Chapter 863 952 Recommending Talents

Fanzi gave Minister Wang the medicine, and ignored Minister Wang who was kneeling on the ground and scratching his throat desperately. He walked out of the prison and locked the door again.

"My lord, it's all done."

The three of them arrived in front of Xu Jue and bowed.

"Just keep an eye on him and don't let anyone die."

Two days ago, they entertained Minister Wang with wine and food, but some of the guards were extremely jealous.

Who can eat so well after being imprisoned in heaven? They have to be careful.

Minister Wang was such a fool. He had been shouting at them all those days. Those who didn't know it thought he was their boss.

So Xu Jue got something and asked him to drink it down, even if he had a few jokes.

But they also heard that the medicine Mr. Xu took seemed to be indestructible.

Then just wait and see what happens after taking this medicine.

The next day, Wang Zhigao, Chen Yisong, and Ge Shouli met again in a duty room of the Criminal Department.

"Wang Shangshu, you came to us in such a hurry, but what confession did you get from Dongchang?"

Ge Shouli asked with a smile.

After the court hearing was interrupted yesterday, the three of them simply discussed whether they should wait for Dongchang's actions before making a decision. Judging from the current situation, it seems that this case will not go to trial.

This person who offended Minister Wang was really weird. Ge Shouli thought at first that it was arranged by Feng Bao to kill Gao Gong.

But yesterday's court inspection showed that it didn't look like it, and it was a complete farce.

The three people made a final analysis and finally came to the conclusion that Feng Bao had found someone who was deliberately disgusting Gao Gong, probably because he wanted Gao Gong to suffer under the escort of Jin Yiwei.

Initially, the palace wanted to escort Gao Gong to Xinzheng, but in the end Zhang Juzheng petitioned for mercy and took the post road instead.

It seems that Feng Bao couldn't stand it, so he wanted to use Jin Yiwei to adjust the high arch.

"The Dongchang department sent an official document this morning, please take a look."

With that said, Wang Zhigao handed the Jinyiwei official document received by the Criminal Department to Ge Shouli to read, and he sat there drinking tea.

"Are you mute? What should I do next?"

Ge Shouli only read half of the document before he was shocked by the contents of the document. The prisoner was mute, and he was an illiterate master. How could this case be tried?

Chen Yisong took the official document from Dongchang from Ge Shouli. After quickly browsing the content, he was not too surprised. He just shook his head and said, "I'm afraid this is what it is. Anyone who commits a crime will be executed. As for how he got into the palace, What is the intention? Naturally, there is no way to investigate further. "

"Yesterday, Zhang Shoufu handed me a note here, asking him to settle the case as soon as possible."

Wang Zhigao spoke again.

"Um."

Ge Shouli nodded. He knew this because he also received a note from Zhang Juzheng.

"It seems that this is what the palace wants."

Chen Yisong guessed.

"Maybe, but now that all the prisoners are like this, how can we still try him? Obviously Feng Bao plays a very important role in it. If the trial really continues, no one can save him just by framing the minister."

Ge Shouli said bitterly.

That is to say, it was not mentioned during the hearing of the case in the lobby yesterday, otherwise the cabinet today would have been overwhelmed by the impeachment memorial.

In fact, after yesterday's court hearing, the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Sixth Section had a group of officials and officials working together to impeach Feng Bao.

Unfortunately, at the critical moment yesterday, Zhu Xixiao decisively terminated the trial process.

As long as Minister Wang said it was Gao Gong who was taught by a eunuch to confess during his detention in Dongchang, the matter would be confirmed.

The guesses of the three people are actually very close.

After Zhu Xixiao came back from the Ministry of Justice yesterday, he immediately asked to see Queen Mother Chen and explained the court trial process.

Queen Mother Chen was also frightened and angry at the time, but after all, it involved Feng Bao, Queen Mother Chen did not make an immediate decision and only asked him to go back first.

After Wang Zhen returned to the palace, Queen Mother Chen may have asked questions again, and then discussed with Queen Mother Li.

When Zhang Juzheng went out, he was directly summoned to the Empress Dowager Chen in Ciqing Palace.

When he entered, Feng Bao, the first person in the inner court, was made to kneel in the Ciqing Palace.

As Chen Yisong said, Queen Mother Chen and Queen Mother Li did not intend to punish Feng Bao severely, but they taught him a lesson.

At the very least, Feng Bao knew how to end things at this time.

Queen Mother Chen later asked Zhang Juzheng to follow Feng Bao's wishes and end the trial of this case as soon as possible.

The whole thing, in Zhu Xixiao's rhetoric, has become that Feng Bao wanted to rectify Gao Gong, so he picked a fool, helped him enter the palace and easily caught him, and then framed Gao Gong.

Because he was a fool, the court judge could easily tell that Feng Bao was disgusted with Gao Gong, or that he wanted Gao Gong to suffer when he was interrogated by Jin Yiwei.

Regarding Feng Bao's way of venting his anger on national affairs like child's play, Feng Bao said tactfully that it was to vent his anger on the young emperor, not to frame the minister.

Feng Bao was punished in the palace, but the empress dowagers of the two palaces saw his loyalty to Emperor Wanli, so they felt more relieved about him.

Of course, only Feng Bao knew that he was mentioning that Zhu Xixiao was blamed for the lax palace confinement, and that Zhu Xixiao had secretly assisted him.

In Feng Bao's view, this result was considered good. At least he could retain his position as supervisor of the eunuch.

It can only be said that from then on, Feng Bao was careful in everything he did and did not dare to cause trouble on a whim.

No matter what he does, he must discuss it with his think tank first and make a decision before taking action.

This is also because Feng Bao has been a little arrogant after being a governor for half a year. He feels that there is nothing he can't do in the inner court.

The cabinet also has Zhang Juzheng and Wei Guangde to help with the end, so there is nothing to be afraid of.

As for the Jinyi Tiqi in Xinzheng, after receiving the letter from the capital, although they were very unwilling, there was nothing they could do.

Just kidding, watching a big fat sheep run away.

The Gao Gong family is a big family in Xinzheng. If they arrest people and confiscate their homes, it would be a lucrative job. I don't know how much money they can get.

What a pity.

The leader of the Tiqi could only curse in his heart, and took his people and packed up the property looted from the servants who escaped from Gao's mansion these days and went back to the mansion.

Seeing the Tiqi withdraw, the people in Gao's mansion settled down, and Gao Gong also breathed a sigh of relief.

He immediately arranged for people to send things to the capital. No matter who contributed to it, it was impossible to use people for nothing, and gifts were indispensable.

At that time, the situation was urgent, and Gao Gong only sent someone to the capital to ask for help, and there was no way to send money and property.

Now it is different. Without the surveillance of the Jinyiwei, he can arrange people to do things without worry.

Several carts were loaded with things to the capital, and Gao Gong also had to settle accounts with the servants who stole money and property from the Gao Mansion during this period.

If the Gao family was unlucky, there would be nothing to say.

But now that the court did not continue to pursue it, the situation is naturally different.

In the capital, Feng Bao also calmed down and dared not make trouble again.

Although some of the censors still wanted to impeach, Zhang Juzheng and Wei Guangde of the cabinet suppressed them, and Ge Shouli of the Censorate also restrained the thirteen censors, which made many people understand.

This matter is a bit complicated, so it is better not to get involved.

The case of Minister Wang was also supervised by Zhang Juzheng, the chief minister of the cabinet, and the trial of the three courts progressed quickly.

Since Minister Wang could no longer speak, he was naturally given no opportunity to defend himself. In the end, the Ministry of Justice directly charged him with the crime of "trespassing into the palace" and sentenced him to death.

The memorial was submitted, and Zhang Juzheng quickly voted for his approval, and the palace also approved it directly.

At this point, the case of Minister Wang, which had caused a sensation in the capital, was settled. From the case in January of the first year of Wanli to the execution of Minister Wang in early March, the process of trial and closure was completed in just two months, which was extremely fast.

It was just a pity for the clerks of the Ministry of Justice. They had to spend a lot of effort to perfect the documents of this case. Many places were modified, all of which were vague and vague.

The court resumed normal operation, and officials performed their duties and fulfilled their responsibilities with all their heart.

Everyone knows that the current Prime Minister Zhang Juzheng is a man who pays attention to efficiency. Once a document is issued, the government office must handle it as quickly as possible. Once it is delayed for a long time, the hall officials will be scolded in the cabinet, and they will also be scolded when they come back.

It is not known whether it is because of the change of reign title, but the rampant Yellow River floods during the Longqing reign disappeared suddenly during the Wanli reign.

Just this year, the cabinet also issued a special order to let the grain transport department prepare for floods and ensure the safety of grain transport.

However, this year the Yellow River calmed down, and the grain transported to Tongzhou granary in large quantities and safely on time, which made all the officials of the court feel relieved.

After all, a lot of the grain transported to the granary was to be paid to their salaries, and it also served to inquire about the grain prices in the capital.

Even the greedy merchants would never dare to raise the grain prices in the capital at will.

Because there were too many clean officials in Beijing, the fluctuation of grain prices had a great impact on their lives.

"Yesterday, the Ministry of Revenue reported that this year, 3 million shi of grain transported to the Tongzhou Dayun Warehouse, and 1 million shi was left, which would arrive in the near future. This year's grain transport was considered safe."

In the cabinet, in the duty room of the Prime Minister, Zhang Juzheng summoned Wei Guangde and Lu Diaoyang to talk about the recent major events in the court.

At this time, three months had passed since the case of Minister Wang was settled.

Although they had to deal with endless memorials every day, Zhang Juzheng, Wei Guangde and other three cabinet ministers had a good life because nothing major happened. At least they didn't have to worry about chaos in various parts of the empire.

Wang Guoguang, the Minister of Revenue, was recommended by Zhang Juzheng. In the first year, the grain was safely collected in Tongzhou Warehouse. In his opinion, it was naturally the achievement of Wang Guoguang's work.

As for the fact that the Yellow River did not flood, is it important?

They only look at the results. The safe transportation of grain to Tongzhou Wharf and to Jingtong Warehouse is a manifestation of excellent work performance.

"Minister Wang has worked hard and made great contributions. It's not easy. In recent years, the grain has not been able to complete the rated transportation volume, and river workers have to be mobilized to transport it."

Wei Guangde knew that the transportation of grain this year was mainly due to the peace of the Yellow River, but he would not mention it at this time.

There are already rumors outside that the repeated floods in the Yellow River in recent years are blamed on Emperor Longqing, who is considered to be a punishment from heaven due to his unrighteousness.

Although it is nonsense, Zhu Yijun seems to have good luck. As soon as he ascended the throne, the Yellow River was calm, no longer violent as in the previous two years, and constantly bursting the dikes and blocking the waterway.

Beijing was the secondary capital of Liao, and the imperial capital of Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing. Although the wars of the change of dynasties destroyed agricultural production, even due to the improvement of farming technology during the Liao and Jin dynasties, the Yuan Dynasty drew a part of the garrison troops to engage in reclamation and water conservancy construction to divert water to grow rice, and four large-scale immigrations during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, plus the garrison of soldiers, a large number of villages were formed in the suburbs of Beijing, but the grain output was still far from meeting the needs of life.

As the political and economic center of the feudal dynasty, the functions of large cities gradually became complete, and food supply also became the primary issue for maintaining the feudal regime.

After the Jin Dynasty moved its capital in the first year of Zhenyuan, the population of Zhongdu increased to more than 800,000, and its dependence on grain transport increased day by day.

A new canal was opened in the twelfth year of Emperor Shizong's Dading reign, and in the fifth year of Zhang Zong's reign in Taihe, the Tongzhou Luchuang canal was dredged, allowing grain-carrying ships to reach Zhongdu. The annual grain transport volume increased from one hundred thousand shi to one million shi.

In the Yuan Dynasty, Guo Shoujing connected the north and south water systems on the basis of the original canal, reaching the capital city directly.

In the 30th year of the Yuan Dynasty, the Grand Canal from Dadu to Hangzhou was fully connected, allowing grains from Jiangnan, Huanghuai and other places to be continuously imported into Dadu. Every year, grains were transported from one million to three million shi to feed Dadu's millions of soldiers and civilians.

Most of the capitals established agencies such as the Gyeonggi Capital Water Transport Envoy and the Tonghui River Grain Transport Office. They turned Jishuitan into a land and water dock. Grain transport ships arrived here. For a while, boats and boats were used to cover the water, and cargoes gathered there.

When Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, was in power, he opened up shipping channels, and then the shipping volume increased year by year. By the middle of the Yuan Dynasty, shipping had almost replaced inland water transportation.

By the Ming Dynasty, due to the emphasis on water transportation and light on sea transportation, in order to meet the livelihood of the eight to nine hundred thousand people in the capital, a large amount of grain must be transported to Beijing every year.

But before that, the amount of grain received fluctuated every year.

In the 18th year of Yongle, it was only 600,000 shi, and in the 6th year of Xuande, it was as high as 6.7 million shi, with a fluctuation range of more than 6 million shi.

However, from the 10th year of Xuande to the 7th year of Tianshun, the annual grain transportation volume began to stabilize, roughly around 4 million shi, with fluctuations of only 500,000 shi.

So in the seventh year of Chenghua, "a fixed amount of four million shi per year for grain transportation" became a system. From then on, the amount of grain transported through the Grand Canal every year was 4 million shi.

Like Zhang Juzheng's experience in the Longqing years, when the cabinet was worried about the grain supply every day, it was really a bit uncomfortable to put down the big burden of the grain supply.

"The southwest is also stable this year, and I haven't seen any reports of instability."

Lu Tiaoyang also happily answered.

In fact, the major affairs of the imperial court are nothing more than two, one is military affairs, and the other is finance.

As for the rest, it’s not a big deal and can be solved in most places.

"Speaking of military matters, I have an idea. Let's discuss it with the Second Master."

Zhang Juzheng suddenly said after hearing this.

"All ears."

Wei Guangde said with a smile.

"The ancients said that although the world is at peace, it will be in danger if it forgets to fight. Nowadays, military preparations have been weakened for a long time, and officers and soldiers are under the control of civil servants. From now on, generals who are loyal and brave should be given power so that they can display their talents."

Zhang Juzheng said immediately.

"Give me authority?"

Wei Guangde repeated in surprise.

"My intention is to find good generals for the imperial court. If everything must be reported to the imperial court before making a decision, I am afraid that the general will often use this to pervert his business in the future.

I think military generals should still take responsibility. "

Zhang Juzheng said, "In addition, as far as I know, many generals are unable to fulfill their ambitions due to the suppression of military power by culture. I plan to ask your majesty to allow officials above the fourth rank in the capital and those with ke Dao to serve as governors, towns, patrols and other officials outside the country." Promote generals and prepare them for assignment."

"Are there any restrictions?"

Wei Guangde suddenly interjected, "Recommending generals is of course a good thing, but the recommended people may be uneven, and some people may take advantage of the loopholes."