The dragon holds the canopy in its mouth and carries the morning sun, while the phoenix spits out tassels and brings the sunset.
Hundred-foot-long silk threads entwine around the trees, and a group of delicate birds sing together among the flowers.
Crows are crying at night in the Censorate, and sparrows are about to roost in front of the Minister of Justice's door.
The faint red city overlooks the jade road, and the distant green curtain covers the golden embankment.
Since Emperor Chengzu moved the capital, most of the important government offices in the capital, except for the cabinet, were located outside the imperial city.
Exiting Chengtian Gate, both sides of Chang'an Avenue are lined with government offices of various functions.
On the east side of Chang'an Avenue are the Ministry of Clan Affairs, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, the Honglu Temple, the Imperial Observatory, the Imperial Medical Service, etc.; on the west side are the Five Military Commissioners' Headquarters, the Taichang Temple, the Tongzheng Commissioner's Office and the Jinyiwei Command Headquarters.
Only the three judicial departments were not in this area. In November of the seventh year of Zhengtong, the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate and the Dali Temple were established.
When planning the government offices, the special functions of the three judicial departments were taken into consideration.
The Ministry of Justice was responsible for criminal cases throughout the country, the Censorate conducted investigations, and the Supreme Court reviewed and rectified cases. According to established regulations, all major cases had to be heard jointly by the three judicial offices. Therefore, the three judicial offices were located adjacent to each other.
Among the six ministries, only the Ministry of Justice was located west of other government offices, so it was also called the Western Department.
This west does not refer to the southwest of the imperial city, but the west of the imperial city in the true sense, located west of Xuanwu Street.
The Tongzhengshisi was located south of the Wujundugu and Taichang Temple, and north of the Jinyiwei Commandery.
Therefore, if Zhao Wenhua wanted to go to the Ministry of Justice, he had to first pass through the Jinyiwei Yamen, then go south along Chang'an Avenue, out of the Daming Gate, and then make a long circle west.
Highlight a toss!
If he hadn't considered that this was a task assigned to him by his godfather, he really didn't want to go through this trouble.
Although he was sitting in a sedan chair, Zhao Wenhua still felt upset. Before passing the Jinyiwei Commandery, he ordered the sedan chair bearers to stop.
Since they are grasshoppers on the same rope, why should Mr. Lu hide at the back and ask Zhao Wenhua to charge forward?
This is not fair!
The more Zhao Wenhua thought about it, the angrier he became, and he felt that he should find someone named Lu to argue with.
He straightened his robe and strode towards the main hall of the Jinyiwei Command Headquarters.
...
...
It is Lu Bing who is now in charge of the Jinyiwei.
Lu Bing had a distinguished background. He was born in Anlu, Huguang in the fifth year of the Zhengde reign. At that time, Lu Bing's mother was chosen as the wet nurse of the Anlu Prince, the current emperor. Therefore, Lu Bing lived with his mother in the Anlu Prince's Palace since he was a child.
Lu Bing was three years younger than the current emperor. When he grew up a little, he began to serve the prince.
Later, when Emperor Zhengde passed away, Yang Tinghe and all the officials selected Prince Anlu to inherit the throne. This was the beginning of Lu Bing's rise to prominence.
Lu Bing served in the Jinyiwei when he was a teenager. The then commander-in-chief Wang Zuo highly regarded his talent and personally taught him essential Jinyiwei skills such as writing interrogation records, handling case files, and handing over official documents.
In the 11th year of the Jiajing reign, Lu Bing was awarded the title of Military Scholar and was appointed Deputy Captain of the Imperial Guard. After Lu Song's death, he inherited the title of Deputy Commander-in-Chief and was in charge of the affairs of the Southern Pacification Office.
In the 18th year of Jiajing's reign, Lu Bing was promoted to the rank of deputy commander for his contribution in rescuing the emperor.
Lu Bing, who was favored by the emperor, finally replaced Chen Yin as the head of the Jinyiwei affairs in the 24th year of Jiajing.
Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. In October of the 26th year of the Jiajing reign, Chen Qixue, the censor of Huguang Province, impeached Lu Bing for using the excuse that there were treacherous people hiding in the capital to implement a strict prohibition policy and take the opportunity to plunder people's wealth. He also exposed Lu Bing's dereliction of duty, such as colluding with Hou Cui Yuan to increase the salt tax and accepting bribes from the profiteer Xu Er.
At that time, the cabinet's chief minister, Xia Yan, immediately wrote to the emperor suggesting that Lu Bing be arrested and punished. Lu Bing was horrified and, in a state of panic, bribed Xia Yan with three thousand taels of gold and knelt in tears to apologize. Only then did Xia Yan spare Lu Bing's life.
Although Lu Bing managed to escape temporarily, he was afraid that Xia Yan would go back on his word, so he secretly defected to Yan Song to take revenge on Xia Yan.
Soon Lu Bing got the chance. At the beginning of the 27th year of Jiajing, Yan Song impeached Xia Yan for having an affair with Zeng Xin. Lu Bing took the opportunity to produce evidence of Xia Yan's guilt.
Emperor Jiajing was furious and ordered Xia Yan to retire.
Since then, Yan Song was promoted to the chief minister, and Lu Bing no longer had any worries.
Therefore, Lu Bing was extremely grateful to Yan Song.
Of course, these are all things that happened later. Although Xia Yan was dismissed from office but not imprisoned, Lu Bing was still worried.
If Xia Yan makes a comeback, he will definitely take revenge on Lu Bing.
However, Lu Bing was handling official business in the Jinyiwei office. When he heard the announcement that Zuo Tongzheng Zhao Wenhua wanted to see him, he was overjoyed and quickly asked someone to invite him in.
Zhao Wenhua was Yan Song's godson, so Zhao Wenhua's coming must have been at Yan Song's behest.
Zhao Wenhua was older than Lu Bing, but he didn't take advantage of his age. After entering the government office, he smiled and bowed to Lu Bing: "Lu Donghu, long time no see."
Lu Bing quickly came out to greet him and said with a smile, "Brother Meicun, how are you? You never come to visit me for no reason!"
The two of them chatted happily, just like brothers.
As they chatted, it was Zhao Wenhua who first stated his purpose.
"Zeng Xin is imprisoned, and Xia Yan has been dismissed from office. The matter appears to have been settled, but Lord Yan remains concerned and wants to make it a solid case."
Lu Bingqi asked, "Isn't this case handled with enough ironclad determination?"
Zhao Wenhua shook his head and sneered, "Those three judges are playing dirty tricks to avoid the infamy they deserve. Your Majesty ordered them to convict Zeng Xin, but they acted without any legal basis. Your Majesty ordered them to convict according to the law, yet they've fabricated the charge of the border commander capturing the fortress."
Lu Bing nodded: "That's indeed a bit excessive. Do you want Lord Yan to bear the blame?"
Zhao Wenhua laughed dryly and said, "Donghu is joking. Lord Yan said that what the Three Judicial Departments need now is a piece of evidence."
How could Lu Bing not hear such an obvious hint?
It was Lu Bing who first impeached Zeng Xin. Zhao Wenhua asked Lu Bing to throw out some more shocking information.
Lu Bing pondered for a moment, then stroked his beard and said, "I have discovered that Zeng Xin once sent his son Zeng Chun to bribe Prime Minister Xia Yan through Su Gang."
Zhao Wenhua was overjoyed when he heard this.
He thought that Lu Bing was worthy of being a member of the Imperial Guard, and the evidence he found was very useful.
Su Gang was the father of Xia Yan's second wife. If Zeng Xin sent his son to contact Su Gang, wouldn't that be a direct contact with Xia Yan?
"Donghu should be credited with the greatest achievement!"
Zhao Wenhua said proudly, "If that's the case, then it's perfectly legitimate to accuse a border general of consorting with close ministers. Not only will Zeng Xin be killed, but Xia Yan will be unable to escape either."
"Brother Meicun, you are too kind. I am only doing my job for the imperial court."
Zhao Wenhua secretly cursed Lu Bing in his heart for being a whore and trying to be a virtuous woman, saying that she was so shameless.
"Donghu, do you want to go to the Ministry of Justice with me?"
Lu Bing shook his head and said, "I'm very busy with official duties at the government office. I really can't spare the time."
Zhao Wenhua knew that he didn't want to be criticized by the officials of the Three Judicial Departments, so he didn't say anything.
After all, the Jinyiwei was above the three judicial departments and was only responsible to the emperor.
The officials of the Three Judicial Departments had long disliked the Jinyiwei, and if Lu Bing went to the Ministry of Justice at this time, he would inevitably be scolded.
"In that case, Zhao will not bother Donghu anymore. Goodbye!"
Seeing Zhao Wenhua was about to leave, Lu Bing quickly stood up to see him off, but he looked very serious.
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