Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 485 Old Zhu: My grandson is causing trouble again?

Jiayu Pass.

When Old Zhu slowly drove his carriage into the area, he was deeply shocked by the scene before him.

This journey from south to north covered thousands of miles, and he had long been accustomed to bustling towns and cities. The sight of merchants gathering and carriages and horses flowing in many cities was no longer surprising to him.

Zhu Yunwen knew that since he took office, the Ming Dynasty had become increasingly powerful and prosperous, with all industries thriving. In particular, trade and commerce had become more frequent and the cities were bustling with people, a far cry from what they used to be.

Even so, the prosperity of Jiayuguan far exceeded his expectations.

You must understand that this is a frontier region, with vast grasslands and endless deserts just outside.

Even though the Ming cavalry has long since swept away the threat of the grasslands and established provinces there, dispatching officials to govern them, and the areas under its control are gradually becoming more stable, the grasslands are still the territory where nomadic peoples have lived for generations.

Today, although some Han Chinese have migrated there, their numbers are limited, and their customs and lifestyles remain quite different from those in the Ming Dynasty's interior.

Moreover, the grasslands are vast and boundless, with most areas sparsely populated, a stark contrast to the densely populated villages of the fertile Central Plains.

When Zhu Yuanzhang enfeoffed his sons as princes and ordered them to guard the borders, he specifically instructed them to relocate people and cultivate the border areas as much as possible.

At that time, his sons all said that the area beyond the Great Wall was desolate, bitterly cold, and difficult to live in, and that the people were afraid to move there.

This is what people want, and it is perfectly reasonable.

Old Zhu originally thought that even though the situation was stable now and the border towns had developed to some extent, they were only slightly better than before and could never be compared with the cities in the interior.

However, the moment he stepped into Jiayuguan, he realized that he had made a big mistake.

The prosperity here far surpasses any border town that Lao Zhu had imagined.

Even many counties in the Central Plains cannot compare to it.

The streets are wide and paved with cement, lined with shops on both sides with signs hanging high.

The crowd was bustling and shoulder to shoulder.

Carriages and horses flowed like a river, their neighs and rumbles never ceasing.

The shouts and calls of vendors rose and fell in the marketplace, a lively symphony of accents from all over the country.

People dressed in exotic clothing, whether on horseback or on foot, mingled in the crowd. Because there were so many of them, they were not surprising at all.

They haggled over prices at the stalls or chatted quietly with the Han merchants, their demeanor completely at ease, just like native locals.

The bustling market had a faint air of old Nanjing, making one almost forget that this place was now a frontier.

Although this city is far smaller than Jinling City, its population density and commercial vitality are comparable to any prosperous prefecture or county within its limited area.

After a brief moment of shock, Old Zhu finally understood the reason.

Although the grasslands are vast and boundless, they are sparsely populated, and due to the characteristics of that land, they have never been able to give rise to a city in the true sense of the word.

Nomadic peoples live by following water and pasture, using tents as their homes and cattle and sheep as their neighbors. Their nomadic lifestyle makes settling down almost impossible.

However, they were eager for Ming Dynasty goods.

Iron pots, silk, tea, and other products from the Central Plains are all considered treasures on the grasslands.

Conversely, the people of the Central Plains also flocked to the excellent horses, fine sheepskins, and thick wool produced on the grasslands.

The mutual need between the two sides naturally gives rise to a strong trade motive.

Once the barriers are broken and exchanges become smooth, driven by mutual interests, the path of transactions will become wider and wider.

After Zhu Yunwen pacified the various tribes of the grasslands, he ordered the opening of border markets and abolished many old restrictions, thus ensuring unimpeded trade routes between the grasslands and the interior.

In addition to the northern nomadic tribes, there were also merchants from various countries in the west who came via the Silk Road.

Those merchants from different regions, with their foreign accents and skin colors, brought spices, gold ornaments, and treasures from other places, as well as cultural exchanges and impacts.

Jiayuguan Pass is located precisely at the intersection of these east-west and north-south trade routes.

Goods and people gather here, like rivers flowing into the sea, converging to form a powerful force.

The imperial court even built a wide and flat road leading to the interior of the country, with ruts like lines, making transportation more convenient than ever before.

Prosperity thus arose.

However, Zhu's visit to Jiayuguan was not to admire the bustling scene there.

His real purpose for this trip was to see the Ming Dynasty's new army with his own eyes.

On the battlefield, were all the soldiers in this army truly willing to risk their lives and fight bravely?

After making some inquiries, Lao Zhu learned from the local people of Jiayuguan that there were no longer any formal troops stationed in the city.

Apart from the armed personnel of the tax office and the runners of the local government, the regular troops have all been moved to nearby independent military camps in accordance with the imperial court's regulation of "not disturbing the people's affairs".

The imperial court had a strict order: garrison troops were not allowed to enter the city without cause, nor were they allowed to interfere in local affairs.

With the military and government separated, it is extremely difficult to see how the military conducts drills.

However, the timing of their arrival was extremely opportune.

A few days ago, the imperial court dispatched a large delegation from Jiayuguan to the Eastern Chagatai Khanate.

The border troops, who were originally secluded in their military camps and not involved in civilian affairs, were mobilized for the first time and launched a large-scale military exercise in the boundless desert outside the city to embolden the Ming delegation before their departure.

At that time, the cannons roared like thunder, and the bullets from the muskets seemed to rain down in unison.

Banners fluttered, war drums thundered, and battle cries echoed through the mountains and fields.

Its overwhelming power was enough to shake one's very soul.

The people of Jiayuguan during the Ming Dynasty were all proud of it.

However, as Old Zhu listened to these descriptions, his brows gradually furrowed.

The news that Zhu Yunwen had sent an envoy to the Eastern Chagatai Khanate was no secret; he had known about it for a long time.

But why does this scene sound less and less like an "escort" and more like a demonstration?
The size of the mission also puzzled Zhu Yuanzhang greatly.

According to the intelligence that Lao Zhu had, the team that was sent out should have been very small in size.

Zhu Yunwen consistently advocated for internal reform and strongly opposed lavish rewards to foreign tribes.

He always believed that the government's money and grain came from the common people and should be used wisely.

It should be invested in national development.

Using it for building water conservancy projects and roads, providing disaster relief, strengthening border defenses and maintaining the army... or even for educating the people, is also a legitimate purpose.

The only thing one should not do is to give money to outsiders at will.

Old Zhu had a slightly different opinion on this.

Zhu believed that since the Ming Dynasty was the Celestial Empire, it should show magnanimity to its surrounding vassal states and barbarian countries, win them over with virtue, and spread kindness far and wide, so as to win their hearts and cultivate their righteousness.

If you are stingy in everything, you are more likely to be looked down upon.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang will still reward the barbarians handsomely.

But Zhu Yunwen did not.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang never deliberately interfered with Zhu Yunwen's decisions on such matters.

Having relinquished power, it's only natural to let go. Besides, now that Zhu Yunwen has ascended the throne, such matters should naturally be decided by him.

However, given Zhu Yunwen's personality, it was absolutely impossible for him to send such a large delegation with generous gifts to Beshbaliq.

To confirm, Old Zhu repeatedly inquired in the city, asking one person after another for confirmation.

The answers they received were surprisingly consistent.

"The Ming Dynasty delegation was very impressive, with a long procession of carriages and countless horse-drawn carriages filled with gifts."

"I saw it with my own eyes!" A man dressed in coarse cloth, pressed by Old Zhu's questioning, replied angrily, "You have to believe it whether you like it or not."

"Among the tens of thousands of people in Jiayuguan, who didn't see it with their own eyes?"

"Could it be that all those eyes are seeing things wrong?"

After asking thirty or forty people, Old Zhu had to admit that the matter was true and not just something exaggerated by one or two busybodies.

"But, no... something's really wrong!"

"Given Tong'er's personality, it's absolutely impossible for her to send such a large delegation to Beshbaliq, carrying so much wealth."

"Even if we take a step back and assume that he really did send such a team, starting from Nanjing and marching all the way to the northwest, traversing thousands of miles, how could no one have known about it?"

"The post station will be busy receiving guests, and the people along the way will surely gather to watch the spectacle, spreading rumors and causing much discussion."

“But we have traveled from Nanjing to many places, and we have never heard of any large mission passing through anywhere.”

"Could it be that the delegation's entourage suddenly grew larger after arriving at Jiayuguan?"

The more Lao Zhu thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, sensing that something was amiss.

After much deliberation, he finally decided to go to the county government office in person to meet with the magistrate of Jiayuguan and find out the truth.

Although he was unwilling to easily reveal his true identity, given his status, it was no problem for his accompanying guards to casually show off a Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) badge and question a seventh-rank local official.

Having made up his mind, Old Zhu immediately ordered the carriage to turn towards the county government office.

However, when the carriage stopped in front of the county government's main hall, he got out and was surprised to find that the area in front of the hall was deserted and there were few people coming and going.

On the contrary, the offices on both sides were crowded with people, and there was a constant stream of people coming to handle their affairs.

Just as Old Zhu was about to step into the main hall, he was stopped by the guards at the door, who shouted: "Go to the tax office or the tax bureau to pay taxes, go to the police station to report a case, go to the court to file a lawsuit, and other matters are handled by the relevant departments. Please go to the corresponding department to handle your business. No irrelevant people are allowed to linger in front of the main hall."

Old Zhu was taken aback upon hearing this, then a knowing glint flashed in his eyes.

This was one of the policies implemented by Zhu Yunwen.

The old custom of common people beating drums to request an audience with the county magistrate was abolished, and the division of government affairs into departments was promoted, with various tasks clearly assigned to the respective offices.

This not only reduced the workload of the county magistrate, but also made the process more efficient and transparent.

Although county magistrates in the past had the responsibility of adjudicating cases, they were often preoccupied with numerous and trivial matters. Over time, they inevitably became perfunctory and would "push and delay" anything they could, ultimately being accused of "inaction and incompetence," which in reality meant trying to avoid taking responsibility as much as possible.

The saying goes, "If the people don't complain, the officials won't investigate."

When ordinary people have grievances but nowhere to turn, they can only sigh in despair at the officials or seek mediation from local gentry, which can sometimes lead to private feuds.

Zhu Yunwen broke with convention. Although he did not encourage excessive government intervention, he was committed to ensuring that formal channels for public demands were open.

Members of the public may file a complaint at any time if they have any concerns.

No need to go through layers of checkpoints and deliver expensive gifts anymore.

Take litigation as an example. In the past, county magistrates would only hold court once every few days, and it was considered good if they heard a few cases in a day.

Nowadays, dedicated "courtrooms" have been set up, with special personnel stationed there to handle disputes. In most counties, several judges are even assigned to take turns sitting in court, making litigation a very simple matter and giving the people a real door to redress their grievances.

This approach is completely opposite to the previous governance model of "responding to changes by remaining still".

Surprisingly, this new policy, which seemed to infringe on the interests of the gentry, encountered almost no real resistance at the beginning of its implementation and was quite popular.

Firstly, the government originally set up the threshold for litigation in order to make themselves more relaxed. Now that they have voluntarily lowered the threshold for filing a lawsuit, the people are applauding, and the gentry have no way to object.

Forcibly obstructing such actions will only earn them a bad reputation for hindering people from seeking justice and oppressing good citizens.

Secondly, for many years, the common people have been constrained by the high threshold of government offices, and it is extremely difficult for them to ask the government to uphold justice for them. Therefore, they turn to local gentry to mediate.

These gentry, who considered themselves to be the people's "upholders of justice," not only controlled public opinion at the grassroots level but also took the opportunity to accumulate personal connections and benefits.

However, this kind of "mediation" was still very laborious and time-consuming, and most of the time no direct benefits were gained. On the surface, they had to pretend to be "fair and impartial," and many gentry felt that it was a thankless task.

Now that the government is willing to step in, they are happy to go along with it.

As for the long-term effects of losing the power of judgment, such as a decline in their standing among the people and a weakening of their reputation and local influence, most gentry were not aware of it or thought it would not be a big problem.

Even if they were aware of it, they would have no way to deal with it.

After all, while these people may be able to gain short-term benefits, few can see through the big picture or foresee the future.

The government quietly and gradually reclaimed power from the grassroots, while the local people were still indulging in self-deceptive illusions such as "doing good deeds and accumulating good karma," and even expressed their gratitude to God for the government taking over.

Zhu Yuanzhang was already aware of this new set of rules, so he was not surprised.

But as he was being reprimanded and driven away by the guards in front of everyone, a hint of displeasure rose in his heart. His face darkened, and he snorted coldly, saying, "If you push everything onto the clerks and officials, what's the point of having this county magistrate in office? Is he just a figurehead?"

The guard laughed and said, "The county magistrate is certainly not just a figurehead. He has to handle important matters in the county and supervise whether the various government offices are acting fairly."

"If you feel that they are suspected of favoritism, you can appeal to the county magistrate and ask him to make a judgment."

He paused, then raised his voice slightly, saying, "However, you also need to think this through."

"If it is truly a case of corrupt officials bending the law for personal gain, they will be severely punished and will not be tolerated."

"But if you make baseless accusations or even slander without evidence, the county magistrate will not let you off easily!"

As they were talking, Jiang Huan quietly stepped forward, stood beside the guard, took out a shiny black waist token from his sleeve, and gently handed it to the guard.

The plaque was entirely black, carved with flying fish patterns, and in the center were three large gold characters: "Jinyiwei" (Imperial Guard).

The guard initially thought someone was offering him money as a bribe and was about to refuse when he looked down at the sign. His expression changed drastically, and he froze as if struck by lightning.

"Jin... Jin..." He stammered, unable to speak properly, cold sweat trickling down his neck, looking completely helpless.

Although he was just a low-level yamen runner, the name "Jinyiwei" (Imperial Guard) was renowned far and wide.

Although he had never personally witnessed the actions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he had heard many rumors and legends.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was the emperor's personal guard and had the power to arrest and prosecute criminals.

He was three ranks higher than the official he met.

However, the prime minister, the general, and the officials of various departments of the court can all arrest them.

For a lowly clerk like him, that was an existence whose authority was simply inviolable.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Huan immediately rebuked, "Enough nonsense, and don't make a sound!"

His gaze sharpened, and his expression became stern: "We are on official business and have important business to discuss with the magistrate. Lead the way immediately and do not delay!"

……

(End of this chapter)