I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 119 The First Shot of the New Year! Shen Ziheng: Me, flattering the emperor? Misleading the country? Deceiving the monarch?

The second day of the first month of the fifth year of the Wanli reign.

Shen Nian finally began her holiday.

He had already written New Year's greetings to his father and father-in-law and sent them New Year's gifts before the Lunar New Year. Yesterday afternoon, he also instructed Aji to send New Year's invitations to some of his close colleagues and superiors.

He then set aside all official engagements and prepared to spend his time with his family.

This day.

Shen Nian slept soundly until dawn, and then played with her adorable son, Xiao Yanche, in the yard.

I ate my mother's cooking for lunch, basked in the sun and drank tea in the afternoon, and went to bed early after having a small drink in the evening. It was a very leisurely and pleasant time.

The third day of the first lunar month.

Shen Nian and his family took a horse-drawn carriage to Longfu Temple to burn incense, went to the City God Temple to watch the temple fair, and strolled around Zhengyang Gate, where stalls were set up high, crisscrossed the streets, and were full of vendors. They bought a lot of things and did not return home until dusk.

The fourth day of the first lunar month, in the afternoon.

Just as Shen Nian was lying on the recliner in the backyard, making her son Xiao Yanche laugh, Aji ran over quickly.

"Young master, Hong, the clerk of the Hanlin Academy, is at the door and says that Scholar Shen wants you to go to the Hanlin Academy as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian knew that someone had come to do urgent work.

Get up immediately.

He handed Xiao Yanche to his wife Gu Yue'er, then took his official robes and rode in a carriage toward the Hanlin Academy.

……

Less than half an hour later.

Led by the clerk Hong, Shen Nian arrived at Shen Shixing's official residence.

Shen Shixing sat at the table, flipping through the documents.

Standing to the side was Shen Yiguan, a Hanlin compiler who was dejected and had just been fined three months' salary for his misconduct at the New Year's Day court luncheon.

Shen Nian strode into the house, smiling and cupping his hands in greeting, "Scholar Shen, Editor Shen, Happy New Year!"

"Ziheng, take a look at this document!" Shen Shixing stood up and handed a document to Shen Nian.

Shen Nian caught it with both hands, opened it, and began to read it carefully.

This document was written by Zhang Juzheng.

The content covers a summary of a series of new policies and laws from last year and an explanation of how they will be implemented this year, as well as arrangements for the spring imperial examinations in March, land surveying, and the Single Whip Law.

Some of the content was also marked with red lines.

Shen Nian immediately recognized that this was a document that needed to be read aloud during the regular court session on the sixth day of the first lunar month.

On the one hand, it was to let officials across the country know the various achievements the court had made last year; on the other hand, it was to set the tone for this year's new policies, letting everyone know what the court's priorities were this year, thereby boosting morale.

but.

If these contents were simply read aloud by the officials on duty at the Office of Transmission during the regular court sessions, the officials would not be able to grasp the key points at all.

Therefore, the cabinet and the young Wanli Emperor needed to work together.

This document reflects a portion of the content, and then the young Wanli Emperor is asked to emphasize certain points.

In this way, the document can fully represent the court's intentions.

The words emphasized by the young Wanli Emperor were the core of this year's political affairs.

This is a common practice in the imperial court.

The points that Zhang Juzheng highlighted in red were the ones that the young Wanli Emperor needed to emphasize.

This content was usually written by officials of the Hanlin Academy and then submitted to the young Wanli Emperor for review.

after all.

The Hanlin Academy officials were literary attendants, and they had the responsibility to do these things.

These past few days, the official on duty at the Hanlin Academy has been Shen Yiguan.

After Shen Yiguan's rudeness on New Year's Day, he volunteered to take the duty, so this document should rightfully be drafted by him.

This assignment is a cushy job.

After you finish writing it, you will definitely receive an extra reward from Emperor Wanli.

Shen Nian closed the document and said, "Scholar Shen, isn't Editor Shen the official on duty today? This...this...do I still need to write it?"

Shen Shixing pursed his lips helplessly.

“Ziheng, there’s nothing I can do! Ziwei (Shen Yiguan’s son Ziwei) wrote one yesterday, and I revised it carefully this morning, but His Majesty said: ‘The writing is old-fashioned and not the style of a young person.’ He has ordered you to write it!”

Say it.

Shen Shixing handed the document he and Shen Yiguan had jointly drafted to Shen Nian.

Shen Nian opened the document and quickly skimmed through it.

There is nothing wrong with the content of this document, but the tone is indeed a bit mature.

Emperor Wanli appointed Shen Nian to write the poem, not because either of them was incompetent, but because he was intentionally building up Shen Nian's performance record for promotion!

of course.

Shen Nian's understanding of the young Wanli Emperor's tone and word choice was indeed better than theirs.

Shen Shixing looked at Shen Nian and asked, "Ziheng, have you noticed the problem?"

Shen Nian hesitated for a moment.

"I think it's fine, but I can try a different style."

"Okay, you write it!"

"I will write it immediately!" Shen Nian walked to the desk to the side and picked up the brush.

Shen Shixing smiled and said, "Ziheng, we'll keep you company from now on. What would you like to eat tonight? I'll have someone make it for you. Don't worry about the budget; I'll pay for it myself!"

Shen Nian looked out the window.

"Thank you, Scholar Shen. But there's no need for dinner. I can finish writing in an hour. The reply from the palace will take at most an hour, and I can go home near dusk!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Shen Shixing exclaimed three times, his face crinkling with laughter.

Shen Yiguan slightly pursed his lips.

He wrote from yesterday afternoon until the third watch of the night before finishing, and revised it again this morning, but it still did not satisfy the young Wanli Emperor.

Shen Nian claimed that he could finish writing in an hour and thought he could go home by dusk, which showed that he was very confident in himself and certain that the young Wanli Emperor would not be dissatisfied with what he wrote.

Shen Yiguan was very dissatisfied with Shen Nian's narcissism.

Shen Nian glanced through the content Zhang Juzheng had drawn in red again, pondered for a moment, and then picked up his pen to write.

Swish!Swish!Swish!
He wrote almost without stopping, his speed like mercury flowing across the ground.

Shen Nian lived two lives.

What I excel at is writing these kinds of summary and generalization articles.

In addition, he was very familiar with the speaking habits of the young Wanli Emperor, so writing such documents was a piece of cake for him.

Less than an hour later, Shen Nian put down his pen.

He carefully glanced through it, blew on the ink stains, and then presented it to Shen Shixing.

"Scholar Shen, could you please take a look and see if there's anything else that needs to be revised?"

Shen Shixing immediately began to read it carefully. Before long, a smile appeared on his face, and he murmured, "This way of writing is indeed more suitable for His Majesty's style. I have no objection."

When it comes to understanding the young Wanli Emperor and controlling his speaking style, Shen Nian is truly one of the best in the entire court.

This is the benefit of regularly recording daily life and conversations before the ruler.

Shen Nian completely treated the young Wanli as a student, considering his personality, temperament, hobbies, and language habits to determine how he would speak and act.

Others, however, simply treated him as an emperor, using language that conformed to the emperor's status. "Only now do I realize that I overlooked His Majesty's current level of understanding and involvement in politics during the revision process," Shen Shixing said, turning to Shen Yiguan. "Ziwei, you should learn from him!"

Shen Yiguan took the document, read it carefully, and found no fault with it. He had to admit that Shen Nian's writing was indeed excellent.

“I have no objection either!” Shen Yiguan said.

"Old Hong, send him to the Forbidden City immediately and wait for His Majesty's reply before returning. We will wait here!"

"Yes, Maester!"

Immediately afterwards, Shen Shixing, Shen Yiguan, and Shen Nian sat down at the tea table and began to chat over tea.

Less than an hour.

The clerk, Old Hong, ran back carrying two food boxes, excitedly saying, "His Majesty said: Not a single word needs to be changed! These... these two boxes of pastries are a gift from His Majesty to Scholar Shen and Compiler Shen."

After saying that, the clerk, Old Hong, looked at Shen Yiguan with an apologetic expression.

"Editor Shen, I'm so sorry, I... I forgot to mention that you were here when I submitted my report."

Old Hong looked embarrassed.

Shen Yiguan was in an even more awkward position; even if the emperor knew he was there, he might not necessarily reward him.

Shen Shixing didn't care about the reward at all.

He patted Shen Nian on the shoulder and said, "Ziheng, thank goodness for you! His Majesty can't live without you anymore!"

Shen Shixing was very fortunate that the Hanlin Academy had a Hanlin official like Shen Nian.

"Yes, Ziheng is very talented!" Shen Yiguan forced a smile.

He and Shen Nian are direct competitors. If Shen Nian is promoted again, he will likely always be ahead of him in his future career.

Before long, the three of them went home.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, there were no unexpected orders.

Shen Nian spent the whole day at home playing with her son.

As night fell, after dinner, Shen Nian washed up and went to bed with Gu Yue'er.

Going to bed so early.

On the one hand, he needed to get up early for the morning court session the next day, and on the other hand, his mother hoped that he would continue to have children for the Shen family and that Shen Yanche would have a companion soon.

……

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, in the early morning, it was the first regular morning court session after the New Year's Day holiday.

At the Imperial Gate, civil and military officials gathered.

Although there is a ten-day holiday starting from the tenth day of the first lunar month for the Lantern Festival, many officials in the capital are not idle during these ten days.

soon.

After Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng gave an opening speech,

The official on duty at the Office of Transmission then held up the memorial submitted by the Grand Secretariat and began to read it aloud.

The memorial mainly discussed three matters.

First, it summarized the achievements of last year's new policies, and specifically mentioned the results of Jiangxi Governor Pan Jixun's vigorous promotion of land measurement and implementation of the Single Whip Law in Jiangxi. It emphasized that land measurement will continue this year, and the Single Whip Law will be piloted and extended to more prefectures, counties and townships, especially in the north.

Secondly, regarding the imperial examinations in March of next year, the appointments of the chief examiner, co-examiners, candidates, supervisors, paper-printing officials, sealing officials, copying officials, and supply officials must be finalized and selected after the Lantern Festival holiday, and then preparations can begin.

Thirdly, there is the grand wedding of the young Wanli Emperor. Currently, the selection of the Empress is in full swing, and many preparations are also underway. This matter will be the most important event for the entire court this year.

After the memorial was read aloud, the young Wanli Emperor began to speak according to the script provided by Shen Nian.

The young Wanli Emperor emphasized three points.

Firstly, the measurement of acreage and the Single Whip Law. Emperor Wanli demanded that local authorities implement these laws thoroughly, and those who failed to do so would be severely punished.

He emphasized that any powerful clansmen, gentry, or wealthy families who obstruct the measurement of land and the implementation of the Single Whip Law would be severely punished without leniency, and that no one was allowed to plead for them.

Upon hearing this, some officials became nervous, while the group of censors standing in the middle became excited.

Everyone knows that the imperial clansmen currently have the most hidden and consolidated land; and those who oppose the Single Whip Law are mostly officials and gentry, because it reduces their tax exemption and reduction benefits.

Now that the young Wanli Emperor has specifically emphasized this, it means that the court is determined to implement these two policies, and it is already a foregone conclusion that they will be implemented throughout the country.

Secondly, the young Wanli Emperor mentioned the spring imperial examination, demanding that it be conducted in a fair and impartial manner. He also stated that an imperial censor would be dispatched to supervise the examination, and the results would be posted publicly at any time.

Finally, the young Wanli Emperor mentioned his marriage, and he reiterated that everything should be done frugally.

Although he wanted something more luxurious.

But as an emperor, one must always keep frugality in mind, otherwise the memorials from his ministers would immediately overwhelm the imperial desk, which is six feet five inches long, three feet four inches wide, and two feet two inches high.

After the young Wanli Emperor finished speaking, he prepared to adjourn the court session.

Just then, Mitsumaru, the Registrar of the Ministry of Revenue, suddenly stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I have important matters to report!"

"Please speak!"

Guangmao cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, I submitted a memorial before the New Year regarding the Single Whip Law. I believed that the Single Whip Law could be applied to the south of the Yangtze River, but not to the north. The current tax and corvée system should still apply to the north. However, Your Majesty commented: ‘Laws should be suitable for the people, and governance should be based on the people. If it is suitable for the people, why distinguish between the north and the south?’ I do not understand.”

"The Single Whip Law is more suitable for the South than the North. This is not just my personal opinion, but the consensus of many local officials. Last year, the Single Whip Law was piloted in Shandong, causing widespread panic. Merchants frantically pursued profits, and impoverished farmers were displaced. By the end of last year, I knew of more than thirty officials who had submitted memorials to the court, but the court's replies were all direct reprimands without explaining the reasons. I humbly request Your Majesty to clarify the matter!"

"I oppose the movement of the Southern Law to the North for three reasons."

"Firstly, the area north of the Yangtze River is vast and sparsely populated, but the land is far less fertile than that in the south. Applying the poll tax to the land would only increase the tax burden on the people of the north of the Yangtze River."

"Secondly, the circulation of goods in Jiangbei is far inferior to that in Jiangnan. If taxes are converted into silver, people will probably have to sell their land and houses and pawn their children in order to pay taxes. If there is a disaster year, grain cannot be exchanged for silver, which may easily lead to a large number of rebellions."

"Thirdly, compared to the south of the Yangtze River, the north of the Yangtze River bears a lot of corvée labor, such as canal transport, military supplies, and river management. The Single Whip Law will convert the corvée labor into silver and collect it according to the number of households, which will lead to many people fleeing."

……

Guangmao argued that the Single Whip Law was not suitable for implementation in Jiangbei from three aspects: "low harvests in Jiangbei, stagnant commerce and lack of silver, and excessive corvée labor leading to population flight."

It seems reasonable, but it is actually very superficial, concealing eight-tenths of the advantages and revealing two-tenths of the shortcomings.

After listening, the young Wanli Emperor said with a serious expression, "Your words about the inconveniences of the Single Whip Law are only a small fraction, and you have not mentioned any of its advantages."

"Editor Shen once summarized the Single Whip Law, saying: 'The Single Whip Law freed the elders from the hardship of forced labor, the fear of selling their property, the worry of life, and the threat of bribery and embezzlement. It is truly a great benefit to the common people!'"

Shen Nian did not expect that the young Wanli Emperor would quote his words in the memorial.

Hear this.

Guangmao suddenly took two steps forward, and then knelt down on the ground with a "plop".

"Your Majesty, I have copied down some of the summary remarks made by Shandong officials at the end of last year regarding the drawbacks of the Single Whip Law. Please read it carefully. After reading this, Your Majesty will understand the current situation in Shandong."

“A minister who flatters the emperor is truly a traitor to the country! Shen Nian, a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, sought personal gain by serving as a lecturer and recorder of the emperor's daily activities. Yet he has so blatantly deceived Your Majesty. This is tantamount to deceiving the emperor. I beg Your Majesty to punish him!”

"Bang!" Guangmao kowtowed heavily to the ground.

The area under the Huangji Gate suddenly fell silent.

None of the officials expected that such a debate would occur on the first regular court session of the new year.

Since the late Jiajing period, when the Single Whip Law was first implemented, the voices of doubt have never stopped.

But now the focus seems to have shifted to Shen Nian.

Everyone knows that the Single Whip Method is not a perfect method, and the three shortcomings mentioned by Guangmao do exist.

Shen Nian's words were too boastful and were even quoted by His Majesty in the regular court session. If we were to thoroughly investigate the errors in Shen Nian's words, he would surely be severely punished.

At present, there are many officials who don't like Shen Nian, and not far away, Shen Yiguan even showed a smile on his face.

Flattering the ruler? Misleading the country? Deceiving the emperor?

Hearing these three major sins being hurled at him, Shen Nian couldn't help but stride out.

He has never been the kind of person who would be bullied without standing up for himself. Today, he will make these officials, who have only a superficial understanding of the new policy, understand what the core of the Single Whip Law really is.

(End of this chapter)