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

Zhu Biao remained silent for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Uncle, what if one day this light is also tainted by darkness?"

Zhu Han paused, causing the tea to slosh and splash onto the table.

He gazed silently at the candlelight, his voice barely audible: "Then have someone wipe it clean. If it's not clean enough, wipe it again. Wipe it until your hands are raw, and your heart will be bright."

The sound of footsteps of night patrol soldiers could be heard outside the window, and the lights of Qingzhou City in the distance gradually went out.

Zhu Han looked up at the night sky and let out a long breath.

"I'll be returning to Beijing tomorrow," he said.

"Yes."

On the day Zhu Han returned to the capital, undercurrents were brewing in the imperial court.

Yang Xian and Wang Guangyang, the Minister of Revenue, have submitted three memorials in succession, vehemently arguing that "the method of 'heart shed' disturbs the people's hearts" and "there is no evidence to prove the truth, which may lead to disaster."

Meanwhile, the eunuch Wang Zhen secretly conveyed a message that there were already voices of discontent within the inner court, and that Zhu Han was suspected of "using the hearts of the people to seize power."

Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude was surprisingly calm.

As he listened to the memorial, he slowly tapped his bamboo cane, his gaze unfathomable.

"Your Majesty." Sunlight streamed in from outside the hall as Zhu Han stepped in. "The matter in Qingzhou has been settled."

"It's pacified?" Zhu Yuanzhang slowly raised his head. "What did you pacify, the chaos or the 'heart'?"

“It’s all at peace.” Zhu Han looked directly at him. “But I prefer to say it’s that my ‘heart’ has found peace.”

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze lingered on him for a long time before he suddenly spoke: "Han, do you know that your 'Heart Pavilion' method has already touched the very root of power in the world?"

“I know,” Zhu Han said, his expression unchanged. “But if the root is in the heart, it will never change if it is not touched.”

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly, his laughter shaking the palace slightly: "What a fine 'unchanging without being touched'! You really are still you, the same person who told me ten years ago in the wilderness of Chuyang, 'The world is not won by the sword, but by the hearts of the people'!"

"Your subject dares not forget." Zhu Han bowed deeply.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly stood up, his eyes sharpening abruptly: "Then you should also know that the heart of the nation lies not only with the people, but also with the officials, and with me! If one day the name 'Heart's Pavilion' becomes a tool for seizing power, what will you do?"

Zhu Han did not answer immediately. He remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Then destroy it."

"Destroy?" Zhu Yuanzhang stared at him as if he were looking at a madman gambling with his life.

"Yes," Zhu Han said calmly. "The law can be destroyed, but the people's hearts cannot. If the law turns against the people's hearts, it is not the law, but the root of disaster. Your subject is willing to destroy it with your own hands."

A deathly silence fell over the hall. Zhu Biao suddenly stepped forward, his eyes resolute: "Father, if that day ever comes, I am willing to destroy this law with my uncle—because what we uphold is not the law, but people."

Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, slamming his hand on the table and standing up: "Good, good! With you two, uncle and nephew, my empire and my descendants will have nothing to fear from storms!"

As autumn winds blow into the night, the sky over the capital city hangs low, like an overturned iron pot.

The palace lights flickered, and the halls and pavilions stood in rows, yet they could not conceal the turbulent undercurrents.

Zhu Han stood outside the Fengtian Hall, his hands behind his back, the clamor of the court officials echoing in his ears.

Minister of Justice Yang Xianzheng reported sternly:

"Your Majesty! Recently, 'heart-searching booths' have been rampant in and around the capital. Although they are called 'heart-searching booths,' they are actually used as a pretext for private gain. Some treacherous officials even use the 'heart-searching board' to interrogate scholars, forcing them to prove their innocence. If they hesitate even slightly, they are accused of 'improper heart'! Isn't this the beginning of 'heart-searching prisons'?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, all the officials echoed his sentiments.

"Yes!"

"Human hearts are inherently fickle; how can they withstand such interrogation and coercion?"

"If this method is implemented, it may discourage loyal and virtuous people!"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, tapping his bamboo cane against the palace bricks with thunderous sounds, yet he hesitated to make a judgment.

Zhu Biao stood to one side, his face slightly pale. Although he was the crown prince, he was young and inexperienced. Seeing the court in turmoil, he was anxious but dared not speak out.

At this moment, Zhu Han slowly stepped forward, his voice not loud, but penetrating to the heart: "Minister Yang's words are too harsh. The original intention of the Heart Shelter Law was to resolve disputes, not to adjudicate cases. If someone uses it to harm others, it is not the 'law' that is wrong, but the 'person' that is greedy."

"Your Highness!" Yang Xian sneered, "Your erecting of the stall in the South Market may have been a meritorious act for a time, but now it has spread to all neighborhoods and government offices, and even to schools and academies. Some people are using the name of 'heart-to-heart' to force students to swear an oath in front of the board, and if they dare not swear, they will be expelled from the school. Your Highness, is such a 'heart-to-heart' act still a 'good law'?"

The hall erupted in an uproar.

Zhu Han felt a pang of unease. He had anticipated that someone would misinterpret the situation, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

The so-called "heart-illumination" was used by gentry and academies as a tool to control people's hearts, and gradually evolved into a new shackle.

“Lord Yang,” Zhu Han said slowly, “I ask you, the law can judge crimes, reason can judge matters, and the heart can examine itself. But if ‘examining oneself’ becomes ‘judging others,’ then it goes against the fundamental principle. This is not the fault of the law, but the punishment of those who disrupt the law.”

“Empty words are useless!” Yang Xian said coldly. “In that case, does Your Highness dare to make a vow: if any more ‘heart shelters’ in the capital fall into the trap of ‘heart-wrenching’ behavior, Your Highness will personally demolish them?”

The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly tightened.

Zhu Yuanzhang's cold eyes fell on Zhu Han, as if he were both considering him and forcing him.

Zhu Han sneered inwardly—this was Yang Xian's tactic; knowing full well that the "shed" had been abused, he was still forcing himself to bear the consequences.

If one agrees, it would be tantamount to taking responsibility for the "fake sheds" of the world; if one does not agree, it would be that one is guilty and intends to "indulge the people".

He slowly raised his head, his gaze calm: "I dare to make this oath. But there is one thing to say: any 'fake shed' that is not in accordance with my laws shall be destroyed; any 'heart-wrenching' scheme that is not in accordance with my will shall be punished. If anyone continues to use these tricks to harm the people, I will not only demolish the shed, but also the person."

These words resonated deeply, and the hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly burst into laughter, slapping his bamboo cane: "Good! You have guts! In that case, I order you to thoroughly investigate all 'heart shacks' inside and outside the capital within three days. Keep the genuine ones, destroy the fake ones, and execute the incompetent ones. If there are still any remaining problems after three days—I will punish you first!"

"Your subject obeys the decree." Zhu Han bowed deeply.

Night fell, and the wind howled.

Zhu Han returned to the Prince's residence and sat alone under the lamp. A scroll of paper was spread out on the table, on which were written the locations of all the brothels and alleys in the capital. He pondered deeply—this matter had gone beyond his initial intentions.

The so-called "heart shed" was originally used to resolve disputes, but now it is used by powerful officials and gentry to test people's hearts and coerce scholars.

If left unchecked, it will eventually evolve into a "prison of the mind"—using people's hearts as evidence of crimes, making everyone feel insecure.

"Uncle," Zhu Biao rushed in, his expression worried, "I was horrified by what I heard today. Could they really dare to use the 'heart' as a prison?"

Zhu Han looked up at him, his gaze complex: "If the human heart is controlled by fear, it is harder to break free than an iron cage. You must remember that the most dangerous shackles in the world are not instruments of torture, but 'status' and 'fear'. Once 'self-discovery' becomes a knife in someone else's hand, then it is a real prison."

"But how do we break this?" Zhu Biao asked in a low voice.

Zhu Han said slowly, "Starting tomorrow, dismantle the sheds."

"Tear down the shed?" Zhu Biao was taken aback. "Yes." Zhu Han's gaze was cold. "If we don't tear it down, the world will only see the harm of 'heart-wrenching'; tearing it down will show our court's intention to uphold 'true sincerity.' Remember, this battle is not about tearing down the wooden planks, but about tearing down the fear in people's hearts."

The next morning, in Xuanyangfang, the capital city.

A tent stands in front of the academy, where more than ten students are lining up to look at the sign.

The tutor, who was in charge, shouted sternly: "How can you study if your mind is not upright? Anyone who dares not look directly at the screen will be expelled immediately!"

Among the crowd, Zhu Biao and his men stood trembling, each pressing their faces close to the wooden board, their eyes darting around.

Some people were covered in cold sweat, while others were on the verge of tears.

Suddenly, a deep, resounding shout shook the very core of the matter: "Stop!"

Everyone was startled, as Zhu Han and Zhu Biao strode in with their soldiers.

The tutor's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly knelt down: "Your Highness, please forgive me! I was merely trying to rectify the students' hearts—"

Zhu Han sneered: "Righteousness? This isn't righteousness, it's coercion! Men, tear this shed down!"

The soldiers stepped forward, and with a loud crash, the roof beam collapsed to the ground.

Zhu Biao said sternly, "Remember, from this day forward, the heart cannot be forced. Anyone who dares to use the 'heart' to seize someone will be punished even more severely!"

The students stood frozen in place for a long time before someone finally shed tears and whispered, "Thank you, Your Highness..."

Within three days, Zhu Han and Zhu Biao personally toured the capital, and demolished all the "fake sheds" and "fake tents" they found.

Some people tried to obstruct him in secret, while others offered him large sums of money as bribes, but he coldly refused them all.

The people in the city whispered among themselves: "The prince is dismantling the shed not to break the law, but to protect his conscience."

"This is the real deal; everything else is a fake!"

However, undercurrents were surging within the imperial court.

Yang Xian sneered inwardly: "He enjoyed dismantling the sheds, but he didn't realize that he had offended half of the scholars. When the academies rise up against him, he will be doomed."

Minister of Revenue Wang Guangyang chimed in, "Perfect, let's use this to diminish his prestige."

The news reached the inner court layer by layer. The eunuch Wang Zhen whispered to the emperor, "Your Majesty, the prince's actions are excessive, and there are widespread complaints in the academy. If this is allowed to continue, it may cause unrest among the scholars."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent, only tapping his bamboo cane, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Three days later, in the Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright on the dragon throne and asked in a deep voice, "Han, how is the situation in the capital?"

Zhu Han stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Three of the genuine ones will remain, twenty-eight of the fake ones will be destroyed, seventeen of those who were forced to commit crimes will be punished, and five will be expelled. Now the people of the capital are no longer troubled by the 'fake sheds'."

The officials were in an uproar.

"Twenty-eight fake tents? How can there be so many!"

"Wouldn't such an act of expelling someone chill the hearts of scholars?"

Yang Xian said sternly, "Your Majesty, the Prince's actions are truly 'breaking hearts' rather than 'protecting hearts.' Many disciples in the academy already have grievances; if this continues, it may discourage students throughout the land!"

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly raised his eyes and stared at Zhu Han: "Han, do you know why I allowed you to dismantle the shed?"

Zhu Han's gaze was firm: "Because my imperial brother knows that if we don't dismantle it, it will become a prison of the heart."

There was a dead silence in the hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze slowly turned sharp: "Heart Prison... these are very serious words."

Zhu Han slowly spoke: "If the law is in the hands of men, it may become a prison; if the law is in the hearts of men, it becomes the foundation. Your Majesty, I would rather bear the resentment of the scholars of the world than let the 'shelter of the heart' become a prison for the world. If one day, even students have to 'examine their hearts' before they can study, that will be the real root of disaster."

Zhu Biao, who was standing nearby, suddenly stepped forward and said in a clear voice, "Father, I will testify with my own body. If anyone forces me to prove my loyalty in the future, I would rather die than comply!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes suddenly widened in surprise. After a long while, he suddenly looked up at the sky and laughed loudly: "Good, good! You are indeed worthy of being the Crown Prince of my Great Ming Dynasty, and worthy of being my brother's nephew!"

The bamboo cane fell with a thud, shaking the hearts of all the officials.

"Remember—if the heart is a prison, then it is not the true law! I allow you to continue guarding the board, but there is one condition: anyone who dares to use this to harm others will be killed without mercy!"

The officials in the hall responded in unison, but none of them dared to look Zhu Han in the eye.

Inside the side hall of Fengtian, the candlelight, like a beast covered by a shroud, jumped a few times before falling silent.

Zhu Yuanzhang leaned back on the couch, his bamboo cane resting horizontally on his knees, his expression calm but not angry.

There were no ministers in the hall, only Yang Xian, Wang Guangyang, and Hu Weiyong, the Vice Minister of War, and several female scribes standing on the other side.

Zhu Biao stood under the pillar, his expression still somewhat childish, yet he exuded a strong sense of determination.

"Everyone's here," Zhu Yuanzhang said, his voice raspy. "I don't like empty talk. Tonight, let's discuss only one matter—the trend of 'heart-seeking' is going further and further astray. How should we deal with it?"

Yang Xian, dressed in snow-white robes, bowed respectfully and said, “Your Majesty, I believe that ‘Illumination of the Heart’ can assist the law, but it cannot replace it. The sheds in the common people’s homes are already broken, and the sheds in the academies are even worse. If no official is established to govern them, the trend will be irreversible. I request the establishment of the ‘Office for Rectifying the Heart’ to be in charge of the law of illumination of the heart, to establish registers, cases, and rules.”

"Li Si?" Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow. "Who will take charge?"

"Your Majesty may choose for yourself." Yang Xian lowered his eyes. "I will only propose the system. The common people shall not be independent, the academies shall not be independent, and the government offices shall not act arbitrarily. All matters concerning the heart shall be issued by the 'Office of Rectifying the Heart'. The board must bear the official seal, and the laws shall be engraved on the back. Anyone who forces the heart, feigns the heart, or disrupts the heart shall be punished. Anyone who disobeys the order shall be punished."

As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the hall seemed to freeze over like a thin layer of ice on a lake.

While seemingly "righteous," in essence, it brings everything "reflecting the heart" into the palm of the official's hand—from then on, who reflects, how they reflect, who they reflect to, and how they are used after the reflection are all traceable and controllable.

Zhu Han remained silent, but his gaze was like a knife, slicing across Yang Xian's face. He slowly asked, "Minister Yang, is this 'rectifying the heart' or 'the palm'?"

Yang Xian smiled slightly: "Your Highness, if the heart is not guided, it is easily thrown into chaos. To guide means to guard."

“A palm can also be used to pinch,” Zhu Han retorted. “What you want is not a board, but a handle.”

Wang Guangyang stepped in to smooth things over: "Why must you two be so argumentative? The world must eventually have a set of rules; if things are scattered and not unified, they will eventually become chaotic."

Hu Weiyong remained silent throughout, only fiddling with an iron whistle hidden in his sleeve, his eyes gleaming with an unpredictable light.

Zhu Yuanzhang tapped the ground with his bamboo cane: "Let's be reasonable. Yang Xian's words make some sense. If things have been scattered for too long, they must be brought under control. But I'm not happy about it—'Zhengxin Si' (the Office of Rectifying the Mind), just hearing the name makes my teeth ache, like a hairpin is being stuck into my heart."

He turned to look at Zhu Han: "Han, I remember you dismantled twenty-eight sheds. You said, 'Sheds should be kept up often.' Now that we've set up too many, I'd like to take some back. What do you think?"

Zhu Han cupped his hands in greeting: "To accept is to accept a false one. If we accept the real one, we'll also take away people's courage. Your Majesty, I dare to humbly request that Your Majesty—establish a 'ceasefire order,' without establishing an office, and issue the decree first:"
From this day forward, anyone imprisoned or brought to justice through "heart-searching" will be punished as the principal offender; anyone forced to write or swear oaths through "heart-searching" will be punished with double the severity; anyone who uses "heart-searching" to question themselves or resolve disputes will not be recorded in the official register. A three-month period will be established to observe the effectiveness. After three months, a decision on imprisonment or release will be made. (End of Chapter)