I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 285: Competing with the People for Benefits or Benefiting the People
In the side hall of Wanshou Palace in Xiyuan, the dinner party hosted by Zhu Yijun for Hai Rui was still going on.

In fact, it was not called a dinner. It only had four dishes, a soup, and a cold dish. Even in a wealthy family, it would not be considered a banquet. At most, it was a sumptuous dinner.

Hai Rui raised the exquisite glass wine glass and said to Zhu Yijun, "How can the king respect his subjects and the subjects not respect the king? I sincerely offer a glass of wine to Your Highness the Crown Prince. Your Highness has worked hard for the Ming Dynasty and the people. I offer this glass of wine to express my respect and wish Your Highness a long life and happiness."

It's rare. Maybe even the emperor has never enjoyed such high-level treatment as Hai Rui.

Zhu Yijun raised his glass and drank with Hai Rui.

Hai Rui put down his wine glass and asked straight to the point.

"Your Highness, I saw in the court bulletin that the Regulations for the Reform of the Central Government in the Second Year of Longqing's reign were promulgated. The Military Affairs Supervisory Office was changed to the Military Affairs Supervisory Office, the Dali Temple was changed to the Dali Court, the responsibilities of the Guanglu, Taichang, Honglu, and Taipu Temples were greatly changed, and the Taifu Temple was added.

I know that Your Highness has always wanted to rectify the administration of officials, clarify responsibilities, and improve the efficiency of administration. I am a little confused, can this change achieve the desired effect? ​​"

Zhu Yijun smiled and nodded.

Hai Rui was the only one in the world who could ask this question face to face and insist on getting to the bottom of it.

"The Dali Temple will be changed to the Dali Court, and I am going to promote judicial independence. The judiciary is the best check and balance for the administration and supervision, and is also the last dam to protect the people.

In the past, judicial powers and responsibilities were unclear, and the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, and the Censorate could all intervene, resulting in a mess. It was difficult to enforce the law and redress grievances. Now, the Supreme Court has been elevated to the Supreme Court, and it is parallel to the six ministries and the Censorate, which is to promote judicial independence. "

"Judicial independence?" Hai Rui stroked his beard and learned a new term.

"Yes, Lord Gangfeng, justice is to judge cases impartially and in accordance with the law, which is very important. From the imperial edicts to the imperial edicts of each dynasty, the laws are vast and cover all aspects, but the implementation is so far away?
Why? Because the judiciary is not independent. The prefects, states and counties are responsible for adjudicating cases. They are in charge of civil affairs while handling disputes with the people. Do we expect them to convict themselves when they infringe on the interests of the people? "

Hai Rui nodded in agreement, but he still had some doubts in his mind.

"This matter can be handed over to the censors for supervision. Why bother with judicial independence?"

"Mr. Gangfeng, independence means non-interference and no conflicts of interest. The censors also passed the imperial examinations and are part of the civil service. It is probably unrealistic to expect them to act impartially. Teachers and students are from the same school, the same subject, and the same hometown. The complex relationship has formed a network."

Hai Rui became interested, "Your Highness, how can the Dali Court be independent?"

"The central government is the Dali Yuan, and each place is the Judicial Inspection Office, which has an Inspection Commissioner and a Deputy Commissioner. The prefectures and counties are branch offices and offices, with Inspection Assistants and Inspection Governors.

In the imperial examinations, a law department was set up to select people who are proficient in law and to be dedicated to judicial posts. The examination, appointment, removal and dismissal of officials had nothing to do with the Six Ministries and the Censorate, so as to maintain its independence as much as possible.

Hai Rui pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I think what Your Highness said is right. Adhering to the company law, judging cases according to the law, correcting corrupt officials, suppressing tyranny, settling lawsuits, and redressing injustices are indeed the last line of protection for the common people.

If the judiciary is unfair and grievances have nowhere to be redressed, the people will be bullied by the powerful and the consequences will be disastrous. Your Highness promoted the Dali Yuan, changed it to the Ancha Si, and promoted judicial independence. I think it is indeed a great good policy that benefits the country and the people. "

Zhu Yijun knew Hai Rui's character well, and he would support him as long as it was good for the people.

"Your Highness, what are the rules for the five temples including the Honglu Temple?"

"Lord Gangfeng, the Lifanyuan will be changed to the Honglu Temple. From now on, all matters concerning foreign vassal states and trade will be handled exclusively by the Honglu Temple. The authority of the Organization and Personnel Office will be changed to the Guanglu Temple."

"Your Highness, what is the difference between the Guanglu Temple and the Ministry of Personnel?"

Hai Rui knew that the Organization Department was the actual operator of this rectification of officialdom and central government reform.

"Mr. Gangfeng, it can be said that how to select officials from all over the world and how to use these officials is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, but how many officials to select and how to use them is the responsibility of the Guanglu Temple."

Hai Rui understood, it was another check and balance. In the past, the selection and transfer of civil and military officials were all handled by the Ministry of Personnel. Now the crown prince restructured the Guanglu Temple and gave it some of the power of the selection and appointment.

"Then are the examinations still under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites?"

"Mr. Gangfeng, it's still under their jurisdiction. Selecting talents for the country is a big deal. It's impossible for the Ministry of Personnel to select talents and then remove them on its own."

"Okay, the Ministry of Rites will be in charge of selecting the materials, and then sorting them out for use by the Ministry of Personnel and the Supreme Court."

Hai Rui also understood it immediately.

"What about the Taichang Temple?"

"The Propaganda Bureau, which was originally directly under the Supervisory Office, has been changed to the Taichang Temple." Zhu Yijun answered concisely.

The Taichang Temple was in charge of ideology, specifically propaganda, culture, and press and publication. This authority was somewhat mysterious and difficult to explain clearly, so Zhu Yijun just mentioned it briefly.

Hai Rui was somewhat puzzled, but he knew Zhu Yijun's temper, and would try to explain what he could, and if he didn't explain, he would figure it out himself later by comparing the facts. "Your Highness, what about the Imperial Household Department?"

"Lord Gangfeng, in addition to managing the military and horse affairs, the Imperial Household Department will also be in charge of the Firearms Bureau, the Arms Bureau, and other weapons and firearms manufacturing."

To put it bluntly, Taipu Temple is the Ming Dynasty version of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

If the Ming Dynasty wants to be strong in military virtue in the future, it must take the lead in weaponry and equipment. The Taipu Temple will be responsible for the research and development and manufacturing of weaponry and equipment, and it will take the lead. In the future, it will also be able to vigorously promote mathematics, physics, chemistry, mechanics and other natural sciences and engineering sciences in the Ming Dynasty.

This was understandable, and since it was related to military affairs, Hai Rui knew it was a sensitive topic. Especially the prince in front of him, who attached great importance to military power.

This involves imperial power, and it is not a topic for ministers to comment on.

"Your Highness, why did you add the Taifu Temple? I think it overlaps with the Ministry of Revenue."

"Gangfeng Gong, it doesn't overlap. The Ministry of Revenue is responsible for collecting and spending money, household registration, land registers, treasury taxes, and budget expenditures. But how to make money is the business of the Taifu Temple.

Most of the powers of the former Coordination Bureau, including the Salt Administration, the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, the North and South Shipbuilding Cooperatives, the Maritime Bureau and the Inter-country Trade Bureau, are now under the management of the Taifu Temple.

In Zhu Yijun's mind, the Ministry of Revenue was the Ministry of Finance of the Ming Dynasty, and the Taifu Temple was the State Planning Commission plus the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, and the powers of the two were clearly divided.

It’s just that people nowadays, including Hai Rui, have a vague concept of national economy and national finance, so in their minds they cannot distinguish them at all.

Hai Rui smiled. Although others didn't know about the Crown Prince's ability to make money, the ministers in the capital knew it very well.

He specially set up the Taifu Temple to make money for the country, and Hai Rui welcomed it. However, there was another government office that seemed to overlap with it.

"Your Highness, the authority of the Inner Court Shaofu Supervisor partially overlaps with that of the Taifu Temple."

Zhu Yijun raised the corner of his mouth and said, "I knew, Hai Rui, you would be waiting for me here."

"Lord Gangfeng, Lord Xu both know that building an industry for one's own family will benefit one's family and descendants. I am building an industry for the royal family and benefiting the royal family. This is not too much, right?"

Hai Rui hesitated.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince meant that the royal family's expenses would be paid from the inner treasury, separate from the national treasury, which would be a good thing. But the Shaofujian was too aggressive in making money, would he compete with the people for profits?
Zhu Yijun looked at Hai Rui and asked meaningfully, "Mr. Gangfeng has traveled all over Huguang, Lingnan, and Nanzhili. I believe he has a deep understanding of competing with the people for profit."

Hai Rui said nothing.

During the Jiajing reign, he was exiled to Lingnan and traveled all over Huguang and Lingnan.

During the Longqing period, he investigated the salt administration in Lianghuai and traveled all over Nanzhili. In addition, he had served as a grassroots local official, so he knew the secret of "competing with the people for profit."

Ordinary people work hard, farm to earn money to support their families, and their biggest expense is taxes. What benefits can the Shaofujian fight for?

Silk, porcelain, spices, liquor, wine, glassware... How many of these things can ordinary people afford?

On the contrary, in order to open up the situation, the Coordinating Bureau used several major businesses and the supply and marketing cooperatives that were established later to severely lower the prices of daily necessities such as cotton cloth, sugar, needles and thread.

It's very simple. There are fewer middlemen, and the new business model has greatly improved efficiency and reduced costs.

This is not competing with the people for profit, but benefiting the people.

It was because Hai Rui traveled all over the place and learned the truth that he was so kind to Yang Jinshui, a eunuch.

"As long as Your Highness remembers the people in your heart, I have nothing to say."

Hai Rui finally compromised.

"Don't worry, Mr. Gangfeng. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. I understand this principle."

"Your Highness!" Fang Liang reported anxiously at the door.

"what's up?"

"Minister Liu of the Ministry of War and Minister Liang of the Navy Bureau handed in a sign requesting to see you, saying there was an urgent military matter."

Zhu Yijun's face straightened, "Send it!"

(End of this chapter)