Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

(I'll be going back to my hometown for the next few days, so my update schedule will be a bit irregular. I apologize for that, but I'll still update regularly every day. Thank you for your support!)

October 15th, the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign.

At 3:45 AM, Fengtian Gate was already packed with people.

According to the Ming Dynasty system, the first and fifteenth days of each month were the beginning of the new year.

All civil and military officials gathered at the Fengtian Hall for a grand court assembly.

During the first day of the month, officials did not discuss political affairs; their main purpose was to pay homage and offer congratulations.

Since Zhu Qizhen left, the court has not held a new court session for several months.

However, Zhu Qiyu had just bestowed titles and rewards upon many military generals at the Fengtian Hall a few days ago.

Today, the "Shuochao" (朔朝) has been changed to "Changchao" (常朝).

The regular court sessions were usually held at Fengtian Gate.

This was the first major court meeting after the Battle of Beijing.

The officials lined up according to their ranks, and many ministers were whispering among themselves.

Zhu Qiyu has not yet arrived.

But everyone knows what the discussion is about today.

The Ministry of Revenue's revised regulations on official salary and stipends have been delivered to various government offices recently.

The policy of reducing salaries was merely a prelude.

What truly puts everyone on edge are those "rumors".

It is Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Xing'an's high-pitched voice drowned out the whispers in the hall.

Zhu Qiyu arrived dressed in a black casual robe.

He walked straight to the throne and sat down.

After the officials knelt and bowed, they stood in their respective rows.

Zhu Qiyu got straight to the point: "Today's court meeting will only discuss one matter: the system of stipends for members of the imperial clan."

You should all have read the memorial submitted by the Ministry of Revenue.

Do you have any objections?

After a brief silence, one person stepped forward.

"Your humble servant, Li Kan, Supervising Secretary of the Six Ministries, has a memorial to present!"

Zhu Qiyu looked at the official in his forties wearing a blue robe.

He was appointed as a Supervising Secretary of the Six Ministries, holding the rank of seventh grade.

Although his official rank was not high, his actual power was considerable.

The Six Ministries held the power to reject or refuse imperial edicts; an imperial edict was not valid unless it was reviewed by the Six Ministries.

This was the last line of defense between the civil service and imperial power.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense, and many ministers glanced at each other slightly.

Zhu Qiyu's expression remained unchanged: "Speak."

Li Kan said loudly, "I have no objection to the matter of reducing my salary."

If any objection is raised by the subject, the procedure for submitting a memorial to the throne by the Ministry of Revenue shall apply.

The revised regulations of the Zonglu clan concern ancestral rules and the foundation of the nation.

The Ministry of Revenue submitted its own report directly to the emperor without review by the Six Ministries or submission by the Office of Transmission.

This is not in accordance with regulations.

Shen Yi's expression changed slightly. It was indeed a procedural problem, but it was all at Zhu Qiyu's behest, and he could not deny it.

Li Kan continued, "Emperor Taizu had ancestral instructions that will be passed down for ten thousand generations."

On the day the book was completed, Emperor Taizu personally informed the Imperial Ancestral Temple and stored it in a golden cabinet, which no later generations dared to discuss lightly.

The Ministry of Revenue has now issued an official document intending to reduce Wang Wanshi's salary.

Your Majesty, may I ask: Is this a proposal from the Ministry of Revenue? Or from Your Majesty?

If Your Majesty's proposal is correct, a written edict should be issued to order the court officials to discuss it in court.

If the Ministry of Revenue proposes a solution, it should first be transferred to the Six Ministries for review and correction of any errors.

"Neither of these is correct, and I dare not obey the imperial edict."

After saying this, Li Kan knelt down and prostrated himself on the ground, his forehead touching the brick.

The hall was deathly silent, all eyes were on Zhu Qiyu.

Li Kan did not oppose reducing salaries; he opposed the procedure.

Zhu Qiyu looked at Li Kan kneeling on the ground and after a long silence, finally spoke: "Li, how many years have you been in charge of the Six Ministries?"

Li Kan was taken aback: "Your Majesty, I was appointed as a Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel in the tenth year of the Zhengtong reign, and promoted to Supervising Secretary of the Six Ministries in the twelfth year of the Zhengtong reign, which is four years ago now."

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Four years. In these four years, how many imperial edicts that violated regulations have you rejected?"

Li Kan said, "Your humble servant is unworthy to offer eleven objections."

Zhu Qiyu: "Were some of these matters approved by the Retired Emperor?"

Li Kan was silent for a moment: "...Three things."

Zhu Qiyu: "How should the Emperor Emeritus handle this?"

Li Kan: "The Emperor Emeritus followed the ministers' objections and changed the edict to be implemented."

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "The Emperor Emeritus was so open to advice that I could not match him."

But there is one thing I do not understand.

The Tumu Crisis led to the Emperor's capture in the north, leaving the country without a ruler.

Where were the Six Offices Attendants at that time?

Why didn't the Six Ministries reject the imperial edict for the personal expedition issued by the retired emperor?

Li Kan's face turned pale.

Zhu Qiyu's gaze swept over the faces in the Six Ministries Hall: "In July of the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign, the Emperor Emeritus issued an edict to personally lead an expedition."

At that time, how many of the six supervising secretaries were able to refute the motions?

On August 15th, news of the defeat at Tumu Fortress reached Beijing.

At that time, did any of the six supervising secretaries plead guilty?

Then the Empress Dowager appointed me as regent until I ascended the throne.

In fact, none of the six officials in charge of the imperial examinations raised any objections.

Today, the Ministry of Revenue proposed reducing salaries, which would benefit the country and the people.

"You guys jumped out."

Zhu Qiyu looked down at Li Kan, who was kneeling on the ground: "Tell me."

Where were you when Wang Zhen seized power?

Where were you when the army was defeated at Tumu Fortress?

Where were you when the Oirat Mongols besieged the city?

Li Kan lay on the ground, his shoulders and back trembling slightly.

He wanted to say that he had also submitted a memorial requesting the execution of Wang Zhen, but the memorial was kept in the palace.

He wanted to say that when the news of the civil engineering failure came, he was on duty at the Sixth Department Corridor and he and his colleagues looked at each other in shock.

He meant that he was also patrolling the city walls when the Oirat besieged it, and arrows had grazed his ear.

But at that moment, he couldn't say anything.

Because those are not refutations.

Those are not the "rules" he is holding while kneeling here now.

Zhu Qiyu did not let him get up: "Li, the Imperial Censor, I am not the Emperor Emeritus."

I will not heed advice that is not given in times of crisis but is given in times of peace!

You may leave.

Li Kan kowtowed: "Your subject...is guilty."

After saying this, he returned to the train, his face ashen.

The hall fell silent once again.

Zhu Qiyu looked at the assembled officials: "The procedures for the Ministry of Revenue's memorials may be inappropriate."

However, today's court debate has criticized the procedures.

If any of the six departments have objections, they may reject the memorial.

Now, let's discuss the matter of reducing salaries.

silence.

No one left the classroom immediately.

Li Kan's example has made everyone rethink: Does His Majesty really want to "discuss" matters?

A few dozen breaths later, another person stepped forward: "Your subject, Zhang Lun, Director of the Ceremonial Department of the Ministry of Rites, has a memorial to present!"

Zhang Lun, in his early forties, had a refined and upright appearance.

He was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the fourth year of the Zhengtong era and served in the Ministry

He was an official promoted by Hu Ying.

However, this time it was not sent by Hu Ying.

Hu Ying wouldn't let him say what he wanted to say.

Zhu Qiyu looked at him and said, "Speak."

Zhang Lun said, "I will not discuss whether reducing salaries is appropriate or not; my discussion of reducing salaries is insufficient."

A commotion broke out in the hall; some people had guessed what he was going to say.

Zhang Lun remained expressionless: "The Ministry of Revenue has submitted a memorial."

The prince's annual stipend was reduced by 10,000 shi to 6,500 shi.

The prince's salary was reduced from 2,000 shi to 1,300 shi.

The number of generals below the rank of Zhenguo General decreases by 30%.

This represents a reduction of over 30%.

However, the expenses of the imperial clan do not lie in their stipends, but in their population.

He paused for a moment: "During the reign of Emperor Taizu, there were nine princes and dozens of dukes."

There are currently twenty-three princes and one hundred and seventeen dukes.

There were over 3,700 generals, including Zhenguo Generals, Fuguo Generals, Fengguo Generals, Zhenguo Lieutenant, Fuguo Lieutenant, and Fengguo Lieutenant.

There were more than 2,500 princesses, county princesses, county ladies, and township ladies.

In addition, there are those who have not been granted titles or names, and their numbers increase by several hundred each year.

Your subject dares to inquire with the Ministry of Revenue: why has the salary been reduced by 30% today?

Ten years later, the imperial family population doubled, and the stipend for rice increased again.

Will it be reduced by another 30% then?

Another 50% reduction?

Or should we impose additional taxes, taking from the people to support them?

Shen Yi remained silent.

Of course he had considered this.

Who in the Ministry of Revenue hasn't done the calculations?

But no one dared to say it.

Because in the end, the ledger will only have one line left: "It is necessary to change the clan system."

Without waiting for Shen Yi's reply, Zhang Lun continued, "In my opinion, reducing salaries is a temporary measure."

To address the root cause, the system of the imperial clan must be reformed!