Huangming

Chapter 384 Advice on New Policies, Generous Rewards for Liaodong

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, all the new policies and measures are good policies that benefit the country and the people!"

He Zongyan slowly said:
"The survey of land can not only replenish the national treasury's tax base, but also crack down on powerful and evil gentry who conceal land ownership, thus making the tax burden fair; promoting sweet potatoes is an even greater merit."

When I left my hometown for the capital, I saw people in the disaster-stricken areas of Henan subsisting on sweet potatoes, thus avoiding the suffering of hunger. This is the most tangible benefit of the new policies!

"As for severely punishing corruption, eradicating the accumulated malpractices in officialdom, and gradually making the administration more transparent; and reorganizing the border troops and the capital garrison, the military strength of the Ming Dynasty was revitalized, which led to the glorious victory in Liaodong today."

Each of these measures strikes at the heart of the Ming Dynasty's deep-seated problems. Your Majesty's foresight and decisiveness are truly admirable!

As Zhu Youxiao sat on his throne and listened to He Zongyan's words, a relieved smile gradually appeared on his face.

When he implemented his new policies, those censors didn't say that.

The impeachment memorials piled up like mountains: they said that surveying the fields was "an act of disturbing the people", that promoting sweet potatoes was "a chaotic change in agricultural policies", and that reorganizing the border troops was "mistreatment of soldiers".

But now, the effectiveness of the new policy is undeniable.

The people in the disaster area found a way to make a living, the national treasury's tax revenue gradually increased, and the border troops won a battle. Even those civil officials who had previously opposed the new policies could not erase these tangible benefits, no matter how stubborn they were, and could only acknowledge their value.

He Zongyan's words were also an affirmation of his implementation of the new policies.

"However, in my opinion, some things were done too hastily."

He Zongyan changed the subject, his tone still respectful, but with a touch more frankness in offering his advice.

"While the great victory in Liaodong was inspiring, the continuous reinforcement of troops in Liaodong had resulted in enormous consumption of military pay and provisions, and the Ming Dynasty's treasury and people were already under unbearable burdens."

When I traveled from my hometown in Hubei to the capital, I saw that in many prefectures and counties, people's livelihoods were devastated, farmland was abandoned, and people were displaced. The root cause of this was excessive taxes and complicated corvée labor.

Now that Nurhaci has been killed and the Jurchens are leaderless, it is the right time to temporarily suspend the war and allow the people to rest.

This would reduce the number of troops stationed in Liaodong, cut military expenditures, allow the people to farm with peace of mind, and allow the region to recuperate and rebuild. Once the nation's strength has recovered, it wouldn't be too late to completely subdue the Jurchens.

These words directly pointed out the drawbacks of the new policy's "rush," without any attempt to evade the issue.

Zhu Youxiao's smile gradually faded. He didn't interrupt, but just stared into He Zongyan's eyes.

He Zongyan felt the emperor's gaze, but did not back down, and continued:

"The same applies to rectifying official corruption. Your Majesty's severe punishment of corruption is well-intentioned, but if it is too hasty, it may easily cause turmoil in the officialdom."

Nowadays, many local officials, out of fear of investigation and punishment, shirk their responsibilities and dare not take action, which in turn hinders the progress of government affairs.

Your Majesty, I urge you to proceed gradually and not seek immediate results. Instead, set a timeframe of three to five years and conduct a phased and regional investigation and rectification.

First, severely punish those who commit heinous crimes to serve as a warning to others; then guide officials to conduct self-examination and self-correction; and finally, establish a long-term supervision mechanism.

This would both eradicate long-standing abuses and ensure stability in officialdom, thus preventing any disruption to the implementation of the new policies.

At this point, he changed the subject again.

"In addition, I believe that Your Majesty's new policies may need to be supplemented with a key measure: tax and labor reform."

The Single Whip Law, implemented during the Wanli era, combined land tax, corvée labor, and miscellaneous taxes into a single collection of silver. Its initial purpose was to simplify the tax system and reduce the burden on the people. However, after a long period of implementation, many places have experienced problems due to its unsuitability to local conditions.

For example, in the water towns of Jiangnan, most people make a living by raising silkworms and fishing. They don't have much money, but they still have to pay taxes in silver. They are forced to sell their products at low prices, which only increases their burden.

In the northwest border regions, silver was scarce, and people often had to travel hundreds of miles to exchange it for silver, a truly miserable situation.

"I believe that, based on the survey of land area, taxes and corvée labor can be adjusted according to local conditions."

In the Jiangnan water towns, silk and grain can be used to offset taxes, while in the northwestern border regions, cattle, sheep, and cloth can be used temporarily. Once the circulation of silver becomes smoother, the tax system can be gradually unified.

This approach ensures both national treasury revenue and genuinely reduces the burden on the people, allowing the benefits of the new policies to truly reach every prefecture, county, and household.

He Zongyan's words contained neither empty praise nor sharp criticism. Instead, he affirmed the value of the new policies, frankly pointed out the problems, and put forward specific and feasible suggestions for improvement, demonstrating the pragmatism of a veteran official.

Zhu Youxiao's mind was in turmoil.

He Zongyan's words did, however, give him a slight wake-up call.

He had previously been focused on rapidly advancing the new policies and achieving a revival of the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible, but he overlooked the potential dangers of being "eager for quick success and instant benefits":

The public's ability to bear the burden, the pace of adaptation in officialdom, and the actual differences between regions are all issues he needs to reconsider.

After a long silence, Zhu Youxiao slowly spoke.

“What you said, Mr. He, hits the nail on the head. Your suggestions of ‘temporarily suspending the war in Liaodong and allowing the people to rest,’ ‘rectifying the officialdom in stages,’ and ‘reforming taxes and corvée according to local conditions’ are all pragmatic measures that deserve careful discussion.”

After listening to He Zongyan's advice, Zhu Youxiao had already made a clear judgment in his mind.

Although He Zongyan still retained some of the stubbornness of an old minister and had concerns about the "rush" of the new policies, he was able to accurately point out the core of the problems and put forward pragmatic solutions such as "tax reform" and "phased rectification". His insight and methods were both excellent.

Such people, if properly guided to see the long-term value of new policies, are very likely to become an important force in promoting new policies.

Lost in thought, Zhu Youxiao turned his gaze to Ye Xianggao, who had been silently pondering.

"What do you think, Lord Ye? Do what Lord He just said align with your thoughts?"

While He Zongyan was speaking eloquently, Ye Xianggao kept his head down in deep thought, clearly considering his words carefully.

Upon hearing the emperor's question, he took a deep breath and slowly raised his head.

"Your Majesty, the direction of the new policies is beyond doubt. They are indeed a good strategy for the revitalization of the Ming Dynasty. Most officials in the court also generally agree with the measures such as surveying and measuring land, promoting sweet potatoes, and reorganizing the border troops."

As soon as he finished speaking, he changed his tone, and his voice became sharper!

"However, Your Majesty has only been on the throne for a short time and your foundation is not yet stable. It is crucial that you do not rush into implementing new policies at this time."

"Ok?"

Zhu Youxiao's brows furrowed slightly.

Ye Xianggao noticed the change in the emperor's expression and knew that these words were unpleasant to hear, but he still gritted his teeth and continued:

"Your Majesty, I am not questioning the new policies themselves, but rather I am concerned about the harm caused by 'rushing'."

How much does Your Majesty know about the temperament, character, and abilities of the court officials?

Who genuinely supports the new policy, who pays lip service to it, and who deliberately obstructs it due to factional disputes?
Of the local officials in the two capitals and thirteen provinces, how many can effectively implement the new policies, and how many places, due to differences in customs and traditions, need to adjust the details of the new policies?

He looked intently at Zhu Youxiao, his tone becoming increasingly earnest:

"If we rush into in-depth reforms without fully understanding these details and establishing a reliable implementation system, it is very likely to backfire."

For example, if local officials take the opportunity to exploit the people during land surveys, it will only cause widespread resentment among the people.

For example, if the rectification of officialdom involves too many people and causes local government affairs to stagnate, it would be a case of "good intentions gone wrong."

These words were sharp enough, but Ye Xianggao did not stop.

"His Majesty is the supreme ruler, possessing unparalleled imperial power. Naturally, he can suppress his ministers in the court and even break ancestral rules and regulations."

But the rules of the Ming Dynasty were all set by the founding emperor, with the aim of making imperial power have rules to follow and the country's governance have laws to follow.

If Your Majesty frequently breaks with ancestral rules, while it may temporarily advance new policies, it could easily trigger the hidden danger of "the superiors setting an example for the subordinates".

"If Your Majesty can break ancestral rules today, your subjects will dare to break the law tomorrow. If this continues, the court will descend into chaos, the people will be restless, and this could sow the seeds of even greater disaster for the Ming Dynasty."

In closing, Ye Xianggao bowed respectfully, mentally prepared for being marginalized by Zhu Youxiao, or even kicked out of the house.

"Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty to reconsider! The new policies can be implemented, but they must be carried out gradually. First, we must understand the actual situation, then build a system, and once the foundation is solid, we can proceed step by step."

Only in this way can the new policies be implemented steadily and sustainably, avoiding any risk of instability and achieving long-term benefits.

The East Warm Pavilion fell silent instantly.

Zhu Youxiao did not immediately refute, but lowered his eyes, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

Zhu Youxiao had to admit that Ye Xianggao's words made some sense.

Although the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty had its rigid aspects, it was also the cornerstone for maintaining the balance between imperial power and the bureaucratic system.

Today he can suppress dissenting voices with "imperial power," but if one day his ministers also learn from him to "break the rules" and use factional struggles and local separatism to resist imperial power, then the Ming Dynasty will probably really fall into chaos.

However, Zhu Youxiao did not quite agree with the idea of ​​"taking things slowly".

Once the pace slows down, those old officials who oppose the new policies will take the opportunity to delay, obstruct, or even sabotage them in secret.

Local tyrants and bullies would also take the opportunity to consolidate their power, rendering efforts to survey land and reform tax administration futile.

New policies are like rowing against the current; if you don't move forward, you fall behind. The so-called "gradual approach" may end up being "unresolved."

To correct a wrong, one must go to extremes!

Reform is never a gentle adjustment, but a breaking down and reshaping of the old order.

If we blindly pursue "stability" and fear "turmoil," we will probably never be able to address the core of the Ming Dynasty's long-standing problems.

The war in Liaodong required money and supplies, and the civil unrest in Shanxi and Shaanxi was showing signs of erupting as natural disasters worsened.

The conflict between Sichuan and the land is intensifying, and a small spark could ignite a major upheaval.

As for various parts of the Ming Dynasty, official corruption was rampant, land was being annexed, and the people were suffering.
He had no time to "take things slowly," and the Ming Dynasty had no time to wait.

After a moment, Zhu Youxiao's eyes sharpened again. "I understand Lord Ye's concerns. I also agree with your points about 'getting a clear understanding of the situation' and 'establishing a system,' as these are indeed the foundation for the steady and long-term implementation of the new policies."

"But I cannot agree to the idea of ​​'taking things slowly'. The Ming Dynasty has deep-seated problems. Although we have won in Liaodong, it is not yet pacified. Although the people have sweet potatoes to fill their stomachs, they still suffer from taxes. If we slow down now, I fear all our previous efforts will be in vain."

I believe that the 'direction' of the new policy should not be changed, but the 'pace' can be adjusted.

I will take the time to understand the actual situation in each region and formulate detailed implementation rules for different regions and phases to avoid the drawbacks of a "one-size-fits-all" approach.

Furthermore, I will try my best to restrain myself and not break ancestral rules unless absolutely necessary. I will only make adjustments as appropriate when old rules hinder new policies.

After speaking, Zhu Youxiao looked at Ye Xianggao and said, "Lord Ye, you are a veteran of three reigns and are familiar with the intricacies of the court and local affairs. I need your assistance in the new policies."

Upon hearing this, Ye Xianggao was shocked.

He didn't expect that the emperor, instead of being angry after hearing his words, would actually listen to his very harsh words.

His Majesty is actually a ruler who humbly accepts advice!

A ruler chooses his ministers, and a minister chooses his ruler!

Zhu Youxiao's performance clearly earned Ye Xianggao's approval.

The long-bearded old minister immediately said, "Your Majesty is humble and open-minded. I will do my best to assist Your Majesty in the matter of the new policies!"

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

After talking with the two for another half an hour, Ye Xianggao and He Zongyan took their leave as it was almost lunchtime.

Zhu Youxiao watched the two figures leave, his face expressionless, showing neither joy nor sorrow.

Based on my conversation with these two people today, they are still usable.

But some things you only know by doing them, not by saying them.

Ye Xianggao and He Zongyan still need time to be observed.

After testing Ye Xianggao and He Zongyan's attitudes toward the new policies, Zhu Youxiao withdrew his thoughts and turned his attention back to the pile of memorials on his desk.

Although news of the great victory in Liaodong had spread, subsequent matters such as rewards, allocation of provisions, and reorganization of the border troops still needed to be finalized one by one, and no slackening was allowed.

He had just picked up a memorial concerning the reorganization of the Jizhou garrison when a soft voice from the Wei Dynasty came from outside the hall:

"Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Sun Ruyou and Minister of Rites Sun Shenxing request an audience."

"Let them in."

Zhu Youxiao put down the memorial, raised his hand to rub his temples, and his tone returned to the composure of an emperor.

Soon, Sun Ruyou and Sun Shenxing entered the East Warm Pavilion one after the other.

The two men, dressed in official robes and with solemn expressions, bowed in perfect unison as soon as they entered the hall.

"Your subject, Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, Sun Ruyou (Minister of Rites, Sun Shenxing), pays his respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be well!"

"No gift."

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, his gaze falling on the bright yellow books the two were holding.

"I suspect you've come for the rewards bestowed upon the soldiers of Liaodong?"

Sun Ruyou quickly stood up, held the book in both hands, and stepped forward respectfully:
"Your Majesty is wise! Minister Sun and I have drafted a preliminary list of rewards based on the military records of Liaodong and with reference to the old precedents of this dynasty. We hereby submit it for Your Majesty's review. If there are any improprieties, we will revise it accordingly."

Wei Chao strode forward, took the book, carefully brushed away the dust from the cover, and then presented it to the emperor's desk.

Zhu Youxiao reached out and picked up the book, slowly turning the pages.

The first page of the book prominently displays the name "Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong Military Commissioner," in bold, dark ink and neat handwriting, clearly indicating that he was listed as the most meritorious official.

His gaze slowly moved downwards, carefully examining each line of the rewards and honors listed in the book, and a look of satisfaction gradually appeared in his eyes:
Regarding the title of nobility, the document proposes to promote Xiong Tingbi to the title of "Earl of Dongning," a super-rank noble title that is hereditary.

He was also granted a special imperial edict, which would exempt him from death three times, and except for the serious crime of treason, he would never be stripped of his title.

Following the precedent set by the famous general "Earl of Weining Wang Yue" who resisted the Mongols during the Jingtai era, Xiong Tingbi was allowed to build the "Fengbo Archway" at his garrison in Liaodong, with stone inscriptions recording his military achievements, demonstrating the court's respect for military merits.

In terms of official position, Xiong Tingbi was granted the title of "Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince" while retaining his position as the Liaodong Military Commissioner. He was also granted the additional title of "Governor-General of Liaodong Military Affairs and concurrently in charge of grain and provisions".

This means that Xiong Tingbi will have full control over the military, political and financial power in Liaodong, and will no longer be subject to the constraints of the governor and the general, allowing him to more smoothly advance the reorganization of the border troops and the deployment of defenses.

He was granted the "Shangfang Sword," which gave him the power to dispose of officers below the rank of deputy commander-in-chief at will. In times of war, he could control the governor of Liaodong and the commanders-in-chief of various routes, thus completely resolving the previous problem of "generals not knowing their soldiers and soldiers not obeying orders."

The material rewards were also very generous: five thousand taels of silver, one hundred bolts of colored silk, a python robe, and a house in Daxingfang, the capital, so that his family could live in peace in the capital.

The subsequent preferential treatment was also well-considered: Xiong Tingbi was allowed to recommend three relatives to study at the Imperial College, obtain the status of "students of the Imperial College", and participate in the selection of officials without examination in the future, thus reserving a career path for his family.

After the war, Xiong Tingbi will be able to enjoy the "retirement with full salary" treatment, meaning that he will still be able to receive the full salary of a first-rank official after retirement and enjoy his old age.

In addition to Xiong Tingbi's outstanding merit and reward, the other soldiers and officials also received substantial rewards.

Zhu Wanliang, who killed Nurhaci, was promoted from "General" to "Loyal and Brave Earl" (a super-rank noble title, hereditary for three generations, with later successors being demoted to "Loyal and Brave Son"), and was bestowed with "golden helmet and silver armor".

He was promoted to "Left Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army Commandery" while still concurrently serving as "Commander-in-Chief of the Liaodong Relief Army" and was given the additional title of "Admiral of the Eastern Route Army of Liaodong".

Chen Ce promoted him to "Earl of Dinglu" and "Right Commander of the Right Army Commandery", a first-rank official position. He also concurrently served as "Supervisor of Military Affairs of Liaodong West Route", in charge of the dispatch of the western border defense.

He was also awarded two thousand taels of silver and forty bolts of colored silk.

This was followed by the promotion of three generals personally selected by Zhu Youxiao:

Man Gui was promoted from Lieutenant General to Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Jizhou Garrison; Ma Shilong was promoted from Lieutenant General to Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Xuanfu Garrison; and He Gang was promoted from Lieutenant General to Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Taiyuan Garrison. All three were awarded the title of "Vice Commander-in-Chief".

Sun Chengzong, Minister of War and concurrently Governor of Liaodong, was awarded the honorary title of "Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince" of the first rank, which highlighted his achievements in coordinating the recruitment of soldiers and provisions in the rear.

He was also granted the special right to "enter the cabinet for deliberations".

Although not a cabinet member, they can participate in cabinet military decision-making, which is equivalent to enjoying the treatment of a cabinet minister.

Liu Xingzuo, the Earl of Weilu, was granted the additional title of "Admiral of Liaodong Mongolian Affairs," and was in charge of communication, investiture, and trade with Mongolian tribes such as the Khorchin and Inner Khalkha.

They were allowed to establish a "Mongolian Affairs Office" in Kaiyuan, and the director could dismiss subordinate officials below the fifth rank.

This effectively granted Liu Xingzuo exclusive authority to handle Mongol affairs, allowing him to leverage his familiarity with the customs of Mongol tribes and consolidate the alliance between the Ming Dynasty and the Mongols.

In addition, the reward list did not overlook ordinary soldiers and logistics personnel, but instead established a universally beneficial reward policy:

Every soldier who participated in the three major battles of Red River Valley, Fushun, and Hetu Ala was rewarded with five taels of silver and two bolts of cloth.

The fallen soldiers were posthumously granted the title of "hereditary military household," and their descendants could be admitted to military positions without examination. Their families were also rewarded with twenty taels of silver and exempted from corvée labor for three years, ensuring that the families of the fallen soldiers had no worries about their future.

Wounded soldiers were given "idle positions in the garrison," such as warehouse managers or post station administrators, and received half a salary for life to ensure their livelihood in their old age.

Officials and laborers in the logistics system were also included in the reward program:

Officials responsible for the transport of grain and military supplies in Liaodong, such as those in charge of grain transport in Shandong Province, were promoted one rank: those of the fourth rank were promoted to the fourth rank, and those of the fifth rank were promoted to the fourth rank. They were also awarded a bonus of five hundred to one thousand taels of silver.

Each laborer who participated in the canal transport and post station transfers was rewarded with one tael of silver.

Although this sum of one or two taels of silver was not much, it made the lower-level laborers feel the court's compassion and inspired them to do their best to ensure the transportation of military supplies in the future.

The Ming Dynasty also bestowed rewards upon the Khorchin tribe.

The Khorchin tribe leader Mangus was conferred the title of "Shunli King," which was to be hereditary. Following the precedent of "Anda Khan," the tribal leader was given the honors of a prince.

He was rewarded with twenty bolts of python-patterned silk, one thousand catties of tea, and five hundred catties of ironware.

The Liaodong "Kaiyuan Mutual Market" was further opened up, a dedicated mutual market was established, tax-free trade was allowed for the Khorchin tribe, and they were also permitted to pay tribute annually.

These measures not only rewarded the Khorchin tribe for their military assistance, but also bound the relationship between the two sides with economic benefits and political courtesy, making the Khorchin tribe the vanguard of the Ming Dynasty's intervention in grassland affairs.

According to the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, the decree of rewards and honors for Liaodong had largely satisfied Zhu Youxiao.

It is believed that if this reward is issued, the morale of the soldiers in Liaodong will rise greatly.

Thinking of that scene, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but laugh.

But his smile didn't last long before he frowned slightly.

It's not for any other reason, it's all about money!

Such generous rewards, whether in the form of titles, official positions, silver, or materials, all required expenditure from the national treasury.

Being granted a noble title means that a hereditary salary will be paid in the future, and rewards such as silver, colored silk, tea, and ironware will need to be allocated from the imperial treasury and the national treasury.

"After winning the battle, we still have to worry about spending money."

Zhu Youxiao sighed inwardly, but couldn't help but smile helplessly.

This is perhaps what is meant by "the troubles of happiness".

In the past, the Ming Dynasty's foreign wars mostly ended in defeats, with either disastrous losses of territory or huge expenditures that yielded no results.

The great victory in Liaodong, with the enemy chieftain killed and lost territory recovered, should have been a cause for celebration. However, the ensuing expenses for rewards and honors caused Zhu Youxiao some worry.

The Jurchens killed or wounded at least 30,000 prisoners this time, and the various rewards and honors they received would probably amount to nearly two million taels of silver!

This emperor is going to suffer a huge financial loss!
(End of this chapter)