Glancing at Chen Ju and Zhang Jing, Zhu Yijun asked with a smile, "How's the investigation going?"
He was talking to two people, but Zhu Yijun saw that it was Chen Ju. Obviously, he was going to let Chen Ju speak first.
Chen Ju took a step forward, bowed and said, "Imperial Majesty, I've found out!"
Zhu Yijun nodded and said calmly, "Tell me about it!"
"Liu Tai was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Longqing. He was in the top three, but not particularly outstanding.
After that, he didn't stay in the capital city. Instead, he was appointed as a county magistrate. He didn't have a deep relationship with Minister Zhang. "
Zhu Yijun nodded. He knew this. The top three in the imperial examination, the Zhuangyuan, Bangyan and Tanhua, were definitely going to enter the Hanlin Academy. Basically, they were going to be editors in the Hanlin Academy.
The top few in the second grade were basically going to be appointed as Shu Jishi.
The Hanlin Academy was an absolutely noble official. After all, there was an unspoken rule that only those who were in the Hanlin Academy could enter the Cabinet. Therefore, those who entered the Hanlin Academy were definitely the best in this batch, just like those who entered Tsinghua University or Peking University in the future.
Other scholars in the second grade, who were slightly worse, would be sent to the Imperial Censorate and the Yamen of the Six Ministries to become officials in the capital city.
After reaching the third grade, the possibility of staying in the capital city was not high. Basically, they would be thrown to other places. These people represented the batch that didn't do so well this time.
Of course, it was not easy to be a Jinshi. They were just slightly worse in this batch. Those who didn't pass the exam were not qualified to compare with them.
The first grade was a Jinshi, the second grade was a Jinshi, and the third grade was the same Jinshi. It could be seen from the way they were addressed. There was a big difference.
Since Liu Tai was sent to be a county magistrate, it proved that he was not the best in this batch.
When Zhu Yijun heard this, he couldn't help but be curious. Although Zhang Juzheng was the teacher of that batch of examinees, it was impossible for him to pay attention to everyone.
Those who were ranked at the top were outstanding people. This was understandable. By right, people like Liu Tai wouldn't be able to enter Zhang Juzheng's eyes.
At that time, Zhang Juzheng was already the second minister in the cabinet. Although he was suppressed by Gao Gong, he was not completely powerless.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yijun listened to Chen Ju more carefully.
"Liu Tai was sent by the Ministry of Personnel to be the county magistrate. He went to Jiangling!" Liu Tai paused.
Zhu Yijun was also stunned. To Jiangling?
Zhu Yijun understood a little. What kind of place was Jiangling? Many people should have heard of it.
In the past, he knew it was because of the Tang Dynasty poem, "A thousand miles of Jiangling is returned in a day." But now, it was different.
Ever since Zhang Juzheng became the first minister in the cabinet and gained power, everyone knew that there was a Zhang Taiyue in Jiangling!
Zhang Juzheng, courtesy name Taiyue. Zhang Taiyue was naturally referring to Zhang Juzheng.
Zhu Yijun nodded. No wonder Zhang Juzheng took a liking to Liu Tai. So Liu Tai went to Zhang Juzheng's hometown.
Wasn't this another way of getting close first?
Zhu Yijun sighed. He knew that the relationship between Zhang Juzheng and Liu Tai wasn't that simple.
"After Liu Tai came to Jiangling, he called himself Minister Zhang's student. He visited the Zhang family many times and won the favor of Minister Zhang's father, Zhang Wenming."
"At that time, the Yangtze River changed its course and the old river became a barren land."
Barren land?
Zhu Yijun was taken aback. Although it was barren land, everyone knew that as long as the land was cultivated, it would quickly become a fertile field.
Even without Chen Ju saying it, Zhu Yijun knew that this land was now the Zhang family's.
"Liu Tai used the name of the government to announce that the barren land was ownerless and to search for the owner."
Hearing this, Zhu Yijun almost laughed out of anger. That barren land was the nation's property. To put it bluntly, it was his, the emperor's land.
Searching for the owner? How shameless.
Not to mention anything else, if it was turned into fertile land and sold, or used as public land, it would be a great profit. Searching for the owner?
"Liu Tai personally visited Minister Zhang's father, Zhang Wenming, and stated that this land was the Zhang family's lost land and should be returned to the Zhang family," Chen Ju said as he glanced at Zhu Yijun carefully.
Zhu Yijun's face was expressionless, but he stared at Liu Tai's memorial.
Originally, Zhu Yijun still had a bit of hope in his heart. Although he didn't believe that Liu Tai's impeachment of Zhang Juzheng was out of justice, but what if it was true?
After all, the memorial was written in such a dignified manner.
Now that he heard Chen Ju's words, Zhu Yijun was completely disappointed in this guy. Although he had guessed correctly, he couldn't feel happy.
During the few years when Liu Tai was appointed as the Jiangling district magistrate, the Zhang family's land increased by several folds. Originally, the Zhang family was just an ordinary aristocrat in Jiangling, but when Liu Tai left, the Zhang family already had the title of "Jingchu".
Zhu Yijun sighed. In the future, it was popular for sons to cheat their fathers, and now it was popular for fathers to cheat their sons.
Zhang Juzheng was far away in Beijing. Zhu Yijun didn't believe that he had the energy to care about his father's embezzlement of land.
However, it was obvious that when Zhang Juzheng's father embezzled land, he didn't look good.
Zhang Juzheng was really ruthless when it came to using people. He used all kinds of people!
"Then how did Liu Tai become the Liaodong Imperial Censor from the County Magistrate? I don't believe it was because he gave the Zhang family a piece of barren land."
Zhu Yijun said sarcastically. Zhang Juzheng had a lot of shortcomings, and his standards of using people were also problematic. However, Zhu Yijun absolutely didn't believe that Zhang Juzheng would arrange an official position for a piece of land or money.
Zhang Juzheng had a lot of shortcomings, but he was a man with ideals and ambitions. He had his own pursuits when it came to realizing his value in life.
"The Imperial Majesty is wise!"
Chen Ju nodded and said respectfully, "It's because of Minister Zhang's father. His father, Zhang Wenming, used the opportunity to write a letter to Minister Zhang to praise Liu Tai."
Zhu Yijun nodded. In fact, it was the barren land that worked, but it worked for Zhang Juzheng's father, Zhang Wenming.
"Minister Zhang had someone check Liu Tai's examination records and found that Liu Tai's results were all above average, so Minister Zhang transferred Liu Tai to the Ministry of Revenue.
A year later, Liu Tai's results were above average again, so Minister Zhang recommended Liu Tai to the Imperial Censorate. "
Zhu Yijun nodded. He knew that Zhang Juzheng wouldn't just listen to his father. He had indeed done a year's examination.
Through this conversation, Zhu Yijun could roughly judge Liu Tai's character. He knew how to flatter people and did his job well.
Speaking of which, he was the kind of person who could achieve outstanding results and win the favor of the leaders.
As for loyalty to the country and love for the people, this kind of person didn't exist. He was a typical "official."
Whether it was the Daming Dynasty or the future generations, there were many people like this.
All they cared about was the position. They would do whatever would help them get promoted.
They wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice something for it. Moreover, it wasn't him who would be harmed, but the country's interests. There was nothing to be regretful about.
This kind of person would be liked by the leaders, be it in the future generations or in this era. In the official circles, they would be like fish in water.
Plus, he had latched onto Zhang Juzheng's thigh, so he had a bright future.
Why would this kind of person impeach Zhang Juzheng? Was he crazy?
"I have something I'm curious about. How did you know that Zhang Juzheng investigated Liu Tai's performance?" Zhu Yijun was really curious. After all, it had been a few years.
Chen Ju was stunned. He didn't expect Zhu Yijun to ask this question. He was stunned for a moment, but he quickly recovered and quickly said, "Imperial Majesty, we found the official documents that Liu Tai transferred to Beijing."
So that was the case. Zhu Yijun nodded. But could the inner court do such a thing?
Zhu Yijun didn't continue to ask. He only needed to know that Chen Ju had evidence.
Now, Zhu Yijun already knew how Liu Tai was valued by Zhang Juzheng.
Originally, he wanted to let Zhang Juzheng take care of Liu Tai. He didn't have the heart to do so, but now he didn't.
If Liu Tai was really loyal to the country and spoke up for justice, although he wouldn't punish Zhang Juzheng for him, he would still think of a way to protect him. There was no need for that now.
Zhu Yijun was also looking forward to it. Could it be that behind all this, there were actually men who were thieves and women who were prostitutes?
Now, Zhu Yijun was sure. Yes, behind all this, there were men who were thieves and women who were prostitutes.
They held high the flag of righteousness, in front of others, they were youthful and righteous. But behind their backs, they were the exact opposite. They were definitely filthy people who could do anything.
Daming the so-called clean current, Zhu Yijun only had two words: Hehe!
Zhu Yijun warned himself in his heart not to overturn a boat full of people. But this first meeting gave him a very bad feeling.
Turning his head to Zhang Jing, Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "Now, tell me. I also want to know how Liu Tai and Zhang Juzheng fell out.
According to Chen Ju, Liu Tai couldn't wait to curry favor with Zhang Juzheng. Why would he want to impeach Zhang Juzheng? "
Zhang Jing had been listening since the beginning. Listening to Chen Ju's investigation results, Zhang Jing's heart trembled.
This Chen Ju was really capable. He could find so many things in such a short time. It seemed that the inner factory couldn't be underestimated.
Zhang Jing felt the pressure. Now that he heard Zhu Yijun's question, he quickly cheered up. Dongchang couldn't lose.
"After Liu Tai was appointed as the Liaodong Inspector, he was reliable and satisfactory. He was favored by Grand Secretary Zhang."
"In the fourth year of Wanli, Liaodong Army Chief Li Chengliang defeated the Mongolian tribes in Taining. Liu Tai wrote a report and sent it to the capital.
At first, Liu Tai thought that this would be praised by Grand Secretary Zhang. He didn't expect to anger Grand Secretary Zhang. "
"Grand Secretary Zhang ordered the cabinet to draft an edict. The Director of Rites signed it and reprimanded Liu Tai."