The next day, the court meeting was officially convened.

This was a novelty for many officials in the court—they hadn't seen the emperor much since they had joined the court!

Since the fifteenth year of Wanli, the emperor has basically not been to the court, and there was a court meeting held because of the Korean war, so that the ministers could see the face of the sky, but then it was several years of seclusion in the deep palace.

The sudden convening of the court meeting this time was also unexpected by the courtiers, and many people speculated that it was estimated that it was to make a decision on the matter of the demon book that had been in a uproar recently.

The ministers, each with their own thoughts, entered the palace and saw the emperor.

Wanli sat on the dragon chair, twenty-nine years of time made him a little old, but overall the spirit is still very good. As the shouts of the eunuchs fell, the court meeting officially began.

The first thing to discuss was the way to deal with the participants in the demon book case - not only the Gu brothers but also Gu Boyang, some other high-level figures in Donglin Academy, the so-called "gentlemen", and some scholars and doctors who responded to Gu Xiancheng in other towns, have all been arrested by Jinyiwei one after another.

The Shangshu of the Criminal Department walked out of the team and played:

"Your Majesty, after the triage of the three law divisions, they unanimously agreed: Gu Xiancheng, Gu Yuncheng, and Gu Boyang were all misleading and unconspiracy, and they were executed by Ling Chi with conspiratorial theories; Several people in Donglin criticized the imperial court, helped Gu Xiancheng, and asked for beheading after the autumn; The rest of the cadres shall be punished with imprisonment or other punishments. ”

There is nothing wrong with this verdict, even if some of them are even famous Confucians, no one thinks it is inappropriate.

Since Gu Xiancheng wrote the words "the merit of the society" in the letter, this incident has become a dead knot of who touches and who dies. Because based on this sentence alone, if you don't pursue it, it can be said that you are lying out, but if you do it, you can directly track down the rebellion.

What's more, it has caused such a big political turmoil to the government and the opposition, and there is no problem with such a verdict.

After Wanli listened, he said:

"I think there is something wrong with this verdict."

Hearing this, the expressions of the ministers below couldn't help but froze.

Could it be that Your Majesty is not satisfied, and wants to be more involved?

It seemed that he didn't see the eyes of the ministers, and Wanli said slowly:

"Gu Xiancheng, Gu Yuncheng, and Gu Boyang deserve their crimes, and the verdict remains unchanged; There are several people in Donglin, many people do not know, and many of them are old ministers in the court, so I exempted them from capital crimes and sent Liaodong to fill the army; The other gentry, thinking that they were being bewitched by others, and there was no sign of real rebellion, changed to reprimand and reprimand, and each was fined 5,000 taels of silver. ”

Yes?

The words fell, and the ministers looked at each other.

Although 5,000 taels is a lot, but who can do Confucianism, who will lack yellow and white things? As for the reprimand...... It works just as well as a "pre-homework" in school.

Although this is a sum of blood, it is really too light compared to the punishment he violated.

Wanli is not a generous guy, how could he?

Looking at the puzzled eyes of the ministers, Wanli couldn't help but snort coldly:

"Thanks to King Fu's intercession for them, otherwise, those who spread rumors and make trouble, I would have to send them down to accompany that Gu Xiancheng!"

So that's it!

No matter what the purpose of King Fu is, being able to speak for his opponents is enough to win the favor of many people, you must know that these great Confucians have a certain connection with many officials in the court.

These words made these officials accept the love of King Fu.

Then, another arranged official walked out of the team and reported:

"Your Majesty, among the sons of the current imperial examination, there are also many accomplices who are attached to Gu Boyang, and even they have trespassed on their superiors, and they often criticize the courtiers after that...... What should I do? ”

"Your Majesty, it was the students who took the lead in responding to the sinner, so that everyone broke the law and transgressed the ...... The lifters were just bewitched by me and Gu Boyang, and it is not the fault of the others, please let Your Majesty know about it! ”

Zhang Yicheng walked out from the side, kowtowed the ground, and said loudly, between the words, he actually took all the mistakes.

If this is confirmed, he will also end up with a beheading!

Wanli's expression did not change in the slightest, and he said lightly:

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's discuss."

The courtiers below looked at each other.

Being able to bring this matter to the court already represents the emperor's attitude. Otherwise, if you really want to be Gu Boyang's comrade, do you need to find such a teacher to mobilize the public? Directly according to the signature of the sparse, one counts as one, and people can't run away.

And Zhang Yicheng will not have the opportunity to stand up and speak at this time.

The ministers of the dynasty are all proficient, and figuring out the intention is the basic skill.

So soon someone stood up and said:

"The minister thinks that after all, the lifters are young and enthusiastic, and although they are bewitched, they are also for the court, which is understandable...... Although Zhang Yicheng has the crime of responding, he is not the first evil after all, and the minister thinks that it is more appropriate to punish the silver and reprimand. ”

A few more courtiers came forward, and they all said the same thing.

Wanli was on the throne and nodded slightly:

"In that case, Zhang Yicheng!"

"Thinking that you and the others were also deceived by others, and you have the intention of repenting afterwards, you will be lightly punished today!"

"Remember the commandment of the day!"

"If there is a repeat offense, it will be severely punished!"

Hearing this, Zhang Yicheng raised his head sluggishly and looked at Emperor Wanli.

He originally thought that he should be dead at this moment, but he didn't expect the emperor to only give such a light punishment, which can almost be said to be a pardon for his crimes!

He suddenly knocked his head on the ground twice, and said loudly:

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

This is a token of forgiveness for the lifters, they no longer have to worry about being wanted by the imperial court, and he can not like it?

However, in the eyes of the courtiers below, this matter is not so simple.

The reason why Wanli ordered Zhang Yicheng to go to court and fall lightly was to send a signal to the world.

This is a response to the concerns of those who have supported Gu Xiancheng: As long as you are willing to admit your mistakes, you will be forgiven by the emperor like Zhang Yicheng.

After all, at the peak, the north and south of the river were almost supporting Gu Xiancheng's remarks, even if Wanli wanted to, he couldn't catch it! If you really do it, the cornerstone of the Ming Dynasty, the gentry and landlords, I am afraid that they will directly rebel.

It should also be forgiven when it should be forgiven, which is similar to Cao Cao's burning of the letters exchanged between his subordinates and Yuan Shao after the Guandu War.

However, there is also another meaning implied in Wanli's words:

If you are still obsessed and stand up and say something inappropriate, then you will be punished as Gu Xiancheng's fellow party.

The ministers understood, and there was a faint glint in their eyes.

Those families behind him can finally rest assured.

(End of chapter)