Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 464 Determined to Kill

Starting from the moment when Duke Jingguo Yu Zigao left Beijing with the Tianshu Camp, this final resistance caused by the new currency system at the end of the 18th year of Taichang was full of imagination and "idealism", with a kind of feminine and fragile beauty unique to literati, and it was as brilliant and short-lived as fireworks.

Throughout the Ming Dynasty, the vast group of officials and gentry were in a complex mood of expectation, anxiety, fear, and unwillingness. The Ming Dynasty was fighting on two fronts, and the dissatisfaction caused by the new currency system and the autumn and winter fairs "competing with the people for profits" was spreading like wildfire. This seemed to be the last chance for some officials and gentry who felt that their privileges were in the slow death stage.

The news of the assassination of the crown prince in Shandong was indeed like a spark, spreading across the entire Ming Dynasty like a stone skipping on water, always causing ripples in many places and stirring the hearts of some people.

Therefore, there are always people in higher positions who think that they should do something to echo the sentiments from afar, and these sentiments eventually become the "public opinion" that the imperial court - no, it should be said that the emperor - takes seriously.

The time has come to test whether the local Privy Council system, the Public Security Bureau system, and the court system are essentially just vertical systems that extend from the center and work together with the local executive government to govern the local areas.

The results will certainly not be perfect.

The reports from various local departments showed various situations, big and small.

But when all these reports were gathered in Beijing, it seemed as if the foundation of the entire Ming Dynasty was shaking and was on the verge of collapse.

Ye Xianggao knew that he fell ill at a wrong time, and it seemed like he was using it as an excuse to avoid the problem, or even to help.

But he was really too tired, with things happening one after another.

So as soon as his body and energy recovered a little, he hurried back to his post.

The atmosphere inside and outside the Forbidden City was extremely tense and depressing. Outside, the green-robed officials of various government offices kept running back and forth in the official carriages of the public carriage company to deliver documents; inside, the officials of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the officials of the Inner Study Room kept submitting official documents, memorials, and memorials to various places.

Ye Xianggao came to the emperor's presence today despite his illness. It was because his health had recovered a little, but also because he had to discuss two important matters.

The message was delivered last night, and today is already the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Walking in the corridor leading to the Huangji Palace, his secretary of the Executive Yuan was constantly reporting to him in a low voice.

"Tianshu Camp will arrive in Shandong the day after tomorrow, and the three prime ministers are already in Shandong. It has been found out that this time it was the owners of several money houses in Linqing and some retired old officials of the old Nanjing Ministry of Revenue who instigated the Kong family's branch. The confessions obtained so far implicate the three princes of Nanjing, who all have some influence in the money houses..."

Ye Xianggao's eyes were tired and weak.

Compared with this news, the previous ones are nothing.

Because the grain tax was allowed to be retained for circulation this year, and the local government continued to manage the military settlements according to the past system, the local garrisons were reformed step by step. First, some retired or transferred soldiers were assigned to the local public security department system or various government offices. Then, each province also organized some provincial camps and prefectural sentries to recruit soldiers. Finally, some garrisons in remote areas were retained.

According to the current system, the Privy Council only issues salaries, and the food and lodging of recruited soldiers is another military expense. Since the local government still manages the military settlements, it is natural to reserve enough food for the military to purchase military rations according to the cost principle. In the past, this part was directly given to the local garrisons, which was equivalent to the management of the government, and the grain tax collected was the salary of the garrison. Now, the grain tax is first included in the annual revenue, and then the annual revenue is listed as military expenditure. The military expenditure purchases military rations and is included in the central statistics.

This is just the first step in the reform of military settlements.

There had been no major problems in the past few years, but this year, some places had some problems due to the assassination of the crown prince. Some of them used the excuse of ensuring the autumn and winter fairs, or the excuse of preserving the grain supply of the public security system, to delay or even refuse the needs of the Privy Council's logistics officer to centrally purchase military grain.

For this reason, there were even mutinies among the officers and soldiers in three prefectures and counties. Needless to say, those old officers and local officials who used to be in the military settlements were still secretly enjoying the benefits of the military settlements. Someone must be tempting and persuading some people to do something behind the scenes by taking advantage of the changes in the pattern after the military settlements were reformed.

Li Hualong’s son has been executed. Isn’t the collusion between the Henan Public Security Bureau and some local clans an example of this?

There are countless cases of this kind in the entire Ming Dynasty. Fortunately, at least the governors, provincial governors, provincial camps, and public security officials of each province are the beneficiaries of the new policy, and in the military reforms of each province, at least the logistics support and combat effectiveness of the provincial camps are ensured first. In addition, each province has sent a central inspection team, and they can organize and suppress the rebellion in time.

But the signs are not good.

At this moment, the assassination case had already involved the three princes who were still in Nanjing.

As a result, the news that the next person arrived in Beijing last night shocked Ye Xianggao even more.

"...Yunnan reported that they had captured a group of private merchants traveling between Ruining, Myanmar, and Kunming. Among them, there were secret letters with the Burmese princes. At the moment, we have not received any reports from Prince Rui and Duke An of Myanmar..."

Ye Xianggao couldn't help but stop and asked in a hoarse voice: "Say it again? Myanmar?"

"General Sun was the first to arrive. Ye Xiang, this is a serious matter. The new currency system still needs to rely on the Yunnan and Burma copper mines..."

Ye Xianggao felt a little out of breath: "Help me... walk faster..."

It was a short distance, but Ye Xianggao felt increasingly depressed the further he walked.

Would the emperor, who had already known the news, regret his previous hasty expeditions to Yunnan and Japan, and would he regret having implemented the new currency system ahead of schedule to ensure military supplies because of these two major expeditions?

But now the information revealed by these things shows that some people are really ready to try to start a big fire.

In case of a counterattack or a split in the southwest...

Ye Xianggao couldn't imagine what the situation would be like. If the emperor's brother really took the lead, then the kings who were already in the border areas...

Before I even got to the Huangji Palace, I heard Sun Chengzong's voice: "...I still strongly advocate martial law in all provinces. It will take a mighty force to shock the world. It's already winter, and there aren't many merchants and travelers. It will only take a few months to clear out the bandits in all provinces, and it won't affect the annual income and livelihood of the people next year."

"Jinqing is here, please sit down and rest for a while."

Zhu Changluo saw Ye Xianggao and stopped discussing.

He looked at Ye Xianggao's pale and haggard face, and Ye Xianggao also saw the bloodshot in the emperor's eyes. All the other colleagues looked heavy.

Martial law is not a small issue.

If martial law is imposed, the Privy Council will mobilize the Public Security Council, military affairs will temporarily override civil affairs, military needs must be met first, and local major cases will have greater authority to be handled as quickly as possible, or at least to arrest people first. To put it bluntly, the gun is clearly pointed inward.

The chaos caused by other curfews, checkpoints on land and water, summonses for specific matters and even home searches is nothing compared to this.

But now Ye Xianggao doesn’t know if there is any better way to quickly stop the frequent ignition trends in various places.

The more people jump, without enough response, it will naturally only encourage more people to think that the time has come.

Especially now that the vassal kings are involved.

When Ye Xianggao came, of course he told him again about the two pieces of important news that he had received last night.

During this time, Zhu Changluo and other important ministers can also think carefully.

Zhu Changluo looked at Ye Xianggao, who was listening to the two questions being read out while drinking hot tea to ward off the cold, hoping that he could show some courage.

After tossing and turning for a whole night, Zhu Changluo had made up his mind.

The situation did look serious, and the Privy Council had sufficient motivation and reason to impose martial law in the provinces.

However, the court's control over the military and the Privy Council's control over the provincial generals and soldiers still require a longer-term rule.

Being able to successfully resolve the current problems was also Zhu Changluo's demand to give greater power to the Executive Yuan system.

If this situation can only be resolved by violence, it means that the results of the reform of government offices over the years are still insufficient, and the control of the official team and the central government over the local areas has not improved much.

Ye Xianggao finished listening to the two questions and drank half a cup of tea.

He first asked a question: "General Staff Sun, how does the Privy Council plan to deploy in the southwest?"

"The court believes that the government should be relaxed on the outside and tight on the inside. The most urgent task is to prevent the chieftains who are willing to change their status from native to civilians from being instigated and causing trouble again."

Zhu Changluo frowned.

Ye Xianggao looked at the emperor's reaction and sighed, "According to the memorial, it was found that the Sichuan merchant had contact with Prince Rui in September. Until now, has Myanmar not submitted a single word?"

The answer is of course no, but things cannot be viewed so simply. "Myanmar has just been established, and there are many things going on." Zhu Changluo said in a deep voice, "I appointed my fifth brother as the ruler of Myanmar and sent envoys to observe the ceremony. There was nothing unusual before. This matter may be suspicious. After Myanmar was established, there were many merchants from all over the country. I doubt the authenticity of those secret letters and confessions."

"Your Majesty, are you saying that the thieves are expecting Your Majesty to send someone to Burma?"

"And during this time, the imperial court was in a state of panic." Zhu Changluo gritted his teeth, "He deserves death!"

Ye Xianggao was somewhat stunned: "Your Majesty, do you firmly believe that nothing has happened?"

"What's your motive?" Zhu Changluo said decisively, "I'm willing to stop the Eastern Expedition for now, and use my army to quell the civil strife. Why would my fifth brother and Prince Mian'an and others want to gain more by giving up the throne and power in front of them? Twenty years ago, when the court was in financial difficulty, we were still able to quell the rebellion in Bozhou. What about today?"

"Your Majesty!" Sun Chengzong said again, "I am worried that the rebels are aiming at the southwest! If we induce the chieftains to rebel first, the court will have to deal with the troubles in various provinces and cannot quickly put down the rebellion, then it will be like a prairie fire. The present is different from the past. Burma has already occupied Outer Yunnan. I dare not be sure that they will not have improper thoughts by then! Besides, the rebel captured in this incident is a Sichuan merchant, and Sichuan has always been a base for separatist regimes..."

"It will take them at least ten to twenty years to stabilize Myanmar." Zhu Changluo shook his head firmly, "You should know who the real enemies are. Aren't these tricks just to fan the flames and cause suspicion among the people?"

No one here is unaware of who the real enemies are.

The current situation is very clear. The assassination case has become a spark. During the period of martial law and investigation in Shandong, people in other provinces want to start a fire so that the court can't handle it.

As for the solution, the Privy Council's opinion is to impose martial law in all provinces and to suppress it with overwhelming force.

During the martial law period, some martial law clauses can be discussed and local officials, gentry, wealthy merchants and common people can be forced to abide by them. If they do not abide by them, they will be directly punished.

Of course, this will include compulsory purchases and compulsory exchange of new currency.

But this method is too rough.

Ye Xianggao looked at the look in the emperor's eyes and knew what the emperor wanted him to do.

This is a difficult decision.

If the Executive Yuan were to make this decision, then the current important official in the court, Prime Minister Ye Xianggao, would completely break with the past and completely uproot the foundations of the scholars' past superiority in the name of the court, official education, rites, laws, and morality.

The emperor's edict, which required that not a single word be changed, actually revealed this attitude.

But if this attitude is to be implemented, in the long run it cannot be such a violent "Southern Expedition". It should be the common will of the monarch and his subjects, and the act of the emperor's comrades who share the same beliefs and values.

"Advance, my dear ministers." Zhu Changluo said, "You have all read the Crown Prince's letter. You all know how hard I have worked since I ascended the throne. How serious the old currency system is, who in the world does not know it? The new policy benefits the people, the new policy enriches the country, the new policy is fair and just, the new policy is for the country..."

As he spoke this, he became emotional.

Or maybe it was because he had seen a future with more cohesion and vitality. Although in his somewhat distant memory, there were still all kinds of friction, darkness, and criticism, but at least overall, there was indeed an ideal recognized by many people, and there were also achievements based on this ideal.

Perhaps because he had this opportunity, he had been an emperor for nearly 20 years, and had also achieved many civil and military achievements praised by his subjects, and he had a greater vision in his heart. And at this moment, his vision really needed more companions.

Or maybe it was because at this time, there were so many people in the world who dared to do this because of their own interests or ideas, which made the prestige he thought he had established seem quite ridiculous.

Or perhaps it was because there were many mature and steady people in this central government in Beijing who were highly regarded by those fanning the flames. All they hoped for was to create a situation that would give them the opportunity to persuade the emperor to compromise and reconcile.

Reform is never thorough.

A thorough revolution always requires the death of many people first.

Many, many people.

To accomplish this, we need more companions, more companions who are willing to push a common will to every place.

Ye Xianggao watched the emperor pause for breath, and something was evident in his eyes.

The emperor had never shown any signs of emotional vulnerability in front of them, but at this moment there was already some loss in his eyes, which would soon fade away and reveal indifference.

Ye Xianggao's heart trembled.

He really knew why the Executive Yuan existed, why the eight ministers were appointed, and what the emperor wanted when he was willing to do this.

What kind of future does that comrade represent?

And at this moment, the emperor was about to say the following words.

Ye Xiang supported himself on the chair and stood up weakly.

This action made Zhu Changluo stop speaking for the time being.

Ye Xianggao first looked at Sun Chengzong with a meaningful look.

Then, he looked at Zhu Guozuo, Wang Dewan, Wang Heng and others one by one.

"Handle the case." He began, and finally looked at the emperor. "Handle the case in the two capitals, three cities, nine borders, and eighteen provinces. Handle the case. Handle the officials and gentry who have been supported by many years of preferential treatment and exemption; handle the Duke of Yansheng who has been respected by all dynasties and has seized land and property, assassinated the crown prince, and plotted treason; handle the upright and honest Ming official who is supported by the people."

After clasping his hands together, he did not kneel, but simply bent his waist: "I am ashamed that Your Majesty has appointed us as ministers, and we should shoulder our responsibilities, and work together for the public and the country to reform the abuses. The rise and fall of dynasties in the past have proven that respecting Confucianism and culture will not ensure eternal prosperity; today's floods and fires have further demonstrated that morality and literature cannot lead all scholars in the world to cultivate themselves, manage their families, and serve the country. Etiquette should be promoted and guided, but the world needs laws to bring peace and prosperity to all industries."

When Ye Xianggao said this, the other people were shocked and stood up as well.

Some of them looked at each other, some looked at the emperor, and some also bowed.

But after a while, they all looked the same.

"This is the truth. We, the ministers, are willing to work with the Holy Emperor, not avoid difficulties, not fear dangers, and move forward step by step with our feet on the ground."

Zhu Changluo was speechless for a long time, then he stood up and bowed back: "I'm counting on you all!"

The scene in the hall makes it seem as if this is the real moment of being appointed as prime minister.

It is precisely because of this scene that the "prairie fire" that began at the end of the 18th year of Taichang finally seemed to be as brilliant and short-lived as fireworks.

Maybe there are still many places in the Ming Dynasty that are conservative and want to return to the past. But Zhu Changluo has been here for so many years, and he has changed something after all. At least he has created a different power structure and promoted his determination at this moment.

And precisely because of this determination, those "wildfire" methods were full of idealism: in their imagination, the world was so turbulent that the court should always judge the situation and take a step back.

But since either the Privy Council was really dispatched, or the Executive Yuan and civil officials stood up, it means that the emperor’s words of advancing and not retreating were not a joke.

Zhu Changluo just didn't want military generals to take charge. That was not a healthy future and would not achieve the effect of tempering civil officials.

In the world, there must be a balance between civil and military affairs; in normal times, there must be civil officials to govern the country.

If his accomplices are more in the military, what will the future hold?

At this moment, Liu Ruoyu was just watching this scene. When he wrote about his life experiences in his later years, he finally understood what this scene meant and what role it played in the three years that followed, when the whole country was crying and the people were celebrating.

But until that time, Liu Ruoyu was not sure whether Ye Xianggao did this for his posthumous reputation and the statue in the Temple of State and Country, or to prevent the Privy Council from expanding further.

At least at that moment, Ye Xianggao seemed to be disregarding his own safety and for a moment he had a bit of Zhang Taiyue's demeanor.

The other seven points, of course, belong to the emperor.

The emperor believed that there would be no rebellion by the vassal kings, and he was willing to believe that his important ministers could get things done. He was also willing to use the most violent means when the worst situation actually occurred.

But if Ye Xianggao hadn't made this decision, then perhaps... in those three years, there would have been many more people who were convicted and sentenced to death or even innocently died in the entire Ming Dynasty...

(End of this chapter)