Chapter 444

Zhang Tingyu just said, using heavy penalties and establishing ironclad cases can clean up officialdom; I do not wholly deny it.

Since the party faction case sparked a great prison last month, over two hundred people have been arrested in just one month; although the new Jingcha law has not yet been implemented, it has already put officials throughout the capital in a state of panic.

Now another assault-and-murder case has arisen; Zhang Tingyu not only fails to advise the emperor to halt executions and killings, but continues to fan the flames, advocating the punishment of flaying and exposing the corpse.

By now, in Shenjing, among all the civil and military officials, how many still feel at ease? How many can carry out their duties with peace of mind?

Zhang Tingyu is a vice-premier of the Cabinet; he ought to harmonize the court and support the emperor's virtue. Yet in the party faction case, the Jingcha inspection, the great prison, and the cruel punishments— which of these has he ever advised against? Which of them has he not secretly fomented?

... He flatters those above and is cruel below; he excessively fawns on the ruler while neglecting the people, follows the ruler's vices, loses his own goodness, only seeks favor and secures his position, never asking about the state's safety, and wholly caters to the sovereign's will with cruelty.

Throughout history, there has never been a cabinet minister who so flatters superiors and abuses inferiors, bringing disaster to the state and harm to the people!

Kong Ying's words were righteous and upright, presenting himself as a living embodiment of Hai Rui and Bao Zheng!

Actually, by reason, Kong Ying, a lowly secretary, would not dare to so offend the current vice-premier to the point of death.

But who made this vice-premier Zhang Tingyu's reputation so terrible in recent times, even arousing public anger!

And as a descendant of the Duke Yansheng, a pillar of the scholarly elite, if he does not now step forward to make a stunning debut and display his unyielding integrity, when else would he?

Even this speech was prepared in advance by him privately finding aides to ghostwrite it, and he borrowed some experience from Jia Jing's tirade against the Duke of Zhao, aiming for a grand momentum, harmonizing reason and vigor, with rising and falling cadence!

At this moment, surrounded by the astonished, encouraging, and admiring gazes of officials, Kong Ying felt somewhat elated, thinking that today might be the beginning of his name being recorded in history.

It's just a pity that this Zhang Hengchen is so thick-skinned; even after being denounced like this, he didn't vomit blood or faint, leaving him feeling that something was lacking.

And as the remonstrances of the Ministry of War secretary Kong Ying grew increasingly fierce, some censors who had been watching from the sidelines could no longer restrain themselves— how could such a momentum be left to just one person?

Thus, dozens of inspection and remonstrance officials successively stepped forward to present their views earnestly, either opposing the flaying-and-exposing punishment, or denouncing Zhang Tingyu for pandering to the ruler, lacking virtue, speaking sharply, providing ample evidence, and frequently invoking the words of sages and the statutes of ancestors.

Even a few censors went so far as to impeach Jia Jing, saying he governs by military force over civil authority, destroys ancestral institutions, investigates cases with cruelty, slaughters the innocent indiscriminately, inflicts excessive killing, and harms heavenly harmony, etc.

Especially unexpected was,

The Prince of Zhongshun, who usually serves as a mascot at court assemblies, surprisingly also stepped forward to impeach Jia Jing for last night ordering the Imperial City Guard to seal a law-abiding pawnshop in his mansion and cart away more than ten boxes of wealth!

Truly, he disregards royal law, acts without restraint, uses power for private gain, bullies the imperial clan, and asks Emperor Jing Sheng Di to decide the matter!

At this moment, Jia Jing chose to coldly observe, with no intention to argue at all, and even prevented some of his subordinates who wanted to step forward and retaliate.

First, in his view, the impeachments by Prince Zhongshun and others are entirely like lighting a lamp in a toilet— just looking for trouble for themselves, not worth refuting.

Second, given his current status and position, he has long passed the stage of needing to argue with others; it is utterly meaningless.

Third, he knows this is Emperor Jing Sheng Di drawing out the snake from its hole, fishing for law enforcement, merely to see clearly the officials' positions and the court situation.

Many matters, he and Emperor Jing Sheng Di have already repeatedly exchanged opinions and compared notes; they fully understand each other, just waiting for the right moment!

And because Jia Jing remained silent, for a while the only one in the hall who occasionally offered a few rebuttals was Zhang Tingyu, which made him appear rather isolated and unable to cope!

Xiong Cilü watched this scene, his face expressionless, yet inwardly he could not help but sneer.

This is where the people's hearts lie!

Zhang Tingyu and Jia Jing, through several cruel acts, may seem to curry favor with the emperor, but they have long lost the hearts of the officials!

What good is holding a public heart? What good is striving to aid the state? To offend so many people— how could this be the way of an official?

In officialdom, it is always about uniting the majority to strike at a minority!

Zhang Tingyu and Jia Jing simply do not understand this basic principle of officialdom; they suffer from a rash, hasty malady!

Of course, he also clearly understands that relying merely on such mild, painless impeachments by the censors cannot harm the two in the slightest!

Because in every court discussion, the censors mostly serve as the initiators of issues, while the real decisions and final rulings are made by the Cabinet, the Six Ministries, and the Nine Chiefs— the senior ministers of the court.

But these senior ministers are all veteran officials, each deeply versed in the way of prudent self-preservation, and they would not lightly express biased opinions!

For example, he himself— is he not now playing the spectator on the wall, gauging the heavenly will and 'public opinion'?

Behind the imperial case, Emperor Jing Sheng Di's face was cold and stern, his gaze continually sweeping over the officials below, and he asked solemnly:

"Who else has something to say? Say it all together!"

He originally thought that after ten years on the throne, a few victorious campaigns abroad had earned him prestige, and in court he already possessed prestige second only to that of Taizu and Chengzu.

He never expected that as soon as a sensitive issue concerning the officials' vital interests arose, the court would instantly erupt in tumult!

Especially these censors simply treat the court as a place to boost their own reputations; who among them truly thinks wholeheartedly for the state and the sovereign?

Had he not seen the records of various secret affairs of the officials at hand, he might truly have believed that these people were all righteous and fearless of power, loyal and upright ministers!

Upon these words, the officials below all brightened; could it be that the emperor has been moved by public opinion, wishing to humbly accept counsel and broaden the path of speech?

Of course, there were also a few whose hearts jolted, keenly sensing that Emperor Jing Sheng Di seemed to be suppressing his anger!

After a moment of silence, seeing that no one else would speak, Xiong Cilü reckoned it was his turn to step forward; he composed his expression, left his rank, and with clasped hands said:

"Your Majesty! As a cabinet minister, I bear the duty to assist the emperor's virtue; I find that the officials' words are not without reason!"

"In the case of Fang Congzhe today, the evidence is solid, the people already fear. Your Majesty's prestige is established; there is no need to add further cruelty to your name."

"I request that Your Majesty first execute the chief culprit by lingchi to uphold the law; the remaining accomplices should be sentenced according to statute, punishment fitting the crime, and not all be condemned to death."

As for the punishment of flaying and exposing the corpse, I think it can be temporarily postponed; if corrupt officials who break the law still appear later, we can again use this punishment to deter them, and then the whole world will not dare to defy.

"I believe that punishment establishes prestige, and prestige stops killing. After the recent party faction case and this one, the officials are already panic-stricken, the court's prestige is established, so there is no need to rush to use punishment; moreover, I ask Your Majesty to leave some leeway for the scholar-officials, thereby preserving the propriety of ruler and minister."

These remarks amount to giving Emperor Jing Sheng Di a step down—not saying the flaying-and-exposing punishment is utterly impermissible, only suggesting it be postponed for now to observe the outcome.

Thus it neither overly provokes the Son of Heaven nor opens the door to a trend of the flaying-and-exposing cruelty.

As for what to do if someone really embezzles again next time, naturally there will be other arguments!

Emperor Jing Sheng Di stared at Xiong Cilü with an expressionless face, and asked:

"What about the officials' impeachments of Zhang Tingyu and Jia Zi Jie— what do you say?"

Since you intend to step forward as a mediator, this is a perfect chance to sound out your true colors!

Xiong Cilü's heart jolted, and he weighed his words before speaking:

"Senior Grand Secretary Zhang and Duke Jing are handling the case according to imperial orders; I dare not casually interject."

"However, in my view, Senior Grand Secretary Zhang's conduct has been somewhat rigid, seemingly failing to consider the stability of the court and Your Majesty's sagacity..."

Frankly, don't look at Xiong Cilü's earlier impassioned speech outside the hall saying he wanted to oppose Jia Jing— but when actually faced with making him an enemy face-to-face, he still does not wish to!

The lesson of Fang Congzhe is not far away; his whole family has already been captured and killed—he, Xiong Cilü, certainly does not want to follow in Fang Congzhe's footsteps!

As for such a martial official who holds military power, has earned military merits, and enjoys imperial favor, we still need to make long-term plans against him!

On the contrary, Zhang Tingyu, also a Grand Councilor, could be tried to pinch a bit!

Within this cabinet, it cannot be completely harmonious, can it?