Huangming

Chapter 69 The Sage Ruler's Open Schemes, Using the Pen as a Sword

On the first and fifteenth days of the tenth month, the emperor immediately issued new policies.

Some are happy, some are worried.

Inside the Wenyuan Pavilion, Fang Congzhe and Liu Yizhu sat facing each other.

After Han Kuang left, the tense atmosphere between the two lessened considerably.

"Your Majesty, isn't Your Majesty being a bit too hasty? So many new policies may have good intentions, but the Grand Canal transport, disaster relief, and the affairs of Liaodong are all of great importance. Your Majesty issued an imperial edict without consulting the cabinet. Isn't that somewhat against procedure?"

program?

After Han Kuang was exiled and the Censorate was taken over by His Majesty, who would dare to contradict His Majesty's decree?

Fang Congzhe was used to being a puppet cabinet member; having never gained any real power, he naturally had no desire for it.

This was the case during the Wanli reign.

The same was true during the Tianqi reign.

He said slowly, “The Emperor’s mind is unfathomable. We only need to do our work diligently. During the reign of Emperor Taizu, imperial edicts did not require discussion within the cabinet. As long as it was a serious matter, what reason do we have to reject it? Your Majesty has lofty ambitions, and we should serve you faithfully.”

Liu Yizhu was afraid of messing things up, and that it would be too difficult to implement this policy.

"The court and the public are in uproar. What if another official kneels down to remonstrate against us?"

Liu Yiju was deeply worried.

"Is the court and the public in turmoil? Doesn't the Vice Minister know about the convicted censors in the imperial prison? The endless piles of heads in the East Market? Or is it that the fate of Grand Secretary Han isn't enough to wake these people up?"

In the past, the emperor certainly wouldn't have dared to introduce new policies.

However, with the aftermath of the kneeling remonstrance incident still lingering, who would dare to remonstrate to the death?
If you dare to outwardly comply but inwardly defy, is it because you think the food in the imperial prison is too good?
Was this all part of His Majesty's plan?
Fang Congzhe said meaningfully, "His Majesty dislikes factional strife, and corruption will be punished, as will forming factions. The Vice Premier should be careful."

Fang Congzhe was already a lone minister.

He led the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party to provoke a factional struggle with the Donglin Party, resulting in both factions suffering heavy losses.

The Donglin Party hated him as a treacherous minister who was even more disastrous for the country than Qin Hui.

The Qi, Chu, and Zhe factions cursed him, calling him utterly inhuman and comparing him to Yang Guozhong and Zhu Fuyan.

He's caught in the middle, but also finding it surprisingly easy.

He has completed His Majesty's task and is now receiving the same treatment as Yan Song during the Jiajing era.

All the memorials impeaching him were kept in the archives.

At this moment, Fang Congzhe is in a state where he cannot be selected.

Go ahead and curse!

Do you think you can verbally kill me?
Liu Yijun sighed deeply, finally having nothing more to say.

On the day Han Kuang knelt at Zuo Shun Gate to remonstrate, the reason he didn't go was because he had long ago realized that this was a suicide mission.

Unable to persuade Han Kuang, he could only protect himself.

As a result, there was considerable criticism of him within the Donglin Party.

But Liu Yiju felt he was wronged!

If Han Kuang had been willing to listen to him back then, how could the political situation have become what it is today?
His Majesty's authority in the court is growing stronger every day. He can issue imperial edicts whenever he wants and investigate the grain transport system whenever he wants, and the court officials dare not object.

Before kneeling in remonstrance, would Your Majesty have dared to implement the new policies? Would you have dared to issue imperial edicts on so many sensitive issues?

Liu Yizhu closed his eyes and sighed, his heart filled with emotion:

Is this His Majesty's method?
This was, of course, Zhu Youxiao's doing.

Without decisive and ruthless measures, how can his subjects know that he is the true master of the Ming Dynasty?

At this moment, in the East Warm Pavilion of Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youxiao and Wei Zhongxian were doing accounts.

This time, the factory site was used, countless homes were confiscated, and with the return of embezzled funds by some officials, the total amount of silver obtained was as much as three million taels.

These officials all claimed to be upright and honest, but when their homes were searched, they found countless fields, warehouses full of gold and silver, and numerous concubines and servants. They truly were upright and honest officials.

This large sum of money also relieved Zhu Youxiao's urgent need.

With money, new policies can be effectively implemented.

Otherwise, even a penny can stump a great man. Without money, how many people will still recognize you as emperor?
However, the three million taels recovered from the corruption investigation were still insufficient; they could only be considered initial funding.

The real big pockets were: first, salt and iron; second, grain transport; third, local government profits; and fourth, embezzlement of military pay.

The annual salt tax loss from the Lianghuai salt fields reached 200 million taels, or even more. If the accumulated problems of the past ten years are investigated, at least 2000 million taels could be found.

Now, Zhu Youxiao intends to take action to recover this money from the central government. There will naturally be difficulties, and Zhu Youxiao doesn't expect to solve all the problems at once; he'll try to resolve them as much as possible.

Taking advantage of the momentum generated by the incident where Zuo Shunmen knelt and remonstrated, Zhu Youxiao naturally wanted to do as much as he could.

"Wei Zhongxian, three million taels is not a small amount, but it is far from the amount I expect. You must find out who has embezzled the money hidden in the shadows."

The relationship between Wei Chao and Wei Zhongxian, under the deliberate or unintentional instigation of Zhu Youxiao, can be described as one of irreconcilable enmity.

Wei Zhongxian was in charge of confiscating property, while Wei Chao was in charge of supervising from behind.

This prevented Wei Zhongxian from engaging in any corruption whatsoever.

However.
He dared not be corrupt, but there were still some who were bold enough.

Although the total amount is only a few hundred thousand taels, a few hundred thousand taels is still a lot of money!

My money!
Wei Zhongxian glared at Wei Chao and immediately said, "This servant will investigate immediately. Anyone who dares to embezzle a hundred thousand taels of silver will be skinned alive as a warning to others!"

Therefore, the kind of cruel officials are ultimately determined by those who make decisions at the top.

Historically, Wei Zhongxian was corrupt and embezzled countless lives, but now, in the hands of Zhu Youxiao, he has become a powerful figure in the Ming Dynasty, much like Zhang Tang and Zhi Du.

Just then, Wang Tiqian arrived in a hurry and said to Zhu Youxiao, "Your Majesty, Yang Lian, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and Zuo Guangdou, the Supervising Censor, are already outside the pavilion."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said to Wei Zhongxian, "Zhongxian, you have done a good job. I will give you another three thousand additional Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards). These three thousand men do not need to be confined to the capital, but will be sent to various places to supervise the whole country."

Wei Zhongxian's eyes lit up immediately.

Although he couldn't directly embezzle, with more power in his hands, even small acts of filial piety could accumulate into a large sum.

He immediately replied, "This servant will certainly handle the task well, Your Majesty, please rest assured!"

"Just get down."

Wei Zhongxian left in a hurry, and not long after he left, Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou went inside with their heads bowed.

Yang Lian still seemed to possess a proud spirit; although he lowered his head, his back was very straight.

Zuo Guangdou was extremely humble, bowing deeply and almost burying his head in his chest.

"Your Majesty, I, Yang Lian (also known as Zuo Guangdou), Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, respectfully wish Your Majesty good health!"

On the throne, Zhu Youxiao remained expressionless and said, "I am well, rise."

Yang Lian got up first, while Zuo Guangdou, perhaps because his buttocks weren't fully healed, got up rather slowly.

"I have summoned you here today because of that important task from the Shuowang Dynasty, which I have now entrusted to you."

Yang Lian inspected the grain transport, and Zuo Guangdou managed the Yellow River, providing disaster relief and ensuring the safety of the people.

Neither of these tasks is easy.

It could even be described as fraught with difficulties, and a slight misstep could result in someone losing their head.

Anything involving money or financial interests is not so easy to handle.

Zuo Guangdou immediately knelt down, kowtowed twice, and said:

"I was originally a subject awaiting punishment, but I was fortunate enough to be disregarded by the Holy Emperor, who granted me the authority to rise from humble beginnings. My past transgressions have not yet been atoned for, and now his grace is even greater. Even if I were to die nine times, I could not repay even the smallest amount!"
Your Majesty, I have heard that Yu the Great dredged the nine rivers, toiling tirelessly until he passed his own door three times; and that Wang Jing managed the Bian Canal, leaving behind a legacy for a thousand years. Now, the Yellow River's turbid waves surge to the heavens, and famine blankets the fields. This is precisely the time for me to carry logs to fill the sea, to emulate the spirit of Jingwei carrying stones. If I cannot provide food for the suffering people, allow them to settle down, dredge the river channels to restore Yu's legacy, and strengthen the dikes to prevent further breaches, I am willing to drown myself in the turbid current to atone for Your Majesty's trust!

Having spoken, he struck his forehead against the ground, his voice like tearing silk, and shouted loudly, "Until the floods are quelled, I will not return, even in death!"

Han Kuang's fate, and the behavior of his colleagues after his own dismissal, had already awakened him.

Fighting against His Majesty will only end badly.

Nowadays, only by being pragmatic and doing things well can one be given important responsibilities and enter the inner circle of officials.

Zhu Youxiao was very satisfied with Zuo Guangdou's statement.

"I await the censor's good news."

Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Yang Lian and said, "Is the Vice Censor-in-Chief in trouble?"

Yang Lian swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down his spine.

Inspecting the canal transport system could very well cost you your head.

If you succeed, you'll lose your head; if you fail, you'll still lose your head.

He doesn't want to do this job!
However, before he could speak, the emperor had already spoken.

"In the past, Bi Gan cut out his heart and Hai Rui carried his coffin to remind himself of his past mistakes. Now, is he afraid?"

Ah!
Didn't he previously compare himself to Hai Rui?

Do you want to back down now that you're facing a problem?
Where is your integrity?
(End of this chapter)