Huangming

Chapter 190 Salt and Iron Monopoly, Indoctrination and Mind Control

On the throne.

Zhu Youxiao put down the memorial in his hand and looked intently at Fang Congzhe and Liu Yizhu: "My two beloved ministers, I have been thinking about the matter of the chieftains in the southwest for a long time. The chieftains of the She and An clans appear to be submissive, but in reality they harbor treacherous intentions. They occupy their own territories and hold military power. If they were to rebel one day, the southwest would surely be thrown into chaos."

He stood up and paced around the hall: "Our Great Ming is now beset by internal and external troubles. The war in Liaodong has not yet ended. If war breaks out again in the southwest, the court will be fighting on two fronts, and the national strength will be exhausted. At that time, I'm afraid the destruction of the country will be imminent, and the people will rise up in rebellion."

Is the situation in the southwest really as dire as Your Majesty claims?

Fang Congzhe secretly harbored doubts.

The cabinet has not yet received any concrete reports about the chieftain's rebellion, yet Your Majesty is taking such precautions. Could there be another purpose behind this?

Is His Majesty already aware of secret reports unknown to the Cabinet, or does he intend to use the situation in the Southwest to implement other policies?
He secretly pondered the deeper meaning behind the emperor's actions.

Fang Congzhe pondered for a moment. Although he could not fully understand the emperor's intention, he dared not be negligent and immediately reported respectfully:
"Your Majesty is wise. However, the hereditary system of chieftains has lasted for more than two hundred years. If we suddenly change the system of chieftains to centrally appointed officials, it may provoke border conflicts and defeat the purpose of controlling the people."

Zhu Youxiao's eyes flickered slightly as he stood with his hands behind his back: "What I am worried about is not a temporary change, but long-term stability. We need to use the power of the Tusi to secure the borders, but we must also guard against them becoming too powerful and causing trouble. You should devise a good plan so that they can serve as a shield for our Great Ming, but also dare not act rashly."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yiju immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty's wisdom is profound. Could it be that you wish to emulate the previous dynasty's strategy of 'using barbarians to control barbarians'?"

Zhu Youxiao smiled slightly: "That's right. I've heard that the Xi'an clan of Shuixi and the She clan of Yongning have a long-standing feud. The various chieftains are not a united front. If we can make good use of this, it might alleviate the pressure on us."

Zhu Youxiao's gaze was sharp as he slowly swept over the faces of the two high-ranking officials and said, "The Jinyiwei's agents have already infiltrated the territories of various chieftains. The drunken ramblings of She Chongming at his banquet and the whispers in An Bangyan's secret chamber have not escaped my notice. But remember, what I want is stability in the southwest, not for these chieftains to rise up in rebellion."

Upon hearing this, Fang Congzhe's expression hardened, and he quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty is truly insightful! The Embroidered Uniform Guard's covert surveillance can detect any unusual movements by the chieftains without disturbing the border regions. With such a combination of firmness and tact, those ambitious wolves in the southwest will not dare to act rashly, and the southwest will surely be at peace!"

Is it really that simple and stable?

Zhu Youxiao did not think so.

“Doing this alone is not enough.”

Zhu Youxiao picked up a vermilion brush and tapped it on the yellow silk, then instructed, "Minister Fang, draft an imperial edict immediately."

The emperor's voice suddenly turned sharp, saying, "The governor of Sichuan is hereby ordered to thoroughly investigate the details of the various chieftains in the southwest and submit a secret report to the court every month. Any official of my Great Ming who dares to provoke border conflicts or incite local rebellions, regardless of rank, shall be dismissed and arrested on the spot!"

Liu Yiju noticed that the emperor used "Tuliu" instead of "Tusi" and secretly admired the emperor's profound wisdom.

This is clearly intended to restrain both Han officials and local officials simultaneously, preventing problems before they arise.

As Fang Congzhe bowed to accept the order, Zhu Youxiao added: "When drafting the edict, two points must be made clear: First, the governor of Sichuan is ordered to thoroughly investigate the population and military preparedness of each chieftain's territory under the pretext of 'pacifying the border tribes,' but must not cause trouble under the pretext of boundary surveying; second, all officials who forcibly levy taxes on the Dong and Man tribes or extort tribute shall be punished for 'undermining my policy of appeasing distant lands,' and shall be immediately dismissed and arrested."

"Old minister, take your orders."

Zhu Youxiao's eyes flickered, and he added, "Add another clause: order the governor of Sichuan to secretly investigate the old feuds and grudges among the various chieftains and compile a detailed list."

Prevent problems before they arise.

The current priority is to temporarily stall the rebellion of the chieftains in the southwest.

Once the Jurchens are dealt with, the policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials will be implemented in the same way.

Zhu Youxiao's current approach is to stall for time and temporarily stabilize the southwest.

Liu Yizhu hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. Since it is not advisable to mobilize She Chongming's troops, could we perhaps summon troops from other loyal chieftains? For example, the White-Spear Soldiers of Qin Liangyu, the Pacification Commissioner of Shizhu, are known for their bravery and skill in battle."

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand before he could finish speaking: "No."

He turned and pointed to the map of the southwest, saying, "The White-Spear Army must remain in Sichuan. Qin Liangyu's troops are an important pawn for me to deter chieftains like She'an."

The young emperor's gaze was profound: "The war in Liaodong is indeed crucial, but the southwest is also a major threat. If we transfer the White-Spear Army away, it would be tantamount to letting a tiger return to the mountains."

Zhu Youxiao was well aware of how to use people in chaotic times. When the court was in turmoil and border troubles were rampant, he not only did not send Qin Liangyu's elite troops north as usual, but also decided to increase her troops and pay.

In times of chaos, loyal ministers are especially rare.

Qin Liangyu was one of the few loyal ministers that Zhu Youxiao could rely on in this difficult world.

"The White-Spear Army is my pillar of strength in the southwest; not only must it not be weakened, but its edge must be made even stronger."

Zhu Youxiao's gaze sharpened, and he dipped his brush in ink, saying, "Instruct the Grand Secretariat to draft an edict promoting Qin Liangyu to Commander-in-Chief of Sichuan, granting her the title of Vice Commander-in-Chief, and bestowing upon her a python robe and jade belt."

"He was ordered to lead the elite White-Spear Army to Chongqing to guard the strategic point of the Yangtze River and to train the troops day and night."

Upon seeing the imperial edict read aloud, Fang Congzhe's expression hardened, and he immediately bowed and remonstrated: "Your Majesty, ancestral regulations state that 'native officials should not hold concurrent posts.' Although Qin Liangyu is commendable for her loyalty and bravery, the Pacification Commissioner of Shizhu is a hereditary chieftain. If she is promoted to the position of Commander-in-Chief of Sichuan, it may violate the court's regulations."

Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow and glanced at Fang Congzhe.

When did this guy start talking about ancestral rules all the time, just like the Donglin Party members?
However, since even Fang Congzhe opposes this matter, if the imperial decree is issued, the opposition from both the court and the public will likely be even stronger.

Zhu Youxiao changed his words and said:
"Qin Liangyu was promoted to General of the East, and was still appointed as the Pacification Commissioner of Shizhu, assisting the General Commander of Sichuan in military affairs, and was allowed to deploy 3,000 troops to garrison Chongqing."

Liu Yijing understood: "Is Your Majesty granting real power with a nominal title?"

The emperor chuckled and nodded, saying, "A chieftain cannot be a general, but I will make sure she has the authority over one!"

Isn't it said that native officials cannot hold the positions of appointed officials?

Then I won't violate the ancestral rules.

I'll play a trick on you.

Qin Liangyu was granted command authority at the level of a general through the pretext of "co-defense".

The presence of troops stationed in Chongqing can simultaneously deter local chieftains and support Liaodong.

At this point, Zhu Youxiao still seemed inadequate.

"What position does Qin Liangyu's son, Ma Xianglin, currently hold?" Zhu Youxiao suddenly asked.

Fang Congzhe stepped forward and replied, "The current commander is undergoing training in Liaodong."

The Emperor slammed his fist on the table: "Promote Ma Xianglin to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Sichuan Defense and Suppression Command! He shall be in charge of the defense of Chongqing and Kuizhou, command the White-Spear Army and control the surrounding garrisons, and order his mother, Qin Liangyu, to temporarily assume military duties until her son takes office and has full authority to handle all matters."

The position of Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Sichuan Expeditionary Forces was a temporary military post, intended to give Qin Liangyu sufficient authority.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yizhu was speechless with astonishment, secretly amazed: how could official positions be arranged so cleverly?
He pondered for a long time, only to find that the emperor's handling of the matter did not violate ancestral rules and was watertight.

Even with a bellyful of advice, I couldn't find the slightest flaw to point out at this moment.

Helpless, he could only lower his head in silence and swallow the words that were about to come out.

Fang Congzhe, standing to the side, was also dumbfounded.

Although His Majesty's arrangement was unexpected, there was really no way to find any violation of ancestral rules.

With no ancestral precepts to cite and no established rules to criticize, even with a belly full of doubts, one can only bow down and agree at this moment.

He bowed deeply and said in a solemn voice, "This old minister will obey Your Majesty's decree."

Zhu Youxiao had in-depth discussions with Fang Congzhe and Liu Yizhu about the Tusi (chieftains) in the southwest.

The air inside the hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense. As the emperor and his ministers were conversing, a eunuch's high-pitched voice suddenly came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, Duke Zhang Weixian of Yingguo and Vice Minister Yuan Keli of the Ministry of War are waiting outside the hall for an audience!"

The sudden report sounded exceptionally clear in the solemn Qianqing Palace.

The emperor raised an eyebrow and gestured, "Summon them." The palace doors opened slightly, and Duke Zhang Weixian, dressed in a python robe, entered with steady steps, followed by Vice Minister of War Yuan Keli. The two approached the emperor and bowed, saying, "Your subjects pay their respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao glanced at the two men and said indifferently, "No need for formalities. Duke of Yingguo and Minister Yuan, I have summoned you here today to seek your advice. There are two matters to ask: Liaodong and Sichuan."

Wei Chao handed She Chongming's petition for battle to the two men, and the emperor's voice slowly drifted over.

"A great battle is about to take place in Liaodong, but I am worried that the chieftains in the southwest may also change their ways. I wonder what you two think?"

Fang Congzhe then explained the emperor's views and actions regarding the southwest.
After reading the memorial and listening to Fang Congzhe's words, Yuan Keli glanced at Duke Zhang Weixian, who was still deep in thought, and after a moment's consideration, said:

"Your Majesty is wise. If the chieftains in the southwest make any moves, it may lead to a repeat of the disaster caused by Yang Yinglong in Bozhou during the Wanli era. Your Majesty's promotion of Qin Liangyu and the establishment of the new General Commander for the Defense and Suppression of Eastern Sichuan are indeed preventative measures. However, I believe that these two measures alone are not enough to eliminate future troubles."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow and a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes.

He leaned forward slightly, tapped his fingers lightly twice on the imperial desk, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

The young emperor knew that governing the army and securing the country required specialists, and the Vice Minister of War, Yuan Keli, was a capable minister who was well-versed in military affairs.

"Minister Yuan is indeed far-sighted."

Zhu Youxiao's voice carried a hint of approval.

"I wish to hear the details."

Yuan Keli straightened his sleeves and calmly reported, "Your Majesty, governing the Yi people is like controlling water; blocking is not as good as dredging, and dredging is not as good as guiding. I believe we should employ three strategies simultaneously:"

Firstly, garrisons were established in Zunyi and Bijie, imitating the old system of the Hongwu Emperor to station troops and strengthen the border.

Secondly, the Luzhou salt and iron trade markets were reopened, and the profits from salt and iron were taken over by the government, making the local chieftains dependent on us.

Thirdly, all the legitimate sons of Pacification Commissioners and above shall enter the Imperial Academy at the age of ten to study etiquette and master the classics and history. Only after completing their studies shall they be allowed to inherit the position. After three generations in this way, all the barbarian chieftains will be disciples of our Great Ming.

The air inside the warm pavilion was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Yuan Keli’s voice was calm and unhurried: “These three strategies may seem complicated, but they are like the three legs of a tripod: military deterrence will prevent them from rebelling, economic strangulation will prevent them from rebelling, and cultural education will prevent them from rebelling. I humbly beg Your Majesty for your wise decision.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's eyes gleamed, and he tapped his fingers three times on the imperial desk: "Minister Yuan's plan is brilliant! A three-pronged approach is exactly what I wanted."

He suddenly stood up, walked to the map of the southwest, and said, "Draft an imperial edict to establish Weiyuan Guard in Zunyi and Zhenyi Guard in Bijie, each stationed with 3,000 elite troops."

The two locations were heavily circled on the map with a red brush.

"Soldiers will be recruited in Shanxi and Shaanxi! The Ministry of War is hereby ordered to immediately issue a document to the governors-general and governors of Shanxi and Shaanxi, to recruit able-bodied refugees to serve in the newly established garrisons. All those who are enlisted will be exempt from taxes for three years, and their families will be allowed to participate in land reclamation. The relevant departments are hereby strictly instructed to ensure that the selection is done carefully—I want soldiers who can fight, not those who are merely filling positions!"

The people of Shaanxi and Shanxi are known for their fierce and unruly nature. Rather than rebelling against them later, it would be better to bring them under our control now and give those destitute refugees a good job.

The soldiers in the garrison were guaranteed a job by the imperial court, so it was practically a secure job.

The recruitment drive can, to some extent, alleviate the pressure on Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces.

"Economically, effective immediately, all salt permits entering Guizhou must be stamped with the seal of the Sichuan Provincial Administration Commission. A market will be established in Luzhou, and ironware transactions will require official permits."

Salt is essential for life, and controlling the salt routes meant controlling the lifeline of the southwestern chieftains.

The salt supply in the Tusi's territory mainly relied on Sichuan salt.

Salt produced in major salt wells such as Zigong and Wuxiqiao in Sichuan was transported to Yongning, a key node, via the Yangtze River-Chishui River waterway network. From there, it was distributed by caravans to various chieftain territories, forming the main supply channel.

Although some chieftains could obtain smuggled salt through the black salt wells in Yunnan, the high mountains and treacherous roads made transportation costly and expensive.

As for the small salt springs scattered in a few areas, their output is negligible, and they are only available to a very small number of people such as chieftains and nobles, and do not help the people's livelihood.

As for ironware, it was essential for everything from agriculture and weaving to weaponry and military equipment, and was vital to both production and military strength.

Controlling the circulation of ironware is tantamount to strangling the lifeline of the Tusi (chieftains) in developing their economy and expanding their military power.

Although there are small iron deposits in northwestern Guizhou, and the local chieftains can drive craftsmen to smelt iron using traditional methods, their skills are crude, and the ironware produced is of poor quality and small quantity, making it unsuitable for large-scale use.

The supply of large quantities of ironware mainly relied on official trade routes: imported from major iron-smelting towns in Hunan, such as Chenxi and Changde, via the Yuanjiang-Qingshuijiang water system, mainly consisting of daily necessities and weapons such as agricultural tools and knives.

However, where there is profit, smuggling is hard to eradicate.

Some unscrupulous Han merchants colluded with the local chieftains to smuggle medicinal herbs and horses, which were abundant in the southwest, in exchange for their goods.

Pig iron was mostly transported from places like Qijiang in Sichuan and Qujing in Yunnan, flowing into the Tusi's territory through secret paths, forming underground channels that evaded the control of the imperial court.

What Zhu Youxiao wanted to do was to completely control the salt and iron industry, abolish the salt and iron smuggling channels, and force the local chieftains to rely on the Ming Dynasty.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao's gaze sharpened, and he said decisively, "Issue my decree: immediately and thoroughly investigate the smuggling of salt and iron in the southwest! Anyone who transports goods without official permits, regardless of whether they are Han or barbarian, shall be punished as a traitor! I want to completely sever the lifeline of these chieftains—establish checkpoints along the salt routes and monopolize the iron trade, so that they understand:

Without the salt supplied by the imperial court, their people would live on bland food; without the iron supplied by the government, their weapons would be nothing but scrap metal!

In that case, let's see how you rebel.

Yuan Keli then added, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Academy may establish a special 'Foreigners' Hall'."

"The Ministry of Rites shall draft the regulations!"

Zhu Youxiao slowly said, "The eldest sons of all Pacification Commissioners and Pacification Commissioners must go to the capital to study when they reach the age of ten. Those who do not study at the Imperial Academy shall not inherit their titles! I want them to understand from the bottom of their hearts that the sky over the southwest will always belong to the Ming Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yiju frowned slightly, stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty is wise, but I believe that the matter of summoning the chieftain's eldest son to the capital could be modified. If all chieftains above the rank of Pacification Commissioner are suddenly ordered to send their sons to the prison, I fear that they will become suspicious and cause trouble, which would defeat the purpose of appeasement."

He paused briefly, and seeing the emperor's gaze fall upon him, he continued, "Perhaps in the first batch, only the sons of high-ranking chieftains of the third rank or above should be required to attend school. Those with large territories and strong military forces, such as She Chongming, the Pacification Commissioner of Yongning, and An Wei, the Pacification Commissioner of Shuixi, should be allowed to pay their respects first. The other smaller chieftains can be postponed until the situation is more favorable, and then gradually extended to them. This way, the imperial authority can be demonstrated without forcing them into desperate situations."

Zhu Youxiao tapped his fingertips lightly on the imperial desk and pondered, "Minister Liu's concerns are not without merit. However, it is precisely because the She and An tribes are the most powerful that I want their hostages to come to the capital with me. If I only take a few, it will make them suspect that I am showing favoritism."

Yuan Keli interjected at the opportune moment: "Your Majesty, when issuing the edict, you may blur the boundaries of rank and change it to 'those whose territory exceeds one hundred li or who command more than five thousand soldiers.' In this way, it will cover the major chieftains without appearing to be deliberately targeting them."

A glint of light flashed in the Emperor's eyes, and he immediately slammed his hand on the table: "Excellent! Let it be so. Also, let the Ministry of Rites set up a 'Foreigners' Hall' at the Imperial Academy. After the first batch of hostages arrive in the capital, I will also bestow upon them an imperial copy of the 'Collection of Loyalty and Filial Piety,' and order the Hanlin Academy to examine their studies every month. After three years, those who excel in their studies will be allowed to visit their families, while the unruly ones will remain in the academy."

We must simultaneously develop military culture.

How can we truly implement the policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials without raising a few loyal dogs like those of the Ming Dynasty?
The general direction has been set.

As for the details, Zhu Youxiao would discuss them with his ministers during court assemblies to ensure that the policies took all aspects into account and that no mistakes would occur.

Zhu Youxiao's move implied a deeper consideration of imperial power politics.

By having ministers discuss and formulate policies together, it is possible to gather wisdom and improve government orders, and also to link the risks of policy implementation with the ministers.

Even if there are mistakes in governance in the future, as decrees decided by the court, the responsibility will naturally fall on the drafters, and the wise and decisive emperor will always be invincible.

This method of governing subordinates by 'attributing blame to those below and credit to those above' is precisely the essence of Emperor Jiajing's political wisdom.

Zhu Youxiao not only adopted the demeanor of a wise ruler who readily accepted advice, but also employed the tactics of a cunning ruler to avoid risks, demonstrating a mastery of imperial strategy.

As for emperors like Chongzhen leading the charge, Zhu Youxiao would not do it unless absolutely necessary.

With the situation in the southwest temporarily stabilized, the next step is to address the long-standing problems in Liaodong!

How should we fight in Liaodong?!

(End of this chapter)