Huangming

Chapter 68 The New Dynasty's Elegant Governance, the Emperor's Favor

The first day of the tenth month of the first year of the Taichang era.

The incident of Zuo Shun kneeling and remonstrating at the gate occurred nearly ten days ago.

When the courtiers knelt in remonstrance, the emperor did not implicate anyone else; he merely confiscated Han Kuang's property, dismissed him from his post, and exiled him three thousand li away.

As for the other officials, no immediate action was taken.

However, as time passed, the swords of the Embroidered Uniform Guard fell one by one.

Many officials in key positions have been dismissed from their posts due to corruption, bribery, or being found guilty of forming cliques for personal gain.

Some had their homes confiscated, some were exiled, and some were executed!
The vacant positions were filled by officials who were willing to do practical work, or who were eager for advancement and who followed the emperor's orders without question.

These past few days, the people of Beijing have had their fill of gossip: who had their home ransacked today, who was beheaded in the East Market tomorrow, and who was paraded through the streets the day after.

It was almost like a traditional opera, with a highlight every day.

The people have already realized that our Emperor is an emperor who gets things done, unlike those previous emperors who ignored court affairs and did nothing!
Kill kill kill!

These corrupt officials should all be killed!

but
Zhu Youxiao also understood that simply resorting to threats of bloodshed was only a temporary solution and would only alienate the emperor and his ministers.

Ultimately, he still needed some ministers to focus on handling state affairs and governing the country.

Therefore, Zhu Youxiao would only order the confiscation of property, exile, or execution of those whose crimes were particularly serious.

Those who committed minor offenses did not immediately take action.

Under the thunderous roar, the court officials were filled with trepidation.

The most obvious sign is that in recent days, there has been an increasing number of memorials from officials resigning their posts.

Zhu Youxiao kept all these memorials in the palace and did not send them out.

Does a little punishment make you want to quit?
He won't allow it!
Today, on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, Zhu Youxiao wanted to boost the morale of his ministers, and, having gained some power, he could finally introduce some new policies.

now.

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

On this early winter day, the Forbidden City was already bitterly cold.

At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), officials gradually gathered outside the Meridian Gate to await the arrival of the emperor.

Compared to a month ago, there were far fewer officials present at Houchao's court this time.

Among the officials, their positions were still clearly divided: one side huddled around Liu Yiju, the second-ranking official in the cabinet, Zhou Jiamo, the minister of personnel, Yang Lian, and others; the other side huddled around Fang Congzhe, the first-ranking official in the cabinet, Liu Tingyuan, the left vice censor-in-chief of the Censorate, and others.

However, there were a few wandering souls, such as Sun Chengzong, who was seen as a traitor by the Donglin Party members, and Yuan Keli, who did not respond to Zuo Shunmen's kneeling remonstrance.
The two stood alone, neither side willing to accept them.

The time had come. The Imperial Guardsmen cracked their whips three times, the sound like thunder, and the entire place fell silent.

Officials from the Court of State Ceremonial shouted outside the Meridian Gate: "All officials, enter the ranks!"

Immediately afterwards, officials from the Court of State Ceremonial guided the officials into the square in front of the palace.

Civil officials wore red robes with blue trim and red skirts, while military officials wore tiger and leopard embroidered robes and carried tablets. They lined up in front of the Huangji Gate according to their rank.

It is now the hour of Mao (5-7 AM).

Emperor Zhu Youxiao of the Ming Dynasty wore a ceremonial robe with twelve imperial symbols. He rode in a palanquin from the Qianqing Palace to the Danbi (red steps) of the Huangji Hall. The music "Flying Dragon Melody" was played, and guards lined up with halberds on both sides of the hall gate.

The Imperial Guards cracked their whips, and officials from the Court of State Ceremonial shouted, "Welcome His Majesty the Emperor to ascend the throne!" The assembled officials also shouted, "Welcome His Majesty the Emperor to ascend the throne!"

Soon, the emperor entered the hall and ascended the throne. Eunuchs stood on either side, holding a canopy and a whisk, while officials from the Imperial Seal Office placed the jade seal on the table.

The Master of Ceremonies of the Court of State Ceremonial announced: "Bowing."

All officials performed the four-bow ceremony.

The master of ceremonies chanted: "Hail, mountain!"

The officials clasped their hands together, raised their foreheads, shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times, and then bowed four times.

"Everyone loves you."

After the elaborate ceremony, officials from the Hanlin Academy stepped forward to present the New Year's greetings.

Li Zongyan, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, stepped forward to receive the congratulatory letter and read it aloud:
"I humbly beseech Heaven to initiate a new era, and for the sun and moon to shine once more."

I humbly pray that Your Majesty will govern with folded hands, and that the imperial rule will be as solid as a rock; may Heaven bless the Ming Dynasty, and may peace and prosperity be preserved for the entire nation.

I respectfully submit this letter to offer my congratulations!

The congratulatory message was auspicious, and the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies read it aloud.

Sun Ruyou straightened his clothes, stepped out from the ranks of civil officials, raised his tablet high, and said:
"Your Majesty, I, Sun Ruyou, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, respectfully report: Since the change of reign title in the Tianqi era, Your Majesty's sagacious virtue has been manifest, and auspicious omens have frequently appeared this winter. The Shandong Provincial Administration reported that nine ears of fine grain suddenly sprouted in the Confucius Cemetery in Qufu, with stems as red as cinnabar and ears hanging down like necklaces. This is an omen of the sage's birthplace responding to the kingly way, which is exactly the image in the Book of Documents: 'Heaven sends down black millet wine, and the virtue is fragrant and the gods are pleased.'"

His voice trembled slightly but grew increasingly impassioned: "The Governor of Henan has sent an urgent report from eight hundred li away, that a purple aura has lingered over Mount Song for three days, and a white deer has appeared at the Qimu Palace, with twin lingzhi mushrooms growing from its antlers. The ancient 'Illustrated Book of Auspicious Omens' records that 'when a ruler receives the mandate of Heaven, a white deer will appear in the world.' This winter, thunder has shaken the land, yet frost has not killed the grass. All of this is a sign that Your Majesty should implement new policies, in accordance with Heaven and the people!"

Zhu Youxiao considered the presentation of auspicious omens to be a deceptive trick, but in that era, it was also a political necessity.

Without auspicious omens, wouldn't even Heaven be unwilling for Zhu Youxiao to ascend the throne? How could he then be called the Son of Heaven?
Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "Minister Sun's memorial reminds me of Emperor Taizu Gao's 'Auspicious Wheat Edict'."

He lightly tapped the dragon head of the throne with his fingertips, causing the pearls and jade on the crown to sway and shine: "Issue an edict to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices: this year's winter solstice sacrifice to Heaven shall be accompanied by a grander offering of three sacrificial animals. Order the Hanlin Academy to draft the 'Record of Auspicious Omens' and issue a picture of a white deer to the whole country."

After presenting memorials and reports, the next step is to hold a banquet and bestow rewards.

The New Moon and Full Moon court sessions differed from regular court sessions. They were a display of imperial power, with "ritual as the outward appearance and political maneuvering as the underlying reality," focusing on bestowing favors rather than discussing state affairs.

However, today is the first court assembly since the incident of Zuo Shunmen kneeling and remonstrating, so Zhu Youxiao naturally has something to say.

His voice slowly emerged from the throne.

"Since assuming the throne, I have been diligent and cautious day and night. Previously, I dispatched imperial guards to rectify official corruption, because corrupt officials were eroding the foundations of the state, and the nation was on the verge of collapse; otherwise, the state would be in peril! However, punishments exceeding three levels of severity will lose their impartiality. I have observed in the *Lü Xing* (a classic text on punishments) that 'punishments have varied in severity throughout history,' and therefore I hereby issue this imperial edict:"
For those who commit minor offenses, considering it their first offense, they shall be required to surrender the stolen goods to the Minister of Agriculture within ten days, and I will not pursue past offenses.”

Upon hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, some anxious officials finally breathed a sigh of relief. These past few days, they had not dared to visit prostitutes, and they trembled with fear while eating and sleeping, for fear that the Embroidered Uniform Guard would suddenly knock on their door.

Now that His Majesty has granted a general amnesty for past crimes, many court officials knelt down in the palace, saying, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Wei Chao immediately held the bright yellow imperial edict in his hand and read it aloud in the hall:

"The new policies are evident: redundant officials are eliminated to save on unnecessary expenses, and channels for public opinion are opened to accept loyal advice; almshouses are established to provide relief to widows and widowers, and the autumn tax in Beizhili is exempted to ensure the well-being of the people. The Ministry of Works is ordered to cast new-style firearms and a military academy is established to strengthen the military; the Hanlin Academy is ordered to compile the 'Essentials of Agricultural Administration' to encourage agriculture and sericulture to consolidate the foundation of the nation."

The Censorate ordered Yang Lian, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, to oversee the Grand Canal's grain transport in Tongzhou; Zuo Guangdou was reinstated to his original post and ordered to inspect the Yellow River, provide disaster relief, and manage the river; Sun Chengzong was promoted to Minister of War and appointed Governor of Liaodong; Yuan Keli was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Seals and concurrently appointed Acting Minister and Attendant to the Imperial Lectures.

A series of personnel changes left the court officials stunned.

This is a new policy!
Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe immediately stepped forward and praised, "These are all the policies of Yao and Shun, and the benevolence of Yu and Tang. Although we are dull and incompetent, how dare we not do our best? We should adhere to the three words 'integrity, prudence, and diligence,' and serve the imperial edict day and night without slackening."

The other officials remained silent, but in the end they could only stiffen their heads and say, "Your Majesty is wise, and the Emperor's rule is truly fortunate!"

The new policy is good, but it affects the interests of many people.

New government
Can it be implemented successfully?
(End of this chapter)