Chapter 108: In a dead end

After passing the Jinshui Bridge and walking out of Chengtian Gate, Xiao Fan's jade belt was tied with the ivory fluorene plate of Huang Guan on his waist. - This thing should be worth a lot of silver, right? Isn't it too cheap to give it to him? He took it outside and sold it. How many taels are sold? Anyway, he and the so-called Qingliu officials are already as powerful as fire and don't care about having such a beam.

This is a typical barbarian mentality, which is what the saying goes, "If you have too much debt, you won't worry about it, and if you have too much lice, you won't itch."

What Xiao Fan wants to think now is how to handle the Ding Chou case properly?

What should the first thing that comes to mind when a minister is ordered to handle a case?

Of course it was the emperor's intention. Simply put, the officials who handled the case were actually just a tool in the hands of the emperor. In fact, the case was handled by the emperor, and it was just the hands of a fake minister.

So what was Zhu Yuanzhang's intention? How far did he want to handle the case? Who should be beheaded and who should benefit?

There is no doubt that Lao Zhu was very dissatisfied with Liu Sanwu. The root of his dissatisfaction lies in the list of all the Jinshis in the South.

From a purely academic perspective, Liu Sanwu is correct. To win scholars for the country, of course, we must obtain the best and most outstanding articles. Since ancient times, the south is more prosperous and stable than the north, and many wars have little impact. Over time, the knowledge and articles of southern students are naturally more outstanding than those of northern students. This is an indisputable fact.

Liu Sanwu is an old pedan who does not know how to adapt at all. He only uses the advantages and disadvantages of the article as the standard for selecting scholars. Therefore, the 52 tribute scholars on this examination list are all strange events in the southerners. From a clear perspective, Liu Sanwu did nothing wrong. Determining the advantages and disadvantages by his grades is a truth that has been pursued since ancient times.

But from the perspective of Zhu Yuanzhang's emperor, Liu Sanwu was very wrong in doing this. Old Zhu was so angry that he killed him on the spot. It was probably because Mr. Liu, who was nearly 80 years old, saved him.

How does the emperor view this matter?

The south is the south of the Ming Dynasty. By the same token, the north is also the north of the Ming Dynasty.

There is a very objective fact. The Ming Dynasty has just been in its founding for thirty years. In the past thirty years, the south has been quite calm. Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhang Shicheng and Chen Youliang fought to conquer the world, and there were no wars in the south since then. However, the north was suffering from war and abuse. The brutal rule of the former Yuan made the rebels all rise up one after another. Until now, the north is still invaded and robbed by the Northern Yuan from time to time. Relatively speaking, the north has been in an unstable environment for decades. For many years, the people have been living in a miserable life and literati students have been severely damaged. Therefore, it is very normal for students from northern China to have a foundation of knowledge that is not as good as the south.

The emperor of any dynasty ruled the world, and literati should not offend the most. The battle of the country is based on the elite military soldiers, and the rule of the world is only by the literati. Literary officials are the most important foundation for maintaining the ruling class. Frequent wars and harsh living environments, northern students and the court were originally disconnected from the Ming Dynasty. What Zhu Yuanzhang wanted was a stable rule of the Ming Dynasty. Northern students were different from the court. This was a situation he did not want to see. At this time, it was time to win over the hearts of northern students with fame and official positions. Liu Sanwu selected all the tributes on the list as southern scholars at this time, which really made Zhu Yuanzhang famous. Lao Zhu's wishful thinking was disturbed by Lao Liu's serious and crazy stick methods. How could Lao Zhu not be angry?

I have to say that Mr. Liu Sanwu's knowledge is indeed profound, but his political vision is too short-short. Such a person should stay in the Hanlin Academy to compile textbooks and study knowledge. Lao Zhu really shouldn't let him be the chief examiner and cause trouble for himself.

Academically speaking, Liu Sanwu did a good job, and ranking according to grades is the right way.

From a political perspective, Zhu Yuanzhang was not wrong. His achievements were secondary, and what was important was the hearts of people and the hearts of scholars.

Both sides are right. Xiao Fan is worried. What should he do? This is very difficult.

If Xiao Fan was really the kind of court eagle claw who had a conscience, this matter would be easier. According to Zhu Yuanzhang's implicit intention, he would take Liu Sanwu into the imperial prison and cure it for some reason, and then arrest other examiners. Under the severe torture, even if it was a rabbit, it would have to honestly admit that it was actually a tiger, and then give them the crime of "remnants of Hu Lan Party". In the end, all the tribute scholars were invalidated, and dozens of northern candidates were selected to be Jinshi again. This matter could be considered as a complete merit.

Xiao Fan thought about it and thought that Zhu Yuanzhang ordered him to handle this case, and he must have hoped that he would handle the case to this extent.

Sacrifice Liu Sanwu, a respected and knowledgeable scholar, and sacrifice a few insignificant deputy examiners, and give them a beheading charge, overturn the list and re-select the scholars. In the end, everyone is happy. Xiao Fan will definitely make a contribution and be commended. The northern disciples will definitely be grateful to this selfless Jinyiwei Tongzhi, Lord Xiao. The civil and military officials in the court dare not speak out. The Hongwu Dynasty has regained its harmony again...

Can you do this yourself?

Xiao Fan asked himself.

Of course not! The reason is very simple. Liu Sanwu shouldn't die. He is right. An old man who is serious about learning is just a bit unpleasant at best, but he cannot die because of his seriousness.

Xiao Fan didn't mind being a treacherous minister, but he didn't want to be a treacherous minister who had even lost his human nature. Such a person could kill people and seek merit for his personal fame, wealth, official position, and interests. However, Xiao Fan could not do it. In his previous life, he adhered to the kind principle of "robbing money but not killing life". He asked him to kill someone who did not make mistakes. I'm sorry, he has not yet been so damned, even if Zhu Yuanzhang meant it.

Xiao Fan's heart was so heavy that heavier this time, maybe he had to disobey Zhu Yuanzhang's wishes. What would happen to him?

——No matter what the outcome is, he only does what he thinks is right.

When Xiao Fan looked up again, his eyes were full of determination.

When he returned to the yamen of the Pacification Office, Xiao Fan called two thousand households, Cao Yi and Yuan Zhong, and then told them the imperial edict of Zhu Yuanzhang, and asked them to send Tiqi out immediately to investigate the civilian reactions to the scientific investigation case, as well as whether the examiners had committed favoritism and fraud, whether they had bribery and accepted bribes, etc.

The two of them took the orders solemnly. The Jinyiwei was the best at investigating and investigating, and I believe it would be rewarded soon. Xiao Fan knew in his heart that the scientific examination was actually very innocent and he would definitely not find any evidence of illegal and discipline violations. However, he still had to do what he should do. Even if he knew that there was no result, in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, he could at least prove that he was a serious person.

Xiao Fan felt heavy in his heart. He was very worried now. This case seemed ordinary, but Zhu Yuanzhang's cold and knife-like gaze kept flashing in his mind.

Zhu Yuanzhang was waiting, waiting for himself to raise his butcher knife high, and according to his will, he killed a group of people to calm this matter and win over the hearts of the northern scholars.

Liu Sanwu was also waiting. This simple-minded old man was waiting for the Jinyiwei's investigation results to prove his innocence and hoped that Zhu Yuanzhang would give him a fair judgment.

As the official who hosted the case, how should Xiao Fan do it? Now, the case is no longer as simple and clear as it seems on the surface. To put it further, this is a collision between the emperor and the ministers, an opposition between truth and the art of emperors, and an inevitable contradiction between academic and political extremes.

The seemingly simple case is actually extremely dangerous. If Xiao Fan handled it improperly, Zhu Yuanzhang's character would definitely kill Xiao Fan without hesitation.

Xiao Fan was the virtuous minister left by Zhu Yuanzhang to his grandson. His position was very important. What should a virtuous minister do first? That is to understand the superior intention and obey the will of the emperor. This is the most important thing. If Xiao Fan could not do this, Zhu Yuanzhang would definitely not save his life. For Zhu Yuanzhang, the country of the Ming Dynasty was more important than anything else. He would not leave a virtuous minister next to Zhu Yunwen. For Zhu Yuanzhang, this was a disaster.

The matter is very simple. Xiao Fan faces two choices: frame Liu Sanwu, kill him, and match Zhu Yuanzhang's wishes. Xiao Fan can not only save his life, but also make contributions. Another choice is to stick to his principles and not kill Liu Sanwu. In this way, Zhu Yuanzhang will inevitably be furious and Xiao Fan's life will not be guaranteed.

Xiao Fan held his forehead and fell into deep thought. He was thinking about whether there was a way to save Liu Sanwu's life and his own life...

After thinking for a long time, Xiao Fan sighed sadly. Walking in the officialdom was like being in a hell oil pan. Every step was filled with dangerous murderous intent. How could there be so many things to please both sides?

The melodious bells came from the Wufeng Tower above the Meridian Gate, hitting Xiao Fan's heart one after another, making him tremble all over. For the first time in his life, he encountered a severe test of life.

In the afternoon, an eunuch entered the yamen of the tutoring corps and found Xiao Fan. Zhu Yunwen invited him to meet at Huibin Tower.

Xiao Fan did not dare to delay and hurriedly got up.

He hurriedly brought several Jinyi lieutenants. Now Xiao Fan is in the second position of Jinyiwei, with a high position and a powerful position. Although he dare not say that he is in and out, he is at least qualified to take a few person guards.

After hurried to the west of the city, Xiao Fan entered Huibin Tower with a serious expression.

Huibin Tower is a newly opened restaurant. Zhu Yunwen brought him here once. Xiao Fan still remembers that the interior layout and marketing techniques of this restaurant were very familiar. He brought all the tricks he used to be a shopkeeper in Jiangpu Zuixianlou. The shopkeeper of Huibin Tower was so ridiculous and ridiculed.

After entering Huibin Tower, Xiao Fan left the Jinyi lieutenants to guard the lobby, and he went to the Accord on the second floor by himself.

Zhu Yunwen's guards were guarding the stairwell on the second floor. When he saw Xiao Fan coming, he led him to the door of an accord and opened it. He saw Zhu Yunwen facing his back to the door, staring at the bustling city outside the window with a daze.

Hearing the sound, Zhu Yunwen turned around and smiled at Xiao Fan, "Are you here? Let's sit down."

Xiao Fan looked at the Accord up and down, and he felt very familiar. Even the layout of the Accord was similar to that of the Zuixian Tower in Jiangpu. I really wanted to meet the magical boss of Huibinlou, and then asked him if he had only eyes but no brains, and he had to copy it to this extent. It was really not easy.

There is no need for the false greetings and politeness of each other. After Xiao Fan sat down, Zhu Yunwen said straight to the point: "The Emperor's Grandfather will leave it to you for investigation. What are you going to do?"

Xiao Fan picked up the wine glass on the table and drank it all, then said with a frown: "That's what I think... First, I arrested the old guy Liu Sanwu and the boring deputy examiners, all of them were arrested in the imperial prison, and then tortured and forced confessions, so that they could admit that they had received many bribes before the exam. Finally, they were punished for accepting bribes and corruption, and all of them were beheaded and killed. All the original tribute scholars were overturned. Well, the task was done!"

Zhu Yunwen gasped and stared at him in disbelief and said, "You...you, how can you do this? Aren't you framed your colleagues? This is a bad thing!"

Xiao Fan slowly ate the food and chewed it twice, then looked up at Zhu Yunwen with an indignant look on his nose, and pointed to his nose seriously, "Your Highness, look carefully..."

"What do you think?" Zhu Yunwen rolled his eyes in anger.

"Look at my handsome face carefully."

"how?"

"Didn't you notice that my handsome face is so distorted by this case?" Xiao Fan sighed, then raised his head and drank a glass of sad wine, and said, "If I really do what I said just now, will I be so worried now?"

Zhu Yunwen suddenly turned to resentment and joy: "I knew you were not the kind of person with a cruel heart. You would definitely not be able to do such a bad thing. I didn't see anyone wrong with my eyes."

Xiao Fan said listlessly: "You praise me for being able to pat my butt and leave, and you don't have to worry about anything. What should I do? Your Majesty wants me to handle this case. Don't you understand his profound meaning?"

Zhu Yunwen thought for a while and said uncertainly: "Is the solution you just mentioned... what the emperor and grandfather meant?"

Xiao Fan nodded and said nothing.

Zhu Yunwen's face suddenly turned rosy, his whole body trembled slightly, and even his tone became angry: "Why? Why did the emperor's grandfather do this? How many things happen every day in such a huge Ming Dynasty! Do you have to kill so many people every time you happen? Is this what the benevolent king does? If I ascend to the throne with blood all over the ground, how can this emperor make me happy?"

Xiao Fan said coldly: "Because Your Majesty wants to leave you a stable country, because Your Majesty must kill these people to calm the anger of the northern students and to win the hearts of the scholars in the world. Because your grandfather loves you and makes you a good emperor carefree. For this purpose, it is worth killing no matter how many people you want."

When Zhu Yunwen heard this, he felt as if he had been beaten hard by someone, and his indignant expression suddenly became decadent.

"Liu Sanwu, Mr. Liu... do you have to die?" Zhu Yunwen said weakly, his voice extremely hoarse.

Xiao Fan nodded and said, "If Lord Liu dies, this is undoubtedly the best solution, and everyone is happy."

Zhu Yunwen shook his head slowly, his eyes turned red, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Mr. Liu cannot die. He has kindness to me. I became the grandson because of what he said to the emperor and grandfather. This kindness has not been repaid yet. How can he die?"

"What did he say?"

Zhu Yunwen sniffed and said, "My father, Prince Yiwen, died early, and the ministers cried in front of the East Pavilion. The emperor's grandfather summoned the ministers and crown princesses in grief. Liu Sanwu stepped forward and said, "The emperor's grandson is the ruler, and he is ritual." So the emperor's grandfather followed his words and made me the crown prince..."

Xiao Fan nodded suddenly. No wonder Zhu Yunwen attached so much importance to the Ding Chou Examination Case. A few days ago, the Jinyiwei killed dozens of ministers but did not see Zhu Yunwen so excited. It turned out that he and Liu Sanwu still had this connection.

Xiao Fan sighed. The situation was getting more and more complicated. If Liu Sanwu could not die, he, the Jinyiwei Tongzhi...

Zhu Yunwen's eyes were filled with tears, and he looked at Xiao Fan with red eyes and said, "Shi Du Xiao, Mr. Liu cannot die, you must find a way to save him. He has kindness to me, and I cannot repay him..."

Xiao Fan nodded in a depressed manner and said, "I'll think of a way..."

"Shi Yu..."

"Um?"

"...You must be careful too. I know the danger of this case. If you disobey the emperor's grandfather's intentions, your own life..." Zhu Yunwen's eyes were full of worry.

Xiao Fan felt a warmth in his heart, and he smiled relaxedly when he heard this. Putting aside Zhu Yunwen's identity as the grandson, he did not share this friend.

Zhu Yunwen gritted his teeth and said, "If the emperor's grandfather really wants to kill you, I will protect you from your own good even if I try my best!"

Xiao Fan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will come up with a solution that will make everyone satisfied."

Zhu Yunwen said dejectedly: "How can there be so many things in this world that have the best of both worlds?"

"If things are in desperate situations, at most I can run away. Your Highness will help me cover it. I plan to go to the Izumo Kingdom in the east to see it. I heard that the people there are open, and strange men and women are bathing naked in a pool in broad daylight. I am so eager for it..."

“…Shi Yu.”

"Um?"

"...Let's run away together."

“…”

Walking out of Huibin Tower, Xiao Fan turned around and looked, with a little doubt in his heart, and a familiar feeling enveloped his heart.

A guess came to my mind: Whether it is the inner hall layout or marketing method of Huibin Tower, it is very similar to the Zuixian Tower in Jiangpu. I heard that this restaurant is newly opened. Could it be related to the Chen family in Jiangpu?
To be continued...