The Ming Dynasty emperor's tricks of controlling his ministers, the most powerful of which was the riding out, spies all over the place, always detecting the movements of those powerful ministers. Occasionally, some middle- and lower-level officials who have abnormal behavior have also been sent to control them. Hai Rui was only a six-grade chief of the household department, and he was not within the scope of investigation and prosecution, because he caused trouble in Liubiju as soon as he entered Beijing, which attracted Jiajing's attention, so his deeds were recorded in the Criminal Division and the Suppression Division in the past few months. Now, as Chen Hong said, Hai Rui's records have been quickly transferred and placed on Jiajing's imperial case, and Jiajing is standing alone in front of the imperial case at this time, holding the lamp in his hand, and his eyes are reflecting the light, looking carefully at each one.

A few pages of the record caught Jiajing's gaze.

"Before December 22, the 44th year of Jiajing, the Imperial History King of the Imperial Procuratorate sent his family to send New Year's goods to Hai Rui's house and were returned."

"On the 27th day of December in the 44th year of Jiajing, Qi Dazhu, a thousand households of the Zhenfu Division, sent his wife to send New Year's goods to Hai Rui's house, but they were closed. At noon, Hai Rui returned, sent his wife away, and accepted four eggs. Before then, Hai Rui brought a horse of weaving cloth to Ruixing Cloth Village on the street outside the front door and sold it for 15 copper coins, bought a chicken, a fish, and returned home with 15 catties of rice. ”

Jiajing showed a blank look in his eyes, and then looked down.

At the time of Shen, Hai Rui received an urgent report from the household department and went to the Tongzhou military grain depot to relieve grain. On the 28th, the grain was sent to Daxing for disaster relief. ”

"From December 29, the 44th year of Jiajing Chinese New Year's Eve to the fifth day of the first month of the 45th year of Jiajing, Hai Rui's house was closed, and his mother and wife did not go out. At the end of the fifth day of the first lunar month, Hai Rui returned from great prosperity and suddenly fell seriously ill. Hai Rui's wife begged the neighbor to call Wang Yongji and Li Shizhen to heal the sick until the time of the son. When he was a child, Wang Yongji received an urgent report from the Metropolitan Procuratorate to the ministry to write a congratulatory note. That night, Li Shizhen stayed at Hai's house. ”

Jiajing raised his head and thought silently, thought for a moment, and then looked down.

"In the 45th year of Jiajing, the Seventh Canal opened in February, and Hai Rui sent his mother and wife to take Li Shizhen's passenger boat south."

"Since July of the 44th year of Jiajing, Hai Rui has not visited any official's house except for going to the Ministry of Officials to Daxing on an errand; Except for Wang Yongji and Qi Dazhu, none of the officials visited Hai Rui's house. ”

After reading the last page, Jiajing's hand was stunned with the lamp, and the light in his eyes was empty.

There was a rooster crowing in the distance, and the south window was already bright.

"Long live the master, the master of the Initiation, the servant of the Criminal Division, Wang Wuyi, was ordered to accompany Zhao Zhenji, the secretary of the household department, to interrogate Hai Rui and returned." Outside the main hall came the voice of the head of the eunuch.

"Go through the motions!" Jiajing's eyes wanted to flash, but they didn't light up, "Come in." ”

The head of the eunuch who was sentenced to punishment walked in with a thin trial record in his hand, bowing his head and walking in, and Zhao Zhenji followed him to the door of the fine house.

Zhao Zhenji knelt down, and the head of the eunuch who was sentenced to punishment entered the Jingshe with the thin paper of trial records, kneeling down and raising his hands high.

Zhao Zhenji lowered his head, but he was feeling Jiajing's dynamics.

"Throw it there, I don't look at it." Jiajing's voice was cold and empty.

"Yes." The head of the eunuch put the trial record on the imperial case, bowed his head and retreated.

"The arguments of the cabinet and the six ministries and nine secretaries should also be perfunctory, right?" Jiajing was obviously asking Zhao Zhenji when he said this.

Zhao Zhenji buried his head deeply: "Did the saint ask the minister to urge him?" ”

Jiajing: "Come on, come on, call them all." ”

Zhao Zhenji was stunned for a moment, and had to reply: "The minister obeys the order." He kowtowed, got up, and retreated to the temple gate.

Only then did Jiajing pick up the thin trial record sent by the head of the eunuch and look at it, his eyes became even weaker, and he looked at the south window outside the fine house.

Chickens have been crowing far and near, and the windows are full of sun.

"Slave Chen Hong has come to his master's long live master!" Chen Hong's voice came from outside the hall again!

Jiajing threw the piece of paper in his hand onto the imperial case and closed his eyes: "Come in." ”

Chen Hong walked in lightly with Fengchen, Jiajing opened his eyes and looked at him, but saw that he was empty-handed, and immediately his eyes shot out of doubt: "Didn't King Yu write anything?" ”

Chen Hong: "Back to the master, of course I wrote it." ”

Jiajing: "Where?" ”

Chen Hong knelt down: "Long live the master, Lord forgive the sin, Prince Yu handed over the chapter of the petition written to Princess Li and the prince, and asked them to bring it in person, and they wanted to present it to the master." ”

Jiajing's face immediately passed a look of sadness, and he was silent for a while: "Call them in." ”

"Yes." Chen Hong got up and walked out quickly.

Jiajing walked back to the futon and sat down.

Chen Hong led Concubine Li and the prince to appear outside the Jingshe Gate.

Concubine Li pulled the prince outside the door and knelt down: "Concubine Li led the prince Zhu Yijun to see his father, the emperor and grandfather!" ”

"Come in." Jiajing's eyes looked at his grandson.

"Yes." Concubine Li led the prince to kowtow, pulled him to stand up and walked into the house.

After coming in, Concubine Li wanted to lead the prince to kneel down again, and Jiajing immediately said, "That's it." Chen Hong, give a seat. ”

"Yes." Chen Hong replied and hurriedly moved an embroidery pier and placed it on the left side in front of the futon, and Concubine Li had no choice but to bow her head and sit down next to the edge of the embroidery pier.

Shizi stood in front of his mother, and Jiajing looked at him: "Come here." ”

Shizi walked over slowly, Jiajing pulled him and wanted to hold him to his lap, and suddenly felt that he didn't have that strength.

Chen Hong's eyes were sharp, and he stepped over in a few steps, picked up the prince and put him on Jiajing's lap.

For the first time since last night's anger, Jiajing has a kind face: "I haven't seen you for a few months, but my grandson is much heavier. ”

Tears flashed in Concubine Li's eyes, but she pretended to smile, and knelt down in front of the embroidery pier with her skirt: "The daughter-in-law Li brought King Yu's petition for this chapter, and presented it to her father's imperial court." ”

Jiajing only looked at her, at the chapter in her hand, and didn't say a word.

Chen Hong stood there nervously with his head bowed.

Jiajing: "Chen Hong." ”

"The minions are here." Chen Hong hurriedly replied.

Jiajing: "Have all the loyal ministers who went outside the door to see if I have come?" ”

Chen Hong: "Yes. ”

Xu Jie's voice had already come from outside the door: "Sinners Xu Jie, waiting for the Holy Order!" ”

Chen Hong: "Back to the master, it's already here." ”

Jiajing: "Please! ”

Chen Hong was stunned again, and shouted outside the hall: "Xu Jie's ministers see you!" ”

After tossing for a night, Xu Jie's eyes were already a little dark, and the hall officials who followed closely behind Li Chunfang, Gao Gong and Liubu Jiuqing all had green eyes, and at this time, everyone held the argument written overnight in their hands, walked to the door of the fine house with both hands, and knelt on the ground.

Jiajing looked at them: "What did you take?" ”

Xu Jie: "The defense written by the criminal minister Xu Jie and others. ”

Jiajing: "What are you arguing about?" ”

Xu Jie: "Is there any connection between the criminals and Hai Rui?" ”

Jiajing's eyes glanced at Chen Hong and motioned for him to accept it.

Chen Hong hurriedly walked to the door, took the arguments in the hands of Xu Jie and the others one by one, walked back to Jiajing, and held them there.

Jiajing's eyes looked at Concubine Li, who was still kneeling in front of him, and King Yu, who was still holding him.

The prince was still sitting on his lap at this time, hugged by him to his chest, and Jiajing actually asked the prince: "Zhu Yijun, do you know what your father and the ministers at the door sent?" ”

The prince replied timidly: "If you go back to the emperor's grandfather, it is all something that makes the emperor's grandfather unhappy. ”

Xu Jie, who was kneeling outside the door of the Jingshe, raised their heads slightly, and saw that the prince was sitting on the emperor's body, and there seemed to be hope in their green eyes.

Jiajing still asked the son: "It's still my grandson who knows the emperor's grandfather's thoughts." I ask you again, since it's something that the emperor's grandfather is not happy about, should we watch it or not? ”

Shizi suddenly came up with an astonishing sentence: "Burn it!" ”

"Quasi-Decree!" Jiajing praised loudly, "Chen Hong, I burned all these things they wrote and King Yu's plea chapter. I didn't read a word. ”

"Long live the master, Lord Shengming!" Chen Hong replied loudly, then took the chapter from Concubine Li's hand, and then walked to an incense burner, opened the lid of the incense burner, and put the chapters and arguments into it one by one.

An open flame immediately ignited in the censer.

"The saint is as benevolent as heaven, and the ministers are inexplicably ashamed!" Xu Jie, on behalf of the ministers, exhaled this excited sound.

All the people fell down.

Concubine Li also lay down in the fine house.

Jiajing: "Hai Rui, that brute, scolded me for nothing in the song, he wanted to do it, but I am not the king!" He wants to leave a name in history, but it is my country that is messed up! I've thought it through, I'm not going to be fooled by him! Now you can take the thing he wrote and read it. After reading it, what should you do, you can discuss! Chen Hong. ”

Chen Hong immediately threw the rest of the arguments in his hand into the fire, and hurriedly turned around: "Master, the slave is here." ”

Jiajing: "Give what that brute wrote to Elder Xu Ge, and send it to the officials of the six departments of the cabinet and the Jiuqing Hall to read it!" ”

There was no precedent in the Ming Dynasty for the cabinet members to interrogate a small six-grade principal in conjunction with the criminal department, the Dali Temple, and the chief and deputy officials of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

At the beginning of the Chenshi, the cabinet members and the chief and deputy officials of the three law divisions were all present, Xu Jie, Li Chunfang, Gao Gong, and Zhao Zhenji The four cabinet members were still sitting in front of the big case in the middle, and the main hall officials of the three law divisions were sitting in front of the big case on the left, and the deputy hall officials were sitting in front of the big case on the right.

There is a will, and the chief and deputy officials of the three law divisions have paper, pen, ink and inkstone in front of each of them, and record them at the same time, and after the trial, the six records should be submitted to the emperor for comparison and review at the same time.

Still shackled and handcuffed, Hai Jui was allowed to be sent directly from the prison in a prison cart to avoid delays.

The prisoner cart went directly to the door of the duty room and stopped.

It was still the head of the eunuch who was sentenced, and a thousand households were added to the Zhenfu Division, and the two walked into the duty room, stood at the door, and arched to the ministers of Xu Jie: "Elder Xu Ge, all the adults, Hai Rui is here." ”

Everyone subconsciously glanced at each other.

Xu Jie: "Come in." ”

The door at the back of the prisoner cart was unlocked and opened, and two brocade guards stood by the back of the car, and the two eunuchs each reached into their hands to lift Hai Rui out of the prisoner cart.

Hai Jui stood on the ground, first raised his head to look at the sun that had just risen in the east, and the sun shone on his face, and his face was full of glitter.

A torture eunuch: "Go in!" ”

Hai Rui turned his head and looked at the bucket square on the door of the duty room, and there were two big characters written on the bucket side: "Cabinet!" ”

The door of the duty room was open, and the ministers inside all looked at Hai Rui, who slowly moved to the stone steps step by step.

Hai Rui walked to the stone steps at the door of the duty room and stood again, although the stone steps were not high, he still couldn't lift his legs to climb up.

The people in the Criminal Department and the Suppression Department knew that the emperor hated this person at this time, so no one dared to untie his chains, and no one reached out to help him climb the stone steps.

In the past, the officials who were interrogated also had such problems, and they all knelt down and climbed the stone steps step by step. At this time, all eyes were on Hai Rui, imagining how this bold man knelt down and climbed the stone steps.

All eyes were on him.

But seeing Hai Rui's body struggling to sit down on the first stone steps, he sat down, his eyes slightly closed, and he sat there without moving.

Before the big case, Zhao Zhenji grabbed the shocked wood and patted it: "Hai Rui! Are you still so stubborn here? Come to court! ”

Hai Rui was still sitting on the stone steps: "May I be convicted, my lords?" ”

Zhao Zhenji replied loudly in front of the case: "Today I am here to convict you!" ”

Hai Rui: "If you don't return to your humble duties, are you convicted or not?" ”

Zhao Zhenji raised the startling wood again, glanced at Zhao Zhenji with a high arch, and continued: "Hai Rui, what do you mean by asking?" ”

Hai Rui replied: "According to the Da Ming Law, the incumbent officials are all removed from the torture equipment and interrogated during the trial before they are convicted. ”

Gao Gong glanced at all the officials: "This is the text contained in the "Da Ming Law", and the torture instruments should be removed." ”

None of the officials answered him.

Gao Gong stood up and said loudly to the head of the eunuch, "Unshackle!" ”

The head of the eunuch had not yet answered, Zhao Zhenji couldn't help it, and also looked at the head of the eunuch: "Do you want to remove the torture instrument for Hai Rui, do you say hello from it?" ”

The head of the eunuch immediately replied: "Back to Lord Zhao, I said hello from above, and this Hai Rui's shackles can't be solved." ”

Gao Gong: "Who said hello?" ”

The head of the eunuch was mentioned: "Gonggong Chen." ”

Gao Gong: "Is it Gonggong Chen's own will, or is he at the emperor's will?" ”

The head of the eunuch was punished: "This subordinate doesn't dare to say anything." ”

Gao Gong: "Since the emperor has no will, then it should be done according to the "Da Ming Law", and the officials will not wear shackles during interrogation before they are convicted, and they will be released immediately." ”

The head of the eunuch still did not move, and he didn't look at Gao Gong and only looked at Zhao Zhenji: "That subordinate has to ask Gonggong Chen." ”

Zhao Zhenji looked at Gao Gong: "Hai Rui's crime is not comparable to any previous criminal official, and there is no article in the "Da Ming Law" to compare. Lord Gao, today's case should be handled according to the intention of the celebrant supervisor. Let him be tried in shackles. ”

Gao Gong had a good impression of Zhao Zhenji's performance in the hall last night, and then suddenly understood that this person seemed to be loyal and brave, but he was really cunning, and all his scheming was trying to conform to the holy will, and he couldn't help but feel a deep evil in his heart: "Lord Zhao, this is not like what you said when you played the right game yesterday. The will is to ask us to discuss Hai Rui's sin, and now that his sin has not been discussed, Lord Zhao has decided to condemn the sin first, can we ignore it? ”

Zhao Zhenji's face flushed: "When did I condemn him?" ”

Gao Gong: "You just said that his sin is not comparable to any crime official in the past, and now he doesn't admit it?" ”

Zhao Zhenji: "It's not a conviction for me to say this. ”

Gao Gong: "If you are not convicted, you must unshackle." Speaking of this, he looked at the head of the eunuch again: "Now we are in the trial, we have to act according to the "Da Ming Law", you immediately unshackle you!" ”

The head of the eunuch looked at Xu Jie.

Xu Jie sat silently.

Gao Gong was angry: "Since you don't follow the "Da Ming Law", then we will withdraw and call Gonggong Chen to come to trial!" ”

Xu Jie opened his mouth and looked at Zhao Zhenji: "According to the "Da Ming Law", there is nothing wrong with it, Meng Jing, don't fight, ask them to untie the chains." ”

Zhao Zhenji looked at the eyes of the master, although he couldn't fully understand what he meant for a while, anyway, his attitude had been clearly revealed, and he still showed that look of disobedience to Gao Gong, and turned to the head of the eunuch: "You heard everything, untie the shackles first, and then explain to Gonggong Chen." ”

"Yes." The head of the eunuch who was sentenced to punishment only then agreed, and then turned around and deliberately shouted: "According to the will of the cabinet, the shackles of the guilty officer have been relieved!" ”

The two eunuchs walked over, one unlocked the lock on the handcuffs, the other unlocked the lock on the shackles, and the two of them lifted the chain shackles and shackles looked heavy, and threw them on the ground with a loud clang!

Hai Rui rubbed his wrist, pushed his foot from below the knee a few times, slowly stood up, turned and climbed the stone steps to the door of the duty room.

According to the rules, even if there is no crime, a six-grade petty official like Hai Rui has to bow down in the face of the cabinet and the officials of the six ministries and nine Qing halls, Hai Rui knelt down, bowed, and stood up again.

Zhao Zhenji didn't have an idea this time, and looked at Shen Shixing, the secretary of the criminal department who was sitting at the head of the left side: "Lord Shen, you are the secretary of the criminal department, should such a criminal officer be tried on his knees or standing?" ”

Shen Shixing replied, as if he was reciting the article: "According to the regulations on the trial of officials in the "Da Ming Law", officials who have not been dismissed from their posts before conviction can sit and stand trial, and those below the third rank can stand trial. ”

Zhao Zhenji: "Then you can start the trial." ”

Shen Shixing stood up and arched his hands in the face of Xu Jie: "Pavilion Elder, if your subordinates remember correctly, there was already a decree in the Yuxi Palace Saint last night, which was to order Lord Zhao to interrogate Hai Rui personally." There is no new will, and it should still be Lord Zhao who presides over the trial. With that, he sat down.

The other Dali Temple Zhengqing, the left governor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the three sitting opposite, that is, the squire of the Criminal Department, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, and the left deputy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, naturally agreed with Shen Shixing's idea, and they all closed their mouths, and sat there silently with the tip of their noses.

Gao Gong looked straight at Zhao Zhenji.

Li Chunfang looked at Xu Jie.

Xu Jie slowly turned to look at Zhao Zhenji: "Meng Jing, last night's holy will was like this, how to ask, you are the presiding judge." ”

Zhao Zhenji: "I obey the order." He replied and looked at Hai Rui: "Hai Rui, I tried you last night, but today is the trial of the cabinet and the three law divisions, and you have to answer truthfully one by one if I ask you." ”

Hai Rui: "Excuse me." ”

Zhao Zhenji stood up: "In the name of congratulatory watches, you have hidden evil intentions, and you have written this rabid dog barking day and scolding the monarch's father's rebellious words, from King Yu to the cabinet and the ministers of the six ministries and nine ministers, all of them are full of righteous indignation, and it is difficult to understand!" I'm going to ask you now whether someone is behind you or if you're mad yourself to get famous! ”

"Since the emperor has shown you the humiliation of his duties, I can answer Lord Zhao and the ministers." Hai Rui replied slowly, "I made it very clear at the beginning of the song that the purpose of going up to this is to 'uphold the monarch's way, clarify the minister's duties, and seek peace and order for all generations'." It is the duty of a minister to go up to such a sparse and enter such a word. Where the vocation is, why should others dictate? What is the reason of what the humble priest says and what he talks about in the song, which one is not true, which is not the reason of the saints? Lord Zhao, and all of you are people who read the books of sages and sages to assist the emperor in governing the world, do you think my words are crazy to invite a straight name? ”

The six chief and deputy officials of the three law divisions all lowered their heads and took notes there, and at this time they could hide their reactions and demeanors, but the four members of the cabinet who were sitting in front of the big case in the middle really didn't know what to look at after listening to what he said, so they had to put on serious faces one by one.

Zhao Zhenji couldn't dodge it, and had to continue to ask: "Qubble!" You said that there was no guidance from others, and it was not for the purpose of inviting fame, could it be that my position as a monarch of the Ming Dynasty could be handed over to you to be managed by a small head of the household? ”

Hai Rui shook his head: "Lord Zhao doesn't understand what he said. ”

Zhao Zhenji patted the big case: "What don't you understand!" You want to be righteous and clear about your ministers, what is wrong with your king's ways, what is unclear about your ministers, and what authority do you have to manage? Can you manage the cabinet, or can you manage the six ministries and nine Qing yamen! Actually reprimanding and scolding the saint word by word, has there been a rebellious person like you from ancient times to the present? ”

"I understand what Lord Zhao said." Hai Rui nodded this time, and then turned to Xu Jie, "Elder Xu Ge." ”

Xu Jie had no choice but to look at him: "What do you have to say?" ”

Hai Rui: "The Da Ming Law contains a clear text that the adjudicator and the person being tried should recuse themselves if they have a prejudice. Now I ask Xu Ge Lao to follow the "Da Ming Law" and ask Zhao Zhenji and Lord Zhao to recuse themselves from this case. If he interrogates again, he will not answer a word or reply! With that, he closed his eyes.

Zhao Zhenji's face changed color all of a sudden: "Presumptuous! Licentious! Ge Lao, this person's arrogance and arrogance are no different from Jiangyang thieves! Subordinates, please follow the law of the river and foreign thieves, and use the criminal interrogation. Otherwise, the Qin case will not be concluded, and the will will will will be difficult to recover! ”

Gao Gong had been watching Zhao Zhenji and Hai Rui's Q&A with cold eyes, and then he noticed that Hai Rui had something important to say, and when Zhao Zhenji suddenly changed color and blindly behaved, he answered: "Hai Rui." ”

Hai Rui also looked at him: "Humble duty." ”

Gao Gong: "No matter how guilty you were of the road last night." But your words and deeds today are really incomprehensible. At this time, why do you still want to ask Lord Zhao, who was ordered to try the case, to recuse himself? ”

Hai Rui: "Jiajing has been in charge of Chun'an County in Zhejiang for 40 years, and Lord Zhao is the governor of Zhejiang. In that year, Chun'an, which was under the control of a lowly office, suffered a catastrophe and the whole county was flooded. In May, the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau was ordered to distribute relief grain. In September, for the sake of his own political achievements, Lord Zhao wanted to complete 500,000 horses of silk that year, but he disregarded the livelihood of the disaster, asked the people of Chun'an to return the grain that was ordered, and forced the people to buy raw silk at half price. The lowly office resisted the life of Lord Zhao, and Lord Zhao went to the court to impeach the lowly office, and at that time he once said that the lowly position was to invite the direct name and buy the hearts of the people. Today, I heard the same words of Lord Zhao in the hall, which is what the lowly said about the festival. It is also the unclear position of the subordinate in the recital to the emperor. Lord Zhao, you are one of the ministers I want to participate in the song. With these two items, you can't judge me. ”

"Execution!" Zhao Zhenji was really enraged, grabbed the shocking wood, and slapped it down.

"Let him finish." Gao Gong glanced at Zhao Zhenji, and then looked at Xu Jie.

The punishment cannot be moved, of course Xu Jie understands. As his own disciple, Zhao Zhenji is smart and smooth, and his scheming is deep, and Xu Jie certainly understands. It's just that he didn't expect this Hai Rui to be so good-looking, and King Yu had already said hello to protect this person as much as possible, he was really embarrassed. At this time, I had to look at Zhao Zhenji: "Why bother with him, and listen to what he says." ”

Gao Gong immediately answered: "You finish speaking." ”

Hai Rui: "And the most important one, the humble position is now not only to say to all of you, but also to ask you to play the emperor." I, Hai Rui, was born as a man, and I didn't mean to be famous, but since I ate the king, I had a minister. In the Ming Dynasty, the treasury was empty every year, and the emperor was bent on cultivating and building a large number of buildings, and officials at all levels were obedient and took the opportunity to loot. A pillar of the main hall was transported from Yunnan from the mountains of Guizhou to Beijing, costing 50,000 taels of official money, and more than 100 migrant workers were killed and injured along the way! Lord Zhao, when have you been in charge of the household department, how many county and state governments have embezzled the silver taels of the treasury from this beam from Yungui? And so many more lives? As the head of the household, don't you lose your position? That's just one of the examples. You, Lord Zhao, interrogated me last night, and tried me like this today, your mind is understandable. It's not just because I'm the head of the household department, you are the head of the household department, and I'm worried that the emperor will suspect you of being the mastermind behind the scenes. I'll tell you frankly now, you, Lord Zhao, will never make me go to this way, and all people will not make me go to this way. I'm Hai Rui on this sparse only for two reasons, one is my Ming Dynasty's Jiangshan Sheji, and the other is my Ming Dynasty's world! ”

Zhao Zhenji was stunned.

Xu Jie, Gao Gong looked straight at Hai Rui, and even Li Chunfang, who had been silent, also looked at Hai Rui.

The chief and deputy officials of the three law divisions who were sitting on both sides of the record also stopped the pen in their hands and looked at this "unreasonable" but shocking little six-pin principal.

Hai Rui continued: "Lord Zhao, your current relationship has been washed away, and the emperor will never suspect that you are the mastermind behind me, but you have no right to judge me and must recuse yourself." Elder Xu Ge, reiterate that if Lord Zhao does not evade, he will no longer answer a word! ”

After saying that, Hai Rui stood there and closed his eyes again.

Zhao Zhenji has always regarded himself as a science, and last night's feat had already won the favor of the Manchu Dynasty, but he didn't expect to be picked clean by this Hai Rui this morning! Naturally, there will be no involvement, but his reputation will also be swept away by him! His face was flushed, and he stood there not knowing what to do.

Gao Gong shouted happily in his heart, and faced Xu Jie in time: "Elder Ge, what should I do next, you should always make up your mind." ”

Xu Jie still said unashamedly: "This has to be requested." ”

Say the plea, ask for the plea. The cabinet duty room is also a stone's throw away from here, and in a short time, Chen Hong sent the trial record just now to Jiajing's hands.

Jiajing's eyes were already bloodshot at this time, obviously he had just taken the pill, and he sat on the futon and looked at the record for a long time, silent.

Chen Hong whispered: "Master, the cabinet is still waiting for the master's will." ”

Jiajing threw the record to the ground: "Demon barrier! This is a magic barrier to fight with me! ”

Chen Hong: "Just catch the edict and let the slaves punish him, don't worry about surrendering him!" ”

"Just you?" Jiajing turned to him disdainfully.

Chen Hong lowered his head.

Jiajing: "You are not his opponent, and that Zhao Zhenji is not his opponent at all." Decree, the cabinet and the three law divisions are not to be tried. asked Xu Jie to convene the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the Hanlin Academy, and the Guozijian who had read the books of the sages, discuss it first, pick a day, and try him together. I want him to chew up the words that scolded me and scolded the ministers, word by word, and swallowed them back! ”

The ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, Jinling has been prosperous since ancient times. Zhu Yuanzhang, the Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, was reluctant to leave his hometown because of his subordinates, and he was rich and noble, so he set his capital here, called Nanjing. Chengzu Zhu Di seized the throne of his nephew and moved the capital to Beijing, known as Jingshi. All kinds of scruples, all kinds of needs, Nanjing set up as the capital, still along the old name, still set up six departments and nine Qing yamen, the grade is equivalent to the six departments and nine qing of the Beijing Division, divided to supervise the provincial capitals and counties south of the Yellow River, so that the six departments and nine Qing yamen of the Beijing Division in the unified Ming Dynasty weakened half of the authority, and the central court where there is a major political strategy also sent Nanjing six departments and nine secretaries, called collegial, in fact, it is contained. There is also an important responsibility, that is, the Nanjing ministries will continue to transport the rich land in the south to the capital and supply the central court. Therefore, the feudal officials of the two capitals and 13 provinces of the Ming Dynasty had two important positions: one was the governor of Zhejiang directly served by Hu Zongxian, and the other was the governor of Nanzhili once served by Zhao Zhenji. Now, the post of governor of Nanzhili is strongly recommended by the cabinet to make Tan Lun the position of Yuwang.

In the spring of March, the sky is full of stars, the Qinhuai River lights and shadows and the sound of oars are shining, and it is the most charming time, but there is a great scenery on the official road to escort the prisoner car riding team.

On the front horse was Wang Yongji, who was in the dust, on both sides was the army of the Yamen faction of the governor of Nanzhili, and in the middle were two prisoner chariots.

The gate was in sight, and Wang Yongji saw from a distance that under the light of a lantern, Tan Lun was already standing outside the governor's yamen waiting for him, escorted by his own soldiers.

The king drew the reins with a string, and the hoofs of the whole horse team increased, and the wheels of the prisoner's cart were quickened.

Tan Lun hurried towards the gate.

Wang Yongji turned over and dismounted, threw the reins, and walked towards Tan Lun.

The generals and soldiers of the entire horse team turned over and dismounted, and knelt on one leg on both sides of the road outside the gate.

Wang Yongji took a deep look, Tan Lun grabbed him, and looked at the prisoner car: "Two corrupt officials have been escorted." ”

Wang Yongji: "I can only arrest these two people." The others can't move right now. ”

Tan Lun looked at the officer of the prisoner car: "First go to the Yamen Prison of the Prison!" ”

"Yes!" The officer replied loudly, stood up and commanded the soldiers, "Take away!" ”

"Let's talk inside." Tan Lun pulled Wang Yongji into the signing room. When I entered the door, I instructed the clerk: "Go out and close the door, and don't bother me with anything." ”

The clerk said yes and walked out and closed the door.

"Sit." Tan Lun stretched out his hand and sat down first.

Wang Yongji took a sip of tea: "It's all found out, it's completely the officials forcing the people to rebel!" Then put the tea bowl on the coffee table, "The Kaihua coal mine began to leak a month ago, and the miners knew that it was going to catch fire and did not want to go down the mine, the mine owner bought off the eunuchs of the Mining Division, and the Mining Department ordered the Kaihua County Governor to send soldiers to escort the miners to dig coal. With a lamp in his mouth, the fire exploded in less than an hour, and the entire coal road was in a sea of fire, and more than 400 miners did not come out alone. The copper mine in Dexing has been digging for four years, and the mine owner has been reluctant to transport wood to strengthen the roof of the mine, and the entire mine has collapsed, and only a dozen of the more than 300 miners have escaped. So many people died in the two mines, and the mine owner actually lost his conscience, and refused to give even a little money to appease the orphans and widows, and the bitter lord sued the county government, and the two corrupt officials, Kaihua and Dexing, arrested more than 100 people and put them in prison. A number of people went to the state capital, which arrested more than 100 people, which caused riots. There is only one reason, headed by the mining department in the palace, Kaihua and Dexing from the county government to the state government and the government government take a share of the silver in the mine every year, so as to cause this catastrophe, how can the people not rebel! Now hundreds of rioters have been arrested, but corrupt officials can only arrest two magistrates. Brother Zili, there is a clear edict from the imperial court, and I will deal with this matter directly with you. Starting with these two people, the magistrates were strictly interrogated by me and the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, and then reported to the imperial court, and arrested one if they were found. The eunuchs of the Mining Division in the palace can have you to secretly play the emperor's strict counseling! ”

Tan Lun just listened, and didn't answer him for a long time.

Wang Yongji looked at him tightly: "Who said hello again?" Could it be that such a big case will not be solved? ”

"This case is no longer a big deal." Tan Lun sighed lightly and looked out the window, "You can't stay in Nanjing anymore, you have to go back to Beijing immediately tomorrow." ”

Wang Yongji stood up: "So many people died in two mines, and there was such a big riot, and the case just began to be investigated, so you asked me to go to Beijing immediately?" ”

Tan Lun looked at him at this time: "There is something bigger happening in Beijing." And it's about you. The Cabinet and the Beijing Metropolitan Procuratorate have sent a message, and you must return to Beijing immediately. ”

A thought immediately flashed through Wang Yongji's mind: "Something happened to Gangfeng!" ”

"Yes." Tan Lun replied gloomily, "Hai Gangfeng was arrested and locked up in the Imperial Prison." ”

"He's sparse!" Wang Yongji asked in surprise.

Tan Lun looked at him: "Yes." The copy of the cabinet has been urgently handed to me, shocking! ”

Wang Yongji: "Can you show me?" ”

Tan Lun: "I can't show you, it's better for you not to read a word, you don't know a word." When you return to Beijing, you must not say that you know about his performance in advance. ”

Wang Yongji was stunned for a long time before he muttered: "No wonder he tried his best to encourage me to ask the Metropolitan Procuratorate for this envoy to leave Beijing." I should have thought that he didn't want to implicate me. What about Mrs. Tai? My sister-in-law is still pregnant, what should they do? ”

"You don't care, you can't care about it." Tan Lun slowly walked to the window and looked at the courtyard outside: "After all, I mistook him." If Jiajing hadn't been recommended by me for 40 years to serve as the magistrate of Chun'an, he would have been picking chrysanthemums in his hometown by now...... It won't cause this fatal disaster. Saying that, he turned around, "Mrs. Tai and Mrs. Sister-in-law have been sent to Nanjing by Imperial Doctor Li." I will also take care of them. You have to go back to Beijing, first, to make yourself clear, and second, not to say a word in advance about the mining department of the palace. At this time, when it comes to the palace, Chen Hong will instigate the emperor to kill people. ”

Wang Yongji: "Arrange a horse for me, I'll leave now!" ”

Although accompanied by Li Shizhen, Hai Mu and Hai Wife were still suspicious, curious, and felt a little cordial when they walked into this compound.

What a big front yard and big ping!

A piece of soaked white cotton cloth was spread out on a large stone three feet wide and one zhang long, and a thick log pillar was pressed against one end of the white cotton cloth, and at each end of the pillar stood a kicker, holding the wooden frame on it, and two pairs of bare feet kicked the log at the same time and rolled forward, and the soaked cotton cloth was immediately leveled by the log.

"What is this for?" Hai Mu immediately asked curiously.

A steward who accompanied them in: "Mrs. Hui, this is called kicking cloth, and the cotton cloth is tightly and flat after such a kick, and then dyed." ”

The mother of the sea and the wife of the sea looked away along his hand, and saw several large dyeing troughs made of the same color of bluestone chiseled in order on the other side of the courtyard, and there were several large dyeing vats next to the dye troughs. On the wider side of the courtyard stands a row of shelves of dyeing cloth several feet high, and many dyers dye cloth in the dyeing tank containing blue indigo and indigo, and many dyers then use long bamboo poles to throw the dyed cloth picks to the high dye rack!

"Stop first!" The steward who accompanied Li Shizhen, Hai Mu, and Hai Wife in shouted loudly, "Be careful, let the distinguished guests pass!" ”

The dyers all stopped what they were doing and looked at the four people standing at the gate of the courtyard.

"Yuqing." The steward looked at a servant girl who came in with his wife, "Hold Mrs. Hai." Speaking of this, he hugged Hai Mu with a smile on his face, "Mr. Li, Mrs. Tai, Mrs., please." ”

The maidservant girl named Yuqing looked innocent and happy, and at this time she was even more happy, and she smiled more than the painting, and she hugged her and was about to go inside.

This maid named Yuqing turned out to be a mute girl, who was Yun Niang's personal maid, and immediately sent her back to Nanjing after receiving Tan Lun's letter to serve the sea mother and sea wife. The idea is simple, she can't speak or read, so she won't leak any news. That is, she was picked up from the boat by car for a while, and the sea wife obviously liked this mute girl very much, and at this time her belly was already a little visible, and she was held by the rain green, and her other hand was still supporting her waist, and she was about to go inside.

Hai Mu refused to move and looked at Li Shizhen: "Imperial Doctor Li, you haven't told me yet, what kind of place is this?" ”

Seeing that Hai Mu didn't move, Hai Wife stopped again and stood there looking at Li Shizhen.

Li Shizhen said with a smile: "A friend's house of mine is also a friend of Gangfeng, the front yard is a workshop for dyeing and kicking cloth, and there is a weaving workshop in the backyard, and then there is where you live." Pick this place for Mrs. Tai and Mrs. Sister-in-law to live, in order not to let you be lonely, you can go to the front yard every day to see them weaving and dyeing cloth, and by the way, please also ask Mrs. Tai and Mrs. Sister-in-law to point them out some tricks of Hainan weaving. One is two, and you can live in peace. ”

The mother smiled and the wife also smiled, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law glanced at each other.

The Mother of the Sea moved, and the steward immediately turned sideways and led them inside.

Hai Mu: "Duo Cheng Imperial Doctor Li thought so thoroughly. I can help others weave some cloth every day, and I don't live in other people's houses in vain. Imperial Physician Li just said that this family is also friends with Ruxian, why haven't I heard of it? ”

Li Shizhen followed closely beside her: "As soon as you say Mrs. Tai, you will know." This person is the prefect of Hangzhou when Brother Gangfeng was appointed as the magistrate of Chun'an. ”

Hai Mu remembered: "Kochifu? Later, he was arrested in Beijing and dismissed from office? ”

Li Shizhen: "It's this person." ”

Hai Mu: "This person Ru Xian often praises him and says that he is talented. It's hard for him, and he started business. ”

Li Shizhen: "Shinong industry and commerce, you have to do a line." This person is a good official, and he is fair in business. Mrs. Mrs. and Mrs. Sister-in-law are relieved to live here. ”

Hai Mu: "Since Imperial Physician Li and Ru Xian are optimistic about him, what else do we have to say." Just don't cause trouble for other people's families. ”

As he spoke, he had already passed through the front yard, and he saw tall weaving mills on both sides, and only heard the roaring of looms from inside.

The steward saw that Hai Mu wanted to go in and see it again, so he hurriedly said, "Mrs. Tai, Mrs. will go and settle down first, and I will accompany you to see it when I go back." ”

As he spoke, he walked through the backyard again, walked into a corridor, turned a corner, and felt suddenly enlightened, and the sea mother stopped again, and the sea wife also stopped. I saw that the pavilions and pavilions here, the winding water corridor, was actually a courtyard.

Hai Mu looked at this place that she had never seen in the painting and was reluctant to go forward: "This is where we are arranged?" ”

The steward smiled, "This is it." ”

Hai Mu's face sank: "It's so extravagant, it's not where we live." ”

Li Shizhen had to explain again: "The courtyards in the south of the Yangtze River are like this. The difference here is that the front yard is dyed and knitted, and the back yard is lived. I have been living here since I came to Nanjing, and I am willing to live where Mrs. Tai lives. ”

The steward answered, with a smile on his face: "Our lord and lady were so happy to hear that Mrs. Tai and Mrs. were coming, so I specially ordered that Mrs. Tai and Mrs. live here." If you don't keep it, the little ones will be punished. ”

Hai Mu and her daughter-in-law glanced at each other again.

The steward: "My lord and wife are rushing from Songjiang to Nanjing, and they can arrive tonight." Mrs. Tai really doesn't want to live here, and she can discuss moving after meeting them. ”

Haimu looked at Li Shizhen again: "Today is April 14, and Ruxian said that he will be able to arrive in Nanjing in early May." Imperial Doctor Li won't leave this month, right? ”

Li Shizhen hurriedly replied: "Don't go." I'll wait for Brother Gangfeng to arrive in Nanjing before leaving. ”

Hai Mu is actually an open-minded person in her bones, so she said to her daughter-in-law: "Since Imperial Doctor Li also lives here, it will only be a month to disturb others, so let's live here and wait for your husband to come and move again." ”

Umizuma: "But listen to my mother-in-law." ”

"That's it." The steward happily agreed, "Cross the bridge, come, I'll carry you away." ”

The steward hugged the sea mother, Yu Qing held the sea wife, and the four of them took a few steps forward and boarded a small stone bridge over the pool.

Li Shizhen looked at the back of an old man and a pregnant woman slowly climbing the stone bridge, the smile on her face disappeared, and she looked up at the sky to the north gloomily.

The fifty-year-old son, in Haimu's memory, never told a lie to his mother. But this time the son's promise to his mother will become a wait that will never see each other. In the blink of an eye, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the fifth month, the ministers of the imperial court had gathered in the lobby of the Imperial Procuratorate, and were ordered to refute Hai Rui's remarks attacking the emperor in the song on this day, and then condemn the crime.

The lobby of the Metropolitan Procuratorate has never been furnished like it is today. There are no big cases, no chairs, only rows of cushions on the ground on both sides, and even the place where the big case is usually placed on the north wall has only four cushions on the ground.

Xu Jie led Li Chunfang, Gao Gong, and Zhao Zhenji into the lobby first, and sat down on the four cushions at the head of the north wall.

During the imperial history of the Imperial Procuratorate and the Minister of General Affairs, the literary ministers of the Hanlin Academy entered the lobby in two rows, found their seats on the cushions on both sides of the hall, and sat down.

The first person in the first row on the left is Li Qingyuan, the secretary of the Guozijian who once led the ministers to Shangshu and was severely beaten.

On the last seat of the first row on the left was Wang Yongji, who rushed to Beijing last night and was full of dust.

Chen Hong also came with a group of eunuchs, but did not enter the lobby, but sat down on a chair set up by the two eunuchs at the entrance of the lobby.

It was set that Hai Rui was being refuted at Chenshi, and Chenshi was obviously here. The king looked out of the gate with his eyes.

Officials on both sides looked at the four cabinet members sitting in the middle of the north wall.

Li Chunfang, Gao Gong, and Zhao Zhenji all looked at Xu Jie, who was sitting on the cushion in the middle.

Xu Jie glanced at the sun outside the gate and looked at Chen Hong, who was sitting on the stone pier at the gate: "Gonggong Chen." ”

Chen Hong still sat there steadily: "Pavilion Elder." ”

Xu Jie: "The time is right, should I urge it, that Hai Rui should be escorted." ”

Chen Hong: "No hurry. When Hai Jui will be escorted, he still has to wait for the order. ”

It was changed to waiting for the decree again, and everyone looked at each other, so they had to wait.

Chen Hong's gaze also looked at the rising sun.

Day and night in prison, only the lamps on the stone wall of the passage glowed yellow.

The weak light of the oil lamp on the wall of the passage of the prison reflected into Hai Rui's cell, and the four stone walls and half straw were faintly visible, and the figure of Hai Rui in shackles could be vaguely seen sitting there.

Hai Rui had been told the day before that he was going to the lobby of the Metropolitan Procuratorate to be interrogated today, and he had already gotten up early and waited here for escort with his eyes closed.

People who have been in the dark for a long time are very sensitive to light, and although Hai Rui closed his eyes at this time, he quickly felt that a piece of light was gradually getting stronger, and then he heard the light steps of several people walking towards this side.

"This is it." Hai Rui heard the Jinyi guard at the door of the cell whispering.

"Why don't you have a bed, a table or a stool?" The other voice was known to be a eunuch as soon as he heard it.

Hai Rui's eyes were still closed.

"Bring a table and a chair first, and I'll set up a bed when I'm gone." Again, the eunuch's voice, "Open the door." ”

Then there was the sound of the cell door opening, and a footstep entered.

Hai Rui still hadn't opened his eyes, but he could already feel the man standing in front of him.

Soon, I heard the sound of someone coming in with a table and a stool.

The voice of the eunuch in front of him: "Put it here, you all go outside and watch." ”

Two people replied, "Yes." The footsteps of the two men walked out of the cell door and faded away.

"My surname is Shi, and I am the new chief eunuch of the chief eunuch. I have something to ask the sea chief. "That person is the eunuch surnamed Bingbi who is behind Huang Jin, and now he has been promoted to chief, and when he said this, his voice was very businesslike.

Hai Rui opened his eyes at this time, the lantern light on the table he moved in was very bright, he saw a bright red robe and a pair of black boots in front of him, and slowly raised his head, only to see that it was the face of a middle-aged eunuch.

The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi also looked at Hai Rui tightly: "I came to ask you by order, the emperor said, you can sit and reply, or you can stand up and reply, do you want me to help you stand up?" ”

"Father-in-law, please take a seat. Since the emperor has a special purpose, I will sit on the ground and reply. Hai Jui was still sitting on the ground.

The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi only glanced at the circle chair next to the square table, but did not sit down, still standing in place, looking at Hai Rui: "You are a clean official." ”

Hai Rui couldn't help but look at him again.

The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi: "This is the emperor's original words." ”

No matter how calm his heart is, Hai Rui can't help but feel a trace of emotion in his heart at this time.

The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi: "The emperor said that you want to be a good person, but he is not the king." ”

Hai Rui thought for a while and replied: "The Ming Dynasty is not the Shang Dynasty, there is no Bigan, and there is no King Xu. ”

The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi: "Your words are good, I will reply truthfully." I'm here to tell you twice. The first meaning is the emperor's meaning, you hear it clearly. ”

Hai Jui: "Please speak." ”

The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi: "You will be tried in the lobby of the Metropolitan Procuratorate." The ones who judge you are the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the General Political Envoy, the Hanlin Yuan, and the Guozijian who are the Imperial History of the Hanlin and the Minister. Your notes have already been sent to them, and they are going to refute what you said that doesn't make sense. The emperor asked me to ask you, in the face of their refutation, did you have anything to say? ”

Hai Rui: "I'll go back when I need to go." ”

"What should be back, and what shouldn't!" The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi suddenly got angry, couldn't help but stomp on the ground, and then walked back and forth in front of him!

Hai Rui glanced at him, and when he saw that he looked angry and anxious, he didn't reply and closed his eyes again.

"If you want to find death, jump into the Tonghui River. It only costs two pennies to buy a hemp rope. The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi was still walking back and forth in front of him, "I want to disturb the world!" The matter of the sea master, what 'Wen Death Admonition, Martial Death War' is all bullshit. Only those who read until they read to the belly of a dog believe that. Do you know how many people are involved in finding your own death? ”

Hai Rui still closed his eyes and did not answer.

The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi stood still: "I came today to save you." In a word, as long as you admit your mistake in front of those people when you go to the lobby of the Metropolitan Procuratorate later, the emperor will let you go, and you will not implicate anyone else because of you. Do you understand? ”

Hai Rui opened his eyes: "I want to hear the second meaning of Gonggong Shi." ”

The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi looked at him, his face slowly eased again, he glanced back at the prison door, squatted down in front of him, and lowered his voice: "This omission of yours has involved the foundation of my Ming Dynasty, can you understand my words?" ”

Hai Jui: "Please go on. ”

The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi: "I won't say anything when I'm older, just say that there are many people in the palace and the Zhenfu Division who have been affected by you." Lu Fang and Lu Gonggong all went to Nanjing, and someone wanted to kill him under the pretext of you. Huang Gonggong Amitabha Buddha is alone, and he helped you say a few words, and now he is being tortured every day in the Criminal Division. Qi Dazhu and Zhu Qi, who have always been good to you, were also arrested. And that good friend of yours, Wang Yongji, was also urgently transferred back to Beijing yesterday, if you don't admit your mistakes today, those people will die one by one, do you know this? Regardless of the life or death of your own family, you can't and don't care about the life or death of others, right? Don't you want to save them? ”

Hai Jui: "How can I save them?" ”

The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi: "It's what I said just now, as long as you admit your mistake later, all the people will be saved." ”

A sad look appeared on Hai Rui's face, but he remained silent.

The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi didn't speak anymore, just stared at him quietly, waiting, waiting for him to let go.

"I didn't want to implicate anyone." Hai Rui finally spoke.

"That's good!" The eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi then praised it, "How to admit that the emperor has thought about it for you, and don't want you to be too difficult for yourself, just say that you didn't read the sage's book thoroughly, and confused Sage Kong, Sage Meng and Huang Lao, so he said those crazy words, and then pleaded guilty himself." If you ask for a sin, the emperor will not condemn you, and will make an exception to transfer you to the Guozijian, in the name of letting you read the sage's book well, but in fact, it has been arranged for you to participate in the tribute examination. Aren't you just a lifter? participated in the tribute examination, and pulled the nine volumes of tribute to the capital, and the name of the department will also be available. Shengde is towering, and your future also has the foundation of your career. This is a good story that has never been seen in history! ”

Those expectant eyes were less than a foot away from Hai Rui, Hai Rui looked at these two eyes shining in the dark, it was really a "Twenty-One History" I don't know where to start.

Hai Rui no longer looked at those eyes, and closed his eyes: "Please father-in-law to play the emperor, the minister Hai Rui has nothing to say, can only use the words of the sage to play, Mencius said: 'The people are the most important, the society is second, and the king is light.'" Lao Tzu said: "The saint has no perseverance, but takes the heart of the people as his heart." 'Please think more about my Ming Dynasty's society and the people of the world. My personal life and death are nothing more than a fallen leaf, turning into dust. ”

A helpless sigh, followed by the rustling of the robes of the eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi when he stood up, and then the footsteps of the boots leaving the cell.

Hai Rui opened his eyes at this time, the lantern was still lit on the wooden table that was moved today, and the prison door was still open there, and the eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi was missing outside the prison door, only two brocade guards and two eunuchs stood there like nails, and then there was a sound of footsteps in the passage outside the cell, and the two eunuchs and two brocade guards at the door of the prison knelt down at the end of the passage. Hai Rui thought it was time to take him to the lobby of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Hai Rui closed his eyes again, waiting for him to be escorted out of the cell door and boarded in the prison car.

The footsteps of several people stopped outside the prison door, but no one spoke, and Hai Rui heard the footsteps of a group of people leaving the cell door and walking towards the end of the passage. There was a sudden silence outside the cell door, followed by the sound of a man's very soft footsteps entering the cell. Hai Rui's brows trembled slightly, and he felt that this person was not the eunuch surnamed Bingbi Shi just now, but he sat down on the chair next to the square table. There was no sound for a long time, and it was obvious that he was staring at himself all the time.

"I'm going to judge you." Finally spoke, and sure enough, it was another person's voice.

The tone was very slow and gloomy, but there was an inexplicable huge aura pressing, Hai Rui subconsciously sat up straight, calmed down, and slowly opened his eyes to look at the man.

The man sat upright in his chair, his eyes like two deep holes staring at him. At the beginning of May, it was close to midsummer, but this person was wearing a thick cotton coat and a blue robe on the outside, which did not show his rank or identity.

I've never seen it, of course Hai Rui doesn't know it, this person is the current emperor he denounced in the song, the Jiajing Emperor who has reigned in the world for 45 years but has not been in court for more than 20 years!

Jiajing glanced at Hai Rui, who was sitting on the grass in chains: "If so many people judge you, you won't be convinced." The emperor asked me to tell you in advance what these people refuted you, and wanted to hear how you replied to them. ”

"Since there is a will, I will return if it is time to return." Speaking of this, Hai Rui suddenly had an indescribable premonition about this tall and thin man with long eyebrows and long beard, and asked awkwardly, "Can your lord tell me which yamen he is working in?" ”

Jiajing's eyes were still on the notebook: "Like you, I served in the Ming Dynasty." You just talk back. ”

Hai Rui: "Then I would like to ask." ”

Jiajing looked at Li Qingyuan's recital: "Li Qingyuan, the secretary of the Guozijian business, asked you, 'Who is the first person to be called a virtuous monarch under the third generation of my Huaxia dynasty?' ’”

Hai Rui: "Be the first to recommend Emperor Wen of Han." ”

Jiajing still looked at the recital: "The sage of Emperor Wen, the rule of Wenjing, will be praised by future generations, but you quoted the words of the mad Jia Yi in the recital to the emperor, asking for all the harsh criticism, and attacking Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty to attack the current saint." Such a wise king is still so attacking, who is the wise king in your mind? ”

Hai Rui: "Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang!" ”

Jiajing's eyes flashed and stabbed at him: "Li Qingyuan is asking about the three generations or less. ”

Hai Rui: "The minister's recital has already said that Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty below three generations can be called a virtuous monarch. ”

Jiajing looked at the book again: "Li Qingyuan asked: 'Since you recognize Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty as a virtuous monarch, why do you blame Emperor Wen for retiring from the throne and neglecting the government, is this an allusion to the current emperor? ’”

Hai Rui did not answer.

"Why don't you talk back?" Jiajing's eyes were still on the notebook.

"It's not worth refuting." Hai Rui replied.

"It's not worth refuting or is it a wordless rebuttal?" Jiajing's eyes finally looked at Hai Rui again.

Hai Jui: "They didn't understand my recital, and they couldn't understand it, so it's not worth refuting." ”

Jiajing: "What a lot of knowledge. There is a will, and you must refute it. ”

"Then I'll say." Hai Rui raised his voice, "Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty does not respect Confucius and Mencius, advocates the way of Huang Lao, and governs by inaction, so he has the shortcomings of excellent travel and retirement, and neglects government affairs." However, the minister still recognized Emperor Wen as a virtuous monarch, because Emperor Wen still had the beauty of being close to the people, the virtue of forgiveness and frugality, taking the hearts of the people as his heart, and recuperating with the people. Following Emperor Jing, the virtue of Emperor Wen is glorified, and there is the rule of Wenjing. Today's emperor thinks that he is imitating Wenjing everywhere, and for more than 20 years, he has not been in the name of the United States and said that he has ruled by doing nothing, and he has set up a Jiao line of cultivation, but in fact, he has built a lot of buildings, set up hundreds of officials like domestic slaves, regarded the treasury as private property, and won the hearts of all the people with the heart of one person, and did not recuperate with the people in one fell swoop. As a result, the upper and lower levels are greedy, exhausting the people's wealth, the world is not governed, and the people's livelihood is poor. If you want to say it bluntly, the sage of Emperor Wen still has the disadvantages of abolishing the government, not to mention that the current emperor is far inferior to Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty! ”

Jiajing's hand holding the notebook froze there, and his face changed sharply.

Hai Rui still said loudly: "The Ming Dynasty has tens of thousands of officials, but no one dares to say it to the emperor, only I, Hai Rui, say it for the emperor." If I don't say it, the glorious annals of history will have their own descendants! Please ask Li Qingyuan, and ask those officials who want to refute me, they don't say anything, I just say it, what is insinuation? I will say it alone, but the hundred officials refute it, do they want the emperor to leave a name for generations to come! ”

Jiajing's eyes were empty, looking at the stone roof above the cell, and a deep voice came out of his abdomen for a long time: "According to what you say, my Ming monarch is a faint monarch, and all the ministers are ministers, and you are the only one who is a loyal minister, a virtuous minister, and a good minister?" ”

Hai Jui: "I'm just a direct minister. ”

Jiajing: "A direct minister without a father and a king!" ”

Hai Rui saw the murderous aura flashing in the cold light in the man's eyes, and still replied calmly: "Can your lord relay my words to the emperor?" ”

Jiajing: "Say! ”

Hai Rui: "I didn't have a father when I was four years old, and my mother brought me up to be an official when I kept festivals, and my mother taught me, 'Although you have no father, you can eat the king, and the king is your father'." In fact, not only do I, Hai Rui, regard the emperor as a father, but who in the world does not regard the emperor as a father? However, the emperor does not regard the people as his subjects, and since the reuse of the strict party, the eunuchs sent from the 24 yamen in the palace to all levels, and the officials set up from the imperial court to the provincial capitals, prefectures and counties regard the people as fish and meat. The emperor lived in Xiyuan and was bent on cultivating, when did he observe the sufferings of the people's livelihood, and when did he think about my tens of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty, although they had kings but no fathers, although there were officials and thieves! The two capitals and thirteen provinces are all hungry and cold babies waiting to be killed, and fish and meat are waiting to be cut, does the monarch know? ”

Hai Rui said these words with a rush of blood, and the sound was like a bell, shaking a prison of the pacification department to a buzz!

But when he saw that the man's face was as white as paper, and his teeth were clenched, he sat on a stool as if he was about to fall, and he grasped the table with his hand.

Hai Rui also found out, looking at the man with concern.

At this moment, Hai Rui noticed that the man's face gradually turned red from white, and saw blood slowly flowing from his nostrils, and then a wisp of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

Hai Rui was also shocked and shouted loudly: "Someone! ”

Immediately, there was a rush of footsteps, and the one who ran in front was the eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi, followed closely by several eunuchs and Jinyi guards.

"Your Majesty!" The eunuch surnamed Shi immediately pounced and took out a piece of white silk to cover Jiajing's still bleeding nostrils.

All the eunuchs and brocade guards knelt down around and were at a loss.

"Lift the chair! Carrying a chair and sending it to the hospital immediately! The eunuch surnamed Shi shouted.

The eunuchs and brocade guards flocked up, lifted their chairs with people, and hurriedly squeezed out of the prison door.

There was a chaotic sound of chains, and Hai Rui was already kneeling there, his eyes showing panic for the first time, looking straight at Jiajing who was carried out.

"Stopped!" Jiajing, who was carried out of the prison door, held his breath and shouted these two words again.

The foot carrying the chair immediately stopped there.

Jiajing's back: "Hai Rui! ”

Hai Rui knelt on the ground: "The sinner is here!" ”

Jiajing's back: "I send you eight words: 'No father and no king, abandon the country and abandon the family!'" ’”

Hai Rui lay on the ground and didn't say a word.

Jiajing was speechless.

Eunuch surnamed Shi Bingbi: "Hurry up and carry it away!" ”

With a gust of wind, Jiajing was carried out of the cell door.

Hai Rui slowly raised his head and looked out of the empty prison door, tears flashing in his eyes.