Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 42 Western Factory Supervision Law

"How to monitor?" Zhu Changluo continued to ask, looking thoughtful.

"Monitor the entire process before, during, and after the event." Xu Guangqi first stated his conclusion, then divided it into sections:

"So-called pre-emptive supervision means that the Imperial Guards (referring to the Imperial Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot) must be ordered by the Emperor personally to act. Without orders, they cannot act. However, the Emperor cannot personally supervise everything, so he usually orders minor matters and gives orders specifically for major matters. If no orders are given, the Western Depot will stop them."

"Minor matters are regular orders, meaning the Emperor issues authorization orders to the Imperial Guards with a time limit and scope. Anything beyond the time limit is considered unacceptable and the Western Factory will stop it. Major matters are special orders, meaning major cases cannot be handled without the Emperor's order. Any action taken without the Emperor's order will be stopped by the Western Factory."

"What if we encounter an emergency and don't have time to ask for orders?" Zhu Changluo asked.

"In urgent matters, the emperor can grant the factory guards a one-time 'Emergency Order'. In case of an emergency, the factory guards can act accordingly and report it to the emperor. The West Factory cannot interfere. At the same time, the West Factory will conduct an in-process and post-event inspection! If it passes the review, the emperor will be asked to grant a special order and issue a new 'Emergency Order'. If it fails, the person in charge will be severely punished!" Xu Guangqi had already made a plan in mind.

"continue."

Xu Guangqi nodded. "So-called on-the-spot supervision means that the Factory Guards must be accompanied by the West Factory Supervisors when they act. Within the scope of their authority, the West Factory Supervisors strictly adhere to the principles of not seizing power, not interfering, and not making suggestions. If the Factory Guards need to exceed their authority, they must obtain the consent of the West Factory Supervisors and keep detailed records. After exceeding their authority, regardless of the success or failure of the mission, both the Factory Guards and the Supervisors will be strictly scrutinized. If the mission fails and it is determined that the failure was caused by the interference or veto of the Supervisors, then the Factory Guards will not be held responsible and will be punished separately at the West Factory."

"What about the post-investigation review?" Zhu Changluo asked again.

"To reduce the workload of the West Factory, post-inspection supervision will be conducted according to the principles of 'no death, no investigation' and 'no complaint, no correction'. If the factory guards didn't cause any loss of life during the execution, and there were no complaints or impeachments, no further investigation will be conducted." Xu Guangqi's throat was dry from talking so much, so he paused for a moment before continuing. "If a complaint or impeachment is received, the West Factory personnel will review the documents related to the entire mission and interrogate all those involved. If the complaint or impeachment is true, the factory guards will be severely punished. If not, they will be punished and fined."

"Fine?" Huang Kezan, the Minister of Justice, was puzzled.

"Yes, the Western Factory Inspectors receive salaries. If the complaints and impeachments are false, wouldn't that be a waste of the treasury?" Xu Guangqi said matter-of-factly. "Whatever is wasted should be compensated."

"Isn't this too materialistic?" Shen and Xu Guangqi have never gotten along.

"Be mercenary where you should be mercenary!" Xu Guangqi got angry when he saw Shen's face, and of course he did not give in.

Seeing the two men about to argue, Zhu Changluo quickly raised a new question to stop the conflict: "So this action against the East Factory is a post-event monitoring?"

"Your Majesty, yes." Xu Guangqi glanced at Shen with disdain, then bowed to answer Zhu Changluo's question.

"Well. What do you think of Lord Xu's whole-process supervision method that does not involve patrols, arrests, or suppression of counter-revolutionaries and rebellions, but focuses on combating corruption and uncovering loopholes?" This is much more detailed than the "Imperial Censorate" described in the "History of Ming Dynasty."

"The method described by Minister Xu can be called planning for the country!" Fang Congzhe, who was helped by Xu Guangqi during the morning court session, was the first to agree with this.

Moreover, Fang Congzhe had no reason to object. As Xu Guangqi expounded on the "Western Factory Supervisory Law," Fang Congzhe listened intently. He noticed that, except for the use of the terms "Outer Court" and "Supervisory Court" in analogies, Xu Guangqi used the terms "the Emperor" and "the Inner Court" in every other context. In other words, this law violated no taboos from beginning to end. "I second the motion." Ye Xianggao, like the vast majority of officials present, believed that establishing a new Western Factory would indeed help combat the unbridled arrogance of the Factory Guards.

Even if Xu Guangqi did not dare to interfere and set any rules of conduct for the East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the emperor would not openly ask the factory and the guards to rob people's property.

Only Shen was unhappy. But his emotion was directed at the person, not the matter. If Xu Guangqi could be replaced by someone else, he would surely have smiled and agreed. Unfortunately, he couldn't.

"Since all the ministers have no objection, I will follow their advice. According to the common opinion of the cabinet, Minister Xu and Cui Wensheng, the Western Factory will be restored." Zhu Changluo cleared himself of all charges.

What do you mean by the cabinet's opinion? The cabinet has no opinion! Fang Congzhe muttered to himself. He thought, I'm afraid that when the imperial edict to restore the Western Factory comes, his name will be on it. That would be a real honor for the family!

But even though she was resentful, she still had to say: "My emperor is wise!"

"The 'Dongchang embezzlement and extortion case' will be tried jointly by the Imperial Household Department, the Ministry of Justice, and the Western Factory." Zhu Changluo looked at the Minister of Justice, Huang Kezan.

"I obey your order." Wang An walked from Zhu Changluo's side to his front and bowed to receive the order.

"I obey your order." Huang Kezan stood up and bowed to receive the order.

Huang Kezan's thoughts shifted, and he realized the emperor's arrangement was a unique "Three Judicial Departments Joint Trial." The Western Factory became the Censorate, the Imperial Household Department became the Supreme Court, and only the Ministry of Justice remained the Ministry of Justice. However, he knew perfectly well that as long as the Imperial Household Department was included in the joint trial, even if it was just an observer, the trial would be a mere formality. The Ministry of Justice could determine the charges, but it had no influence over the punishment.

"Mr. Li, after the establishment of the Western Factory, the Ministry of Revenue immediately went to withdraw money to pay the officials' unpaid salaries. I have already given instructions. The Ministry of Revenue only needs to complete the payment procedures. You can count and verify clearly. If there are officials who are so tight on money that they have to borrow money from money houses to make ends meet, then help them pay back the interest. The principal will not be returned." After arranging the trial, Zhu Changluo began to arrange the officials' salaries.

"Long live the emperor! On behalf of all the ministers, I would like to thank His Majesty for his grace!" Upon hearing this, the Minister of Revenue Li Ruhua performed the ceremony of five bows and three kowtows to Zhu Changluo.

Ever since word got out that the Emperor was going to use the confiscated money to pay the salaries owed to officials of the sixth rank and below in Beijing, Li Ruhua had been in an extremely awkward position. Every day after office hours, some pale-faced low-ranking officials would come to the Ministry of Revenue to inquire about the money.

But what could Li Ruhua do? If Cui Wensheng refused to give it to him, would he order the yamen runners to go to the East Factory and rob it? As for the silver in the Taicang warehouse, the late emperor's mausoleum had only just been completed. There were only a few copper coins left in the warehouse, let alone silver.

So officials came daily to inquire, and Li Ruhua had no choice but to cope. A month later, the lower-ranking officials who hadn't received their money were on the verge of filing a petition to denounce him. Fortunately, Zuo Guangdou, with a single impeachment letter, directed the officials' wrath towards the East Depot. Otherwise, Li Ruhua would have continued to suffer miserably as his whipping boy.

Finally, I can get a good night's sleep, Li Ruhua thought.

(End of this chapter)