Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 462 Old Zhu: Am I really a country bumpkin?
As they returned to the carriage, Old Zhu's gaze inadvertently swept over the rear of the carriage and he was surprised to find an exquisite plaque hanging on the crossbeam below the carriage. The plaque was engraved with the words "Jinling 000666" in a vigorous and powerful style.

On the rear wall of the carriage, the same number is drawn in vermilion, eye-catching and solemn.

Curious, he narrowed his eyes slightly and asked in a deep voice, "What does this sign mean?"

Jiang Huan quickly bowed and said, "Replying to your question, sir, all carriages manufactured by the official carriage factories of the Ming Dynasty, although uniform in design and meticulous in craftsmanship, and each carriage looks exactly the same, are equipped with license plates and numbers to distinguish them."

"I have heard that this method was personally devised by His Majesty the Emperor."

"His Majesty once intended to extend this policy to all carriages in the country, equipping them with license plates and registering them. However, this involves a wide range of issues and is not easy to implement, so it has not been implemented on a large scale yet."

"We will proceed gradually. All carriages produced by government-run carriage factories must display license plates and be registered with the government office."

"Vehicle owners are not allowed to damage or cover up their license plates without authorization; violators will be severely punished."

Old Zhu's gaze lingered on the license plate for a moment, as if deep in thought, before he asked, "What is the deeper meaning behind this action? Do you know?"

Jiang Huan smiled and said, "Your Majesty's thoughts are profound and your plans are ingenious, beyond the comprehension of us mere mortals."

He changed his tone slightly and said, "Jinling City is now densely populated, with a constant flow of carriages and horses; the number of carriages is probably no less than tens of thousands."

"With this license plate number, identification becomes much easier."

"For example, when the government is investigating a case and wants to find a certain carriage, they only need to check the license plate number to achieve twice the result with half the effort, quickly and accurately."

Old Zhu nodded slightly.

Her grandson, though young, always comes up with many novel "methods".

This method, though seemingly simple, is quite ingenious. Having a license plate is equivalent to issuing an "identity document" to each carriage, which is publicly displayed, making it much easier for the government to manage.

Thinking of this, he felt a surge of relief, and his face softened as he stepped onto the carriage.

Inside the car, Yoshigaki had been waiting for a long time.

Old Zhu felt that he had been immersed in the palace for many years, and his every move carried a reserved demeanor that was only found in the inner court, which was very different from ordinary guards and servants.

It would be fine if it were in another city.

In the capital, a place teeming with hidden talents, he might attract unwanted attention, so he was specifically ordered to stay in the carriage and not allowed to get out or accompany them.

Upon seeing the Emperor's return, Yoshigaki quickly rose and stepped forward to serve him with slow and practiced movements.

The carriage slowly set off, its wheels rolling silently over the cement road, cushioned by the rubber tires, as it continued its leisurely journey through the streets and alleys of Jinling City.

Old Zhu leaned against the car wall, his gaze passing through the window to the street outside.

as predicted.

Visiting Nanjing in person was a completely different experience from reading the cold words in the memorials presented by the secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Firstly, the changes in Nanjing were exceptionally rapid, and the memorials inevitably missed some details and could not fully describe them.

Secondly, the difference between the written description and the shock of seeing it with one's own eyes is like heaven and earth.

Especially those novel things that have never been seen before, often leave people bewildered and confused by just a few words in the memorial.

Thirdly, Old Zhu is getting old, and his memory is not as sharp as it used to be.

He often forgot the contents of many memorials after reading them, finding them difficult to retain in his mind.

However, being there in person, the overwhelming impact was like a torrent, leaving a deep and unforgettable impression.

The carriage moved slowly forward, and before they knew it, they had crossed the former city walls of Jinling.

Today's Nanjing is vastly different from what it used to be.

The once majestic city wall that guarded the capital gradually became a mere formality, no longer bearing the heavy responsibility of defending against foreign enemies.

As the city's territory continued to expand, what lay beyond the city walls was no longer a desolate wilderness, but a continuation of the bustling urban area.

Around the city walls, twenty or thirty wide passageways were opened up, connecting the city with the newly developed area outside the city.

These passageways had no city gates, and people flowed in and out day and night, bustling and prosperous, like a series of surging blood vessels that closely connected the old city and the new city of Jinling.

Although the checkpoints are still in place, they are not used for regular inspections; they are only used when pursuing fugitives or checking taxes.

"Since the implementation of the new policy, the imperial court has taken into account the dense population and complex affairs of Yingtian Prefecture, and has therefore upgraded its management."

Yoshigaki's voice was deep and clear, extremely respectful, yet tinged with a hint of cautiousness.

"Yingtian Prefecture was thus separated from the jurisdiction of Zhili Province and upgraded to a directly administered prefecture, on par with Zhili Province."

"The rank of its prefect is the same as that of the governor, and there is also a censor in charge of the Yingtian Circuit, who is assisted by a full range of officials. The setup is just like that of a provincial government."

Yoshigaki had already reported these government affairs to the authorities on numerous occasions.

However, as Old Zhu gets older, he often jokes that "I'm getting old, and my memory isn't working well anymore."

Whether he had truly forgotten or was intentionally testing his subordinates' loyalty and attentiveness, Yoshigaki could not fathom, nor dared to speculate.

All he could do was to be cautious in his words and actions, and to report the matters that had already been reported again with the utmost respect.

After all, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; it's always better to be cautious.

As the carriage passed through a street, Old Zhu's gaze sharpened slightly.

On both sides of the street, the shouts of vendors, the conversations of pedestrians, and the rumble of carriages and horses intertwined, creating a bustling yet vibrant atmosphere.

He remained silent for a moment, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

This imperial capital, which he personally created, is now shining with a new brilliance at a speed he never expected.

He, the once powerful founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, had to admit that he was gradually falling behind the ever-changing times.

Seeing that the Emperor remained silent, Yoshigaki paused slightly, his gaze cautiously sweeping across the emperor's unfathomable face, before lowering his eyes and continuing his report in an even more respectful tone:
"Besides Yingtian Prefecture, Songjiang Prefecture was also promoted to a directly administered prefecture by the imperial court because of the newly built city of Shencheng within its territory. Located on the coast, it had frequent exchanges with overseas merchants, and its import and export trade was thriving and its market was prosperous."

"In addition, Taiwan has long been established as a province and incorporated into the territory of the Ming Dynasty; after the three Jurchen tribes submitted to the Ming Dynasty, they were reorganized into three major provinces; and two new provinces were also established in the grasslands."

"Now our Great Ming Dynasty has a vast territory, with two prefectures and nineteen provinces, and a completely new look."

Yoshigaki slightly raised his eyes and saw that Old Zhu nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with what he had said, so he seized the opportunity to continue:

"Although Yingtian Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture are only one prefecture, their territory is full of factories and thriving commerce. The annual tax revenue they bring into the national treasury is comparable to that of several provinces, making them extremely wealthy."

"As for the two major provinces of the grasslands, and the three major provinces that were originally the three tribes of the Jurchen, the court previously invested heavily in pacification and governance, which cost a lot of money."

"To this day, things are gradually improving and the benefits are considerable."

His tone rose slightly: "The two grassland provinces are rich in cattle, sheep and horses, which are continuously transported to the heart of the Central Plains, with wool being the most abundant."

"Our Great Ming Dynasty is prosperous and its people live in peace and contentment, and their families are becoming increasingly wealthy." "Many families are buying woolen clothes to keep warm in the winter, and the demand is high."

"However, sheep are scarce in the Central Plains, far from enough to meet the market demand. The urgent need can only be met by the large supply from the two grassland provinces."

"Moreover, the two grassland provinces have also discovered a number of iron and coal mines, which have already begun to be mined, and will surely bring huge benefits to the Ming Dynasty in the future."

"As for the former three Jurchen tribes, after the establishment of the three major provinces and the implementation of new policies, the wilderness was transformed into fertile fields, and agriculture and sericulture flourished."

“This place, which was once short of food, is now full of granaries and even has surplus grain to export, which is truly amazing.”

He spoke eloquently and clearly, as if recounting a treasured story.

These intelligence reports all came from briefings submitted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Inspector General's secret agents, and were detailed and clear in every word.

Because Zhu often ordered him to read the contents of the briefings aloud to him, Yoshigaki was already very familiar with them, and his report at this moment was effortless. However, speaking about these national affairs in front of Zhu still made him feel tense.

After all, Old Zhu's moods are unpredictable, and every word and action must be carefully considered.

Old Zhu smiled with satisfaction and said, "Yingtian Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture have always been prosperous, but under Tong'er's rule they have become even more prosperous and transformed. This is truly remarkable and demonstrates her talent."

"What is particularly remarkable is that these remote border regions, including the grasslands and the three tribes of the former Jurchen, were able to break free from their dependence on the annual tribute from the imperial court, become self-sufficient, and even contribute to the national treasury."

"This achievement far exceeded our expectations; it is truly a monumental feat."

Frontier governance has always been a major concern for the imperial court.

Throughout history, border regions have spent vast sums of money and silk, relying on the taxes from the fertile Central Plains to "survive" and thus maintain stability.

Zhu Yunwen was able to turn the grasslands and the Northeast from "loss" to "profit," transforming barren land into fertile soil. His ability to govern the country is beyond description with ordinary words.

Calling him "the greatest emperor of all time" doesn't even quite do justice to his greatness.

Old Zhu sighed inwardly. This prosperous era was not only his lifelong wish, but also stirred up a complex emotion in him, the founding emperor.

It turns out that his ability to govern the country was far inferior to that of his grandson.

Suddenly, Old Zhu's brows furrowed, and his gaze shot out of the car like lightning.

Immediately.

He turned to look at Jiang Huan, who was riding a horse guarding the side of the carriage, and his tone suddenly turned cold, containing thunderous anger: "Did you leak the news of our incognito trip and inform Yingtian Prefecture in advance?"

His voice was deep yet sharp, each word like a knife.

Old Zhu's purpose in making this trip was to understand the people's sentiments and, as an ordinary citizen, to glimpse the true state of life in Nanjing.

If local officials learn of this beforehand and deliberately fabricate a false sense of peace and prosperity, wouldn't this incognito visit be nothing more than child's play?
What infuriated him even more was that the disclosure of his whereabouts meant that his personal safety was in the hands of local officials, who could potentially endanger his life if they harbored malicious intentions.

Old Zhu spent half his life on the battlefield, and he hated deception the most and being controlled by others the most.

At this point, he was furious.

Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He quickly bowed and whispered, "Master, I swear on my life that this is absolutely not true!"

Although he was surprised, he was still very careful with his words, deliberately lowering his voice and referring to himself as "Master" instead of "Supreme Emperor" in order to conceal his identity as an incognito visitor.

"Oh?" Old Zhu sneered, his gaze growing increasingly cold, and said, "If that's the case, why haven't I seen a single beggar in the streets and alleys along my journey?"

He tapped lightly on the car wall with his fingers, his tone rising, revealing an aggressive question: "Why is this street so clean? There isn't even a speck of dust or a trace of odor?"

"If it hadn't been cleaned up beforehand and disguised, how could it have turned out like this?"

"Could all these peddlers and laborers around here be government officials from Yingtian Prefecture in disguise?"

The Supreme Emperor actually harbored such doubts?

Jiang Huan was startled, but a bitter smile appeared on his face. He quickly suppressed it and put on an even more respectful expression.

Upon closer reflection, it's not surprising at all.

The Emperor had been "asleep" for nearly two years and had not personally experienced the streets and alleys of Jinling for a long time. The changes in the past two years were so great that he was inevitably unfamiliar with them.

Previously, only wealthy and powerful families lived in these areas, where the streets were neat, clean, and sparsely populated with beggars.

In the remaining streets and markets frequented by ordinary people, ragged beggars would inevitably roam the corners.

The road surface was covered with dust and grime, mixed with the pungent smell of animal excrement.

And now, the street they were passing through was a bustling place, teeming with people and noisy with traffic.

In the past, such a bustling city would never have been like this.

Just consider the endless stream of horses on the streets; if you're not careful, they'll leave behind a stench and filth.

“Master, Jinling is not what it used to be; it is completely different from what it was a few years ago.”

Jiang Huan glanced up and saw that the Emperor's gaze was still cold and his suspicions had not yet dissipated. He knew that this emperor was suspicious by nature and could not be dispelled by a few words.

His mind raced, and his gaze swept across the street, landing on a newly built, elegant building. He quickly pointed to it and said respectfully, "Sir, please look at that new building. It is a newly built public toilet in the city, specifically for pedestrians to relieve themselves."

Upon hearing this, an incredulous look of astonishment flashed in Old Zhu's eyes.

Along the way, he had already noticed several buildings similar in style to this one, with red walls and green tiles, exuding an extraordinary air, clearly the new residences of wealthy families.

To my surprise, it turned out to be a public toilet?
"You're saying that was a latrine?"

Old Zhu's tone carried a hint of doubt, as if he was still unwilling to believe it easily.

How could a latrine be built so exquisitely?
He narrowed his eyes, his gaze shifting back and forth between Jiang Huan and the building.

Then, Old Zhu ordered the carriage to stop, flicked his sleeves, and personally stepped down from the carriage, walking towards the public toilet that Jiang Huan had pointed out.

The building had a passageway on each side, with the word "Male" clearly written on the left wall and "Female" on the right wall, the characters neat and the paint bright.

Pedestrians come and go in a steady stream, walking leisurely without any sign of unease.

Old Zhu stepped inside and looked around. He saw that the floor was so shiny it reflected his image, and the walls were spotless white, faintly exuding a soapy scent.

He paused for a moment, his brows gradually relaxed, and the doubt in his eyes faded. He finally became convinced that what Jiang Huan said was true.

The changes in Nanjing have been so subtle that even the outhouses in a corner of the street have been made so decent, which shows the effectiveness of governance.

He turned around and got back into the carriage.

Jiang Huan bowed his head respectfully.

“In the past, if people needed to relieve themselves in the streets, they would find a quiet corner to do so. Over time, the walls and alleys would accumulate a foul stench that made people have to cover their noses to pass by.”

"Nowadays, public toilets are set up all over the city, and patrolmen are on duty everywhere to strictly prohibit urination and defecation in public places. Violators will be punished."

"Since this measure was implemented, there is no longer any foul odor in the streets and alleys, and the city has taken on a brand new look."

Old Zhu's eyes flashed with approval as he sighed, "Tong'er's governance of the city is indeed meticulous and watertight."

However, his tone suddenly changed, and his gaze sharpened again: "Even so, it is absolutely impossible to keep the streets spotless by relying solely on public toilets!"

"Besides, where have all those beggars gone?"

Jiang Huan dared not be negligent and hurriedly replied, "What you say is absolutely right, sir. Public toilets alone are certainly not enough to make things perfect."

"The reason why the streets are so well-maintained is because Yingtian Prefecture has specially set up a cleaning department to be in charge of maintaining the city's appearance."

"As for the beggars on the streets in the past, all those who were still able to work were incorporated into the cleaning department, responsible for sweeping the streets and alleys. The government provided them with food and clothing, so that they had no worries about food and clothing and no longer needed to beg on the streets."

"Those who are seriously ill and truly unable to work are placed in charitable institutions, where the court provides them with food and lodging, so they no longer have to endure the elements."

"Since the implementation of the new policy, there have been no more beggars on the streets, and the atmosphere of the city has been completely renewed."

"In addition to that, there is another crucial point: to introduce tap water and lay sewers to remove sewage."

"The cleanliness of the streets and alleys of Jinling City is not only due to the hard work of the cleaning staff, but also thanks to these important facilities."

Tap water?
sewer?
Old Zhu was slightly taken aback, and suddenly felt that he really was a "country bumpkin" who had just arrived in the city.

……

(End of this chapter)