Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 577 Punishing Unhealthy Practices! Zhu Yunwen's Method!
This trend is even more prevalent in Jiangxi, Fujian, and other places.

Zhu Yunwen raised an eyebrow suddenly, and his eyes seemed to deepen.

The intelligence gathered from Si Shangchen did indeed mention the problem of extravagant weddings in various regions.

But at the time, he saw this as nothing more than a manifestation of "when people are well-fed and clothed, they think of lustful desires."

With enough food and clothing, people turn to pursuing so-called dignity and vanity.

In a sense, this can even be seen as the result of his governance of the world.

When ordinary people can worry about "face" because they are well-fed and clothed, it can be considered a sign of a prosperous era.

If people can't even get enough to eat, who will care about these things?
Therefore, Zhu Yunwen simply laughed it off, treating it as a popular anecdote, and never took it to heart.

Only after hearing Wang Shoulian's words again did I realize that things were not so simple.

This current trend is no longer just a "disease of vanity," but is becoming a hidden threat.

"In your opinion, how should the court reverse this bad custom?" Zhu Yunwen asked sharply, pressing for an answer. He then said in a deep voice, "Shouldn't we legislate to explicitly prohibit the practice of demanding betrothal gifts under the guise of marriage?"

Wang Shoulian's expression turned solemn, and he prostrated himself, replying, "Your Majesty, I believe that marriage, funerals, and other traditional rites are fundamentally matters of propriety."

“When ordinary people follow the rules of etiquette, there are laws and regulations to follow.”

"While the imperial court may advocate for lower dowries, it should not interfere rudely, much less legislate to impose such restrictions."

"The solution to this matter lies in promoting propriety and righteousness, carrying forward Confucianism, emphasizing education and de-emphasizing trivial benefits."

"The people must be made to understand shame and to realize that morality is far more important than money."

"Only in this way can folk customs be quietly transformed."

He spoke eloquently about these things.

"His Majesty's personal visit to the Temple of Confucius to offer sacrifices is the key point."

"This move can show the world and warn the people that money is just an external thing, while propriety and morality are the foundation."

"As for those merchants who are only interested in profit, the court must restrain them and not allow them to be extravagant and wasteful, competing to be the rich and powerful."

"Since ancient times, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants have ranked last among them."

"Only by restoring the original order, lowering the status of merchants, and making them realize that wealth is not the most important thing, and that morality and literature can be passed down through generations, can we rectify the source of the turbidity, sweep away the filth of the world, and restore a bright and clear world to the world!"

In the end, all they wanted to do was to drag everything back to the old ways.

Under the guise of "rectifying the atmosphere," it is actually a form of resistance to and denial of current reforms.

Zhu Yunwen's heart sank, and he was filled with disappointment.

This line of thinking is tantamount to cutting off one's feet to fit the shoes.

Just because it has drawbacks, it is completely eliminated and banned.

Following this logic, everything risky in the world should be banned.

If cars can kill people, then we shouldn't have cars.

The Industrial Revolution brought about a shock to thought, causing people to focus on money above all else, and leading to a one-size-fits-all approach that completely blocked the path to transformation.

This is utterly absurd.

It should be noted that the social changes and industrial revolution in the Ming Dynasty were initiated and personally promoted by him.

How could we back down and stop because of such minor flaws?
If we hesitate because of fear of risk, how can the Ming Dynasty take the lead in the Industrial Revolution and lead the world?
Only by constantly breaking through and accelerating can we always stand at the forefront of the times.

China will no longer suffer a century of national humiliation, but will forever remain the center of the world.

Not to mention, if reforms are not implemented, the people will return to the predicament of hunger.

If you can't even get enough to eat, there's no point in talking about anything else.

"I understand." Zhu Yunwen said calmly, uttering only four words without scolding or arguing.

Since his transmigration and long period of holding power, he has come to understand more and more what the "art of emperorship" is.

When you are in a high position, it is often best to avoid making statements too easily.

Hastily stating one's position will only put oneself in a passive position.

However, not expressing an opinion does not mean that there is no stance.

In fact, it is widely known that "new learning" flourished because of him, and "science" was founded and vigorously promoted by him personally.

His attitude as emperor has never been ambiguous.

As the Shandong Provincial Inspector, a high-ranking official in charge of the region, how could Wang Shoulian be completely unaware of this?
He deliberately chose to speak against the emperor's wishes, perhaps hoping to gain fame by using the pretext of "speaking frankly and directly to the emperor"?

Or is there another force behind this, using their words to oppose the new policies of the imperial court?

This point still needs to be verified carefully.

The best course of action is to refrain from making any statements now, observe the situation, and let the forces supporting reforms take the lead.

As soon as Wang Shoulian finished speaking, Li Chongwen stepped forward and retorted, "Inspector Wang, you are mistaken."

He respectfully cupped his hands to Zhu Yunwen and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the most important thing in governing the country and ensuring its stability is to bring peace and security to the people."

"When the people are at peace, the country is at peace; when the people are in chaos, the country will never have a day of peace."

"As the saying goes, food is the most important thing for the people. The greatest virtue of governance is to ensure that the people are well-fed and clothed."

"In the past thousand years, no dynasty has been able to ensure that the common people have enough to eat and wear, as the Ming Dynasty is now. This is all thanks to the Emperor's new policies."

Li Chongwen said firmly, "As for the minor drawbacks that arise from this, they are really not worth mentioning compared to the fact that the people have no worries about food and clothing."

"We must not throw the baby out with the bathwater, nor should we negate the entire new policy just because of a few minor drawbacks!"

Wang Shoulian quickly protested, "Your Majesty, I have absolutely no intention of opposing the new policies!"

"I am only worried that if we allow the current extravagance and comparison to continue, and if these unhealthy trends and evils are allowed to grow, they will eventually lead to serious consequences and far-reaching harm!"

Even if Wang Shoulian had a hundred times more courage, he wouldn't dare to openly say in front of the emperor that he opposed the new policies.

That would be tantamount to digging one's own grave.

All Wang Shoulian could do was use the pretext of "rectifying customs" to advocate for the restoration of the various hierarchical prohibitions of the past.

For example, merchants were not allowed to wear fine silks and satins, nor were they allowed to build houses and gardens, nor were they allowed to ride in sedan chairs to show off... so that no matter how much money these people made, they would have no social status!
However, Zhu Yunwen had other ideas and would never adopt this strategy.

In his view, stimulating consumption was an extremely crucial part of the Industrial Revolution.

How can we turn around and try our best to suppress it?
For thousands of years, humanity has struggled under the shackles of insufficient production. Food was scarce, cloth was in short supply, and tools were lacking; the lives of ordinary people were always trapped in material deprivation.

This is why successive dynasties set up various prohibitions to restrict luxury and consumption, so as to prevent the rich from squandering their wealth and the poor from having nothing to live on.

But the Ming Dynasty is different now than it used to be.

With the roar of machines and the rise of workshops, the situation has quietly reversed.

In the future industrial society, the real challenge will no longer be a shortage of resources, but rather an overcapacity of production.

This point may not be apparent to the court officials and common people at the time, but Zhu Yunwen saw it very clearly.

Seeing the two arguing and their words becoming increasingly heated, Zhu Yunwen frowned, raised his hand with slight impatience, and said in a deep voice, "Enough, shut up."

The two dared not utter another word, and the hall fell silent.

"The new policies are a matter of national importance and there is absolutely no reason for them to be abolished. This is a settled matter and there is no need for further discussion." Zhu Yunwen's gaze swept over the silent ministers, his tone calm but every word carrying immense weight. "The new policies must be resolutely implemented to the end. Anyone who dares to outwardly comply but inwardly defy, anyone who dares to shirk responsibility and obstruct the reforms, I will strip them of their official hat and send them packing!"

He then changed the subject, his tone softening slightly: "However, what Minister Wang just said—that the world is going downhill and people's hearts are restless—is not an exaggeration and certainly requires our attention. In my opinion, to correct this trend, we should combine blocking and guidance, and take a two-pronged approach."

"Firstly, we must make good use of public opinion to educate the people." Zhu Yunwen tapped his finger lightly on the imperial desk. "The government should take the initiative to select exemplary people with good words and deeds, reward them greatly, bestow gold and silver upon them, and award them plaques to enhance their reputation, so that everyone in the world knows of their virtue and aspires to be like them."

"In addition, with the Da Ming Daily as the leader, all local government-run newspapers and bookstores should treat the publicity of these deeds as a top priority."

"We must eliminate the corrupt and promote the virtuous, and make sure that the new customs and righteous spirit of our great Ming Dynasty spread to every corner, subtly influencing and reshaping the hearts of the people."

"Since these mouthpieces are in the hands of the imperial court, they must be made to speak the loudest and most accurate voices."

Zhu Yunwen was well aware of the immense power of public opinion and propaganda.

Repeatedly recounting and emphasizing these points is enough to build an unbreakable "creed" in the hearts of the people.

Especially in this era of limited information, ordinary people mostly rely on a newspaper to know about world events and distinguish right from wrong.

So, as long as the imperial court firmly controls this newspaper and tells them the same principles and the same stories day after day and year after year, how can it not instill these ideas into the hearts of the people?
Even a drop of water can wear away a stone; public opinion propaganda, carried out day and night, is enough to change customs and habits.

Even in later generations, with their vast amounts of information, people's thoughts still differ due to different experiences and observations; how much more so today?

This kind of propaganda is the most sophisticated imperial strategy, a means of silently controlling the world.

"For example, the current trend of demanding exorbitant dowries in marriage is becoming increasingly prevalent."

"To reverse this trend, we cannot rely solely on the government issuing a decree and using rigid regulations to admonish the people."

"That would only make people disgusted and even incite rebellion among the people."

"We need to get the scribes of the Da Ming Daily and many other newspapers and books to collect and compile some stories that can touch people's hearts."

"In the story, those families who demanded exorbitant dowries either suffered cold treatment from their husbands' families after marriage, or their families were suddenly struck by misfortune, ultimately losing both their daughters and their wealth, and ending up in a miserable state."

"The story should be written vividly, and the details should be real and moving, just like real events that happen between ordinary people and neighbors."

"The goal is to make the people feel, after reading this, not that the court is reprimanding them, but that they themselves will have doubts and fears, and believe from the bottom of their hearts that such immoral behavior will be punished."

"In this way, the unhealthy trend of demanding exorbitant dowries under the guise of marriage can finally be eradicated."

"This is the first strategy."

What is education?

The simplest approach is to make everyone believe that good deeds will be rewarded and evil deeds will be punished, and that even if the way of Heaven occasionally makes a mistake, the law of the land will not show any mercy.

The reality of this world is certainly not always as one wishes; those who do good may encounter hardships, while those who do evil may go unpunished.

However, over the years, through constant exposure and the education that "those who do good prosper, and those who do evil perish," this understanding becomes ingrained in their bones. Therefore, even those who do not believe in "cause and effect" and harbor evil intentions will feel a sense of apprehension and hesitation when faced with a situation.

In short, over time, those who claim they don't believe it and say it doesn't match reality are actually still uneasy inside.

This is the power of education, subtly restraining people's hearts and preventing problems before they arise.

The same principle applies to the matter of betrothal gifts.

The goal is to use repeated media hype to make people view demanding exorbitant dowries as an evil act no different from violating human ethics and engaging in corruption.

This instills a sense of shame and fear in the person who first entertains the idea.

"Education is like a spring breeze, nourishing things silently, but changing all this takes time."

"To correct this unhealthy trend, we need a strong remedy." Zhu Yunwen's tone turned serious as he said, "The second measure is to establish new laws and enforce prohibitions!"

"Some argue that weddings and funerals are local customs and therefore the court should not interfere. This is a grave misconception!"

"Marriage is the beginning of human relations and the foundation of royal rule; how can it be a lawless place?"

“From the Tang Dynasty to our Ming Dynasty, has the law ever lacked regulations on marriage?”

"By imperial decree, the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Rites shall convene to immediately draft new regulations on the matter of betrothal gifts, clarifying the exact amount and setting an upper limit!"

"In my opinion, a proper marriage should prioritize virtue and harmony, aiming for a lifelong union. It should not degenerate into a petty transaction of money and goods! This trend must not be allowed to continue!"

"The new law should clearly state to the world: any dowry exceeding the official limit shall be considered an illegal and unjust gain, and the marriage certificate shall be invalid even if it is signed!"

"The husband's family may seek compensation at any time in accordance with the law, and the wife's family may not refuse to pay."

“If the woman’s family is greedy and insists on not returning the betrothal gifts, then the betrothal money recorded in the marriage certificate will no longer be considered ‘betrothal gifts,’ but rather ‘the price’ for buying a concubine!”

"The woman he married was thus demoted from a lawfully wedded 'wife' to a 'concubine' who entered the household!"

"Education and law, one gentle and one firm, working together, I refuse to believe that such a corrupt and despicable trend cannot be reversed!"

Zhu Yunwen declared in a resounding voice: "Only in this way can women of the world find good husbands based on their virtue, instead of being sold as commodities to wolves because of their parents' greed, thus ruining their lives and leaving endless regrets."

This move is tantamount to cutting off the fuel supply at the root of the problem!
The difference between wife and concubine, though only one word, is as vast as heaven and earth.

In this era, the principal wife was the matriarch of the family, the woman recognized as the head of the household.

Concubines were merely half-slave and half-master, and their children were born out of wedlock. In terms of inheritance of family property and social status, they were inferior to others in every way.

Giving one's daughter away as a concubine is tantamount to trampling the face of the entire family underfoot, subjecting them to scorn and insults, and causing generations of people to be unable to hold their heads high in shame.

Therefore, unless they were in dire straits and had to sell their children to survive, even the poorest families would never allow their daughters to become concubines.

That's why human traffickers who can't find a "source" of goods take the risk of "stealing" girls by stealing people.

That's because most normal parents wouldn't want to.

Even if I'm extremely greedy, I simply can't bear to lose face!
Not to mention, even if the woman's parents were willing, their clan would most likely disagree and forcibly stop them.

……

(End of this chapter)