Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

In the New Ming court, some matters seemed to be optional, with no hard and fast rules on how much to do. However, it was these "duties" that often best reflected a person's initiative and understanding of the operation of power.

What Zhu Cilang admired most were those officials who not only did their job well, but also took the initiative to do more and demonstrated loyalty and wisdom at critical moments.

Zhang Huangyan was well aware of this. He knew that it was not enough to just complete the task. He also had to seize every opportunity to show himself, ask his superiors for advice on major policies and strategies, and show an appearance of "sudden enlightenment" and "sudden enlightenment" at the right time.

An official must not only have actual achievements, but also show a willingness to learn at critical moments. He should often have an epiphany under Zhu Cilang's guidance and then make moves that are more in line with the emperor's wishes. In this way, he can leave a good impression on the emperor and become a core official who is promoted and trusted by the emperor.

This will not only make you invincible in the court, but also make the road to promotion smoother.

However, under the political system of the New Ming Dynasty, Zhu Cilang not only checked and balanced him, but also Li Xiaolin, Li Banghua and others.

This shows that the emperor's system design was not targeted at any one person, but at everyone. He understood the essence of the imperial way - trust in the system, not individuals.

Therefore, even the closest ministers must be checked and restrained by power, and no one can cross the boundaries of the system.

At the same time, as the government stabilized, officials in the fields of civil affairs, commerce, maritime trade, etc. also received new tasks and appointments after the conference.

Ni Yuanlu continued to be the Prime Minister of civil affairs in the north, coordinating the construction of military settlements in northern Zhili, Henan, Shandong and other places, as well as the collection of local taxes and conscription of corvee labor.

This is by no means an easy task. The local gentry and powerful people are deeply rooted. Trying to get enough taxes and money from them is like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.

These conflicts of interest were not only complex but also frequently led to conflicts. Even Ni Yuanlu and Li Banghua’s personal intervention often proved difficult to resolve. Ultimately, direct intervention from Zhu Cilang’s imperial edict was required to force implementation.

The construction of a garrison involves all aspects - the construction of water conservancy facilities, the paving of main roads, the construction of schools and government offices, the training of the army, and the initial investment in official workshops and trading companies, all of which are huge projects.

The silver in the two major treasuries of the imperial court and the local county treasuries was consumed rapidly like water, and the spoils of war in the past few years, the embezzled silver confiscated from local treasuries, and the profits from maritime trade also decreased rapidly in this grand economic reconstruction.

However, despite the significant fiscal pressure, the situation remained manageable. Fortunately, both late rice and wheat harvests were abundant that year. The increase in agricultural output led to an increase in the country's tax revenue, providing strong support for the Xinming fiscal system.

At the same time, government-run workshops, trading companies, money houses, maritime customs offices and other economic institutions will begin to create value continuously after they are completed and put into operation, further consolidating the economic foundation of Xinming.

To improve agricultural production efficiency, Ni Yuanlu personally oversaw the Construction Department of the Civil Affairs Bureau and vigorously promoted agricultural technology innovation. He organized artisans and farmers to develop and promote improved agricultural tools, which significantly increased production efficiency.

At the same time, the repair of water conservancy facilities in various places is also being carried out in full swing to ensure that the farmland irrigation system is more complete and reduce the risk of harvest failure due to natural disasters.

The implementation of these agricultural policies directly affects the distribution of local labor.

In the past, agricultural production was inefficient and many farmers had to devote all their labor to make a living.

But now, with the improvement of agricultural tools and water conservancy, the number of people required for farming has been reduced, and a part of the labor force has been freed up, providing sufficient human resources for the state-run workshops and trading companies that are about to be built.

This means that the country can not only ensure food self-sufficiency, but also further promote the development of handicrafts and commerce, achieve economic diversification, and lay the foundation for the long-term development of Xinming.

Zhu Cilang wasn't content with simply developing agriculture; he had a longer-term vision. In his view, what truly supported the stability of the new Ming regime wasn't just agricultural tax revenue and industrial and commercial profits, but a more comprehensive financial system.

Therefore, he ordered the Ministry of Revenue to further promote the implementation of the national debt system.

The core of this national debt system was to allow the military, trading companies, and local wealthy households to participate in the investment. The military would invest in the company through "retirement pay," while the emperor and several major interest groups within the military would serve as equity delegations, collectively holding a certain percentage of shares.

This not only ensures the army's economic source, but also closely integrates the army with the country's economic system to form a community of interests.

At the same time, state-owned trading companies also began to increase their subscription to government bonds, making the country's finances more stable.

This huge commercial giant will become the economic pillar of Xinming in the future. Through the combination of national debt and the commercial system, the country can not only effectively control the economic lifeline, but also ensure the stability of fiscal revenue and reduce dependence on traditional agricultural taxes.

Under Zhu Cilang's comprehensive planning, the Xinming economic system was gradually improving. From the improvement of agricultural production, to the rapid development of industry and commerce, to the optimization of the maritime trade system, the entire country was on the right track.

Despite numerous challenges ahead, including the rebellion of local tyrants, fiscal shortages, and the instability of war, Xinming had already established a solid foundation. Along the banks of the great rivers, workshops were springing up like mushrooms after a rain, with busy craftsmen shuttling between them, forging precision instruments and driving Xinming's industrialization forward.

After returning to his post, Li Xiaolin devoted himself to the directing of the workshop construction. Various hydraulically driven mechanical equipment are being manufactured in full swing. Once the workshop is officially completed, it will be put into production and release amazing productivity.

These machines include not only traditional tools originally used in workshops across Xinming, but also a large number of improved versions of equipment from Chinese and Western craft books.

Craftsmen from the Machinery Department of the Construction Department carefully studied various ancient texts, applying and improving the machines described in them one by one. They borrowed the principles of Western water-powered textile machines and combined them with traditional local equipment such as water mills and water wheels to create a series of machines suitable for the production needs of the Xinming Dynasty.

However, due to the fact that the system was in its infancy and the understanding of Western mechanical concepts was still in the exploratory stage, the overall progress was not fast, and many craftsmen were still constantly trying and adjusting in order to find the best improvement plan.

At the same time, the Jiangnan region, with its fertile land and developed commercial traditions, became the first choice for the new Ming regime to promote industrial and commercial reforms.

As soon as news of the workshop's construction spread, it immediately captured the attention of countless residents. This region boasts a vibrant commercial atmosphere, with an economy already based on agriculture supplemented by commerce. Farming is undoubtedly the most stable livelihood, but for the lower classes, farming alone is insufficient to provide for their families. Therefore, they yearn for more diverse income-generating options. The rise of the workshop undoubtedly offers these individuals a new path to survival.

After the autumn harvest, farmers in the fields, in addition to regularly repairing water conservancy facilities and participating in farmer-soldier training every three days, mostly choose to go to construction sites to do odd jobs to supplement their family income.

Many people, taking advantage of the booming market, began to engage in small-scale trading, selling cloth, tea, dried goods, and even handicrafts. These temporary livelihoods became an important way for them to earn extra income during the cold winter months, allowing them to enjoy a relatively prosperous New Year holiday.

Under the New Meiji era, the economic operations of prefectures and cities began to be gradually standardized. Officials dispatched by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce appeared at important transportation arteries in each prefecture and city, setting up tax checkpoints to register and collect taxes on the goods of merchants.

At the same time, the originally disorganized and independent yahang system was formally brought under government supervision. Merchants from all over the country had to conduct transactions through legal channels, avoiding the previous phenomenon of exploitation at all levels and effectively curbing commercial fraud and speculation.

In addition, with the steady progress of foreign trade, the four major customs checkpoints established in coastal areas such as Songjiang, Hangzhou, Zhangzhou and Guangzhou officially began operations.

The establishment of the commercial tax system enabled the Xinming regime to obtain a stable source of tax revenue from the huge merchant class and commercial trade, support huge military expenditures, and ensure the stability of the regime.

The establishment of customs also effectively curbed smuggling and avoided financial losses, while strengthening control over overseas trade, enabling Xinming to occupy a more advantageous position in international trade.

Zhu Cilang knew very well that land tax and corvee labor alone were not enough to support the country's long-term development. It was necessary to fully tap the commercial potential and make economic growth the way to support the military.

Therefore, he strengthened the collection of commercial taxes while encouraging the development of industry and commerce, so that the interests of the merchant class were closely linked to the stability of the regime.

Driven by such policies, business in the Jiangnan region became increasingly prosperous, the flow of goods became smoother, and the market became more active.

After the New Deal Conference ended, Zhang Huangyan immediately set off south to Guangdong without delay and began to promote the transformation of military settlements in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions.

Although this place is rich, it has a complex network of clan forces and local forts that have their own systems, which have long formed a situation of resistance to the central government.

Therefore, the reforms were bound to affect the interests of local clans and powerful people, and their resistance was inevitable.

In order to ensure the smooth progress of the reform, Zhang Huangyan specially seconded a group of Ni Yuanlu's capable subordinates from the north. These people were well versed in official operations and local governance, and could effectively rectify local order.

In addition, Fujian's garrison general Liu Zongde and Zhou Shixian, who was in charge of intelligence work, were also ordered to cooperate with Zhang Huangyan to jointly eliminate those local fortress forces that refused to cooperate or even tried to resist stubbornly.

Jinyiwei's spies have long been lurking in various places, keeping abreast of the dynamics of various forces at all times and providing accurate intelligence support for the upcoming rectification operation.

Zhang Huangyan did not advocate comprehensive suppression by force. He was well aware of the principle of "killing the chicken to scare the monkey". Therefore, in the early stages of the operation, he only targeted "typical cases" and selected several of the most stubborn and representative clan leaders to eliminate.

He adopted a conciliatory policy toward those forts that actively cooperated, demonstrating that the regime was not abusive and was willing to offer a chance of survival. However, if any fort dared to openly resist, or even incited its inhabitants to rebel against the imperial court, Zhang Huangyan would show no mercy.

The imperial army will ruthlessly suppress these unrepentant village chiefs, and those villagers who fail to surrender in time and welcome the royal army will also face punishment.

Although the new Ming dynasty no longer carried out large-scale massacres, the increase in taxes and corvee labor was inevitable. For those clan leaders who refused to change, they would be exiled, migrated, or even banned from returning home for life.

In Zhu Cilang's view, the threat posed by local forces to central power must be completely eradicated. Only in this way can the country be truly stable.

The Ming Dynasty's failure was due to the entrenched power of local clans and powerful individuals, which made it difficult for the imperial court to effectively implement its policies. The new Ming Dynasty must learn from this lesson and ensure that local forces cannot once again challenge the central government.

With the rise of Jiangnan workshops, the improvement of the industrial and commercial tax system, and the transformation of the military forts in Guangdong and Guangxi, the new Ming regime is gradually demonstrating its strong ruling ability.

Zhu Cilang's reforms were not achieved overnight, but each step was carried out in an orderly manner to ensure the steady development of the country's financial, military and social structures.

In the workshops of Jiangnan, water-powered textile machines began to run at high speed, and the roar of the looms echoed in the factories; on the major trade routes, caravans came and went, and officials from the trading companies were busy counting the goods and registering taxes.

Meanwhile, in the southern strongholds, the powerful awaited the imperial court's decision with trepidation. This wasn't just a change of dynasty, but a reshaping of the entire social structure. Governing a region required more than just iron-fisted repression; it also required a clear distinction between rewards and punishments, and a combination of kindness and authority.

Therefore, in the process of promoting the transformation of military garrisons, land surveying and tax assessment, Zhang Huangyan did not regard all local forces as enemies, but gave appropriate rewards to those gentry and clans who actively cooperated and were willing to accept the new policy reforms.

According to established policies, any landlord who is willing to accept reform and pay taxes as required, in addition to retaining part of the land ownership, can also receive a 20% return of land rent as a consolation and incentive.

Among the clan leaders in various places, those who were the first to comply with the new policies and assist in the construction of Tunbu could obtain the right to operate the Tunbu trading company and share the economic dividends with the help of the new and bright trade system.

For those large fortresses with large populations and far-reaching influence, Xinming also provides another option - they can raise funds to invest in maritime trade, rely on their accumulated wealth to participate in overseas trade, and exchange for generous dividends.

This move was not only a way to win over local forces, but also meant that the Xinming regime was gradually infiltrating the local areas and building a ruling system based on economic interests, so that local forces would gradually become part of the regime rather than opponents in the process of cooperating with the Xinming.

However, completing this series of reforms was no easy task. Guangdong and Guangxi were rife with fortresses, entrenched local forces, and a complex network of traditional clan systems. The New Ming needed time to consolidate its political prestige in the region.

(End of this chapter)