1

Zhang Xianzhong's army approached Xinyang, and the defenders of Xinyang surrendered after holding on for three days, and Zhang Xianzhong allocated 5,000 soldiers and horses to besiege Luoshan with Li Dingguo, Duan Qi, and Wolf Ba. The county ordered Wang Wu to lead the people to resist, but the righteous army was strong, and after resisting for a day, the city fell. Duan Qi and Wolf Ba broke into the county government with a thousand righteous troops, slaughtering more than 300 large and small officials inside, and Wang Wu and other court officials were cut off and hung at the east gate to show the public.

After the army was opened, there were only 2,000 righteous troops in Xiangyang City. At this time, Zuo Liangyu fought with King Li Zihui in Zhuxian Town, was defeated and fled, probed the emptiness of Xiangyang, and then returned to the division to take it, and the righteous army defending the city saw Zuo Liangyu coming violently, and had to abandon the city and leave, and Xiangyang City returned to the hands of the official army.

On this day, Zuo Liangyu inspected and returned to the camp, and the general Li Jingyu said: "Now the people are spreading everywhere that Cao Yin's ghost gate is closed and the 'Huangquan Road' is closed, has the general ever heard it?" ”

Zuo Liangyu said: "I've heard it a long time ago, but I didn't expect that Cao Yin, a scholar, could withstand Zhang Xianzhong's tyranny, it's not easy!" Compared with those officials and generals who ate the imperial court and immediately knelt down and surrendered when they met thieves, he Cao Yin is also a hero. ”

Li Jing said: "I heard that after the righteous army left, Cao Yin was left in the city medicine hall for treatment, and he gave the doctor fifty taels of silver, why didn't the general invite him to take care of him?" ”

Zuo Liangyu squinted at Li Jing and said in surprise: "Invite him?" A good tomorrow is messed up by these pedantic literati, what do you ask him to do? ”

Li Jing said: "The general doesn't know, this Cao Yin has always advocated strict enforcement of laws, and the emperor has also intended to reuse him several times, but it is only because of the many obstructions of the ministers of the court and the central government that he has not been reused." Zhang Xianzhong broke through Xiangyang, wanted to worship him as the secretary of the criminal department, but he sternly refused, and set up 'Huangquan Road' to force him, he would rather die than give in, this matter spread loudly, and sooner or later one day he will preach to the emperor's ears. ”

Zuo Liangyu said: "You mean that the emperor feels his loyalty and will use him again?" ”

Li Jing said: "The emperor's employment is capricious, this person is a criminal minister of the court today, maybe he will become our boss tomorrow." ”

Zuo Liangyu realized something, and said happily: "Quick, take me to the medical hall, this general is going to beat gongs and drums, and welcome Lord Cao lively." ”

Zuo Liangyu and Li Jing rode horses, with a hundred retinues and an empty sedan chair, and came to the post house to welcome Cao Yin with gongs and drums. The doctor didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly informed Cao Yin, who listened and came to the door step by step with a cane. Zuo Liangyu got off the horse, stepped forward with a smile and said, "Lord Cao has suffered. Lord Cao is loyal and righteous, and Liangyu admires. ”

Cao Yin heard that Zuo Liangyu personally brought the sergeant to look for him, thinking that he was here to arrest him and return to the cell, but he didn't expect him to look kind, and prepare a sedan chair to greet him, with a grand pomp, so he asked in surprise: "General Zuo, Cao Yin is a prisoner of the imperial court, what do you mean by this?" ”

Zuo Liangyu said with a smile: "Having said that, Lord Cao is loyal and good, who in the world doesn't know?" The emperor is sage, and it is a matter of time before you pardon your lords. ”

"I hope so, but before the emperor pardoned Cao Yin, Cao Yin was still a prisoner of the imperial court, and I hope that the general will quickly put Cao Yin in shackles, put him in a prisoner car, and send him to prison, don't break the law of the Ming Dynasty," Cao Yin bowed.

Zuo Liangyu and Li Jing looked at each other, Li Jing knew that Cao Yin was pedantic, and after being stunned for a while, he came back to his senses and whispered: "It's better to rely on Lord Cao." Zuo Liangyu had no choice but to order his entourage to lock up Cao Yin and escort him into Xiangyang Prison City, so that he could take a good look.

2

Sure enough, as Li Jing expected, Zuo Liangyu had just put Cao Yin in prison for ten days, and the emperor's holy decree came.

Zuo Liangyu received the holy decree, secretly praised Li Jing for being like a god, and immediately ordered him to lead a hundred strong soldiers to escort Cao Yin to the north of Anhui. After walking for more than a month and sending it to the capital, the cabinet picked it up, and placed Cao Yin in a courtyard outside the yamen of the household department, with complete clothing and food, and thoughtful maids and servants, and sent brocade guards to guard day and night, and the treatment was no less than that of the three major members of the court.

That night, Cao Yin stroked Tongtian Wat, recalled the past 20 years and couldn't sleep all night, seeing that the sky was dawning, he simply stepped out of the room to relax.

Cao Yin came to a high yao in a trance, and as far as the eye could see, the pomegranate was blooming, and the flowers were red. Listen attentively, the milk swallow warbler is talking, and the high willow is singing and the cicadas are harmonious. Look at the mountain pond near the front, Qiongzhu scattered, and hit the new lotus. Cao Yin was overjoyed, and he couldn't imagine that Kyoto in the north also had such an extreme Jiangnan scenery.

Walking and swimming, going farther and farther, crossing the Liushui River Bridge, going to the green shade, I saw a summer pavilion, there are mountain monks and wild monks buried in the game, and there are four men in Tsing Yi who are silently watching. Cao Yin was interested, and he also stepped into the pavilion to watch the game. The mountain monk has a fat head and big ears, Ye Suo is as thin as firewood, the two of them are fighting fiercely, bowing their heads and thinking hard, Cao Yin looked at it for a while, and inadvertently glanced at the four onlookers, quite familiar, one by one carefully distinguished, it turned out to be the four jings, Cao Yin suddenly realized, it turned out that he came to Lingnan, no wonder there is such a good scenery.

Cao Yinxi asked: "Jing Kui, you are here, it's great, I'm looking for you four for the teacher." The four of them didn't answer, and still watched the mountain monk Yesu play with expressionless faces. Cao Yin pulled Jing Kui and Jing Ying's arms, and then took Jing Si and Jing Fei's hands and said: "I have worked hard for my teacher for 20 years, and today I have finally come out, the emperor will summon me tomorrow, and what you and I have learned in my life will finally be useful." Let's go back to the capital with the teacher. ”

Sijing was still silent, and Cao Yin didn't care, pulling Jing Si and Jing Fei to take a few steps, and then turned around and pushed Jing Kui and Jing Ying away. The old man said to the mountain monk: "Deqing, don't just care about winning me, you should also persuade this idiot." The mountain monk looked up and saw Cao Yin taking Sijing away, shook his head and smiled: "He, don't hit the south wall and don't look back, let him go." Fu also instructed Sijing: "You have the fate of master and apprentice, don't go to be unfilial, but the high place is not cold, you four must be careful everywhere, don't be greedy for nothingness and wealth, go early and return early." ”

It is strange to say, Sijing won the approval of the mountain monks, and suddenly regained his senses, one by one "teacher, teacher" called, Jing Kui said: "Teacher, our four brothers are in the army of Lingnan, doing hard labor every day, listening to Master Deqing's lectures in their spare time, although it is hard, but there is joy in suffering." I thought that I would never see my teacher again in this life, but I never thought that my teacher would come here today. ”

Cao Yin said: "I also came here with nothing to do, let's go, let's go back to Beijing, the emperor wants to reuse you and me." ”

The four Jing were overjoyed, and they all said: "In this case, let's go quickly, don't let the emperor wait for a long time." ”

The five masters and apprentices walked hand in hand, and unconsciously flew up, along the way, first crossed the towering Yanfeng, then crossed the Miao Miao Dongting Water, flew the green Baiyun Mountain, and then stepped on the Yellow River, seeing a lush garden below, Cao Yinxi said: "This is the emperor hunting the imperial garden Nanhaizi, we have finally arrived." ”

Unexpectedly, as soon as the words fell, Sijing suddenly fell down heavily, and Cao Yin was so frightened that he shouted: "Brother Jing, ......"

When he woke up, Cao Yin was shocked into a cold sweat, and the three Jinyi Guard Captains heard the shouts and hurriedly broke in: "What's wrong with my lord?" Cao Yin calmed down and found that it was just a dream of Nan Ke, so he let out a long breath and said in a daze: "It's okay." ”

A flag lieutenant said: "My lord must have slept late last night, and he didn't wake up until noon today." ”

Cao Yin: "Oh, it's noon? ”

Captain Qi said: "Good news came from the military department in the morning, they have escorted Jing Kui, Jing Ying, Jing Si, and Jing Fei back to Beijing by the emperor's holy decree, and now Sijing is going through the handover procedures at the yamen of the military department, and they will be sent in an hour or two, and Lord Cao and the four beloved disciples will be reunited." ”

"Huh? Seriously? Cao Yin was overjoyed, he had a good dream, but he never thought that his dream would come true.

"How dare the villain talk nonsense," the flag lieutenant saw that Cao Yin was fine, so he retreated: "My lord, the villains will retire first, if there is a send, just give orders." ”

The flag lieutenant withdrew from the room, Cao Yin was ecstatic, good things have always been born thrifty, since ancient times, melons are bitter and sweet, thanks to the emperor's grace, Cao Yin is loyal, and now it finally has a reward.

Two hours later, Wu Lu, the head of the household, hurried over with Sijing, and the master and apprentice saw each other with tears in their eyes. Wu Luxi said: "Lord Cao, tomorrow will face the saint, the emperor will definitely entrust the important task, your master and apprentice finally have a place to use, and the next day will depend on you." ”

Cao Yin bowed and said: "Cao Yin can have today, thanks to Lord Wu's repeated chivalrous rescues. Sijing also bowed and said: "Lord Wu has fought for righteousness, and my master and apprentice really don't know how to repay him." ”

Wu Lu said: "As long as the five of your masters and apprentices can prosper my Daming Sheji and settle my Daming people, Wu Lu's heart is satisfied!"

Cao Yin said: "The emperor is favored, and all loyal people support it, Cao Yin will do his best to revive the great tomorrow." He also said to Sijing: "As a teacher, I have been worried about your four brothers, first, I am worried about your lives, and secondly, I am worried that you have suffered so many hardships and given up your previous ambitions. ”

Jing Kui said: "The four of us are in Caoxi, Lingnan, and often go to Nanhua Temple to pay homage to the Buddha statue of Master Hanshan, and vow to be like Master Hanshan and commit to the safety of the people in the world. ”

"Master Hanshan?" Cao Yin asked, "Who is he?" ”

"Master Hanshan is the master of Master Luokong, he prayed for the blessings of the world all his life, and his body was enshrined in Caoxi Nanhua Temple after his death. In Lingnan, the people respected him as virtuous and worshipped him as a god. ”

"Oh, I see," Cao Yin sighed, "Famous teachers produce high apprentices, no wonder Master Luo Kong is bent on maintaining the suffering of all beings." ”

Jing Fei said: "Hanshan is his self-name, and the master's name is Deqing." ”

"Deqing?" Cao Yin was shocked, isn't the fat monk in my dream called "Deqing"?

3

Early the next morning, Cao Yin deliberately dressed up, held Tongtianwat in his hand, and came to the Forbidden City excitedly. "Then he stepped back. Cao Yin hurriedly grabbed and said, "Father-in-law Fang, if you don't report it, how can the lower officials see the holy face?" Fang Zhenghua said: "The emperor said that Cao Yin is holding a tongtianwat and can enter and exit freely, and the guards must not stop it." He approached Cao Yin again and whispered: "The emperor is in the Wuying Palace, and Lord Cao will go by himself, so why not." ”

Cao Yin was moved, tears broke down in his eyes, Fang Zhenghua walked more than ten steps away, looked back and saw that Cao Yin was still in place, and urged: "Lord Cao, don't you want to go quickly?" Success or failure is here, and we must not miss the opportunity. Cao Yin bowed and said, "Thank you Father-in-law Fang." ”

Cao Yin hurriedly passed through the Taihe Gate, bypassed the Taihe Palace, and went straight to the Wuying Palace, kneeling down, and said: "The minister Cao Yin knocked to see the emperor." A eunuch came out and said, "Lord Cao, the emperor is waiting for you." Cao Yin hurriedly stood up, wiped away his tears, stepped into the hall, bowed and knelt, and shouted long live.

Chongzhen saw that although Cao Yin's face was thin, he was full of energy, and he was secretly happy in his heart, and said after giving the seat: "Cao Yin, the emperor gave you Tongtianwa, I hope you will speak for the country, share worries for the monarch, and don't want to make people worse, forcing loyal ministers to be displaced, full of talent and falling into prison, you are wronged." ”

Cao Yin's compassion returned, and he cried bitterly: "The emperor knows the grievances of his ministers, and the ministers die without hatred!" ”

"Now the Ming Dynasty is worried about internal and external troubles, and the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty have no one who can share the worries for me. Cao Yin, everyone in the world says that you are proficient in ancient and modern laws, what are the good strategies for me today? ”

Cao Yin's spirit was lifted, and he leaned forward and said: "Your Majesty, there is no other way to govern the country, only the law." ”

Emperor Chongzhen frowned, and said indifferently: "The laws of the Ming Dynasty are complex and strict, compared with all dynasties, and they are all better. ”

"The ministers look at the laws of the past dynasties, they are all similar, but there are rules in the world, and there are troubled times, which can be seen in the prosperity and decline of the world, and the rule of chaos in the country, not in the number of laws, and the leniency of punishment."

Emperor Chongzhen leaned forward: "Cao Aiqing continued, you said that the number of laws and leniency have nothing to do with the rise and fall of the country, so what do we need the law for?" ”

"Definitely. The sages had a testament: 'Governing the people is impermanent, and only the law is the rule.' Therefore, the law can govern the country, and the law can make the country safe, which is the true meaning of the ages, and the holy king does not need to be suspicious. The minister means that if the emperor wants to stabilize the country, he must have good laws and good ministers. ”

Chongzhen was shocked: "How do you say this?" ”

"The law that follows the way of heaven is called a good law, and the minister who respects the law is called a good minister. Good law, the life and death of the people, and the justice of the world; Good ministers, keep the righteousness of the monarch and ministers, and practice the legacy of the sages. The people love the good law, and they are happy to abide by the law and not break it; Be loyal to the lord and enforce the law like a mountain. If this is the case, where will the turmoil in the world come from? ”

Emperor Chongzhen was overjoyed: "Cao Aiqing, in your opinion, where did today's rebellion in my Ming Dynasty come from?" ”

"The rebellions of all dynasties and dynasties were all due to the abolition of laws and decrees. In the beginning, the law was promulgated, known to the whole world, and the people kept it, and then there were occasional petty offenders, and the officials were either lazy, or because of favoritism, or because of petty offenses, or because of pity, and moved by personal feelings. In the long run, the people's hearts are stupid, and the traitors are one and ten, ten and hundred, hundreds and thousands, thousands and thousands, perennial accumulation, and finally thousands of thousands. ”

Emperor Chongzhen suddenly realized: "Yes, yes, when the thieves were in chaos, they should have been exterminated in one fell swoop, not giving him a chance to spread, but hating Yang He and Wu Fu for misleading the country, and they wanted to do something to appease, not only failed to appease the first evildoer, but instead lured out more thieves, alas! Yongchen misled the country. ”

"Does the emperor think that the beginning of the chaos when the thieves started?"

Emperor Chongzhen said: "Isn't it? ”

"Most of the people are hungry, and the hunger of the people is due to natural disasters and man-made disasters. Natural disasters are inevitable, but man-made disasters are completely preventable. In the year of famine, if the government can reduce or reduce taxes, or open warehouses to release grain, or build water conservancy, or expand agriculture, the people will not starve to death, and natural disasters will not cause chaos. But now, local governments at all levels are arbitrarily raising taxes, pressing the people to make it difficult to survive, and the officials are insatiable, preying on the people, one is increasing the burden on the people, the second is worsening the hatred of officials, and the third is damaging the reputation of the Son of Heaven. The people don't bet on the dignity of the Son of Heaven, they don't hear the jade sound of the Son of Heaven, the emperor loves the people like a son, but even if he allocates millions of silver taels and tens of millions of grains, they are all pocketed by corrupt officials and corrupt officials, the people don't know the truth, and the straight Son of Heaven is mediocre and doesn't love the common people. Therefore, the rebellion of Wang Jiayin, Wang Ziyong, Gao Yingxiang, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, Tang Hai and others was not a moment of hunger, but a result of the eunuch party deceiving the first emperor, tyrannizing power, and disrupting the country's politics for seven years. And, the reason why Wei Eunuch was able to bring disaster to the country was because the law did not work, Taizu issued an order: The eunuch party must not interfere in politics. The first emperor did not notice it for a while and failed to implement the law of Taizu, which led to this series of evil consequences. Therefore, in the humble opinion of the ministers, fourteen years ago, the rise of thieves was not the beginning of chaos, but the end of chaos, and the culprit of this chaos was not the law. ”

Chongzhen woke up like a dream and said happily: "The ancients said: Bian Que's cure for his illness is also to pierce the bone with a knife; The saint's salvation of the country in danger is also to be loyal to the ear. Piercing, so the small pain is in the body and the long benefit is in the body; Blowing the ears, so the small rebellion is in the heart and the country is blessed for a long time. Therefore, the very sick are good to endure the pain, and the fierce and resolute king is blessed with blessings. endure pain, so Bian Que is skillful; If you flick your ears, you will not lose Zixu. Cao Aiqing is the Bian Que of the Ming Dynasty and the son-in-law of me! ”

Cao Yin was greatly moved when he heard this, and bowed down again: "The emperor ascended the great treasure at the end of the chaos, and when the law was implemented and the dynasty was revitalized, only in this way can the party turn the tide and rejuvenate the Ming Dynasty!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen was overjoyed, walked off the throne quickly, and hurriedly helped Cao Yin and said: "Aiqing, now that I have both good laws and good ministers, what should I do next?" Is it true that the practice of the law can cure chaos? ”

"The great rule of the world is in one law word, and the chaos in the world is also in one law word. Can the emperor know the subtle relationship between governance, chaos, and law? ”

"Governance? Disorderly? Law? What is the relationship between the three? Emperor Chongzhen helped Cao Yin to sit on the seat, returned to the throne and straightened his clothes, and listened respectfully to Cao Yin's arguments.

"Please give an example. If there are 10,000 people in a small country and 100 people in the country have violated the law and violated the law, according to the courtier's careful calculations, if none of these 100 criminals are brought to justice, then after three years, everyone in the country will break the law. If one person is brought to justice, after three years, the offender in the country will be ninety-nine out of a hundred. If two people are brought to justice, after three years, the number of violators in the country will be 98 out of 100...... And so on, if all 100 people are brought to justice, then no one in the country will be guilty of adultery! In general, the higher the rate at which prisoners are caught, the lower the rate at which people commit crimes, and vice versa. Therefore, if there is a law, the world will be governed, and if the law is not applied, the world will be chaotic. ”

Emperor Chongzhen suddenly opened his mouth and said with great joy: "God has given love to Qing Yu I, and Daming has been saved." ”

Cao Yin said again: "The fate of the law is in faith, and the law without faith is evil and impossible." The combination of "law" and "faith" is infinitely powerful, and the world is in chaos, a "letter" word, can take the world, can protect the eternal generations, although the kings of the past dynasties have good laws, but do not know this way, and can not wait. ”

The emperor was overjoyed, stood up, walked back and forth in front of the throne, and said to himself: "What kind of official position should I be Feng Aiqing, the secretary of the criminal department?" Imperial History of the Metropolitan Inspectorate? Dali Temple? ”

"The emperor does not need to be a vassal, just give the minister a doctor of the country, and the other minister has four students, the emperor can take him four as assistant teachers, and choose three hundred people who are clean and honest, and five ministers and apprentices teach them the law and teach the mechanism of governance, chaos and law, and after half a year, the emperor gave them the power to supervise, and sent to the prefectures and counties to supervise local officials to catch corruption, catch thieves, and catch traitors. Corrupt officials and traitors, even if they are greedy for a penny and bend the law, will be dismissed. Those who commit adultery must be brought to justice even if they steal a steamed bun. As long as the emperor gives these inspectors and ministers absolute power, and allows them to cut first and then play, it is better than Qincha, and the ministers will not expect that within a year, the people will praise them and the place will be stable. ”

Emperor Chongzhen Longyan Dayue: "Okay, there are many corrupt and misleading officials in the court, I named Aiqing as the secretary of the criminal department, and the prince of the country supervised the sacrificial wine, and then gave Shang Fang the sword to inspect the hundred officials in the capital." ”

Cao Yin was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Majesty." The minister thought that if he wanted to demonstrate the emperor's determination to enforce the law, the emperor must give the people the right to violate the law, that is, if an official, a bully, a big family, or other people violate the law and are not prosecuted, then the people who commit the same crime can also be arrested by the officials, and if the officials want to arrest this person, they must first arrest other violators. ”

Emperor Chongzhen was stunned for a moment, and then said with a smile: "Aiqing is testing my determination to practice the law. ”

Cao Yin said: "As a parent official, you should not be afraid of the people enjoying the right to violate the law. Only corrupt officials with selfish intentions are afraid that the people have this right. As far as the people who violate the law are concerned, you can arrest me, but if you are unjust, you have no right to arrest me. In this way, the local officials arrest the lawbreakers, who in turn supervise the local officials. ”

The emperor slammed the imperial case and said: "Throughout the ages, in all dynasties, no emperor dared to give the people the right to violate the law, let me set this precedent!" ”