Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment, then suddenly sneered, "You're even bolder than your imperial uncle."

“Back then, when he established the Direct Council, he didn’t dare to go beyond the boundaries of ‘civil service’.”

Zhu Biao remained calm: "Your Imperial Uncle's suggestion is to uphold the law and maintain order; my suggestion is to test people."

"If a nation is to continue, it cannot merely remain stagnant; if a person is to achieve something, one cannot simply listen to advice."

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. "Are you using this matter—to select people for the future?"

Zhu Biao replied solemnly, "Yes."

“Your subject will not shirk his responsibility. If the Crown Prince does not know how to employ people, he is not worthy of ruling; if he dares not test people, he is not worthy of governing the people.”

“Since Father has granted me the authority to govern, I will not be a weak crown prince.”

"We need people, we need policies, we need tasks—we need to take responsibility for all of them."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the imperial study suddenly became tense. Cheng Shouyi stood outside the hall, not daring to move, while the eunuchs lowered their heads and held their breath.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly burst into laughter: "Good, as expected, he will not be a weak crown prince."

"Then let me tell you this too—if you want to use people, you have to take responsibility for them."

"I will no longer review the records of government officials, official reports, precedents, and regulations of the Imperial Academy of Rites."

"From now on, on the fifteenth of each month, you shall draft a document and submit it to me for my review. If you make a single mistake—you shall be held responsible."

Zhu Biao bowed his head: "Your subject obeys the command."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in satisfaction: "Go. Go and do your work as the crown prince."

When Zhu Biao returned to the palace, he did not wear court attire, but only a dark blue straight-collared robe. Dozens of documents were already placed on his desk, which were the proposals discussed by the Rites Council over the past three days.

As Wu Qiong watched him review the documents overnight, she couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, now that you've taken charge of the 'Records of State Affairs,' every day involves important matters of state. If you were to review them all by yourself, it would be too much of a drain on your energy."

Zhu Biao did not stop writing, but replied calmly, "If I don't examine it, who will believe that I can make judgments in the future?"

Gu Qingping came out from the back room, placed a bowl of licorice and mint soup on the table, and said in a gentle tone: "If you don't rest now, it won't be a matter of judgment, but a matter of life and death."

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "If I can't cut off this stack of papers today, I'll have to rely on others to decide the Crown Prince's path in the future."

“If I had chosen to hide, my uncle should not have let me go.”

He picked up a scroll, read it for a while, then frowned slightly and said softly, "This proposal is from the Ministry of Personnel requesting a revision of the 'Regulations for the Promotion of Tribute Scholars,' but its wording is verbose and its meaning is unclear."

Wu Qiong took a look and nodded: "This article comes from a former subordinate of Zheng Shi. It is written very smoothly and I'm afraid it is intentionally misleading."

Zhu Biao's gaze darkened slightly, and he said softly, "Zheng Shi... it's time to invite him into the hall."

Gu Qingping was startled: "You want to summon the Minister of Personnel to the Hall of Rites?"

“Since he dares to send me a perfunctory memorial, I will invite him to speak in person.” Zhu Biao’s eyes were clear and sharp. “If he can’t explain it well, I will send him away; if he can explain it reasonably, I will listen.”

"But he must follow the rules."

"Effective immediately, the Council of Etiquette will add a 'dialogue seat' where all officers and staff outside the council may speak."

When the news spread, it caused a great uproar in the court.

Zheng Shi, the Minister of Personnel, is over fifty years old and is a pillar of the court known for his maturity and respect for etiquette. Now, the Crown Prince wants to invite him to a "conversation" at the Hall of Rites, which is neither a formal meeting nor a court inquiry. This is unprecedented.

However, Zhu Biao did not retreat.

At dusk that day, Zheng Shi, dressed in official robes, entered the Hall of Rites. His steps were slow, but his demeanor was dignified.

Zhu Biao was already seated solemnly in front of the hall, with Gu Qingping, Wu Qiong, Han Qingfeng, and others behind him.

Zhu Biao rose to greet him, but did not offer any formal greetings. He simply cupped his hands and said, "Lord Zheng, today's discussion is not about refuting, but about clarifying the matter."

Zheng Shi returned the greeting with a cupped hand, speaking neither servilely nor arrogantly: "Your Highness the Crown Prince has proposed to establish a government through lectures. Although this old minister is surprised, having accepted the invitation, I dare not refuse."

Zhu Biao nodded: "Please sit down."

The topic of the day was: "Should the regulations for the advancement of tribute students be revised and extended to avoid the problem of overlapping annual ranks?"

Zheng Shi advocated preserving the old system and following the annual procedures without disrupting the law; Zhu Biao, on the other hand, advocated judging and selecting talents based on their abilities and priorities, with annual precedents as the secondary consideration.

The debate lasted from noon until late afternoon, and all those present remained solemn. The scholars who listened recorded the entire thirty-six pages, which were then circulated to the Imperial Academy and the National Academy, where it was referred to as "The Crown Prince's First Debate on the Ministry of Personnel."

That evening, Zhu Yuanzhang read through the entire record and wrote only one annotation:
"The Crown Prince's argument was not impolite; Zheng Shi's reply was still reasonable."

Upon receiving the report, Zhu Han only said one sentence to Huang Qi:
"He took his seat in the court's audience hall today."

"From now on, no one in the officialdom will dare to say that the Crown Prince only knows how to discuss policies, but not how to judge cases."

Huang Qi replied in a deep voice, "Your Highness has great foresight, and the majesty of the Crown Prince has already taken shape."

Zhu Han gazed at the rising moon outside the window and said softly, "It's not that I have high standards, it's that Zhu Biao has walked a straight path."

"If he takes another step forward—he will be fearless before the emperor."

"I'd like to see when he'll dare to offer a single honest suggestion to my brother."

On August 16th, the long night was cool. A light rain fell on Nanjing, washing away the summer heat and bringing a touch of autumnal tranquility.

In Jiande Hall, Zhu Biao got up in the middle of the night, put on his clothes, and sat alone under the lamp. On the table was a memorial personally approved by Zhu Yuanzhang, which read "The Fourth Proposal of the Rites Council is approved for review" and had three words written in his annotation: "It can be implemented."

He stared at it for a long time, a half-smile on his face, and said softly, "Father is still watching what I'm doing."

Gu Qingping stepped out of the cabinet and saw that he was still awake. She whispered, "His Majesty's permission to 'act as he sees fit' is already a great trust."

Zhu Biao shook his head, his gaze deepening slightly: "'According' without mentioning 'handing over' is merely permission for me to 'continue,' not permission for me to 'preside over.'"

"He's watching to see how far I can go."

Gu Qingping sat down at the table and said softly, "Your Highness has done an excellent job. You are decisive in writing and adhering to the rules of etiquette. The scholars trust you and the court officials are wary of you."

"Take one more step and you'll be in power."

Zhu Biao tapped his fingertips lightly on the edge of the table, and after a while said, "Uncle, you've been quiet for too long."

Gu Qingping was taken aback and looked up at him: "Are you... worried?"

Zhu Biao shook his head: "It's not worry, it's a premonition."

"The Imperial Uncle never remains silent without a reason."

"He's not moving; he's waiting for me to make a move."

"But if I make a move, I will inevitably have to suppress them."

"If you don't suppress people, you have no authority."

Gu Qingping nodded slowly: "Then we should choose someone and set up a 'pressurizing' situation."

Zhu Biao looked up at her, his eyes calm as a lake: "Who did you think of?"

Gu Qingping spoke softly, but without the slightest hesitation: "Minister of Rites, Lu Bi."

"This man lives a secluded life, yet he has been in charge of revising the rites and regulations for three dynasties. Although he has grown old in recent years, he has never stopped recommending people for office. It is widely believed in the court and among the public that he is truly wielding the 'pen of civil officials'."

"If you're going to press down, press down with the heaviest stroke."

Zhu Biao remained silent, the candlelight flickering on the table. He reached out and took out the "Fifth Case of the Hall of Rites" that he had collected the day before. It was the case that Lu Bi had raised in his memorial, "Requesting the revision of the grand court rites to prepare for the Crown Prince's first lecture on court etiquette."

“He said he would set up a ceremony for me, but he was actually setting up a wedding ceremony for me.”

“I won’t refuse—I will speak.”

“If he speaks eloquently, I will borrow his handwriting to write the Eastern Palace Etiquette; if he speaks unclearly, I will personally cut it out.”

He closed the memorial, his expression unchanged, but his mind was already made up: "Let the Imperial Academy announce the 'Dual Lectures on Rites,' with Minister Lu as the main lecturer and me as the deputy."

“If the rites are not correct, the Way cannot be established.”

“I am speaking this in person today to set the standard for myself.”

Three days later, the Hall of Rites held a new lecture, setting up a "Rites Class" for the first time. Lu Bi, Minister of Rites, sat in the center, with Zhu Biao to his left and Zuo Zhongyan, Vice Minister of Rites, to his right. More than fifty scholars and seventeen students from the Hanlin Academy listened without speaking.

The topic was: "When the Crown Prince enters the court and first meets with the officials, what etiquette should be observed?"

Lu Bi based his work on the "Great Proclamation" and advocated following the system established by the First Ancestor, which stipulated "three steps and five bows, with the ceremony not exceeding that of the King."

Zhu Biao, however, combined the Zhou Guan and Yi Li texts to explain, saying: "Now we are a dynasty with a strong will, and the rites established by the first ancestor were not complete; now that the crown prince has assumed power, we cannot avoid power and stop the rites." "Rites are not bound by things, but rather express one's will."

“If I were to take power but fail to enforce proper discipline, it would be better not to appoint a crown prince.”

The hall was silent.

Lu Bi nodded slightly, his voice aged yet resolute: "Your Highness's words are righteous; however, when it comes to matters of etiquette, what matters is conformity to the rules, not will."

Zhu Biao rose, went to the lecture hall, and replied with clasped hands: "In that case, I would like to describe the five rituals performed by the Crown Prince, and ask Lord Lu and the scholars to comment on them."

"Firstly, one should bow three times to the emperor, in accordance with ancestral rules, without any reduction in the amount of ceremony."

Secondly, when visiting officials, they stand in two rows, not sitting on the top, but slightly ahead of the other officials.

"Thirdly, when accepting a service, bow once; when declining a service, yield once, to show that one's position is not to encroach upon another's duties."

Fourthly, on the day of deliberation, the word "decree" is not used; instead, "question" is used to show that the matter is not being taken away.

Fifth, in routine government affairs, the document was not signed "Crown Prince's Remarks," but rather "Discussions at Jiande Hall," to show that the government was not in the hands of the powerful.

After the five rites were explained, those discussing below the hall were all astonished.

Lu Bi rose and solemnly cupped his hands: "What this old minister is worried about is not the Crown Prince's excessive power, but the lack of order in court."

"Now that the Crown Prince has personally established the Five Festivals, his intentions are clear and his will is admirable."

"If the Crown Prince wishes to add a section to the end of the Grand Canon as 'The Ceremony of Asking About Governance in Jiande,' this old minister is willing to preside over the revision of that chapter."

Zhu Biao nodded: "Lord Lu understands the big picture and is clear about the rules and regulations. The Crown Prince should respect him."

This scene was recorded word for word by the scholars present.

That evening, Zhang Huai, a lecturer at the Hanlin Academy, secretly entered the Prince's residence and presented the original case to Zhu Han.

After reading it, Zhu Han only said one sentence: "From today onwards, he will not only be able to govern."

"He can establish the classics."

Huang Qi said in a low voice, "This step is no longer about the power of the crown prince, but about the source of the classics."

"Your Highness is no longer merely 'sitting' in the seat, but is 'written' into the rules of the world."

Zhu Han put away the book and looked at the courtyard where the night rain had just stopped and the slender bamboos were drooping.

Zhu Biao had not rested all night and was sitting at his desk reviewing ten newly recorded cases from the Rites Council. His gaze was steady as he turned the pages slowly, one by one, without a moment of slackness.

Gu Qingping stepped into the hall and placed a cup of warmed ginger soup on his desk.

"You didn't sleep all night?"

"The ninth case sent by the official in charge of rites was ambiguous in meaning, so I revised it three times."

Zhu Biao rubbed his temples, his tone light but showing no sign of fatigue, "These are entries written into the Encyclopedia, not a single word can be overlooked."

Gu Qingping said softly, "You are not 'lecturing on politics' now, but writing laws."

"For hundreds or even hundreds of generations to come, this paper will be turned over."

Zhu Biao smiled but remained silent.

At this moment, Wu Qiong quickly entered the hall, cupped his hands, and whispered, "Your Highness, there has been a change in the morning court session."

Zhu Biao's expression shifted slightly: "What change?"

"At the morning court session in Wenhua Hall today, Tao Kan, the Minister of Revenue, suggested that the Crown Prince formally supervise the 'tribute register and record-keeping'."

Zhu Biao frowned slightly: "This is a matter of real political power, which cannot be decided by the Hanlin Academy or the Ministry of Rites. It requires Your Majesty's personal decision."

His Majesty neither refuted nor responded, but only said: "This matter is open for discussion."

Gu Qingping's eyes narrowed slightly: "This is leverage."

Wu Qiong replied, "I'm afraid this wasn't Tao Kan's idea. I've found out that this proposal was secretly pushed forward by Han Gongji, the Second Grand Secretary of the Cabinet."

Zhu Biao's expression darkened slightly.

"The system of tribute registration covers personnel selection, taxation, and household registration, and is one of the core systems."

“If I agree, I will enter the ranks of those with real power; if I refuse, it will show that I am afraid of being unable to govern.”

Gu Qingping pondered for a moment and said, "If we respond directly, we will inevitably be attacked by the public."

"But what if we change our approach—using questioning instead of acceptance?"

Zhu Biao immediately understood, nodded and smiled: "It's time to change the method of setting up a trap."

“Since someone is using my name to try and gain access to power, then I will use my own hand to set a rule.”

"Order the Imperial Academy to establish a 'Tribute Administration Bureau,' and summon Han Ji, Tao Kan, and officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue to participate in the deliberations. There will be no court hearings or official decrees."

"I only ask one question: How should the list of tribute students be determined? How should the responsibilities of the government be clarified?"

"I don't accept power, I only write the law."

"I don't argue about things, I only hold people accountable."

"If they dare to speak out, I will put my words into words."

"If they only dare to test the waters, then ask them to—take a step back."

Gu Qingping cupped her hands in greeting: "Your Highness is wise."

Zhu Biao stood up, looked out the window at the faint light of dawn, and said calmly:
"In this world, if there truly is anyone who can write down the duties of the Crown Prince for me—"

"That can only be myself."

In the afternoon, the Tribute Council was set up in a side hall of the Hall of Rites. Zhu Biao, seated above, did not wear court robes, but only a plain blue robe with patterns. He remained composed and did not sit above Zhu Biao.

Han Ji and Tao Kan sat on either side of him. Both were highly respected officials in the court, one a talented scholar in the cabinet and the other a powerful figure in household administration.

There were no fewer than fifty spectators in the hall, all of whom were carefully selected from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Imperial Academy, and the Hanlin Academy.

Zhu Biao slowly rose, without holding the memorial, and simply cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying:
"Gentlemen, the proposal for the Crown Prince to enter politics stems from 'responsibility,' not from 'power.'"

"The reason I, the Crown Prince, raise this question is for one thing only—if the Crown Prince does not take office, is he not worthy of being established? If the Crown Prince does take office, but his responsibilities are not clearly defined, how can we clarify what he should and should not do?"

Today, we don't ask 'whether it' or not,' but 'how'.

He paused for a moment, then his voice turned deep:
"If I am capable of managing the tribute system, what responsibility should I bear? If I fail in my duties, who can dismiss me? Who can rebuke me?"

“If I gain power but not blame, then I have overstepped my bounds.”

"If I gain power, I can be rebuked—that is the only right thing to do."

Tao Kan slowly rose, cupped his hands, and said, "What the Crown Prince said makes sense. If one supervises the government but has no responsibility, there is no way to rectify the law."

"I believe that if the Crown Prince obtains the right to review the tribute records, he should establish a system of 'double-stamped reply', one to keep a record and the other to prepare for rebuttal."

"It can be jointly reviewed by the Ministry of Revenue and the Crown Prince, with a review every month. If the Crown Prince makes a mistake in his approval, the Ministry of Personnel can submit a proposal for the Emperor Taizu to make a decision."

Han Ji also stood up and said, "I believe that we should establish a 'Register of Political Responsibilities' to record the political affairs in which the Crown Prince participates. At the end of the year, the Cabinet will review it. If the Crown Prince makes a mistake, it will be recorded as a responsibility, passed on to the Grand Historian, and submitted to the Emperor for judgment."

Zhu Biao listened quietly, then finally nodded: "Okay."

"This is what I want—responsibility with authority, and authority with the capacity to refute."

"If I open a door today and proceed steadily, future crown princes will be able to enter politics in a regulated manner, without relying on favor or pity."

The hall was silent.

Wu Qiong whispered, "Your Highness, in this game, you have not only entered politics... you have established a position."

That evening, in the Imperial Study.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat at his desk, listening to Cheng Shouyi's report in a low voice, his expression neither happy nor angry.

He picked up his pen and gently wrote a line of text on the page that he had just copied down:

"Now that the Crown Prince has entered politics, opening a path to power, his responsibilities must first be clearly defined." (End of Chapter)