Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 20: What you all know is less than what I have.
On the 26th day of the eighth month of the seventh year of the Tianqi reign (1627), at the second quarter of the hour of Yin.

The small, straight-roofed house next to the Left Side Gate emitted a faint light, resisting the thick darkness of the entire Forbidden City.

Surprisingly, no one was dozing off while waiting in the room today; the civil officials waiting to attend court were all chatting in twos and threes.

Several officials gathered together, lowering their voices, but they couldn't hide the excitement and agitation in their words.

"Have you heard? Just yesterday, less than half a day after His Majesty ascended the throne, the traitor Wei hanged himself."

"What suicide? It's clearly..." The speaker raised an eyebrow, conveying a tacit understanding.

"The new emperor is wise and decisive, truly a blessing for our Great Ming!" someone exclaimed sincerely, their face beaming with barely suppressed joy.

But some people frowned, looking somewhat worried:

"However... this turmoil is likely to be significant."

"The eunuch faction is deeply rooted and intertwined. If it is truly purged as a whole, the court will likely undergo a major reshuffle, and countless people will be implicated."

"What's there to be afraid of!" one of the officials scoffed, his voice unconsciously rising.

“When the eunuch faction was at its peak, we were all denounced and our mentor was imprisoned. When have we ever seen them show any leniency?”

"Now the tables have turned, and it's their turn to taste this bitter fruit!"

"We, the upright and honest, are now in a position to sit back and watch them fail."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than someone chimed in, gloating:

"Speaking of which, Cui Chengxiu is known as the leader of the Five Tigers. Now, I'm afraid... hehe, I wonder what his fate will be."

As everyone was discussing animatedly, suddenly, one of the officials facing the door changed his expression and coughed loudly.

The discussion inside the room abruptly ceased.

Everyone felt a chill and followed his gaze, only to see a tall and gloomy figure standing silently outside the door, as if he had been standing there for a long time.

The visitor was none other than Cui Chengxiu, the then Minister of War.

He wore a scarlet official robe, and the gold-inlaid jade belt at his waist reflected a cold luster under the lamplight.

Everyone in the room got up to exchange pleasantries, but the usual enthusiasm was somewhat lacking.

"I have met Minister Cui."

"Is the Minister well?"

Greetings came one after another, but Cui Chengxiu seemed not to hear them.

He walked straight past the crowd, found an empty seat, sat down, and began to close his eyes to rest.

Everyone in the room felt like they were sitting on pins and needles, and every breath felt incredibly long.

"Dong—!" A muffled drumbeat sounded from the Meridian Gate, and the palace gate slowly opened.

Everyone perked up, straightened their clothes, and filed out, taking their places in shifts in front of the right side gate.

Cui Chengxiu was at the front of the shift. Looking up, he saw that the left side gate opposite him was also wide open, with shadowy figures inside, but he couldn't make out their faces.

"Buzz—!" Another bell rang from the Meridian Gate, and immediately the civil and military officials at the left and right side gates all set off.

The officials entered through the Meridian Gate, passed through the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and finally arrived at the square in front of the Hall of Literary Glory. After tidying up, the officials waited quietly for the morning court session.

Standing beside Cui Chengxiu was Xue Zhen, the Minister of Justice.

Unable to contain his anxiety any longer, he leaned slightly to the side and asked urgently in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Brother Shaohua, things have come to this, what should we do now!"

Cui Chengxiu remained with his eyes closed, seemingly lost in meditation, ignoring his words.

Xue Zhen was rebuffed and was about to say something more when the master of ceremonies cast a sharp glare at her and shouted, "Silence!"

The last whispers in the train also disappeared.

The morning breeze was bleak, causing the hem of the official's robe to flutter.

Finally, a eunuch's shrill voice pierced the sky.

"Your Majesty, please ascend the throne!"

Immediately following was a crisp crack of a whip.

"kneel--!"

"knock--!"

The shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" echoed through the heavens.

After the ceremony, the officials ascended the hall to report on their affairs.

The eunuch announced loudly again, "Speak if you have something to say, otherwise the court may adjourn!"

After he finished speaking, the Wenhua Hall fell into a moment of silence.

Zhu Youjian sat quietly on the dragon throne, looking down at the officials below.

The stage is set up and the lights are in place, but who will actually go on stage?

A last official stepped forward and bowed.

"Your subject, Yang Suoxiu, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of War, has a memorial to present!"

Yang Suoxiu strode forward, his tone high-spirited.

"The Minister of War Cui Chengxiu, the Minister of Works Li Yangde, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud Chen Yin, the Governor of Yansui, and the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhu Tongmeng, all four of them, were deprived of their leave of absence due to illness or other reasons!"

"At first, the four of them disregarded their mourning period because of the critical state of the nation. Now that the situation has eased, they should be dismissed and sent back to their hometowns to observe the mourning period!"

Your firepower is too weak. Are you afraid of missing the beat?

They only dared to use the matter of Ding You's mourning period as a pretext, and even used three other people as a cover-up.

This is incredibly boring. You want to speculate but don't dare to place bets. How can you improve like this?

"I am aware of this matter," Zhu Youjian said calmly. "Any other reports to submit?"

His calm voice, however, was like a boulder thrown into the center of a lake, instantly creating ripples throughout the hall.

The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the suppressed breathing of the officials and the subtle rustling of their official robes and boots.

Everyone sensed that the real show was about to begin.

Sure enough, another official transferred out of the last train.

"Your subject, Yang Weiyuan, the Censor of Yunnan Circuit, impeaches Cui Chengxiu, the Minister of War!"

Yang Weiyuan's voice echoed in the hall, carrying a hint of pleasure.

"Cui Chengxiu, as Minister of War, formed cliques for personal gain and promoted his relatives!"

"His lackey Wu Chunfu was once just a junior official, but because he attacked the former Grand Secretary Feng Quan on his behalf, he rose rapidly through the ranks to become the Minister of Works within two years!"

"His younger brother, Cui Ningxiu, was a mere military man who was promoted directly to the position of General of Zhejiang without any selection or examination!"

"Xiao Weizhong, the younger brother of Chengxiu's favorite concubine, was a lowly musician and a commoner, yet he was promoted to the position of Commander of the Miyun Chariot Camp overnight!"

"Such nepotism is detrimental to the country and its people. What does it say about our dynasty's official selection system? Your Majesty, I beg you to severely punish this vile official and set things right!"

Yang Weiyuan's impeachment was like a signal, quickly igniting the atmosphere throughout the hall.

As soon as he finished speaking, many people stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, Yin Guozhang, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, impeaches Zhou Yingqiu, Minister of Personnel, and Tang Qi, Vice Minister of Works!"

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Inspector of Zhili, Jia Jichun, has impeached Cui Chengxiu, the Minister of War!"

"Your Majesty, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of War, Xu Zheng, has impeached Cui Chengxiu, the Minister of War!"

"Your Majesty, Wu Hongye, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, has impeached Zhou Yingqiu, the Minister of Personnel!"

"Your subject, Censor Wu Shangmo, impeaches Xue Zhen, Minister of Justice!"

……

Immediately, impeachment calls rose and fell, and one official after another stepped forward to deliver impassioned speeches, their numbers exceeding those submitted to the palace by more than double the number the previous night.

Zhu Youjian's fingers tapped silently on the armrest of the dragon throne.

He watched as His Highness put on this show of unity among his ministers, a court filled with upright officials, and listened to their impassioned speeches, feeling utterly absurd.

The military pay in Shaanxi, the disaster victims in Shandong, the flames of war in Liaodong... these matters that truly concern the lifeline of the dynasty are now ignored by everyone.

Neutral speculators chasing the winds of power, upright and virtuous officials seeking a purge, and former eunuch officials eager to sever ties—all are entangled in a complex web of personnel matters.

His first court assembly as Emperor Yongchang was surprisingly lively.

How ironic...

Zhu Youjian slowly picked up the pen holder from the imperial desk.

This is a fine piece of Ru ware celadon, warm and smooth as jade.

Pity.

He stood up, and with a sudden burst of strength, slammed the brush washer down hard onto the golden steps!

"Crack—!" A crisp cracking sound, like a thunderclap, instantly shattered in the deathly silent hall.

"Enough! This is not how you handle matters of state!"

Zhu Youjian's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable majesty, like icicles in the cold winter, sweeping over the assembled officials.

The sounds of impeachment, discussion, and breathing that filled the hall seemed to be instantly cut off by an invisible hand.

Everyone was startled by the sudden cracking sound and stared in horror at the throne.

Several officials who had just taken a step forward, preparing to follow suit and impeach, froze in place, at a loss for what to do, their expressions incredibly varied.

The entire Wenhua Hall was deathly silent.

Zhu Youjian ignored them and turned his attention directly to Huang Liji, the Grand Secretary.

"Prime Minister, regarding the matter of Shaanxi's unpaid wages, the draft was prepared yesterday. Has there been any result?"

Huang Lijie was still in shock when he was suddenly called by the emperor, and his body trembled involuntarily.

"Return...report to Your Majesty."

“Last night I consulted with the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue. The Taicang and Changying treasuries are empty, and it is really difficult to pay the more than 300,000 taels of old salary owed.”

"After raising funds from various sources, we can first pay three months' wages, totaling more than 53,000 taels. Of these, 20,000 taels will be paid from Taicang first, and another 33,000 taels will be borrowed from Changying Treasury."

Zhu Youjian nodded. This approach was relatively prudent. Sending a portion first would at least prevent the border troops from mutinying on an empty stomach.

But that's not enough. The Grand Secretaries of the Ming Dynasty carried the weight of the two capitals and thirteen provinces on their shoulders, and the responsibility for the lives of hundreds of millions of people across the land on their heads.

Do you think you've fulfilled your responsibilities by just haphazardly pasting something on?
"That alone is not enough."

His voice returned to calm, but it made everyone in the hall prick up their ears.

"What is the situation regarding unpaid wages in each of the nine border regions?"

What are the specific amounts owed over the years?

"Besides the Beijing Transportation Bank, what is the status of payments made by local civilian transportation banks?"

"Is simply paying out money enough? There are rumors of drought in Shaanxi, why haven't the local authorities reported it?"

"What is the current price of grain in the area? Once the money arrives in Shaanxi, how much of the January salary will cover previous expenses?"

"How much do the cabinet ministers and the six ministries know about these matters?"

Huang Liji's lips moved slightly, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Choi Seong-soo, who had remained unmoved by the impeachment storm, finally raised his head and looked at the young new king on the throne.

A slight commotion arose in the hall, and many officials exchanged glances filled with unspeakable horror.

Zhu Youjian paused here, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, his voice growing heavier.

"Furthermore, local governors have short terms and often try to cover things up or delay things as much as possible. By the time the matter is actually reported, it is often too late to fix and has become extremely corrupt."

"The saying goes, 'A good doctor treats illness before it occurs; a good ruler governs a country before it descends into chaos.' This is what truly makes a wise and capable minister and physician."

"The matter is in the four corners of the country, but the key lies in the central government. If the central government always waits until the local areas are corrupt before taking any remedial measures, what will become of the nation? What will become of the world?"

The courtiers were immediately thrown into turmoil.

This new emperor, who was only seventeen years old, had previously been raised in the deep palace, keeping a low profile and only known for his kindness and benevolence.

Who would have thought that he could have such a keen insight into the military affairs of the nine border regions and local politics?

These words and such insight are completely unlike those of a young emperor who has just ascended the throne; rather, they are those of a seasoned minister who has been immersed in politics for many years!

A thought arose in the minds of many people, without prior agreement.

...Could it be that the Ming Dynasty is about to produce another Emperor Shizong?
Zhu Youjian ignored their shocked expressions.

He knocked on the imperial desk, waking everyone up.

"If this matter is entrusted to the Grand Secretary and the Minister of Revenue, Guo Yunhou, is it possible to handle it?"

Huang Lijie and Guo Yunhou quickly stepped forward, saying, "Your subjects obey the decree."

"And what about the Shandong floods? How should we handle that?"

Huang Lijie composed himself and was about to reply.

Zhu Youjian waved his hand and pointed to the Second Grand Secretary Shi Fenglai, "There are specific responsibilities for this matter, so Shi Fenglai will take the lead."

Shi Fenglai was somewhat taken aback, but still bowed and stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, this matter has already been established. The local officials should be instructed to appease them, and 70% of this year's autumn grain can be collected in lieu of taxes."

???

Zhu Youjian could not understand.

After a disaster, shouldn't the focus be on disaster relief and exemption from grain taxes?

Why is it possible for a 70% discount to be used as a disaster relief measure?

The so-called "original color" refers to grain and fodder, while the "discounted color" refers to silver.

The phrase "70% tax paid in silver" means that in Shandong, the disaster-stricken areas this year, 30% of the taxes were still paid in wheat, chestnuts, etc., while the remaining 70% were paid in silver.

He quickly recalled his memories from later generations and had no recollection of any uprising in Shandong during the early years of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign.

Now it seems he really suspects that after the suppression of the White Lotus Rebellion during the Tianqi era, all the capable and courageous people in the area were killed.

Otherwise, if he were dressed in Shandong, facing this terrible world, he would definitely rise up and rebel against it!
He pondered for a long time, deciding not to speak up until he understood the matter of Zhese.

But even setting aside the true nature of Zhese, this incident still reveals the absurdity of the Ming court's governance at that time.

"This is inappropriate."

"When Li Jingbai reported to the emperor, he only said that many places were affected by the disaster, crops were flooded, houses were destroyed, and countless people and livestock drowned."

"However, what is the actual extent of the disaster in each county? What is the yield of the farmland? Do they have enough food left this year, and what will their grain planting situation be like next year?"

"Since the torrential rains began in June, three months have passed. I, the dignified Governor of Shandong, the upright official of the province, have only reported one sentence: 'Countless'?"

"These countless statements could be submitted to the emperor by any child, so why should a Shandong governor be making such childish remarks here!"

Zhu Youjian grew increasingly angry as he spoke, and slammed his fist on the table in frustration.

These insects are truly awful.

Even if I were willing to tolerate you for the sake of the country, you are truly not human.

“Go, Shandong Governor Li Jingbai is incompetent in disaster relief, so he is to be given a green card.”

Gao Shiming obeyed the order and went to the official screen below the steps of Wenhua Hall, where he pasted a green cloth strip onto the portrait of Li Jingbai, the governor of Shandong.

The officials, all of whom were elites in the imperial examinations, immediately realized the meaning behind the green decoration and looked at each other in alarm.

After the two matters were discussed, the atmosphere in the hall had completely changed.

If the previous events were a frenzy and restlessness intertwined with speculation, liquidation, and separation.

Now, it is a sense of unease, awe, and scrutiny.

This is how the emperor should conduct his court.

Historically, in the early years of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, he was too easily swept up by this trend, which led to the civil officials eroding the power that the Tianqi Emperor had consolidated.

To paraphrase Huang Xiaoming, I don't care what you think, I care what I think!

Zhu Youjian took a deep breath, stood on the moral high ground, and continued to fire his weapons recklessly.

"I am already aware of all the accusations you have made."

"But with the nation's affairs now in a state of disarray, how can we prioritize partisan strife in everything we do?"

"Why do you not care about the fact that Shaanxi is in arrears with its pay, soldiers are selling their children and wives, and Shandong is suffering from floods, causing people to be displaced and destitute!"

"Seventeen people have stepped forward to impeach me, six of whom are even listed in the eunuch faction. Do you think I don't know that?"

"Cutting, speculating, liquidating! I see through your intentions!"

"But I wonder, among all these officials, how many are truly concerned about the country, and how many are concerned about themselves?"

　[Historical materials and appropriations in this chapter]

　　1. The Ming Dynasty implemented a 96-hour system. For example, the Yin hour (3-5 AM) had four quarters (刻) per hour. Therefore, the second quarter of the Yin hour was 4:30 AM. —From "Time of Day," "Quarter," and "Hour," by Ma Gan

　　2. The regular court proceedings are based on "A Brief Account of Court Etiquette in the Ming Dynasty" by Xu Bingbin. Civil officials enter through the right side gate, while military officials enter through the left side gate. When the drum at the Meridian Gate sounds, the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Great Han General enter. When the bell at the Meridian Gate rings, the assembled officials enter through the Meridian Gate, pass through the Huiji Gate, line up and pay their respects in front of the Wenhua Hall, and then ascend the hall to discuss matters.

　　3. Using silver as a form of relief for disasters was a common practice in the Ming Dynasty. There is no record of how this incident in Shandong was handled (it seems that it was just a matter of reporting the disaster). However, in February of the seventh year of the Tianqi reign, Governor Guo Shangyou of Fengyang submitted a memorial requesting that the relief for disaster victims be implemented in this way.

　　4. "Ding You" refers to the mourning period for officials upon the death of their parents, during which they must return home to observe a 27-month period of mourning. "Du Qing" is an imperial decree that allows officials to continue serving in office under the pretext of state affairs, thus exempting them from fulfilling this "mourning" obligation. This was a classic tool in the factional struggles of the Ming Dynasty.

　　5. Emperor Shizong, also known as Jiajing, was indeed very intelligent.

　　6. All those who stepped forward to impeach were historically documented, and three of them later joined the eunuch faction.

　　 7. Finally, regarding the Ming Dynasty's economy, I haven't decided how much detail to go on; this can be covered in detail or briefly. In short, military pay consisted of silver plus provisions, and any problems were addressed to the Minister of Revenue. In reality, Beijing had four financial centers: the Ministry of Works (Jie Shen), the Imperial Stud (Chang Ying), the Ministry of Revenue (Taicang), and the Imperial Treasury (Nei Cheng Yun). Furthermore, Shaanxi's military pay didn't solely come from the Ministry of Revenue's Taicang silver; it also came from grain taxes transported from Sichuan, Shaanxi itself, and Huguang (Hubei and Hunan provinces)...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)