The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 500: Taizu's Teachings
During the Great Qi Dynasty, the Prime Minister replaced the Cabinet at the center, with the Six Ministries (Rites, Households, Civil Affairs, Punishments, Works, and War) reporting directly to the Emperor. The Prime Minister was granted the title of Grand Secretary (Huagai Palace Grand Secretary, Jianji Palace Grand Secretary, Wenyuan Pavilion Grand Secretary, etc.), a second-rank official. A Grand Supervisor of the Inner Court was appointed, with Dongfang Zhu as the first. The Grand Supervisor ranked at the head of the Twelve Supervisory Offices and Twenty-Four Yamen (government offices), and, along with the Prime Minister, had the power to approve documents.

Emperor Wu Ding attached great importance to the power of his relatives and nobles, and established the title of Duke of Chengguo, which was held by relatives and nobles. Like the prime minister and the chief eunuch, he also enjoyed the power to approve memorials.

As a result, a situation of separation of powers was formed at the top level: power of the prime minister, power of the eunuchs (the general manager), power of the emperor, and power of relatives and nobles.

The Prime Minister is responsible for drafting national affairs (proposing how to deal with them), the Grand Eunuch and the nobles are responsible for approving the draft (approving the opinions and exercising imperial power), and the final edict must be presented to the emperor for his review before it is issued.

Under the Grand Eunuch was one eunuch in charge of the seal and several eunuchs in charge of the pen. The eunuch in charge of the seal was in charge of the Silijian, and the chief eunuch in charge of the Dongchang and the Zhenfusi (Suoiyi Guard).

There are six ministries in the central government (one team each for the imperial palace and the royal palace, one real and one virtual), and each of the six ministries has a Qingli Si. Among them, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Justice each have thirteen Qingli Si.

The Procuratorate and the Youai Temple were also established. The Censorate, which evolved from the Duchayuan of the previous Ming Dynasty, oversaw supervision, impeachment, and advising. The Youai Temple, which evolved from the Dali Temple of the previous Ming Dynasty, handled criminal cases. Because they shared jurisdiction over justice, the Youai Temple, the Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Justice were collectively known as the Three Central Offices.

In addition, the Great Qi abolished the six departments of the Ming Dynasty official system, namely the Censors, and abolished the position of Attendants. The original duties of remonstrating, filling in the gaps, picking up the missing, reviewing, and sealing and rejecting imperial edicts were taken care of by the Instructors, and the Censors were also abolished.

At the local level, the provincial system that had been implemented since the Yuan Dynasty continued, with three levels: province, prefecture, and county. The chief officials at the provincial, prefectural, and county levels were appointed and dismissed directly by the emperor. Below the county were townships and villages, and all villages were directly managed by representatives elected by farmers' associations and chambers of commerce.

The administrative structure of the Great Qi Dynasty was planned to have three capitals and eighty-one provinces (including the provinces of Annan, Korea, and Japan) in the long term. The three capitals were Zhongjing (Tianxin City), Tokyo (Pyongyang), and Nanjing (Jakarta).

In addition to the 36 provinces within the Great Wall, the 81 provinces also include four provinces in Liaodong, five provinces in Mongolia, three provinces in Korea, ten provinces in Japan, six provinces in Annam, three provinces in Chenla (now Cambodia), six provinces in Siam (now Thailand), three provinces in Champa (now southern Vietnam), two provinces in Sumatra (now Pasai, Sumatra), three provinces in Java (now Java), two provinces in Penhang (now Malay Peninsula), three provinces in Srivijaya (now Palembang, Sumatra), and two provinces in Brunei (now Brunei).
Among them, the direct-controlled prefectures in the Junzhou (Shuntian Prefecture) area are collectively called Zhili.

The highest administrative chief of each province was the governor, under whom were the provincial governor, the provincial governor, the provincial governor, and the provincial governor (collectively known as the Three Local Governors).
~~~~
In March of the third year of Taichu, Emperor Wuding issued an edict appointing Ge Yewen, the former assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, as the governor of Henan, and Lu Zhenfei, a demoted official of the Southern Ming Dynasty, as the governor of Hubei. After expressing their gratitude in Luoyang, the two immediately went to Kaifeng and Xiangyang to take up their posts.

In order to strengthen the rule over the newly occupied areas and avoid conflicts in the rear during the Eastern Expedition, officials in various prefectures, counties and districts were gradually replaced by old men from Kaiyuan, and a large number of instructors and chamber of commerce apprentices who graduated from schools entered the prefecture, county and district government offices to take up positions.

The farmers' associations that grew up during the Great Purge, with the support of military force, firmly grasped power below the county level, replacing the previous "village sage" governance system that relied on clan system and clan leaders to rule the countryside.

Under the powerful offensive of the farmers' association, the old rural system was completely crushed.

In the spring of the third year of Taichu, Emperor Wuding drew several circles in the Central Plains and Jingxiang, and new garrison schools sprang up.

Refugees from Jingxiang gradually moved out of the mountains and settled in garrisons to cultivate the land. Children from all prefectures, counties, and cities began attending school. According to the Great Qi educational decree, all children in the empire, regardless of ethnicity, whether Han, Miao, Mongol, or Jurchen, male or female, aged six to twelve, were required to attend school to learn literacy, natural sciences, military affairs, geography, and other subjects. Of course, they also had to learn to express gratitude to the Great Qi Emperor and his army.

From the nursery rhyme "Thank you for warming the four seasons" to Emperor Wu Ding who could ride a horse at the age of three, kill enemies at the age of five, and command the army at the age of ten...
Under the diligent instruction of military representatives, chamber of commerce representatives, instructors, and teachers of various subjects, "truths" like these were firmly engraved in the minds of all students.

The instructor, Sen Ti, said proudly, "They (the students) may forget their own names, but they will never forget who saved them from starvation and gave them a new life!"

Liu Zhaosun neither opposed nor supported this fanatical deification movement.

Let everything take its course.

The tuition fees required for children are borne by the national treasury.

Doing so would wrest the power to interpret knowledge away from the Confucian scholars, who made up less than 2 percent of the population.

Whoever can control the literate people can control public opinion and control history.

After children finish their studies, they can enter workshops or join the army.

~~~~
In April, Emperor Wuding returned to Liaodong. Before leaving, he sent Duke Chengguo Jin Dajiu to Junzhou to supervise the construction of Tianxin City.

After Jin Dajiu arrived in Junzhou, two strange things happened soon.

The timber needed for the new capital was cut in Sichuan and transported down the Han River on rafts to Junzhou. However, one log was peculiar: when it arrived in Hankou, it didn't float sideways like other logs, but stood upright on the water.

Jin Dajiu sent people underwater to investigate and discovered that the wood was still several feet high, not reaching the bottom. This was strange to him, and he concluded that it must have been left by the gods for use in the construction of the Tianxin City palace. Soldiers and civilians tied the sacred wood with ropes and dragged it to the construction site, where it was used as the beams for the Huangji Hall.

In the later "Pictures of Auspicious Omens in the Capital", there is a scene of a boat carrying timber passing by the Yellow Crane Tower, which depicts this miracle.

The second auspicious sign occurred when craftsmen from all over the country arrived in Junzhou, mostly by water. Because Qi offered high wages, workers flocked to Junzhou, despite the Southern Ming's repeated orders forbidding ties with Qi. One such craftsman, a Xiangtan craftsman named Yang Zhong, set out from the Xiangjiang River with several boats. They reached Guanghua County (present-day Laohekou). As they neared Junzhou, they encountered a violent storm at a place called Yangpitan. The boats docked when they suddenly saw a dark object swimming down from upstream. Using a long bamboo pole, the sailors paddled it to shore. Upon closer inspection, they discovered a large bell, over two meters in diameter. Suspecting it belonged to the imperial palace, they presented it to the Duke of Chengguo.

Jin Dajiu was overjoyed. This was an auspicious sign, symbolizing the great achievements of the Great Qi.

The eldest brother-in-law placed the bell in the bell tower and immediately reported it to the emperor in an urgent manner, traveling eight hundred miles.

"Water surges like a huge bell."

When the Emperor Taizong found out, he showed no joy at all, but instead said coldly:

"Tell Duke Cheng that he was sent to Junzhou to supervise the construction properly, not to waste people's money and time on these fancy things! Anyone who dares to instigate my brother-in-law to engage in these unorthodox practices and deviate from his job again, I will kill him!"

~~~~~
Speechless all the way.

After a month and a half of trekking, at the end of May, the emperor's carriage approached Shanhaiguan. Zheng Yishi, commander of the 10th Corps, had received the news early and traveled ten miles outside Shanhaiguan to meet the emperor. Liu Zhaosun attached great importance to the defense of Shanhaiguan, a crucial route connecting the interior and exterior of the pass. A single move could have profound implications for the entire region. Historically, Li Zicheng's ultimate defeat was inextricably linked to Shanhaiguan.

"I have faithfully followed His Majesty's instructions. While strengthening the training of the Tenth Corps, I have also urged farmers' associations, chambers of commerce, and farmers to cultivate land. Last year, 30,000 mu of new farmland was reclaimed in western Liaoning, enough to support..."

Zheng Yishi was wearing fine armor and a black cloak that covered his gradually bulging belly. He walked in front with two personal soldiers. Emperor Wu Ding followed him to climb the wall of Shanhaiguan. Lin Yu, Wu Xiao and Li Zicheng followed closely behind, looking around with vigilance.

Liu Zhaosun listened carefully to Zheng Yishi's report, and then inspected the shops inside the pass under the leadership of this old subordinate. He was quite satisfied with Zheng Yishi's performance during this period.

The nearly two-year Southern Tour ended successfully.

On May 27, the emperor's cortege entered the city from Guangji Gate in Shenyang, along Chaoyang Street, and went straight to the palace from Wumen Gate.

Regents Qian Qianyi, Zhou Yongchun and others went out of the Meridian Gate to welcome the young emperor on his behalf. Empress Dowager Yang Qing'er, Jin Yuji and Concubine Dowager Chen Yuanyuan were also among the crowd.

Liu Zhaosun exchanged greetings with the ministers and concubines, and then returned to the palace that day.

The next day, the retired emperor and the Wenhua Palace summoned the young emperor to ask about Liu Kan's recent studies.

"The Disciple Rules are the teachings of the sages.

First, filial piety and respect for elders, then sincerity and trustworthiness.

Love everyone and be close to the benevolent.

Liu Zhaosun was overjoyed and said, "You recited it well. Qian Qianyi is really good at it."

Liu Kan, who had just turned four, opened his eyes wide and looked curiously at his father who was covered in armor.

Liu Zhaosun said to himself, "We conquered the world on horseback, but how can we rule it on horseback? Kan'er, let these great scholars teach you well in the future. Then our Liu family can also produce a Jinshi scholar."

After that, Liu Zhaosun ordered to reward several imperial teachers and held a banquet in Wenhua Hall to entertain Qian Qianyi, Wang Shimin and others.

Jin Yuji laughed and said, "Don't just read the sages' books every day, or you'll become a fool."

Liu Zhaosun was displeased and said, "What are you doing if you don't study? Are you just like me when I was little? Following the Taoist priests around, drawing ghost talismans, tricking people into eating and drinking, and beating the corpses of the dead? (Note 1)"

"What is a corpse?"

Yang Qing'er beside her asked curiously.

Liu Zhaosun said angrily, "It's just singing for the dead, ten cents a night."

~~~
When the young emperor reached the age to go out and give lectures, Emperor Wuding appointed Qian Qianyi, Zhou Yongchun, Johann Adam Schall von Bell, and Wang Shimin as his imperial tutors.

Qian Qianyi was the leader of the Donglin Party, and Zhou Yongchun was the head of the Qi Party. The two were as hostile as fire and water, and together they were responsible for teaching the young emperor Confucian doctrines, historical classics, and the way of kings and hegemons.

As the most educated of the missionaries who came to China, Johann Adam Schall von Bell was responsible for teaching the young emperor about natural sciences;
Wang Shimin was the grandson of Wang Xijue, the first minister of the Wanli Emperor. He was from Taicang, Suzhou Prefecture, South Zhili. His calligraphy and painting were not inferior to Dong Qichang. He taught Liu Kan calligraphy and painting.

Pei Dahu took the little emperor to squat on horseback and practice boxing, and every five days they went to the big training ground to practice archery and horse riding.

In the Wenhua Hall, Qian Qianyi held a scroll of scriptures and read with the little emperor:
"Zhong is the great foundation of the world; He is the universal way of the world. When Zhong and He are achieved, heaven and earth are in their proper places, and all things are nurtured."

Liu Kan read it again, with a look of confusion on his face.

Qian Qianyi asked with concern, "Your Majesty, what don't you understand?"

"Mr. Qian," Liu Kan hesitated for a moment, scratched his head and asked, "Since moderation is so good, why does the emperor act so decisively and biasedly..."

Qian Qianyi quickly stopped the student from speaking, looked around, and confirmed that no one was around before lowering his voice and saying, "Your Majesty is confused. How can children talk about their parents?"

"The providence of Heaven is silent and odorless, yet it reaches its peak! The Emperor's campaigns are all for the purpose of establishing a more stable order..."

Unfortunately, Liu Zhaosun was busy with many affairs and had no energy to supervise Liu Kan's studies. Tang Ruowang was soon squeezed out by the others.

In this way, Liu Kan read Confucian classics every day, and under the influence of several "clear stream" Confucian scholars, he was getting further and further away from becoming the greatest emperor in history as his father expected.

Note:
1. Dashige (Daishige): A custom in urban and rural areas of western Hubei Province to mourn the deceased, in which the living sing and beat drums, chanting "Daishige" (Song of the Dead) to express their grief for the deceased. This tradition originated from Qu Yuan's "National Mourning" in the Chu State. The "Daishige" (Song of the Dead) consists of three parts: the "starting drum," the "main tune," and the "ending drum." The performance follows a set routine. It primarily recounts the human mortality associated with life, as well as myths and legends, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

(End of this chapter)