amaotonovel Chapter 1107: Let's learn about the heinous crimes of treason, rebellion, and disrespect.
Chapter 1107: Let's learn about the heinous crimes of treason, rebellion, and disrespect.
Pay attention!
Many people believe that eunuchs were only used in the imperial palace, but this view is wrong.
In fact, during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, powerful families in Fujian and Guangdong often castrated other people's sons to use as servants. These castrated servants were called "fire slaves".
On May 22nd of the fifth year of the Hongwu reign, Emperor Zhu specifically mentioned this situation in his edict prohibiting the adoption of non-Han customs and encouraging the promotion of education:
"...In Fujian, Guangdong, and other places, powerful families often castrate other people's sons for labor, calling them 'fire men.' From now on, anyone who commits this offense will be punished for castration, and their property will be confiscated and they will be enslaved. Alas! Using Chinese customs to transform barbarians is the way to cultivate good customs; showing compassion to the poor and providing relief is the way to implement benevolent governance. Adapt to the times and change with the people. Aspire to achieve a culture of propriety and righteousness, and to forever maintain a prosperous and peaceful reign. I humbly request that you, my subjects, understand my heartfelt wishes."
(Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty, Volume 73)
Of course, Emperor Zhu's edict had no effect whatsoever.
The use of fire by powerful figures was still widespread, and the practice of high-ranking officials privately castrating and buying self-castrated servants was equally common.
Later on, a large number of "self-purification slaves" began to appear in the common people.
For example, Wang Zhen, who was famous in the martial arts world, and Wei Zhongxian, who was even more famous, were typical examples of "dying quickly with a knife".
Some powerful eunuchs even liked to keep "self-purifying slaves" in private.
For example, before a certain war god went to study abroad, the "self-purifying slave" of the Grand Eunuch Xi Ning's household seized the land and house of Grand Tutor Duke Zhang Fu and beat his tenants. Old Zhang filed a complaint with the emperor, but Xi Ning countered by saying that Old Zhang also had a "self-purifying slave". In the end, this ridiculous lawsuit could only end hastily with the war god taking sides.
In the Minnan region, the folk customs of infanticide and the sale of castrated children have a long history.
Gu Kuang, a famous poet of the mid-Tang Dynasty, wrote about this situation in his poem "The Child".
“The boy was born in Fujian. When the Fujian officials found him, they cut off his genitals. They used him as a tool to collect and seize wealth, filling their houses with gold. They shaved his head and used shackles on him as if he were a blade of grass.”
The character 囝 is pronounced "jian" and refers to a boy. 臧 and 获 refer to slaves, and 髡 and 钳 refer to having one's hair shaved and wearing an iron band.
The New Book of Tang, in its section on eunuchs, also states: "At that time, various provinces would annually present eunuchs, known as 'private eunuchs.' Fujian and Lingnan provinces had the most eunuchs, and they all later took up official positions. At that time, Fujian was called the 'gathering place of eunuchs.'"
Zhu Biao sneered and said with a ferocious expression, "Since my father issued an edict in the fifth year of Hongwu prohibiting the use of fire, yet fire has been found in the Yang Clan Ancestral Hall, what are they trying to do?"
Yang Shaofeng was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.
"They definitely wanted to send these eunuch boys into the palace to become eunuchs."
"Firstly, these eunuch boys can serve as their eyes and ears."
"Secondly, they used these castrated boys to achieve their ulterior motives."
Yang Shaofeng said confidently, "Only in this way can we explain why they dared to disobey my father-in-law's imperial decree."
Zhu Biao nodded repeatedly and said, "Brother-in-law is right, that must be what they're thinking!"
Xia Yu was completely numb.
Harboring the remnants of the Pu family is a major case.
Those who disobeyed imperial orders to castrate or use fire could also be considered major cases.
But compared to the crimes that His Highness the Crown Prince and the Prince Consort had assigned to them, what did the crimes of harboring the remnants of the Pu family and disobeying the imperial edict to castrate those who used fire amount to?
Treason, rebellion, and disrespect—the ten heinous crimes you should know.
The case involving the Yang family is becoming increasingly complicated.
Xia Yu thought to himself, but Yang Shaofeng continued, "The Yang family is just a local rich man in Quanzhou, and can't be considered a famous family."
"Since the Yang family dared to defy the imperial edict to castrate and use fire, one can imagine that other prominent families must have done the same thing?"
“Especially the Hong family and the Chen family.”
"Commander Xia should still arrange for someone to investigate this thoroughly."
Xia Yu nodded in agreement, then turned his gaze to Yang Shi, who had been dragged back to the main hall: "That shrew, are you willing to confess now?"
This time, Madam Yang readily gave Xia Yu the answer he wanted: "This humble woman is willing to confess!"
“It was my husband, Pu Wenyin, who ordered me to change the surname of my son to Yang.”
"It was also Pu Wenyin who gave the clan chief Yang Yan five thousand taels of silver to keep the identity and origin of the original child a secret from the outside world."
"There are forty households in the clan. The clan chief gave each household ten taels of silver, and each woman's family also received five taels of silver."
"The clan then tacitly agreed that the child of the original clan should be surnamed Yang."
"..."
Xia Yu nodded, then ordered someone to take Yang Shi away and begin interrogating Yang Yan, the clan leader Yang Shi had mentioned.
As soon as Xia Yu saw Yang Yan, he felt displeased – with his shifty eyes and sneaky appearance, he was clearly no good!
Xia Yu slammed the gavel and looked at Yang Yan, asking, "Yang Yan, regarding the matter of harboring the remnants of the Pu clan, who in your clan was involved? Where are the other remnants of the Pu clan? You'd better confess the truth!"
Yang Yan confessed even faster than Yang Shi.
“Back then, Pu Wenyin approached me with money, saying that if I would take in Pu Benchu from his family, he would give me five thousand taels of silver.”
"I was tempted by the five thousand taels of silver, so I agreed and gave each of the forty households in my clan ten taels of silver to help keep the secret."
"..."
"As for the other remnants of the Pu family, I really don't know much. I only know that one branch went to Nanhai in Guangdong, another branch went to Yongchun in Fujian, and a few other members of the Pu family changed their names and went nowhere."
……
Yang Shaofeng and Zhu Biao were stirring up trouble in Quanzhou, while Emperor Zhu, Li Shanchang, and Liu Bowen were playing a game of staring at each other in the Qianqing Palace.
Both Emperor Zhu and Li Shanchang stared intently at Liu Bowen.
It has to be you, Lao Liu! You're truly a man of few words, but when you do speak, you're astounding! At least Yang the Madman only messed with civil and military officials, but the son you, Lao Liu, raised has directly uprooted Confucianism!
Liu Bowen looked at Emperor Zhu, then at Li Shanchang, and felt like dying—how the hell was he supposed to know how he figured out the two ways to write the hidden character?
Yes, in ancient books, the characters 隐 and 櫽 are often used interchangeably.
But shouldn't the blame for the issue of relatives concealing each other's faults be placed on Emperor Xuan of Han, Liu Bingyi?
Regardless of whether Liu Bingyi was misled or simply not thinking straight, the rule of protecting one's relatives was something he passed down.
If you're really upset about this, you can go dig up Old Liu's grave. What are you doing glaring at me, Old Liu, here?!
Damn it, I really want to hang myself right here at the entrance of the Prince Consort's mansion tonight!
While inwardly cursing, Liu Bowen looked at Emperor Zhu and said, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has said he wants to revise the classics of various schools of thought. This matter..."
Emperor Zhu chuckled twice and said, "There's no rush. Anyway, Biao'er has already sent Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu to Quanzhou Prefecture."
"With these two in charge, at least the revision of Confucian classics is a sure thing."
"I'm just curious, to what extent do you and Brother Shanchang know, how many other classic texts could possibly have been altered?"