The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 249 Reputation (Fourth Update)

The sky in March of the first year of the Hongxi reign was clear and azure.

At the grand court assembly, the emperor dropped a bombshell.

"The tax levied on officials in various regions will be turned over to the public treasury and then converted into a 'cleanliness allowance' to be distributed to officials at all levels. According to my rough plan, this cleanliness allowance will be at least five times their salary, or even ten times."

The Qing Dynasty's allowance for maintaining integrity was ten to a hundred times the official salary, but that is not a reliable reference because the salaries of Qing Dynasty officials were much lower than those of the Ming Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, the various miscellaneous salaries could easily support a family of ten, while in the Qing Dynasty, the salary was barely enough to support a family of four.

All the officials knelt in the hall and shouted that the emperor was wise and benevolent. Zhu Gaochi had lived for decades, from the Hongwu era to the present, and had never seen such a scene before.

Indeed, wealth can move people's hearts.

Many officials in the hall even burst into tears. Their cries were filled with complex emotions, as if they were venting something. Zhu Gaochi was both happy and uneasy listening to them.

Although these officials didn't say a word, their actions clearly demonstrated that the salaries used to be too low, and that the Zhu family emperors were stingy.

If this were a game world, Zhu Gaochi would see countless numbers floating above the heads of officials.

Loyalty +30%
Loyalty +50%
Loyalty +100%
This is what is meant by "If a ruler treats his subjects as his hands and feet, then the subjects will treat the ruler as their heart and soul!"

Why was it so effective? Because those attending court were all officials from the capital, and the poverty of these officials was well-known. Local officials had countless ways to exploit people, while officials from the capital could only accept bribes from local officials, but most officials didn't even have the right to accept them.

Li Xianmu proposed that the fire tax be returned to the public treasury, but who would supervise the return of the fire tax to the public treasury?
Of course, they're officials in the capital!
Letting officials compete against each other and supervise one another will naturally yield the best results.

Having overcome his initial period of unease, Zhu Gaochi accepted the officials' flattery with a clear conscience. Today's grand court assembly was probably the most harmonious one in the sixty years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and everyone was immersed in joy.

Even officials who receive bribes from their subordinates are happy, since who would want to take dirty money when they can get clean money?

"I pity you all for the great difficulties you face in the capital, and the expenses of serving as officials in the provinces are also high. Therefore, I have facilitated this matter. I ask for nothing else but that if you ever find yourselves in trouble in the future, you will think of my words today and the words 'cultivating integrity' in your salaries!"

The emperor's voice echoed in the Fengtian Hall, resounding in everyone's ears: "Punish past mistakes to prevent future ones, cure the disease and save the patient."

Li Mingda once said it well: killing an official is easy, but cultivating a good official is difficult, and cultivating a good official who can contribute to the country is even more difficult.

Putting myself in your shoes, I am unwilling to punish you too harshly unless absolutely necessary.

There are too many temptations and difficulties on the road to becoming a good official. I hope that this allowance for maintaining integrity today can remove some of the difficulties on your path.

If difficulties persist in the future, I, and future emperors, believe that we will extend a helping hand to you all. With one heart and one mind, we, ruler and subject, will work together to prosper the Ming Dynasty and protect all the people of the land!

These words were so sincere that even Li Xianmu was moved, let alone the other officials. Many people in the hall were already crying. It seemed that today's grand court assembly could no longer be held. The ministers had no interest in discussing matters, and the emperor himself was holding his belt, feeling somewhat tired.

The courtiers, some choked with emotion, some excited, and some sighing, respectfully saw the emperor off before helping each other out of the palace.

Li Xianmu quickly attracted a large crowd, because the emperor had made it clear that Li Xianmu was involved in this matter. Given the current situation in the Ming Dynasty, it was very likely that this was a suggestion made by Li Xianmu.

"Lord Shouzheng! This matter must have been proposed to His Majesty by you, right?"

"His Majesty has always had this idea, but he doesn't know where to start. I'm just taking the opportunity to suggest that the fire tax be returned to the public."

"As expected of Lord Shouzheng!" These courtiers were all shrewd and immediately understood the implication of his words. "Lord Shouzheng has truly shown us great kindness and virtue this time."

Even though Li Xianmu couldn't see the system panel, he could see his political prestige rising rapidly from the eyes of those around him.

Since ancient times, seeking benefits for those below has been the best way to unite people's hearts and minds, bar none.

Li Xianmu's efforts in facilitating this matter naturally earned him immense prestige among the bureaucratic class. Who wouldn't be satisfied with a powerful figure willing to seek benefits for his own people?
Li Xianmu, however, did not take credit for anything and humbly said: "You all have worked hard for the Ming Dynasty. My late father once said that we should not let people shed blood and tears at the same time, and I deeply agree with that."

As His Majesty just said at the grand court assembly, I hope that you will all be diligent in state affairs in the future and do less things that will invite criticism.

Today His Majesty has granted officials a stipend for maintaining integrity. As long as the Ming Dynasty prospers, I believe the lives of officials will only get better and better.

This last sentence is quite interesting. Is Li Xianmu saying that this is not his last time speaking out, and that he will offer advice again if given the opportunity in the future?
But Li Xianmu didn't say it directly, and they couldn't ask. A gentleman understands righteousness, while a petty person understands profit. This increase in salary was a divine favor bestowed by the emperor, and it would be inappropriate for them to ask about it.

Looking at the conflicted crowd, Li Xianmu shook his head and didn't say anything more about it. He simply said again, "Alright everyone, it's time to leave the palace. What kind of image is it to keep lingering in front of Fengtian Hall? There are still many matters to attend to in the government offices."

The thought that the emperor might be watching them from somewhere caused the officials to scatter like birds and beasts. The Left Censor-in-Chief Zheng Huan, Grand Secretary Yang Rong, and Huang Huaicai surrounded them.

Yang Rong, being straightforward and outspoken, exclaimed excitedly, "Mingda, you have actually managed to accomplish such a great thing. From now on, countless officials throughout the land will owe you a debt of gratitude."

Li Xianmu waved his hand dismissively and said, "They're just illusions, nothing to worry about. We'll still fight and struggle as we please."

Zheng Huan, as an imperial censor, smiled and shook his head, saying, "That's different. The School of Mind is developing rapidly, but because you are quite upright, many people come and go."

Now that there is a stipend for maintaining integrity, many people can pursue what they truly desire in their hearts.” Yang Rong and Huang Huai nodded in agreement with Zheng Huan’s words.

This left Li Xianmu quite helpless.

He was relatively strict with himself and lenient with others. He would turn a blind eye to things like embezzling fire tax, which wasn't considered corruption.

He even sometimes didn't pursue the matter if his subordinates accepted gifts to do favors, as long as it wasn't excessive.

As I said before, he never demands others to meet the standards of a saint.

But it seems that others don't think so. They all feel that he is upright and righteous, and those who have committed some crimes feel ashamed and distance themselves from his faction.

Li Xianmu didn't intend to explain, but just shook his head helplessly, "Let's go, Zirong, you go back to the cabinet first, I need to go to the Ministry of War. The General of Da Ning will be returning to the capital today to report on his duties, and I need to ask him some questions."

The group said their goodbyes.

After the officials who had attended the grand court assembly returned to their respective offices, news of the court's increase in salaries spread throughout the capital through various channels.

Wherever there were people on the streets and alleys, they were discussing this matter. Ordinary people could only look on with envy, while the officials with official ranks who were also within the scope of the salary increase were excited and kowtowed to express their gratitude for the emperor's grace.

The news then quickly spread from the capital to Shuntian Prefecture and the other thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty.

Local officials naturally reacted differently than officials in the capital.

In local areas, it wasn't just officials who could receive the fire tax; clerks and other low-ranking officials also did.

However, this time the court was not involved in dealing with those officials.

This is reasonable, since officials are of low social status, and the imperial court would never pay salaries to people of low social status; it would be too shameful.

The biggest beneficiary of this event was actually the county magistrate, whose salary from the imperial court was equivalent to that of a fourth-rank official.

The purpose was obvious: to "respect the county magistrate to suppress the powerful and corrupt officials, and to suppress evil officials."

It's often said that imperial power doesn't reach the countryside, but this time the goal is to strengthen the power of county magistrates, allowing imperial power to penetrate deeper into the very fabric of the empire.

The Ming Dynasty had many magistrates who were sycophantic and prone to ruining their families, but it also had no shortage of magistrates who aspired to be upright and just officials, and many of them even harbored ideals.

The current system of "anti-corruption allowances" has given them an opportunity—an opportunity to control the county.

The far-reaching impact of this system will inevitably become apparent in the future.

At this time, Li Xianmu was in the Ministry of War.

“Minister, the visiting card of the General of Da Ning has been delivered. His personal guards said that he went to the Five Military Commissions to report on his duties and will come to the Ministry of War to report on his duties later.”

"Shuchen" is an honorific title for the Minister of War, originating from the position of Privy Councilor in charge of military affairs during the Tang and Song dynasties.

Local generals are under the dual leadership of the Five Military Commissions and the Ministry of War, so they must also give reports on their duties to both.

Now, a new requirement has been added: reporting to the emperor.

The procedure was to first report to the Five Military Commissions and the Ministry of War, and then the Five Military Commissions and the Ministry of War would submit their reports to the Emperor.

He would then go to the palace to report to the emperor, and the reports would be cross-verified to prevent him from deceiving the emperor by taking advantage of the emperor's lack of military knowledge.

Li Xianmu attached great importance to the General of Daming. It was he who advised Emperor Yongle to preserve Daming Guard. If Daming Guard had not existed, Arughtai's entry into Ming territory would not have been a minor incident.

Currently, the entire strategic defense focus of the Ming Dynasty is on the eastern grasslands, which is the territory of the Golden Family.

After a short while, a clerk from the Ministry of War came in and reported, "Reporting to the Grand Councilor, the General of Da Ning has arrived."

"Please come in."

Before long, a man who was about forty years old and eight feet tall walked in from outside. His skin was dark from years of weathering, and he walked with a powerful stride. His hands were covered with thick calluses. From his appearance, he looked like a fierce general.

This is Zhu Rong, the General of Daning.

His identity was also quite extraordinary. He was born into a noble family and was the son of the former Duke of Cheng. Although he was only a son of a concubine and did not inherit the title, he was exceptionally brave and skilled in martial arts from a young age and was greatly favored by the Duke of Cheng.

After entering officialdom, he rose step by step to the position of General of Daming, relying on his status and ability, and can be considered one of the outstanding second-generation nobles.

(End of this chapter)