In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 768 The Marketplace Repeats Its Mistakes
At the beginning of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), a thin veil of dark blue-green shrouded the sky.

Like an unfinished ink painting, it is faintly hazy.

The stars have long since vanished, with only the morning star stubbornly twinkling faintly on the horizon.

The palace walls of the Imperial City of Yingtian stood tall and majestic, their imposing outlines emerging as the sky gradually brightened.

The stone lions in front of the palace gate are majestic and awe-inspiring.
It carried a hint of drowsiness in the morning breeze, yet still maintained its solemn posture.

The vermilion gate was tightly shut, and the copper nails on it gleamed coldly in the dim light.

At this moment, there was already movement on the street leading to the palace gate.

The ministers were dressed in various official robes.

People came from all directions, some by sedan chair, others on foot.

Among the crowd, some young ministers rode bicycles, weaving through the carriages and people.

Their gazes swept around, a hint of envy flashing in their eyes.
Those who rode in horse-drawn carriages were either high-ranking officials of the imperial court or wealthy individuals.

Those who walked were even more remarkable, owning residences near the imperial city, a privilege that envied countless people.

Only they have to get up before dawn to travel.

Fortunately, bicycles are inexpensive, and you don't have to worry about losing face, saving you the cost of hiring a carriage.

Arriving outside the palace gate,
The ministers, already familiar with the place, stood in their positions corresponding to their ranks, waiting for the palace gates to open.

At this moment, the ministers at the front looked haggard, their eyes bloodshot.

The recent turmoil has not only affected the "rebel party,"
This also meant they had to work all night without rest.

Several adults dressed in scarlet robes rolled eggs over their eye sockets.

At their rank, appearance and demeanor were of utmost importance.

Minister of Revenue Zhao Mian arrived late.

He stepped forward and stood behind the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel.

The Ministry of Rites was in charge of education and culture, and interpreted the orthodox traditions of the realm.
The Ministry of Personnel controlled all officials in the empire and held immense power.
The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of the nation's finances and was the imperial court's god of wealth.

These three positions represent the most prestigious official posts among all six ministries.

The Minister of Personnel, Zhan Hui, holding his official tablet, turned slightly to look Zhao Mian over, then smiled and spoke:
"Lord Zhao has risen to a high-ranking position at such a young age."
Now, like us old men, he looks listless.

Many people around looked over.

Zhao Mian shook his head helplessly:
"Political affairs are numerous and there is no time to rest; Lord Zhan is no exception."

Zhan Hui laughed heartily:

"No, no, I'm getting old. I need to rest at night no matter what."
Otherwise, he would be listless the next day, unlike Lord Zhao who is so energetic.

These words carried a deeper meaning. Li Yuanming from the Ministry of Rites also looked over and let out a dry laugh.

"Lord Zhan is so young, how can he say such things? Where does that leave us old men?"

"Ha ha ha ha."

Zhan Hui burst into laughter, completely disregarding the stares of those around him.

He now heads the Censorate and concurrently serves as Minister of Personnel.
His power and influence in the imperial court were unparalleled; he was at the height of his power and prestige.

Zhan Hui asked without any hesitation:
"Lord Zhao, what was the matter that His Majesty issued an urgent edict late last night?"
"Is there a predetermined amount of embezzled silver, and how much will we, the six ministries, be entitled to?"

Zhan Hui's words resonated deeply with all the ministers.

shhhhh--

More than a dozen gazes were cast at the same time, piercing Zhao Mian and making him feel burning hot all over.

Zhao Mian shook his head calmly:
"The decision on how to deal with the group of rebels was just made last night. How could the financial arrangements be decided so hastily?"
Rest assured, everyone

Once news arrived, the Ministry of Revenue would immediately notify all other ministries.

A deep sense of disappointment lingered before the Meridian Gate, and the assembled officials seemed lost in thought.
If the money and valuables were not kept separate, then what was he doing entering the palace late at night?
Many people turned their attention to the column of military generals.
As usual, the governors of the governor's mansion stood in formation.
But Lu Yunyi, who had caused chaos and arrested countless people in the capital, still did not come.

In my memory, this person seemed to attend the morning court session very infrequently.

Many people scanned the crowd of officials in scarlet robes but did not find Liu Sili, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies.

Since he became the manager of Yingtian Trading Company,

The most important thing each morning was not going to court, but going to the trading post.
With both figures nowhere to be seen, many people turned their attention to Zhao Mian, their gazes filled with intense curiosity.

What exactly happened last night?
As time passed, more and more ministers gathered in front of the Meridian Gate.

Even political adversaries who are usually at loggerheads will nod slightly in acknowledgment at this moment.

After all, in this solemn occasion, it is still necessary to maintain a semblance of etiquette.

Their faces bore expressions that ranged from serious to humble to confident.
They exchanged information about major and minor affairs of the court.

The voice was kept very low.

Yet, this also created a noisy buzzing sound in front of the empty palace gate.

As the palace gates slowly opened with a dull creak, the ministers filed in one after another according to their rank.

After entering the palace gate, there is a long corridor.
High palace walls on both sides completely shut out the noise from the outside world.

The stone path beneath their feet had been polished smooth as a mirror by the years, reflecting the hurried figures of the ministers.

At this time, the sky was gradually brightening.
A pale, fish-belly white dawn appeared on the eastern horizon.

A touch of orange-red dawn spread out like a light veil, dyeing the entire palace with a layer of brilliant color.

In the square in front of Fengtian Hall, the bronze cranes and bronze tortoises appear solemn and dignified in the morning light.

The ministers stood in their assigned positions.
Those dressed in scarlet robes entered the main hall, while the others in blue and green robes stood in the square in front of the hall.

As the deep, resonant tolling of the bells echoed over the palace, it signaled the start of the court assembly.

Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty sat at the head of the Fengtian Hall, wearing a bright red dragon robe. The beaded curtain that hung down completely covered his face, making it impossible for the court officials to see his expression.

Today's court assembly is somewhat different from usual.
The chief eunuch waited at the lower level, holding a gleaming imperial edict.
He didn't stand silently by as usual.

At the beginning of the court assembly, the Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review, Ru Chang, stepped forward and solemnly reported on the rebellions and disasters in various regions:

"Your Majesty, there have been recent uprisings by displaced people in the Huguang region."

They gathered thousands of people, robbed and looted, and disturbed the peace of the local area.

Furthermore, years of famine have left the people starving, and the number of refugees is increasing daily.
If we do not quickly appease them, a major disaster may ensue.

"Your Majesty, the Sichuan region is also not peaceful."
Some local chieftains were secretly plotting a rebellion, engaging in clandestine collusion.
Although local officials have strengthened their defenses, they may find it difficult to withstand the force of the attack.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne, his expression behind the beaded curtain not clearly visible.
But the slight clenching of his fist already revealed his inner anger:
"Rebellions raged across the country, and disaster victims were displaced."

As officials appointed by the imperial court, you should exert all your strength to quell the rebellion and bring peace to the people.
The Governor-General's Office and the Ministry of War must obtain a copy of the regulations, and there must be no errors!

"Yes."

Then, Zhan Hui from the Ministry of Personnel stepped forward and spoke first:
"Your Majesty, after a thorough investigation by the Censorate, the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Personnel..."

The remnants of Li Shanchang's rebellious faction have been basically eliminated.
The officials involved were registered, executed, or exiled, and their families were also implicated.

There are no longer any obvious remnants of the rebellious party in Beijing.

However, I believe this matter should be investigated further to eliminate any potential risks.

"can."

"The minister obeys the order."

Minister of Revenue Zhao Mian continued:
"Your Majesty, the silver embezzled by the rebels is currently being counted and recovered."

Some of the stolen silver has already been deposited into the treasury.

Once all the recovered funds have been recovered, they will be deposited into the national treasury to alleviate the court's financial crisis.

The ministers of the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Works respectively reported on matters related to the handling of the rebel party.

He spoke eloquently and fluently.

After the six ministries finished their reports, the Fengtian Hall fell silent.

The head eunuch scanned the room, and after confirming that no one had stepped forward, he stepped forward and announced loudly:
"Your Majesty has a decree!"

The court officials bowed and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

The chief eunuch unfurled the imperial edict and read it aloud:
"I am concerned about the affairs of merchants throughout the land, as they are related to the national economy and the people's livelihood."

The Market and Trade Bureau has been specially established to manage the trade affairs of merchants throughout the land.

He coordinated and managed the various government offices and businesses under his jurisdiction to ensure the well-being of the people and to enrich the country and strengthen its military.

The Market and Exchange Bureau was directly under the imperial court.
The office is headed by one Director, a second-rank official; and two Deputy Directors, both third-rank officials.

All matters concerning merchants throughout the land fall under their jurisdiction.

This decree, once issued, was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

Some of the court officials could hardly believe their ears.

He suddenly raised his head and looked up at the person above him, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

Especially the six ministers and the generals at the front, who looked completely bewildered.

what happened?
A newly established government agency, much like the Six Ministries?

Why don’t they know?

Why didn't His Majesty consult with them? The assembled Hanlin scholars who were listening in were even more horrified.

Such a decree was issued without being reviewed by the Hanlin Academy.

Why was the imperial decree issued so hastily? What happened?
There was a momentary uproar in the Fengtian Hall; everyone was so shocked that they couldn't speak.

Minister of Justice Yang Jing was the first to step forward and loudly retorted:

"Your Majesty, since ancient times, business has always been run by the people themselves, and the imperial court has never directly intervened."

The establishment of a Market Regulation Bureau now might violate ancestral laws.
Moreover, business matters are complicated and intricate.
If the imperial court intervenes forcefully, it may cause many problems. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!

Minister of Rites Li Yuanming followed suit:

"Your Majesty, the essence of commerce lies in free flow of goods."

If the Market and Trade Bureau were to exercise unified jurisdiction, it would inevitably restrict the freedom of merchants and hinder the development of trade.

If this continues, although the national treasury may benefit temporarily,
But this will inevitably damage the private economy, and it's not a long-term solution!

Immediately, the imperial court was abuzz with discussion, and voices of opposition rose and fell.

Zhan Hui frowned slightly, pondering to himself.

As the Left Censor-in-Chief and concurrently Minister of Personnel, he was well aware of the court's financial difficulties.
If the Market and Exchange Bureau can operate properly, it may indeed bring a considerable amount of revenue to the imperial court.

But he also understood that this matter had far-reaching consequences.

If handled improperly, it will inevitably cause turmoil in the court.

After much deliberation, neither Zhan Hui nor Qin Kui from the Ministry of Works stepped forward.

Minister of War Shen Jin hesitated for a long time, abandoning his usual kind-hearted image.
He stepped forward, his face serious.

"Your Majesty, the workshops under the Ministry of War are all involved in military secrets."
It was already quite difficult for the Ministry of War to maintain its operations.

If there were another Market Transaction Bureau, there would be a risk of leaks. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider.

Hanlin Academician Liu Sanwu then stepped forward:

"Your Majesty, the Hanlin Academy is unaware of the matters concerning the Market Exchange Bureau, and the implications remain to be discussed."

"I urge Your Majesty to prioritize matters of state and to consult with various parties."

All the Hanlin scholars bowed deeply in unison:

"I urge Your Majesty to prioritize matters of state."

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne, listening to the arguments of his ministers, his face grim.

He paused for a moment, then spoke decisively:

"I am aware of everything you have said."

The imperial court is currently facing financial difficulties, and rebellions are rampant throughout the country.
If we don't find another way, how can we solve the court's predicament?
The matter of establishing the Market Exchange Bureau has been decided by me; you need not discuss it further.

Court adjourned!

Having said that, Zhu Yuanzhang rose from his seat, and the chief eunuch immediately shouted:

"Retreat!"

Left with no other option, the officials had to leave the Fengtian Hall.

On the square of Fengtian Hall, the officials did not leave immediately.

Instead, he stood there for a long time, speechless.

This news shocked not only the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers.

Even the heads of various departments and some miscellaneous officials were extremely shocked.

Without any prior notice, they wanted to establish an office on par with the Six Ministries.
Many people turned their attention to the group of scarlet-robed officials who had emerged.
Seeing the solemn expressions on their faces, I knew that they, too, did not know the root of the problem.

This gave many intelligent people a jolt of fear.
There was a sense of impending doom, a tense atmosphere that was almost frightening.

It wasn't until Li Yuanming, the Minister of Revenue, recovered from his shock that...
He then looked at the group of officials standing in the square in front of the palace and waved his hand:

"Go back to work."

Only then did some sounds emerge in the square, which was so silent you could hear a pin drop.
It was as if it had suddenly turned into a chaotic market.

The officials whispered among themselves.
Disregarding propriety, there was much discussion.
They talked as they walked.

Some people had solemn expressions on their faces, while others had expressions of anticipation.

Regardless, a newly established government office
It will always disrupt the existing balance of power and create many powerful figures who rise to the top overnight.

Just like the abolition of the prime ministership thirteen years ago,
From then on, the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers rose to prominence, becoming truly influential figures in the imperial court.

Now, with the emergence of the Market and Exchange Bureau,
It would also make the already chaotic court even more chaotic.

A group of officials walked ahead absentmindedly, while the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers lagged far behind.

Li Yuanming and Zhan Hui were last.
These two are considered to be the most powerful people in the court at present.
He glanced at the officials from the Governor's Office who were hurrying away not far away, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

Judging from their behavior, they were clearly unaware of His Majesty's actions.

But that doesn't make sense.

Could it be that His Majesty intends to push this matter forward alone?
Li Yuanming looked at Zhan Hui, coughed lightly, and asked:

"Lord Zhan, there is something I don't understand. Please enlighten me."

Zhan Hui's expression was equally solemn:

“Speak frankly, Lord Li.”

"Did Lord Zhan know about today's events beforehand?"

After hesitating for a long time, Zhan Hui's lips moved, and he slowly uttered two words:
"I don't know."

Li Yuanming frowned immediately, his eyes filled with even deeper doubt.

He then asked, "Is His Highness the Crown Prince aware of this?"

Zhan Hui fell into deep thought.

As the Grand Master of the Imperial Household Department, he was the Crown Prince's closest subordinate.
Even all the documents and letters in the Crown Prince's residence were transmitted through him.

But Zhan Hui was unsure about this matter.

After a long silence, Zhan Hui looked at the backs of the figures in crimson robes before him and gently shook his head:
"His Highness the Crown Prince is currently staying at the Crown Prince's residence, so he probably doesn't know that either."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanming's pupils contracted slightly, and he fell into a long silence.

He believed he knew this long-time companion of the monarch quite well.
His Majesty always acts by dividing and conquering factions, taking extreme caution and never acting rashly.
One by one, he defeated powerful enemies, who were powerless to resist.

But today, he saw the haste.

What we saw was stubbornness and unilateralism, but we didn't see the strategic planning that had been present in the past.

This made Li Yuanming suspicious.
What's wrong with His Majesty?
Soon, a possibility occurred to him, causing him to involuntarily slow his pace:

"His Majesty's health?"

He turned to look at the tall and majestic Fengtian Hall not far away, his brows furrowed.

These days, everything seems rushed.

His Majesty also left the Wuying Hall where he had been staying and went to the Fengtian Hall.
The implications of this were too profound for Li Yuanming to fathom.

"Lord Li, what have you thought of?"

Zhan Hui, who was standing to the side, asked in a low voice.

Li Yuanming gently shook his head and said softly:
"Lord Zhan, His Majesty's insistence on acting unilaterally is not a prudent approach."
I urge Lord Zhan to meet with His Highness the Crown Prince and persuade His Majesty.

If you want to establish a market regulation agency, you should at least proceed gradually.
"Isn't this haste giving the rebels hiding in the court an opportunity?"

Zhan Hui nodded slightly:

"Lord Li, I will go to the Crown Prince's residence immediately."

Li Yuanming continued speaking:
"Lord Zhan, the rebel party has now collapsed, and all its henchmen have been captured."

If the Crown Prince is still outside the palace at this time, it might cause unforeseen complications. It would be best for Your Highness to enter the palace promptly.

"Yes, that's right."

Zhan Hui's voice stopped abruptly, and his pupils contracted sharply.
His withered hands gripped his sleeves tightly.

He suddenly looked at Li Yuanming, then at the Fengtian Hall behind him.

He wasn't stupid; on the contrary, he was extremely intelligent.
Otherwise, he would not have been able to overpower a group of court officials and become the Minister of Personnel.

He understood what Li Yuanming meant and guessed the possibility.

He stood rooted to the spot, silent for a long time, before slowly saying:

"Lord Li, no way."

Li Yuanming's gaze was deep, and he did not answer.

He thought of something.

Emperor Chun died at the age of sixty-three, and Your Majesty is sixty-two this year. In another year, you will reach the age at which your father died.

As an older person, Li Yuanming deeply understands this.
I have a strange fear about the age at which my father passed away, and I'm afraid that I won't live to see that day.

He himself only gradually overcame this fear after he survived this ordeal.

Thinking of this, Li Yuanming suddenly felt that,
I think I know why I rushed into action this year to eliminate Li Shanchang's faction.
(End of this chapter)