Chapter 154: The List

Hearing Cui Chengxiu's words, Mao Wenru hesitated somewhat.

Mao Wenru naturally knew what Cui Chengxiu meant by "taking a gamble," because this was not the first time Cui Chengxiu had said this to him.

Before the last grand court assembly, Cui Chengxiu had said such things, and at the time he had not agreed, so Cui Chengxiu had gone and done it himself.

The facts proved Cui Chengxiu right. Cui Chengxiu chose to take the gamble and got promoted as a result; he had not done the same, and he was still where he was.

Mao Wenru had not expected that Cui Chengxiu, now promoted, would still seek him out and say such things to him.

Before this, Mao Wenru's heart had already been clawing and twisting with anxiety, often regretting that he did not have the same fortune as Cui Chengxiu. It was just that his relationship with Cui Chengxiu was very good—one could not quite call it jealousy—but he certainly felt chagrin at himself.

Now hearing Cui Chengxiu's words, Mao Wenru hurriedly asked: "Is there another opportunity?"

Cui Chengxiu nodded and said in a hoarse voice: "Do you know about the Donglin Faction case?"

"Who doesn't know about that? It's all over official circles in the capital now. His Majesty even wants everyone to submit routine memorials, asking how this matter should be judged. Is your method about this matter?" Mao Wenru's eyes lit up as he said this somewhat excitedly.

As the saying goes, great affairs produce great men. For people in the Censorate, every impeachment of a great figure was a rare opportunity.

How could one make one's name known throughout the world?

Naturally, by impeaching someone of sufficiently high rank, demonstrating that one did not fear the powerful. As long as one brought the man down, then one would surely be awe-inspiring and famous throughout the world.

They had even impeached Chief Grand Secretaries and Grand Secretaries before, and were even willing to go provoke His Majesty.

It was only that the Donglin Faction matter was too sensitive—if one mishandled it, one might drag oneself in. So without a solid direction, no one dared to actually get involved.

Now Cui Chengxiu had come to him, clearly having a path to offer him. How could Mao Wenru not be excited? He even felt this was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity.

"It is this matter." Cui Chengxiu said. His expression was very serious, and he lowered his voice to continue: "His Majesty wants everyone to submit routine memorials to state their positions, so let us also submit routine memorials, writing that they should be severely punished. People like Yao Zongwen have no regard for state or sovereign, accepting bribes and forming cliques for private gain—they are simply a disgrace to the pure stream!"

"Those people in the Censorate—we must make a clean break from them, making it clear to them that these people are unworthy to be Censors. Punish them severely as a warning to the latter, telling all Censors that anyone who does this again will face nothing but death."

"We can find more Censors to submit routine memorials. The current situation of the Censorate is entirely the fault of Zou Yuanbiao and his lot. If we want to regain His Majesty's trust and turn things around, then we must do this."

Hearing Cui Chengxiu's words, Mao Wenru's expression shifted uncertainly. He naturally knew the benefits of doing this, and also knew the drawbacks.

As for offending people, Mao Wenru was not worried about that. If you are an official and never offend anyone, how can you rise? A goody-goody stays in place his whole life. That was not what he worried about.

Glancing at Cui Chengxiu, Mao Wenru asked hesitantly: "But what if in the end they are not severely punished?"

That was what he worried about. If these people managed to turn things around in the end, then he would be finished.

If they truly were severely punished by others, then things would actually be easy to handle. If these people had their heads chopped off, then not only would they have no chance to take revenge on him, he would instead take another step up in rank and salary. But one need not fear ten thousand possibilities—only the one that might happen.

"There is no risk." Cui Chengxiu saw Mao Wenru's hesitation and said: "If you feel it's inappropriate, I can take the lead. I can tell you with certainty that this time these people are dead men. Too many people want them dead—not to mention us officials, even His Majesty wants them dead."

"Trust me, I won't harm you. I've just been promoted. No matter what I do this time, I can't be promoted again, so I want to give this opportunity to you. If someone else seizes the initiative first, then we'll be on the defensive."

"One word—in or out?" Cui Chengxiu stared at Mao Wenru with burning eyes, waiting for him to give an answer.

"I'm in!" Mao Wenru gritted his teeth, steeling himself.

After all, take a gamble this time—if it succeeds, advance another step; if it fails, then he would resign, and in doing so could still establish a good persona for himself. Why not do it? Nothing much to lose.

After comforting himself inwardly for a moment, Mao Wenru looked at Cui Chengxiu and said with a resolute expression: "I'll go write the routine memorial right now, then go find some others. This matter brooks no delay—our Censorate must act immediately."

Cui Chengxiu nodded with satisfaction and said: "Right, do it that way."

The Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youxiao leaned askew against the daybed, watching Chen Hong flip through routine memorials one by one, basically dividing them into two piles—one pile agreeing to lenient handling, the other pile writing that they should be dealt with strictly and severely.

Though it was only a simple sorting, the atmosphere was still somewhat heavy. Everyone in the palace knew what these divided memorials represented.

Soon the memorials were sorted. Chen Hong then brought several eunuchs to begin registering—writing on a sheet of paper the names of the officials who had submitted memorials, with one side listing the names of those officials requesting lenient punishment, and the other side listing those requesting strict and severe punishment.

For a moment, no other sound remained in the great hall, only the swish-swish-swish-swish-swish-swish of writing.

After a long while, the sound gradually faded, and Zhu Youxiao slowly opened his eyes.

He lightly raised his eyelids, slowly sat up straight, reached for a bowl of tea, and took a sip. Only then did Zhu Youxiao feel considerably more alert, and said with some exasperation: "Waited all this time—a man could fall asleep."

Chen Hong set down his writing brush and hurriedly bowed, saying: "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is somewhat complicated."

"What could be so complicated about it." Zhu Youxiao took another sip of tea to moisten his throat and said with a smile: "It's nothing more than a question of killing or not killing—how complicated can it be? If all the affairs under heaven were this complicated, the Great Ming's realm would have been finished long ago."

No one dared to respond to that. Chen Hong hurriedly lowered his head and withdrew to one side.

"Enough. Since you say it's complicated, then tell me just how complicated it is." Zhu Youxiao continued.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, some say to punish lightly, some say to punish severely, but some advocate differentiated sentencing—for Yao Zongwen, Feng Sanyuan, Li Ruzhen and the like, all should be sentenced to death, immediate beheading. As for Yang Lian, Yuan Yingtai and the others, they hope Your Majesty will exercise discretion and show leniency."

"Bring the list for me to see." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile.

After the list was handed up, Zhu Youxiao quickly scanned it. The high officials who agreed with killing were few; basically it was the middle and lower ranks proposing execution, and most of them were from the Censorate.

This point was unexpected. Zhu Youxiao smiled as he read on—this was rather interesting.

It seemed that promoting Cui Chengxiu had been effective. Whether due to Cui Chengxiu's own abilities or because of the reason he had been promoted, this time the Censorate stood on his side—this was a rare and highly gratifying matter.

Besides that, there were others who submitted similar memorials. For example, Zhou Yingqiu, Vice Minister of the Right of the Ministry of Works—this man agreed to severe punishment for these people. Zhou Yingqiu was the highest-ranking official among those in favor.

As for Minister of Rites Sun Shenxing and the others, they disagreed, believing the matter should be handled leniently.

On the other hand, the several Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat were somewhat inscrutable. Because what Chen Hong said was complicated was precisely this part.

These Grand Secretaries all believed differentiated sentencing was needed, because the crimes committed by Zou Yuanbiao, Yang Lian and the others were not the same—that is to say, some should be executed, while others could be dealt with anew. This was a decision the Grand Secretaries made based on each individual.

After a brief moment of deliberation, Zhu Youxiao spoke: "Quite interesting, isn't it."

"The Grand Secretariat should have a few people replaced." Zhu Youxiao remarked with a sigh, then said: "Go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and ask how their investigation is going. Why has no report been submitted even now—are they not handling matters with diligence?"

Chen Hong was somewhat confused and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, may I ask what matter the Embroidered Uniform Guard is investigating?"

"Naturally it's the case of the late emperor. Besides this case, is there any other? Didn't someone submit a memorial impeaching collusion between inside and outside the palace, accusing noble ladies and powerful ministers of killing the sovereign? I ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate—why has no report come up even now? Does Luo Sigong only know how to eat plain rice? Go ask him for me!"

Chen Hong hurriedly said: "This servant will go at once."

Having said this, Chen Hong turned and ran off.

"If the tiger doesn't show its might, people take it for a sick cat." Zhu Youxiao watched Chen Hong's retreating figure and said expressionlessly.

As for his own affairs, Zhu Youxiao knew them all too well. He had hoped someone would step forward—anyone would do, even a Grand Secretary with as little presence as Shi Jixie and his ilk.

But no. Not a single person stepped forward.

Then don't blame me.

You're all colluding with each other — what are we supposed to do about that?

It took so much effort to get you lot stirred up — how could I possibly let you settle back down so easily?

Alright, that's enough — it's time to deal with you now. The moment is ripe.

You don't want to take a stand, but there are those who do; you're afraid, but there are those who aren't; you don't want to keep your posts, but there are plenty who do — perfect chance to swap you out.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters.

In truth, these past few days had not been easy for the Embroidered Uniform Guard either. Wei Zhongxian of the Eastern Depot had taken a beating, and though the affair had not implicated the Guard itself, the man had still died in the Guard's Imperial Prison. So the Guard's days were hard indeed — many people were cursing them for treating human life like grass.

That much could be borne — the Embroidered Uniform Guard was born to be cursed at, after all. But the real question now was: what was to be done? Were they simply to wait like this?

"My lord, Chen Hong, Eunuch Chen, has arrived." A subordinate of the Guard came before Luo Sigong and spoke directly.

"Eunuch Chen is here?" Luo Sigong sprang to his feet, excited.

This was his own ally. Chen Hong was now influential in the palace, in favor by His Majesty's side — he must surely be bringing some news.

Whatever the news was, at least there was news. Sometimes bad news was far better than no news at all, and so Luo Sigong was greatly stirred.

"Come, come — let's go out and receive him." Luo Sigong rose with a smile and strode out with long steps, his face brimming with agitation.

The moment Luo Sigong caught sight of Chen Hong, he hurried forward to meet him, bowing as he said: "Eunuch Chen, this humble official pays his respects."