Xue Guoguan was born as a Jinshi, and in his early years, he was in the middle of the science and road, and later attached himself to the eunuch party. In the ninth year of Chongzhen, he was promoted to the imperial history of Zuo Yudu, and Chongzhen was promoted to the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites and a scholar of Dongge University in ten years, and entered the cabinet to participate in confidential affairs. Although Xue Guoguan was insidious and scathing, he was unlearned and unskilled, but because he hated the Donglin Party, he was recommended by Wen Tiren, and since then he has been promoted by Chongzhen and entrusted with important tasks.

In the last year, he was promoted to the Ministry of Rites, and in the winter, the Qing army entered the Kou, and the first assistant Liu Yuliang came out of the Beijing Governor, Xue Guochang colluded with Yang Sichang, framed and dismissed Liu Yuliang, and replaced him as the first assistant to add the title of Shaobao, the secretary of the Ministry of Shangshu, and entered the Wuying Palace.

However, in the Chongzhen Dynasty, the first assistant changed frequently, and among the people who were the first assistant earlier, only Wen Tiren was the best at figuring out the emperor's intentions and was the first assistant for the longest time. waited for Wen Tiren to resign as prime minister, and Zhang Zhifa, Kong Zhenyun, Liu Yuliang and others were the first assistants, which was not in line with Chongzhen's wishes, so it didn't take long for him to be dismissed.

After Xue Guoguan became the first assistant, he colluded with Yang Sichang, and everything was implemented according to Wen Tiren's original ruling practices, especially vigorously opposing the Donglin Party, so that the emperor began to trust him.

However, as soon as Yang Sichang left office, Xue Guoguan lost a strong helping arm in the court, especially after Mei Zhihuan entered the cabinet, many old Donglin parties were reused, Mei Zhihuan, Li Changgeng, Liu Jun, Yuan Jixian, Li Shuchu, Shi Kefa, Huang Daozhou, Yang Tinglin, Qu Shiyun, etc., plus Yao Minggong and Liu Qiao in the court, Xue Guoguan became more and more powerful and lonely in the cabinet.

However, Xue Guoguan has only been the first assistant for half a year, so he is naturally reluctant to step down.

This time, after seeing Lu Jiude's recital, he thought that the opportunity had come.

Xue Guoguan originally got a piece of advice from Wen Tiren that if he wanted to gain the emperor's trust, he had to maintain the image of a lonely minister, and he couldn't form a party, especially not mix with the Donglin party. In order to keep the position of the first assistant, Xue Guoguan decided to attack the Donglin Party, especially Liu Jun, a fortunate military minister.

Chongzhen looked at Xue Guoguan coldly. There is no opening.

"That's all for today." Chongzhen waved his hand and asked the ministers to retreat.

What Xue Guoguan said is actually normal, after all, it is all according to the ancestral system. But at this time, there is an obvious implication in saying such a thing. His words were full of hints, as if Liu Jun had lost control. This is something that Chongzhen doesn't like, if Xue Guoguan is talking about other generals, then Chongzhen will listen carefully.

But Liu Jun, he didn't believe it.

First, Liu Jun served as the chief soldier for more than a month. Second, the training time of the new army is also very short, and he will never believe that Liu Jun has turned the Hubei New Army into his own private army in such a short period of time.

Of course, the most important point is that Liu Jun had already played as early as when he was appointed as the chief soldier, saying that after pacifying the Jiangbei bandits, he asked to lead the army north. Liu Jun had already made his attitude clear, he didn't want to support troops in the local area or anything. With Liu Jun's previous request. Listening to Xue Guoguan's words now, Chongzhen only felt that Xue Guoguan did not have the heart and ability of a first assistant.

Outside the hall, Cao Huachun, Wang Chengen, Liu Qiao, and Yao Minggong walked together.

"Your Majesty is very dissatisfied with Xue Guoguan today." Wang Chengen said.

"Xue Guoguan has crossed the line." Cao Huachun said.

"Liu understood."

Yao Minggong also whispered on the side, "Xue Guoguan must be brought down." ”

Liu Qiao chuckled a few times. "As long as you are willing to support, we can get Xue Guoguan down at any time. I now have an ironclad evidence in my hand that can make Xue Guoguan step down immediately, but now I am not suitable to come forward, if Cao Gonggong's Dongchang comes forward to turn over this matter. I believe that we will succeed. ”

Liu Qiao told several people about the important handle of Xue Guoguan. It turned out that this matter involved a deceased high-ranking official, Shi Fei, when Shi Fei patrolled Huaiyang, he looted the confiscated money from the state treasury and fined more than 100,000 taels of silver and put it into his own pocket. The assistant inspector of the salt administration took away all the more than 200,000 taels of silver stored by the former salt official.

When Shi Fei Zhishi was idle at home, Yang Shicong impeached Tian Weijia, the secretary of the Ministry of Officials, accepted a bribe of 8,000 taels of gold from Zhou Rubi and elected him as the governor of Yansui.

When the matter was revealed, Shi Wei hurriedly brought a large amount of silver into Jinghai and lived in Xue Guoguan's mansion in Beijing. Later, Shi Wei was imprisoned, and just happened to meet the Qing soldiers entering the prison, Shi Wei died in prison for no apparent reason. Many people rumored that the silver that Shi Wei brought into Beijing was taken by Xue Guoguan, and it was also said that Xue Guoguan killed Shi Wei in prison in order to get rid of Shi Wei's involvement.

Liu Qiao said, "This matter is true, Xue Guoguan took the 100,000 taels of silver that Shi Wei brought into Beijing. Later, Shi Wei was imprisoned, and the Shi family begged him to help save people, and Xue Guoguan asked the Shi family for a total of 100,000 taels of silver several times. But in the end, Xue Naguan took the silver, but secretly killed Shi Wei in prison. I have definite witnesses who can prove that Xue Guoguan took possession of the Shi family's money and instructed someone to secretly kill Shi Wei. ”

Cao Huachun pinched his smooth chin and smiled gloomily, "Then as long as the news of our matter is released, and then the Shi family comes out to report this matter, then if there is a big trouble, the emperor will definitely send a factory guard to investigate." In this way, we present the evidence, and Xue Guoguan will die. ”

The men agreed to go back to their respective countries. Later, Liu Yunsheng sent 10,000 taels of silver to Cao Huachun, Wang Chengen, Yao Minggong and other places, and many officials in the court and China also sent a sum of silver.

The next day, rumors spread in Jingzhong, and they were spreading the news that Xue Guoguan occupied Shi Fei's silver and killed Shi Fei. The matter was spread with a nose and eyes, and even Xue Guoguan occupied 100,000 taels of silver, and later asked for the detailed figure of 100,000 taels of silver from the historian.

Immediately afterwards, there was a news of this matter.

After Chongzhen received the report, he was furious and immediately went to Dongchang and Jinyiwei to investigate the matter separately. Dongchang soon reported the evidence witnesses obtained from Liu Qiao to the emperor, and the evidence was accurate.

Chongzhen was angry and issued an order to let the five mansions, six ministries and nine Qing Kedao be discussed.

Xu Yunzhen, the prince of Dingguo, and Fu Yongchun, the secretary of the ministry, didn't know the emperor's intentions, so they only discussed a few words lightly, and the final result was to let Xue Guo Guan Zhishi or stay idle.

"Take the job!" Chongzhen finally issued an order to seize his post and return, but recovered the 200,000 stolen silver that Xue Guoguan occupied and demanded.

Xue Guoguan handed over 200,000 yuan of stolen silver and left Beijing with his family.

Xue Guoguan was deposed, and Chongzhen had to start thinking about the first assistant again.

"Has Xue Guoguan already left Beijing?" Chongzhen asked.

Wang Chengen replied on the side, "Xue Guoguan left Beijing today, and I heard that when Xue Guoguan left Beijing, the convoy was huge, with more than 100 vehicles. ”

When Chongzhen heard this, he became angry.

The convoy is huge, more than a hundred vehicles? This corrupt official, it seems that I still spared him.

"Come on, summon Liu Qiao to see you."

After Liu Qiao entered the palace, Chongzhen asked him about Xue Guoguan's departure from Beijing. Liu Qiao immediately reported the truth about how Xue Guoguan swaggered through the city and the vast convoy, and also said that many officials openly went to see him off and presented large boxes of gifts and money.

"Arrest Xue Guoguan immediately and examine it carefully!"

Liu Qiao was ordered to leave the palace, and immediately personally led the Jinyi Wei Ti cavalry to chase him out of Beijing, took Xue Guoguan back to Beijing, and issued an edict for interrogation. Soon, under the interrogation of Jin Yiwei, Xue Guoguan confessed to all the crimes of corruption and bribery, Liu Qiao took the confession, and the intercepted Xue Guoguan presented Chongzhen with a list of more than 300,000 taels of gold and silver.

Looking at the testimony and the list of 300,000 taels of gold and silver, Chongzhen became more and more angry. This Xue Guoguan has only been the first assistant for half a year, and he has been greedy for so much money, which is only his silver money in Beijing, not counting the fields and mansions he bought in his hometown in Hancheng, Shaanxi.

"Continue to interrogate, and make the trial clear!"

The interrogation continued, and 11 people, including Fu Yongchun, the secretary of the Ministry of Officials, Li Mengchen, the general political envoy, Zhu Yongyou, the director of the Criminal Department, and Wang Mayan, the secretary of the Chinese Journal, were suspected of forming a party and colluding to accept bribes.

"Xue Guoguan, Fu Yongchun and other eleven people all abandoned the city and confiscated all their family properties to supplement their military salaries!" Chongzhen gritted his teeth and gave an order.

Edict of Prison.

Liu Qiao came to Xue Guoguan's prison, and when Xue Guoguan heard that the Jinyi Guard commander was coming, he shouted in horror, "I'm going to die, I'm going to die." ”

Liu Qiao asked people to open the cell door, walked away, and waved others to retreat.

"Mr. Xue, I'll give you a ride!"

Xue Guo looked at Liu Qiao and said with a sneer, "It's you, Liu Jun, and Cao Huachun, it's you who joined forces to harm me." ”

"What's the harm, what the factory guards played, is there any fake? Mr. Xue, you have been an official for many years, and you have also made some achievements, but unfortunately, you have to go your own way. Originally, you are old, how good it is to return to your hometown. I also served as the first assistant, isn't it good to live in my hometown? You have to go against the trend, what is the result, you have a broken bone. ”

"Can you give three feet of white silk?" Xue Guoguan asked.

Liu Qiao shook his head.

"Then give me a pot of poisoned wine."

Liu Qiao shook his head again, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty will publicly cut off your vegetable market and abandon the market." ”

Hearing that he couldn't even get the whole corpse, Xue Guoguan's face turned pale and he sat down directly on the ground.

He is the second Shoufu to be executed since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

Liu Qiao smelled a commotion, and looked at Xue Guoguan with some disdain, "In the next life, reincarnate as a man, remember not to offend those who can't be offended." ”

"Take it away!" Liu Qiao shouted, and several brocade guards stepped forward, dragged Xue Guoguan, who was paralyzed into a ball, out, loaded into a prisoner car, and then escorted to the entrance of the vegetable market.

Behind Xue Guoguan's prisoner car were eleven people, including Fu Yongchun, the secretary of the ministry. Hundreds of people rushed to watch, and they all heard that Xue Guoguan had embezzled millions of silver taels, and they hated this Shoufu to the core.

On the same day, eleven people, including Xue Guoguan, the first assistant of the cabinet, and Fu Yongchun, the secretary of the ministry, were beheaded and abandoned in the city.

Subsequently, Chongzhen issued an edict to recommend the first assistant and the secretary of the ministry and the political envoy.

In Beijing, there are three or more Beijing officials, as well as six Shangshu and the Imperial History, Dali Qing, Tong Zheng and other ministers such as Jiuqing Tingtui. However, there was a vacancy in the Nine Secretaries and the General Political Envoy, so the vacant General Envoy and the General Secretary of the Nine Qing were first elected, and then the court launched the first assistant.

Chongzhen proposed two candidates for each of the three positions and handed them over to the ministers. (To be continued......)