"Your Majesty, I, Han Yu, pay my respects to you." Han Yu said respectfully after saluting Zhu Youxiao.
Zhu Youxiao smiled, waved his hand gently, and said directly: "This is not the court, my dear, there is no need to be so polite."
After saying that, he turned to look at Chen Hong and ordered, "Please sit down."
After Han Yu sat down, Zhu Youxiao asked, "My dear, is there something you want to do for me today?"
Han Yu was well aware of Zhu Youxiao's pretense of stupidity.
He knew that His Majesty didn't want to hear him talk about those things. If he withdrew now, His Majesty could pretend that nothing had happened.
But that wouldn't work! Han Yu couldn't just watch this matter escalate. If it continued, more than just one or two people would be implicated.
Thinking of this, Han Yu steeled his resolve and quickly said, "Your Majesty, I'm here regarding the Xiong Tingbi case."
Zhu Youxiao looked at Han Yu and asked curiously, "Is it about this matter? I wonder if you have anything to say?"
Although His Majesty's tone was calm and there seemed to be nothing hidden, Han Yu knew that things were far from that simple.
If it was said that Wei Zhongxian's actions were not supported by His Majesty, Han Yu would never believe it. However, there was no way to make this clear.
After a moment's silence, Han Yu said, "Your Majesty, I think Feng Sanyuan's words are not credible."
Zhu Youxiao smiled after hearing Han Yu's words. He sat up straight and looked at Han Yu, "What do you mean by that, my dear?"
Han Yu was stunned. What did you mean?
You're just talking, and you have no evidence.
However, Han Yu had further arguments, "Your Majesty, Feng Sanyuan's words are completely unfounded and are nothing more than slander. While some of the court's senior officials may have harbored flawed personal values and committed misdeeds, they have never formed cliques for personal gain. A minister should not serve the sovereign out of a clique, and the sovereign should not doubt his ministers out of a clique. Only in this way can the relationship between the sovereign and his subjects remain harmonious. If Your Majesty were to launch a major uprising today based on Feng Sanyuan's words, it would inevitably drive a wedge between the sovereign and his subjects."
Han Yu's expression was serious, solemn, and sincere. It was obvious that his words came from the heart.
Zhu Youxiao could see it, but he didn't take it to heart. Instead, he smiled. At the same time, he sighed in his heart. Sure enough, the Donglin Party members would say that.
Zhu Youxiao glanced at Han Yu and didn't let him continue. Instead, he asked directly, "Your words are very reasonable. I deeply agree with them. Ministers should not serve the emperor based on their factions, and the emperor should not doubt his ministers based on their factions. This is very well said. If I don't doubt my ministers based on their factions, does that mean my ministers won't serve the emperor based on their factions? Isn't Xiong Tingbi's case obvious?"
"What was the purpose of Taizu setting up the Censorate? Tell me!" When he said this, the smile on Zhu Youxiao's face disappeared and his voice became much louder.
Han Yu suddenly felt bitter in his heart.
To be honest, Han Yu didn't know about the bad things those people in the Censorate had done.
The impeachment of Xiong Tingbi was led by Yang Lian and others, not Han Yu.
As a cabinet minister, Han Yu naturally would not get involved in these things. However, he knew that forcing Xiong Tingbi away would put Liaodong under the control of his people.
But all he knew was to force Xiong Tingbi to leave, because he also looked down on Xiong Tingbi.
In Han Yu's view, Xiong Tingbi had great ambitions but little talent, a bad temper, and was an old friend of Fang Congzhe, so it was natural that he had to be taken down.
But Han Yu never imagined that there was collusion with Li Ruzhen involved.
You should know that the relationship between him and Li Ruzhen was not good. At the beginning, the brothers Li Rubai and Li Ruzhen were guilty and should have been arrested and punished, but the eunuch issued an order to pardon them.
It was Liu Yirong and I who petitioned for justice and had them arrested according to the law.
But this reminded Han Yu of something.
That is, after Li Ruzhen was arrested, many people spoke well of him.
The reason was the same. Li Ruzhen was from the Liaodong Li family, which had deep roots in Liaodong, so it was inappropriate to start a war. The Jiannu were rampant in Liaodong. If Li Ruzhen was severely punished at this time, it would inevitably alienate the Liaodong soldiers, which would be detrimental to the Ming Dynasty's suppression of the Jiannu and the stability of Liaodong.
At that time, I felt that what these people said made sense. They were wholeheartedly serving the country, which was what a gentleman would do.
Now, looking back, how much selfishness is hidden in this? How many people came to me to plead for mercy because they accepted bribes from the Li family?
Thinking of this, Han Yu felt bad.
However, this matter should not be escalated, and only a few cases should be dealt with as appropriate. Otherwise, the court will be in turmoil and the officials will be in chaos, which is not a blessing for the Ming Dynasty, but the beginning of turmoil.
Although the Ming Dynasty is not in a precarious situation now, it has indeed lost its vitality. It is really not appropriate to start a war at this time.
Besides, Han Yu still believed that those people were just bad apples and it would be enough to just dismiss them. There was no need to implicate so many people and fabricate a big case.
However, looking at His Majesty's attitude at this moment, it might not be easy for him to persuade His Majesty. Thinking of this, Han Yu felt somewhat helpless.
Faced with Zhu Youxiao's question, Han Yu had no choice but to answer.
He said bluntly: "The Censorate is your Majesty's eyes and ears, and the officials of the Censorate should be role models for all other officials."
After saying this, Han Yu felt a little discouraged.
What these people did was so shameful!
How could a person who accepted bribes to impeach a frontier minister be qualified to be the Imperial Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate?
Especially those villains who confessed to Li Ruzhen when they were in the East Factory, but recanted their confession when they were in the Three Courts; now that Wei Zhongxian is trying the case, they have recanted again. They have no integrity or bottom line at all, and are simply a disgrace to the world!
Han Yu wanted to kill all of these people.
Zhu Youxiao nodded and looked at Han Yu and said, "My dear minister, you are right. We are the eyes and ears of the emperor. But what are these people doing? They accept bribes, impeach others, and frame border officials! Are they still the eyes and ears of the emperor? In my opinion, accusing them of dereliction of duty, accepting bribes, and framing court officials is a light punishment. They should be directly charged with deceiving the emperor!"
Han Yu was horrified. He wasn't worried that Zhu Youxiao would actually convict these people of deceiving the emperor. He was worried about the emperor's anger.
This incident obviously made His Majesty no longer trust the Censorate and these clean officials, and instead trust Wei Zhongxian.
It seems that things are far more serious than I thought.
"Your Majesty," Han Yu said quickly, "Although there have been a few bad apples within the Censorate, the majority of its censors remain diligent and loyal to their country. I believe that rigorously rectifying the Censorate and removing these bad apples is a top priority."
Zhu Youxiao smiled again, looked at Han Yu and asked casually, "My dear, do you think this case should be thoroughly investigated?"
This is a heart-wrenching question.
If you say it shouldn't be done, then everything you said before is nonsense, and you don't need to sit in the position of Grand Secretary of the Cabinet anymore.
If you say it should, then you must investigate.
Now that the matter has come to this, Han Yu can guarantee that once he says it is okay, he will hear the news spread throughout the capital after he leaves the palace!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
