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

Three days later, the name of a person was presented before the Crown Prince's desk.

In the old records of the Ministry of Revenue's Selection Department, the person marked "avoiding discussion and mediation" and listed in the side register is Jiang Xiyuan.

This man was once a student of Liang Su, but offended several officials in a case concerning the transfer of household registrations and was demoted two ranks. After his request to be transferred to a post outside the capital was denied, he went into seclusion at the lecture hall in the southern city.

Now, Jiande Hall has issued an article:

"Jiang Xiyuan was recruited into the Eastern Palace Affairs Bureau and appointed as an external clerk, in charge of three matters: registering documents, assisting with cases, and replying to documents."

The court was shaken.

Huang Qi secretly reported to the Prince's mansion, but Zhu Han only smiled and said, "Liang Su's move has finally been made."

"The Crown Prince's move is not about repaying a favor, but about taking on a hot potato."

"But once you take it on, there will be no turning back."

Huang Qi asked in confusion, "Why did Your Highness allow His Highness to receive such a person?"

Zhu Han said calmly, "Because Jiang Xiyuan is the only one who can put the 'tribute registration system' into practice."

"Liang Su understands it, but dares not use it."

"If Zhu Biao dares to use him, even if he is impeached ten times, His Majesty will only trust him once more."

Sure enough, within three days of the deliberation, officials submitted three memorials, saying that "the Crown Prince is widely employing people who have been the subject of past disputes," which "suggests violating public opinion."

As usual, Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent, but a day later he personally wrote an imperial edict:
"All tribute records shall be submitted to the Crown Prince for a six-month trial, with joint responsibility and authority, and joint judgment on success or failure."

"Test the waters and then determine the officials."

On the day Zhu Biao received the imperial edict, he showed no joy. Instead, he slowly rolled up the edict in the Jiande Hall and said in a deep voice:
"This is a divine mandate—and also the final act of guarding the threshold."

Gu Qingping whispered from the side, "You have already received His Majesty's test letter, why do you look so worried?"

Zhu Biao put down the scroll, his eyes clear yet profound: "Because from this day forward, I can no longer afford to make mistakes."

Meanwhile, Li Bojun, the Minister of the Imperial Court, secretly met with Liang Su at his old residence.

"Lord Liang, he really dares to use Jiang Xiyuan."

“This person is involved in an old case. If he causes trouble again, it may implicate old connections.”

Liang Su slowly shook his head, his eyes showing no anger, but rather calmness: "You think I'm surprised?"

"I'm just sitting here and watching to see if the Eastern Palace can overcome that mountain of 'employment'."

"He dares to take on the person I abandoned."

“He dares to pull the string I hid.”

"Then Zhu Biao has already crossed the threshold of becoming the 'Crown Prince'."

In early April, Zhu Biao appointed Jiang Xiyuan to reorganize the register of tribute, eliminating redundant entries and merging common ones, and drafted the "Three Guidelines for the Division of Tribute Registers," which immediately surprised the four ministries.

In just ten days, it received the second opinions of nine officials and the annotations of seven clerks, and even the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel personally wrote "feasible".

At this moment, the Crown Prince's initial authority as ruler was truly established.

But at this moment, a secret report was sent from Nanjing to the Prince's residence: "Pei Fu, the Right Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, secretly visited the former residence of the Han family in the southern suburbs under the pretext of private documents, and is suspected of forming a faction again."

Zhu Han chuckled coldly and summoned Huang Qi: "The commotion has finally arrived."

“Go and tell Gu Yuantang that it’s time to ‘write another one’ of that old ‘Pacifying the People’ document.”

Huang Qi was taken aback: "Your Highness, do you intend to bring the Gu family back into the game?"

Zhu Han slowly raised his head: "If the Crown Prince wants to support this large net of 'practical governance,' he cannot rely solely on the books of scholars and the voices of commentators."

"We still have to rely on the powerful families' influence."

“The Gu family was once wary of the Crown Prince being the new ruler of the dynasty. If they make any moves now, it means they have truly pledged their allegiance to him.”

Five days later, the "Continued Outline of Pacifying the People" was presented on Zhu Yuanzhang's desk, signed by Gu Yuantang.

One of the chapters is titled "Political Responsibilities and Clear Discussions".

The final sentence of the chapter reveals the truth of the times: "The correctness of governance does not lie in whether it is new or old; the suitability of its use does not lie in whether it is prominent or humble."

"If a single word can establish a system and a single person can implement it, then the power of the court and the people will begin to be of one mind."

After reading it, Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a long time. After a long while, he personally wrote two words: "Approved."

Inside Jiande Hall, Zhu Biao read this comment, put down the scroll, and remained silent for a long time.

Gu Qingping said softly, "The Gu family is willing."

Zhu Biao shook his head: "It wasn't them who made the move, it was me..."

There is no way out.

"From today onwards, it will not just be 'questioning politics,' but 'governing.'"

"I will no longer be able to ask only about right and wrong, but must decide right from wrong."

Gu Qingping looked up at him and asked, "Are you afraid?"

Zhu Biao said slowly, "I am not afraid of trouble, nor am I afraid of responsibility."

"What I fear is that when I hold a pen in my hand, no one will dare to say 'no' to me anymore."

She gazed at him for a long time, then chuckled softly, "If you were truly afraid, this whole thing wouldn't have happened."

"He who can ride the east wind has no fear of the waves."

At this moment, in the study of the Prince's mansion, Zhu Han stood with his hands behind his back in front of the scroll rack.

His gaze was as calm as the night. Huang Qi asked softly, "Your Highness, the scheme you laid out has finally become the root of the Crown Prince's real power."

Zhu Han said calmly, "No, it is the first shackle of the Eastern Palace."

In the side hall of Jiande Hall, raindrops dripped from the eaves, seemingly indistinct yet not quite.

Zhu Biao did not pick up his pen, but spread out on the table in front of him was the "Monthly Summary of the Tribute Register" submitted by Jiang Xiyuan. The data was complex and detailed, including both transfer records and the surplus and deficit of land and grain.

He did not immediately put pen to paper, but slowly said, "If this letter were sent to the cabinet, how would Liang Su judge it?"

Gu Qingping stood to the side, not answering the question, but instead asking, "Are you worried that Liang Su will hinder you?"

Zhu Biao shook his head: "No. If Liang Su truly wanted to punish me, he wouldn't have allowed Jiang Xiyuan to rise again."

"But he's definitely still waiting, waiting to see if I'll make an exception and move his pieces."

Gu Qingping lowered her eyes and asked, "Then can you move?"

Zhu Biao wrote down six characters next to the moon tablet: "Merge and adjust the system, postpone the discussion of the new system."

“If he could really sit still, he wouldn’t have been suspicious because of these six words.”

He put down his pen, stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the blue stone path in the rain.

“I have begun to govern—but I do not yet control the government.”

"The government is not about doing things, it's about managing the government."

“If I take on too much responsibility, my ministers will retreat; if I wield too much power, my scholars will avoid me.”

"Therefore, I cannot push people too fast, nor can I force them too hard."

Gu Qingping listened quietly, then suddenly said softly, "If you want to take control of the game, you need a place where people from the court can come and play chess themselves."

Zhu Biao turned to look at her.

Gu Qingping stared at him for a moment, then finally said, "Establish a council hall within the Eastern Palace."

“It is called the ‘Inquiry Pavilion’. It does not govern or have any power. Whenever a court official has a proposal, he can present it to the Crown Prince himself without submitting a memorial or going before the Emperor. The Crown Prince will then listen to it personally.”

“A table is set up for four people, with the Crown Prince as the head, and the other three seats are rotated. The officials are not recorded in the discussion, but the ‘deliberation record’ is left.”

Zhu Biao murmured, "Not to be remembered for official positions, but only for the legacy of public opinion..."

"This method is extraordinary."

Gu Qingping nodded slowly: "It can win over scholars and stabilize the court. If anyone says the Crown Prince is abusing his power, you only need to say one thing: 'I do not grant power, I only ask questions.'"

"If this succeeds, Zhu Biao, you will truly become a 'listener'."

Zhu Biao pondered for a long time before finally revealing a smile: "Then please, Consort Xian, name this hall for me."

Gu Qingping pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Outside the hall is the court, inside the hall are strategies; this place should be called—'Hall of External Strategies'." Zhu Biao clapped his hands: "A fine name!"

"Order the Imperial Academy of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Hanlin Academy to select three civil officials to serve on a rotating basis every ten days, starting today."

“The Eastern Palace Outer Policy Hall is set up in the front courtyard of the Crown Prince. Every three days, a policy is discussed. There are no deliberations or interruptions, only records of the speeches.”

On the first day, only seven people came, all of whom were former Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) from the Hanlin Academy.

The seven men, regardless of their official rank, engaged in deep discussions on politics. Some inquired about the virtual data on tribute records, while others mentioned the overlapping appointments made by the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhu Biao offered no comment, only asking, "You say this policy is inappropriate; would you be willing to write it down as a 'Record of External Policies' and keep it in the hall?"

The other person was startled, but immediately replied, "Yes."

The next day, thirteen people arrived at the hall, including the Left Vice Minister, the Right Remonstrance Official, the Censorate Commissioner, and the Attendant Censor.

One of them asked in a deep voice, "If the Crown Prince sets up this hall to invite officials to discuss politics, is his intention to seize control of the government?"

Zhu Biao smiled calmly: "I set up a court, but not a responsibility; if you dare to speak, I will stay; if you don't come, the power will naturally belong to me."

The man was stunned, then bowed slightly: "If that is the case, I would like to say that Zhang Kui, a junior official in the Ministry of Personnel, is truly incompetent."

On the third day, the number of people in the hall had reached thirty.

The initial compilation of "External Strategies Records," consisting of only one volume, had already been circulated in the Wenyuan Pavilion, where it was personally read and annotated by Liang Su, the Second Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, on the last page.

"This is not about politics, it's about testing courage."

"But Zhu Biao has this courage."

When Huang Qi entered the study with the first volume of the Outer Strategy Record in his hand, Zhu Han was planting plum trees by the window.

After reading the first part of the record, Zhu Han asked casually, "Jiang Xiyuan hasn't shown up?"

Huang Qi nodded: "The Crown Prince did not suggest the best course of action to him."

"The Wai Ce Hall was set up, and the Jiang family was merely an observer."

Zhu Han smiled and said, "That's right."

"Jiang Xiyuan should do his job, not make a sound."

"Zhu Biao knew he was a difficult person, but he dared to use him because he believed he could control him."

"Since Liang Su did not object, it meant he accepted this move."

"This hall is set up like a hook. Whoever dares to speak out will be hooked; once hooked, they will be hung from the rafters to dry in the sun."

Meanwhile, in the inner courtyard of the Eastern Palace, Gu Qingping was personally copying the first volume of "External Strategy Records," but her pen paused at the signature section on the desk.

Zhu Biao approached and asked softly, "Why did you stop writing?"

Gu Qingping looked at the words "I am willing to speak on politics, even if I die, I will have no regrets" and replied in a low voice, "They are willing to speak now because you set up this trap."

"But what if one day someone uses these words against you—how will you respond?"

Zhu Biao remained silent for a long time before saying softly, "Then I will accept it in court."

“I set up this hall to test their courage and also to test my own heart.”

Three days later, a report from Bingzhou Prefecture arrived in Nanjing that Zhu Biao's grain requisition had been implemented in the three townships, and the starving people in the county received the grain like rain. Ten people were the first to receive it, and the next day it reached a hundred households.

The grain quotation issued by the Eastern Palace Granary was personally written by Zhu Biao on the cover of the grain cart, with not a single word covered.

Upon hearing this, Tao Kan, the Minister of Revenue, rushed to the court and reported: "The Crown Prince has opened the granaries without authorization, which violates regulations and may set off a trend of various government departments vying for control in the future."

Zhu Yuanzhang sat in the Wenyuan Pavilion, flipping through "Hengcang Xianyi" without saying a word, only gently stroking the seal on the table for a long time.

Cheng Shouyi asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, shall we issue an imperial decree?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and gently placed the "First Discussion" on the table: "He's right, 'If this granary is disturbed, the responsibility will fall on the Crown Prince; if the people are uneasy, the Crown Prince should be dismissed.'"

"Have Tao Kan write one as well, an essay on how he would cut off the granary if he were the crown prince today?"

Cheng Shouyi was taken aback: "What if he doesn't write it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice, "Then he is no longer qualified to discuss matters of state as the Crown Prince."

While the Crown Prince's Palace was busy with the relief efforts in Hengcang, the Prince's Mansion remained brightly lit overnight.

Zhu Han stood before the desk, wearing his robe. Huang Qi reported in a low voice, "After the Yangqu case, scholars in the capital privately spread rumors that the Crown Prince was implementing practical policies. Instead of being criticized, they received praise."

"Several others also presented me with 'Records of the Granary Discussions' and invited me to Jiande Hall."

Zhu Han nodded slowly, his gaze calm: "That's the key."

“Zhu Biao didn’t just want granaries; he wanted ‘political loyalty’.”

Huang Qi was puzzled: "Political ambition?"

"A granary can save a place, but a heart can move a day."

Zhu Han walked slowly to the table, picked up an old book that had come from the north, and said in a low voice:
I once heard a saying: "The rice in the granary is more valuable than the blade in the weapon."

"Zhu Biao is now dealing with granaries, laws, and real assets—but what he really wants to target are those undecided observers in the court."

"He wanted these people to know that what he could control was not just books, not just words, but... politics."

Inside Jiande Hall, Zhu Biao was reviewing the newly completed "Records of Hengcang" when he suddenly heard Gu Qingping say, "Jiang Xiyuan has submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of an 'Official in Charge of Granary Affairs,' and is willing to go to Yangqu to investigate."

A glint appeared in Zhu Biao's eyes: "He's willing to volunteer? This man is indeed not content to stay long."

Gu Qingping said softly, "But his group was to ensure that the Crown Prince's men were sent to the prefectures and counties."

Zhu Biao sighed, "That's why we must use it with caution."

"After the granary incident, I cannot take any further practical measures."

"If there is no second stroke, I'm afraid my move will be in vain."

At this moment, Wu Qiong rushed in, holding a letter in his hand. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief Ding Shuyuan has secretly reported that strange noises have been heard in the three counties of Xiling and Daji for several days, saying that 'the Crown Prince moves the granaries but the people are unaffected,' as if some local officials are deliberately covering up the matter."

Zhu Biao's expression immediately hardened: "The land of these three counties is a vital thoroughfare between Shanxi and Shaanxi. If there is any attempt to cover it up, the relief granaries will be emptied."

His gaze was sharp as lightning: "Pass on my decree that a 'People's Voice Corridor' be set up in Jiande Hall and opened for ten days. All people, scholars, and former soldiers of Xiling who wish to come may listen."

Gu Qingping was startled: "Your Highness... opening up the people's opinions is a very important matter. If rumors take hold, they may damage your political foundation."

Zhu Biao said in a deep voice, "I am willing to listen, not for political achievements, but for the truth."

“If the government cannot understand the gains and losses of the people and only relies on internal reports and sealed documents, then I, the Crown Prince, am just sitting in an ivory tower talking about empty books.”

Three days later, the "People's Voice Corridor" at Jiande Hall was opened, causing a stir in the capital.

On the first day, only two people said that the relief grain in Yangqu was delayed, but it did not harm the people.

The next day, a scholar presented a document and said frankly: "Relief granaries are feasible, but without a fixed system, it will be difficult to implement a long-term solution."

Zhu Biao listened to this personally and replied, "I moved the granary not to test the government, but to establish rules."

"From today onwards, all granaries of the Great Ming shall establish three levels of relief, and laws shall be enacted to determine the levels of disaster relief, the allocation of granaries, and the mobilization of officials."

"The Crown Prince does not manage granaries, but I can draft the regulations first, and the court will make the final decision."

In the study of the Prince's Mansion, Zhu Han read the fifth chapter of "Hengcang Ji" and slowly said, "He is not just opening granaries, he is establishing 'laws for granary administration'."

Huang Qi said, "Your Highness, it is now being said in the capital that 'the Crown Prince is truly capable of inheriting the government.'"

“Even young scholars from the Hanlin Academy have volunteered to enter the Jiande Hall.”

Zhu Han smiled faintly: "The fact that more people are willing to get close to the fire means that his stove is burning quite well."

"But...the furnace contains both fire and ashes."

"What I did next was to let him know that once the fire is burning brightly, it won't just be him who gets smoked."

The following day, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Zhu Biao.

The emperor sat calmly in his study, reviewing each chapter of the "Hengcang Records" before looking up at Zhu Biao for a long time.

"I won't blame you for moving your position."

"You can make the decision, I won't stop you."

"You open the corridor, but I'm not just about you." (End of Chapter)