Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 319 The Ming Dynasty, Only One Sun!
The world is probably really about to change.

This thought, like a bubble silently rising from the depths of still water, floated silently into Sun Chuanting's mind.

But as soon as the thought popped into his head, he shook his head hard and suppressed it.

wrong!

It's not that it's about to change, it's that it's already changed!
Since His Majesty ascended the throne, the sky over the Great Ming Dynasty has no longer been the same!

In this world today, where is there any other sky?

Only this area where the emperor sits on the throne!
In this Ming Dynasty, where is there any other sun?
Only this young emperor, whose mind is as deep as the sea, is a unique sun!
His radiance can both make all things grow and turn all the shameful secrets and filth into ashes.

What about the established laws passed down from our ancestors, and the idea of ​​governing the country together with scholar-officials? All of that has become outdated.

Now, it is a new dynasty, a new dynasty that belongs only to the emperor!
Sun Chuanting silently exhaled a breath of stale air, feeling as if the pent-up frustration that had been weighing on his chest for days had dissipated somewhat.

Out of the corner of his eye, he inadvertently glanced at the person kneeling before the imperial desk—Hong Chengchou.

He held the roll of bright yellow silk in both hands, his eyes practically glued to it, his expression one of utter infatuation, as if he were holding not some scroll, but an elixir that could grant immortality.

Seeing Hong Chengchou like this, Sun Chuanting felt a mix of emotions for the first time, unable to describe the feeling.

Back in Shaanxi, Hong Chengchou was just a subordinate official under him.

He is talented, but I always felt that he lacked the backbone that a scholar should have, and had more of the slickness of a bureaucrat.

But looking back now, I realize I was so mistaken, so incredibly mistaken!

Beneath his seemingly obsequious and servile demeanor lies an unparalleled insight into the ways of the world and the hearts of men!
Hong Chengchou always managed to grasp the Emperor's unique intentions before anyone else, handling matters properly and in a way that greatly pleased the Emperor.

What's even more remarkable is that he's not just good at talking; he can actually produce tangible achievements to silence the critics!

"We have been apart for three days, and we should look at each other with admiration."

Sun Chuanting silently repeated this phrase to himself. This was the first time he had used it on Hong Chengchou.

He suddenly realized that he was following His Majesty's pace too slowly.

It wasn't just a step or two behind, it was far too slow.

My mind is still filled with too many old ideas about how things were in the past, and I always hesitate and overthink things.

So much so that in the face of such sweeping and earth-shattering changes by the emperor, they appeared so slow and clumsy.

Just as Sun Chuanting was overwhelmed with mixed emotions, the emperor's voice, cold yet undeniably powerful, rang out once again from the throne, drawing everyone's attention back to the grand blueprint that could change the world.

"Why were those gentry able to act so arrogantly in a place, and be called local emperors by the common people behind their backs? The root of the problem lies in the fact that they held three things tightly in their hands: the power to collect rent, the power to collect taxes, and the power to adjudicate cases."

These three things, twisted together like a braid, made them both local gods of wealth and living devils who could decide life and death. The common people feared them like tigers; even the government offices treated them with respect.

Zhu Youjian paused slightly at this point, and his gaze swept across Hong Chengchou's forehead, which was already covered with fine beads of sweat, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath.

"My 'imperial power extending to the counties' is meant to strip these three things from their hands one by one, and bring them all back to the court, back into my hands!"

The emperor spoke each word extremely slowly, yet each word sounded like a small hammer striking metal, as if he were not speaking, but rather using an invisible carving knife to deeply engrave the new laws into the air of the warm pavilion.

"The first thing is the power of taxation! This is the lifeblood of the nation, and not a single bit can be interfered with by others! I have already instructed Bi Ziyan and Tian Ergeng to prepare a new government office—the Imperial Tax Bureau of the Great Ming Dynasty!"

Holding the dossier, Hong Chengchou felt as if the sharp, incisive characters written by His Majesty himself had come alive, transforming into gleaming golden blades that dazzled his eyes.

"This General Bureau is directly managed by the Imperial Court in the capital, and I personally lead it. It is divided into provinces, prefectures, and counties, with three levels of tax offices. Officials at each level are appointed by their superiors, and their salaries are paid from my private treasury, bypassing the Ministry of Revenue and not having to consider the opinions of local authorities. They are only responsible to me and the tax offices above!"

"Their task is simple: take the newly compiled 'Fish Scale Register' I created after this land survey in Jiangnan, along with the newly promulgated commercial tax law, and go door-to-door to collect the taxes owed by the households that are supposed to pay them! Whether it's land tax or commercial tax, not a single penny can be shortchanged!"

The emperor's voice carried a chilling murderous intent: "As for those old tricks, such as 'trickery' and 'offering,' I have prepared a great gift for them as well."

Once discovered, the Imperial Guards will arrive in no time! The property of the offending gentry, and the household head who surrendered, will all be confiscated by me. The gentry himself won't even need to be interrogated; he'll be packed up and sent to a malarial land three thousand miles away, so he'll never return!

"As for those tax officials, if any of them dare to accept bribes, collude with local officials, deceive their superiors, or mislead me," Zhu Youjian sneered, a laugh that made Hong Chengchou's hair stand on end, "they will all be guilty!"

Zhu Youjian then changed the subject, adding a touch of persuasion: "Of course, there must be both punishment and reward. I will issue an edict throughout the land that any capable and righteous person who comes forward to report such tax evasion will, once verified, not only be guaranteed their life and property and will they be spared from retaliation, but I will also take 20% of the recovered embezzled funds and pay it to them on the spot as a reward! There will be absolutely no discount!"

20%!

Hong Chengchou quickly mentally counted the abacus beads and couldn't help but gasp.

The wealthy families in Jiangnan often have thousands or even tens of thousands of acres of land hidden away. How much tax must they have evaded?
If we could get 20%, wouldn't that turn a penniless peasant into a rich man overnight?
As the saying goes, "A great reward will surely bring forth brave men." Once this decree is issued, those gentry and powerful people will probably have to be on guard day and night, even with their own accountants and servants, and they'll have to sleep with one eye open!
That was an incredibly ruthless move!
Zhu Youjian, observing the ever-changing expression on Hong Chengchou's face, already understood the situation and continued, "The second thing is the power to adjudicate cases. A country has its laws, a family has its rules—that's true. But in my empire, there can only be the law! I want the old saying 'Even a prince is subject to the law, just like a commoner' to be proven true, no longer just empty talk from storytellers!" "I will establish a 'Branch of the Court of Judicial Review' in each province, with a rank equal to that of the Provincial Administration Commission. In each prefecture, I will establish a 'Circuit Court.' The judges will be selected by me from among the capable officials well-versed in the *Great Ming Code*. They won't be stationed in one place, but will periodically travel between counties, specifically to adjudicate those backlogged cases in the county government, or those involving local powerful figures, cases that the county magistrate dares not or is unwilling to handle!"

"As for the village office, they can only handle trivial matters like neighbors arguing over minor disputes or disputes over field boundaries. But any cases involving the division of family property, marriage, or loss of life must be reported to the county's judicial office immediately for record-keeping and trial by the government!"

"In this way, it's as if we've uprooted the power of those clan ancestral halls to set up their own courts. If any old geezer dares to use his position as clan leader to set up a show of force in the ancestral hall, resort to private punishment, and bring out that set of nonsensical 'clan rules' to deal with clan members," Hengdi sneered, "they'll be treated as 'treason'!"

"Treason!"
Hong Chengchou felt a tremor of mixed joy and fear surge from his heels to the top of his head, making him almost want to slap the table and shout "Wise!"
Treason!

This is a heinous crime that would require the automatic completion of the genealogy of three clans!
The emperor actually convicted this act of "clan rules overriding national laws" of such a crime!

This move was absolutely brilliant, a complete and ruthless strike!
Once this decree is promulgated throughout the land, which of those old clan leaders who usually have the final say in their clans and treat the lives and deaths of their clansmen as worthless will dare to put on their clan leader airs again?
Who would dare to yell "punish according to clan rules!" at a clan member who has made a mistake in the ancestral hall?
Even if he had a hundred times the courage of a leopard, he wouldn't dare to do it!
"As for this third thing," the emperor's gaze sharpened, as if it could pierce through the walls of the warm pavilion and see every inch of the vast land, "it is the handle of the knife! In my empire, everything that can harm people must be firmly held in my own hands!"

"A strict order must be issued to abolish all privately owned local militias, militias, and guards throughout the land! All good men with blood in their veins and willing to serve the country have only one righteous path to take—that is to come and join my new army!"

"As long as you pass the training tests I've set, you'll be able to wear military uniform, receive a government salary, and earn your full pay every month! Follow me, fight for the country, achieve merit, and secure a good future for your family—this is the path a true hero should take!"

"Anyone who disobeys orders and dares to secretly keep thugs at home or hoard armor and weapons shall be treated as a traitor! This matter will no longer need to go through local officials; it will be handled by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the newly established Censorate. I also encourage people throughout the land to report these cases. If they are true, I will not only cover them up completely, but I will also reward them handsomely!"

Upon hearing this, Hong Chengchou felt as if the blood in his body was boiling over.

He forced down his pounding heart, but his mind was racing faster than ever before.

The emperor's design was intricately linked, forming an inescapable net, yet he always felt that a few more threads could be added to make it even denser and tighter!

Hong Chengchou suddenly looked up, and his eyes, which were usually filled with humility, were now shining with an almost fanatical light.

He addressed the emperor in a loud voice: "Your Majesty! I dare to offer two humble opinions in addition to Your Majesty's three earth-shattering policies, which may contribute to Your Majesty's new policies and provide support!"

Zhu Youjian said "Oh?" with a hint of interest on his face, and looked at him, saying, "Tell me about it."

Hong Chengchou took a deep breath, as if to suppress his overwhelming excitement, before saying in a deep voice, "Your Majesty's strategy focuses on building the framework and consolidating power. But if we want this framework to be long-lasting and solid, I believe that two things are needed to fill it with flesh and blood. The first is the method of 'investigating things'; the second is the power of 'public opinion'."

"The method of investigating things?" Zhu Youjian raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Exactly!” Hong Chengchou spoke eloquently. At this moment, he had shed his cautious and timid minister's demeanor and displayed the air of a wise prime minister discussing state affairs with the emperor. “Your Majesty wishes to implement new policies, and the most important thing is accuracy. Whether it is population, land area, or tax revenue, all must be supported by detailed and reliable figures. I humbly request Your Majesty to order the Ministry of Works to use the ingenious technology of movable type printing to print a large batch of standardized registration forms for households, land, and taxes.”

"The format of this form, what should be filled in, and how to fill it in are all determined by the imperial court and promulgated throughout the country. From now on, all counties must use this same format when submitting reports. In this way, when the imperial court compiles and verifies the reports, it will be clear at a glance, greatly reducing the possibility of subordinates manipulating the data and falsifying information."

“Going a step further,” Hong Chengchou’s voice was filled with barely concealed excitement, “I request Your Majesty to establish a special ‘General Register of Households and Lands’ in the capital. The numbers reported by various regions should be categorized and registered, creating a comprehensive paper database covering the entire country’s household registration and land holdings! This database should be updated annually with a small review and every three years with a major review, constantly supplemented and updated.”

"With this central database, we can compare the tax revenue reported by various regions with it and analyze the trends of increase and decrease. For example, a certain place reported that the population has increased significantly this year and a lot of new land has been reclaimed, but the tax revenue has not increased, and may even have decreased."

If there's nothing fishy going on here, who would believe it? There's no need for local officials to file complaints; the court only needs to send one or two censors with this booklet to investigate specifically in those areas. Then all the corruption and malpractice will be exposed like snow under the scorching sun!

Zhu Youjian listened quietly, the light in his deep eyes growing brighter and brighter.

He never expected that Hong Chengchou could extract such a visionary idea from his still somewhat crude system design.

Using standardized forms to establish a government-level archive database and conduct data comparison and analysis... This is quite interesting!
"Excellent!" Zhu Youjian couldn't help but exclaim in praise. "Hengjiu's plan is brilliant! It perfectly aligns with my intentions! This is the great way to govern the world through mathematics and to rule the country through the investigation of things! Approved!"

Encouraged by the Emperor's praise, Hong Chengchou was even more invigorated and continued, "The second thing is the power of 'public opinion.' The reason why those gentry are so difficult to deal with is not only because they are rich and powerful, but also because they control 'reason.' Through their poetry societies, literary gatherings, and academies, they present their own reasoning as the reasoning of the world, thus bewitching people. If Your Majesty wants to break their power, you also need your own 'mouthpiece'!"

At this point, Hong Chengchou rose from his seat, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I have another request. When I go to Zhejiang to try out the new policies, could you please open a special Zhejiang edition of the *Da Ming Daily*, exclusively for the Zhejiang region, to support the implementation of the new policies? As the saying goes, winning hearts and minds is the best policy!"

"One purpose here is to explain His Majesty's new policies in detail to all literate people, whether they are small merchants or ordinary citizens in the city, so that they can understand the principle that 'the fate of the nation is our fate, and a strong nation brings peace to the people.'"

Secondly, we must ruthlessly expose the true colors of those old gentry, revealing their greedy and insatiable nature and all their evil deeds to the public!

Thirdly, the channels for reporting corruption should be published, and cases of corrupt officials being investigated and punished, and cases of grievances being redressed, should be printed out regularly so that the whole world can see them, thus creating a powerful atmosphere among the people that "the emperor's grace is boundless, and the wicked cannot escape justice!"

"Granted!" Zhu Youjian agreed without hesitation. "I entrust this matter entirely to you!"

With both of his suggestions receiving such high praise and approval from the emperor, Hong Chengchou felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and excitement.

This feeling is completely different from simply following orders and doing things in the past!

In the past, he was more like an obedient servant, trying to figure out his master's intentions and then doing his job perfectly.

But just now, the moment he dared to offer those two plans, he suddenly seemed to be awakened by something.

He... really changed!
He was no longer the Hong Chengchou who only knew how to passively accept orders and was always trembling with fear.

Under the impact and inspiration of the emperor's shocking remarks, his mind seemed to break free from some invisible shackles, and he began to actively consider the general trend of the world, analyze its advantages and disadvantages, and even... envision a future he wanted to see!
(End of this chapter)