Huangming

Chapter 350 Learning from the Past to Understand the Present: A Decisive Strike Is Needed

Forbidden City.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of incense and a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Zhu Youxiao, dressed in ordinary clothes, sat upright on the throne, his gaze sweeping over the ministers and eunuchs who were bowing and standing below the steps.

He was listening to a progress report on the compilation of "The Record of Heavenly Mirror for Combating Corruption".

Below the steps, Grand Secretary Sun Ruyou of the Dongge Pavilion was in the lead, followed by Vice Minister of Rites Gu Bingqian, Junior Chamberlain Huang Lijie, and Hanlin Academy Compiler Feng Quan, while the eunuch Wang Tiqian of the Directorate of Ceremonial held an account book and stood on the outermost side.

This book, "The Record of Heavenly Mirrors Against Corruption," was personally ordered to be compiled by Zhu Youxiao last year. Its purpose was to sort out the evidence of the crimes of corrupt officials throughout history, to warn the court officials, and it was even planned to be included in the reading list for the imperial examinations in the future, so that all scholars in the world would know the harm of corruption.

Now, almost a year has passed, and it's finally time for our interim report.

"Your Majesty, the 'Records of Heavenly Mirrors for Combating Corruption' has been compiled up to the Jiajing reign, and the evidence of the crimes of corrupt officials from previous dynasties has been basically completed."

Sun Ruyou stepped forward, bowed, and reported, his tone tinged with caution.

"The embezzlement of grain taxes in the Guo Huan case, Ji Gang's abuse of power, Wang Zhen's disruption of the court, Liu Jin's monopolization of power and acceptance of bribes, as well as the factionalism and corruption of Jiao Fang, Yan Song and his son, and Yan Maoqing, have all been recorded in detail, with evidence of their crimes and the results of their punishments, which can serve as a reference for future generations."

Wang Tiqian hurriedly stepped forward and presented the account book in his hand to the eunuch, who then handed it to Zhu Youxiao: "Your Majesty, this is the part that has been compiled into a book. Please take a look."

Zhu Youxiao opened the account book, his eyes quickly scanning the pages.

The records above are detailed and meticulous about corrupt officials from the previous dynasty, from the amount of corruption to the specific crimes and the final punishment. The records are well-organized and written in neat handwriting.

He nodded slightly, but his heart was not greatly disturbed.

The corrupt officials of the previous dynasty have long since turned to dust; any further records are merely relics of history.

"The records from the previous dynasty are quite comprehensive."

Zhu Youxiao closed the account book, his gaze falling on the several ministers who had compiled it, his tone calm but questioning.

"What about the current dynasty? During the Wanli and Taichang reigns, and even during my current reign, why haven't those corrupt officials been included in the records?"

Upon hearing this, the ministers below the steps immediately tensed up, lowered their heads, and dared not meet Zhu Youxiao's gaze.

Sun Ruyou coughed lightly and, forcing a smile, said, "Your Majesty, the situation in our dynasty is rather complicated. If any of the deceased corrupt officials still have descendants serving in the court, hastily including them in the register might cause controversy in the court and among the public. As for officials still alive, they need to be carefully verified. If there are any oversights, it might lead to a miscarriage of justice and damage Your Majesty's reputation..."

"cautious?"

Zhu Youxiao interrupted him, his tone gradually revealing a hint of dissatisfaction.

"I ordered you to compile the 'Heavenly Mirror for Combating Corruption' so that the people of the world would know that corruption would be punished, and so that officials would have a sense of awe! But what you have done is that, because you are 'afraid of causing controversy' and 'afraid of causing a miscarriage of justice,' you have turned a blind eye to the corrupt officials of this dynasty?"

He paused, his gaze sharpening as he swept over Gu Bingqian, Huang Lijie, and the others: "I remember there were many corrupt officials during the Wanli era, and now there are those officials in the court who line their own pockets. You really don't dare to write them down?"

Gu Bingqian broke out in a cold sweat and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm down! It's not that we dare not investigate, but... it's just that the 'Record of Heavenly Mirrors Against Corruption' will be included in the imperial examinations in the future, which will affect the understanding of scholars throughout the land. If living officials are included, their cronies may take the opportunity to cause trouble and disrupt the court. We have no choice but to be cautious!"

"careful?"

Zhu Youxiao sneered, threw the account books on the imperial desk, and raised his voice suddenly.

"Are you being so 'cautious' because you're afraid of offending the powerful and influential, or because you're afraid of getting burned? I asked you to compile this book to combat corruption and rectify social customs, not to do some useless work of whitewashing the truth and being timid and hesitant! What use are you to me if you're so cautious?"

The emperor on the throne was enraged, and the Wenhua Hall fell into a deathly silence. Several ministers and Wang Tiqian were trembling with fear and knelt down, kowtowing: "Your Majesty, we are guilty and beg your forgiveness!"

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall. A young eunuch, carrying an urgent report, rushed into the hall, knelt down, and reported:

"Your Majesty! An urgent report from Jizhou! Imperial Envoy Yang Lian reports that the rebellion of Zhang Shixian, the deputy commander of Jizhou, and Du Yingkui, the assistant commander, has been quelled. The rebels are either dead or captured. At the same time, more than 1.5 million taels of embezzled silver have been confiscated. In addition, details of the embezzlement of military equipment and provisions have also been reported!"

"Oh? There's news from Jizhou?"

Zhu Youxiao's attention was instantly diverted, and the anger on his face subsided slightly. He raised his hand and said, "Quickly, bring the report here!"

The eunuch hurriedly presented the report, which Zhu Youxiao took and quickly began to read.

When he saw that Zhang Shixian and others dared to collude with his servants and plot to murder the imperial envoy, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

Upon seeing the details of the more than 1.5 million taels of silver confiscated, as well as the empty armory and lack of troops, he slammed his fist on the imperial desk and roared:
"What a group of audacious parasites! They dare to embezzle military pay, sell weapons privately, and even plot a rebellion! Yang Lian did a good job! These people must be severely punished to serve as a warning to others!"

He looked up at the ministers kneeling below the steps, his tone carrying a hint of deeper meaning.

"You've all seen it? The corrupt officials in Jizhou dare to embezzle millions of military funds and defy the imperial court. If I don't punish them severely, and if you continue to turn a blind eye to the corruption in this dynasty, won't the Ming Dynasty's territory be completely devoured by these parasites in the future?"

Sun Ruyou and the others hurriedly kowtowed: "Your Majesty is wise! We know our mistakes! From this day forward, we will expose all the corruption in our dynasty and show no leniency. We will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust!"

Zhu Youxiao snorted coldly, no longer pursuing their mistakes. His gaze returned to the report from Jizhou, and he had already made his decision:
"By imperial decree, Yang Lian is hereby appointed to temporarily assume the post of Governor of Jizhou and to be fully responsible for the investigation of Jizhou. He must bring all corrupt officials to justice and use the recovered embezzled funds to pay back military salaries and repair the border walls."

Furthermore, the General of the Beijing Garrison was ordered to select 5,000 elite troops to immediately proceed to Jizhou to assist Yang Lian in stabilizing the defenses and preventing the Mongols and Jurchens from taking advantage of the situation to invade the border!

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The eunuch bowed and accepted the order, then quickly left.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, several ministers remained kneeling on the ground, but their hearts were already filled with turbulent emotions.

The suppression and investigation in Jizhou not only showed His Majesty the severity of corruption in the border regions, but also strengthened His Majesty's determination to eradicate corruption in the dynasty.

If we continue to be as timid and hesitant as before, we might really anger the emperor, lose our official positions, or even risk our lives.

"You may all leave. If you continue to be so timid and hesitant, I will choose another capable person to complete the task of compiling the 'Record of Heavenly Mirror for Combating Corruption'."

The emperor's words immediately made everyone tremble with awe.

Compiling the "Records of Heavenly Mirror for Combating Corruption" would be a great achievement if successful, not to mention that it would give the author control over the narrative.

This is an incredibly good job. If someone else gets it...

They have nowhere to cry.

"Your Majesty, we are determined to compile the 'Heavenly Mirror for Combating Corruption' as quickly as possible, and we will not let you down!"

These people immediately expressed their opinions.

The officials in the Wenhua Hall had all left, and the incense in the warm pavilion still wafted in the air, but Zhu Youxiao no longer had the leisurely feeling he had when listening to the memorial.

He strode to the imperial desk, pushed aside the stacks of manuscripts of "The Record of Heavenly Mirror for Combating Corruption" on it, and called out, "Wei Chao, come in immediately to draft the imperial edict!"

Before long, Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, entered with a bow.

He wore a dark-patterned python robe, holding a writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone in his hands, his steps light yet nimble.

"Your Majesty, the brush and ink are ready."

Wei Chao laid out the Four Treasures of the Study on the imperial desk, ground the ink, and stood respectfully to one side with his head bowed.

Zhu Youxiao walked to the desk, but did not sit down. Instead, he paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, pondering for a moment before slowly speaking:
"The corruption in Jizhou is deeply ingrained and cannot be eradicated by simply executing a few ringleaders. Although Yang Lian quelled the rebellion and recovered the stolen silver, the primary task for truly stabilizing Jizhou is to win back the hearts of the people and the army."

He paused, then turned to look at Wei Chao, his eyes sharp as knives: "Remember, my secret decree is to be written, instructing Yang Lian to issue orders to all soldiers inside and outside Jizhou City, allowing them to report any corruption crimes committed by generals at all levels, regardless of their rank, as long as there is evidence."

At the same time, the people of Jizhou were summoned, and a public trial platform was set up in the drill ground in the center of the city. Corrupt officials whose crimes had been confirmed were brought before the platform, where the people and soldiers jointly testified to their crimes, and their sentences were pronounced publicly.

Wei Chao paused slightly upon hearing this, the wolf-hair brush in his hand hovering over the paper.

Allowing the people to publicly try officials was unprecedented in the Ming Dynasty. If handled improperly, it could spark controversy both in the court and among the public.

But he didn't dare ask too many questions; he just listened attentively and took notes quickly.

"What I want is not simple punishment."

Zhu Youxiao continued, "We must let the people and soldiers of Jizhou see with their own eyes that the court is truly standing up for them and is truly determined to eradicate these parasites! Only by giving them justice and letting them know that 'corruption will be severely punished and collusion with the enemy will be punished,' can the court's prestige in Jizhou be truly established, instead of relying on the threat of swords."

At this point, he walked to the desk, pointed to the words written by Wei Chao, and added:
"After the public trial, the confiscated silver should be used immediately to pay the military pay owed over the years, in full, without missing a single penny."

At the same time, the granaries were opened and all the grain and fodder hoarded by Zhang Shixian and others were distributed to impoverished military households and civilians, especially those families who had sold their children and become homeless due to the corruption of their generals, who were given priority for relief.

Wei Chao's pen flew across the paper, and he quickly completed the first draft of the secret edict. He presented it to Zhu Youxiao with both hands, asking, "Your Majesty, do you think it is appropriate?"

Zhu Youxiao took it and reviewed it word by word.

The handwriting on the paper was neat and clear, fully conveying his intentions.

From encouraging whistleblowing and public trials to issuing back pay to the military and opening granaries to distribute grain, every measure is aimed at "winning the hearts of the people and consolidating the morale of the army," with clear logic and strong impact.

He nodded in satisfaction, picked up the vermilion brush, wrote "By Imperial Decree" at the end of the document, and then stamped it with his personal jade seal, thus finalizing the draft.

"Send someone to deliver it to Jizhen by fast horse, and personally hand it over to Yang Lian. It must not pass through anyone else's hands, and the news must not be leaked."

Zhu Youxiao carefully folded the secret edict, put it into a sealed brocade box, and handed it to Wei Chao in a solemn tone.

"Tell Yang Lian that I have given him full authority. As long as he can eradicate corruption in Jizhou and stabilize the border, I will support him no matter how many powerful figures he offends!"

"Slave, you obey!"

Wei Chao accepted the brocade box with both hands, bowed respectfully, and quickly left the warm pavilion without daring to delay for even a moment.

This secret edict concerns the safety of Jizhou and His Majesty's grand plan to eradicate corruption; it must be delivered to Yang Lian as quickly as possible.

Watching Wei Chao's departing figure, Zhu Youxiao walked back to the window, his eyes gradually becoming deep.

He recalled the "1.5 million taels of stolen silver," "empty armory," and "more than half of the troops were missing" mentioned in the report he had just submitted, and his heart felt heavy.

If Jizhou is in such a state, the corruption in the other towns along the Nine Borders is likely to be even more severe.

During his reign as emperor, Zhu Youxiao read many memorials and met with numerous border generals.

The reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard presented him with the hardships of the common people.

This is why, although he lived deep within the palace, he was acutely aware of the problems plaguing the border regions:
The imperial court allocated 100,000 taels of military pay, but after layers of embezzlement by generals, lieutenants, and guerrillas, less than 10,000 taels actually reached the soldiers.

The encroachment on military farmland, the private sale of military equipment, and the falsification of troop numbers were already open secrets in the border town.

"This is no longer ordinary corruption; we must take strong measures to eradicate it completely!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhu Youxiao's eyes.

Since ascending the throne, he has been committed to reforming the finances and replenishing the national treasury. However, if these parasites are allowed to leech off the Ming Dynasty, no matter how good he is at making money or how full the national treasury is, it will not be able to satisfy their greed, let alone protect the Ming Dynasty.

He recalled the ruthless methods used by Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang to severely punish corruption, and the formidable reputation of Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di for his five campaigns against the Mongols; the murderous intent in his eyes intensified.

He wanted to emulate his ancestors by cracking down on corruption with an iron fist and securing the borders with iron will!

Not only must the corruption in Jizhou be eradicated, but this trend must also be extended to the nine border regions and the whole country, so that all corrupt officials will pay the price, the officials of the Ming Dynasty will regain their sense of awe, and the people will rekindle their hope in the court.

"Only by sweeping away these filths can the Ming Dynasty truly become strong."

Zhu Youxiao gazed at the distant horizon, his tone as firm as iron.

"Otherwise, with a group of people sucking the blood off the Ming Dynasty, even if I, the emperor, die from exhaustion at my desk, I will not be able to protect this country or its people!"

If we don't completely replace the rotten keel and dilapidated deck of the Ming Dynasty, what is the great revival of the Ming Dynasty if we still want to achieve it?
(End of this chapter)