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

Zhu Biao didn't look up: "According to the old rules."

Lin Fengdao was taken aback: "But there's a precedent in the East Market..."

Zhu Biao finally spoke, saying calmly, "This is not the East Market; this is the case of Lin Fengdao."

"Since this is your case, I will follow your strategy. If you have no plan, there is no need to ask me."

Lin Fengdao's expression changed, and he bowed in agreement, but he was filled with apprehension.

After he left, Gu Qingping slowly stepped inside: "Are you setting rules?"

Zhu Biao closed the booklet in his hand: "It's not about setting rules, it's about setting boldness."

“If I make decisions on everything, they will question everything; if I take a step back, they will have to take a step forward.”

“The Waice Hall has been disbanded. I was the one who made them disband, so I should force them to do so—not by asking me, but by asking myself.”

Gu Qingping stared at him for a moment, then sighed softly, "Your method is forcing people to grow bones."

Zhu Biao turned his head, glanced at her, and said without changing his expression: "If you have no backbone, how can you support a country?"

However, the situation in the Central Plains was far from peaceful.

Zhang Hengzhi, the Minister of Rites, bluntly stated in a private discussion at the Hanlin Academy: "The Crown Prince is suspicious by nature, likes to set out to be different, and is not accustomed to past relationships."

That night, Zhu Biao sat alone in Jiande Hall, without any lamps or candles, with only a sliver of moonlight shining on the desk.

Gu Qingping brought him a cup of ginger tea, but he didn't reach out.

“If I cannot gain their recognition, it will not be through reputation, but through rules and regulations.”

“Zhang Heng has more than thirty former students scattered across the Six Ministries and Eight Departments. If I do not break this entanglement, how can I show my true intentions?”

Gu Qingping said in a deep voice, "Then you want to harm him?"

Zhu Biao shook his head: "No. I want him to touch me."

A few days later, Zhu Biao ordered the establishment of a "post-case review system".

Three days after the conclusion of any case handled by the Crown Prince, three people from the Six Departments shall be selected to evaluate its effectiveness, in order to demonstrate self-discipline and mutual supervision.

The first case was the case of the erroneous registration in Nanshi.

One of the recommenders and evaluators was Chen Tingli, a disciple of Zhang Heng.

The day after the case was reviewed, Chen Tingli wrote in his review: "The Crown Prince's failure to participate in the investigation is the responsibility of the officials. Although it is not a misconduct, it is still a lack of caution." He added at the end: "If a presiding judge were appointed, this bias would be avoided."

These words caused a stir in the court.

Although this person did not explicitly criticize the Crown Prince, he had already pointed out the Crown Prince's oversight.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Zhu Biao's reply.

Inside Jiande Hall, Gu Qingping gazed at the presented commentary and asked in a low voice, "How will you respond?"

Zhu Biao picked up his brush and wrote only three words: "That's right."

He then wrote another document: "Effective immediately, the Crown Prince's 'Assistant Case Officer' shall be established. He shall not be solely responsible for approving cases, but shall only submit questions and concerns. If any political case remains unresolved, he may sign 'Inquiry' and submit it to the Ministry of Personnel for inclusion in the case file."

"First Assistant Commissioner: Chen Tingli".

Gu Qingping was taken aback, then chuckled softly, "You really are... bold in using people."

Zhu Biao put down his pen and said, "If I cannot even accept a letter criticizing me, how can I be worthy of listening to the opinions of the people of the world?"

"If Chen Tingli can reprimand me once, he can reprimand me ten times."

“I want him to reprimand me—reprimand me reasonably, reprimand me properly, reprimand me so that I have no choice but to change.”

Three days later, in the Imperial Study.

Zhu Yuanzhang reviewed the first volume of "Fu An Lu" with a calm expression.

Cheng Shouyi asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty...aren't you afraid of the backlash from the Crown Prince's actions?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and shook his head: "I'm not afraid."

“Zhu Biao, this boy, now knows how to use people. He doesn’t care whether they are loyal or not, he only cares about their ability.”

“He knew that I would relinquish favor and accept advice, and he also understood that winning people’s hearts is not about benevolence, but about winning their respect.”

"This step was taken with both boldness and restraint."

"He has finally secured his position."

The royal study room.

Zhu Han glanced at the last page of the supplementary case record on the table and said softly:

"The Crown Prince no longer needs me to set up a scheme."

"Zhu Biao has learned to create his own opportunities and uphold his own integrity."

"I just need to stand behind the wind and wait for him to be able to withstand the sound of 'lonely' when the wind rises."

Huang Qi said in a low voice, "But the winds of change have not yet risen in this world."

Zhu Han put away his book, looked up at the sky, and smiled:
"Not urgent."

As early summer approaches, the heat of summer has not yet risen in the capital, but the palace is already filled with the flickering red glow of candles.

Inside Jiande Hall, Zhu Biao sat alone in a corner.

However, there was a very faint red annotation, the meaning of which was ambiguous and almost imperceptible: "If there is any doubt about the number, you should ask where it is."

These five characters were written by Xu Jin, an official in the Ministry of Personnel, and were originally intended as a casual comment, but were selected by Chen Tingli, the Left Secretary, from the "Assistant Case Records".

The scroll bears a red annotation: "Record it and ask questions."

Three days later, the "Assistant Case Hall" opened its first questioning session.

Zhu Biao did not set up a main seat or a court hearing, but only sent eight people from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Crown Prince's Palace to sit down and discuss whether this "doubtful number" was intentionally lost.

The figures on that page show the amount of silver received in January in Southern Zhili, and in one place, the amount was three hundred taels more than expected.

Shortly after, Jiang Xiyuan entered. His expression was calm, and he bowed respectfully: "Your Highness, this mistake was not my fault. It was a misrepresentation in the records of the Southern Suburbs County. It was actually 'the general account was not deleted,' and the following pages have already been examined."

Chen Tingli did not respond, but instead took out a copy of the register and said, “Clerk Jiang, you said three months ago: ‘If the report is wrong, it should be recorded on an odd-numbered day.’ However, there is no record of an odd-numbered day in this matter, so how can you say it was a ‘mistake’?”

Jiang Xiyuan said slowly, "The deposit slips were burned in the fire in the southern suburbs that day."

Chen Tingli smiled coldly: "So that's what 'saying it means' means?"

Zhu Biao remained silent, only turning the vermilion brush upside down on the table and tapping the surface lightly with his fingers.

Jiang Xiyuan's tone remained unchanged: "If there is no certificate, I am willing to accept the consequences."

Chen Tingli suddenly looked up: "Where is the blame? The Eastern Palace has not established any punishments, and the Crown Prince has not written any precepts. If you are willing to accept the blame, then no one has the right to ask you what the blame is."

In short, silence was as still as thunder.

Suddenly, no one spoke in the hall.

After a long silence, Zhu Biao spoke: "Chen Tingli."

"exist."

"You said it very well."

"Although our dynasty has established officials and clerks, these officials are merely scribes under the law, not officials under the law."

“If the Crown Prince sets up schemes, proposes ideas, and devises methods, but fails to clarify their responsibilities and penalties, then it is a lazy administration by the Eastern Palace.”

“I was wrong. It wasn’t Jiang Dianshi’s fault, nor was it the recorder’s fault in the southern suburbs.”

“In my opinion.”

"My methods of employing people were inadequate, and my responsibilities were not clearly defined. Therefore, I should bear the primary responsibility."

Everyone was shocked, and a look of surprise flashed in Chen Tingli's eyes as well.

Zhu Biao picked up his brush and wrote on the table: "The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace is responsible for failing to establish laws and for mistakenly appointing officials. He shall be suspended from external affairs for seven days, and his case shall not be recorded or closed."

"Gu Qingping shall preside over the three halls, and the Crown Prince shall not preside over any discussions within seven days."

Gu Qingping rushed forward from the back room and blocked her way, saying, "No!"

Zhu Biao shook his head: "Qingping, you know what I'm thinking."

“If we do not establish responsibility today, all the ten halls and hundred cases we set up tomorrow will be in vain.”

“My administration is for the sake of righteous governance, not for the sake of displaying my imperial banner.”

She remained silent for a long time, then finally bowed her head and said, "Your concubine obeys."

This matter spread throughout the Six Ministries within three days.

The Vice Minister of Revenue privately remarked, "While this action appears fair, it diminishes our own power."

The Vice Minister of Personnel said, "The Crown Prince's willingness to criticize himself is a hundred times greater than his criticism of others."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang merely smiled and remained silent, writing down the words: "The Crown Prince is now capable of independently taking over the reins."

On the sixth day, at the Prince's residence, Zhu Han flipped through the written record and asked with a smile, "Seven days, that's not short."

Huang Qi said, "The opinions in the court are mixed. Some people praise the Crown Prince for his self-reflection, while others suspect that he is trying to avoid the limelight."

Zhu Han snorted coldly: "Avoiding the front? This is called leading the front."

Zhu Biao used self-reproach to force his ministers to question himself.

"He doesn't lay off employees so that you can lay them off yourselves; he doesn't discuss the matter so that you can discuss it yourselves."

"If he takes the case again after seven days, no one will dare to act rashly."

Huang Qi asked, "Does Your Highness wish to visit the Eastern Palace?"

Zhu Han shook his head: "No rush. I'll wait for his last day."

On the seventh day at Jiande Hall, as dawn broke, Zhu Biao stood alone in the courtyard.

Gu Qingping stood below the steps: "Rumors have already begun to circulate outside. Some say that Your Highness is using self-reproach to avoid official discussions, while others say that Your Highness has set a trap to evade responsibility by shifting it onto others."

“But in yesterday’s external strategy report, nine people submitted a memorial saying, ‘The Crown Prince is upright and principled, and can be our lord.’”

Zhu Biao looked up at the sky and laughed: "This is what I want."

"Those who believe in me do not believe because of my teachings; those who doubt me do not become clear because of my responsibilities."

"The Crown Prince cannot be supported by me alone; he needs the support of the eyes of a hundred people and the words of a thousand."

He slowly turned around: "I'll take a step back, and then they'll know which way to go."

As Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind his desk, watching Cheng Shouyi present the Crown Prince's "Records of Retreat from Court," he suddenly stopped when he turned to the last page.

"How come these words weren't written by the Crown Prince himself?"

Cheng Shouyi lowered his head: "Your Majesty has a discerning eye. That was... written by Consort Gu herself."

"The Crown Prince was absent from government for seven days, and did not write a single word in his own hand, except for issuing a 'punishment order' on the first day."

"Within seven days, Consort Gu acted as regent, the officials acted on their own, and the external strategies were recorded in two volumes."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly looked up and laughed: "Good, very good."

"Zhu Biao, you have not uttered a single word in these seven days, yet the whole world knows who you are as the Crown Prince."

“Your Crown Prince has truly risen to power.”

He slowly suppressed his smile and muttered to himself, "But your royal uncle still refuses to come and see you."

The Prince's Mansion, midnight.

Zhu Han sat in the courtyard, with no lamps or mats, only a pot of wine and a plate of green plums.

Huang Qi, who was standing to the side, suddenly said, "Your Highness, someone from the Eastern Palace has arrived."

Zhu Han didn't move, but simply raised his hand to signal: "Let him in."

Footsteps approached, and a person entered the courtyard, dressed in black without armor, but with an old pendant at his waist.

The visitor turned out to be Wu Rong, a former subordinate of Zhu Han's secret service.

Zhu Han glanced at him indifferently: "Aren't you guarding the Northern Camp?"

Wu Rong bowed deeply: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince has said that he requests you to return to the hall to hold a 'Discussion on the Remnants of the Past,' intending to use Your Highness's name to review the old troops and reorganize the Secret Service."

Zhu Han remained silent for a long time before finally smiling.

"He remained silent for seven days, and his first words were to ask me to take charge of the secret operation."

"This is telling me—he has already established a bright hall, and now he wants to establish a dark hall."

Wu Rong lowered his head and remained silent.

Zhu Han put down his wine glass and stood up: "Pass on a message to Zhu Biao."

"The Crown Prince's secret agent is his."

"But from today onwards, Zhu Han's umbrella will no longer provide shelter from the wind and rain."

"If the wind rises again, let him hold the umbrella himself."

"I want to see—whether he can hold on or not."

Before dawn on the fifth day, the inner courtyard of the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace was brightly lit.

Zhu Biao stood in front of the hall, holding a newly presented 100-page document entitled "Memorials on Public Opinion," compiled by the Ministry of Personnel from various places. Every word and sentence came from the mouths of all kinds of common people, scholars, county students, and former officials in the city.

Gu Qingping arrived, wearing a robe, and asked softly, "Didn't you rest last night?"

Zhu Biao shook his head, turned to a page, and read aloud in a low voice:

"'The Crown Prince sets up the Hall of External Policy, but it is nothing more than a facade of virtue. He does not listen to what is said, nor does he change what is asked. We officials who speak out are just empty words.' — These are the words of Lu Jiansheng of the Hanlin Academy."

“‘The new law of 'Zhetong' has disrupted our household registration for three months. Neighborhoods are not connected, and the people are suffering from reorganization. How can there be a peaceful government?’ — This is what the residents of Pingjiang County said.”

He slowly put down the scroll, his brows furrowed.

"This is the policy of the Crown Prince, which has gained him praise in the court but has earned him resentment among the people."

Gu Qingping remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "But isn't this precisely the intention behind setting up an external strategy?"

"Let the real voices come through—whether they sound good or bad."

Zhu Biao smiled bitterly: "I was wrong. I thought I could stand in the hall and listen to the officials' opinions, but I forgot that there are millions of people besides the officials."

“If I only ask about ‘politics’ and not ‘people,’ I will only create another cold-blooded dynasty.”

He raised his eyes, his expression clear and resolute: "I want to go out into the streets myself."

Gu Qingping was startled: "Your Highness, you mustn't—"

Zhu Biao, however, said in a completely different tone: "It is only when it is absolutely necessary that we do it."

“I set up the bureau and the court so that the officials could speak about my policies; but if I do not personally implement the policies, I will forever only hear the words of the court and not the voice of the people.”

"I need to know what they are afraid of, what they resent, and what they are in pain about."

She looked at him for a long time before finally nodding gently: "Then I'll help you change your clothes."

At the end of Shenshi (3-5 PM), the Crown Prince changed into a plain white robe and a long gown and went out, accompanied only by one person—Lin Zhiyuan.

The carriage did not take the main road, but instead passed through the North Alley of the East City into Pingjiang Ward, and then circled around through the West Willow Alley to the old camp in the South Market.

Lin Zhiyuan lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and said in a low voice, "Does Your Highness know that on this trip... if even one person recognizes you, ten thousand words will be uttered in your memory?"

Zhu Biao remained silent, only sighing softly: "If my position as crown prince had relied solely on the fact that things hadn't fallen behind the curtain, it would have crumbled long ago."

He stopped the car at Nanshikou and slowly got out.

The streets were still muddy, lined with vendors. A little boy fell into the mud and cried loudly. An old woman angrily shouted at a clerk in front of her: "You clerk! My grandson is only five years old, and you want him to be included in the household register?"

The official, growing impatient, said coldly, "Under the new system of accounting, each household is calculated separately, regardless of age, only the number of people is considered."

The old woman prostrated herself on the ground, wailing, "My son died of the plague, and my grandson is not yet an adult. How can there be taxes for three people?!"

The clerk frowned, about to reprimand her, but a hand suddenly reached out and helped the old woman up, speaking gently: "Grandma, don't be anxious. If your grandson is not yet eight years old, you can present the household register and request an exemption from corvée labor."

The old woman looked up and saw that the man had a refined appearance, but his clothes were not those of an official. She asked in a daze, "Who... are you, your clerk?"

Zhu Biao chuckled softly: "He is the person in charge of government affairs in Pingjiang Ward."

The old woman asked, puzzled: "The person who listens to the government?"

Zhu Biao nodded: "We will not appoint officials or set up judgments. We will only listen to how you live and how difficult it is for you."

The clerk realized his slip of the tongue and quickly bowed, saying, "Young master—"

Zhu Biao waved his hand: "You have done your duty according to the law, so the responsibility does not lie with you. If Zhe Tong has not clearly stated the exemption clause, it is because my Eastern Palace has not issued a clear order."

"I have learned something."

He slowly took out the scroll he carried with him and wrote in one corner: "Children under eight years old are exempt from paying taxes. This is noted next to the supplementary household registration."

Lin Zhiyuan glanced sideways at the words he had written, his expression shifting slightly.

"You really... write like this here?"

Zhu Biao said softly, "If there is no sound here, then the law I have written is nothing but empty words."

He went into the city, inquired at tea stalls, visited vegetable merchants, sat in cloth shops, and went to timber shops. In three days, he did not announce a name or issue a single notice, but did only one thing—listen.

"The accounts are not settled."

"The book is too complicated."

"Winter grain is scarce."

"Old laws are easy, new laws are difficult."

"People don't know where the blame lies."

Zhu Biao memorized each sentence he heard. (End of Chapter)