Chapter 575 574 Irreparable
"The Yan family is so overbearing. Don't worry, Mr. Wei, I will take care of this matter. I will send someone to deliver the evidence directly if you find it."
Cheng Shoujie said indignantly after Wei Meng recounted the details of the incident.
Just now, Cheng Shoujie knew about the feud between the Yan family and the Wei family. The Yan family coveted the Wei family's ancestral property, so he actually conspired with Lin Yunzhen, the steward of the Wei family, and finally used his power to take it away by force. How could this be allowed?
It's really a shame that the Yan family is still the chief minister of the dynasty, but there is such an evil slave.
Lin Yunzhen, a stinky Taoist priest, since the Wei family doesn't want to pursue the case, forget it and let him go.
At this time, Cheng Shoujie had transformed into a messenger of justice and made a guarantee in front of Wei Meng that all the assets embezzled by the Yan family in Jiujiang Mansion would be returned and would not be recorded.
"Four manors and some scattered land total more than 7,000 acres. There is also a house and several shops in the city."
Cheng Shoujie wrote down the properties reported by Wei Meng one by one, and promised that he would make the final decision and return them directly to the Wei family.
Not long after, Wei Mengzhi left the mansion and returned to the Wei family with great satisfaction.
Wei Meng is not worried that this incident will happen in the future. He believes that this kind of thing will not be the only one, and there will be more in the future.
In short, the wealth that Yan Shifan accumulated through his hard work and dedication was, in the final analysis, a wedding dress for the person who had the last laugh.
If the Wei family loses its foothold in the future, the same fate will follow.
"Being an official is risky, so I have to go back and write a letter to remind my second son that if it is difficult to get along in official circles, it is better to go to another place or go directly back to the hometown to recuperate. With these assets, there will be no problem in being a wealthy and idle man."
Wei Meng was still thinking in his mind and made up his mind to write a letter tonight so as not to forget this important event.
In the capital, at Xu Jie's house.
"How did the Wei family react?"
Xu Jie heard the report from his servants. Yesterday, Dong Fen had sent his family members to send greetings to the Wei family.
"Our people didn't find that the Wei family sent any messages back to the Dong family."
The host replied respectfully.
"That is to say, the Wei family did not send anyone to the Dong family today?"
Xu Jie frowned when he heard the servant's answer.
This was not Wei Guangde's style of doing things, and Xu Jie had to be wary.
In fact, after Zhang Juzheng reported what Wei Guangde said two days ago, he began to wonder if he had misjudged King Yu's character.
He may seem cowardly, but he is both gentle and strong.
If King Yu is really determined to get Dong Feng, is it worth it for him to go against King Yu for him?
In fact, judging from Wei Guangde's words and deeds, this matter is most likely true, and King Yu has made up his mind to bring down Dong Fen.
From this point of view, it seems that Wei Guangde understands King Yu better than he does.
After receiving confirmation from his servants, Xu Jie asked again: "Did anyone in the Wei Mansion go to other officials' mansions today? Also, where did Wei Guangde go today?"
"Master Wei has been studying at the Imperial College for the past two days, but he has not gone anywhere else. After leaving the office, he also went home directly. Prince Yu's Mansion sent someone to see Master Wei two days ago, but he did not go to the palace.
Today, the entry and exit of people in the Wei Mansion remained the same as usual. They were all out shopping, and no one was found to be in contact with people from other mansions. "
After thinking for a while, the chief officer reported Wei Guangde's itinerary for the past two days to Xu Jie.
"Where are his fellow villagers? I remember you said a few days ago that he drank with his fellow villagers in private?"
Xu Jie asked again after recalling carefully.
"That time, the Criminal Division hosted a banquet for Ouyang Yijing, the official in charge of the matter. It was a banquet for officials from the Jiujiang Prefecture in Beijing. In addition to Mr. Wei, the people who went there were also Duan Mengxian, the head of the Criminal Division, who was observing the affairs of the Metropolitan Procuratorate."
The servant replied, and then he seemed to have just remembered, and then added: "This Zhang Dao is a Jinshi Jinshi, and was selected by the Ministry of Personnel to join the Metropolitan Procuratorate. It seems that Wei Guangde was secretly looking for someone to operate.
However, as a political watcher, he does not seem to have the power of the imperial censor, so he should not be able to impeach others unless there is a censor who jointly submits the memorial. "
"Duan Mengxian Zhang Dao"
Xu Jie just said these two names gently, then closed his eyes and thought.
I don't know how long I squinted, but it seemed that I remembered that the chief of the mansion was still standing in front of me, and then I waved my hand to let him go down.
At the same time, at Dong Fen's house, Dong Fen knew that Wei Guangde did not reply to his greetings today, but he became increasingly agitated.
After all, I am already a minister, so I don’t take it out on others or throw things around when others don’t like it. However, it seems that I don’t like anyone. If I don’t like it at all, I will curse loudly, which makes everyone in the house a little scared. Hiding and not daring to show up in front of him.
But his eyes were clear, and Dong Fen's anger gradually subsided. He was alone in the study, cursing Wei Guangde in his heart.
From Dong Fen's point of view, as a minister, he was extremely benevolent to Wei Guangde for washing his horse. Unexpectedly, he actually turned his nose up and pretended.
I sent someone to send him a greeting card, but he dared not reply.
This is not only rude, but also completely disrespectful to him.
"I am the Minister of Rites, but I am still afraid that you, a minor official in Zhan Shifu, will not succeed."
Dong Fen thought to himself and began to think about how to deal with the current situation.
Wei Guangde seemed unwilling to meet him, and it might be even more embarrassing if he went there rashly.
At this time, after venting his temper, Dong Fen returned to his senses and began to think about his next plan.
Even if you want to cause trouble for Wei Guangde, you have to settle the score later, and try your best to get over the current situation first.
Instead of trying to find a way to deal with Wei Guangde like ordinary people, he still had to take the initiative to show his kindness and try to resolve the conflict with Prince Yu's Mansion as the top priority, but he had already made a note for Wei Guangde in his heart.
"Sending someone to the door again?"
Immediately, Dong Fen shook his head.
I've already sent a post once, so I can't send someone again right away. It would be a big loss.
"Find a middleman? Meet Wei Guangde for a drink?"
Immediately, Dong Fen came up with an idea.
Don’t you, Wei Guangde, not want to see me?
I will find an intermediary and invite you and I to go to the banquet together and see how you react when the time comes.
Dong Fen had an idea in his mind. He was determined and immediately began to think about who to find as the middleman.
The first choice was naturally an official from the Ministry of Etiquette. I was his immediate superior, so he was easy to handle.
Secondly, it is best to be either a fellow countryman of Wei Guangde or the same year as him.
There are quite a few such people in the Ministry of Rites, but these people do not have high official positions. How should they handle this matter?
The next day, thanks to Emperor Jiajing's lazy administration, officials did not have to get up before dawn to go to court. They only had to make sure to light the meal on time, which allowed everyone to sleep for an extra hour.
"Squeaky"
The heavy wooden door was pushed with a harsh friction sound, and the two vermilion doors were opened inwards. On the plaque above the door were the four characters "General Affairs Secretary".
While the concierge was cleaning the door, officials from the General Affairs Department arrived one after another, signed their names on the register, and then walked into the Yamen in twos and threes, chatting and laughing.
Not long after, a small sedan arrived in front of the General Secretary's door. As the bearer lowered the sedan and lifted it up, an official in Tsing Yi emerged from the sedan.
After getting off the sedan chair, he straightened his official uniform a little and walked into the General Affairs Office.
After he walked in, the yamen officers who were cleaning both sides looked at him in surprise.
So early in the morning, officials from other yamen came here, usually to submit impeachment memorials, hoping to be sent to the cabinet on the first shift.
If it were for other, insignificant matters, most of these officials would not come here so early. Instead, they would go to their own places first and then come here.
"I wonder which unlucky guy was impeached today."
"No one has been here for a while."
"Whatever, there will be news coming out soon, guess what."
Several people chatted in a few words and continued to clean the ground hard.
Not long after, the Qingyi official who had just entered strode out again, and the small sedan waiting beside him was immediately carried to the yamen gate. After he got on the sedan, he was quickly carried towards the imperial city.
This person was naturally Ouyang Yijing, the official from the Criminal Division. He came to the General Affairs Department early this morning and handed in a memorial to impeach Dong Fen, the Minister of Rites.
After he left Sizhengtang, the general affairs envoy, the officials inside exploded.
Dong Shangshu of Dongfeng had a bad year. He was impeached just after he was promoted. The impeachment was still for the serious crime of colluding with the Yan family.
Long Live Lord has just executed Yan Shifan, is he going to purge the Yan Party again now?
The officials inside were talking about it while registering the memorial in accordance with the procedures.
When it comes to purging the Yan Party, many people in the General Affairs Department are more or less related to the Yan family.
You know, this is the first territory Yan Song fought for power in the DPRK.
At the beginning, after Yan Shifan clarified the operational procedures of the Ming Dynasty, the first government office he mentioned to Yan Song that he must win was the general affairs envoy.
After all, it is a place where communication is conducted inside and outside the country. If there is any disturbance outside, the General Affairs Office is undoubtedly the first place to get the news.
If the memorial is unfavorable to the Yan family, the General Secretary can delay it for a long time before sending it to the cabinet, so that they have time to study countermeasures and tie up the ends.
"No way. I seem to have only seen Mr. Dong giving gifts to the Yan family before. Anyone who didn't send something to the Yan family at that time probably didn't want to purge the Yan family's members."
Talking about purging the strict party is undoubtedly a topic that makes officials of all sizes in the capital talk about it the most.
There are a few Beijing officials who have never given gifts to the Yan family. Even King Yu and Chief Xu have given them. Are they also members of the Yan family?
"This man named Ouyang Yijing is not just trying to impeach Dong Shangshu and the Yan family for their activities. Oh, by the way, what he is talking about is that Dong Fen received money from the Yan family, not that he gave money to the Yan family."
Finally, someone discovered that the content of Ouyang Yijing's memorial was different from what they were accustomed to take for granted.
Well, as long as the Yan family is mentioned, most people will always think of sending gold and silver to the Yan family. This is the first time I saw someone being impeached for receiving benefits from the Yan family.
"Then this Dong Shangshu is brave enough. If he accepts the money, he probably wants to save Yan Shifan."
No one pays attention to the content of the memorial. As long as they know that Ouyang Yijing told Dong Fen that he is related to the Yan family, it is enough for them to make up a lot of content. The official who was previously responsible for copying the memorial smiled bitterly as his colleagues guessed there, but did not want to talk to them. Go in.
Thinking that I have nothing to do with the Yan family anyway, I send money to the Yan family everywhere, but is that a big deal?
I was forced by the Yan family and gave it away as a last resort, just to protect my position, well that's what it was.
Picking up the copy of the transcript, while colleague Ren was still discussing it, he walked directly to the back and sent the original copy of Ouyang Yijing's memorial to the General Secretary. The copy had already been filed away by him.
The officials outside the main hall listened to the conversation of the official inside and quickly understood what was going on.
Then, the news that Dong Fen actually took money from the Yan family and wanted to rescue Yan Shifan flew to a government office in Beijing like it had wings.
If Yan Shifan was still here and had not been punished by Ming Zhengdian, the officials in the capital might still worry about things turning around, but since everyone was killed, who would worry about anything else.
Originally, the opposition to the Yan family and his son was the embodiment of political correctness.
At the moment, when the Yan family is down, there are still officials who dare to collude with them and even try to save people.
For a time, Dong Fen's status in the hearts of the officials in the capital plummeted.
What are the basic requirements for serving as Minister of Rites?
First of all, you need to have profound knowledge and broad knowledge, and be familiar with the classics and history and the etiquette system.
Secondly, one must have considerable talent and experience, be able to be proficient in the norms, procedures and details of the etiquette system, and have excellent writing skills and administrative abilities.
In addition, what is even more necessary is that you must have high morals and integrity, have integrity and a high degree of loyalty.
If Dong Fen is such a greedy person, how can he have the dignity to sit in the main hall of the Ministry of Rites and hold the seal of the Ministry of Rites.
The Ministry of Rites is in charge of court etiquette, sacrifices, banquets, education, imperial examinations, and foreign affairs activities.
If the Minister of Rites is such a person, who can guarantee that the imperial examination can fairly select talents, and that interacting with foreign countries will not lead to betrayal of the country and seeking glory.
After Ouyang Yijing returned to the Sixth Section, within an hour, he was surrounded by his colleagues, and everyone asked him about Dong Fen's acceptance of money from the Yan family.
Ouyang Yijing was not afraid of these inquiries. With the evidence collected by Prince Yu's Mansion, he had also sent someone to check it secretly. Now he spoke about his findings impassionedly.
Ever since, after the people from the Sixth Section confirmed that Ouyang Yijing did have evidence that Dong Fen had accepted bribes from the Yan family, they despised Dong Fen as a human being and loudly expressed that they would also file a memorial to impeach him. Such a person is not worthy of being retained. In the court, work with them.
This matter has developed to the point where everyone in the official circles of the capital is aware of it, but Dong Fen is unaware of it. He is currently processing official documents in the duty room, looking for official documents related to the few target figures he has chosen in the ministry.
As a minister, how could he call these sixth- and seventh-grade officials to his duty for no reason?
It wasn't until a family member hurriedly broke in and told him the news of Ouyang Yijing's impeachment that he suddenly became confused and at a loss.
"You said the memorial has been handed in?"
Dong Fen asked sternly.
"That Ouyang Yijing has already sent the impeachment memorial to the General Affairs Department, and should be sending it to the cabinet now."
The servant replied worriedly.
"Quickly, prepare a sedan for me. I'm going to the cabinet to find Mr. Xu Ge."
Dong Fen was really panicking now. The Minister of Rites accepted the bribe. He really didn't know how those mad dogs from the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Sixth Section would pounce on him and bite him. He had to find Mr. Xu Ge as soon as possible to discuss countermeasures.
"Ouyang Yijing, Ouyang Yijing."
When he left the Yamen and got into the sedan, Dong Fen still gritted his teeth and cursed this person repeatedly in his heart. At this time, he had already forgotten that Wei Guangde was there.
Before the General Secretary sent the memorial, Xu Jie had already received the news in the cabinet.
Sighing, he knew that Wei Guangde must have arranged Ouyang Yijing's performance, and the matter was irreversible.