Daming: The most ruthless tyrant in history

Chapter 933 Taking Over Power
Zhu Youxiao stayed in Tianjin for one day and then hurried back to the capital. The two Zhili areas in the north and south were successively affected by earthquakes, which caused quite a stir.

Even though Zhu Youxiao had ordered officials to deal with many disasters before, this time was different. Both the northern and southern Zhili provinces were the heartland of the Ming Dynasty, which was an important reason why rumors could run rampant and spread.

Zhu Youxiao was helpless about this kind of ignorance, which closely linked natural disasters with punishment from God, and the fact that some people actually believed it.

This also made Zhu Youxiao realize the urgency of literacy.

No matter at what period, reading can change one's destiny, but the greatest role of education is not to change one's destiny, but to eradicate ignorance!
Many incredible things, when traced back to their source, are caused by ignorance.

The Ming Dynasty still has a long way to go.

If we want to build and expand the education system, it will not play a positive role until we have spent several years or even longer and planned a way out for the groups involved in education.

"Look at the memorials sent back to the capital by the Joint Division of Disaster Relief and Emergency Response, which was sent by the Shaofu to Nanzhili. The disasters occurred in Yingtian, Yangzhou and other prefectures, and the actions of the six ministries and other officials in Nanjing."

Qianqing Palace.

Dong Nuan Pavilion.

Zhu Youxiao pointed at the memorial on the imperial desk with a cold face and said to the cabinet ministers: "In the face of local riots and the inflated grain prices, everyone is hanging their heads high, as if these things have nothing to do with them."

"The court uses so much salary every year to support the officials who stay in Nanjing. I really don't understand what the use of them is!!"

The cabinet ministers headed by Zhu Guozuo looked at each other with different expressions on their faces, especially Qian Qianyi. He did not expect that in the current situation, the emperor summoned them to talk not about public opinion, but about disaster relief in Nanzhili.

The key is the emperor's attitude, which made Qian Qianyi have bad ideas.

The bad policy of redundant officials and soldiers is still very serious even now, and part of the Ming Dynasty's central financial expenditure is wasted on this.

"From the mutiny in the southeast, to the Japanese invasion, to the civil unrest, to the disaster, I have seen everything the various departments in Nanjing have done before and after!"

Zhu Youxiao didn't care about what the cabinet ministers thought, and continued: "The reason why the court was moved north to the capital was to resolve the threat from the grasslands, to reduce the pressure of guarding the northern border, and to unite the north and south of the Ming Dynasty. This laid the foundation for the continuation of the Ming Dynasty to this day."

"Because of this matter, there are so many people who oppose it. In order to continue the national policy, we adopt the dual capital system, one system in the north and one system in the south. This way, no matter what problems arise there, at least the Ming Dynasty can be kept from chaos."

"But what's the result?"

"I don't know since when, the team left behind in Nanjing has been inactive and lazy. Even though the court has repeatedly rectified the situation, it only takes a while for things to go back to normal."

Disbanding the Nanjing garrison team was something Zhu Youxiao had thought about for a long time. Some of the powers and responsibilities directly under the central government had to be taken out and given to another system. Even if both systems belonged to the central government, big problems would arise sooner or later as time went by.

What's more, Nanjing is so far away from the capital, and the emperor is far away. Although they have some powers and responsibilities, they are not under the emperor's supervision, and there are many people who want to make personal gains from it.

"If that's the case, some of them don't need to exist anymore." Zhu Youxiao leaned forward and stared at Zhu Guozuo and the others. "Issue an imperial decree in the name of the cabinet. Any officials who are indecisive, uncertain, or shirking their responsibilities in Nanjing will have their positions reduced once the central government officials investigate. If the officials still refuse to change, they will all be dismissed!"

"The salaries of those who have been cut or eliminated will be paid to the corresponding departments in the central government. Since the salary schedule has been clearly defined, it will be implemented in the court, northern Zhili, Shandong and other places. Since so much salary expenditure is added every year, it is necessary to reduce useless expenditure."

A word stirred up a thousand waves.

Even the calm Bi Ziyan was shocked after hearing what the emperor said. If this were really done, Nanjing would be in opposition to the officials in the capital.

Let’s not talk about anything else for now, just talk about the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War in Nanjing, which have certain powers and responsibilities. They may be slow in efficiency, but they play a big role.

If one day these are cut or abolished, the central government's control over the southeast will inevitably face new challenges.

"Think twice, Your Majesty."

While Bi Ziyan was thinking, Qian Qianyi's voice rang out, "If this imperial edict is really issued, I'm afraid that the officials in Nanjing will be in turmoil, which will affect Nanzhili and other places. Moreover, many places in Nanzhili are affected by disasters, and the local order is not stable. I am worried that if this matter spreads, there will be a big chaos."

"So according to what you said, I will condone all this?"

Zhu Youxiao stared at Qian Qianyi with cold eyes and said, "Aren't there enough troubles in the southeast now?"

The more he found out, the more determined Zhu Youxiao became. He decided that all the officials left in Nanjing must be dismissed!

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Don't say anything else.

In the southeastern provinces alone, many official fields were occupied. According to investigations by the Luanwei and the Integrity Bureau, officials at all levels of the Ministry of Revenue were among them.

The team in Nanjing has become a place for retirement, but it is undeniable that a small number of people were able to continue to climb up by gilding themselves and accumulating qualifications in Nanjing.

And this involves trading.

Using the interests of the country to pursue personal gain has not been going on for just one or two years, but has been going on for a long time. It is precisely because of this phenomenon that the central government's control over the southeast has continued to decline.

In addition to official fields, there were also salt taxes, tea taxes, mining taxes, etc., not to mention the maritime affairs that were constantly on and off, and there were even greater interests involved behind them.

One of the signs of the end of the suppression of the Japanese pirates is that more than half of the officials left in Nanjing will be reduced or dismissed. There will inevitably be conflicts and contradictions during this period, but so what?
When the suppression of the Japanese pirates is over, the chaos in the southeast may come to a temporary end, or a new situation may emerge, but this will not affect a new round of deepening reforms in the slightest. From then on, the remaining reforms will be resolved one by one.

"This is not a matter for discussion. It is my will and attitude. If the cabinet feels that it is too big and dares not do it, then I will issue an imperial decree!"

Looking at the ministers with different expressions, Zhu Youxiao said in a tough manner: "I just want to let the people of Nanjing know that if you don't do your job, then you should just not be an official. During this period, if you dare to ask me to find out who has embezzled money, abused power for personal gain, or engaged in corruption, the laws of the Ming Dynasty are not for show!"

(End of this chapter)