Huangming

Chapter 236 The Secret Reporting System: The Art of Managing Subordinates

Under the blazing sun, the yellow sand of the training ground in the West Garden was scorching hot, and the hoofprints of horses kicked up a cloud of golden dust.

Zhu Youxiao rode a pure white imperial horse, sweeping across the training ground like a streak of silver light.

The horse was named "Jade Lion," a fine steed from the Western Regions. Its hooves were strong and its mane was flying. When it ran, it was like snow waves surging, which was very eye-catching.

The emperor, dressed in a bright yellow arrow-patterned robe with a rhinoceros horn belt around his waist, lightly flicked his riding whip, his entire being and his horse moving as swiftly as the wind.

Behind him, eunuchs Fang Zhenghua and Wei Chao followed closely, but always lagged behind by more than ten steps. The two men were pale-faced, their foreheads covered in cold sweat, fearing that the emperor might accidentally fall off his horse.

Fang Zhenghua even tried to rush forward to grab the reins several times, but Wei Chao held his sleeve tightly and whispered, "His Majesty is in high spirits, don't spoil his mood!"

The sound of hooves thundered as Zhu Youxiao spurred his horse on, galloping seven or eight times until the "Jade Lion" was foaming at the mouth and breathing heavily. Only then did he pull the reins sharply, and the horse reared up high, let out a long neigh, and came to a steady stop.

Zhu Youxiao dismounted, casually tossing his riding whip to the approaching eunuch. He wiped the sweat from his brow and laughed loudly:
"happy!"

Perhaps every man harbors a dream of galloping on horseback.

In later generations, this passion transformed into the roar of engines, as people drove steel beasts, chasing the wind and freedom on the highways.

But in this era, only a fine horse can carry the heroic spirit of a man.

It was a more primal, wilder kind of exhilaration, with hooves pounding the dust, the wind whistling past your ears, and man and horse becoming one, as if there were no more constraints in the world.

Zhu Youxiao was one such example.

In his opinion, riding a horse is far more exhilarating than racing a car.

There is no metal shell to obstruct it, no throttle to limit it, only pure driving and conquest.

He loved the exhilarating feeling of riding a horse, as if he were no longer the emperor residing deep within the palace walls, but a general galloping across the battlefield.

After dismounting, Zhu Youxiao turned to look at the eunuch beside him, his eyes still lingering with the excitement of riding the horse.

"Fang Zhenghua, what do you think of my horsemanship?"

Fang Zhenghua immediately bowed, a smile spreading across his face, and flattered, "Your Majesty's horsemanship is superb, as if walking on flat ground. This servant can only look up to you in the dust."

Zhu Youxiao frowned upon hearing this.

He raised his hand and brushed off non-existent dust from his sleeve, his tone tinged with impatience: "Stop flattering me, I want to hear the truth."

These words struck Fang Zhenghua like a thunderclap, causing him to fall to his knees with a thud, his forehead almost touching the scorching sand.

His voice trembled: "This servant...this servant deserves to die."

Seeing Fang Zhenghua's trembling appearance, Zhu Youxiao suddenly felt bored.

He waved his hand and said, "Never mind."

Taking the handkerchief handed to him by Wei Chao, Zhu Youxiao slowly wiped the fine sweat from his forehead.

Sunlight filtered through his fingers, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

At that moment, he suddenly understood why those who had been emperors always said that the emperor was lonely.

In this deep palace, even speaking the truth has become a luxury.

In the distance, the jade lion was leisurely swishing its tail, and Zhu Youxiao stared at it in a daze.

Perhaps only these speechless beasts can make him temporarily forget the shackles of being an emperor.

"Sigh~"

The exhilaration of galloping on horseback gradually subsided, and Zhu Youxiao took a deep breath, restraining his unrestrained emotions.

As the ruler of a country, one must eventually return to the tedious and laborious affairs of state.

"Wei Dadang, are there any important official matters today?"

Zhu Youxiao straightened his slightly disheveled robes, and his tone regained its usual majesty.

Wei Chao immediately stepped forward and respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Li Ruhua of the Eastern Pavilion and Minister of Revenue Li Changgeng have submitted their petitions outside the Meridian Gate requesting an audience. Furthermore…"

He paused briefly and took out a sealed memorial from his sleeve.

"Chen Qiyu, the Assistant Circuit Intendant of Tianjin, has delivered a secret memorial."

Wei Chao always knew how to behave appropriately in front of the emperor.

Unless the emperor pays special attention to his reports, he would usually screen them first.

However, secret reports were an exception—this was a rule personally set by the emperor, and they had to be submitted immediately.

This secret memorial system was an innovation launched by Zhu Youxiao after he ascended the throne.

Although there were precedents of officials submitting private memorials in previous dynasties, it was not until the Kangxi era, decades later, that such practices were truly formalized.

Zhu Youxiao merely brought this system to the historical stage ahead of schedule.

"Secret report?"

Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow and reached out to take the memorial sealed with sealing wax.

His fingertips gently caressed the dragon pattern mark at the seal, a mark specially made for the folded seal, which could not be imitated by others.

The secret report system may seem simple, but it actually contains hidden complexities.

It not only improved administrative efficiency, but also enabled local officials to supervise each other.

The uncertainty among colleagues—who might suddenly submit a memorial—is precisely the best way to maintain the emperor's authority and dignity.

This special way of presenting memorials breaks with the traditional practice of passing memorials through multiple layers.

The person submitting the memorial must not reveal its contents, and it must go directly to the emperor without going through any intermediary government.

Zhu Youxiao knew that this method could ensure the speed of information transmission while maintaining the confidentiality of the court's decisions.

However, he was in no hurry to read the secret report there and returned it to Wei Chao.

After receiving the secret report, Wei Chao's eyes darted around, and he asked:

"Your Majesty, shall we summon Grand Secretary Li and Minister Li now?"

Wei Chao asked cautiously.

Zhu Youxiao pondered for a moment: "Have them wait in the Nine Ministers' Office outside the Qianqing Palace."

"The slaves obey."

Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly. Since there were political matters to be decided, he no longer lingered on the exhilarating feeling of galloping on horseback.

He raised his hand to brush the dust off his sleeve and said calmly, "Today's martial arts practice ends here."

Before he finished speaking, Wei Chao understood immediately. He turned around and loudly proclaimed to the eunuchs and Imperial Guards standing on both sides: "His Majesty has decreed—the Emperor shall proceed to the Qianqing Palace!"

In an instant, the entire training ground in the West Garden fell silent, followed by a flurry of activity.

The attendants and eunuchs quickly lined up, the Imperial Guards stood at attention with their hands on their swords, and the Imperial Guards lined up on both sides, instantly creating a chilling atmosphere.

Eight eunuchs carrying the imperial carriage were already kneeling beside the carriage, waiting for the emperor's arrival.

Zhu Youxiao steadily ascended the imperial carriage, his bright yellow dragon robe fluttering in the wind and radiating majesty under the sunlight.

"Let's go!"

With a long shout from Wei Chao, the imperial carriage slowly began to move.

With Imperial Guards leading the way, eunuchs attending, and palace maids holding fans, the grand procession, like a golden dragon, snaked out from the West Garden and headed straight for the Qianqing Palace.

The sounds of horses' hooves, footsteps, and the rustling of robes mingled together, yet no one dared to make a sound.

When the imperial carriage passed by, the guards along the way all knelt down and bowed, not daring to even raise their heads.

Zhu Youxiao sat upright in his carriage, his gaze calm, but his mind was already contemplating the political affairs he was about to handle.

The fact that Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng jointly requested an audience must have been no small matter; and Chen Qiyu's secret memorial was even more worthy of in-depth investigation.

When the imperial carriage arrived in front of the Qianqing Palace, eunuchs were already kneeling to greet it.

Before the carriage had come to a complete stop, Zhu Youxiao had already stood up and strode into the East Warm Pavilion.

Stepping into the East Warm Pavilion, a wave of stuffy heat hits you. Even though gilded ice chests have been placed all around, filled with winter ice taken from the cellar, they still can't ward off the sweltering heat of midsummer.

Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
'No wonder so many emperors throughout history loved to escape the summer heat outside the palace. While the Forbidden City is majestic and magnificent, it's hardly a suitable place to spend the summer.'

He walked slowly toward the imperial desk, his gaze sweeping over the furnishings in the hall.

Wisps of blue smoke rose from the gilded lion-shaped incense burner, and water droplets condensed on the ice mirror slid slowly down the patterns, dripping onto the gold brick floor with a soft sound.

Zhu Youxiao pondered in his heart: after a while, when the summer heat becomes even more intense, perhaps it will be time to move to the West Garden to govern.

Thinking of Xiyuan, the shimmering waves of Taiye Pond involuntarily appeared before his eyes.

Renshou Palace is built by the water, and Changyin Pavilion is surrounded by water on three sides. When a gentle breeze blows, it must be much cooler than Qianqing Palace. If one could review memorials there, one's mind would surely be clearer.

As my thoughts drifted, an absurd idea suddenly flashed through my mind—

"It would be great if there was air conditioning."

This thought from later generations made Zhu Youxiao smile.

Having traveled through time, what he misses most is not his mobile phone or computer, but this seemingly simple cooling device.

Imagining the pleasant feeling of a cool breeze, and then comparing it to the sweltering reality before him, Zhu Youxiao shook his head helplessly.

He was not fortunate enough to enjoy this greatest invention of the 21st century.

I wonder how long it will take for the Ming Dynasty to develop its technology to the point where it can manufacture air conditioners.
"His Majesty?"

Wei Chao's cautious call pulled him back to reality.

Zhu Youxiao composed himself and took the sealed letter with the sealing wax intact.

The moment his fingertips touched the paper, his expression sharpened, all his previous languor vanished, and only the sharpness and focus of an emperor remained in his eyes.

"Prepare the ink."

Two simple words, yet they completely changed the atmosphere of the entire East Warm Pavilion.

The eunuchs standing by immediately held their breath, and Wei Chao quickly stepped forward and personally ground up the cinnabar.

Inside the hall, only the dripping sound of melting ice and the rustling sound of ink sticks rubbing against inkstones could be heard.

Zhu Youxiao slowly unfolded the secret memorial, his gaze sharp and piercing.

At that moment, he forgot all about the summer heat and the air conditioning.

What he holds in his hands now may be crucial information concerning the fate of the nation.

Zhu Youxiao slowly unfolded the secret memorial, his gaze wandering between the lines, his expression gradually darkening.

Chen Qiyu's report was well-organized, starting with the problems of the three garrisons in Tianjin.

The Tianjin Three Guards were plagued by lax discipline, falsely reported troop numbers, and rotten weapons. Worse still, officers of the guards colluded with local powerful families to smuggle military rations and embezzle pay, causing soldiers to lose their will to fight and the people to complain.

Fortunately, with the assistance of generals such as Zhao Shuaijiao and Zu Dashou, military discipline was rectified with swift and decisive measures, with those who should be executed being executed and those who should be dismissed being dismissed, and the situation was stabilized in just a few days.

Looking at the Tianjin Navy, it was even more shocking.

The warships were old and in disrepair, with less than 30% able to go to sea; the number of soldiers was more than half short, with the rest being mostly old and weak; military pay had been in arrears for years, and the soldiers were full of complaints.

Chen Chi-yu stated frankly that if attacked by an enemy, they might not be able to withstand the attack.

At the end of the memorial, Chen Qiyu mentioned Xu Xianchun's contributions and earnestly requested that the confiscated funds be used to rebuild defenses. He also proposed to distribute donations to local gentry to make up for the lack of funds and grain.

"Ah"

Zhu Youxiao closed the secret memorial, tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

The extent of the devastation in Tianjin far exceeded his expectations.

The amount of money confiscated from Xu Xianchun's home exceeded one million taels, demonstrating the extent of these corrupt officials' greed!
However, upon further reflection, Zhu Youxiao felt somewhat gratified.

Chen Qiyu acted swiftly and decisively, and with the help of generals such as Zhao Shuaijiao, they brought the situation under control in a short period of time, living up to expectations.

"Wei Daban."

"The servant is here."

"Practice."

Zhu Youxiao's gaze was sharp, and his voice was steady and powerful: "As Chen Qiyu requested, all confiscated funds shall be used to reorganize Tianjin's defenses. Furthermore, he is ordered to thoroughly investigate the case of embezzled military funds; all those involved, regardless of rank, shall be severely punished without exception! As for the donations levied by the gentry…"

He paused for a moment and said, “Tell Chen Qiyu to handle the situation carefully, but remember—do not incite a popular uprising.”

"In addition, Chen Qiyu has done a good job, so he should be rewarded with something."

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao bowed slightly and cautiously advised, "Your Majesty is wise. However, Chen Qianshi has only been promoted for a short time. If he is promoted again, I fear there will be criticism in the court. Moreover, the reconstruction of the Tianjin Navy is not yet complete, and the reorganization of the Grand Canal is just beginning. It would be more appropriate to reward him after he has accomplished his task."

These words were reasonable and insightful, and Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly.

Although Wei Chao was a palace attendant, he was well-versed in the art of maintaining balance in the court.

His gaze shifted outside the palace, his thoughts already drifting to the shores of the Bohai Sea: "In that case, issue my decree to allocate 300,000 taels of silver from the imperial treasury specifically for the reconstruction of the Tianjin Navy."

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Wei Chao's eyes.

Three hundred thousand taels of imperial funds—this is a rare and generous gesture from His Majesty.

Seeing the emperor's resolute expression, he immediately replied, "This servant will go and do it right away."

Zhu Youxiao's lips curled up slightly.

Do these eunuchs really think he's greedy?

How can he save the Ming Dynasty if he doesn't accumulate wealth?
Similarly, as long as the money is spent on saving the Ming Dynasty, he would be willing to spend not only 300,000 taels, but even 3 million taels.

Therefore, he was never stingy with his talents when it came to capable ministers who could actually get things done.

This amount of silver may seem enormous, but as long as it is used where it is needed, it is worthwhile.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but compare it with the memorials submitted by the Ministry of Revenue.

Li Changgeng and others frequently demanded private funds under the pretext of insufficient national funds, but how much of this money was actually used for national affairs in the end?
After layers of exploitation, it would be fortunate if even 10% of the money actually reaches the intended recipients.

But the Tianjin Navy was different.

This is not only about the defense of the capital region and its coast, but also about his future strategic plans.

Rebuilding the navy would not only deter Liaodong, but also protect the grain transport, and even lay the groundwork for future overseas expansion.

"Tell Chen Qiyu that what I want is not just paperwork, but real warships and sailors. Six months from now, I will personally come to Tianjin to inspect the navy."

Wei Chao was well aware of the weight of those words.

He bowed deeply and replied respectfully, "This servant will convey His Majesty's earnest expectations word for word."

"but."

Wei Chao suddenly hesitated, his voice unconsciously lowering a few decibels.

"This servant has something to say, but I don't know if I should say it or not."

Zhu Youxiao frowned, his gaze sweeping over him like a knife: "Don't you, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, know whether you should say it or not?"

Wei Chao was stung by that gaze and immediately knelt down, his forehead almost touching the gold brick: "Your Majesty, recently there have been many memorials in the court impeaching Chen Qiyu."

Tianjin is only a little over a hundred miles from the capital, a journey that can be completed in a day by fast horse.

Chen Qiyu acted swiftly and decisively in Tianjin, confiscating homes, reorganizing the army, and even demanding donations from the gentry. Such drastic measures affected the interests of countless people.

How could those whose sources of income were cut off, whose military power was stripped, and whose past accounts were investigated be willing to accept this?

Naturally, they would stir up trouble in the court.

Zhu Youxiao snorted coldly, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes: "They're nothing but petty scoundrels who can't stand seeing others get things done."

He stood up, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the afterglow of the setting sun on the palace walls in the distance. His tone was firm: "There is no need to pay attention to these noises."

Trust those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust—this was Zhu Youxiao's way of governing his subordinates.

He wouldn't follow the example of Emperor Chongzhen in history, who one moment highly valued capable officials, and the next moment dismissed them due to a few slanderous words or a temporary setback.

Governing a country is like controlling a horse; you must hold the reins firmly, but you also need to give the horse room to run.

Moreover, the people he heavily relied on, such as Chen Qiyu, Zhao Shuaijiao, and Huang Degong, were all capable ministers and generals who had stood the test of time.

These people may have different temperaments, but their abilities and loyalty are beyond question.

If trust is shaken by a few rumors, wouldn't that discourage those who are truly capable?

"Reveal my imperial edict!"

Zhu Youxiao turned around, his gaze intense.

"All memorials impeaching Chen Qiyu shall be withheld and not issued. Anyone who dares to make irresponsible remarks about Tianjin affairs or obstruct military affairs shall be punished!"

Wei Chao was startled and quickly kowtowed, "This servant obeys the decree."

The last rays of the setting sun disappeared beyond the palace walls, and the palace gradually darkened.

But Zhu Youxiao's vision became increasingly clear.

Ultimately, this great Ming dynasty must be protected by those who are truly capable.

(End of this chapter)