Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 86: Modification of the Ming Dynasty Law!
Xu Pu returned to his residence with several cabinet ministers who were most capable of influencing the court.

After Xu Pu led everyone into the study, he closed the doors and windows tightly, dismissed the servants, and then served a cup of hot tea to the ministers.

Wang Shu sat down at the table and said, "Prime Minister Xu, just speak your mind. We are all on the same broken boat."

Xu Pu nodded repeatedly: "Minister Wang is right. I won't hide anything anymore."

"Do you think that the death of the late emperor was really organized and planned by the previous cabinet?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of everyone present changed.

"I don't know."

Wang Shu was the first to express his opinion: "I have been an official in Nanzhili before, and I know very little about the affairs of the capital."

"We don't know either. We both worked at the Imperial Academy before."

"If it weren't for His Majesty's appointment, we would still be in the Imperial Academy now."

Xie Qian and Li Dongyang also hurriedly claimed that they were not aware of it.

Liu Jian and Liu Daxia also hesitated and refused to express their opinions.

When Xu Pu saw this, he cursed these old foxes in his heart.

It's already this time, the emperor's butcher knife is on their necks, and they are still playing Ming Baozheshen?
The emperor has gone so far that if they do not resist, the civil servants will only become tools for the emperor to handle government affairs.

Do you still want the interests of cabinet civil servants in the future?

Do you still want the interests of the gentry and nobles in your hometown?

Yu Qian, also known as Yu Shaobao, finally put the imperial power in a cage and expanded the power of the cabinet above the imperial power.

As a result, Emperor Yingzong was restored to the throne, breaking free from the cabinet's constraints on imperial power.

After Emperor Xianzong ascended the throne, he expanded the imperial power again, giving the imperial power the capital to challenge the cabinet again.

But when it came to Zhu Youtang's hands, Zhu Youtang went even further. He wanted to turn the cabinet into a vassal of the imperial power again!
Let the cabinet bow to the emperor and obey his orders!

As a cabinet minister and a chancellor, Xu Pu would never allow this to happen even at the cost of his life!
He was determined to turn Zhu Youtang into a "holy ruler" like Zhu Qiyu.

As long as they listen to the cabinet and the civil servants, the civil service group and local gentry will be well fed.

Future history books will surely praise Zhu Youtang greatly and portray him as a wise, virtuous and benevolent ruler!
If Zhu Youtang still wants to expand the imperial power and restrict civil servants, then Xu Pu will fight to the end even if it means sacrificing his life!
Apart from anything else, the history books will definitely make Zhu Youtang sick to death and turn him into a foolish ruler and a tyrant!

It would be best if there could be another Battle of Tumu to nail Zhu Youtang’s name to the pillar of shame forever!

Xu Pu suppressed his dissatisfaction and spoke again.

"In my opinion, the investigation into the death of the previous emperor is just an excuse for your Majesty to purge the cabinet."

"Whether it is the execution of the three judicial officials or the execution of the more than 500 officials who were promoted, it is a targeted attack on our cabinet and the six ministries."

"Your Majesty is cruel. We don't know when this knife will fall on our heads!"

After Xu Pu finished speaking, everyone looked at each other with a worried look on their faces.

Everything Xu Pu said made sense. No matter what Zhu Youtang's reasons were, the result was that the power of the cabinet was greatly weakened.

There is absolutely no comparison in power between the cabinet when Your Majesty first ascended the throne and the current cabinet.

Xu Pu seemed to remember something and suddenly sighed again.

"Alas, the late emperor originally intended to depose your majesty from the position of crown prince and appoint Prince Xing Zhu Youju as the crown prince."

"If it weren't for the elders of the previous cabinet and you, the Eastern Palace lecturers, who stopped him, I'm afraid the current emperor would be Prince Xing."

"If King Xing succeeded to the throne, our current life would never be so difficult."

Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian were all tutors in the Eastern Palace.

Xu Pu's words were obviously directed at the three of them.

Liu Jian looked unhappy and tried his best to argue.

"Before Your Majesty ascended the throne, he was fair and peaceful, modest and polite, and good at listening to good advice. He was truly a wise ruler."

"This... who would have thought that things would completely change after he ascended the throne!"

Xie Qian quickly agreed: "What Elder Liu said is right. If we had known this earlier... we would not have stopped the late emperor from changing the crown prince."

Seeing that the topic had gone off track, Wang Shu had to speak up to stop it.

"Okay, the matter is done, there is no point in saying more."

"I guess Prime Minister Xu didn't invite us here just to listen to your complaints."

"If you have any ideas, please speak up."

"Then I'll speak frankly."

Xu Pu knew that if he continued to beat around the bush, these old foxes would be able to keep talking to him all night.

So Xu Pu directly told his plan to the high-ranking ministers in the room.

"Everyone, His Majesty is so cruel that he would confiscate property and exterminate the entire clan at will."

"We have to take action to protect ourselves."

“I think we can amend the constitution in secret!”

"From a legal perspective, we must stop your Majesty from slaughtering officials."

“Constitutional amendment?!”

Xie Qian exclaimed and quickly covered his mouth.

Wang Shu and Liu Daxia stared at each other with extremely serious expressions.

Liu Jian and Liu Dongyang took a deep breath and looked at Xu Pu with fear in their eyes.

The so-called constitutional amendment means changing the fundamental laws of the Ming Dynasty.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu Gao had made strict regulations on the Ming Dynasty's taxation, salt and tea trading, overseas trade, official appointments, border troop deployments, and the power to command troops.

All these powers are in the hands of the court and the Ming Emperor.

And they formulated the "Great Ming Code" and wrote it into the "Great Ming Code" as the fundamental law of the Ming Dynasty.

Also included in the Ming Dynasty laws is the punishment for corrupt officials.

"Officials who accepted bribes and violated the law were to be caned 70 times with a stick if they had less than one tael, and strangled if they had more than eighty taels."

These regulations are also recorded in the "Great Ming Code".

These systems were extremely unfriendly to the civil servants, military officers, landlords and gentry of the Ming Dynasty.

Cabinet civil servants of all dynasties wanted to revise the "Great Ming Code".

However, before his death, Emperor Taizu Gao left a will: "The established law cannot be changed even a single word."

This left the powerful Three Yang Cabinet and Yu Qian helpless in what they could do with the Great Ming Code.

During the Jingtai period, Yu Qian held great power. He had the right to command and mobilize troops, and could depose and enthrone emperors at will, which was equivalent to a regent.

Even Yu Qian, who possessed tremendous power, could not touch the "Great Ming Law".

How could Xu Pu, the chief minister of the cabinet whose power was now very small, touch the "Great Ming Code"?
Liu Jian hesitated for a moment, but still asked, "Even Yu Shaobao couldn't touch the Great Ming Law, so how can we do that?"

Xu Pu asked in return: "Who said we are going to change the Ming Dynasty Law?"

"The Great Ming Code was created by Emperor Taizu Gao. The laws of our ancestors cannot be changed. Changing them is disrespectful to Emperor Taizu Gao and will cost you your head."

Liu Daxia was puzzled: "Then why do you say you want to amend the constitution in secret?"

Xu Pu smiled: "When Emperor Yingzong and the previous emperor were in power, the cabinet had proposed that the Great Ming Code was no longer suitable for the development of this dynasty, and a new Great Ming Code should be revised to replace the Great Ming Code."

"In this way, we can legally and reasonably circumvent the will of Emperor Taizu Gao."

"It's a pity that Emperor Yingzong and the previous emperor were too tough and refused to allow the cabinet to amend the laws of our ancestors." "I think we can continue the work of our predecessors and revise the Ming Dynasty Code to replace the Ming Dynasty Code."

After hearing Xu Pu's words, the glimmer of hope that had just ignited in everyone's hearts was suddenly extinguished.

Wang Shu shook his head and sighed, quite disappointed.

"Alas, Shi Yong, Emperor Yingzong and the previous emperor did not allow the constitution to be amended. Your Majesty is tougher than Emperor Yingzong and the previous emperor."

"How can Your Majesty be willing to amend the constitution?"

"I think this matter is over, let's wait for future generations to discuss it."

After Wang Shu finished speaking, Xie Qian and Liu Daxia agreed.

"I think so too. I think it is impossible for Your Majesty to agree to revise the Ming Dynasty Code."

"Mr. Xu, this is indeed too difficult, and the hope of success is slim."

People were not optimistic about Xu Pu's idea of ​​amending the constitution, but Xu Pu was still confident.

"You may not know that your Majesty has previously reformed the currency value and is also going to reform taxation."

"Although your majesty is ruthless and tough, he is not a king who only cares about the status quo, but a king who is proactive and enterprising in reform."

"If the cabinet proposes to revise the Ming Dynasty Code to suit the times, Your Majesty will surely agree."

"When the time comes, we will maintain the ancestral system in the general direction, and make slight changes in key aspects."

"For example, relax the court's restrictions on business, so that private businesses can also participate in the business that was previously only available to the court."

"Another example is to abolish the death penalty for embezzlement, and return the embezzled silver to reduce the crime, atone for the crime, or even absolve the person of the crime."

"Then make the Ming Code longer, to more than a million words, so that Your Majesty will not have the patience to read such a long code."

"In this way, I don't think His Majesty will find out anything fishy."

It has to be admitted that Xu Pu's last words still moved the ministers present.

Is this plan dangerous?
Danger!

very dangerous!

Especially when facing a tyrant like Zhu Youtang, if you are not careful, you will lose your head.

But on the other hand, the rewards after success are also very rich.

Apart from anything else, the mere abolition of the death penalty for embezzlement and the replacement of it with a reduced sentence for returning the embezzled silver makes it worth the risk for them.

Thinking of this, the senior officials present gradually reached a consensus.

……

The East Factory's inspections were still ongoing, and officials were arrested by the East Factory from time to time, resulting in their families being destroyed.

All officials in the capital were in danger and lived in fear every day.

After dealing with most of the officials in the capital, the East Factory sent people to various places to kill the relatives of Liu Ji, Zhang Ying, Liu Wentai and others.

The power of the East Factory is growing day by day, and there is a sign that it is surpassing the West Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

But what no one knew was that the Western Factory had also launched an investigation into the poisoning of the previous emperor.

Wang Zhi, the director of the Western Factory, personally launched an investigation when his three supervisors were not in the capital.

This matter was carried out in great secrecy, and even the people from the East Factory did not know about it.

In the following days, the capital remained under martial law.

The Western Factory's investigation into the military generals and soldiers in the capital was also coming to an end.

……

Forbidden City.

Hongde Hall.

Zhu Youtang sat on the dragon throne and discussed matters with the four ministers of the cabinet.

Among the officials that Zhu Youtang ordered to be executed a few days ago, many held important positions and needed to be replaced as soon as possible.

Zhu Youtang ordered: "The cabinet should draw up a list of candidates for vacant positions as soon as possible in the next few days."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After Xu Pu agreed, he glanced at Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian around him.

Seeing that they looked at their noses with their eyes and their hearts with their noses, as if they were in deep thought, I couldn't help but frown.

In the past few days, the cabinet has preliminarily drafted a charter for revising the "Da Ming Hui Dian".

Prepare to mention this matter to Zhu Youtang today.

Afterwards, Xu Pu no longer hesitated and stepped forward to bow.

"Your Majesty, I think that the Great Ming Code has been in effect for a long time and has too many regulations. It is really not in line with the current government."

"The Great Ming Code was first completed during the Hongwu reign, which means it has a history of more than a hundred years."

"There are many unprecedented situations in the Ming Dynasty today, and the Ming Code can no longer provide a reasonable legal basis."

"But the laws of our ancestors cannot be changed."

Therefore, I, your humble servant, boldly request that Your Majesty compile another book, the "Great Ming Code", in addition to the "Great Ming Code", as a supplement to the "Great Ming Code".

After hearing this, Zhu Youtang looked up at Xu Pu expressionlessly without saying a word.

Seeing that Zhu Youtang had not expressed his opinion for a long time, Xu Pu was unsure of what he was thinking, so he knelt down before Zhu Youtang and apologized.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I only dared to speak to you. Your Majesty will make the final decision!"

Although Xu Pu had already prepared himself to die, he couldn't help but feel afraid when he met Zhu Youtang's expressionless eyes.

When Xu Pu knelt, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian behind him also knelt down hurriedly.

"I am so humbled, please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youtang did not respond immediately, but was thinking about the feasibility and necessity of Xu Pu's proposal to rebuild the "Da Ming Hui Dian".

Xu Pu was right when he said that the "Great Ming Code" was produced more than a hundred years ago and could no longer keep up with the Hongzhi era.

At least in terms of taxation, Zhu Youtang was not satisfied.

Commercial taxes must be increased and tax-free privileges must be eliminated.

The maritime ban must also be lifted, and the fire consumption must be returned to the public.

The salaries of the princes of the Ming Dynasty also had to be reduced.

The tax reform that Zhu Youtang plans to implement next year can be promoted with the help of the revision of the "Da Ming Hui Dian".

The gentry, landlords and nobles in the Ming Dynasty had enjoyed good times for too long.

The people of the Ming Dynasty have suffered for too long, and it is time for the landlords and gentry of the Ming Dynasty to suffer as well.

Zhu Youtang's ideas coincided with those of the cabinet, so Zhu Youtang readily agreed to the cabinet's proposal.

"Very good, I agree."

"And the revision of the Great Ming Code must be done quickly. It would be best if the Great Ming Code is completed before the beginning of spring next year."

Zhu Youtang not only agreed to the cabinet's request to amend the constitution, but also asked them to compile the "Da Ming Hui Dian" as quickly as possible.

But Xu Pu was planning to compile "The Code of the Ming Dynasty" into a massive volume of over one million words.

How is it possible to revise it in just a few months?
　The first order exceeds one thousand, and two chapters will be added. Here is the first chapter!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)