Chapter 86: Disposal

Ever since the newspaper appeared, the common folk of the capital had been quite cheerful — only the Chongzhen Emperor was not.

Because he still could not figure it out: how had every last one of these scholars grown a dog's gall so big it covered the sky? They even wanted to storm and burn the government offices, and they even thought of armed tax resistance?

If he couldn't collect any money, then once the funds he, the Chongzhen Emperor, had seized from the Eight Great Locust Merchants ran out, wouldn't he still have to hang himself from a southeastern branch?

There are always crafty subjects plotting to harm Us!

The Chongzhen Emperor, vexed no matter how he thought about it, once again came to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Imperial Prison — and he brought Wang Cheng'en, Wei Zhongxian, Cao Huachun, Tian Ergeng, and Xu Xianchun along with him.

When you got to the root of it, he, the Chongzhen Emperor, had actually caused it himself.

Although earlier, when dealing with Zhou Yanru and the others, the furious Chongzhen Emperor had split the Embroidered Uniform Guard apart and clearly defined the duties of the Guard and the Eastern and Western Depots, he himself had not remembered it clearly either and often mixed them up.

Upon entering the Imperial Prison, all manner of wretched screams rose without end. Chongzhen could not be bothered to pay them any mind, simply treating the screams as a film soundtrack; utterly indifferent, he ordered men to bring Zhang Pu and the other two for interrogation.

When they were brought before Chongzhen — the completely unconcerned Zhang Pu, the forcibly composed Zhang Cai, and Wu Weiye, whose legs were already trembling — Chongzhen felt that indeed, a man cannot be judged by his looks.

However you looked at them, these three scumbags were all dignified and imposing in appearance, yet the deeds they had done were precisely insidious, vicious, and venomous. The common saying that the face reflects the heart could hardly hold true on their three faces.

After the three had knelt and paid obeisance, Chongzhen spoke first and asked, "Has the dynasty ever treated you three shabbily?"

Zhang Pu, the most composed, answered first: "In reply to Your Majesty, the dynasty treats us government students extremely well. Once one passes the xiucai examination, one is assured of food and clothing. Truly, the imperial grace is lofty and profound."

Chongzhen said, "That being the case, why did you lot prepare to burn the government offices in Suzhou and Hangzhou?"

Zhang Pu, however, was a bold one, and replied, "The tax overseers drove the common people beyond endurance. We had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure."

Chongzhen gave a cold laugh and, no longer willing to listen to the bullshit Zhang Pu was about to spout next, asked, "We have reviewed the case files and discovered that there was also Fortune-and-Longevity Paste in your homes. Where did you get this stuff?"

Zhang Pu said, "In reply to Your Majesty, this item was obtained by this student's close friend from an overseas foreign merchant.

This student happened to know that this item is precisely the Wu-xiang among the tribute goods, and therefore ordered my disciple Wu Weiye to present it to Your Majesty."

In his heart, Chongzhen instantly let out a Fuck your mother!

This bastard's heart was vicious indeed — first, damn it, get him hooked on this stuff, and then later, once the craving grew strong, presumably these goods would find a way to send him off to meet his Carpenter Emperor Brother, right?

The more he thought, the more a retrospective fear gripped him. Chongzhen asked no further; he turned and walked straight out of the Imperial Prison, leaving Zhang Pu and the other two behind him wailing without cease.

Once outside the Imperial Prison, Chongzhen gave instructions to Tian Ergeng: "Pry open that Zhang Pu's mouth for Us. Find out exactly where this Wu-xiang came from."

Next, he instructed Xu Xianchun: "Go and investigate for Us. See which officials have this stuff in their homes. Arrest every last one who consumes this stuff, and get to the bottom of where it comes from."

Next, he instructed Cao Huachun: "Following the old precedent for salt, sell this item toward the steppe and the Jianzhou barbarians."

After thinking it over, Chongzhen added, "You several, instruct the men below to keep a tight watch for Us. Not one shred, not one iota of this stuff is permitted to flow into the hands of our Great Ming's common people.

Whoever dares sell this item to the common people of Great Ming, or entices the common people of Great Ming to ingest or smoke this stuff — arrest every one you find and hand them over to the proper authorities for punishment.

However many there are, We shall kill that many, until they are all exterminated!"

This speech, thick with murderous intent, directly startled Tian Ergeng, Wei Zhongxian, and the others, who hastily bowed and acknowledged the order.

On the following day at court, before Chongzhen had even brought up the matter of the Fortune-and-Longevity Paste, a Censor first leaped out: "Your Majesty, this subject has heard that the scholars Zhang Pu and others of Taicang Department, Suzhou Prefecture, plotted rebellion and have already been arrested and imprisoned by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

This subject believes that this Zhang Pu enjoys considerable literary fame in Jiangnan, yet harbors the ambitions of a savage wolf. His teachings must be banned, and he should be swiftly and publicly executed according to the law, to serve as a warning to all under Heaven!"

As soon as the Censor finished speaking, a clamor of seconding voices rose in a rush, all demanding the swift execution of Zhang Pu and the others.

Watching the performance of the assembled court officials, Chongzhen sneered inwardly without cease.

Others might not know, but did Chongzhen himself not know perfectly well? That pamphlet on equalizing the land had originally been concocted single-handedly by Chen Mo on his own secret orders.

Now, the reason these people were so frantically attacking Zhang Pu and wanted to put Zhang Pu to death was, in the end, nothing other than that pamphlet.

Though he held them in contempt in his heart, Chongzhen's face betrayed not a trace of expression. He merely silently noted down these officials who had jumped out today, saving them for a slow settling of accounts later.

Looking at the officials below, Chongzhen smoothly pushed the boat along: "Where is the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review?"

The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review immediately stepped out from the ranks and reported, "Your subject is here."

Chongzhen said, "According to the Great Ming Code, what crime should Zhang Pu and the others receive?"

The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review said, "Reporting to Your Majesty: Zhang Pu, Zhang Cai, and Wu Weiye are the principal offenders in the crime of plotting rebellion.

According to the Great Ming Code, they themselves are to suffer death by a thousand cuts, with nine degrees of kinship exterminated.

The remaining government students, unable to distinguish right from wrong and incited by others, though they intended to burn the government offices, did not actually carry it out.

By rights, the local education commissioner should strip them of their degrees, and they should be escorted back to their native places."

Hearing this, Chongzhen said directly, "Then let it be as you, Our minister, have memorialized. Zhang Pu, Zhang Cai, and Wu Weiye: death by a thousand cuts. Exterminate nine degrees of kinship.

The remaining government students, blind to the facts of the matter: the education commissioner is to strip them of their degrees and send them back to their native places. All their privileges and benefits are to be completely revoked!

The local county yamen are to exercise strict supervision, so that they cause no further trouble."

After thinking it over, Chongzhen continued, "These government students do not study properly, treating the late Hongwu Emperor's inscribed tablet of injunctions as if it were nothing.

That being the case, the Ministry of Rites is ordered to re-engrave the late Emperor's inscribed tablet of injunctions, and add one clause:

No government student shall form alliances or establish societies. Violators shall have their degrees stripped by the education commissioner. This tablet shall be placed in all academies and academies of classical learning under Heaven.

Henceforth, should any government student again disregard the injunctions — any who, like the Donglin Academy, recklessly discuss state affairs, or who, like Zhang Pu, form societies — the principal offenders shall be punished for the crime of gross disrespect, and the remainder shall all be stripped of their degrees.

Their government-student privileges of tax exemption, labor exemption, and stipends shall be recovered. The silver spent from the national treasury during their period of study shall be pursued.

The local yamen shall deport them back to their native places and order their home villages to exercise strict supervision!

If they cannot study properly, then let them not study at all!"

Minister of Rites Meng Shaoyu stepped out from the ranks to receive the edict, but asked, "Your subject reports to Your Majesty: what is to be done with the existing alliances and societies?"

Chongzhen said angrily, "Existing alliances and societies are to be dissolved immediately! The Embroidered Uniform Guard in every locality is ordered to strictly monitor this.

Should any nominally dissolve but in fact continue to exist in secret, they shall be punished for the crime of deceiving the sovereign! Execute those who should be executed!

Banish those who should be banished! Implicate those who should be implicated!

A pack of wretched scoundrels — the Great Ming's national treasury pays for them to study, yet all day long they form societies and stir up trouble. Do they think the blade in Our hand is not sharp?!"

Having finished pronouncing the handling of Zhang Pu and the others, Chongzhen continued, "The late Imperial Father ascended to Heaven on a dragon's journey because he ingested the Red Pill.

Now these traitors Zhang Pu and the others sought to repeat that old scheme by presenting the Red Pill to Us. Though it was not carried out, their hearts deserve death!

Proclaim to the relevant authorities, all government offices, and the common people of all under Heaven: henceforth, the manufacture, circulation, and ingestion of Wu-xiang, Fortune-and-Longevity Paste, Red Pills, and the like are prohibited.

Except when prescribed by a physician for medicinal use and ingested by a patient due to illness, any person who arbitrarily manufactures or refines Wu-xiang shall suffer death by a thousand cuts, with three degrees of kinship exterminated, and nine degrees of kinship banished to the Jiangdong Penal Labor Camp.

Those who privately sell it and those who incite others to ingest it shall themselves suffer death by a thousand cuts, with three degrees of kinship implicated and exterminated, and nine degrees of kinship banished three thousand li!

Those who are not ill yet ingest it shall themselves be banished to the Dongjiang Penal Labor Camp!

These crimes, together with the crimes of mutilating and dismembering the living, shall all be crimes for which there is no pardon even under a general amnesty!"

We feel everyone can cast their literature vote for Journey to the West,

because I am very curious how the author Wu Cheng'en authorized Qidian. Everyone, push this to the top and urge Wu Cheng'en to start a new book — I will definitely reward him with an Alliance Master.

(End of chapter)