Late Ming Dynasty: So what if Emperor Chongzhen was inactive?!

Chapter 60 You are not Wei Yang, and I am not Ying Quliang

Although many people had already realized Bi Ziyan's true intentions, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning the issue of tax exemption.

The public's open opposition still stems from Bi Ziyan's policy of "unifying finances and revenues, and implementing a unified system for entry and exit."

In fact, the reforms of all dynasties have been nothing more than a few tricks: investigating land ownership and cracking down on powerful and wealthy families. Everyone knows these things, but knowing them is one thing, being willing to do them and being able to do them is another.

Uncontrollable suspicions grew in the hearts of the officials. From the beginning, it seemed that the emperor was unaware of the contents of Bi Ziyan's memorial. After all, the emperor's surprise just now did not seem to be feigned, and the emperor's attitude towards Bi Ziyan was not exactly good.

But as people gradually realized what was happening, it became hard not to suspect that the emperor and Bi Ziyan had conspired together. They said they would also take over the imperial treasury, but in the end, they left the emperor with 10% of the treasury's wealth. So, it was just a roundabout way, and the emperor didn't suffer any loss. Wasn't it just that the private treasuries of the five ministries were seized?!
If the emperor is unwilling to seek approval from the Ministry of Revenue when spending money, do you think the other five ministries would be happy to? If they were constantly hampered by the Ministry of Revenue, wouldn't they be at the mercy of it? Wouldn't Bi Ziyan truly become prime minister?! We're all ministers, so why should you be superior to others?!

“Your Majesty, the separation of the inner and outer treasuries is a long-standing practice of our dynasty. Bi Jingzeng’s plan goes against the established laws of our ancestors. I fear it will lead to chaos throughout the country. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!” Lai Zongdao, the Minister of Rites, said earnestly.

Good heavens, the ancestral laws have finally arrived! Zhu Youjian's expression changed slightly. Old Zhu's greatest expectation for his descendants was to maintain the existing order, so he formulated extremely comprehensive ancestral precepts. These precepts recorded the national policies of the Ming Dynasty, the way of being an emperor, the relationship between the emperor and his vassal states, and the system of rites and regulations.

This thing was originally an enlightenment book prepared by Zhu Yuanzhang for future emperors, to teach his descendants how to be emperors. But unexpectedly, it was used by the officials to discipline and restrict the emperor, and became the political correctness of the Ming Dynasty. If an emperor had any sense of shame, he would have been intimidated by this thing. But Zhu Youjian was not so concerned about his reputation, so he did not intend to listen to the ancestral teachings.

"National finances and taxes are the foundation of the nation, of paramount importance, and cannot be allowed to malfunction in the slightest. They must be entrusted to a mature and prudent person. Bi Ziyan is frivolous and superficial in his actions, only knowing how to pander to the public, and dares to deceive Your Majesty with alarmist words. I hope Your Majesty will see clearly and not be misled by his one-sided words!"
"I am now risking my life to impeach Bi Ziyan because he is unfit for the position of Minister of Revenue. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to select a more capable person to ensure the stability of the nation's finances!" Guo Yunhou, the former Minister of Revenue and now a Grand Secretary of the Dongge Pavilion, said with an upright demeanor. Guo Yunhou appeared to be handling official business, but it seemed to him to be settling a personal score and retaliating against Bi Ziyan for taking his position as Minister of Revenue.

At this moment, Bi Ziyan's expression turned somewhat ugly. Of the five Grand Secretaries in the cabinet, four had already stood up to oppose him, and none of the other five Ministers supported him.

Even though he had anticipated this, he was still extremely disappointed by the situation. The entire court of officials was nothing but a bunch of scheming, self-serving individuals, utterly disregarding the greater good of the nation!
The court's nobles and military generals were still AFK, but they seemed much more energetic than usual.

These civil officials usually act all high and mighty, they're nothing like they are today, all so furious. The court hasn't been this lively in a long time.

However, most of them didn't support Bi Ziyan either. Who didn't have some hidden land or slaves? Judging from his posture, it was quite frightening. Whenever there were reforms, those civil officials were hard to control, and in the end, weren't it always the military officers who suffered the consequences?
However, while most of the nobles were observing, Duke Zhang Weixian of Yingguo entered the room. Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, he stepped forward, stood among a large group of civil officials, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I believe that Minister Bi's words are absolutely correct. The country's military affairs are in a state of disarray precisely because of insufficient funds. If reforms are not implemented, the Ming Dynasty will be in grave danger!"

"Wow, you're here again?!" Zhu Youjian looked at the old man with some helplessness.

However, Zhang Weixian seemed to have misunderstood, and even winked at the emperor as if to say, "Your Majesty, didn't I do a good job? I support Your Majesty's reforms."

"I believe Minister Bi's plan is feasible." Wang Zaijin, the assistant commander of the capital's military administration, surprisingly chose to side with Bi Ziyan. Next came the time for choosing sides. The left and right vice ministers of the Ministry of Revenue, and the directors of the thirteen departments of civil affairs, among others, chose to support Bi Ziyan. Regardless of Bi Ziyan's own thoughts, most officials in the Ministry of Revenue saw this as a golden opportunity to vie for power. Originally, the Ministry of Personnel was the head of the Six Ministries, but now the Ministry of Revenue might have a chance to turn the tables.

Even so, a stark contrast emerged in the court. Officials stepped forward to express their opinions; fewer than thirty supported Bi Ziyan, while over a hundred opposed him. The remaining hundred-plus remained on the sidelines: some did not wish to get involved, while others were prepared to act according to the emperor's wishes. Because this was the first court assembly after the New Year, the number of attendees was relatively large, exceeding three hundred.

Bi Ziyan pinned his last hopes on the emperor. Faced with Bi Ziyan's expectant gaze, Zhu Youjian felt somewhat helpless.

Bi Ziyan's reforms were generally beneficial to the emperor and the country. As for the later fear that the court might try to embezzle the emperor's allowance, Zhu Youjian also came up with a solution. Since the internal and external affairs were merged, the supervision should also be merged. He would send his personal guards to guard the major imperial warehouses, and they could simply take their share of the tax revenue each time it arrived.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian intended to support Bi Ziyan's reforms, but it was impossible for him, the emperor, to lead the charge; getting involved in such matters would only bring him trouble. He didn't actually see any hope of Bi Ziyan's reforms succeeding, but even if they failed, they should at least have some effect. The financial problem was truly unbearable! If military pay was delayed, the soldiers would genuinely rebel!

Zhu Youjian hesitated for a long time before finally speaking: "I am still young, having inherited the Ming Dynasty from my elder brother. I am well aware of the many responsibilities I bear, and thus I am often filled with anxiety and fear. Fortunately, I have a righteous court full of officials, and my loyal ministers are able to assist me with great effort, which is why I can govern by doing nothing."

After careful consideration, I find that Minister Bi's proposed reforms make a lot of sense. As the saying goes, when a country faces difficulties, it is difficult to maintain the old system, and it is only natural to think about change.

However, many officials in the court voiced their opposition, which I could not ignore. Alas, I am truly foolish and do not know whose advice to follow. I vaguely recall that when the court faces major and difficult decisions, it can hold court deliberations, whereby each department sends representatives to discuss the matter face-to-face and vote to decide, just like the matter of "Anda's investiture and tribute" in the past. What do you all think?

“Bi Ziyan, this is all I can do to help you,” Zhu Youjian sighed inwardly. “You are not Wei Yang, and I am not Ying Quliang.”

Of the five Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, four opposed the proposal. If the process of submitting a draft resolution were to be followed, it would be absolutely impossible to proceed.

In theory, the emperor could make decisions at court with a single word, and what he said was law. This was something that Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang or Emperor Yongle could do.

However, later generations can still take sides when the opinions of the ministers are evenly matched. If the number of people on both sides is significantly different, they will generally follow the opinion of the majority. Otherwise, even if the emperor makes a decision, the official document will be rejected by the Six Ministries.

Of course, the censor who rejected the imperial edict could be beaten to death, and dissenting officials could be removed. If the emperor was determined to push through something, there were always ways to do so. But this would be tantamount to the emperor breaking the rules, at which point the ministers would try to sabotage the emperor. Power is, after all, the result of mutual testing and compromise. If you want to overturn the table, you have to be able to bear the consequences.

Zhu Youjian's inclination was actually quite clear, which can be translated as: "I support the reform, but I also respect the opinions of the majority. I hope you can give me some face."

(End of this chapter)