The Ming Dynasty: The opening scene features Zhu Di angrily accusing him of illegitimate succession.

Zhu Di listened to Lin Yue's barrage of words, but instead of getting angry, he leaned back in his chair and chuckled.

"You use the phrase 'die for remonstrance' far too often. To call you the Wei Zheng of Emperor Taizong of Tang is to underestimate you."

"When did Wei Zheng ever remonstrate to the death every day? If that's the case, then my tolerance for others is even greater than Emperor Taizong of Tang's."

Zhu Di chuckled a few times, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yue's blue robe before changing the subject.

"I bestowed upon you a third-rank insignia the day before yesterday as a sign of favor, why haven't you worn it?"

Lin Yue straightened up and said frankly, "Your Majesty, I have no money."

Zhu Di raised an eyebrow: "While the salary of a seventh-rank official isn't extremely high, surely they can afford an official robe?"

"If there were no corruption, it would naturally be impossible to accomplish this."

Lin Yue said, "Since Emperor Taizu implemented the policy of paying both rice and paper money, most of the officials' salaries were converted into paper money. However, now that paper money has long been worthless, most of the officials' salaries have naturally become worthless as well."

During the early years of the Hongwu reign, when the paper money system was first implemented, one string of cash could be exchanged for one shi of rice. However, in the early years of the Yongle reign, one shi of rice had soared to thirty strings of cash.

My annual salary as a seventh-rank official is no more than ninety shi (a unit of dry measure), of which sixty percent is in paper money. However, the paper money is depreciating rapidly, and merchants are refusing to accept it. They are trading it privately with silver and copper coins, and ordinary people are even trading it in kind.

With such a meager salary, it was difficult to even make a normal living, let alone wear the crimson robes of a third-rank official.

By the Yongle era, the Ming Dynasty's paper money had largely deteriorated; it was issued but not collected, and its value increased dramatically the longer it circulated.

Due to the concentrated circulation of official salary slips in the capital, their value depreciated even more, with ten shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain only fetching one tael of silver. Later on, many officials in the capital even struggled to make a living, marking the period when official salaries in the Ming Dynasty were the meagerest.

Left with no other choice, Zhu Di increased the proportion of in-kind stipends, but the issuance of paper money continued unabated.

Zhu Di's expression gradually darkened, and he pondered, "So, the livelihoods of officials are really in such dire straits?"

Lin Yue spoke frankly and launched into a tirade.

Others just stand on moral high ground and point fingers, but the fact that officials can't even get enough to eat is something that is closely related to them.

He was a seventh-rank official in the Ming Dynasty. After giving a small amount of money to an old farmer and his daughter to buy them a fishing rod, he was on the verge of bankruptcy and had to count his copper coins to eat every day.

Lin Yuezhen said, "Let's leave aside for now the expenses of food and clothing for the whole family, servants, and social obligations with colleagues."

Even basic necessities like food and clothing are difficult to maintain; many honest officials struggle to make ends meet, unable to even afford food. How can loyal and righteous individuals serve the court under such circumstances?

"With officials' salaries so meager, corruption is rampant."

Lin Yue became increasingly angry as he spoke, and his speech quickened.

"When people are hungry and cold, they will steal. If officials cannot even make a living, they will take risks, embezzle public funds, and exploit the people."

"A petty embezzler today will become a major embezzler tomorrow. If this pattern continues from the top down, official corruption will collapse, public resentment will boil over, and how can the Ming Dynasty maintain its stability?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di's smile vanished completely.

Emperor Yongle pondered for a moment, glanced at Lin Yue in front of him, and said with a smile.

"What you say is absolutely right. When the founding emperor was alive, he severely punished corrupt officials, and I wish to follow suit."

"Why not increase the intensity of oversight immediately? Have the six ministries and thirteen circuits of censors rigorously investigate corruption. Anyone found guilty, regardless of rank, will be skinned alive and severely punished!"

Lin Yue looked up in astonishment. Was this human speech?

During the Hongwu era, being an official was not a good experience; he was severely punished for corruption.

Now, after four years of war during the Jianwen reign, the value of the paper money has further depreciated, and many low-ranking officials can't even afford to eat. Corruption must be severely punished.

As expected of Zhu Yuanzhang's son, his thinking is exactly the same: use severe punishments to deter wrongdoing, simple and brutal.

Lin Yue opened his mouth, preparing to continue speaking, but was interrupted by Zhu Di raising his hand.

"We'll discuss the matter of the precious paper later. I have something to discuss with you."

Zhu Di leaned forward, his tone solemn.

"Since Emperor Taizu abolished the prime minister system, all the affairs of the country have been handled by me alone. Every day, the memorials pile up like mountains, making it really difficult to attend to them all."

"I see that you are loyal and upright, and that your memorials were insightful. I wish to appoint you to the Wenyuan Pavilion to assist in the administration of state affairs. What do you think?"

The Wenyuan Pavilion was originally the royal library. In the early years of the Yongle reign, Zhu Di ordered Xie Jin, Yang Rong and others to work in the pavilion, which was basically the prototype of the future Grand Secretariat.

Although the cabinet ministers did not have the title of prime minister, they could assist the emperor in reviewing memorials and drafting edicts. They would gradually gain the power to draft edicts, and the Grand Secretary would become the de facto prime minister of the Ming Dynasty.

Lin Yue was genuinely surprised upon hearing this.

He originally intended to die remonstrating to trigger his cheat code and go back to being a happy superhero, but he never expected that Zhu Di would value him so much and even invite him to the Wenyuan Pavilion.

If he continues in the Wenyuan Pavilion for a while, he might eventually become the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty, second only to the emperor.

But the thought only flashed for a moment before Lin Yue's eyes darkened and he opened his mouth to spew insults.

"Your Majesty, you must not! The system of the Wenyuan Pavilion co-handling government affairs is the root of national disaster and must never be allowed!"

Zhu Di's smile froze: "Lin Yue, what do you mean by this? What exactly do you want to do?"

"Your Majesty, I only wish for the stability of the Ming Dynasty and the well-being of all its people."

"The harm caused by the Wenyuan Cabinet will surely become apparent in the future!" Lin Yue's voice resounded throughout the hall, his words vehement.

"These are sensationalist and nonsensical statements." This was Zhu Di's assessment.

Lin Yue raised his eyes to look at Zhu Di, his words resounding: "I am not speaking recklessly!"

Your Majesty is now a man of great talent and ambition, and you are able to make decisive decisions. The cabinet ministers are merely advisors, assist in managing state affairs, draft edicts, and organize memorials.

But if one day a high-ranking official enters the cabinet and wields the power to draft edicts and decrees, then over time, who will be governing the Ming Dynasty?

During the Yongle era, the Wenyuan Pavilion was still very weak. The ministers were only fifth-rank officials, without the title of prime minister, and their powers were very limited. Decision-making power was still firmly in the hands of Zhu Di.

The reason why the cabinet later gained such power was mainly due to the solidification of the drafting power after the Xuande era. Cabinet ministers could draft edicts and annotate memorials on behalf of the emperor, forming "cabinet drafts" which were then approved by the emperor.

Furthermore, the cabinet ministers concurrently held high-ranking positions such as Minister of the Six Ministries and the Three Ministers, which essentially meant that the Minister of the Six Ministries gained additional power and became half a prime minister.

Lin Yue bowed deeply, his hands clasped in front of him, and said with deep sorrow and indignation.

"The Three Dukes of the late Han Dynasty seized power due to the decline of imperial authority, and the regional military governors of the late Tang Dynasty established their own independent regimes due to their control of military power. Both of these situations were caused by the blurring of power boundaries and the lack of checks and balances!"

The cabinet has no statutory powers and is entirely constrained by the monarch's authority. Once the constraints are loosened, it will become like a runaway horse!

"In later Ming dynasties, if the monarch is incompetent, and if powerful ministers enter the cabinet and wield power through drafting proposals, or use factional strife to dominate the court, then the Ming dynasty will be in grave danger."

Zhu Di actually thought about it seriously for a moment, and then he shook his head.

"What you said makes some sense, but you're exaggerating too much."

Even if the ministers of the six ministries were to enter the cabinet, they would merely be sharing my workload, handling tasks such as drafting documents and advising on state affairs. The real power and responsibility would still remain in my hands. At best, they would be nothing more than nameless prime ministers. How could they possibly depose or install emperors?