our criminal department with great honor, but he has only been sent here just for today?"

"Mao Shangshu has not been in the capital for a long time. I wonder if he knows Li Fang and Eunuch Li's character."

Wei Guangde saw that the other party had already guessed his intention, so he didn't show off and simply made it clear.

"Jie Chuan has heard about it and knows that Eunuch Li is an upright man and a rare talent in the inner court."

Mao Kai nodded and said.

"For what he committed this time, I wonder if there is any document from the inner court? As long as Mao Shangshu takes a look at it, he should know what's fishy."

Wei Guangde sighed and said.

"There is a document saying that Li Fang is pampered and disrespectful to His Majesty."

Mao Kai replied.

To be honest, he didn't understand that Emperor Longqing sent the former chief internal officer of Prince Yu's Palace to the prison of the Ministry of Punishment.

If the emperor's servants want to beat or kill you, they can just do it in the inner court. Why do they need to send you to the Yamen?

As for the so-called crime of disrespect, it is even less clear.

To be honest, after the inner court sent the person here, he felt like a hot potato, but he couldn't send it out.

He even considered bringing in Dali Temple and the Metropolitan Procuratorate to set up a joint trial among the three departments, so that at least he would have an explanation to the outer court.

If the result does not satisfy the inner court, he is not afraid.

Hearing that Yin Shizhen and Wei Guangde went to the prison of the Ministry of Justice to visit Li Fang, and even brought the doctor with them, he was considering whether to involve the cabinet in this matter.

However, he also knows that those who take the initiative to plot against the cabinet may have backlash.

When he heard that Wei Guangde came to the Punishment Department Yamen but Yin Shizhen didn't come, he guessed that he was here because of Li Fang's affairs, so he took the initiative to start a conversation.

There were only Wei Guangde and Mao Kai in the duty room now, but they looked outside the door first and then whispered: "The so-called Eunuch Li is disrespectful to Your Majesty is completely unfounded.

Shangshu Mao may have heard that since His Majesty ascended the throne, Eunuch Li has been urging you to be a promising king."

It had been two years since Emperor Longqing ascended the throne, and the courtiers had already had a general impression of him, which should be said to be very bad.

His ability to handle memorials or court affairs was far inferior to that of his father, Emperor Jiajing. Although he was not keen on practicing Taoism, he was greedy for beauty and liked precious things such as pearls, jade and gems.

The court officials also discussed this privately, accusing Gao Gong, Chen Yiqin and others of not teaching the emperor well when they were in Yuji.

"Since impeaching Xu Gao, the Minister of Works, Eunuch Li has been strictly rectifying the expenses of the inner and outer courts, blocking many people's financial paths, and has a bad relationship with other eunuchs in the inner court.

Last year, he repeatedly advised the emperor to abstain from women and treasures, which angered the emperor. This time, it was because of the palace renovation and Aoshan Lantern Festival that Tengxiang and Meng Chong were responsible for. Eunuch Li found that some of them did not match the accounts, so he said a few words in front of the emperor.

After that, someone came to the emperor and slandered him, saying that Eunuch Li was dissatisfied after being punished by the emperor last year and said disrespectful words to the emperor."

Wei Guangde briefly explained the situation to Mao Kai, and he naturally understood what was going on.

No matter how the civil servants make money in private, they must do it openly and be upright. After all, at their level, they will not take those dirty money, but only the subsidies and benefits that the government saves and distributes.

Influenced by later film and television works, many people think that those rich and unkind people of this era will secretly bribe local officials after committing crimes in order to obtain favorable judgments for themselves. In fact, that is a big mistake.

Perhaps the clerks below the county magistrate are willing to take over this kind of silver. Compared with the income of the county magistrate, the money they usually receive from the government is not much, and of course they can't withstand this temptation.

However, local officials such as county magistrates and prefects look down on this kind of tens or hundreds of taels of silver, and it is risky to take this kind of money.

Why should they take such risks?

If you don't burn incense at ordinary times and cram at the last minute, who will care about you.

A clean prefecture earns 100,000 silver in three years, it's not just talk.

If you are not greedy, you can follow the rules of your predecessors and add the miscellaneous taxes of government expenses to the national regular taxes. You can save a lot in a year, which is the legitimate income of the prefect.

No one can say the word "greed".

The local gentry, who are sensible, will choose to give gifts during the New Year and build good relationships, so that they can ask for help when they need it.

The benefits will not be given at that time, wouldn't it give people a reason to criticize?

Afterwards, a generous gift will be given at the right time, which is the perfect operation. Even if the censor comes to investigate, everything can be justified.

China is a country of etiquette. During the New Year and festivals, local gentry give gifts to local officials who come from afar, which is certainly not bribery.

As for worrying about not getting benefits when doing things, have you heard of the old saying, "The county magistrate who ruins the family, the prefect who destroys the family"?

Although the gentry act like two and a half million in front of the people, they are all as obedient as quails in front of the officials.

This is also why the gentry of each village sent their children to study hard. Even if they could not study well, they would try to spend money to get an official position, and even a minor official.

As long as there is no scholar in the family for three generations, the family will inevitably fall.

However, the eunuch group is different from the civil officials. They like money even more.

Perhaps it is because they have lost their beauty and can only like yellow and white things. No matter how high or small the official is, eunuchs have to make money no matter what they do.

Consequences, there is no such thing.

There is no principle, no bottom line, which is also one of the reasons why civil officials look down on eunuchs.

"Wei Ge Lao, I have heard about the character of Eunuch Li, and I naturally admire him very much, but His Majesty has issued an order to sentence him for disrespect."

Mao Kai said with difficulty.

When he arrived at the Ministry of Justice, the charges had already been determined, and he had no way to exonerate Li Fang.

He knew Li Fang's character, so he did not intend to embarrass him, but if he asked for help, he, Lord Mao, was not willing to agree easily.

It was too much.

"As the saying goes, if you catch an adulterer, you catch both of them; if you catch a thief, you catch his dirty laundry. If you want to convict someone, you naturally need witnesses and physical evidence, not to mention such a serious crime as disrespecting His Majesty."

Wei Guangde said with a smile, "In the palace, we will also find a way and will not embarrass Lord Mao."

"That's great. To be honest, I also admire Eunuch Li's character. I really don't want to do this."

Mao Kai said happily. Now that his doubts were gone, he was also happy.

What Wei Guangde wanted was to delay the case by using the lack of evidence. They would find a way in the palace. This was of course the best solution.

"But if the palace sends eunuchs to testify"

"It's a lie that didn't exist in the first place. As long as Lord Mao interrogates in detail, it will definitely reveal its true colors, haha"

"That's right."

After chatting for a while, Wei Guangde stood up and was about to leave. He smiled and said to Mao Kai: "Two years ago, General Yu Dayou was impeached by the Guangdong Dao Censor and Nanjing Ke Dao. Thank you Lord Mao for speaking out for justice."

"Alas, this General Yu is the same. He doesn't pay attention to his words and offends too many people. But when it comes to generals in Jiangnan, Mao admires him the most."

Mao Kai smiled.

"Alas, he is a bit reckless. If a military general doesn't speak directly and openly, the court may not dare to use such a general with confidence."

Wei Guangde still smiled.

It is a tacit understanding among civil officials to suppress the status of military generals, but they also know that generals who can fight should still be appropriately protected.

Don't just keep those who can flatter you. If they fail to do well in battle, the consequences will be very serious.

After sitting for a while, Wei Guangde left on the pretext that he was busy with cabinet affairs. When he returned to the cabinet, he went to Chen Yiqin's duty room as soon as possible.

At this time, Chen Yiqin had already returned, but his unhappy face showed that he had not done a good job.

"Shan Loi is back. Sit down first. Someone comes and serves tea."

He asked Wei Guangde to sit down and asked someone to bring tea.

Wei Guangde didn't move, and just asked: "Why is Your Majesty so angry?"

Chen Yiqin seemed to be hesitant to speak, and hesitated for a moment before saying: "Before, you said that you would let Li Fang go to Nanjing after he was released from prison. I was a little unconcerned and thought you were being careful. Now it seems that you are right. "

Wei Guangde remained silent and did not speak, but was thinking about the reason for Chen Yiqin's previous hesitation.

"How's it going with the Ministry of Justice?"

Chen Yiqin interrupted matters in the palace and asked about the outcome of Wei Guangde's trip.

"We have made an agreement with Mao Shangshu. He will take the case into custody because the evidence is not clear. The first trial will be at least half a month later."

Wei Guangde said immediately, "We still have time to think of a solution."

"I heard from Zhengfu before that Li Fang's injury will take half a month to recover, as long as the punishment department is not in a hurry to be promoted to court.

By the way, before you were away, Ma Shangshu of the Ministry of Finance came to visit. "

Chen Yiqin said.

"Is it about the Zhuangtian matter? I also said that I would ask Mr. Wang and the Tuntian Censor to come to the cabinet to discuss the matter later."

Wei Guangde thought that Ma Sen came here to honor Zhuang Tian, ​​so he said.

"It's not about the village affairs, it's about Liu Guangji's memorial. The Ministry of Household Affairs has already had a meeting."

Chen Yiqin smiled.

Seeing his smiling face, Wei Guangde knew that the result should not be bad.

Sure enough, I heard Chen Yiqin say next: "The Ministry of Revenue supports Governor Liu to re-implement the one-whip method in Jiangxi."

Just as a smile appeared on Wei Guangde's face, Chen Yiqin continued, "However, in view of the many problems that are difficult to solve during the implementation of the one-whip method, the implementation of the one-whip method in Jiangxi needs to be carried out step by step.

In the first year, it will be implemented in two to three prefectures in Jiangxi. After it is perfected, it will be implemented throughout Jiangxi.

During this process, Governor Liu must promptly report to the court the problems discovered during the implementation process and their solutions, and the court will also send people to Jiangxi for inspection. "

"Haha, as long as the Ministry of Revenue does not object, it seems that they hope that after Jiangxi perfects a whipping method, it can be promoted throughout the world."

Wei Guangde was not worried about the report and the censor was sent to monitor it.

"Based on the past, it is feasible to implement a whipping method in the south of the Yangtze River, but there are many problems in the north. The court's taxation system cannot be divided into north and south. In the end, it must be unified for easy management."

Chen Yiqin said.

"As long as you don't object, it's fine. I think a whipping method is simple and direct for the people and won't waste too much of their working time. It's the most beneficial thing for the court and the people.

The poor implementation in the North is mostly due to officials. The Metropolitan Procuratorate should be used to strictly investigate the problems of local officials. "

Wei Guangde said.

"Tell Zizheng that he is in charge of the Procuratorate."

Chen Yiqin waved his hands hurriedly.

"Haha, by the way, Mao Shangshu also said that Zhang Qi was guilty of accepting bribes and dereliction of duty and falsely accusing the elders. The Ministry of Punishment will report it to the Ministry of Justice soon and plans to send him to the army to guard the border."

Wei Guangde smiled.

Chen Yiqin nodded when he heard this, "This is the best."