Qin Hui's Impeachment of Yue Fei

Timeline

1. 1141Lin'an · Zhejiang ProvinceQin Hui ordered censor Moqi Xie to impeach Yue Fei, accusing him of high rank and rich stipend, complacent satisfaction, and delaying imperial edicts without timely dispatch. Censor-in-chief He Zhu and Palace Censor Luo Ruji successively submitted memorials, creating a public opinion offensive and a legal pretext for Yue Fei's arrest.
2. 1141Lin'an · Zhejiang ProvincePrivy Councilor Zhang Jun falsely accused Yue Fei's former subordinate Zhang Xian of treason; Deputy Commander of the Front Army Wang Jun also reported that Yue Fei had written to Zhang Xian and Yue Yun at Lushan requesting they raise troops. Qin Hui used this to implicate Yue Fei and his son together with Zhang Xian, charging them with rebellion.
3. 1141Court of Judicial Review, Lin'an · Zhejiang ProvinceYue Fei and Yue Yun were arrested and sent to the Court of Judicial Review, where Censor-in-chief He Zhu and Chief Justice Zhou Sanwei interrogated them. Within two months no solid evidence was found, and He Zhu instead pleaded Yue Fei's innocence; Qin Hui therefore replaced him with Moqi Xie as chief interrogator, fabricating charges through an imperial prison case to prepare for the execution the following year.