The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 148 Jiangnan as a Chessboard

These soldiers were clearly the elite of the imperial court; their armor was gleaming, their bows and crossbows were strung, and the arrowheads gleamed with a cold, menacing black light in the sunlight.

The appearance of these people made the nobles and officials in charge of Nanjing's defenses twitch. Those who knew them would think they were imperial envoys on a mission to quell a rebellion.

Following them off the ship were the Imperial Guards, dressed in flying fish robes, with embroidered spring knives at their waists and cold expressions.

These were the same people who brought the Crown Prince back to the capital from Nanjing, and now they are escorting the Imperial Envoy back to Nanjing.

Holding small flags bearing the inscription "Command of the Imperial Guards," representing the emperor's personal army, the Imperial Guards stood solemnly on both sides of the location where the imperial envoy's ship was about to dock. Even under the bright sun, the hundreds of elite soldiers and Imperial Guards exuded a sinister aura, as if they carried an unyielding, thick sense of bloodlust.

"All civil and military officials of Jiangnan! Receive the imperial decree—!"

A loud, resounding announcement, like a thunderclap, instantly silenced all the whispers.

A brief, uncontrollable commotion erupted on the dock, but was quickly suppressed by an even stronger force, and silence fell swiftly.

Several attendants dressed in blue and green official robes stepped down first and lined up on both sides. Then, several high-ranking officials in scarlet robes surrounded a young figure and appeared at the ship's side.

Stepping out of the cabin, one sees Li Xianmu with eyebrows like flowing clouds and a face as bright as the silver moon. He is extremely young and extremely handsome, truly a first-rate figure in the world, unlike anyone else in the Jiangzuo region.

Many people present had seen Li Xianmu before. When he returned from mourning, he refuted the proposal to move the capital in court. That was his first public appearance. Now, two or three years later, he has shed his former naivety.

At this moment, Shen Rong frowned, his gaze sweeping over the others with an air of solemn authority.

"The civil and military officials of Jiangnan—"

"Receive the imperial decree!"

Li Xianmu held aloft a bright yellow imperial edict, which gleamed in the sunlight.

A deafening roar of "Long live the Emperor!" echoed across the dock.

From near to far, it flows like a tide.

The massive crowd, from the Nanjing Minister and Vice Minister at the front to the local officials and county magistrates in the back, and even the gentry representatives in the distance, all knelt on the ground.

Listen attentively to the instructions.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"Grand Secretary Li Xianmu has been ordered to travel south to inspect and govern Jiangnan, investigate all illegal activities, and pacify the military and civilians. Wherever he goes, it is as if I am personally present. Officials of the fourth rank and below shall be executed first and reported later!"
Those of rank three and below shall be apprehended first, and then reported to the imperial court!

The imperial edict was brief, but countless people on the dock felt a chill run from their tailbone straight to the top of their head, and even under the scorching sun, they shivered!
For officials of the fourth rank and below, the policy of executing first and reporting later was tantamount to having a guillotine hanging over their heads.

Regardless of the turmoil in the hearts of the civil and military officials in Jiangnan, Li Xianmu announced the imperial edict, handed it to the deputy envoy, and then truly set foot on the land of Jiangnan.

The six ministers of Nanjing, suppressing their resentment at being exposed to the scorching sun, stepped forward and said gently, "Your Excellency must be exhausted from your journey. The civil and military officials of Jiangnan have prepared a small banquet to welcome you and express the respect of the people of Jiangnan. We earnestly hope that Your Excellency will grace us with your presence."

"Your superiors are all second-rank officials, the backbone of the court and the pillars of the nation. Although I am acting on behalf of the emperor, I am merely a fourth-rank official. I am unworthy of such titles and will simply address myself as Governor."

Li Xianmu deliberately downplayed his own status and specifically pointed out that he was on imperial orders to tour the realm. He naturally realized that these people were dissatisfied with him.

When everyone saw that Li Xianmu did not respond to the topic of the welcoming banquet, they immediately felt a chill in their hearts, knowing that this imperial envoy was indeed up to no good.

"The governor is joking. To be an imperial inspector is the highest honor. How can you address me as a subordinate official? You should address me by my official title to show respect to my colleagues."

Li Xianmu's lips curled slightly, and he glanced thoughtfully at the civil and military officials of Jiangnan on the dock, saying meaningfully, "Under the scorching sun, you have been waiting on the dock for so long. I suppose you are feeling depressed, which is why you look so different."

Before anyone could react, he added sharply, "You're utterly clueless!"
"His Majesty has been unable to eat or sleep due to the matter of the sorcery, and harbors deep resentment towards the civil and military officials of Jiangnan. If it weren't for the Crown Prince's protection, Jiangnan would have been filled with corpses long ago. All I did was make you wait a little longer at the docks, yet you dare to harbor such discontent! It's truly incomprehensible! Upon returning to the capital, I will certainly report today's events truthfully!"

The civil and military officials from Jiangnan surrounding Li Xianmu never expected that before they could even give him a warning, Li Xianmu would reprimand them for their inappropriate attitude in welcoming him.

First, they made them wait in the scorching sun for more than half an hour, and then they were scolded mercilessly, showing that they were completely disregarded.

But listening to Li Xianmu's words, they felt a cold sweat break out.

If Li Xianmu had come to Jiangnan with the intention of easing the situation, he would not have adopted his current attitude. Instead, he is showing no respect to the civil and military officials of Jiangnan.

This makes one wonder if he brought the emperor's attitude with him?

Unable to disregard Li Xianmu's tough stance any longer, the crowd began to explain, "Governor, we can explain the matter of sorcery in Jiangnan. It is not what His Majesty thinks. We are also quite innocent. Governor, you are a young and talented man. You must be well aware of the many helpless situations in officialdom."

Seeing that the attitude of the officials from the Six Ministries in Nanjing softened instantly, Li Xianmu breathed a sigh of relief. By using his influence to his advantage, he had ultimately gained the upper hand in this confrontation.

After the Crown Prince incident, the matter of sorcery no longer held much weight in the Emperor's mind. He had roughly figured out the inside story and decided to tour the country and hold a group of officials accountable.

As for the degree of punishment, it was up to the governor sent to the area to decide, whether to be lenient or to severely punish a group of people, there were no requirements.

However, the civil and military officials in Jiangnan were unaware of this matter, which gave Li Xianmu the opportunity to manipulate them.

"I will handle this matter impartially, so please rest assured that I will not wrong anyone."

Seeing that Li Xianmu did not speak harshly again, everyone breathed a slight sigh of relief, and then escorted Li Xianmu to the welcoming banquet.

Those officials of lower rank who couldn't squeeze into the front row, seeing Li Xianmu being "invited" away by a group of top officials, also stood up, breathed a long sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from their foreheads, and followed the huge procession at a distance with complicated and indescribable feelings.

Meanwhile, the scholars, merchants, and common people who came purely to catch a glimpse of Li Xianmu's demeanor lingered outside the cordon, chatting amongst themselves in small groups.

"Incredible! Absolutely incredible!"

An elderly scholar with white hair and beard, leaning on a cane, watched the departing procession and shook his head with emotion, "More than two years ago, when this governor of Jiangnan returned to the capital after observing mourning for his parents, I sang songs with him on a fishing boat on the river."

At that time, the young master was naturally handsome and elegant, with a charming demeanor.

Today, though his charm remains the same, his overall aura and imposing presence are quite different!

Think of those officials in the six ministries in Nanjing, those regional governors, weren't they all big shots who could shake the Jiangnan region with a stomp of their feet?
It's truly lamentable that they fear such a young man, barely twenty years old, like a tiger!

A middle-aged scholar standing nearby sighed, “After the capital was moved, Nanjing was nominally the secondary capital, but in reality it had become a mere backdrop. The powers of the Six Ministries had long since diminished, and they were practically non-existent.”

Only the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War still retain some authority.

This Governor Li, holding the prestigious position of Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, is a favorite of the Emperor, serving him daily and having direct access to his ears.

Now, he holds the great power of acting on behalf of the emperor to inspect the Jiangnan region and rectify official corruption. It can be said that the honor and disgrace of the civil and military officials and the fortune and misfortune of the gentry in the entire Jiangnan region are all in his hands, and they depend on his breath for survival.

Under such circumstances, how could those high-ranking officials not be afraid?

How can one not be humble?

Those powerful figures in Jiangnan could shake the region with a mere stomp of their feet; their power lay solely in their authority. Now, with the arrival of someone even more powerful and influential, the world has naturally turned upside down, and order has been disrupted!

These words caused those around him to gasp in surprise, gaining a deeper understanding of Li Xianmu's imposing presence.

Li Xianmu and others were naturally unaware of these rumors circulating among the people.

……

Although it lost its political status as the capital, Nanjing remained as the undisputed economic center of the Ming Dynasty, and its prosperity did not diminish in the slightest.

As the most prosperous city in Jiangnan, Nanjing retains a distinct flavor of its urban middle class.

Shops line both sides of the wide road, wine flags flutter in the breeze, the bluestone pavement is worn smooth by countless ruts and footprints, a tributary of the canal flows through the city, arched bridges span the river like rainbows, and occasionally a black-awning boat laden with goods sways gently by. The air is filled with the unique humid atmosphere of Jiangnan, mixed with the fragrance of tea and cosmetics.

Li Xianmu slightly lifted the carriage curtain, taking in the atmosphere of everyday life, and murmured, "Father seems to really like this kind of everyday life."

High above, Li Qi stared blankly at the bustling city of Nanjing. He truly loved the flavor of everyday life. Before he transmigrated, he loved to eat hot pot in Chongqing's lively restaurants, wander through the night markets, hunt for treasures in the small commodity markets, and sit for an entire afternoon with a cup of tea in hand.

For him, it was not just the flavor of the marketplace, but a prosperous era.

Ample supplies, an open and free social environment, extremely high public security, and the energy that ignites the city that never sleeps.

It is a prosperous age where everyone is at peace and tranquil.

This was a golden age unlike anything seen in the Ming Dynasty or any other ancient era. This was why he loved the Lantern Festival after his time travel; only on that day could he briefly witness the brilliance of modern lights. He couldn't describe the splendor of the future, so he could only tell his descendants, "May all 120 cities under heaven be like Bianjing in the Song Dynasty, with a scene that never sleeps."

This is something extremely difficult to achieve. The Song Dynasty's practice of supporting an entire city in a single dynasty created such a miracle.

Li Xianmu didn't think much about it. He knew that to achieve such a scene, a lot of money would be needed, and the Ming Dynasty would have to become extremely wealthy.

Generation after generation will continue to work hard. Since Father said there is an opportunity, then we just need to work hard. Father is never wrong.

"Minister Li," Li Xianmu suddenly spoke, his voice coming through the carriage curtain.

"Governor Li?"

"I'm sure you ministers are aware of what happened in the court last year. His Majesty has decided to open up sea routes for transporting grain. This move is to relieve the suffering of the people and soldiers in Jiangnan who have to transport grain by river."

This would also prevent grain from being wasted on the road in Jiangnan, reducing taxes in Jiangnan. This is a beneficial policy for the country and its people, and a great joy for Jiangnan, as the people of Jiangnan would be spared much of the heavy corvée labor of transporting grain. Li Xianmu's voice was devoid of emotion, as if it were just a routine inquiry.

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Revenue's heart skipped a beat. He was wondering why Li Xianmu had suddenly asked about maritime transport and grain supplies.

Then it suddenly occurred to him.

The proposal to open up maritime trade was something that this young governor had strongly advocated for in court years ago, overcoming all opposition!

Why did he suddenly bring this up now?

Was this a test to gauge the attitude of officials in Jiangnan towards this seaborne grain?

Or something else?
The Minister of Revenue's mind raced. "This policy truly reflects the Emperor's benevolence and virtue, benefiting the soldiers and civilians of Jiangnan. Everyone is overjoyed and grateful for His Majesty's boundless grace. Every household is burning incense and praying for His Majesty's longevity!"

While the Minister of Revenue's words were somewhat exaggerated, they were generally true. Because of the maritime trade, taxes in Jiangnan had indeed decreased, and most importantly, the deadly corvée labor had been greatly reduced.

Last year, when the canal was used for transport, the entire dock was filled with canal workers. But this year, after switching to sea transport, only about 20% of the canal workers remain.

For the people of Jiangnan, not having to work themselves to the bone is naturally a good policy.

"I am quite pleased that the people of Jiangnan have such insight."

We, as subjects, should always cherish a grateful heart. Only by constantly reflecting on the profound kindness of our sovereign and remembering the benevolence of the court can we stand firmly in this world. Minister Li, do you agree?

The Minister of Revenue felt a chill creep up his spine. The words sounded like words of encouragement, but it was very strange that they were said so suddenly!

As the saying goes, showing courtesy for nothing is either cheating or stealing.

If there were no other reason, Li Xianmu's sudden praise of the people of Jiangnan would be something he would never believe.

Saying things like "I always think of the Emperor's profound kindness" and "The court's benevolence" is equivalent to saying that the people and soldiers of Jiangnan owe the court and the emperor something that must be repaid.

What else?
What did Li Xianmu want to gain from Jiangnan?
Is this a reminder to the people of Jiangnan that I was the one who proposed this policy for Jiangnan, and that they should remember my kindness?

Is Li Xianmu trying to extort money or something?
Or perhaps the emperor wanted something from Jiangnan?
Although his mind was preoccupied with these complicated matters, he reacted very quickly and immediately said:

"Yes!

Governor Li is absolutely right. Only by living up to the Emperor's favor can we fulfill our duties and bring prosperity to the people of Jiangnan.

"wrong."

Li Xianmu's voice rang out again, "If there were two people in front of Minister Li, one grateful and the other an ingrate, who would Minister Li help?"

"Naturally, they are people who know how to repay kindness."

"It is also."

Li Xianmu said quietly, “Human hearts are all made of flesh and blood, and Your Majesty is no exception. If Your Majesty bestows favors upon your subjects, but they do not know how to be grateful, then Your Majesty will be saddened and angry. You will then take back all the favors and instead impose severe punishments.”

However, if the subjects are grateful and can help Your Majesty in his difficulties and generously donate money to Your Majesty, Your Majesty will surely be deeply moved and may even implement more benevolent policies, or even reduce taxes in Jiangnan and allow wealth to be stored among the people.

Minister Li, do you agree with what I said?

The Minister of Revenue felt that Li Xianmu's voice was quite gentle, unlike his stern voice at the dock, but he felt cold sweat all over his body, just as he had expected.

Li Xianmu's words just now were indeed for a different purpose.

But he had no other choice at the moment. The matter had already been brought up, so he could only bite the bullet and reply, "The governor is absolutely right. The people of Jiangnan are deeply grateful for the emperor's favor and must obey orders."

But Your Majesty sits on the throne, the supreme ruler of the land, illuminated by the sun and moon, favored by Heaven. What in this world could possibly be so difficult for Your Majesty that it would require your subjects to solve it?

The Minister of Revenue still wanted to make a move, after all, the words "generously donating money" made him feel rather uneasy, and he had a bad feeling.

"Minister Li is currently in Jiangnan. Is he aware of any unusual activity in Annam?"

Li Xianmu chuckled softly, his voice like a deadly demon, making the Minister of Revenue feel a wave of dizziness. Yet, Li Xianmu's voice still drifted over, "Annam has rebelled again. His Majesty has decided to send Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo to Annam to quell the rebellion, advancing by both land and sea."

The Minister of Revenue was truly in a state of shock.

Advance by both land and sea!

Everyone knows that Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean started in Liujiagang in Jiangnan. Now that the imperial court is advancing by both land and sea, it is impossible to transfer grain and fodder from the capital thousands of miles away. They still have to levy them from Jiangnan.

But now all the grain supplies from Jiangnan have to be supplied to Beijing. The maritime transport office and the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing have already begun the handover process, and not a single grain supply for spring and summer can be missing.

"The governor..."

He had just opened his mouth when he saw the carriage curtain fall, clearly indicating that Li Xianmu was not going to talk to him anymore.

“They…”

If Li Xianmu's biological mother wasn't a princess, he would really want to curse.

Those around who heard this all changed their expressions, exchanging glances with the Minister of Revenue, unsure of what to say.

Everyone knew that Li Xianmu had just been testing them, giving them time to prepare themselves.

Want to talk?

impossible.

You, Jiangnan, have received a great favor from the Emperor. How dare you not repay it? Just now, Li Xianmu had already made a subtle threat.

There was no further sound coming from inside the car.

Li Xianmu closed his eyes to rest.

Meanwhile, the civil and military officials from Jiangnan walked through the still bustling streets of Nanjing in a subtle atmosphere of outward harmony but inward repression, heading towards the welcoming banquet that was already rife with undercurrents.

Now, with the addition of the Annam issue mentioned by Li Xianmu, the atmosphere has become even more tense.

The officials who had not heard the two men earlier were puzzled, wondering why the six ministers had suddenly frowned.

It seems I'm even more worried than when I was at the dock.

Sunlight shone on the majestic procession and the ancient streets, leaving long marks etched on the mottled bluestone slabs.

The flags held high cast long shadows in the sunlight.

If the world is a game of chess, then the emperor is the player, the civil and military officials of Jiangnan are the pieces, and Li Xianmu is the troublemaker.

But Jiangnan is also a game of chess, with Li Xianmu and the civil and military officials of Jiangnan playing against each other.

Li Xianmu placed his first piece since entering Jiangnan, officially starting the game, and the final result of this contest...

No one knows!

(End of this chapter)