Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 37 Good Master, Good Servant

In the summer of the 28th year of the Wanli reign, the capital was filled with mixed feelings of sorrow and joy.

First, the emperor suddenly fell ill with a stroke, unable to speak and unable to move his limbs. When a ruler or father is ill, the people should feel sad.

Another imperial decree was issued throughout the country, the emperor appointed his eldest son as the crown prince, and because he was seriously ill and unable to attend to official duties, he abdicated the throne to the crown prince, and all ceremonies were carried out swiftly.

The succession of the throne is orderly, the foundation of the country has been established, and there will be a new emperor. Overall, there is more joy than sorrow.

In fact, everyone is looking forward to it.

Because the north has been dry for nearly three months.

In Baoding Prefecture, not far from Beijing, the soil in the fields cracked under the scorching sun in midsummer.

In the countryside, because there has been little rain since Grain Rain, the grass that had just grown on many new graves has died.

Now, some villagers in tattered linen clothes were running around carrying hoes.

The scorching sun made them sweat profusely. Some of them wiped the sweat from their foreheads with their arms, and covered their eyes with their hands and looked around.

"Why haven't you arrived yet?"

"It's almost there. It's just ahead. It was buried in May."

"Let's go!" The leader waved his hand. "The sooner we get rid of this drought, the Dragon King won't be afraid. He will come and make the clouds and rain soon!"

In front of the new grave, the family members of the deceased kowtowed in tears: "I am an unfilial child... I am an unfilial child... You should have left earlier or later..."

"Don't stop us!" The righteous leader pushed the family member who tried to stop us, "What if your uncle turns into a drought demon and kills all the crops within a hundred miles?"

In broad daylight, a group of people cautiously and resolutely dug up the new grave, broke open the thin coffin, smashed the bones, and then knelt down and prayed together.

Only the filial son and grandson cried and bled and almost fainted.

【…When a drought strikes, the ignorant people will point to newly buried corpses as the drought demon, and will gather together to dig them up, and then crush them to pieces to pray. This is called “beating the bones of drought.” This practice has been around for a long time, and the treacherous often use it to take revenge, and filial sons and grandchildren are helpless. In the name of warding off drought, the ignorant people are inciting each other to rise up like ants gathering on tiles. This is not only blasphemy against heaven and earth, but also shakes people’s hearts. Please strictly prohibit it.】

【Now that famine, plague, drought and locusts have plagued the capital, I beg you to abolish all mining taxes...】

In Ciqing Palace, Tian Yi whispered, "This was presented to the palace on the second day of July."

Zhu Changluo was in a heavy mood and remained silent.

He had no prejudice against the still ignorant customs of the day.

Isn’t it all because life is too difficult?
However, the drought was so severe that the two things requested by Baoding Governor Wang Yingjiao had no direct relationship with drought relief.

First, ban the custom; second, dismiss the mining supervisors and tax collectors.

It cannot be said that there is no connection. The poor harvest in years of disaster has nothing to do with the responsibility of collecting money borne by the mining supervisors and tax collectors or their own desire to collect money.

The unanimous advice of all the ministers was to dismiss the mining supervisors and tax collectors, but they were indeed causing harm to the local people.

What would happen if the mining supervisors and tax collectors continued to exploit us after a disaster?
"How much silver is in the treasury?"

"Your Highness, at present, the treasury has more than 4.37 million taels of silver."

Tian Yi reported back everything in detail.

Zhu Changluo had not yet completed the enthronement ceremony, let alone the subsequent coronation ceremony, but in Tian Yi's mind, he was already the new emperor.

"More than four million taels..." Zhu Changluo thought for a moment, "How much do the mining supervisors and tax collectors pay into the treasury every year?"

"It's increasing year by year, and now it's over 300,000 taels a year." Tian Yi hesitated and added, "The amount that goes to the imperial treasury from the Taicang warehouse is still the largest, one million taels a year. Previously, the silver from the reconstruction of the two palaces and the aid workers also left nearly one million taels. In addition, there are grains of silver from the imperial estate, and the six Baohe stores..."

Zhu Changluo looked at him.

Tian Yi lowered his head.

"Weichuan, I know you have integrity, so there's no need to hide it." Zhu Changluo looked at the many memorials in front of him, "The mine supervisor and tax collector is one thing, and He Shengrui is another?"

Tian Yi knelt down and said, "Your Highness, please understand: those slaves and maids are unscrupulous when they arrive at the local area, which not only harms the people, but also damages the virtue of the royal family. Although there is some annual income, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. There are more than 70,000 slaves and maids in the palace. I think if some are sent back, it will be enough to save a few hundred thousand taels a year. Now that Your Highness is about to inherit the throne, the three palaces and three gates cannot be delayed. Your Highness will have to have a place to hold court in the future. Even if it is a little difficult financially, build the Huangji Palace and Huangji Gate first. He Shengrui is a talented person who rebuilt the two palaces..."

"If you want to talk, I want to listen. Just stand up and talk." Zhu Changluo also stood up. "Walk around. There are so many things to sort out first."

……

Ciqing Palace was also built during the Jiajing period.

In addition to practicing Taoism, Daojun also loves building palaces.

After entering from Donghua Gate, go north across the Neijinshui River and pass Zhengyin Gate, and you will reach Linzhi Gate south of Ciqiong Palace.

The location of this gate can be regarded as a "transportation hub".

Because to the east of Linzhi Gate, through Guanju Left Gate, is the direct room of the eunuchs who hold seals and pens in the Silijian inside the east wall of the Forbidden City.

When they have nothing to do, they stay here.

To the south of the direct quarters of the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department was the Imperial Stables, which was responsible for part of the security of the Forbidden City and the capital city for the emperor.

Going west from Linzhi Gate through Guanju Right Gate, there is Yuanhui Hall, and to the north is the Imperial Household Warehouse and the Imperial Horse Courtyard. In the Imperial Horse Courtyard, there are fine horses kept all year round for the emperor to use when traveling, and other ceremonial objects are stored.

Many of the items needed by the imperial palace were transported in through Donghua Gate and stored in the Imperial Household Department’s warehouse and the Imperial Stables’ courtyard.

The exchanges between the Imperial Household Department and the Wenhua Palace also took place nearby.

Ciqing Palace was located on the north side of Linzhi Gate, facing south and overlooking all this.

The Ciqing Palace is quite large. Its previous owner was the Empress Dowager Rensheng Zhenyi Kangjing, who passed away four years ago and was the second empress of Emperor Longqing.

In addition to the main hall of Ciqiong Palace, there are four small palaces further north through the northern corridor: Fengchen Palace, Xuqin Palace, Chenghua Palace, and Zhaojian Palace.

On the east side of Ciqing Palace, there is a small garden, which houses Xiefang Hall and Jianxiang Pavilion. There is a Shaowu Gate connecting to Ciqing Palace, and there is a Liyuan Gate on the north side leading to the harem area.

If the normal rhythm is followed, the crowning ceremony and wedding will take place immediately after the crown prince is appointed. If the crown princess moves in later, won't there be a palace as well?

That is why they chose the Ciqing Palace, which is relatively independent and located between the front court and the harem.

But now it’s different. Zhu Changluo is destined to only stay here temporarily.

While chatting with Tian Yi, they walked to the Jianxiang Pavilion in the small garden under the palace wall. Zhu Changluo sat down and Tian Yi stood beside him.

"We can't be impatient. Right now, there are three major issues: various ceremonies, severe drought, and the mine supervisor and tax collector." Zhu Changluo pondered, "My father is seriously ill, and I haven't ascended the throne yet. It's understandable that most of the memorials are kept unreported, but I have to let the foreign ministers know that I am concerned about state affairs and want to implement benevolent policies."

"Your Highness is right."

"Didn't Lord Shen ask for an official to pray for rain?"

"Yes, and I also asked Master Zhang to pray for the dragon to bring rain."

"Tell him to ask the Cabinet and the Ministry of Rites to ask me to represent my father in offering sacrifices to heaven, earth and the country." Zhu Changluo sighed.

These are certainly of no help in fighting drought, but now that there is no artificial rainfall, it is at least a bit of psychological comfort.

What's more, he also needs to perform well in the eyes of foreign officials and the people.

Maybe they think that the current drought is because Zhu Yijun never performs sacrifices himself and has angered God?
It's the end of the Ming Dynasty, and natural disasters will become more and more frequent. Responding to this is a systematic project and cannot be rushed.

"I have noted it down."

Zhu Changluo stood up again, turned his back to Tian Yi and looked up at the top of the palace wall.

His vision was blocked, and he had not yet seen the living conditions of the people in the imperial capital.

"The mining supervisor and tax collector must be removed," he said, "so as to accumulate merit for my father."

"Your Highness is wise, benevolent and filial. I thank you on behalf of all the people in the world!"

The emperor is still there, but the new emperor has not yet ascended the throne.

The common people would think that it was Zhu Yijun's order, but knowledgeable people and ministers would understand that it was Zhu Changluo's idea.

In fact, there is another person who needs to be persuaded, and that is Queen Mother Li.

In fact, both mother and son love money.

But Gao Huai had already caused considerable harm in Liaodong, and the Jianzhou Jurchens were right there. A convincing reason was to not lose the support of the people there.

Another reason was that the mining supervisors and tax collectors were harming the people everywhere, which was detrimental to the virtue of the royal family. She must have felt guilty now and could accept it in order to accumulate more merits for Zhu Yijun.

at the same time……

"Weichuan needs to help me identify which of the many mining supervisors and tax collectors sent out are talented and do not harm the people, and which ones have plundered on their own and how much they have plundered. The virtue of the royal family has been damaged a little, but we can't let them swallow up the money."

"I understand."

At this time, the mining supervisors and tax collectors had not been sent out for long, and the amount of silver that could be extorted each year was not large, so it was not as difficult for Empress Dowager Li and her son to give up as it was later.

On the contrary, now we can plunder a lot from those eunuchs at one time.

Zhu Changluo pondered again: "I will listen to your advice and sort out the slaves in the palace. After I ascend the throne, I will release a group of them. When the time comes, I will give some of the silver I have recovered to them."

"I thank Your Highness for your trust!"

"There will be many places where money will be needed later. The Taicang warehouse has about 3 million taels a year, and the border army pay alone is 3 million taels... Huangji Gate needs to be rebuilt, let alone the Dagaoxuan Hall and the Dragon Boat Campaign. Use that money here and let He Shengrui come back to take charge."

It would be enough if we could implement three cost-saving policies: abolishing the mining supervisors and tax collectors, reducing the number of eunuchs and palace maids, and stopping the dragon boat race in the Xuan Palace.

Withdrawing those eunuchs who were plundering everywhere did reduce a source of income for Zhu Changluo's own treasury. However, compared with the consequences of their harm to the local people and accelerating the suffering of the local people, Zhu Changluo chose to withdraw them first.

After abolishing the mining supervisors and tax collectors, the next very important thing was to purge the entire eunuch system.

When it comes time to take action against local officials and gentry, the evidence of their crimes must be clear and explicit. It can't be like now where "you are in me and I am in you".

"During this period before ascending the throne, it is more important to be familiar with the current national conditions of the Ming Dynasty." Zhu Changluo took a step forward, "Go back to the study, assign some people from the secretarial office to do some things according to my requirements. First move all the memorials within the past year over there, and when I come back from paying my respects, I will let you, Wang An, and Zou Yi know what I want to do first."

(End of this chapter)