Huangming

Chapter 510 Kunning's Night Talk, The Imperial Clan's Scheme

Dark as ink.

The glass lamps in Kunning Palace lit up one after another, and the warm yellow light shone through the carved window lattices, dispelling the chill of the night.

Zhu Youxiao, dressed in casual clothes, stepped into the hall with light and slow steps.

"Your Majesty has arrived~"

As soon as the eunuch outside the palace announced the arrival, Empress Zhang Yan hurried forward to greet her.

She wore a moon-white palace dress with lotus patterns embroidered on the hem. Her black hair was secured with a single jade hairpin. Although her face, which was unadorned, showed some signs of fatigue, her eyes and brows remained gentle and charming.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

She gracefully bowed, her skirt sweeping the ground, and performed a standard palace etiquette.

Zhu Youxiao quickly stepped forward, reached out and helped her up, saying, "No need for formalities, please get up."

He carefully examined Zhang Yan and noticed the faint dark circles under her eyes and a few stray hairs hanging down by her temples, realizing that she had been working very hard these past few days.

"Have you finished with all the preparations for the silkworm-raising ceremony? Judging from your appearance, you probably haven't had a proper rest."

Zhang Yan nestled close to him, took his hand, and led him towards the warm pavilion inside the hall, a faint smile on her face:

"Everything is arranged. Tomorrow is the final sacrificial ceremony, after which things will be much easier."

"My Empress, you've worked hard."

Zhu Youxiao made a joke.

"These are all my duties, how can they be considered hard work? It is Your Majesty who, after reviewing memorials for days on end, and also worrying about the wars in the southwest and south of the Yangtze River, should take better care of your health."

Hot tea had already been prepared in the warm pavilion. The palace maids carried trays and stepped forward lightly, placing the steaming teacups on the table before quietly retreating, leaving only the Emperor and Empress behind.

Zhu Youxiao sat down on a cushioned chair, while Zhang Yan went around behind him and gently pressed her slender fingers on his shoulder, kneading it with just the right amount of pressure.

Knowing that the emperor had been working at his desk for days, his shoulders and neck must be sore, she specially consulted the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital about the kneading technique, which was specifically designed to relieve his strain.

"Um……"

Zhu Youxiao closed his eyes comfortably, feeling the soreness in his shoulders gradually dissipate, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Why are you suddenly massaging my shoulders? Is there something you want to say to me?"

He and Zhang Yan have been married for almost two years, and the couple has a great understanding of each other. Her unusual behavior must mean that she has something on her mind.

Zhang Yan's fingers paused, she hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke softly.

"Your Majesty, since I took charge of the inner palace, I have frequently received letters from relatives of the imperial family..."

Her voice became lower and lower.

The letter said that many distant relatives were living in great difficulty, some even struggling to make ends meet, and some collateral relatives were homeless and begging.

They were all of Zhu family blood, yet they ended up like this, which is truly heartbreaking and also damages the face of the royal family.

"I was thinking, could we perhaps allocate some funds and provisions from the imperial treasury to help these people?"

"Relief?"

Zhu Youxiao suddenly opened his eyes, and the ease on his face vanished instantly.

He raised his hand and pressed down on Zhang Yan's hand, signaling her to stop kneading. He turned to look at her, his tone complicated.

"I understand the Empress's intentions. But providing assistance is easier said than done."

"The Ming Dynasty has been established for more than two hundred years, and the imperial family has multiplied too quickly."

Emperor Taizu established the system of enfeoffing members of the imperial clan, intending for his descendants to share wealth and honor. However, who could have imagined that these princes and dukes would all have so many children and enjoy such good fortune? In just two hundred years, the number of imperial relatives has exceeded one hundred thousand.

"One hundred thousand?"

Zhang Yan frowned slightly. Although she knew that there were many members of the imperial clan, she did not know that it had reached this point.

"Yes, 100,000 is a conservative estimate. I estimate that the number may have reached 150,000."

Zhu Youxiao sighed, his tone full of helplessness.

"Even the lowest-ranking lieutenant of the Fengguo Army receives a salary of two hundred shi of grain per year."

These 100,000 relatives would receive a stipend of 20 million shi (a unit of dry measure) per year.

Last year, the imperial court's total tax revenue, converted into grain, amounted to only a little over 30 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

If salaries were to be distributed according to the established system, the imperial family alone would account for the majority. How would the remaining funds and provisions support the army, provide disaster relief, repair rivers, and implement new policies?

In fact, by the time of the Jiajing Emperor, the stipends for the imperial family had never been fully distributed.

"Moreover, not all of these relatives are poor."

Those princes and dukes occupied vast tracts of fertile land, monopolized local commerce, and were extremely wealthy.

Those who truly suffered were the distant relatives who held the titles of Fengguo Lieutenant and Zhenguo Lieutenant, as well as their sons who had not yet been granted titles.

Even so, helping these tens of thousands of impoverished relatives would still be an astronomical sum.

"I originally intended to use the funds from the imperial treasury to support naval shipbuilding and the Academy of Sciences' research and development of new technologies. If it is all used to subsidize the imperial family, the new policies will become empty talk."

Zhang Yan listened quietly, her expression gradually becoming serious.

Having lived in the inner palace for a long time, she was aware of the court's financial difficulties, but she was unaware that the problems within the imperial clan had become so severe.

Looking at the worry between Zhu Youxiao's brows, she felt a little guilty: "It was my oversight that I did not know there were such difficulties involved."

"It doesn't matter."

Zhu Youxiao took her hand, his tone softening slightly.

"The Empress cared deeply for the imperial family and possessed a kind and benevolent heart."

However, this problem of the royal family cannot be solved by simply providing relief.

If we provide aid today, they will take it for granted tomorrow, and their needs will only increase, which the court simply cannot afford.

"I have some ideas. Once the capital inspection is over and the new policies have gained a foothold in the southwest and south of the Yangtze River, I will begin to rectify the imperial clan and encourage them to support themselves by entering officialdom, farming, or doing business. Only in this way can the problem be solved at its root."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope appeared in Zhang Yan's eyes:

"If Your Majesty has such a good plan, it will be a blessing for the imperial family and for the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Youxiao embraced Zhang Yan, but shook his head affectionately.

The problem of the imperial family in the Ming Dynasty was not simply a matter of "inequality between rich and poor," but rather a contradiction between the ancestral system established by Zhu Yuanzhang and the practical needs of the Ming Dynasty. It was a deadlock that involved ethics, etiquette, and finance.

When Emperor Taizu established the country, in order to ensure the perpetuation of the Zhu family's rule, he set the rule of "granting fiefs but not granting land, and providing stipends but not governing affairs".

Members of the imperial family were born with stipends and did not need to work, but they were also deprived of political rights and the freedom to make a living.

They were not allowed to leave their fiefdom, interfere in local government affairs, participate in the imperial examinations, engage in business or property, and even had to report any associations with foreign officials.

This seemingly secure "iron rice bowl" ultimately led to an unsolvable predicament.

To break the deadlock, the first step is to touch the ethical bottom line of "respecting relatives and ancestors".

If members of the imperial family were allowed to participate in politics, breaking the ancestral rule of "not governing affairs," the civil service would surely rise up against them for "violating ancestral precepts."

They were already wary of the imperial clan sharing power, so how could they allow members of the Zhu family to interfere in the court?

If an army composed of members of the imperial clan were to be formed, there is a risk of repeating the "Jingnan Campaign," which would inevitably cause panic throughout the court and the country.

The imperial clan was even more divided, with the upper-ranking princes and dukes enjoying their high salaries and unwilling to give up their vested interests.

The lower and middle-class members of the royal family struggled to survive, but the system had already worn down their spirit and abilities. Even if they were given a way out, they might not be able to support themselves.

Under the dual resistance, every step is extremely difficult.

The upper-class royals remained the chosen ones.

A prince's annual salary is 10,000 shi (a unit of grain), and a duke's annual salary is 2,000 shi; this is only the official salary.

Relying on the privileges of estates and salt shops granted by the imperial court, they amassed vast tracts of land, monopolized local salt and tea trade, and amassed wealth far exceeding their salaries.

Prince Zhu Qiugui of Jin occupied tens of thousands of acres of fertile land in Shanxi, and collected hundreds of thousands of taels of rent every year.

Prince Fu, Zhu Changxun, expanded his estates in Luoyang to 20,000 hectares, leading to the popular saying that "Prince Fu is fat while the rest of the country is thin."

Even though they were incredibly wealthy, they were still "high-ranking prisoners." They lived deep within the high walls of the royal palace, their activities were not allowed to extend beyond the county town of their fiefdom, and their daily lives were under the surveillance of the government. Although they were extremely rich and powerful, they were essentially under house arrest. They had the status of princes, but in reality, they were no different from puppets.

The lower and middle-ranking members of the royal family had already fallen into the abyss.

The salaries of those below the rank of General of the State were already meager, and they were further subjected to long-term arrears and exploitation at discounted prices.

During the Jiajing era, Zhu Cong, in his memorial to the throne, lamented: "We have not eaten for several days, and are starving. Some of our children and grandchildren have been exposed to the elements for ten years without being buried. Some are begging in the marketplace, and some have been forced to migrate to other places."

By the time of the Tianqi Emperor, the situation had deteriorated to an extreme degree.

Take the lowest-ranking Fengguo Lieutenant as an example. Theoretically, his annual salary was 200 shi (a unit of grain), but according to the "Regulations for the Imperial Clan," the actual amount he received was very little.

Natural rice accounted for only 40% (80 shi). According to the local government's silver conversion standard, each shi in Henan was only worth 0.35 taels of silver, which amounted to only 28 taels.

The remaining 60% (120 shi) was converted into paper money, but by this time the paper money had already depreciated to the point of being worthless, with each string only worth 0.01 taels of silver. So 120 shi of rice was converted into only 1.2 taels of silver.

The actual annual income was only 29.2 taels, less than 15% of the theoretical value, enough for a family of three to eat for half a year.

Local finances were also unable to pay all the stipends for the royal family.

As a province with a high concentration of imperial clansmen, Shanxi had only 152 million shi of grain stored up in the third year of the Tianqi reign, while the theoretical demand for grain for the imperial clansmen was as high as 312 million shi, resulting in a shortage of 200%.

In practice, princes could barely get half of the rice, while generals and below could only get 20-30%, and the rice was mostly made up of inferior cotton cloth, moldy pepper, and unsold tea, making it difficult to even guarantee the most basic food.

The scene in Henan was even more appalling.

The royal family here accounts for one-third of the national population, with a theoretical demand of 192 million shi of rice, but the actual amount distributed is less than 40 shi.

Members of the lower-ranking imperial family, such as the Lieutenant of Fengguo, often received less than 30 taels of silver a year. When they were desperate, they had no choice but to "beg in the market and associate with beggars," and some even "sold their wives and children to survive."

The memorial submitted by the Henan governor during the Wanli era is still preserved in the Grand Secretariat.

"Among the imperial family, there are those who died of cold and hunger before the age of thirty, those whose entire families starved to death without a single survivor, and countless others who sold their children into slavery."

The fact that the prestigious Zhu family lineage has fallen to such a state is not only a tragedy for the imperial clan but also a disgrace to the court.

Only the situation in Jiangnan is slightly better.

In economically developed regions such as Southern Zhili and Zhejiang, the extra income from commercial taxes and salt taxes subsidized the imperial stipends, with the actual distribution rate reaching 50% to 60%.

Suzhou Prefecture even increased the proportion of natural rice in the Zhenguo General's salary to 50%, and paid it in silver at the market price of 0.6 taels per shi, just to make the local imperial family barely make ends meet.

But this is ultimately a special case and cannot be replicated nationwide.

"Perhaps... recruiting Zong Jun is a way to break the deadlock."

Zhu Youxiao, however, had already followed this line of thought.

“The lower and middle-ranking members of the imperial family already had no way to survive. If we could let them join the army, provide them with food and pay, and grant them military positions, we could not only relieve their hunger and cold, but also add an army to the Ming Dynasty.”

If members of the upper-ranking imperial family wished to lead troops, they were given nominal positions to oversee military discipline, preventing them from wielding real power. This both reassured them and prevented the potential for power fragmentation.

But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he gave a self-deprecating smile.

It's not that easy.

The civil service group would definitely jump out to oppose it, saying that "if members of the imperial family were to take command of the army, it would be a repeat of the Jingnan Rebellion," and stubbornly stick to the ancestral instruction of Emperor Taizu not to "manage affairs."

The princes and dukes of Shanxi and Henan would not be happy either. If the middle and lower-ranking members of the imperial family had military positions to rely on, who would still be subservient to them?
Not to mention that there was no precedent for "members of the imperial family joining the army" in the ancestral system.

But then he thought about it again and breathed a sigh of relief.

Since ascending the throne, what step has he taken that hasn't broken with ancestral rules?
Abolishing the old, empty formalities of the capital inspection and placing the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs in charge of supervising all officials was a violation.

Sending Qin Liangyu, a female general, to command a large army and implement the policy of replacing native chieftains with centrally appointed officials in the southwest was also a mistake.

Even the special imperial examination that is being prepared now is breaking the old precedent of "only the imperial examination is considered".

After hearing so many accusations of "violating ancestral teachings," they gradually faded away, much like how a lot of lice don't bite anymore.

"Resistance is inevitable."

Zhu Youxiao grasped Zhang Yan's hand, his tone carrying a hint of nonchalant firmness.

"Compared to the royal family dragging down the finances and causing widespread displacement, this little bit of resistance is nothing."

Seeing his resolute expression, Zhang Yan knew that the idea had taken root in his mind, so she stopped asking and instead gently changed the subject, following his lead:

"Since Your Majesty has made a plan, then proceed with the planning at your leisure. As for the women of the inner palace, Your Majesty has been busy with state affairs lately and has probably not inquired about them for quite some time."

Zhu Youxiao was stunned for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh.

Since the war in the southwest became intense and the preparations for the capital inspection began, he had not set foot in any other palaces except for resting at Kunning Palace every day.

"These matters are so complicated that I don't even want women anymore. What's the state of the harem now?"

"The pregnancies of Consort Liang, Consort Cheng, and Consort Yu are all stable."

When Zhang Yan spoke of the trivial matters of the harem, her tone softened.

"Consort Liang was pregnant in July and is now eight months along. The imperial physicians at the Imperial Hospital say that the fetus is strong and healthy, and they can feel the fetal movements every day."

Consort Cheng and Lady Yu were a month late in their pregnancies, more than seven months along, and neither experienced morning sickness or palpitations. They spent their days taking walks in the courtyard and reading leisurely books to nourish their pregnancies.

Zhu Youxiao listened with a relaxed expression.

His previous visits to the inner palace were not due to indulgence in sensual pleasures, but rather because he was well aware that the lack of imperial offspring was a hidden worry for the Ming Dynasty.

Now that several concubines have become pregnant, it has finally put one of my worries to rest.

"In another two or three months, we will be able to have a few more princes and princesses."

Zhang Yan may not fully understand the foresight hidden in those words, but she vaguely sensed it.

Zhu Youxiao did not hide anything from her, and said softly: "In the future, Korea will need someone to pacify it, Japan will need someone to oversee it, and after the grasslands are pacified, there will also be vassal kings stationed there."

With more offspring, there will be reliable people to guard the lands conquered in the future, and the territory of the Ming Dynasty can be firmly established.

Zhang Yan was somewhat puzzled.

Isn't the title of king conferred only within the country?
Why were they confined to Korea, Japan, and the grasslands?
Zhu Youxiao, of course, wouldn't explain much to him.

Once he has sorted out the domestic affairs, let alone Japan...

Even in England, he wanted to appoint one of his sons as king!
of course
Although Zhang Yan looked puzzled, she didn't ask any further questions when she saw Zhu Youxiao's smug expression.

She gently tucked a stray hair behind her ear, her voice soft yet tinged with seriousness:

"Your Majesty cares deeply for the people, and I understand. However... Your Majesty shouldn't keep going to Kunning Palace. Consort Liang and the others are pregnant and are hoping Your Majesty will come to visit them."

"As Empress, if I were to monopolize Your Majesty's attention, I fear I would earn a reputation for being 'jealous,' which would also be detrimental to harmony within the harem."

Zhu Youxiao chuckled at these words. He reached out and pinched Zhang Yan's cheek, finding it delicate and soft to the touch.

"The Empress is indeed considerate of me. I understand. I will visit Consort Liang's palace tomorrow."

After saying that, he loosened the jade belt on his everyday clothes, and the friction of the fabric revealed a hint of fatigue from days of hard work.

"Now that I have come to Kunning Palace, can the Empress possibly drive me out?"

Zhang Yan blushed slightly at his words, and the candlelight reflected on the tips of her ears, giving them a light pink hue.

She said no more, but stepped forward and gently untied the jade belt around Zhu Youxiao's waist.

The jade belt made a soft sound when it hit the ground, and the hem of her everyday clothes opened up to reveal the plain-colored inner garment.

Zhang Yan's cheeks were flushed, and the pink tips of her ears were even more noticeable in the candlelight.

She said nothing more, but her slender fingers moved slightly as she continued to untie the ties of Zhu Youxiao's plain-colored undergarment.

As Zhu Youxiao watched her lowered eyelashes cast a faint shadow in the halo of light, the heaviness in his heart caused by national affairs was quietly dispelled by the warmth of the room and the gentleness of the person before him.

He raised his hand and gently brushed away the few stray hairs that Zhang Yan had gathered at her temples.

The ties of the inner garment loosened, and the collar opened slightly.

Zhang Yan paused for a moment.

Zhu Youxiao chuckled softly, then wrapped his arm around her and gently pulled her soft body into his embrace.

What followed was naturally a harmonious and joyous occasion, with waves of passion rising.

This is something that cannot be told to outsiders.

(End of this chapter)