Ming Dynasty: Moral blackmail? I, Emperor Chongzhen, have no morals!

Chapter 91 Shandong Uprising

Sun Chuanting nodded secretly: "Such grain production consumes a large amount of cotton, and the price of Songjiang fine cloth will likely increase significantly!"

"It's already increased; the price has doubled. Two taels of silver per bolt!" Zhu Jian said nonchalantly.

In any case, ordinary people can't afford clothes made of fine silk and cotton. What does the increased spending of landlords and gentry have to do with him? What Inspector Zhu wants is social stability, not stability for landlords and gentry. As for rebellion, they don't have the guts. Who would be willing to give up their comfortable life?

But ordinary people are not afraid. If they can't survive, they will really rebel. This is how people like Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong grew up.

"I'm afraid the gentry will have some complaints about this," said Lu Xiang-sheng, who was standing nearby.

"Slight criticism?"

"Anyone who isn't afraid of death may rise up in rebellion! Do they really think my sword is dull?"

Zhu Jian is not afraid of these gentry rebelling now. How many gentry are there in the entire Ming Dynasty? They account for less than one percent of the total population of the Ming Dynasty, but they hold more than forty percent of the wealth. According to this structure, if all these millions of gentry were killed, the Ming Dynasty could continue for another two hundred years.

In Zhu Jian’s view, there will always be people who say that taxes are necessary for local governance and that the government needs the support of these people. Currently, the country is exempt from taxes. If the gentry rebel, the tax exemption policy will continue. As long as the army confiscates property, the revenue from suppressing the rebellion can support the army’s pay. So why collect taxes?

If there aren't enough local officials, then lower the entry requirements, from Jinshi to Juren, if that's not enough, lower it to Xiucai, if that's still not enough, lower it to Tongsheng. Then just open an official training institution to train the next generation. County magistrates can have a three-month training course, and prefects can have a six-month training course. In just two years, how can there still be a shortage of officials?

Sun Chuanting and Lu Xiangshan stared at Zhu Jian in astonishment, another person flashing through their minds: Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. During the Hongwu reign, the number of officials and gentry killed was countless, the highest in all dynasties. If Zhu Jian continued to act in this way, the number of people killed during the Chongzhen reign would probably far exceed that of the Hongwu reign...

"Your Majesty, the court's annual revenue is only four million taels of silver, while its annual expenditure is fifteen million taels. In a few years, we will still be in a state of financial shortage," Sun Chuanting said, considering the long-term implications.

This year and the next two years will be tax-free nationwide. The silver collected will only come from the revenue generated by commerce and cultivated land. If the court runs out of money in three years, increasing taxes will bring it back to square one. This is what Sun Chuanting is most worried about.

Zhu Jian waved his hand: "Don't worry, there will always be money and supplies."

If you don't have money, just kill people and confiscate their property. There are so many princes and gentry; killing a batch will make you rich. This year, a large number of people from the northern provinces were killed, but the south hasn't been touched yet. After the north is basically stable, a large number of people from the south will be killed. Zhu Jian thinks that the total amount of money in the imperial treasury will probably exceed 200 million taels of silver. Since you have money, what are you afraid of?

An army with combat power is equivalent to having a constant stream of money coming in.

Just then, Li Banghua hurried to the Wuying Hall and said urgently, "Your Majesty, a peasant uprising has broken out in seven counties under the jurisdiction of Laizhou Prefecture and Dengzhou Prefecture in Shandong Province. Many people are attacking the county government offices!"

"The memorial sent back by Song Xuezhu, the Governor of Shandong, five days ago!"

"Why?" Prosecutor Zhu asked.

"Collect taxes!"

"What tax? Aren't all taxes and corvée labor exempted?" Prosecutor Zhu asked, frowning slightly.

"The specific details are unknown. Song Xuezhu stated in his memorial that the peasant uprising was caused by government tax collection, which should be related to the Liaodong tax and the suppression tax!"

"Your Majesty, the officials of these seven counties have disobeyed the imperial decree and collected taxes privately. Please issue an order to punish them!" said Lu Xiang-sheng, who was standing to the side.

"Sun Chuanting, you and Li Banghua will sort out the military and political situation. Lu Xiangshan will take command of the Beizhi garrison. I will personally go to Shandong!" Zhu Jian said.

If this incident was truly caused by local officials illegally collecting taxes after the tax exemption was implemented, then there are countless other similar cases in other places.

"There is a peasant uprising in Shandong. If Your Majesty goes there in person, what should we do if something unexpected happens? Would it be better if we, your subjects, went on behalf of the court?" Sun Chuanting said worriedly.

"If the two prefectures and seven counties involve thousands, or even tens of thousands of people, what would you do, Sun Chuanting?" Inspector Zhu asked.

"According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, those who should be executed should be executed, and those who should be exiled should be exiled."

After hearing this, Zhu Jian smiled slightly and said, "You should still handle state affairs with Li Banghua in the Military and Political Bureau."

Clearly, Zhu Jian was very dissatisfied with Sun Chuanting's plan. What was the Great Ming Code? That thing was meant to restrain the common people, not the powerful and wealthy. If it involved petitions from officials, or obstruction from local gentry families or even the Confucius family in Qufu, Sun Chuanting would find it difficult to act.

"minister...

"7

Seeing that Sun Chuanting still wanted to say something, Zhu Jian waved his hand and said, "No need to say anything. I will be in Shandong for a little over a month and then return. If you encounter any problems, send them to Shandong."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Sun Chuanting, Lu Xiangshan, and Li Banghua said in unison.

The following morning, Zhu Jian led the three Imperial Guards, with Zhou Yuji, Sun Yingyuan, and Hu Dawei leading more than 10,000 troops, to Laizhou Prefecture in Shandong. These three guards were all cavalry, totaling nearly 10,000 men and 15,000 warhorses. Zhou Yuji's Divine Martial Guard had 1,000 men, who were paid double and each had two horses.

After the army set off, thousands of horses galloped across the plains, kicking up large amounts of dust.

The Imperial Guards consisted of the newly formed Divine Martial Guard, Divine Valiant Guard, and Divine Brave Guard. Zhu Jian had invested heavily in building the Imperial Guards with the aim of creating the strongest cavalry force in the Ming Dynasty. The cost of equipment and provisions for these 10,000 men was equivalent to that of an ordinary army of 30,000. Zhu Jian was bringing them out to quickly quell the peasant uprising in Shandong and to test their combat effectiveness. After all, it would be a waste to spend so much money only to have them become a mere ornament.

Four days later, the weather in Shandong was slightly overcast, and the sea breeze brought a salty and damp feeling.

Zhou Yuji rode up to Zhu Jian and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the city of Laizhou is just ahead. Currently, a large number of people are heading towards the city, carrying hoes, wooden sticks and other weapons. It seems they intend to attack the city."

How many people are there?

"A force of twenty to thirty thousand."

"Your Majesty, this humble general will lead the cavalry; a single charge will scatter these rioters," said Hu Dawei, who was standing to the side.

Zhu Jian shook his head: "Go and take a look first. Raise my dragon flag and tell these people that I have come in person! If they want to seek justice, come forward; if they want to rebel, let them fight."

Zhu Jian felt that these people were completely driven to this by the collection of taxes. Moreover, he had already issued an imperial decree to exempt them from taxes for three years. This was the first year that such a situation had occurred. If it was not handled properly, the tax exemption for the next two years would be rendered meaningless.

Several hours later, as the sun began to set, tens of thousands of cavalrymen lined up in front of the city of Laizhou, displaying an imposing presence.

The dragon banner representing the emperor was displayed in the army formation.

Many civilians who had come from afar stopped in their tracks, watching the cavalry, but none dared to approach.