The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 277 Undercurrent
In the first month of the first year of the Xuande reign, a group of sharp-eyed men followed merchants westward, raising clouds of dust on the straight road as they disappeared into the distance, accompanied by the neighing of packhorses.

Li House.

Inside the hall, several people sat on either side: Grand Secretaries Yang Rong and Huang Huai, Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhao Zhen, Hanlin Academician, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Censor. About ten people were scattered around, all of whom were key members of the Neo-Confucianism faction in the capital.

Li Xianmu glanced over them. These were all officials he had carefully selected, those who were both capable and virtuous. He had promoted them one by one from the twelfth to the fifteenth year of the Yongle reign, and after ten years of training, they were finally ready to enter the inner circle and serve as his right-hand men.

The hot tea was steaming, and the hot pot in the hall was burning brightly, so there was no chill in the room, but everyone's faces were full of solemnity.

“Prime Minister, ever since you proposed the use of special funds at the Ming Dynasty’s financial conference at the end of last year, there has been a lot of undercurrents in the capital.”

"The threshold of the Minister of Works' residence is almost worn down by the crowds."

“Many people have gone to persuade Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Revenue, to oppose this matter.”

"Many officials are secretly colluding to oppose this matter, and their forces are very strong."

Everyone began to speak about the undercurrents in the capital recently, their voices tinged with a mix of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing feelings of感慨, a sense of deep emotion, and a profound sense of apprehension).

Li Xianmu remained calm. “Cutting off someone’s source of income is like killing their parents. This was expected long ago, but such a source of income must be cut off, even if it means fighting them to the death.”

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall nodded solemnly.

They wouldn't be here if they didn't share the same will.

Huang Huai frowned slightly and said, "The opposition this time is indeed very strong, and I am worried that they may cause trouble in secret."

Yang Rong also frowned, "What if they deliberately cause trouble because the funds are being used for their intended purpose?"

For example, if a project involves reporting every detail, and the project is deliberately delayed due to regulations, causing serious consequences, the cause can then be directly attributed to the "dedicated funds for specific purposes" system.

That would be difficult to handle. Mingda, you'll also be in a passive position. You have to be careful.

The expressions of the people in the hall were slightly tense. They deliberately disrupted the court's policies, putting in 100% effort on things that were only 80% important, and going to extremes. This has always been a good way to resist the court's policies, and it is also difficult to deal with, because once it is dealt with, it will dampen the enthusiasm of officials to do their work.

Li Xianmu slowly drank the hot tea and said calmly, "This system will definitely reduce efficiency, so we cannot give them the opportunity to prove the disadvantages of the dedicated funds system."

Instead, we must take the initiative to demonstrate the necessity of this system.

Mingguang, Ziyu.

Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhao Zhen and Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Zhou Cheng immediately responded calmly, "Your Excellency, we are here."

Li Xianmu took out an account book and handed it to the two of them. "I have received a secret letter and some correspondence. Someone is embezzling from the imperial mausoleum. This is part of the account book. There are some improprieties in it, but the evidence is not yet sufficient."

"You two should send people to investigate thoroughly and make a big fuss about this, especially uncovering any instances of false reporting, concealment, or manipulation at various stages of the process, and establish the true nature of this matter."

Everyone in the hall perked up. Zhao Zhen and Zhou Cheng took an account book from Li Xianmu, their faces full of excitement. "If we can grasp the beginning and the end of this book, we will surely be able to deal a heavy blow to those who oppose us."

Li Xianmu's expression was quite solemn. "I will not directly intervene in this matter. After we have thoroughly investigated the whole story, Mingguang, you should find an upright and outspoken young censor in the Censorate and have him submit a memorial to the Emperor. Then the Cabinet will take action."

"Yes!"

The two responded in unison.

……

After everyone left the Li residence, Li Xianmu went to the backyard. Zhang Wan stepped forward to take off Li Xianmu's outer garment and said softly, "Husband, when I went to the Duke's residence yesterday, my mother asked me to pass on a message to you. Some uncles and elders want to visit the residence, but they are worried that you will not agree, so they asked me to sound them out."

"If you don't want to see her, I'll have Dongmei go to the Duke's mansion to refuse Mother, so as not to delay your important matters."

The uncles and aunts mentioned by Zhang Wan included not only Zhang Fu's relatives, but also many other imperial relatives and nobles. Intermarriage among nobles was very common, and they were basically all related by blood.

Those who suffered the most from the misuse of funds were not civil officials, but rather members of the imperial family.

These people control royal affairs. For example, Li Xianmu is now the Director of the Imperial Clan Court, controlling the Imperial Clan Court. The real money in royal affairs, such as purchasing goods for the palace, is huge.

These people want to see Li Xianmu now because their interests have been harmed, and they want to make peace with Li Xianmu. To some extent, this is the same goal as that of the opposition civil officials.

"not see."

Without hesitation, Li Xianmu frowned, his anger barely concealed. "These people are too greedy. They want hereditary succession and wealth, but that's not enough. They manipulate things in these matters, truly disgracing our ancestors."

“Alright, then I will refuse my mother tomorrow,” Zhang Wan replied. “Husband, you must be careful. These people, when they unite, are not to be underestimated.”

Li Xianmu gently patted his wife's hand, "I understand."

After a pause, he continued, "Wan'er, you are the matriarch of the entire Li family, so you should pay more attention to the education of the children in the family."

If your children show signs of being spoiled, you should beat them. "Spare the rod and spoil the child." It's better to beat them to death at home than to let them ruin your reputation outside. Never be a doting mother who spoils her spoiled children.

Girls in the family should read more of the "Admonitions for Women" and "Instructions for Women," and be sure to be virtuous and gentle. They should learn more needlework in their boudoirs and avoid fighting. What kind of behavior is that for girls?
When choosing a family to live with, one must also pay attention to their family traditions and reputation. Those who are not upright must be avoided. In a family as honest as ours, we must be careful inside and out, and no one should tarnish the family's reputation and honor.

If so, kill him in the ancestral hall; the family's reputation must not be disgraced.

Zhang Wan shuddered, but still managed to reply, "I understand. I will make sure they study diligently in the clan school and don't associate with those shady characters outside."

but……"

Ok?
Li Xianmu noticed his wife's hesitation and asked, "What happened?"

Zhang Wan gritted her teeth and said, "The Marquis of Taining's mansion has also sent someone, and it seems they are also involved. What do you think we should do about this?"

The Marquis of Taining's Residence.

Li Xianmu frowned slightly. The second daughter of the Li family had married into the Taining Marquis's family. She was the eldest daughter of his second brother, Li Mao.

“If we refuse outright, the Second Miss’s days in the Marquis’s mansion will probably be difficult,” Zhang Wan said with a hint of worry.

The Ming Dynasty was a different society from the Tang and Song Dynasties. In most people's common sense, dowry belongs to the woman personally, but starting from the Yuan Dynasty, in the Ming Dynasty, even the dowry belonged to the husband's family.

The saying goes, "A woman follows her husband wherever he goes, whether he's a chicken or a dog." Once married, she belongs to the man's family. If the Marquis of Taining's mansion doesn't release her, even if she dies, her family won't be able to see her body.

Of course, that applies to ordinary families. For someone as powerful as Li Xianmu, the Taining Marquis's mansion wouldn't dare to be so blatant.

But all sorts of insidious and cunning methods are constantly emerging in this world.

Zhang Wan, having come from a noble family, was well aware of the affairs within such households. Given Li's current influence, she naturally wouldn't dare to target her openly, but she had plenty of ways to make people depressed in secret. It wasn't impossible for her to die silently in the mansion.

Li Xianmu was immediately filled with a multitude of complex thoughts; this was the difficulty of getting things done.

Interest groups are so deeply intertwined that each reform requires the formation of new interest groups.

"We still can't meet, but we should still protect the Second Miss. Isn't the Lantern Festival in a few days? Invite some women from the capital to hold a Lantern Festival in the mansion, and then bring the Second Miss with you to show how much importance we attach to her and to show how much our family cares for our daughters, so as to deter any improper thoughts."

Zhang Wan hesitated for a moment, "Husband, at the Lantern Festival, do you think I should say something? For example, your subtle attitude, directly confronting me without any communication, doesn't seem very good. Making friends is always better than making enemies."

Li Xianmu paused for a moment, "Wan'er, what you said makes sense. During the Lantern Festival, you can say something like this: the imperial relatives are deeply favored by the emperor and have the privilege of hereditary succession. His Majesty bestows upon them ten times the salary of civil officials every year, and they also have a large number of properties, fields, and shops. They can be described as extremely wealthy and honorable."

The saying goes, "things reach their extreme and then reverse." Just like fireworks, after their brilliance comes silence. When it's time to be low-key, one should be low-key. People die for wealth, and birds die for food. But if one can eat for a thousand years, why stuff oneself to death in a short time?
That's roughly it. You can adjust it according to the situation and atmosphere. In short, I've already said what I meant. If anyone dares to cause trouble when things are going well, don't blame me for being ruthless.

Zhang Wan didn't say anything more, but just nodded to indicate that she understood.

Li Xianmu then thought of his elder brother, Li Fang, the Duke of Han, who was guarding Nanjing.

Since the Duke of Wei and the Duke of Han arrived in Nanjing, the nobles of the Ming Dynasty have been divided into two groups. The nobles in the capital are at the political core, while the four dukes in the south and the marquises surrounding them have another center.

Intermarriage between the two sides continued naturally, but relatively speaking, due to the great distance between them, the nobles of the two capitals intermarried more frequently.

Compared to Li Mao, Li Fang's sons and daughters were all married into noble families, all of whom were dukes or marquises.

Only Li Xianmu's sons and daughters were still young.

In just one year, Li Xianmu had vaguely heard rumors that there were eight great families in Jinling, and even the Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture had to be mindful of the attitudes of the gatekeepers and stewards of these eight families when handling affairs.

Even the entire Southern Zhili region and the Jiangnan region were under the control of the eight major families.

Even if it's just a rumor, its power and influence are already quite evident.

This rumor is also one of the reasons why Li Xianmu promoted the dismantling of the Southern Zhili region, which was to suppress powerful clans, whether they were civil officials or noble families.

He hesitated for a moment, but decided to write a letter to settle the matter. He absolutely couldn't let things get out of hand, otherwise he would have no choice but to put the greater good before his own family.

The Li family began to flourish during the Yongle era. In just over twenty years, it had already developed into such a large and deeply rooted clan. If it were to develop for another hundred or two hundred years, how could it possibly promote reforms when all the members were relatives and old friends?
This is why noble families are unable to shoulder important responsibilities and tend to become increasingly corrupt over time.

This is why Li Xianmu wanted to establish a civil service government. Civil service does have various shortcomings, but at least it can continuously promote talents from the bottom up. These talents are always those who come from humble backgrounds, have not had much contact with the previous interest groups, and have ideals in their hearts. These people are the driving force for reform.

……

The sixth day of the first year of the Xuande reign.

Officials resumed court sessions, which, according to court regulations, lasted until the tenth day of the first lunar month. Officials in the capital would then have a ten-day holiday on the eleventh day of the first lunar month, which was the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival was the grandest festival of the year, even surpassing the Spring Festival.

To the surprise of many, not many people submitted memorials opposing the use of the funds for their intended purpose.

However, the atmosphere in the imperial court was far from good; even the most obtuse person could see the undercurrents swirling within.

The reason it's not acting up now is simply so that it can act up even more violently later.

Countless conspiracies and schemes had been brewing within it for some time.

Most officials looked at Li Xianmu with very complicated expressions. As the Minister of Personnel and the Grand Secretary, his power was comparable to that of a prime minister.

The first thing this prime minister did after taking office was to crack down on corruption.

His decisive and efficient manner remains unchanged, but it's unclear where he will ultimately go or to what extent he will succeed.

What method will be used?

At present, it seems that Li Xianmu has no intention of restoring the Great Proclamation, which is somewhat comforting.

If Li Xianmu really intends to restore the Great Proclamation, then they will truly have to fight to the death.

Aside from those officials who were guilty, the court was not lacking in clean officials, especially the newly appointed officials, more than half of whom were students of the School of Mind and naturally had a great fondness for Li Xianmu.

Now, seeing Li Xianmu's power and influence in the court, as well as his concern for the world, they dream of being able to stay by Li Xianmu's side and serve him like cattle and horses.

Li Xianmu observed both of these forces, but he didn't express much opinion. He simply answered the emperor's questions quietly and methodically, and reviewed the memorials from various departments.

Now, he has already sent out all the necessary agents to handle matters in the court, and is only waiting for the results and his next move.

He also played a part in fueling the undercurrents between the government and the public.

In political struggles, he always takes the initiative.

The main topic of discussion and reporting at the imperial court was the division of the provinces. This matter was implemented quite smoothly, and the division of Gansu and Liaoning was completed in just half a month.

The interests involved in Huguang were relatively few, and it took a month and a half to completely resolve the matter. The governors of both Huguang have already taken office.

The division of Southern Zhili was the most troublesome, as it involved too many high-ranking officials and the most conflicts of interest, especially the counties that remained in Yingtian Prefecture. Some people wanted to take the opportunity to incorporate them, since everyone could see that Yingtian Prefecture would inevitably have a high status in the future, and might even be established as a provincial-level city.

Wang Gen made many efforts in this endeavor, and Li Xianmu even wrote a letter to Li Fang, asking her to assist Wang Gen, otherwise Wang Gen would have no chance of making any progress.

After all, Wang Gen did not have the confidence, power, or ability to subdue Jiangnan like Li Xianmu did.

(End of this chapter)