Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

(Happy Lunar New Year's Eve! Wishing everyone a joyous and happy Lunar New Year's Eve.)

In the Qianqing Palace, Cheng Jing presented a memorial to the emperor.

Zhang Yi, Zhu Yi, Chen Hao, Jiao Jing, Jing Heng...

The names of more than a dozen noble sons were on it.

This is a joint petition requesting that Zhu Yi inherit the title.

Zhu Qiyu chuckled softly after reading it.

Cheng Jing lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Zhu Qiyu put down the memorial: "Chengjing, what do you think I should do with them?"

Cheng Jing cautiously replied, "Your subject dares not make any presumptuous remarks."

Zhu Qiyu looked at him and said, "Just say it when I tell you to."

After a moment of silence, Cheng Jing said, "I believe that if Your Majesty exerts too much pressure, unforeseen circumstances may arise."

Although those sons of noble families lacked great talent, they had relatives and friends throughout the court and the country.

If someone in the court responds, then…

Zhu Qiyu: "What will happen then? Will they rebel?"

Cheng Jing trembled and immediately knelt down: "Your subject dares not!"

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand: "Get up, I wasn't talking about you."

Do you know why I'm blocking their succession to the title?

Cheng Jing lowered his head and said, "Your subject does not know."

Zhu Qiyu said slowly, "Because I want them to know that titles don't fall from the sky."

They must use their abilities to protect the titles that their fathers risked their lives for.

If you don't have the ability, don't even think about inheriting a title easily.

Go tell them that inheriting the title is permissible.

However, after inheriting the title, one must enter the military academy to learn military affairs.

Full salary will be paid only after the three-year term and passing the assessment.

Those who fail the assessment will have their salary reduced by half.

Without military merit, the noble rank will be reduced after three generations.

Cheng Jing was startled and bowed, saying, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Zhu Qiyu added, "Also, tell Zhang Yi."

He was the younger brother of Zhang Fu, the Duke of Ying.

I know that the Duke of England has died for his country.

But if he stirs up trouble again, don't blame me for not showing any mercy.

November 2nd, the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign.

Outside Chaoyang Gate, a caravan of mule carts slowly approached.

The convoy consisted of about twenty vehicles, all loaded with goods such as cloth and tea.

The drivers, dressed in worn-out cotton-padded jackets, held whips and shouted to the animals.

As usual, the centurion guarding the gate stepped forward and questioned, "Halt! Who has entered the city?"

At the head of the convoy, a middle-aged businessman in his forties dismounted.

He took out a document from his sleeve and handed it over: "Sir, you've worked hard. I'm a merchant from Shanxi."

His surname is Wang, and he owns a shop in Beijing.

I went south to buy goods a few days ago and returned to Beijing today.

The centurion took the document and looked at it.

It was a travel permit issued by Shuntian Prefecture, stamped with an official seal.

He nodded and waved for them to pass.

After thanking him, the merchant mounted his horse and led his caravan slowly through the city gate.

After entering the city gate, he looked back.

Several groups of merchants were still queuing up at the city gate, waiting to be inspected.

Some came from the south, carrying silk and spices.

Some came from the east, carrying seafood and salt.

Some came from the west, carrying medicinal herbs and furs.

A complex glint flashed in the businessman's eyes.

He left Beijing in late August.

At that time, people in Beijing were filled with anxiety.

News of the Oirat army's advance on the border spread like wildfire.

Of the city's wealthy merchants, seven or eight out of ten have left.

Some went south to Nanjing, some went east to Suzhou, and some simply hid in the countryside.

He was one of them.

He entrusted the shop to an old friend to look after.

He took his family and valuables and fled south to Nanjing.

I spent a month in Nanjing, inquiring about news from Beijing every day.

In early October, he heard that Beijing had held out.

Then he took the goods and set off back to Beijing.

Along the way, he saw many caravans heading south also turning back.

Some of them, like him, returned to Beijing.

Some came from even farther places.

The businessman felt a mix of emotions.

Beijing is, after all, the capital city.

As long as the capital city exists, business will continue.

His shop is located on Qianmen Street.

The three storefronts sell silks from Suzhou and Hangzhou.

At this time, Qianmen Street was bustling with activity.

Many shops are undergoing renovations in full swing.

Some were changing door signs, some were painting walls, and some were putting goods out.

The merchant was looking around when someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.

He turned around and saw a familiar face: Old Li, the owner of the tea shop next door.

Old Li beamed, "Manager Wang, you're finally back! I thought you weren't coming back."

Shopkeeper Wang smiled and said, "Come back, of course I'll come back. The capital is my home; where else would I go?"

Old Li sighed, "It's good that you're back. You missed a lot while you were gone these past few months."

While instructing his employees to unload the goods, Manager Wang asked, "What's the matter?"

Old Li lowered his voice: "Do you know what His Majesty said?"

Shopkeeper Wang was taken aback: "What did you say?"

Old Li: "His Majesty said that he wanted to stabilize the merchants, allowing them to travel freely and prohibiting officials from exploiting them."

The businessman's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Old Li nodded: "Of course it's true, the Ministry of Revenue even issued a notice."

It is said that merchants who fled south during the war could be exempted from commercial taxes for three months upon returning to the capital, upon presenting their travel permits.

Manager Wang was stunned.

Three months of exemption from commercial tax?

This has never happened before.

He suddenly asked, "Old Li, how's business at your shop?"

Old Li smiled bitterly: "What can we do? There are few people and few goods. We're just barely managing to stay afloat."

It's much better than a few days ago.

In September, you could hardly see anyone all day.

At least now there are people moving around.

Shopkeeper Wang nodded and looked around.

Although it is still far from being as good as before the war, it has already shown signs of life.

He suddenly remembered something: "Old Li, do you know what new developments the imperial court has been making lately?"

Old Li looked around and lowered his voice: "I heard that His Majesty wants to change the system of stipends for members of the imperial clan and reduce the stipends of those princes."

I also heard that the Minister of Revenue has been replaced; he's a tough guy and wants to audit the accounts.

The businessman's mind raced.

Reducing the prince's salary—this new emperor is truly audacious.

The audit is good news.

Those corrupt officials who demand bribes and kickbacks should probably tone it down a bit from now on.

As he was thinking, he suddenly heard a commotion in the distance.

Looking up, I saw a group of officials walking towards me.

The leader was an official wearing a blue robe.

Several constables followed behind him, carrying paste and notices.

The official walked to the center of the street and ordered his yamen runners to apply paste to the wall, and then posted a notice on it.

The merchant went over to take a look, and the notice read:

The Ministry of Revenue issued a notice: "This is for the sake of peace and stability for merchants."

The capital city is the foundation of the nation, and merchants are the lifeblood of trade.

Since the Oirat invasion, trade has ceased, and the city has become desolate, a truly pitiful situation.

The following are examples of the special provisions issued today:

1. Merchants entering the capital are exempt from taxes for three months upon presentation of their travel permit.

2. Any shops or businesses that are destroyed may be reported to the authorities for inspection, and appropriate funds will be provided for repairs.

Third, all merchants who borrow money for business operations are permitted to use their shops' goods as collateral to borrow from government-run money shops, with a monthly interest rate of three percent.

Fourth, any official, clerk, or soldier who dares to extort merchants or force them to buy or sell.

Merchants are encouraged to report such cases to the Shuntian Prefecture or the Censorate. Once the allegations are verified, the perpetrators will be severely punished.

He looked up to the right and understood.

The businessman was stunned for a long time after reading it.

Loan operations with a monthly interest rate of 3%?

Or is it a government-run money shop?

Previously, only pawnshops offered loans, with monthly interest rates of at least 5%.

At three percent interest, it's practically free money.

Did the merchant who was extorted go to the Censorate to file a complaint?

The Censorate was a place to accuse officials; how could ordinary people possibly get in?

Now they're actually allowing merchants to file a lawsuit?

He suddenly realized that this new emperor was very different from the previous one.

Old Li leaned closer and whispered, "Manager Wang, I heard that this notice was drafted by the new Minister of Revenue."

That's Jin Lian, the former Minister of Justice.

The businessman nodded without saying a word.

As he looked at the notice, a glimmer of hope suddenly arose in his heart.

Perhaps things really will be different in the capital.

That afternoon, in the back hall of the Ministry of Revenue.

Jin Lian sat at his desk, flipping through a stack of newly delivered reports.

That is the statistics of merchants and travelers entering the city at each gate of Shuntian Prefecture today.

Chaoyang Gate: Twenty-three caravans entered the city, carrying mainly cloth, tea, and porcelain.

Chongwen Gate: Seventeen caravans entered the city, carrying mainly grain, salt, and seafood.

Xuanwu Gate: Twelve caravans entered the city, carrying mainly medicinal herbs, furs, and ironware.

A total of 52 teams were formed, an increase of 17 teams compared to yesterday.

Jin Lian nodded and wrote a line on the report: "Record and send to the Directorate of Ceremonial."