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

"What really ruined him was his delusional desire to turn things around."

“Tell those scribes in your government offices to use fewer clever tricks and more straightforward methods to manage people—that’s the right thing to do.”

Zhu Biao took three steps back, cupped his hands, and said in a low voice, "This junior has learned much."

When they returned to the village entrance, Zhu Han was already drinking tea under the tree, as if he had known Zhu Biao's whereabouts all along.

"Finished listening?"

"I've heard it all." Zhu Biao said in a deep voice, "I thought it was because the law was inadequate, but in reality it was because—the people were not suited to the job."

"The law is a good law, but when people break the law, it becomes a weapon to harm people."

Zhu Han nodded: "So you understand that governing cannot only look at whether the law is feasible, but also whether the people are capable of it."

"Do you think that once a clear law is established, the people will live in peace and the officials will act in accordance with it?"

"wrong."

"You have to understand one thing—even under the law, the human heart is still the hardest thing to control."

Zhu Biao asked in a deep voice, "Then how should I treat it?"

Zhu Han said slowly, "You can't cure them all."

"You can only establish one very simple rule—to ensure that the worst people dare not be too bad, and that the best people can see the light of day."

After they finished speaking, just as they were about to turn back, they saw a commotion coming from the village entrance in the distance.

Someone shouted, "That temporary official from the Southern Prison is a fake—he's been peeping at the household registration records!"

Zhu Biao was taken aback, his expression changed, and he whispered, "Have you seen through me?"

Zhu Han smiled faintly: "No, you've misjudged the person."

Sure enough, a young man dressed in a brown robe was dragged from the village entrance by two men, shouting, "I'm not a thief, I only wanted to report this because I saw a problem—this household register clearly states 'three men from the Zhao family,' but two of the men from the Zhao family have already married into other families, yet they are still listed in the old register!"

Zhu Biao suddenly realized and whispered, "This... was the transfer concealed by the lower-level officials?"

Zhu Han nodded: "I don't know if it's true or not, but this person—do you dare to trust him?"

Zhu Biao said in a deep voice, "I believe there are doubts about what he said, but we cannot believe it entirely."

Having said that, he quickly stepped forward, took a small card from his pocket, and showed it to everyone:

"The Crown Prince's special envoy was dispatched by Jiande Hall. I will investigate this matter myself."

The villagers were in an uproar.

The young man paused: "You are... the Crown Prince?"

Zhu Biao's gaze remained calm: "I won't ask your identity, I'll only ask you one question—are you willing to write a document to prove what you've said?"

The young man gritted his teeth: "I will."

Zhu Biao nodded: "Then I will not care whether what you said is true or false today, but I will remember what you said."

“Jiande Hall will set up a ‘People’s Petition Meeting’ where anyone who has a dispute with the government can submit a written petition to the hall, regardless of their official rank or background.”

"I, Zhu Biao, hereby grant you this promise: those who make statements based on evidence will be investigated; those who make statements without evidence will not be forgiven."

That evening, on the way back to Beijing.

The sound of horses' hooves is crisp, and the wind rustles through the weeping willows.

Zhu Biao rode ahead, then suddenly turned around and asked, "Imperial Uncle, will my actions today be recorded in the court records?"

Zhu Han replied, "If you record it yourself, it will surely draw criticism."

"If you record it, it can naturally be passed on."

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Then I will ask the people to spread the word for me."

Zhu Han said, "If you truly want to believe in the will of the people, then you should not only believe in the way you are when they cheer, but also be able to accept their criticism."

What did you see today?

Zhu Biao said in a low voice, "I see—the law cannot punish people; people must first have the will."

"What I want to do is not to make the world believe that I speak well, but to let them know that I can hear them."

Zhu Han raised his whip and drove slowly, calmly replying:

"If you can truly do that, then the world will not be far off."

At the entrance of Sanshe Village, firewood was already burning, and the smoke from the cooking fires mingled with the night sky among the mud houses.

"Would you like to stay the night, sir?" The old woman peeked out from inside the door. Seeing that the two men were dressed in damp clothes and looked travel-worn, she knew they were not from the village. Hesitantly, she still asked.

Zhu Biao cupped his hands and smiled: "If you don't mind, I'd like to borrow your room for the night, and I'd also like to help with firewood and water."

Upon hearing this, the old woman glanced at Zhu Biao a few times and finally nodded: "Come in. The food is simple and the floor is cold, but please sit down if you don't mind."

Inside the mud house, the kang (heated brick bed) was slightly warm. A rough bowl held porridge, and cornbread and pickled vegetables were placed on the table. It was simple but not cluttered.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Han sat side by side in the main room, with a light drizzle outside the window and the lamplight on the table flickering.

After the meal, several neighbors from the village arrived one after another. They had all heard that an official from the south had come to visit, and they brought two jugs of wine to gather together.

"I heard you're officials, are you from the Crown Prince's Palace?" a man asked bluntly.

Zhu Biao looked up and replied without hesitation, "Yes."

The crowd gasped.

"May I ask, sir—since the tribute register has been destroyed, shouldn't the tax be reduced?"

“We heard from above that it’s a ‘normalization’ policy, but our land hasn’t changed, and our taxes haven’t been reduced. We want to ask—where did this discount go?”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao did not immediately reply.

He looked around at the men and women sitting there, and bowed slightly, saying, "I am from the Jiande Hall of the Eastern Palace. I was ordered to travel incognito to investigate the people's conditions. What you all have to say today is truly beneficial."

"Everyone, please speak your minds."

At first, everyone hesitated, but soon they started talking.

“Our Wang family already had little land. After our father died, the number of people in our family was halved. We should have been able to reduce our tax burden by three-tenths, but in the end, we didn’t lose a single pound!”

"Some families did receive a tax reduction, but that was for gifts given to the villagers—sir, ask them, is that considered fair?"

"And then there's the new patrolman, who says it's a new regulation from the Crown Prince's Palace that even the kitchen staff have to be registered... Won't that just cause more trouble?"

For a moment, the room was filled with a cacophony of voices, a mix of resentment, questions, and a few cries of sorrow, which was even more jarring than the daytime discussion at the ancestral temple.

Zhu Biao remained silent, only listening intently to each sentence until the last person finished speaking, at which point he slowly rose.

“I’ve written down everything you’ve said.”

"Tomorrow, after I leave Sanshe, I will file a case and send it to Jiande Hall. Within three days, the hall will issue a 'Public Hearing Book' and respond to each item."

An old man frowned and asked, "But if you leave, will the echo still linger? This isn't the first time we've heard this kind of talk in our village."

Zhu Biao's expression hardened. He took a few steps closer and said slowly, "I, Zhu Biao, am the head of the Crown Prince's Jiande Hall. Now that you have spoken, I cannot refuse."

“If there is no response in three days, you may jointly file a complaint against me, Zhu Biao, for breaking my promise to the people.”

There was silence in the room.

Zhu Han sat to the side, smiled slightly, finished the remaining half bowl of wine, and said, "If you don't believe him, you might as well believe my old face first."

"In this world, what we fear most is your silence, not your criticism of the imperial court."

"Your willingness to speak today has already won half the battle."

As the night deepened and the crowd dispersed, the sound of rain pattered softly in the courtyard. Zhu Biao remained seated on the steps in front of the hall, gazing at the dark night sky.

Zhu Han walked over slowly, draped a coarse cloth coat over his shoulders, and said, "Having heard so much today, do you have anything to say?"

Zhu Biao said in a deep voice: "The people's suffering does not lie in the lack of legal understanding, but in the lack of people to govern them."

“The system established in the court, when it reaches the people, has to go through three hands, four hearts, and five mouths. True ‘politics’ often stops at the threshold of the government office.”

Zhu Han laughed: "So you know what 'listening to the government' and 'administering' are."

"Even if you understand everything clearly today, if you can't get a hand, you won't be able to get more than three miles outside this village."

Zhu Biao turned to look at him: "So, what does Imperial Uncle mean? Whose hand should I hold?"

"The Crown Prince has no real power, so who does he rely on?"

Zhu Han said in a deep voice, "We rely on people, not power."

"What you need is a group of people who dare to do things, are capable of doing things, and are willing to take responsibility."

“If you want to establish a government, then go find those people, not in the halls of power, but in the streets where firewood and cooking smoke rise.”

Zhu Biao fell into deep thought, and after a long while he slowly said, "Tomorrow I will write an order to establish a 'Record of Examination Essays' in Jiande Hall, select virtuous and capable people among village officials, wardens, and instructors, and register them monthly, requiring them to compile an article every ten days, which will be allowed to enter the Outer Policy Hall."

“If I really want to hear, I cannot just listen to the words of scholars.”

Zhu Han nodded: "This step is the real descent down the mountain."

“If you dare to bring the voice of the people to court, then you—will truly no longer rely on me for support.”

Zhu Biao remained silent.

At dusk, Zhu Biao and Zhu Han finally arrived at the edge of a wilderness, with only a few farmhouses around.

They sat down beside the haystack, removed their saddles, and took a short rest.

Zhu Biao looked down at the food on his plate and suddenly asked, "Uncle, do you think these laws of our Eastern Palace can truly succeed?"

Zhu Han was silent for a moment before replying, "You are the Crown Prince, and the path after your ascension to the throne is one you must walk. But no matter how tortuous that path may be, the will of the people will be the ultimate judge."

Zhu Biao looked up at him, a determined glint in his eyes: "The path I want to take is one where I can hear the voices of the people."

"Then give it a try, don't give up easily."

Zhu Han sighed softly, "But remember, you can't please everyone. Even if you have a kind heart, you're bound to be misunderstood."

Zhu Biao took a deep breath: "I know."

The two sat quietly, the chirping of crickets in the grass mingling with the barking of dogs in the distance.

Zhu Biao looked up at the distant horizon; the white clouds gradually faded, and the stars began to rise.

He looked at Zhu Han: "We have seen a lot of injustice and heard a lot of doubts along the way. I often think that since the Crown Prince has never really interacted with the people, how can the 'laws' we have established be directly implemented?"

Zhu Han smiled and said, "The human heart is the most complex thing, but if you can hear it, it is better than ten thousand words of decree."

Zhu Biao's gaze hardened; he finally made his decision: "Tomorrow, I will continue my search outside the capital, delving as deeply as possible into the lives of ordinary people to understand their suffering and needs. I think—"

He paused, his gaze intense, "I must take a different path."

Zhu Han smiled gently: "If you are truly willing to do it, then it is a good start."

The two rode their horses through the forest and eventually arrived at a small, southeastern corner of Hue town, a town known for its farming and scholarship.

The town has no main road, but is surrounded by irrigation canals. The walls are made of blue bricks and mud, and pedestrians come in small groups of three or five, yet it has a leisurely atmosphere.

Zhu Han raised an eyebrow and smiled, "This place is the 'Wenzhen' that is known by word of mouth in the suburbs of Beijing. It is said that there are seven scholars in ten households and two private schools in three alleys."

"Isn't that perfect?" Zhu Biao smiled, his eyes filled with anticipation. "I want to see if these 'scholars' are really as the officials in the court say: 'Good policies don't reach the people, and empty talk outweighs action.'"

The two changed into cloth clothes and coarse shoes, and deliberately avoided the post station and market before entering the town, taking the country lanes and alleys directly.

Just after crossing a river embankment, a commotion came from a low-lying tiled house ahead.

"I bet he won't be able to call out even after three tries!"

"Bullshit! That rooster crowed this morning; it'll definitely crow again!"

"Do you think this chicken belongs to you?"

Zhu Biao was taken aback and unconsciously quickened his pace.

Zhu Han followed leisurely. When the two arrived at the front of the house, they saw seven or eight young men in short blue clothes sitting around the hall, vying to look into the house.

Looking into the hall, an old man with white hair and beard was holding a rooster that looked bewildered, muttering to himself. In front of him was a small table with wine, incense, and copper coins.

On the walls on both sides were several crooked strips of paper with the phrases "The rooster crows and one passes the imperial examination" and "The golden rooster crows at dawn."

"This is..." Zhu Biao turned his head and asked Zhu Han in a low voice, a smile in his eyes.

Zhu Han said, “There is an old custom in Wenzhen: if a student in the school wants to test his talent, he must choose a ‘dawn rooster’. If the rooster crows, he will be inspired and his thoughts will flow smoothly; if the rooster does not crow, he will be stubborn and unlearned. This custom is inherited by old scholars. Although there is no basis for it, it is quite interesting.”

“But this…” Zhu Biao couldn’t help but laugh, pointing at the old man, “This is clearly forcing the rooster to crow.”

"When the younger generation has no solution, they rely on the rooster to call them; the same is often true of discussions in the imperial court."

Zhu Han said calmly, looking at Zhu Biao, "What you thought was a joke is actually a mirror."

Just as the two were talking, the old rooster suddenly let out a loud "cluck-ah," the last syllable of which was drawn out for a very long time, which drew up a burst of laughter from the audience.

"Hahaha! See? I told you it would bark, didn't I?"

"Does this count as ranking first?"

"I'm afraid they'll startle and shout."

"Aren't you going to write your policy essay yet? You think you can pass the imperial examination just because a rooster crows for you?"

Zhu Biao listened with a look of astonishment, then suddenly stepped forward and asked loudly, "Gentlemen! May I ask if this rooster's crowing can truly help you write with lightning speed?"

The boys were taken aback and looked up at him. They felt that although he was dressed in plain clothes, he had a dignified demeanor and spoke with great refinement.

A young man laughed and said, “Sir, you jest. This is just a common practice. I heard that this spring’s court policy, ‘Records of Inquiry into Governance,’ has been written by us every day. Our minds are in a mess, so we decided to try our luck with a chicken and hope for some inspiration.”

Zhu Biao laughed: "If the plan fails, can we blame the chicken for misleading people?"

The boy laughed heartily: "If the plan fails, the chicken will have to be sacrificed to the pot!"

Although the joke was light, Zhu Biao sensed a deeper meaning in it.

He turned to Zhu Han and whispered, "Although these students are joking, their dedication to studying is undiminished. The competition among scholars in the court may be exaggerated, but the aspirations of the common people can still be put to good use."

Zhu Han nodded, remaining silent.

Suddenly, a voice said, "Are you two gentlemen also here to expedite the procession?"

Zhu Biao replied, "No, I was just passing through this place and found that your town has a particularly strong academic atmosphere, which I greatly admire."

"In that case, why don't we come to my family school together? Tonight we are holding a 'Debate on Policy Questions,' where students will take turns reciting the questions from the imperial examination. Although it is simple, it is still worth watching."

Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Han, who smiled and said, "You are the Crown Prince, so you have the final say."

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble you."

As dusk fell, Zhu Biao and Zhu Han sat around a stove on one side of the simple schoolroom.

Inside the room were more than twenty people, including pale-faced scholars nearing forty and young boys still bearing the innocence of childhood, each holding a scroll and with an oil lamp lit in front of them.

The speaker was a middle-aged Confucian scholar named Qian Xueming, a private tutor in the town. He was of refined character and began by asking:
"Today's question: 'Should the Crown Prince, who is in charge of governance, be granted real authority?' Who among you will first offer your opinion?"

A young man stood up and replied, “Since the Crown Prince has inquired about governance, he should naturally wield power! Power without responsibility cannot be upheld, and governance with responsibility cannot be shirked!”

Master Qian nodded, then asked, "If the Crown Prince makes a mistake, who will correct him?" (End of Chapter)