Parallel Ming Dynasty: The more he compared, the more devastated Zhu Yuanzhang became.

In the original world.

When the case of the blank seal was mentioned, all the officials in the court fell silent, not daring to look up at Zhu Yuanzhang on the dragon throne.

Speaking of this matter, Zhu Yuanzhang also saw the mixed reviews about him in the comments section, but his expression remained unchanged.

After a long silence, Zhu Yuanzhang finally spoke slowly and asked,

[Back then, I only punished and executed people for the crime of using an empty seal; I never used the pretext of corruption to indict or prosecute. I imagine that many of you ministers harbor some resentment towards me.]

No one in the hall dared to utter a sound in response.

Zhu Yuanzhang then said in a deep voice,

When unspoken rules become the norm that everyone tacitly follows, even the most powerful emperor cannot defy them, and neither can we, with our beastly obsession with power.

That's what you all think, isn't it?

He personally compared himself to a wild beast.

Zhu Yuanzhang's self-comparison sent a chill down the spines of all the officials in the hall.

[Your Majesty, I do not think that way at all!]

An official knelt on the ground and spoke loudly, and all the civil and military officials followed suit, kneeling down and saying in unison, "Your Majesty, we do not think that way at all!"

Alright, I know exactly what you're thinking. I, Old Zhu, see right through all the schemes you've got in your hearts to stand here in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Let alone you, even the previous generation of officials sitting in your positions, Old Zhu knows them all inside and out.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked completely unconcerned.

Actually, Old Zhu knows perfectly well that corrupt officials have long formed an unbreakable alliance, and their mouths are harder than refined steel.

If you dare to betray this circle, there will be no place for you anywhere in the world where officials are. Everyone in officialdom will try to sabotage you. This is the power of unspoken rules. Violations will be investigated and punished, and the law will be strictly enforced.

That's why we punished those who used empty seals without any explanation back then. We wanted to clearly tell these corrupt officials that if they dared to embezzle, we dared to execute them!

It's a pity that those honest and upright officials died unjustly.

Despite saying these words, Zhu Yuanzhang showed no remorse whatsoever on his face.

I never regret anything I've done.

This is Zhu Yuanzhang!

【Yunwen—Remember well what your grandfather taught you.】

To deal with these corrupt officials, you have to keep a firm grip on their necks; otherwise, if you move the knife even an inch away, they'll be devouring the flesh and blood of the people in the blink of an eye.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly waved his hand, pointing his finger directly at all the officials in the hall.

All the officials in the court were silent as if trembling with fear.

Zhu Yunwen stepped forward and knelt down on both knees, saying, "Your grandson will remember your teachings, Your Majesty."

-

The scene shifts to Zhu Duo traveling to his mother's hometown to visit relatives.

Upon arriving at his destination, he learned from his uncle that the aftermath of the blank seal case had not yet subsided. Officials dared not use blank seals anymore, but could not come up with a proper solution. They could only travel back and forth, exhausting themselves. If any mistakes were made, they would have to return to their hometowns to re-verify the documents.

Zhu Duo's maternal uncle was named Li Shi. Although he was a member of the imperial family, he never used his status to seek any personal gain.

But upon seeing Zhu Duo this time, Li Shi couldn't help but pour out his grievances to him. (Cola Novels) Latest Update: Parallel Ming Dynasty: The More He Compares, the More Old Zhu Collapses.

To this day, they still haven't come up with a proper solution to the problem.

Zhu Duo gave him a complete solution without much thought.

"Uncle Li Shi, I overheard someone from the Heping Trading Company mentioning him before."

When the Peace Trading Company transports various supplies, it adds an extra amount to cover losses incurred during transit, in addition to the goods themselves. This extra amount is called "waste tax."

"This method of levying taxes can also be applied to the transportation of government funds and grain."

Upon hearing this, Li Shi was overjoyed, thinking the method was feasible. However, he suddenly frowned, "This method seems to have some problems. If someone uses this as an excuse to levy large amounts of taxes, wouldn't that needlessly increase the burden on the people?"

Zhu Duo then said, "We can set a fixed proportion of levies based on the distance of each prefecture from Yingtian Prefecture, and announce it to the world. This will completely eliminate the situation of arbitrary levies."

Apart from this, only the amount of this extravagant tax is permitted to be approved, and it is absolutely forbidden to levy additional taxes under this pretext.

Once this method is implemented, it will solve all the problems that arose after the ban on blank seals. Furthermore, with the Emperor's strict control over corrupt officials, this matter can be completely resolved.

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"

After thinking it over carefully, Li Shixi couldn't help but admire and rejoice at the sight of his fourteen-year-old nephew.

His younger sister died young, and over the years, Zhu Duo has never forgotten his mother's family and has visited them in person every year.

Moreover, judging from the talent and learning that Zhu Duo has shown, if he were to enter the court as an official, he would surely be able to occupy a place in the court in the future.

"Nephew, this plan was your idea. You should go and see the Emperor in person and explain your scheme. He will surely be very impressed with you!"

Li Shi said with a face full of joy.

But Zhu Duo shook his head and refused.

"Uncle, I dare not show off like that."

That short sentence left Li Shi speechless, his mind racing with a myriad of thoughts.

In the end, all he could do was sigh softly.

"It's hard to live in the deep palace."

Zhu Duo smiled slightly, "Uncle, you are also an upright and honest official, but you have never had the opportunity for promotion over the years. Isn't this a golden opportunity?"

"But this is the idea you came up with, and I'm too embarrassed to use it."

"Uncle, not all roc birds can wait for the opportunity to soar. You refused my father's help back then and have stayed in this small place ever since. Are you really willing to remain unknown for the rest of your life?"

"Moreover, if you don't report this method, are you just going to stand by and watch the Ming Dynasty be helpless in this matter and never find a solution?"

"This..." Li Shi was immediately caught in a dilemma.

"Uncle, please consider this a small gift from your nephew."

"Alright."

Li Shi eventually reluctantly accepted Zhu Duo's kindness and help.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Li Shi rose rapidly through the ranks of officialdom in the years that followed, like a dragon emerging from the abyss.