Some emperors and ministers of the Ming Dynasty had stubborn tempers, in today's terms, that is, they loved to drill the horns of the horns for people, were more stubborn, and more axis.
Let's talk about one such minister.
This person's name was Li Mengyang, a native of Qingyang, Gansu Province, who was admitted to the imperial examination during the reign of Emperor Xiaozong of Ming, and held the position of head of the household department and the middle position of Hubu Lang, and was once imprisoned for violating the magnates.
In the eighteenth year of Hongzhi, Li Mengyang wrote a letter criticizing a marquis, saying that he was entangled with rogues and oppressed the people. This Marquis was no one else, it was Emperor Xiaozong's brother-in-law, Zhang Heling, the Marquis of Shouning.
We all know that Ming Xiaozong was a model of love in the Ming Dynasty, only loved his own empress Zhang Shi alone, and was also very good to Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, zhang's two brothers. Now Zhang Heling was attacked, of course, he was not happy, and turned around to accuse Li Mengyang. Empress Zhang's mother, Lady Jin, also ran into the palace, crying and begging Emperor Mingxiaozong to be angry with them.
Emperor Mingxiaozong had no choice but to arrest Li Mengyang and imprison him for some days, then quietly let him go and punish him with some fenglu. Then Emperor Xiaozong of Ming found an opportunity to rebuke Zhang Heling, frightening Zhang Heling into prostrating his head.
Lady Jin's side did not spare, and Ming Xiaozong must punish Li Mengyang. Some eunuch ministers suggested that it would be better to beat Li Mengyang with a stick and let Lady Jin get out of breath, and it would be all right.
Of course, Ming Xiaozong knew the sinister intentions of these people and said, "These people want to beat Li Mengyang to death, how can I sacrifice a minister who dares to say and dare to do it?" ”
Ming Xiaozong was right. During the Ming Dynasty, there was a very bad practice, that is, the emperor would sometimes beat the ministers, called the court staff. Which minister annoyed the emperor and dragged him out to beat thirty rods, fifty rods, or even a hundred rods, and some ministers even died under the staff.
This kind of staff, light or heavy, is all in the hands of the torturer, and when the hand is heavy, fifty rods can kill or maim people. But if you start lightly, it's okay to hit a hundred rods.
Li Mengyang knew that Zhang Heling was going to clean up after himself, and the next time the two people met on the road, Li Mengyang just drank a little wine, pointed at Zhang Heling and scolded, and after scolding, he was still angry, and then he beat Zhang Heling with the horse whip in his hand and knocked out two of his teeth.
Zhang Heling hated it so much that he wanted to go to the emperor again, and he thought that the emperor had just reprimanded himself recently, and now that he was making such a thing, he was afraid that he would not make decisions for himself, and it was boring for himself, so he had to swallow his anger.
Li Mengyang was very proud of this incident, and later wrote in a poem: "Yang whips through the city to avoid horses, and half drunk spits on Wen Chenghou."
After the death of Emperor Xiaozong of Ming, Emperor Wuzong of Ming succeeded to the throne, and Li Mengyang went to other places to become an official, which was still the same style as before, and the sharp edge was exposed, which naturally offended some people. Emperor Mingwuzong sent him home, and Li Mengyang was at ease, calling himself "Empty Tongzi", building a garden in his hometown, inviting guests to party, drinking and hunting, and having a very refreshing time.
Zhu Chenhao, the king of Ning, rebelled and was killed, and some people accused Li Mengyang of being an accomplice of Zhu Chenhao, so he was imprisoned again. Fortunately, someone spoke for him, and Li Mengyang picked up a life, and was devastated from then on, and died soon after.
Li Mengyang was a very famous talent in the Ming Dynasty, a very famous talent at that time, and was also listed as the four families of the Ming Dynasty.
According to records, when Li Mengyang was serving as an inspector in Jiangxi, there was a student named Li Mengyang, and Li Mengyang brought him in and asked, "Don't you know my name?" How dare I have the same name? ”
The student said that the name was given by his father and did not dare to change it.
Li Mengyang said: "I have a pair, and if you can come out, I will spare you: Lin Xiangru, Sima Xiangru, the name is similar, but the reality is not the same." ”
The student was also unambiguous, and immediately said, "Wei Wujie, eldest grandson Wujie, Ru Wujie, I also have no scruples." ”
Li Mengyang smiled.
Written by Yu Zuo