Zhu Youzhen, who returned to the Qianqing Palace, met Yuan Keli, the secretary of the criminal department, who was waiting for him, outside the Qianqing Gate. Zhu Youzhen hurriedly instructed the accompanying eunuch Wang Kun to take over the documents in Yuan Keli's hand, and he talked with Yuan Keli while walking to the upper study.

After walking into the upper study, Zhu Youzhen, who was sweating, immediately ordered Lu Qi to hurry up and bring two basins of hot water over, so that he and Yuan Keli could wipe their faces. After the two of them cleaned up, Zhu Youzhen asked Yuan Keli who was sitting down, "What kind of documents did Mr. bring?" Is there anything I need to prioritize? ”

Yuan Keli replied with a calm face: "Among the documents brought by the minister, except for one document that needs to be decided by His Majesty personally, the other documents have already been drafted by the minister, and Your Majesty can consider the instructions. ”

Zhu Youzhen immediately said: "In this way, then put the other documents first, and I will look back and look at it slowly." Sir, I will briefly describe the contents of the document that requires me to make a decision. ”

Yuan Keli picked out a copy of the document on the coffee table on the side, and then opened it and reported to the emperor: "Yesterday afternoon, the Criminal Department received a report from Bachelor Cui who visited the case of the Shaanxi clan, and according to His Majesty's will, he has registered all the illegal deeds of the clan, and summoned the officials of the three divisions of Shaanxi to conduct an interrogation in Xi'an.

… In addition to the clan personnel involved in the rebellion case of the Han and Qin feudal domains, there are more than 790 clan personnel involved in other crimes. According to the discussion of officials of the Third Division of Shaanxi Province and Cui Chengxiu, Yang He, and others, it is proposed to sentence 39 of them to death by hanging, 176 to 30 years in prison, 312 to be fined in lieu of crime, and the remaining 200 people to be given oral warnings and punishments that have been considered behind closed doors..."

After Yuan Keli finished reading, he handed over the document in his hand to Chongzhen, and did not make unnecessary comments, Zhu Youzhen took the document and flipped through it slightly, and asked casually: "What does the Criminal Department think of the punishment set by Bachelor Cui?" ”

Yuan Keli thought for a while before looking at Chongzhen and said, "Your Majesty, do you really need the opinion of the Criminal Department?" Or is it just a formality? ”

Zhu Youzhen looked up at Yuan Keli with some surprise, then recovered again, and said with a smile: "Listen to what Mr. means, it seems that there are two different answers?" Then Mr. might as well say it all and let me refer to one or two. ”

Yuan Keli's fingers twitched a few times unconsciously, and then he said casually: "If Your Majesty just asks a formal question, then the minister will answer: I govern the world with loyalty and filial piety, and the master and son also said that the father is hidden for the son, and the son is hidden for the father.

The clans of the world, in the final analysis, are all relatives related to His Majesty's blood. His Majesty asked Master Cui to interrogate the Shaanxi clan, and the law of the country was revealed in front of the people, which was enough to show His Majesty's majesty. Next, it is advisable to show mercy and leniency to the members of the clan who have committed these crimes, so as to fulfill the virtue of His Majesty. ”

Zhu Youzhen's body subconsciously leaned back, supported his chin with his hand and thought about it, and then continued to ask Yuan Keli with interest: "Then what if I really want the Criminal Department to give some advice?" ”

Yuan Keli moved his body slightly, changed to a more comfortable posture, and then said in a more stable tone: "If Your Majesty really wants to listen to the opinion of the Criminal Department on this case, then the minister wants to ask Your Majesty first, Your Majesty has been on the throne for almost three years, and the reform policy promoted by Your Majesty at the beginning of his accession to the throne can now be regarded as beginning to bear fruit."

The minister wants to know, what is the end of this reform promoted by His Majesty? After Your Majesty has downplayed the etiquette of loyalty and filial piety, are you ready to replace the foundation of my Ming Dynasty? The minister will retire from his career in the near future, and it will be difficult to sit down and talk with His Majesty like this in the future. Therefore, can Your Majesty tell the truth to the minister, so that the minister can step down with peace of mind? ”

Zhu Youzhen looked at Yuan Keli's eyes uncertainly, and the room was silent, Lu Qi and Wang Chengen both watched the emperor's movements, waiting for Chongzhen's instructions.

Zhu Youzhen also felt a little surprised by Yuan Keli's showdown with him today, but he thought about it for a long time and finally understood. With the continuous introduction of reform policies, the old court order is slowly being dismantled. But a large number of officials in the court have not yet figured out how the new court order works.

Even those officials who supported the New Deal only obeyed the instructions of the above, and did not really understand the purpose of the entire reform.

Yuan Keli's showdown today undoubtedly represents that some officials want to test the bottom line of this reform and what his real thoughts are about governing the country.

Zhu Youzhen thought about it for a long time and felt that this was not a bad thing. At least it proves that these officials still want to cooperate with them.

After pondering for a long time, he relaxed his body and said, "The end of the reform, in fact, wasn't it announced when I ascended the throne?" The ultimate goal of the reform was to build the Ming Dynasty into a Datong society. The minimum goal of the reform is to solve the problem of food and clothing for the people of the Ming Dynasty. I've already said these two goals, have you forgotten them, sir? ”

Yuan Keli's eyes became a little puzzled, even if he had read the book of sages since he was a child, he had also dreamed of the Datong world described by the sage, but the sea had been up and down for decades, and he had already given up the ideal of a sage in this Datong world.

The young emperor has not yet been rubbed away by the reality of the world, and regards the Datong world as the highest goal of governing the country, and he does not feel that this is a naivety to be blamed.

However, Chongzhen's performance in power in the past three years has proved that he is not the naïve teenager that officials think. The two goals he put forward were naturally forgotten by many officials, who thought that they were nothing more than rhetoric used by Chongzhen to deceive people. Use the establishment of a Datong world to fool young people, and solve the problem of food and clothing to appease the people at the bottom.

It was by virtue of this method that the young emperor was able to have great prestige among the people in a short period of time, and when the new policy was first implemented, it did not encounter too much popular resistance. However, just when everyone thought that the two goals set by Chongzhen were a political scam, Yuan Keli heard Chongzhen's reiteration of these two goals again.

Yuan Keli looked into the emperor's eyes, and did not find that Chongzhen had any meaning of laughing, he finally confirmed that when Chongzhen said this, he was indeed sincere, which made him lose his mind for a moment.

Yuan Keli quickly returned to normal, and he lowered his head and responded: "Your Majesty has such an ambition, it is indeed a blessing for the people of my Ming Dynasty." ”

Zhu Youzhen shook his head with a smile, and then continued: "Sir, you don't need to praise too much, as for the foundation of our dynasty, it has not changed. It's just that I feel that governing the country with morality is something that only the ancient saint kings can do. I am just an ordinary person, and I dare not compare myself to the three emperors and five emperors, so it is better to govern this country in a stupid way.

I think it's better for the court to tell the people what they can and can't do than to let them restrain themselves with morality. Sir has always been wise, and it should have been clear that I had made the Punishment Department semi-independent and only nominally subordinate to the Cabinet, which had already shown my way of governing the country. ”

Zhu Youzhen suddenly stopped, picked up the document that Yuan Keli handed over to him from the table, and then raised the document and said, "No matter what advice the Criminal Department gives me, I have only one attitude towards this recital.

In my Ming Dynasty, there will be no outlaws. At least under my rule, there can be no one who is above the law. If the law can't protect the people, it won't protect us either. What does the gentleman think? ”

Yuan Keli was silent for a while, and finally got up and saluted Chongzhen and said, "Since Your Majesty has such an understanding, the ministers and colleagues in the Criminal Department are naturally strongly supportive.

Although the Shaanxi Third Division has been convicted, according to the old practice, as long as the clan crimes do not involve the ten heinous crimes such as rebellion, they cannot be sentenced to death. Now that the matter has come to this, is it possible for the Criminal Department to reduce the crime of the clan members sentenced to death by one degree and change it to a lifetime imprisonment, which can also slightly curb the criticism afterwards? ”

Zhu Youzhen stretched out his hand and stroked the document in front of him, shook his head and said: "Some people will feel that it is natural to shed other people's blood if they don't let them shed their own blood. In the past few years, the people of Shaanxi have lost their families because of them, and I don't know how many people have died.

If you let them go so lightly, how can you let the children of the world's clans take warning? Let it be carried out according to the conviction of the three divisions. There is no need to wait until after the autumn, and the case will be closed as soon as possible, and some people in the province will still be lucky.

Of course, if the gentleman feels that there is a difficulty, I can ask Hui Shilang to rush back early and take over the case. ”

Yuan Keli stood in front of Chongzhen and shook his head and said, "The ministers are all people who are ready to step down, why leave such a tricky matter to others?" Since His Majesty has made up his mind, this case should be regarded as the last case before the minister leaves office. However, no matter how much Your Majesty wants to reorganize the discipline, there are still some things that need to be considered. ”

Zhu Youzhen paused before saying, "What does Mr. mean?" ”

Yuan Keli said seriously and solemnly: "If Your Majesty wants to carry out the capital crimes of these clans, please also ask Your Majesty to let the Zongren Mansion remove their clan identity first, which can be regarded as Your Majesty's explanation to the world." ”

Although it was just a routine of covering his ears and stealing the bell, looking at Yuan Keli's serious attitude, Zhu Youzhen still nodded and agreed.

After sending Yuan Keli away, Zhu Youzhen felt as tired as if he had fought two boxing matches in a row, he pressed his temple with one hand and closed his eyes to recuperate.

He didn't wait for long to rest, but he heard Lu Qi gently call himself a few times, and Zhu Youzhen suddenly opened his eyes and looked, "What's the matter?" ”

Lu Qi whispered: "I just received the news, there seems to be something wrong with Houjin's side, Erbeile Amin's eldest son Erli fled to Yingkou, and then got on the ship of the Four Seas Commercial Bank to Tianjin.

In addition, there are a few secret documents sent from Dongjiang Town, all of which are related to Mao Shuai..."