Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 57: Rehabilitate Zhang Juzheng?

In the Wenhua Hall, after the hour of Wei, ten old men all frowned as they looked at something inexplicable.

Zhu Changluo said with a double meaning: "My father and grandmother said that I will inherit the throne in the future. I will say what I think. You can discuss and polish it. That means the emperor and his subjects are of one mind, working hard to revive the Ming Dynasty."

Zhang Weixian looked at the transcript distributed to him with curiosity.

Holy shit, he actually understood it!
Here is a brief list of the meritorious deeds that the now seriously ill emperor has done in the past 28 years.

For example, the land was re-measured and the Yellow Book of Fish Scales was re-created, adding more than 1.4 million hectares of new land;

For example, the three expeditions were successful, and their influence spread both inside and outside the country. The threat from the north was further alleviated through tribute trade and differentiation, and the threat from the Japanese was also alleviated through the Korean War.

For example, he frequently allocated the imperial treasury. In the 20th year of Wanli, at the request of Tian Lezhi, he allocated 100,000 taels of the imperial treasury to Hexi. In the 22nd year of Wanli, he allocated 33,000 taels of the imperial treasury to relieve the famine in Henan. In the 27th year of Wanli, he allocated 1 million taels of the imperial treasury to meet the military pay in the northern border.

For example, mining supervisors and tax collectors were sent out to deal with wars and the construction of the two palaces and three halls. They were immediately removed after the great victory in Bozhou to avoid increasing the burden on the people.

Other issues before and after the new policy, disputes over the foundation of the country, and issues of inaction were not mentioned at all, or only the fact that he was still worried about the war despite his illness and tried his best to defeat the enemies inside and outside was mentioned.

What made it even easier for him to understand was the subsequent "edict" of accession to the throne.

The first paragraph is a cliché, praising Emperor Wanli and again talking about the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

Taizu was born in a humble family, but was diligent after founding the country. Chengzu made repeated northern expeditions, expelled foreign enemies, and risked his life to protect the country and the people. The successor emperor summed it up in one sentence: Ming's emphasis on culture and education and accumulation of military power was for the purpose of ensuring that all people in the world could live and work in peace and contentment.

Now, although the three major expeditions were victorious, the Ming Dynasty also urgently needed to recuperate.

His Royal Highness the Heir-General pointed out the priorities of the new dynasty's early, middle and long-term government.

The first stage is to save money. To show frugality, we should start with ourselves, reform the royal family, reduce palace expenses, cut down on the extravagance of the Beijing camp, suspend the major construction of the three palaces and two gates, and hold grand ceremonies frugally. These are all trivial matters. The royal family has set an example, and all government offices should generally move in this direction.

They did not mention any clear methods or goals for how to save money.

The second stage of opening up new sources of income mentioned the land tax, but only talked about building water conservancy projects to avoid famine and reducing corvée labor so that people would have more time to work hard. It mentioned salt, tea, horses, and mines, but only talked about strengthening management and reducing corruption. It mentioned the banknotes and industry and commerce, and also talked about promoting trade and encouraging production and circulation.

As for the swordplay behind optimizing the treasury arrangements, Zhang Weixian did not understand.

The third stage, to enrich the country, strengthen the military and revive the Ming Dynasty, is even more empty. In short, it is all about "beautiful visions" such as clarifying the administration of officials, flourishing culture and education, and promoting the prosperity of all industries.

Shen Yikuan and others looked at this almost vernacular "edict" with mixed feelings, knowing that it was indeed the heir apparent's own thoughts.

It cannot be said that there is a problem, it can only be said that it shows a lack of writing skills and at the same time appears to be very ambitious.

It's very contradictory.

But you can't say it's wrong.

Isn't it said in every dynasty and generation that increasing revenue and reducing expenditure is a common practice? It is said, but it seems that nothing has been said, because there is no way to implement it.

What about enriching the country, strengthening the people and reviving the Ming Dynasty? The young heir is still passionate. We can't just say to him: Your Highness, be more pragmatic.

What's more, people are going to set an example themselves, and the specific things they are going to do all seem to be good and worthy of praise.

However, it is precisely those places where he speaks nonsense that make people see that he is not completely ignorant.

It's full of empty talk, but each paragraph is well-organized, with a theme and direction, and it occasionally touches on some key points without mentioning how to do it specifically.

He looked at Yu Jideng and others and found that at least the things that had been mentioned only had room for polishing the wording to make it appear like a solemn coronation edict, but there was no room for saying that it should not be mentioned or should not be mentioned in this way, leaving only room for adding some content.

Of course, a lot of content could be added, but the edict drafted by the Ministry of Rites suddenly omitted all of it and came up with a completely new version. The attitudes of the emperor and the heir apparent were also very clear.

You say yours, I say mine.

"Shiyong, what do you think?"

Shen Yikuan pushed Yu Jideng forward again. After all, he was the Minister of Rites and wanted to join the cabinet.

"…Your Highness has the ambition to carry on the past and bring about the revival of the dynasty. I admire you very much." Yu Jideng said in a clichéd way, "I think that in addition to polishing it, there are some good policies that officials and people are looking forward to, which should be announced to the world in the enthronement edict to show the grace of the new dynasty. For example, rebuilding the three palaces and three gates, pardoning ministers who were convicted for speaking out, quickly filling vacancies, and changing the rotation of grain transport…"

He raised the points one by one, and finally said: "Your Highness, please be wise: if we just polish it up, the court and the public will probably ridicule me for not daring to speak out directly against bad policies, and for simply asking Your Highness to set an example and avoid the important issues." For the first time, Zhu Changluo frowned in front of them.

Seeing Sijun's expression, Shen Yikuan was not sure whether he was just unhappy because his "carefully prepared" things were commented on in this way.

Indeed, what he wrote is so plain, he can't quote any classics, and his wording and sentence structure are even more crude. I can only say that he started learning too late and his talent and learning are shallow.

But to say that it is not enough to just polish it up is to say that his thinking about state affairs is also very simple. He only knows to set an example with his own enthusiasm, but does not understand what the real urgent problems that need to be solved are.

Is this a mockery of important officials? This is a mockery of the heir apparent's lack of ability.

In fact, it was an expression of dissatisfaction with the successor emperor's mere reforms of the royal family, reduction of palace expenses and elimination of abuses in the Beijing army.

The three halls and three gates should be rebuilt: that is a symbol of restoring the old rules.

Other things also benefit officials in and out of the court and are in line with the interests of many local gentry.

Shen Yikuan looked at Zhu Changluo without saying a word and glanced at Xiao Daheng.

"…Your Highness, please allow me to report." Seeing this, Xiao Daheng spoke up. "I have been in charge of criminal justice for many years. Because Zheng had ambitions in the past, and there were some disloyal officials among the foreign officials, many virtuous and loyal officials were convicted and dismissed because of this. Your Highness has pardoned the world and restored order. The officials of the new dynasty have returned to their hearts. Why should we worry about our ambitions being difficult to achieve?"

Shen Yiguan stood up and said, "Your Highness, I dare to ask: Your Majesty's abdication edict mentioned matters such as land surveying, is this your Majesty's will?"

Zhu Changluo narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Shen Yikuan who was lowering his head.

He wasn't watching his own reaction, but someone was watching his reaction.

Publicizing the land survey as a merit of one's tenure is naturally a signal that deserves attention.

Are we going to overturn Zhang Juzheng’s new policies?

Just four days after Zhang Juzheng's death, the new policy began to be one-sided, with Pan Sheng, who was recommended by Zhang Juzheng, being impeached and retired.

Zhang's family was raided, his palace ranks were stripped, and his imperial seals and four generations of imperial edicts granted during his lifetime were taken away, and his crimes were exposed to the world.

His family members either starved to death or were exiled, and Zhang Juzheng was almost having his coffin opened and his corpse whipped.

That was a full-scale counterattack against the New Deal by conservative officials and gentry across the country taking advantage of Zhu Yijun's rebellion.

It is just like this when a person dies and his government ends.

Now, in the emperor's abdication edict, should this incident be listed as an achievement during his reign?

Zhu Changluo spoke calmly: "It is the will of the emperor father."

Among the civil officials, ten heads were raised and looked at Zhu Changluo.

"My father is now seriously ill in bed, and he has other plans." Zhu Changluo stared at Shen Yikuan, and for the first time, his eyes showed a sharp look towards him. "This one is clearly stated by my father. I am deeply saddened when I see the handwritten order!"

He took out another piece of paper, and the trembling handwriting on it seemed to represent Zhu Yijun's mood.

[A hundred years...Master Zhang...]

With the handwritten order in front of them, Shen Yikuan and others knelt on the ground again.

Yes. The emperor is now paralyzed in bed and unable to speak. Perhaps when he thinks back to all these years, he really has other emotions and aspirations.

How can I see Master Zhang again after a hundred years?

He was referring to his teacher, and the time when he was taught by Zhang Juzheng.

Now the emperor wants to use his abdication edict to implicitly express his regret for Zhang Juzheng, just for the sake of peace of mind a hundred years later. Who can dissuade him?

Looking at the floor tiles in front of him, Shen Yi Guan's face was solemn.

But is this really what the emperor meant?

If not, what is the successor going to do with this, what is he trying to do?
(End of this chapter)