Huangming

Chapter 509 Personally in charge of administration and managing affairs across the land

Zhu Youxiao was already very familiar with the capital inspection system, a core system of officialdom in the Ming Dynasty.

"The purpose of the capital inspection was to reward the good and punish the bad, so that all officials would be conscientious in their duties."

Zhu Youxiao spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it made Fang Congzhe, Ye Xianggao, and Sun Shenxing below the steps hold their breath.

"But what about now? The superior has a reputation for being lenient, and in each round of the Beijing inspection, he only dismisses a few people as a formality, while the rest are treated leniently."

Those who truly deserve punishment for corruption and neglect of duty escape punishment by forming cliques and engaging in favoritism, while those impeached are often the wrongly accused.

He glanced at the three of them, his gaze sharp as a knife:

Although officials in the capital do not hold the same rank as governors and viceroys sent to the provinces, they control key central affairs and have always been areas of intense factional strife.

The all-encompassing assessment scope, intended to clean up official corruption, has instead become a tool for individual officials to seize power and cultivate cliques.

The Ministry of Personnel took the lead, the Censorate assisted, and the Cabinet drafted the proposals. While seemingly a clear division of responsibilities, this system was actually riddled with obstacles, ultimately allowing factional power to grow unchecked.

These words struck at the heart of the matter, and Ye Xianggao couldn't help but bow and say:
"Your Majesty is wise. Factional strife is indeed a chronic problem. In previous imperial examinations, there has been a trend of forming cliques and excluding each other. If this is not curbed, it may lead to great chaos."

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

In the original history, the Beijing inspection in the third year of the Tianqi reign was used by the Donglin Party as a sharp weapon to eliminate dissidents. Officials from the Qi, Chu, and Zhe parties were all expelled from the central government. Even the moderate Donglin Party members were not spared. The centrist officials were all in danger and eventually flocked to Wei Zhongxian.

Those people acted without leaving any room for maneuver, turning the capital inspection, which was supposed to purify officialdom, into a tool for factionalism and eliminating dissent, thus severely depleting the vitality of the Ming Dynasty.

He will never let history repeat itself.

Zhu Youxiao thought to himself.

After a moment, he came to his senses and asked:
"My ministers haven't answered the question I just asked! How will the capital inspection proceed?"

Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Your Majesty, the imperial examinations have always been conducted according to the 'Four Categories and Eight Methods,' which I will now explain in detail."

He cleared his throat and continued:
The first of the "Four Qualities" is "Upholding Integrity," which refers to moral character and is divided into three levels: honesty, righteousness, and greed.

The second is "politics," which refers to government affairs and is divided into three levels: diligent, mediocre, and lazy.

The third is talent, which refers to ability, and is divided into three levels: great, average, and small.

The fourth term is "year," which refers to age, divided into three categories: youth, middle age, and old age.

Each grade is ranked into three levels based on performance: competent, diligent, and dedicated. Those ranked in the first level are named and given priority for appointment to official posts outside the region.

"As for the 'Eight Laws,' they are rules of punishment: greed, cruelty, inaction, carelessness, old age, illness, impetuosity, and weakness of talent."

Anyone who violates any of these eight rules will be subject to questioning, dismissal, demotion, or reassignment, respectively; those who are old or ill will be forced to retire.

After explaining the system, Fang Congzhe changed the subject, his face showing difficulty:

"However, the civil unrest in Jiangnan has not yet been quelled, and local officials are busy pacifying and suppressing the rebellion. The provincial assessments in Jiangnan will probably have to be postponed for several months until the situation stabilizes."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's lips curled into a faint smile, his gaze sweeping over the tense expressions of the three men:
"There is no need to postpone it. I have new regulations for this inspection in the capital."

The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs was to supervise the entire assessment process, recording all details without any concealment.

"The power to retain, promote, or dismiss officials of the fourth rank or above rests entirely with me. The Ministry of Personnel and the Grand Secretariat only need to draft preliminary opinions; the final decision rests with me personally."

Upon hearing this, all three were taken aback.

Fang Congzhe instinctively wanted to dissuade him: "Your Majesty, the involvement of the Directorate of Ceremonial in the capital inspection may be seen as eunuch interference in politics. Moreover, all officials of the fourth rank and above are personally appointed by Your Majesty. Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state every day, and I'm afraid you are overworked..."

"Tired?"

Zhu Youxiao interrupted him.

"As the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty, it is my sacred duty to defend the land, ensure peace and stability, and rectify official corruption. Rather than allow the capital examinations to become a tool for factional strife and deplete the foundation of the nation, what does it matter if I suffer a little?"

"I am doing this not because I distrust you all, but to sever the root of factional strife."

The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs (司礼监) oversees and can prevent cheating in performance evaluations.

"I personally oversee the appointment and removal of officials of the fourth rank and above, which can break the pattern of factional collusion."

"Moreover, after the capital inspection, I will personally summon numerous officials from the two capitals and thirteen provinces."

They need to re-evaluate my identity as the emperor, and I need to personally assess their character and abilities.

The number of successful candidates from the Gengshen imperial examination and the newly promoted candidates in this special imperial examination alone is not enough to support the implementation of the new policies.

I need more officials who are loyal to the Ming Dynasty and possess outstanding abilities, to stand behind me and work together to reform corrupt practices and revitalize the Ming Dynasty.

Sun Shenxing bowed and said, "Your Majesty has foresight and wisdom. This move will surely clean up the bureaucracy and select virtuous and talented people. We are willing to cooperate fully."

"it is good."

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

"The capital inspection is officially launched today. Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, will lead the inspection, and the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate will draft detailed rules, which will be submitted to me for review within three days."

"I want the whole world to know that this imperial examination in the capital will only consider merits and demerits, not factionalism; it will only select the virtuous and capable, without favoritism!"

This inspection in the capital was not only a purge of the Ming Dynasty's officialdom, but also a crucial step for him to consolidate power and implement new policies.

The ruler chooses his ministers, and the ministers choose their rulers. After this battle, the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty will finally usher in a brand new transformation.

As soon as Zhu Youxiao finished speaking, Fang Congzhe and Ye Xianggao exchanged a glance, but the expressions in their eyes were completely different.

Fang Congzhe's hands, hanging by his sides, tightened slightly, and a knowing look flashed across his lips.

He had been following Zhu Youxiao for more than two years and knew that this young emperor was by no means a ruler who was content with maintaining the status quo. From making advance arrangements to quell the rebellion in the southwest, to vigorously promoting the reform of native chieftains and replacing them with centrally appointed officials, and now to personally controlling the capital inspection, every step he took revealed his ambition to reshape the bureaucracy.

He had secured his position as Grand Secretary solely through the Emperor's influence, and had long since abandoned any other ambitions, hoping only to help His Majesty consolidate his new policies. He bowed and replied:
"Your subject will do his utmost and will not dare to slacken in the slightest."

Ye Xianggao, however, frowned slightly, his heart filled with worry.

When His Majesty said he would personally oversee the appointment and removal of officials of the fourth rank and above, he knew that this capital inspection would not be a mere formality.

However, in matters of governance, subjective assumptions are most undesirable.

Although there was corruption in the past, there were established precedents to follow in the "four categories and eight methods". Now Your Majesty has bypassed the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate and intervened directly. If the officials promoted can implement new policies and care for the people, that would be fine.

However, if His Majesty judges merit solely based on "whether it aligns with His Majesty's will," dismissing those officials who adhere to established practices but are honest and capable, and instead appointing those who are good at flattery but lack real talent, there will likely be criticism from both the court and the public, and the implementation of the new policies may encounter even greater resistance.

He quietly glanced at Zhu Youxiao on the throne and saw that the emperor was calm and was looking through the imperial examination regulations on the table. Suddenly, he thought of something else.

Perhaps in His Majesty's eyes, "virtuous and capable" is different from what we old ministers are considered.

They value "integrity and knowledge of the law," but what His Majesty needs are probably capable people who "dare to break down long-standing abuses and can implement new policies."

Like Xiong Tingbi, although he was upright and not good at forming factions, he was able to quell the rebellion with swift and decisive measures.

Yuan Keli of Jiangnan, though unconventional, was able to quickly stabilize the region after the chaos.

Thinking this way, Ye Xianggao's worries eased slightly, but he still couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
Very well, since Your Majesty has made a decision, let's wait and see how it goes.

The emperor and his ministers then discussed the details of the special imperial examination. Fang Congzhe suggested that "examiners should be selected from Hanlin scholars who are not affiliated with any party and from honest officials serving outside the capital," in order to prevent the Donglin Party or the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party from controlling the examination questions.

Ye Xianggao added that "candidates' exam papers must be copied anonymously, and an imperial censor will be assigned to supervise the entire process" to prevent cheating.

Zhu Youxiao finally set the tone: "Those who pass the imperial examination will first be sent to local areas as county magistrates or judges. After three years of training, they can be recalled to the capital. They are not allowed to directly enter the Hanlin Academy or take up important positions in the Six Ministries."

This layered defense was designed to keep newly appointed officials away from court factional infighting, allowing them to accumulate practical experience in local areas and cultivate truly capable individuals for the new policies.

Without grassroots experience and knowledge of the people's suffering, how can one secure a stable position in the court?

What is clear stream or muddy stream?

In Zhu Youxiao's eyes, there were only capable officials.

of course
Because Nko was specially appointed this time, the resistance from these officials was not too strong when he made these moves.

If such a thing were to be done in the orthodox imperial examinations, countless officials would likely object.

More than half an hour later, Zhu Youxiao put down his vermilion brush, rubbed his temples, and waved his hand:

"You've all worked hard, so please do your job well."

Fang Congzhe, Ye Xianggao, and Sun Shenxing quickly bowed and bowed, and the three of them slowly left the warm pavilion.

After the three left, Zhu Youxiao stretched his back, his joints making a slight "click" sound. He did not issue an order to rest, but instead moved the pile of memorials on his desk closer.

After an emperor has finished meeting with his ministers, there are still many duties he must perform.

Now, Zhu Youxiao feels uneasy if he doesn't review one or two hundred memorials a day.

It has become a fully-fledged ox or horse.

He immediately began reviewing the memorials.

The topmost document is a report on the spring drought situation submitted by the governor of Beizhili, stating that while other prefectures had received adequate spring rain, Baoding Prefecture had recently suffered from a spring drought and requested the allocation of newly made waterwheels and grain seeds.

Zhu Youxiao picked up his vermilion brush and wrote on the memorial from Beizhili, “Order the Academy of Sciences to quickly dispatch fifty waterwheels to Baoding, and distribute grain seeds from the inner treasury, so as not to delay the farming season.”

Time flies when you're reviewing memorials.

As the sun gradually set outside the window, the light inside the warm pavilion grew dimmer. The eunuchs quietly lit candles, and the flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the memorials, making Zhu Youxiao's figure appear even taller.

As dusk completely enveloped the Forbidden City, Wang Tiqian, the director of the Western Depot, quietly entered the warm pavilion, carrying a box with a black cover.

The box was stamped with the gilded seal of the Western Depot, and there was still some dust on the edges.

It was clearly a secret report that had just been retrieved from the post station.

"Your Majesty, secret reports from Jiangnan, Penghu, and the Southwest have arrived."

Wang Tiqian knelt on one knee and raised the box above his head.

Zhu Youxiao put down his vermilion brush, took the box, opened it, and took out the top document, a secret memorial from Jiangnan.

The handwriting on the paper was Yuan Keli's own.

The secret report stated that after he led his army to capture Suzhou, he did not rush to pursue Wang Haoxian, who had fled to Songjiang Prefecture, but instead ordered a halt to the advance:
On the one hand, soldiers were dispatched to assist the local area in surveying the land, registering the refugees who had been coerced by Wang Haoxian, and distributing oxen and seeds.

On the other hand, they petitioned to expand the powers of the Disaster Relief Department, allowing its commissioners to be stationed in various villages of Suzhou to be responsible for disaster relief, education, and tax registration, thus extending imperial power directly to the grassroots level of the countryside.

Zhu Youxiao read it word by word, and a faint smile slowly appeared on his lips.

He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of tea, and felt a warmth gradually rise in his heart.

Jiangnan was originally a place where gentry and powerful families were entrenched. Although Wang Haoxian's rebellion caused local turmoil, it also broke the old pattern of interests, which gave him the opportunity to implement new policies.

Yuan Keli's move may seem like a slow and gradual one, but it was actually paving the way for his later control of Jiangnan.

The land survey can uncover hidden tax bases, and the disaster relief department's visits to the countryside can weaken the local control of the gentry. Once the foundation is solid, not only will it be possible to pursue and suppress Wang Haoxian, but the annual tax revenue of Jiangnan will surely increase by several million taels compared to the past.

He put the secret report back into the box and instructed Wang Tiqian:

"An imperial edict was issued to Yuan Keli, authorizing him to expand the authority of the Disaster Relief Department, with the necessary grain and salary to be allocated from the salt tax in Jiangnan."

He also ordered spies from the Western Depot to closely monitor the movements in Songjiang Prefecture, ascertain the distribution of Wang Haoxian's henchmen, and then wipe them out in one fell swoop once things were settled in Suzhou.

"The slaves obey the order."

Zhu Youxiao put down the secret memorial from Jiangnan and picked up another secret memorial.

This is an urgent report sent by Qin Liangyu from the southwest.

He twisted the gun-patterned wax seal and untied the tightly folded seal.

Qin Liangyu's handwriting is vigorous and neat, with even ink density, clearly written hastily during a break in the march, yet every character is clear:
"I led three thousand White Spear Soldiers in a surprise attack on Songkan. The enemy soldiers were caught off guard and fled to the mountains and forests of southern Sichuan."

I have already sent men to block the three valley entrances to the east of Songkan, cut down trees to make obstacles, and set up crossbows on the cliffs. If She Chongming tries to transport grain from the east or break out of the encirclement, he will be ambushed.

Furthermore, I have discovered a secret letter between She Chongming and An Bangyan, the chieftain of Shuixi, in which they discuss their intention to use Shuixi as a route to attack Chongqing again. I have already sent someone to deliver the letter to Commander Xiong to guard against any feints or diversions.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the eight characters "Songkan has been breached, the eastern route is cut off," and his tense shoulders finally relaxed. He raised his hand to rub his temples, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

Songkan is located in a strategic point in northern Guizhou. It is the eastern lifeline connecting Yongning and Chongqing for She Chongming. Once this route is cut off, She Chongming is trapped in Yongning. He can neither get food and supplies nor join forces with the surrounding chieftains. He is like a turtle in a jar.

"The She'an Rebellion in history was ultimately different from the one in history."

He murmured quietly.

In my memory, She Chongming was able to sweep across the southwest in the history books of my previous life largely because the war in Liaodong was intense and the court was attacked from two sides, which gave him a chance to grow stronger.

But now, having made arrangements two years in advance, sending Xiong Tingbi to guard the southwest and Qin Liangyu to guard Nanping Pass, and secretly supporting the Tusi (local chieftains) loyal to the court, She Chongming lost Chongqing and his main force as soon as he raised his banner. Even his last retreat route was blocked. Where did he have the capital to cause trouble?
"The rebellion in the southwest has been quelled."

Zhu Youxiao carefully folded Qin Liangyu's secret memorial and put it into the "processed" file. However, he knew in his heart that while the war was easy to end, the new policies would be difficult to implement.

The reform of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials involved the centuries-old foundation of the chieftain system. Measuring land, establishing officials and stationing troops, and promoting education required careful consideration at every step and could not be accomplished overnight.

His thoughts had barely settled when his gaze fell upon another secret document, signed "Mao Wenlong, Commander-in-Chief of the Tianjin Navy."

Zhu Youxiao opened the secret memorial.

"The Tianjin Navy decisively defeated the Dutch ships off the coast of Penghu, burning three of them and capturing two. The Dutch leader, Reyjoz, and more than a hundred of his followers were captured alive."

"I have ordered the barbarian chieftain, prisoners, and captured warships to be escorted to the capital. Furthermore, the Portuguese envoy Angelica has accompanied us on board, stating her willingness to provide the Ming Dynasty with the technology to replicate barbarian ships, seeking only the benefits of trade."

In the latter half of the densely packed section, Mao Wenlong's brushstrokes suddenly become heavy:

"I have observed that the Dutch ships are sturdy, with many masts and sails, and the cannons they carry have a range of more than three miles, far surpassing the ships of my Great Ming Dynasty, such as the Fujian and Guangdong ships."

Although our army won, we also lost many warships and suffered thousands of casualties, all because our ships and cannons were inferior to those of the barbarians.

If we only defend the coastal waters, the existing navy can still hold out; but if we want to venture across the oceans, conquer Luzon, and deter Japan, we must imitate foreign ships and improve our artillery, otherwise our maritime borders will never be peaceful!

Zhu Youxiao looked at the six characters "ships and cannons are inferior to those of the barbarians" and his brows slowly furrowed.

He had long known of the advantages of Western warships during the Age of Exploration, but he had not expected the gap to be so vast.

The Tianjin Navy was one of the most elite navies in the Ming Dynasty, and it still paid such a price. If it were any other navy, it would probably have been even more miserable when facing the Dutch fleet.

"Building a new ship is now of utmost urgency."

He stood up and paced around the hall.

Blueprints of a steam engine flashed through my mind, along with the principles I had memorized before I traveled through time.

He drew detailed diagrams of cylinders, pistons, and flywheels for the craftsmen at the Academy of Sciences, but six months later, the craftsmen still hadn't solved even the most basic problem of cylinder sealing, let alone built a steam engine that could drive warships.

"Theory without practice is just empty talk."

Zhu Youxiao gave a wry smile.

If I hadn't been obsessed with humanities in my previous life, but had studied science instead, I might have already been able to build a steam engine, enabling the Ming Dynasty to have an ironclad fleet and crush Western barbarian ships.

But then I thought, if I really studied science, I probably wouldn't be able to cope with the political infighting and local chaos that I would face after being transported to this world.

After all, governing the world relies not on formulas and theorems, but on strategy and popular support.

"Never mind, there are advantages and disadvantages, and we can't force it."

Hopefully, some of those craftsmen will become science and engineering talents.

He took a deep breath, sat back down at his desk, and picked up his vermilion pen to write a reply on Mao Wenlong's secret memorial:

"After the Dutch prisoners were brought to the capital, they were handed over to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation, and their overseas outposts and trade intentions were thoroughly investigated."

The Portuguese envoy was received by the Ministry of Rites, which granted his request to conduct trade, but he was required to provide blueprints for foreign ships and information on cannon technology.

The Academy of Sciences immediately dispatched craftsmen to Tianjin to dismantle the captured foreign ships and make sure to replicate them as superior warships.

Furthermore, allocate 100,000 taels of silver from the imperial treasury specifically for naval improvements, without delay.

As the vermilion brush fell, the ink spread, and Zhu Youxiao gazed at the night outside the window, already having made his plans.

Although steam engines are difficult to manufacture, imitating Western warships is a feasible approach at present. Once the navy is strong, technological innovation can be gradually promoted. One day, the warships of the Ming Dynasty will be able to roam the oceans and make all the barbarians of the four directions bow down and submit.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao shook his head.

Being a wise ruler is really not easy.

Suppressing rebellions in the southwest, pacifying unrest in Jiangnan, and defending the coastal borders—every step requires a steady and solid approach. The road to the revival of the Ming Dynasty is still long.

His good days as the emperor of the Ming Dynasty are yet to come.

(End of this chapter)