The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 618 Shocking the Southeast
"Emperor Guangde presented me with a night-shining pearl, the very one the King of Annan sent an envoy to pay tribute to me last year. I dare not keep it privately, nor deceive Your Majesty. Please examine it."

Wenhua Hall.

The whale oil lamp emitted a pale yellow light, illuminating the slightly weathered face of the retired emperor.

Liu Zhaosun, wearing a Taoist robe and Shifang shoes, stared at the marble tiles with the Baji pattern under his feet and instructed the palace maid standing beside him:
"Turn off the lights first."

Amber stepped forward and turned off the wall lamp. The surroundings dimmed. The night pearl emitted a faint blue light, reflecting the iron scales on Wu Xiao and Pei Dahu's armor.

Liu Zhaosun held the night pearl in his palm and looked at it with interest.

Dongfang Zhu lowered his head.

Zhang Dong, Pei Dahu, Wu Xiao and others held sharp knives in their hands and stood still like stone sculptures.

"I sent Lin Yu to guard Emperor Guangde. Do you know why?"

The Emperor suddenly spoke, frightening Dongfang Zhu so much that he shuddered. He huddled in the huge shadow and replied nervously:

"General Lin is a brave warrior of the Great Qi. He is braver than ten thousand men and can defeat a hundred at once..."

The retired emperor interrupted the chief eunuch.

"Back in Liaodong, wasn't Lieutenant General Ding Bi brave? Wasn't Cao Zhongqing, one of Huang Taiji's men, also brave?"

Dongfang Zhu was sweating profusely. Although he was not present at the bloody battle of Hunhe River, he had heard about the story of that year.

Ding Bi died under the beatings of the Liao people, while Cao Zhongqing was killed by the retired emperor himself. It is said that this most brave bannerman of the Later Jin could only block two moves of the retired emperor.

"And there's Shen Lian. Captain Shen is a skilled martial artist, having served in the Imperial Guard for many years. His skills are no less than Lin Yu's. Unfortunately, he died at the hands of his own people. Eunuch Dongfang."

The emperor's eyes were sharp.

"To work under me, bravery is only one of the requirements. Loyalty is more important. Lin Yu is loyal enough. He is loyal enough not to be provoked by treacherous people, and he is loyal enough not to affect the relationship between me and Liu Kan."

Dongfang Zhu fell to his knees, his head banging against the Baji diagram, causing blood to seep out of the marble.

"I am loyal to the Great Qi and Your Majesty. All the silver and jewels that foreign officials have given me over the years, I present to Your Majesty..."

The retired emperor watched Dongfang Zhu kowtow more than ten times until his head was bleeding and his face was red.

"I believe in you, and you, too, must believe in yourself. Stand up."

Dongfang Zhu stood up in fear. The emperor gave a signal and a palace maid came up to bandage the eunuch's wound.

"I have said that when I was in Linqing, I chose you to enter the palace because I saw your character. I was relieved to have you lead the eunuchs of the Great Qi. I never intended to humiliate you."

Dongfang Zhu ignored the bleeding forehead and was about to kneel down again, but Liu Zhaosun supported him.

"My life and property belong to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty had not awakened me from my dream in time, my family would have been destroyed in Linqing, and I would not be here today! Your Majesty is a man of great achievements. Following Your Majesty, I can also benefit from it."

The Emperor looked at the people around him and said earnestly:
"The Great Qi has just been established, and much remains to be done. We should not cause any more trouble. You are all my confidants, and you should be more careful about your words and actions than the outsiders. You should not say things you shouldn't say, and you must not let the outsiders think that there are two emperors in the court: Emperor Guangde and me. There can be no two suns in the sky, and no two masters for the people. If there are any such signs, you must nip them in the bud."

"Otherwise," Liu Zhaosun looked at the fish scale armor on Pei Dahu and said thoughtfully:

"Otherwise, sooner or later we will repeat the disaster of the Shaqiu Palace Rebellion, with sons killing their fathers and fathers killing their sons. There are many people in the world who have betrayed the Great Qi, and I don't want my son to betray me too! The Empress Dowager Cisheng is now pregnant. If she gives birth to a prince, I will raise him to adulthood. Until then, the power will still be in my hands, and Emperor Guangde will only observe the government. If I entrust all political affairs to him, even if Liu Kan has a kind heart, he will eventually be forced to become like Li Shimin and kill all his brothers and sisters. And you old people will not have a good end either."

Wu Xiao, Pei Dahu, Zhang Dong and the others stood in the shadows, clasping their fists and saying, "I obey your orders!"

The emperor waved his hand, and Amber lit up the wall lamps one by one, and everyone returned to the world of light.

Liu Zhaosun held Eunuch Dongfang's hand and said with almost hypocritical concern:

"Is your father-in-law alright?"

Dongfang Zhu said gratefully, "Compared to the myriad affairs of state that Your Majesty is preoccupied with, and the tireless care and concern He devotes to the millions of people of Great Qi, the little suffering I endure is nothing."

The Emperor nodded and looked at his confidants:
"Since ancient times, emperors have often been unfaithful, and the imperial family is the most ruthless. However, Kan'er has a miserable life. His mother was murdered by Zhu Youjian when he was just born. I was defeated in the capital, and I have been busy with wars all these years. How could I have the time to take care of him? Although he is the crown prince of the Great Qi, he is practically without a father or a mother. He is resentful and blames me, hoping to replace me, but I will not punish him."

Wu Xiao listened quietly, while Pei Dahu looked at the ground, lost in thought.

The high priest and Dongfang Zhu each held an account book and quickly wrote down every word the emperor said with a pencil.

Only Zhang Dong met Liu Zhaosun's sharp gaze, his expression constantly changing with the tone of the emperor's voice.

"I'm letting him implement the new laws because I hope he'll quickly understand how the Great Qi operates and realize that governing a country isn't as easy as described in the Four Books and Five Classics. The idea that half a copy of the Analects can rule the world is just nonsense told to scholars... Don't think I'm going to hand over power to Liu Kan right now, and don't believe those rumors out there."

"Zhang Dong."

Zhang Dong stepped forward and waited to be assigned tasks.

"Reforms are about to begin, and the southeast is bound to be turned upside down. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. The previous lenient approach should end. From now on, anyone who spreads nonsense, misinterprets observing politics as governing, and tries to sow discord between us father and son will be arrested or executed."

Zhang Mazi clasped his hands together and said calmly, "I know."

"I have one more matter to report."

"What's the matter?"

Zhang Dong said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the Zhang family of Xiangfu County has been disrupting the government office in the prefectural capital, clamoring to come to Nanjing to seek a reward from Emperor Guangde. The officials of Kaifeng Prefecture are unable to bear the harassment and have requested the Hebei Suoyi Guard to intervene. Your Majesty, what do you think?"

Liu Zhaosun raised his eyebrows, his face showing a slight annoyance:

"Hasn't what I've given them over the years been enough? Didn't I just reward the Zhang family with five thousand taels of silver and eight thousand acres of fertile farmland two years ago? And they're still not satisfied?"

Zhang Dong whispered, "This time, I'm trying to get an official position for Empress Zhang's younger brother, Zhang Zhao. Zhang Zhao said he wants to serve the new emperor, so why not let him be a prefect first..."

"How about a prefect? Hahaha, you're so arrogant. Why not just let him be the emperor's uncle and take over Jin Dajiu's position?"

Liu Zhaosun laughed heartily.

"Don't let anyone else know about this."

"I understand."

Liu Zhaosun let out a long breath, and Zhang Yan's stunningly beautiful face appeared in his mind, and then it changed to Zhang Guoji's disgusting face.

The emperor felt like he had swallowed a fly.

He asked Dongfang Zhu to come closer. The eunuch approached cautiously. He handed the night pearl to the eunuch and whispered in the chief steward's ear:
"The Annan envoy said that this bead can make a man's penis grow again. You can take it, it may be useful."

~~~~
The Imperial Annals record: Wu Dingzheng was lenient and benevolent, while Guangde followed with strictness and severity.

There is some truth to that.

On the third day after the emperor passed away (became an immortal in the true sense), Liu Kan drove out all the Taoist priests that his father had supported in the palace. He also issued an imperial decree, denouncing these Taoist priests as nothing more than entertaining actors and clowns, street scoundrels, and those who loved to spread rumors and cause trouble.

In the later period of his reign, especially after the death of Empress Dowager Cisi Jin Yuji and Empress Dowager Dong Yang Qing'er, the old emperor became more devoted to Buddhism and Taoism, and became kind-hearted, which was very different from the murderous image he had in his prime.

After Liu Kan came to power, he was eager to drive out the Taoist priests because he had always despised and disliked his father's governing philosophy.

When he was still the crown prince of the Great Qi Dynasty, he remembered that his father (or his close ministers like Kang Yingqian) would constantly create various auspicious signs to prove the legitimacy of the Great Qi Dynasty's rule, such as the golden harvest, the Qilin, and the five planets in a row...

Similar records appeared one after another in officials' memorials for a period of time, and auspicious memorials filled the entire cabinet.

In the eyes of Emperor Guangde, these supernatural and supernatural stories are too childish. His father is really ridiculous...

By the time Liu Kan came to power, the literacy rate of urban and rural residents in the empire had reached an astonishing 30 percent, science was flourishing, and the empire was unprecedentedly powerful.

All kinds of ghost and god stories and prophecies and divinations naturally lost their market. As soon as Liu Kan came to power, he announced:
"Any reports of auspicious signs in Qingyun and Jiagu are forbidden. Anyone who falsely claims auspicious signs will be exiled to the Persian Gulf and enslaved by the Great Qi Navy."

Of course, this happened decades later, and I just mention it here in passing. It will be recorded in detail later in this book.

~~~~
At dusk, Liu Kan came to Wenhua Hall again to pay his respects to his father.

I didn't meet the emperor when I paid my respects at noon, so I can't miss the opportunity to pay my respects at dusk.

Liu Kan waited outside the door for half an hour until Wu Xiao came out and invited him in.

"Where is Eunuch Dongfang? Why can't I see him?"

Wu Xiao replied, "My father-in-law has a migraine."

Liu Kan then stopped asking questions and followed Wu Xiao into the Wenhua Hall.

Liu Zhaosun sat upright in the main hall, wearing a Taoist robe, like a god.

"May I ask how is your father?"

"Blessings from me."

The emperor asked his son to sit down and let Amber have tea.

After a few pleasantries between father and son, Liu Kan asked how Empress Dowager Cisi and Empress Dowager Dong were doing, and the retired emperor answered them one by one.

The little emperor said straight to the point:

"Father, I came here today to discuss the land measurement."

Liu Zhaosun smiled and said, "I have already deployed the fleet at the mouth of the Yangtze River as you requested. I have done enough for the prelude. Now it's time to write the main story."

Liu Kan nodded and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust. If we issue the imperial decree to clear the land measurement now, the resistance will be much smaller. However, I have decided to start with the difficult part and then move on to the easier part."

The Emperor asked with great interest, "What does it mean to be difficult first and easy later?"

Liu Kan put down his teacup, still childish, "Let's start with Suzhou and Songjiang Prefectures. The Xu families in Suzhou and Songjiang are both wealthy families, with over 100,000 mu of land. Let's collect taxes from them first. I've calculated with the officials from the Ministry of Revenue, and these two Xu families alone will have to pay an additional 300,000 taels of silver. These two places are tough targets."

Liu Zhaosun stood up and walked to the map, and Amber lit the whale oil lamp.

"Father, there's actually a Taicang Prefecture between Suzhou and Songjiang, also called Loucheng."

The emperor's finger followed the numerous canals of the Taihu South Canal, wandering across the southeastern land, looking for the location of Taicang Prefecture.

"There is a Wang family in Taicang Prefecture. Does your Majesty know about this?"

Liu Zhaosun smiled and said, "Of course I know. The Wang family of Taicang is very famous."

"I remember that Wang Xijue's son, Wang Heng, used to be a painter in Da Qi. Father even asked him to paint for me."

Liu Zhaosun scratched his forehead and thought for a while, it seemed that there was such a person.

"In the first year of the Wuding reign, my father went on a hunting expedition to Linqing. This Wang Heng escaped from the capital and returned to his hometown in Taicang Prefecture."

Liu Kan was knowledgeable and had a strong memory. He remembered all the most unbearable things in the past of the retired emperor.

Liu Zhaosun smiled awkwardly.

"There is indeed such a person. Why do you mention him?"

"The Wang family is richer than the Xu family. I plan to plunder the two Xus and then turn around to deal with the Wang family. I estimate that I can plunder hundreds of thousands of taels of silver."

When Liu Kan talked about the confiscation of property, his expression was very calm, which surprised his father a little.

Liu Zhaosun changed the subject.

"Do you know what happened in Kaifeng Prefecture?"

Liu Kan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, yesterday I was observing government affairs in the Qianqing Palace, and the head of the Ministry of Personnel mentioned this matter... I would like to ask, how much land did Your Majesty grant to the Zhang family back then? Are they still in their possession now?"

Liu Zhaosun had not expected Liu Kan to be so concerned about this matter. The emperor, because this grandson who had just "taken power" wanted to fight for greater rights and interests for his grandfather, casually replied:

"In the early years of the Wuding reign, after your mother entered the palace, she rewarded the Zhang family with eight thousand acres of fine farmland and five thousand taels of silver."

"Then why weren't they awarded titles?"

The Emperor was slightly taken aback, then continued, "Your mother wouldn't allow it. I'm sure you know what she went through back then."

Liu Kan said calmly, "I don't know."

"In short, your mother's relationship with his father and brothers is not harmonious. I don't want to say anything else."

Liu Zhaosun was reluctant to mention those past events. Judging from Liu Kan's attitude, it was obvious that he wanted to gain power for Zhang Yan's family.

Just as he was about to say that he could give Zhang Guoji another 5,000 taels, he heard the little emperor say loudly:
"Father! I think eight thousand acres of farmland is too much. What virtue or ability does the Zhang family of Kaifeng have? Do they have the right to occupy so much land just because their daughter is my deceased mother? As far as I know, Kaifeng implements the 'Land System of the Qi Dynasty'!"

"Then what do you think should be done?" Liu Zhaosun looked meaningfully at the sixteen-year-old emperor.

"Your Majesty, I believe that not only should the Zhang family not be rewarded with inheritance, but they should also immediately pay off their outstanding taxes and grain. Eight thousand acres of fertile land is enough for two hundred farmers to cultivate! Over the years, they have occupied the land, and in addition to the grain, they have wasted at least two hundred soldiers of the Great Qi!"

"Kan'er, Zhang Guoji is your grandfather, and his son Zhang Zhao is your uncle. Do you really want to be so mean?"

Liu Kan said nonchalantly, "My uncle, the emperor's uncle Jin Dajiu, is dead."

Liu Zhaosun shook his head and said nothing more.

"As for the Zhang family of Kaifeng Prefecture, I've never met them. It was these people who sold my mother to Kang Yingqian, forcing her to drift to Liaodong! She almost died of illness. Later, when my mother entered the palace, these people remembered their daughter and desperately begged my father for money and land. I'd rather not have a grandfather like this, an uncle like this!"

"I do not want those empty names. I only want real benefits. I will do anything that is beneficial to the Great Qi. For example, the land measurement system implemented in Zhejiang and Jiangsu this time is more beneficial than the "Qi Dynasty Land System."

The emperor didn't expect Liu Kan to know so much, so he asked, "Who told you?"

Liu Kan said without hesitation, "I promised that person not to tell anyone."

Liu Zhaosun nodded and smiled.

"Okay, as a king, a promise is worth a thousand gold."

Liu Kan continued, "I beg your Majesty to order the immediate liquidation of the Zhang family's land. All other requests must be disregarded. Otherwise, I'm afraid my reforms to clear the land will not be accepted by the people."

"You're so mean, aren't you afraid of others getting suspicious? Including me?"

Liu Kan met his father's sharp, hawk-like gaze and said word by word, "I am thinking of the great cause of the Great Qi Dynasty. How can I care about anything else?"

The retired emperor thought of Zhang Yan's last words of advice, and then looked at Liu Kan who was making a decisive move. The heavy burden that had been weighing on his heart for more than ten years suddenly disappeared, and his heavy heart felt lighter than ever before.

"Okay, I will draft an edict right now and announce it to the world in my name."

The high priest came up to the emperor with paper and pen.

Liu Zhaosun spread the rice paper flat on the table and began to write. The translation is as follows:
Governor Ge (Henan Governor Ge Yewen):

Zhang Zhaoyi and his colleagues must not be allowed to leave Kaifeng Prefecture. They should be assigned appropriate work according to their abilities, and any rude requests should not be allowed.

If his mother has difficulties, appropriate assistance can be given. In addition, let the Kaifeng Prefecture Tongzhi and the Suoyi Guard clean up the Zhang family's land and property, recover the overdue taxes and rents, and if it is not enough, confiscate the property and compensate...
(End of this chapter)