Zhang Juzheng has never been soft on officials who violate laws and disciplines. Because he knows that if someone violates the law and is not punished, then his policies and laws will be a dead letter and will be ridiculed.
Zhang Juzheng not only gave a righteous hand to ordinary officials who violated the law, but even if he was a meritorious and invincible feudal official, Zhang Juzheng would put the sword of justice on his neck. Mu Chaobi, the eighth generation of Qianguo Gong, can show up and say.
Mu Chaobi is the eighth grandson of Mu Ying, the founding general of the Ming Empire and the righteous son of Zhu Yuanzhang. The Mu family has guarded Yunnan for generations and is the king of Yunnan in the eyes of the central government and the people.
Mu Chaobi is very capable of fighting and has made outstanding contributions to the central government's stabilization of the south, but this person's personal moral standard is really disgusting.
First of all, he was an unfilial son, beating and scolding his mother, and he was guilty of incest, raping his sister-in-law and taking his brother's property.
What's even worse is that he secretly hid a traitor, and after receiving the report, the central government sent someone to investigate, and he actually used the army to demonstrate to the commissioner, and also violated the prince's code by using troop transfer charms to mobilize the army without authorization.
The central government's patience with him has reached the limit, and they have asked Zhu Yijun to severely punish Mu Chaobi. When Zhu Yijun heard that there was such a bastard in the family, he was furious and asked Zhang Juzheng to draft a decree to cancel Mu Chaobi's title and send him to the capital to wait for his arrival.
When Empress Dowager Li saw that Zhang Juzheng didn't say a word, she knew that this was not an easy thing to do. She asked knowingly, "Mr. Zhang, is there any difficulty?"
Zhang Juzheng pondered for a long time, but threw out another topic: "I suddenly thought of Zhu Chenhao back then. ”
Zhu Yijun didn't know who Zhu Chenhao was, so he went to see Feng Bao. Feng Baojie said: "Zhu Chenhao was the king of Ning when Emperor Wuzong Zhengde (Zhu Houzhao) was a traitor. If it weren't for Wang Yangming's timely suppression of the rebellion, hey, it's really hard to say. ”
Empress Dowager Li let out a soft "oh", she knew that Zhang Juzheng would not mention Zhu Chenhao without reason, so she wanted to listen to it.
Zhang Juzheng got a hint from the Empress Dowager Li and said eloquently: "Zhu Chenhao rebelled, because there was an army that was brave and good at fighting, and now, Mu Chaobi also has it." It is a pity that Zhu Chenhao rebelled with Wang Yangming, but now he does not. If this matter is not handled well, it will cause a big disaster. ”
Zhu Yijun was anxious: "Then don't deal with this guy?"
Zhang Juzheng was categorical: "Of course, we must deal with it, everyone is equal before the law, and we can't tolerate him because he is a prince, nor can he be appeased because he has an army in his hands." ”
Zhu Yijun looked at his mother, and then looked at Zhang Juzheng: "Mr. Zhang, then let's draw up the purpose." ”
Zhang Juzheng didn't speak, and Feng Bao reminded Zhu Yijun: "What if Mu Chaobi rebels after receiving the holy decree?"
"Ugh!"
Zhu Yijun didn't expect it, or said he thought it was impossible, "He dares to rebel?
Zhang Juzheng spoke: "Of course he dares, because he is the prince and the royal family." The government sent someone to get him, and he could say that this is your Zhu family's business. This is a dilemma, even if Mu Chaobi is taken down, how should he deal with it, is it according to your family's rules or according to the law? ”
Empress Dowager Li couldn't help but exclaim in her heart: "I can't imagine that Zhang Juzheng's embarrassment is here, so I also know that Zhang Juzheng's old scheming is worthy of being the person who mourns the family!"
Indeed, although Mu Chaobi is not surnamed Zhu, his ancestor is Zhu Yuanzhang's righteous son, and he can be regarded as half of the Zhu family, and his violation of law and discipline can be regarded as a family matter
Over the years, princes have made mistakes and will face such problems. If the emperor is wise, he will act according to the law, but if he is deaf or has serious family affection, he will drag the mud and water, and in the end it will be over. What Zhang Juzheng was worried about was how he would explain to the government if he didn't get the punishment he deserved after taking Mu Chaobi.
Empress Dowager Li settled down and said, "Although Mr. Zhang does it wholeheartedly, the emperor and I support you unconditionally." ”
Zhang Juzheng shook his spirits and said: "The minister has already thought of a strategy. Although Mu Chaobi is lawless, his son is a person of conscience and knows how to make trade-offs. The emperor first issued a holy decree to grant the title of Duke of Qianguo to the son of Mu Chaobi, and then arrested Mu Chaobi. I believe that even if Mu Chaobi wants to rebel, his son will never agree. If Mu Chaobi is really rebellious, then his son will kill his relatives in righteousness. ”
Empress Dowager Li shouted "good" in her heart.
Zhang Juzheng said again: "But it is not necessary to take Mu Chaobi to Beijing. Mu Chaobi has many soldiers under him, there must be dead soldiers, and the road to Beijing is far away, so I am worried that there will be unexpected changes. It is better to take him to house arrest in Nanjing, which is relatively close to Yunnan. ”
Empress Dowager Li nodded frequently: "Mr. Zhang has no last resort, it is really my blessing." ”
Zhu Yijun stood up: "Mr. Zhang, then go and do it." ”
Zhang Juzheng expected that nothing would go wrong, as soon as Mu Chaobi's son got the holy decree, he immediately took control of the military power in Yunnan, even if Mu Chaobi wanted to make a move, he had no army in his hands.
He had no choice but to leave Yunnan and arrive in Nanjing under the double escort of his son and the central government commissioner.
He would spend the rest of his lonely life here, the expensive price he paid to challenge the authority of the Ming Empire, which Zhang Juzheng represented.
But Zhang Juzheng is not so easy in everything, and the bigger the person, the more obstacles he encounters in doing things.