Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

In the north of the city, there is Shuntian Mansion Office.

As the nominal administrative agency of Beijing City, the Shuntian Government Office is located in Lingchunfang. It is known as the Small Punishment Department because it has the power to handle cases across the country.

A little old man wearing a third-grade official uniform was sitting in the flower hall of the back house of the government office. His eyes were not very good, and he was playing chess with Shuntian Prefecture Zhizhong with squinted eyes.

The current Shuntian Prefecture Yin is named Wu Qi. He is from Songjiang Prefecture in South Zhili. He was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Jingtai. He gradually rose from a county magistrate in a remote area to the high position of a third-rank Shuntian Prefecture Yin.

Although he did not have outstanding political achievements during his official career, he gained the reputation of the county magistrate in rags during his nine-year tenure as county magistrate. In addition, he upheld a clean and honest style during his tenure, so he had a good reputation in the officialdom.

Since Feng Guan, the minister of Dali Temple, was dismissed from his post for protecting Li Min, the position of minister of Dali Temple has been vacant.

In the latest court recommendation, Wu Qi, the Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, who is known as the poor county magistrate, has the highest voice. Now he has been recommended to Zhu Youtang's desk by Jiuqing Court as the first candidate.

Although the Shuntian Prefecture Yin and the Dali Temple Minister are both of the third rank, the Shuntian Prefecture Yin is considered a local official, while the Dali Temple Minister is an out-and-out capital official and ranks among the nine ministers, so it can be regarded as a promotion.

Wu Qi was in a good mood recently because the third-grade official uniform he had worn for two years finally had two holes, which undoubtedly made his image of incorruptibility more vivid.

Lord Fu Yin, are you too hasty in handling the Jiaofang Division case today? Sun Wang, Zhizhong of Shuntian Prefecture, looked at Wu Qi who was thinking, but he was worried.

The level of Shuntian government office is the third grade, which is the highest level government office in the world along with Yingtian government office.

In view of this, the Ming Dynasty established a Zhizhong of the fifth rank on top of the general judge of the sixth rank and the official of the seventh rank, and above him was the Fu Cheng of the fourth rank.

It's just that there are Fu Yin and Fu Cheng in charge of the administration, and there are general magistrates and push officials below to handle specific affairs, so the situation is rather awkward, and they are more like Fu Yin's secretaries.

Wu Qi dropped a white piece on the chessboard and said disapprovingly: I'm just an official prostitute. If she dies, she will die. How big a deal can this be?

Master Fu Yin, I heard that there were two strangulation marks on the deceased's neck, and those martial arts disciples were acting erratically. I'm afraid there's another story about this matter! Sun Wang, the leader of Shuntian Prefecture, dropped a sunspot and told his story Judgment.

Wu Qi seemed to have no interest in this kind of thing. He still focused on the chessboard and said: I have been a local official for decades. If you have to pay for everything, you will not be able to do anything in the end. I am just an official prostitute. Regardless of how she died, Marquis Funing has already said hello to her, so why don’t I realize it? Hanging yourself to end the case is a public and private matter, and you and I are free to play chess here. Isn’t that beautiful!

Listening to Mr. Fu Yin's words is better than studying for ten years! I'm ready to learn from you! Sun Wang, who was in charge of Shuntian Prefecture, was stunned for a moment, and then he raised his hands with understanding.

Without background and money management, it would naturally not be easy for ordinary officials to climb up the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty.

He always thought that he didn't understand why Wu Qi's official career was smoother than most people's despite being not a smart person and not being cared for by a big shot.

It was only now that I saw Wu Qi's acting style, especially his way of avoiding important matters and taking advantage of the light, that I could vaguely grasp the key points. No wonder he is about to be promoted to Minister of Dali Temple. He is really outstanding.

Wu Qi didn't realize how profound his words were, and the chess piece in his hand couldn't be moved. It seemed that he was going to lose the game again.

At this time, an official came over in a hurry and informed the palace that someone was coming.

I congratulate you, Mr. Fu Yin, on your promotion! Sun Wang guessed that the candidate for the minister of Dali Temple had been decided, and he immediately put down the chess piece in his hand and congratulated him.

Wu Qi suddenly felt as if he had eaten honey, and waved his hands repeatedly: Haha... This matter has not been decided yet. Let's go out to meet the decree now!

Master Fu Yin, that Eunuch Huang is not here to issue an edict. He seems to be summoning you to the palace! The Yamen official saw that Wu Qi had misunderstood and immediately reported it.

Master Fu Yin, today it is rare to summon ministers. Now that Mr. Fu Yin is summoned by your majesty, your majesty must attach great importance to you! Sun Wang deliberately flattered Wu Qi, who was about to be promoted, and immediately flattered him.

Wu Qi gently stroked his snow-white beard. He had been an honest official all his life. His deeds must have been known to the world today. He just said with a little embarrassment: This game of chess...

Your Majesty Fu Yin has superb chess skills, and I am willing to accept the defeat! Sun Wang had the ability to tell lies with his eyes open, and he immediately admitted defeat.

Wu Qi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then put down the chess piece in his hand and said: Haha... then I will go to the palace to meet the Holy Spirit!

I congratulate Mr. Fu Yin on his promotion!

Lord Fu Yin, I hope to support you in the future!

Lord Fu Yin, I will go to Yanyang Tower to prepare a banquet for you!

…

After learning that Wu Qi had been summoned to the palace to meet the saint, officials from the Shuntian government office rushed out of their respective offices and complimented Wu Qi who was leaving immediately.

Wu Qi was a man with a strong sense of vanity. Now that he saw all the subordinate officials fawning over him, he immediately smiled from ear to ear. Standing on the steps of the gate, he cupped his hands and said to the subordinate officials who were seeing him off: I am an official. I am as honest as water, and I will encourage you all now!

Incorruptible as water?

The person who came to summon this time was the eunuch Huang Pan. When he heard this word, he couldn't help but look at this Shuntian Fuyin who was wearing a hole-in-the-wall official uniform strangely.

According to his experience, any official who gets involved with this word will have no good results.

In Dongnuan Pavilion, sandalwood smoke curls up.

Xu Qiong, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, is now a core member of the clan. He came here specifically to ask: Your Majesty, the emperor must plow the land himself to provide rice. Please choose a day in February to plow the land as a gift!

What are the regulations for the plowing ceremony? Zhu Youtang, who had become more and more disgusted with red tape, asked calmly.

Xu Qiong, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, gradually figured out Zhu Youtang's temperament, and immediately took out a memorial from his sleeve and said: Your Majesty, here are the regulations. Please read it!

Liu Jin took the memorial from Xu Qiong and respectfully presented it to Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang was working on a plan to restructure the military pay of the SHIELD Battalion and the 12th Battalion. He also took the time to look at the process of farming and borrowing gifts, and his brows could not help but frown slightly.

Just as I thought, this plowing ceremony requires worshiping a lot of gods, and there are several steps in how to start plowing, and plowing requires three push and three return rituals, and the cabinet ministers and the six ministers Then do nine push and nine return rituals.

Formalism, this is his first impression.

Zhu Youtang knew that it was necessary for the emperor to plow the land himself, but such complicated etiquette was not necessary. He immediately threw down the memorial and said: Simplify it and upload it again!

I accept the decree! Xu Qiong, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, found that it was just as he had guessed, and couldn't help but said bitterly.

Zhu Youtang didn't want to waste time on unimportant matters, so he gently raised his hand to signal Xu Qiong to retreat, but he began to think about how the SHIELD Battalion and the 12th Battalion should compete.

Since the jealousy of the 12th Battalion has been committed, strength will naturally speak for itself. Whoever has a strong fist can take more, and whoever has a weak fist will naturally have to swallow his anger.

Just as Xu Qiong retreated, Huang Pan came in from outside and reported that Shuntian Prefecture Yin Wu Qi was waiting at Qianqing Gate.

Zhu Youtang thought of the ridiculous things happening at the feet of the world, and immediately summoned the Shuntian Prefecture Yin, and even put down his work to take a good look at this minister.

There were two strangulation marks on the neck of the deceased. Just because the matter involved the Funing Hou Mansion, he was eager to hang himself to close the case without even conducting an autopsy. What did the strange officials under his management look like.

But when he came in, he found that it was completely different from the treacherous and evil figure he thought. This little old man was actually filled with some grace and a certain simplicity.

Your Majesty Wu Qi, the Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, respectfully greets you! Wu Qi suppressed the ecstasy in his heart and saluted respectfully.

Zhu Youtang looked deeply at this short official and asked straight to the point: Master Wu, what's going on with the Jiaofang Division case today?

Your Majesty, I have found out that it was the official prostitute who hanged herself! Wu Qi was slightly startled at first, then realized that he was not discussing his promotion to the minister of Dali Temple, so he answered honestly.

Zhu Youtang couldn't help but laugh, and said with a bit of sarcasm: Verification? As far as I know, you closed the case without even conducting an autopsy, but I don't know how you verified it?

Your Majesty, official prostitution is a despicable profession, and cases of suicide are not uncommon! This matter involves the Funing Marquis Mansion. I think it is not appropriate to go into it further, so I did not arrange an autopsy. Closing the case with a posthumous title can satisfy all parties! Wu However, Qi couldn't understand why the aloof emperor cared about the life and death of an official prostitute, so she expressed her thoughts.

this……

Liu Jin had been standing by and watching, thinking that the Shuntian governor would have to defend himself vigorously. After all, this kind of treatment was simply dereliction of duty.

Unexpectedly, the Shuntian Prefecture Yin actually admitted it directly, and did not hide that he was protecting the Funing Houfu, but he didn't know which song he was going to sing.

Although he was used to seeing incompetent civil servants, this was the first time in his life that he saw such an incompetent civil servant who could still be so confident.

Zhu Youtang was also a little confused, so he asked seriously: You mean this case is related to the Funing Hou Mansion, so there is no need to investigate further?

That's right! The Marquis of Funing is the Duke of the Ming Dynasty. He has made great military exploits for the Ming Dynasty. How can he accuse the Duke's family just because of an official prostitute! Wu Qi nodded lightly and said matter-of-factly.

Are you okay?

Liu Jin realized that she had become more knowledgeable today, and looked at the short Shuntian Fu Yin with complex eyes and secretly thought.

Zhu Youtang didn't understand how such a person could get such an important position, and how the nine ministers could push such a person to the high position of Dali Temple Minister, so he asked with a straight face: Princes who break the law are as guilty as the common people. , the matter involves the Funing Hou Mansion and we will not investigate it further. Is this your way of being an official?

Your Majesty, how can the prince really be compared with the common people? It is really not appropriate for an official prostitute to spend a lot of time. It is best to settle the case with a posthumous title! Wu Qi didn't understand why the emperor was still bothering about the official prostitute, but he still Stay true to your opinions.

Zhu Youtang realized that he couldn't reason clearly with such a person, so he took a breath and said, Master Wu, are you serious about not knowing the crime?

Your Majesty, I... what crime are you guilty of? Wu Qi found that the emperor seemed to be angry and looked very confused.

Zhu Youtang didn't understand why there were such ridiculous officials in the Ming Dynasty, so he directly issued an order: What's the crime? Come here, take off his black gauze hat for me!

As soon as he finished speaking, two big Han generals came in and involuntarily took off Wu Qi's black gauze hat.

Your Majesty, why is this? Wu Qi was unable to resist the emperor's order, but asked aggrievedly.

As the black gauze hat was taken off, Wu Qi revealed a big bald head, but he didn't know when he was already bald. It's no wonder that he always likes to wear official uniforms.

It's just that after the black gauze hat was removed, the trace of literary aura disappeared, and now he looked like an ordinary bald old man.

Zhu Youtang did not sympathize with this embarrassed little old man, so he said calmly: The legislation of the saints is based on the publicity of the world! As a parent and official, you should love the people as your sons, but treat the people as nothing! If I don't get rid of you now! As an official, I am ashamed of the people of the world!

Your Majesty, I have never been corrupt since I became an official. If you treat a good minister like this, won't it make the world's scholars feel cold? Wu Qi couldn't help but screamed when he saw that Zhu Youtang wanted to remove him from office.

Zhu Youtang had already noticed the holes in his official uniform, but he said very coldly: Eating the emperor's salary and sharing the emperor's worries. When in the Ming Dynasty can the official status last forever as long as he is not greedy? Someone, take him Drag him out!

Maybe Wu Qi is really not corrupt as an official, but such a person is worse than a corrupt official when he is in charge of local government.

Corrupt officials still know what to do and what not to do, but Wu Qi has no regard for the common people, and he may have caused countless injustices.

In fact, what is even more frightening is that officials like Wu Qi are probably not isolated cases, but there are officials like Concubine Wu who have been hiding in this large team of officials.

What's more, this pedantic imperial examination system may have been producing Wu Qi.

No! Don't! Wu Qi was dragged away by two big Han generals. She looked at her black gauze hat getting closer and closer to her, and she said in horror.

As the news of Wu Qi's dismissal spread, the entire officialdom was in an uproar.

Wu Qi acted like this because he naturally wanted to reduce officials to serve the people. It is really very satisfying!

That's true, but have you ever thought about why Your Majesty suddenly became interested in the case of the Jiaofang Division?

Your Majesty is targeting the Funing Marquis Mansion. He...is he using the Jiaofangsi case to scare the Funing Marquis?

…

Zhu Youtang's punishment of Wu Qi was originally a good thing that pleased people's hearts, but as some officials interpreted the matter, they immediately made associations.

But with the continuous interpretation of thoughtful people, things gradually changed.

It was originally a murder case with a reason for further investigation, but under the exaggeration of some thoughtful people, it turned into a murder case that His Majesty wanted to use the official prostitute's case to deal with the gang of martial artists.

Justice, it seems, has suddenly been forgotten by the world, but has been replaced by conspiracy theories.