Rise From the Humble

When Zhu Pingan walked into the courtyard, he was checked again by the Jinyi guards standing on both sides of the door. They checked Zhu Pingan's seal and the official documents of the Ministry of Justice before being allowed to enter.

Entering the courtyard, Zhu Pingan's attire also attracted everyone's attention. He stood out from the crowd. Everyone was in official uniforms. Zhu Pingan was in regular clothes and had a cloth bag slung across his body. It was difficult not to attract attention.

When Zhu Pingan was checked by Jin Yiwei at the door, everyone had noticed it. Especially when they knew that Zhu Pingan was one of the protagonists of today's petition, it attracted everyone's attention.

"Are you Zhu Pingan?"

As soon as Zhu Pingan entered the courtyard, an official in his forties came over. He had a long beard and was wearing a three-pinpoint red peacock official uniform. He walked up to Zhu Pingan with a gloomy look and asked condescendingly.

"The lower official Zhu Ping'an has met with you, sir."

As soon as he saw the plain peacock on the official uniform, Zhu Ping'an knew that this was a third-grade official and a deputy ministerial level official. Therefore, Zhu Pingan took half a step to the right, lowered his head, bowed his head, and saluted twice with long clasped hands to say hello.

In the Ming Dynasty, when lower-level officials met with higher-level officials, the custom was to move to the right, clasp their hands twice, and salute to say hello. The so-called clasping hands means that the arms are closed and straightened forward, the right hand is slightly bent, the left hand is placed on the right hand, the arms are moved from the top of the forehead to the chest, and the body is bowed at 45 degrees when clasping hands.

Of course, if the official positions are very different and you have to go further to show respect or flattery, you can also bow your head or bow down. Bowing your head and bowing your head are a kind of kneeling ceremony. Of course, it is not mandatory, it is purely voluntary. If you do it, no one will stop you; if you don’t do it, no one will say you are rude.

After Zhu Pingan clasped his hands and saluted, he heard a dissatisfied snort coming from above his head.

Hearing the cold snort, Zhu Pingan did not wait for the person to reply, but smiled slightly and straightened his back. Anyway, my etiquette is in place. You always love me, so I won't serve you anymore. No matter how respectful I am, I will never satisfy someone who already has a prejudice against me.

Seeing Zhu Pingan straighten up, the third-grade officer in front of him was even more dissatisfied. He exuded a cold aura, snorted, looked at Zhu Pingan with a gloomy look and asked, "Who did you learn etiquette from? When you meet me, Why don’t officials kneel? Where are the etiquette in officialdom?”

kneel?

This is the Ming Dynasty, not the Manchu Qing Dynasty, where the remnants of slavery are strong. You are a third-rank official, and I am also a sixth-rank official. I have fame and fame, and I am not a white servant. Why should I kneel down to you in a servile manner.

"I don't understand what you mean." Zhu Ping'an curled his lips slightly and shook his head.

"According to the etiquette of our Ming Dynasty, all officials are distinguished according to their rank. Anyone who is lower than the second or third rank will bow to the venerable. The venerable will sit and receive the courtesy. If there is something to do, he will kneel down and worship. And Taizu taught: Every minister is subordinate Those whose official rank is lower than that of their superiors should kneel down when asked." The third-rank official stared at Zhu Ping'an with a gloomy gaze and said slowly, the cold light in his eyes was like the tip of a sharpened knife, slowly swallowing the chill.

The third-grade officer's whole body was like a knife piercing his body, testing the pressure on Zhu Pingan.

The confrontation between the third-rank official and Zhu Ping'an naturally attracted other officials in the courtyard, who all focused their attention.

"Thank you for telling me, sir." Zhu Pingan bowed his hand.

Just when everyone thought Zhu Pingan had given in, they heard Zhu Pingan ask again, "I wonder where your superiors are?"

"I am the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War." The third-grade officer glanced at Zhu Ping'an and replied proudly.

Oh, no wonder you bite me as soon as we meet. It turns out you are Zhao Qiu, Zhao Daying’s uncle.

"It turns out he's from the Ministry of War." Zhu Ping'an nodded when he heard this, and then changed the topic, "I just heard what you said, and I thought you were a senior official in the Hanlin Academy."

"Um?"

Zhao Qiu looked at Zhu Pingan.

Ye Wei, another official, shook his head. This newly promoted No. 1 scholar really didn't know enough about official etiquette. The head of the Hanlin Academy was only the fifth rank. Mr. Zhao was the left minister of the Ministry of War, and he wore a plain peacock on his official uniform. How obvious it is that Peacock Puzi is the symbol of a third-grade official, how could he be a Shangguan of the Hanlin Academy?

"My lord has just said that any subordinate officer whose rank is lower than that of his superior officer will kneel down when asked to do something. My lord is the superior officer of the Ministry of War, and the lower officer is the attendant of the Hanlin Academy. The department belongs to the Hanlin Academy, not the Ministry of War, and the lower officer is now It’s not a natural thing. That’s why, there’s no need.”

Zhu Ping'an smiled slightly and explained that there was no need to go on. Everyone knew what he meant after hearing it.

No need to kneel down.

Taizu's instruction is that subordinate officials whose rank is lower than that of their superiors should kneel when reporting matters; that is to say, subordinates in the same department must kneel when reporting matters to their superiors. Only applicable to the same department. Moreover, this instruction of Taizu was not really implemented. Just like the "Da Gao" issued by him, when Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang was alive, every household had a copy, but after Zhu Yuanzhang died, it lost its legal effect. Into waste paper.

Zhao Qiu originally wanted to give Zhu Pingan a show of strength and let Zhu Pingan establish a decline before the love affair even started. He thought that Zhu Pingan was young and mentally fragile, and would usually collapse under such pressure. Unexpectedly, Zhu Pingan was Ping'an's mental quality was beyond his expectation despite his young age.

He quoted scriptures by himself, but he didn't expect that he would use his spear to attack his shield.

But it doesn't matter. Although there are some surprises, it is still under control. I still have backup plans. Zhao Qiu smiled slightly, then looked at Zhu Pingan again, and said slowly: "You must have received the official document from the Ministry of Punishment. I just came here. This time, the Ministry of Justice's petition will be jointly presided over by our Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, Jinyiwei, Dali Temple, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate. I am the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War, and I am here on behalf of the Ministry of War. I am one of the presiding officers of this petition. one."

"I believe that your Excellency will judge the case with dignity." Zhu Ping'an said without any humiliation or uttering a word.

"Of course." Zhao Qiu nodded, and then continued, "I will naturally try the case with justice. I have carefully studied the Chen Qing case. If you impeach Zhao Daying for killing a good man and taking merit, Zhao Daying will also sue you. Framing Zhongliang and avenging private revenge. In order to show fairness and justice and strict official discipline, you and Zhao Daying and others will be temporarily dismissed from their official positions during the appeal period. After the case is found out, rewards and punishments will be given. How should you salute when you meet this official? No need Let me continue."

Aren't you holding on to your fame and refusing to kneel down? Then I will temporarily remove your fame. Don't say it's unfair. You didn't listen to me. I will also strip away Zhao Daying's fame. Now you have no objection, right? .

A person who has no fame and honor will not kneel down when he meets his official? Zhao Qiu looked directly at Zhu Ping'an without saying anything about himself.

"Our Ming Dynasty legislation clearly distinguishes rewards and punishments, and crimes and punishments are determined in accordance with the "Da Ming Code" and other laws. There has never been a direct conviction and punishment without a trial. Now, before the case has begun and the guilt has not been determined, your Excellency has temporarily dismissed it. What is the rationale for official fame and what laws are it based on?"

Zhu Ping'an glanced at Zhao Qiu and shook his head slightly, "Do you think you can change the name if you ask for it?" ! There must be a procedure. In order to give myself a prestige, I didn’t even give up my face!

"There is a precedent." Zhao Qiu narrowed his eyes slightly.

There are precedents, that is, there have been examples before. As for whether it was a few years ago or hundreds of years ago, whocare.

Zhao Qiu was not afraid of being ugly. Firstly, it was to vent his anger on Da Ying. Secondly, it was a time to show his loyalty to Old Cousin Yan Ge. It didn't matter whether the appearance was ugly or not, as long as the wind blew into Old Yan Ge's ears, it was worth it.

Okay, this is acting rogue, but who doesn’t know how to act rogue?

Seeing this, Zhu Ping'an raised the cloth bag slung around his waist, looked at Zhao Qiu with stern eyes and asked loudly: "In my bag, there are notes given by the Holy One, as well as sage books written by Kong Sheng. The Holy One, Mr. Kong, I would like to ask you, Sir, do you want us to kneel down and salute?"

"You" Zhao Qiu looked at Zhu Ping'an, angry and annoyed, and finally walked away, leaving the salute in vain.

All the officials in the courtyard couldn't help but look at Zhu Pingan a few more times.