Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 79: Forcing Officials to Become Thieves
Zhu Changluo walked over to Mi Mengshang and asked, "You don't want to ask, since I knew about this, why didn't I stop it, but instead condoned or even indulged this behavior?"

Mi Mengshang raised her head, slightly avoiding the emperor's gaze, but not too far away. "Your Majesty, yes."

"Do you know how much a fourth-rank official earns in a year?" Zhu Changluo suddenly asked.

"I don't know." Mi Mengshang actually knew, otherwise her month-long stint as an accounting supervisor would have been in vain. But at this moment, "I don't know" was the correct answer.

"Two hundred and eighty-eight shi. Based on twelve cents of silver per shi of grain, it equals two hundred and sixteen taels." Zhu Changluo nodded.

"So, the annual salary of Wang Zhangyin is only two hundred and sixteen taels of silver?" Mi Mengshang had never conceded a penny before.

"Wang An is an eunuch. According to the ancestral system, the eunuchs' food, clothing and other expenses all come from the palace, so their salary is only 10% of that of the external officials of the same rank. That is 21 taels, 9 qian and 6 fen." The salary system of the Ming Dynasty was a complete mess, so Zhu Changluo could only make a rough estimate.

"Just this little?" Mi Mengshang asked in surprise.

"This is still the highest possible figure," Zhu Changluo shook his head. "When grain prices were high, we had to distribute all the grain or convert it directly into silver to get this figure."

During the Ming Dynasty, salaries were often paid in kind. Sometimes they were in the form of grain, sometimes spices like pepper and sumac. But no matter what was paid, it was ultimately converted into rice. The imperial court had absolute control over the conversion rate, so it often made a big deal about it.

For example, in the 16th year of the Chenghua reign, the Ministry of Revenue converted coarse cloth, worth only three or four qian of silver, into 30 dan of rice. At the time, 30 dan of rice was worth at least 20 liang of silver. If, at this conversion rate, the salary were entirely in linen, the annual salary of a fourth-rank official would be less than 10 bolts of cloth, or 3 or 4 liang of silver. This devaluation of the salary by dozens or even hundreds of times was practically the same as refusing to pay a debt.

Zhu Changluo asked again: "Then do you know how much money Wang An spends at least every year?"

"I don't know." She really didn't know.

"At least ten thousand taels. Although the eunuchs' food, clothing, and other expenses come from the palace, ceremonials, pomp, rewards, and social interactions all cost money." Zhu Changluo began pacing the hall, counting off a finger with each point he made. This reminded Mi Mengshang of the emperor's lecture to her over a month ago. "How do you think we should balance this difference?"

Without waiting for Mi Mengshang to reply, Zhu Changluo continued, "Money won't fall from the sky or appear out of the ground, so if Wang An wants to settle this account, he can only take the money sent by the people around him."

"Go and close the door." Wang An gestured to Wei Chao who followed him, asking him to close the door of the South Study.

"Whether it was the silver given by Luo Sigong, Cui Wensheng, or even Shen, Han Yu, and Xu Guangqi, Wang An reported it all." Zhu Changluo looked at Wang An with approval. "You're not called 'Old Ancestor' for nothing. With just the title and no silver, you can't hold your position securely. So I told him to keep the money."

"I have no need for personal wealth. Your Majesty's grace is sufficient." Wang An, now over fifty, had almost lost all desire for material things. What he most desired now was an honor worthy of the Sanbao eunuchs. "My master gives me five thousand taels of pure silver every year. I don't know how to spend it," Wang An chuckled.

Wang An entered the palace as a child and is now over fifty. His parents have long since passed away, so the emperor, his master, is practically his only relative. Zhu Changluo, completely absorbed in teaching and resolving doubts, didn't notice the fleeting loneliness in Wang An's chuckle. He continued his tireless instruction, asking, "Wang An, ten thousand taels of silver per year is quite modest. Do you know why?"

This unexpected lesson today was completely beyond Mi Mengshang's comprehension: "I don't know, please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

"Wang An is serving in Beijing, so he doesn't need to prepare travel expenses to report to the capital. Wang An doesn't have a superior, so he doesn't need to make connections to get promoted." Zhu Changluo subconsciously pushed his nose, but there were no glasses there. "In other words, he doesn't need to spend money to please anyone."

"The emperor knows it and condones it. Then what's the point of me doing all this?" Mi Mengshang raised her head and asked in a tired and lonely tone.

"Of course it is useful, because I want to completely cut off the thing behind this." Zhu Changluo's calm tone revealed determination.

"What's behind it?" Mi Mengshang vaguely understood, but the flash of inspiration had not yet come to her.

Zhu Changluo sighed deeply. He asked a question instead of an answer: "Do you know who was the most honest and upright official in the history of the Ming Dynasty?"

"Hai Rui, Hai Gangfeng." Hai Qingtian's name is known throughout the world, so how could Mi Mengshang not know him?

"Hai Rui took no money except for his regular salary and allowance. He lived a frugal life, grew vegetables for his own support, wore cloth and ate coarse food. Even buying two pounds of meat for his mother's birthday became a local gossip, a topic of conversation after dinner for people to amuse themselves." Zhu Changluo paused, his face showing sadness.

"Life has an account to be settled. Income and expenditure, what is that called?" Zhu Changluo suddenly looked at Wei Chao and asked.

"My lord, this is called settling accounts." Wei Chao's legs trembled and sweat broke out on his forehead when he heard this.

"That's right. The balance of income and expenditure is called a balance of accounts, a surplus is called an inheritance, and a loss is called a debt. In October of the fifteenth year of the Wanli reign, Hai Qingtian passed away. Hai Rui had no son, so his good friend Wang Yongji presided over the funeral. Upon arriving at the location, Wang Yongji saw only 'nothing left outside the coffin, only vegetable roots in front of the desolate spirit.' The Minister of Personnel! He couldn't even raise the funeral expenses after his death! This is a disgrace to the court and the Ming Dynasty." Zhu Changluo's face was as cold as ice. "This is not the end of an honest official and a loyal minister."

"The rules of our Ming Dynasty demand that scholars not only become officials but also become saints. But how many Hai Ruis are there in the court? How many Wang Ans are there among the eunuchs?" Zhu Changluo's comparison of Wang An and Hai Rui made Wang An feel extremely honored. He straightened his back, his old face flushed.

"A seventh-rank county magistrate has an annual salary of eighty stones, which is sixty taels of silver. Even if he doesn't eat or drink for ten years, he can only earn six hundred taels of silver. And to show filial piety to superiors, greet guests, take exams and pay homage to the emperor, it will cost at least a thousand taels of silver in ten years. Not to mention that he becomes an official just for money, but after ten years of hard study, he needs a decent life, right? He can't make up for this debt, and the officials have power in their hands. What should he do?" Zhu Changluo looked into Mi Mengshang's eyes.

"Corruption." Mi Mengshang swallowed and took a step back unconsciously.

"Discounting the color of fire consumption, pouring the tip and kicking the bucket, all these kinds of things, there are countless." Looking around at the three people besides himself, he said shockingly: "It is the ancestral system that forces officials to become thieves!"

(End of this chapter)