Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 48 Who is Yang Jingchen? (Please read on Monday!)
Zhu Youjian's voice echoed in the empty Wuying Hall.

"Among you, who can share the burdens of the Ming Dynasty?"

The cabinet ministers almost all lowered their heads and remained silent.

Who dares to step forward?

The matter of exchanging horse feed for silver may seem trivial, but it is actually quite complex.

If you're going to talk about horse feed, are you going to talk about the corrupt practices?

If you agree to the silver exchange, what will happen to the silver once it goes to Liaodong?
Liaodong was even more dangerous. Wang Zhichen and Gao Di had both spoken about Liaodong, but what was the outcome?

If you point out a problem, you are responsible for solving it.

In the current environment, if you try to solve a problem, you're essentially creating one.

If the problem is difficult to solve, is it also difficult to solve the people who created it?

Your Majesty is truly a reckless ruler, lacking experience. You only talk about doing things, but you don't know how difficult it is to get things done in the Ming Dynasty.

Huang Lijie, the old monk, entered a meditative state; Shi Fenglai focused on his own thoughts, while only Li Guopu, the "Wei Zheng of the Ming Dynasty," was eager to try.

But before Li Guopu could reply, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to share your burdens!"

His voice was loud, exceptionally firm, and resounding!

Swish!
In an instant, everyone's eyes turned toward the source of the sound.

Why is it him!

Yang Jingchen was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the 41st year of the Wanli reign. He is currently in charge of the Hanlin Academy and is also temporarily acting as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

A person from a noble family with a background in the eunuch faction, who is only able to attend today's meeting because his superior is absent.

What makes him dare to take that line?
Zhu Youjian, however, did not let the scene cool down.

With a warm smile, he clapped his hands and sighed, "When I was in the Prince Xin's residence, I often heard that Minister Yang was loyal to the country and courageous in taking on responsibilities. Seeing him today, I can confirm that his reputation is well-deserved!"

——This is a lie.

Yang Jingchen? Never heard of him before...

He still managed to steal a glance at the nameplate on the table before he realized the person's job title.

But that doesn't matter. Even if Huang Taiji were to say those words in front of him now, he would still have to give him plenty of face.

But to Yang Jingchen, a casual remark was nothing short of heavenly music.

He felt a surge of heat rush from his chest to the top of his head, and his whole body trembled slightly with excitement.

But he forcibly suppressed his inner elation, and slowly cupped his hands in greeting, his eyes shining with an astonishing light.

"Your Majesty flatters me; I am unworthy of such praise."

As the saying goes, "If you don't know its source, you can't straighten its flow."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to explain the flaws of this horse feed to you today!"

Zhu Youjian's smile vanished, and he gestured for him to speak, saying, "Please tell me in detail, my dear minister."

Yang Jingchen spoke slowly.

"Your Majesty, in the early days of the dynasty, the sources of fodder for horses in the nine border regions were nothing more than taxes and corvée labor, military settlements, and autumn grass."

"Let's start with the matter of taxes and corvée labor."

"A bundle of grass, if valued at silver, is actually worth no more than a few cents (1 tael = 100 cents)."

"But if we start by transporting the goods in their natural state, with fifty bundles per cart, it will cost five coins a day. If we calculate it over twenty days, the cost will rise to a staggering ten taels!"

"Because of this corrupt policy, most of the horse fodder is now paid in silver, and the original tax is only a small part."

Zhu Youjian's expression gradually became serious.

He had been leaning back in his chair, but now he sat up straight without realizing it, leaning slightly forward.

Who is this Yang Jingchen, whom we've never heard of before? Could he really be someone special?

Seeing this, Yang Jingchen felt more confident and continued:
"Then let's discuss the requisition of grass for military settlements."

"Actually, this matter can be skipped. Now the garrisons are in disrepair, the military farms are abandoned, and even the grain from the farms cannot be collected, let alone horse fodder."

"The third example, Autumn Green Grass, is practically defunct."

"Grassland can only grow in summer and autumn each year."

"Therefore, in the past, each border town would send troops to cut grass when the grass was lush in autumn, in order to prepare it for use in spring and winter."

"But given the current state of preparedness and combat strength at the border posts, how could the soldiers dare to stray far from the walls?"

"Often, they would simply cut down the nearby pastures and then hastily retreat, closing themselves off to their own devices."

"The amount of grass we obtained is like a drop in the ocean, utterly useless!"

Zhu Youjian listened more attentively, and he couldn't help but ask, "So, it was precisely because all three paths were blocked that the matter of summoning merchants to make purchases came about, is that right?"

Yang Jingchen bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

"It is precisely because the three resources of taxation, military settlement, and autumn fodder are gradually depleting, while border affairs are becoming increasingly tense and the number of troops is increasing, that the shortage of horse fodder is becoming increasingly huge."

"Therefore, since the Chenghua era, soliciting merchants to make purchases has gradually become the mainstream practice."

He took a deep breath as he said this.

"Your Majesty, I hereby plead your case and expose the four major malpractices of this procurement system!"

Zhu Youjian then slowly stood up from his seat and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting to Yang Jingchen.

"Please, sir, enlighten me!"

This scene instantly stirred the hearts of all the ministers in the hall.

The emperor rose from his seat, clasped his hands in greeting, and asked for advice, addressing the emperor as "Sir!"

What a privilege!
Yang Jingchen was so excited that he felt his blood was boiling.

He took another deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and used all his strength to keep his voice steady.

"Firstly, prices are unfair, and merchants are driven by profit!"

“Since it is a matter of soliciting merchants to make purchases, a fixed price must be set.”

“The price is often fluctuating at this time. In the past, it might be set once a year, or even twice a year.”

"In the fifth year of the Tianqi reign, Huo Weihua, a supervising secretary, proposed that 'prices fluctuate with the times and there is no fixed rule,' and suggested that prices be set four times a year." "But even with four price adjustments a year, there was still an inevitable discrepancy between the actual prices and the market prices!"

“At that time, the price was either high or low.”

"At its peak, merchants flocked to the market, vying to sell their wares, causing crowds to gather at the doorsteps and blocking the roads, sometimes resulting in stampedes!"

"When business is slow, the place is deserted, the lobby is quiet, and nobody comes to visit!"

"This is the first drawback!"

Yang Jingchen's voice echoed in the hall.

"Since the procurement failed, they became assistant merchants!"

"This second problem is that government policies are unfair, and the rich are exempted while the poor are spared!"

"The so-called 'merchant' refers to a group of wealthy households designated by the government, who are forced to pay a quota at the market price!"

"However, this matter of the Assistant Merchant has long been rife with problems due to the manipulation of petty officials at all levels!"

"Wealthy merchants, dressed in fine clothes and riding in luxury, loiter at the market gates every day. They are all backed by powerful and influential people, and officials dare not question them or impose additional duties on them!"

"Those who actually serve in the government are all mediocre merchants and lowly laborers, drifters and weak families! These people are already poor, and once they are convicted, their families will be ruined!"

"As a result, those who were conscripted suffered the loss of their families and lives, while the border towns still could not be supplied with enough fodder!"

Zhu Youjian clapped his hands in admiration, already somewhat impatient: "Continue!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Yang Jingchen's voice also became somewhat hurried due to his excitement.

"This third drawback is that deliberations are delayed, and grass is purchased at double the price!"

"The quota for horse fodder is not fixed. The border towns must first submit the shortfall for the year, and the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War will review and approve it before the amount to be purchased is determined."

"However, bureaucratic wrangling and endless paperwork mean that by the time the final amount is determined, it is often already too late!"

"If the price of grass in August is only one cent per bundle, then by October and November, when the weather is cold and the grass has withered, the price will skyrocket to four or seven cents!"

"This single expenditure and return results in a difference of several times! The waste of national funds lies entirely in this!"

"Any more?"

Zhu Youjian could no longer stand. He stepped down the imperial steps and walked step by step toward Yang Jingchen.

Yang Jingchen watched as the emperor, adorned in dragon robes, walked towards him, his heart pounding with excitement, and he spoke even faster!
"Yes! This fourth drawback is also the greatest drawback!"

"Officials embezzle funds and the people flee, shaking the very foundation of the government!"

"The aforementioned problems are already shocking, but the corruption of officials, who manipulate things from top to bottom, only makes matters worse!"

"They often set high prices and reported them to the imperial court, but what they actually paid to the people was a low price, or even... nothing at all!"

"As a result, when people are forced to buy goods, they all go bankrupt in order to avoid bribery."

“Those with even a little bit of connections would flee alone and become refugees.”

"Only those middle-class families who have nowhere else to escape are forced to serve in the military, but even after a year of hard work, they still cannot escape bankruptcy!"

Just as Yang Jingchen uttered his last sentence, Zhu Youjian stopped right in front of him.

The entire hall was deathly silent.

"color!"

Zhu Youjian exclaimed in admiration and firmly grasped Yang Jingchen's hands.

"I have lived in the deep palace for so long, and have been ignorant and ill-informed. I never knew that you, sir, possessed such loyalty and such great talent!"

"It's my fault, it's my fault! I almost missed out on the master!"

Yang Jingchen was completely stunned as the emperor held his hands tightly.

He felt a huge warm current flow through his body, and his eyes welled up with tears.

He wanted to break free, but dared not exert any force, so he could only raise his hand loosely and let the emperor hold it.

"Your Majesty... I... I don't dare to be..."

Zhu Youjian, however, disregarded everything else. He gripped Yang Jingchen's hand tightly and asked earnestly:
"Sir, do you have a solution to this corrupt system?"

"Is it really as Huang Yuntai said, that they'll just settle the matter by paying silver for the horse feed?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jingchen shook his head.

"As Your Majesty said, the horse feed will eventually have to be transported from inside the pass to outside the pass, cart by cart."

"What's the use of simply turning grass into silver on paper? It's nothing but self-deception."

At this point, Yang Jingchen hesitated for a moment, but ultimately swallowed back the matter of the embarrassment in Liaodong.

A glint of light flashed in Zhu Youjian's eyes: "Then what do you think, sir?"

Yang Jingchen took a deep breath, did not answer, but instead bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, I am currently temporarily in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. I dare to recommend someone who can surely eliminate this abuse!"

"He was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the second year of the Tianqi reign, and is currently the Prefect of Daming Prefecture, the Deputy Commissioner of the Shandong Provincial Surveillance Commission, and the Manager of the Linqing Granary."

"—Lu Xiang-sheng!"

　Generally speaking, it is believed that the Ming Dynasty perished due to financial problems.

　　However, this statement could easily become a rumor, such as saying that the Donglin Party didn't pay taxes, or that landlords in Jiangnan didn't pay taxes.

　　Is it true that they didn't pay taxes? Yes, but not as exaggerated as rumored. And it wasn't just landlords in the Jiangnan region who did this; in Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, and Zhili, almost every landlord evaded taxes—that's just the way things are in China.

　　-
　　No money?
　　Actually, that's not the case. After Chongzhen, he increased taxes on Liaodong and military training. Regardless of how the people's lives were, the money kept increasing, with annual revenue reaching 1500 million to 2000 million taels of silver.
　　In the sixteenth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, 1580 million taels of silver were collected. This occurred when Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, and Henan were on the verge of collapse. Guess where this money came from?

　　-
　　The real reason for the collapse of the Ming Dynasty at the end of the dynasty was actually the transportation of goods.

　　The Ming Dynasty's financial system was quite a mess. The so-called Ministry of Revenue was just a tax collection department, and the local escort of taxes was divided into the transport to the capital and the transport to the people.

　　Because of the difficulty of collecting taxes in kind, they were often converted into silver.

　　This led to a situation where, after the collapse of the situation, the north had plenty of money but not much goods, so the money naturally depreciated.

　　-
　　The issue of horse feed is just a starting point; using it to understand "grain" and "soybeans" follows the same logic.

　　However, when I looked at the historical records, I found that Huang Yuntai had submitted a memorial like this, and Emperor Chongzhen had approved it, so I felt that he had been fooled.

　　Let's elaborate on this small matter and use it to illustrate a larger point.

　　-
　　I almost forgot to include the references. This chapter references "The Tax Collection and Purchase of Horse Grass on the Border of Beijing in the Ming Dynasty" by Gao Shouxian.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)