Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 785 General Principles of the Ming Dynasty Convention on Etiquette and Law
"Election by lot?"

"Will this method work?"

After seeing the memorials from Liu Lishun and Zhang Pu, Zhu Youjian pondered.

Although he was dissatisfied with the voting and thought about replacing it with drawing lots, he naturally had some doubts in his heart because this method of electing members of parliament was not widely adopted by any country in later generations.

So after thinking about it, he published this memorial in the internal reference, and then summoned ministers to hold a meeting on the preparations for the National Assembly.

After Xu Guangqi was ordered to write an article on drawing lots and voting some time ago, he agreed with the drawing of lots and was the first to speak out:
"I have heard from Nestorian priests that the councillors and officials of Venice and Florence were chosen by lot and by ballot."

"In Venice, the lottery was drawn first and then the vote was held, while in Florence, the vote was held first and then the lottery was held."

"These two countries have been practicing this for hundreds of years and continue to this day."

"I think the elections in the Ming Dynasty can be used as a reference for the two countries."

The systems of Venice and Florence were introduced in detail.

The missionaries who came to Ming Dynasty obviously knew these two countries very well. After all, the Vatican was not far from the two countries.

When the ministers heard that two countries in the West had already practiced drawing lots and voting, and that even the older Athens and Rome had used drawing lots, they had a deeper understanding of the West and no longer treated them as ordinary foreigners.

Yang Jingchen, Cheng Jiming and other people who had contacts with missionaries also agreed with Xu Guangqi's idea of ​​supplementing Confucianism with the West and absorbing the beneficial parts of the West into Confucianism. They believed that the beneficial parts could be incorporated into the Ming Dynasty's re-creation of rituals and music.

However, there were also people who were strongly opposed to this and did not think that the system of the Western barbarians could be used in the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Zaijin, the Left Censor-in-Chief:

"The Ming Dynasty is vast, while Venice and Florence are only two city-states. What can we learn from their systems?"

"If you want to draw lots to elect members of parliament, you can just use the Ministry of Personnel's method of drawing lots. Why bother to learn from the barbarians?"

Other officials who disliked Western learning also attacked it, believing that the Ming Dynasty had its own national conditions and did not need to learn from foreigners.

Zhu Youjian listened to their words and frowned slightly.

Fortunately, he didn't have to take action. The Minister of Rites Cheng Jiming responded:
"The systems of Venice and Florence are naturally not suitable for the entire Ming Dynasty."

"But their practice of drawing lots and voting is worth learning from."

"There are many foreigners in the two free trade zones of Xiangshan and Xiangjiang Island. I think we can try drawing lots and voting in the three places."

Yang Jingchen also agreed and thought it was worth a try.

He and many other scholars in Fujian had contacts with missionaries such as Ai Ruliu. As a disciple of Ye Xianggao, Cheng Jiming also had a good impression of missionaries.

Although the two belonged to the eunuch party and Donglin party respectively, they had a common language on this point. With their support, many officials also believed that drawing lots could be tried.

Zhu Youjian listened to their discussion and looked at Liu Zongzhou again.

The reform of rituals and music was presided over by Liu Zongzhou, who was also the director of the National Assembly Preparatory Office. No matter what method was adopted, his consent was required.

Liu Zongzhou read Liu Lishun's memorial and received a letter from him. Although he insisted on Confucian orthodoxy, he was not a person who was conservative. He suggested:

"The ancient national assembly was able to bring together all the citizens of the capital."

"Now that there are so many people in the Ming Dynasty, we must implement representative democracy."

"I think either drawing lots or voting can be used as long as they can represent public opinion."

After his attitude was revealed, Zhu Youjian no longer had any doubts and ordered:

"Since it is Liu Lishun's proposal, let's try it out in Susong New District."

"Xiangshan'ao, Xiangjiang Island and Malacca can try to imitate the system of the Western city-states."

"If the results are good, we will summarize the methods and promote them to other places and try them out in prefectures and provinces."

“If we can quickly elect provincial and provincial councillors by drawing lots, the establishment of the National Assembly will be greatly accelerated.”

"I hope that day will come soon, and the emperor, his subjects and the people will rule the world together."

This statement naturally made the ministers present very happy.

Apart from anything else, the current emperor truly respects his subjects and scholars. Even when the emperor and his subjects discuss matters, they can sit down and talk.

He always cared about the people and could be described as a benevolent monarch.

The reason why Liu Zongzhou was willing to help the emperor was because he believed that the emperor was practicing benevolence and righteousness and had grasped the true meaning of Yao, Shun, Confucius and Mencius.

In particular, the phrase "the emperor, his subjects and the people govern the world together" has now been officially confirmed by the emperor after being proposed by Yang Jingchen.

This represents that the ministers found their own position in the re-creation of rituals and music.

Yang Jingchen, who made this point, gained a sharp rise in popularity among officials, and many people no longer regarded him as a member of the eunuch party or a lucky recruit.

Perhaps knowing the threat Yang Jingchen posed to him, Prime Minister Han Yu suddenly said:

"Your Majesty formulated the Great Ming Etiquette and Law Convention to make an agreement with your subjects and establish a way to jointly govern the world."

"I think the clause 'the ruler, his subjects and the people shall rule the world together' should be written into the Convention of Rites and Laws."

This proposal delighted the officials. They thought Han Yu was worthy of being the chief minister, as he dared to put forward the proposal in front of the emperor.

If this sentence is written into the etiquette convention, the emperor will not be able to deny it in the future. The ministers of the Ming Dynasty can also rely on this sentence to obtain the power to rule the world together with the emperor.

Zhu Youjian certainly understood this and knew that this was a major event that would change the foundation of the country. So although he did not oppose this, he had to ensure his own power.

So after considering it, he said:
"The formulation of the Great Ming Etiquette and Law Convention requires a general principle to determine some of the principles."

"I think the idea that the monarch, his subjects and the people should rule the country together can be written into the general principles."

"In the general principles, the powers of the monarch, ministers, and citizens are determined."

This was obviously his own fancy idea, modeled after the preambles of later constitutions.

The ministers could not keep up for a moment and could only listen to the emperor say:
"Among the general principles, we must first determine the nature of the Ming Dynasty and the status of the emperor."

“I think I can write:”

"The Ming Dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu who expelled the barbarians and was established by Emperor Chengzu who pacified the rebellion. The throne is inherited by their male descendants in accordance with the Ming Dynasty Succession Rituals."

"I wonder what you think of this sentence?"

The ministers pondered over this sentence and realized that this was a condition proposed by the emperor.

Since the monarch, his subjects and the people are to rule the world together, the monarch's power must naturally be determined.

What was the source of the Ming emperor's power? Of course, it was passed down from his ancestors. So the first sentence of the general principle determined by the emperor was to confirm that Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang had the merit of founding the country and Chengzu Zhu Di had the great achievement of pacifying the rebellion, so their descendants could inherit the throne of the Ming Dynasty and obtain the power to govern the world.

Among the ministers, there were some who were dissatisfied with Taizu and Chengzu, but they generally did not dare to refute this statement, because opposing this statement would be questioning the legitimacy of the Ming emperor, which would be a serious problem that would cost one's life.

Moreover, they generally agreed with the emperor's statement that he would follow the "Ming Dynasty Succession Etiquette and Laws", and believed that this sentence should indeed be included in the "Ming Dynasty Etiquette and Laws Convention".

Then, after careful consideration, Zhu Youjian continued, "The Emperor of the Great Ming and his subjects govern the world together, govern the country according to rites and laws, and agree on the "Great Ming Rites and Laws Convention."

"And according to the Ming Dynasty's Enfeoffment Ceremony, we confer titles and fiefs on our subjects."

"The ruler, his subjects and the people shall rule the world together."

In just three sentences, the three major ritual laws were included, and the point that the emperor, his subjects and the people should rule the world together was written into the ritual laws. It is clear that the nature of the "Great Ming Ritual and Law Convention" is an agreement between the emperor and his subjects.

The ministers were no longer satisfied with this; they were simply ecstatic.

The current emperor's statement made them feel that they had also become the masters of the Ming Dynasty.

They praised in unison and were happy that the Ming Dynasty had such a wise ruler.

Some even said:

"I believe that the Ming Dynasty was not only founded by Taizu and established by Chengzu, but also by Your Majesty who re-established rituals and music."

"This should be written into the general rules, stipulating that future emperors must be succeeded by your majesty's descendants."

"This is the only way to highlight your majesty's achievements and sever the ties of dissent among the royal family and vassal states."

These words put the current emperor on the same level as Taizu and Chengzu, and are intended to keep the Ming Dynasty's imperial lineage completely in the lineage of the current emperor.

The ministers agreed with this, because they did not have a good impression of Taizu and Chengzu, and thought that it would be better to honor the current emperor than the second ancestor.

Moreover, judging from the large number of children born to the current emperor in recent years, there is no possibility of the imperial lineage being transferred, so it is better to settle it as soon as possible.

They all agreed with this and believed that the emperor's achievements were comparable to those of the Second Ancestor and should be written into the conventions of rites and laws.

Zhu Youjian was flattered when he heard their words, because he had never thought that his current achievements could be compared with those of Taizu and Chengzu.

In order to avoid becoming a joke, he firmly refused:
"I have only been on the throne for three years, and I have not yet resolved the internal and external troubles. What qualifications do I have to compare myself with Taizu and Chengzu?"

"You don't need to say more, my friends. If my achievements are sufficient, future generations will naturally write me into the etiquette and laws."

"If the merits are not enough, it will be removed even if it is written in now."

He rejected the proposals of these ministers, thinking that he was not worthy.

Seeing how calm the emperor was, some of the ministers secretly admired him.

More people sighed, because they really wanted to include the current emperor in the rites and laws.

In that case, all future emperors will be descendants of the current emperor, and they can use the name of ancestral system to force future emperors to abide by the rites and laws.

Unfortunately, the emperor did not agree, thinking that the achievement was still far from enough.

This made some ministers more determined to make achievements and they hoped to build merits together with the current emperor and pass on the newly-enacted rituals and music completely.

The Ming emperor and his ministers ended the meeting in great joy.
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After the meeting, Zhu Youjian deliberately kept Liu Zongzhou and said to him:

“If the lottery election method is successfully implemented, then the provincial and municipal councils can be established soon.”

“After the provincial legislature is established, the establishment of the National Assembly is imminent.”

"I wonder what stage of preparations you have made, and whether you can establish the National Assembly in time?"

Liu Zongzhou looked at the emperor and said slowly:
"Your Majesty previously decided to build a parliament in 20 years, why are you so anxious now?"

"I think the establishment of the National Assembly should be done step by step and according to the set plan."

"If we act too hastily, it may backfire."

This is his attitude. He believes that Congress is important, but we cannot be impatient.

If you make a mistake in a hurry, it will backfire.

It would be better to follow the previous plan and advance year by year.

Zhu Youjian listened to his statement and compared it with the attitude of other ministers who were eager to establish a parliament to share power. He knew that Liu Zongzhou was indeed a minister who could handle the important task. He could rest assured that he could leave the parliament to him.

So he explained carefully to Liu Zongzhou:
"A complete Congress can be organized step by step."

“But some of the organs of Congress can be put into operation quickly after being perfected.”

“For example, the Financial Committee can now nominate candidates who are familiar with finance and select the members of the Financial Reserve Committee by drawing lots.”

"Private financial activities also need their supervision to prevent people's property from being embezzled by money houses and banks."

This is a move to strengthen the influence of Congress and also to demonstrate to the people the sincerity of governing the world together.

Although Liu Zongzhou didn't know much about finance, he still agreed with it. Thinking about the method proposed by Liu Lishun, he said:

“We can let the financial association and the financial committee connect and select temporary financial committee members from among them first.”

"Another duty of the National Assembly is to discuss taxes and corvée labor. I think two more committees should be established based on this."

Zhu Youjian nodded in approval and said:
"Congress has to determine the tax rate and review the budget and final accounts of the Ministry of Finance. Without economic knowledge, this is not possible."

"Establish an Economic Committee and select some retired officials from the Finance and Economics Committee to join it first."

"For corvée labor, a citizen committee can be established to determine the length of service for citizens, as well as the power to determine citizenship qualifications, the right to vote and the right to be elected."

As he spoke, he remembered something else and said:
“Under the Citizens Committee, an Education Committee should also be established to educate the people to become qualified citizens, especially naturalized foreigners.”

“Perhaps the Congress also needs to set up an ethnic committee and a religious committee to specifically handle ethnic and religious issues, and reserve some seats for them.”

"If Ming citizens live in other countries, they should be given seats in parliament. We can set up an Overseas Chinese Committee and a Foreign Affairs Committee to be responsible for foreign affairs."

"So how many committees are there in total?"

Liu Zongzhou calculated and said:

"We have already established the Etiquette and Law Committee, the Ethics Committee, the Supervisory Committee, as well as the Agricultural Committee, the Industrial Committee, the Commercial Committee, and the Financial Committee, which are responsible for agriculture and industry."

"Now we have an economic committee responsible for taxation and budget settlement, and a citizen committee responsible for corvée. Add to that the ethnic committee, religious committee, overseas Chinese committee, and foreign affairs committee, for a total of thirteen committees."

"I think the Education Committee should not be under the Citizens Committee, but should be placed on a par with these committees and connected to the Ministry of Rites to be responsible for education and morality."

Zhu Youjian nodded in agreement, but he felt that the number of "fourteen committees" did not sound good. After thinking for a while, he said:

“Finally, we have the Resources Committee, which is responsible for resource development and environmental protection.”

"Both the land and the mountains and rivers are left to us by our ancestors. We should make good use of them and leave them to our descendants."

“Set up a resource committee so that all citizens can benefit.”

The Congress will be organized into fifteen specialized committees.

These committees must gradually start working to let the public see the power that belongs to them and to let officials adapt and get used to the Congress.

(End of this chapter)