I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 190 Shen Nianliu's Tricks! Fines, disgrace, and ruined career.

It was the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, at night.

After wandering around the capital for nearly a day, Shen Nian had a bowl of hot mutton wontons at the South Pig Market on Zhengyangmen Street before returning to the Hanlin Academy.

He's about to start writing!
When the Hanlin officials learned that Shen Nian had returned to the office at night, they all guessed that he was going to draft a plan.

Everyone became nervous.

Shen Nian, recognized as a "strategist" in the court, was always one to remain silent until he made a stunning statement, devising a plan that would turn out perfectly, often exceeding everyone's expectations.

As a result, all the Hanlin scholars also began to write.

Even if their ideas were not fully developed, they wrote them all down; otherwise, once Shen Nianzhi's plan was selected by the court, they wouldn't even have the chance to showcase their ideas.

……

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, in the early morning, there was no morning service, and no daily lecture.

Aside from officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial who were busy preparing for the New Year's Day court assembly, other officials had only one thing left to do: to devise a good strategy to get local land annexers to cooperate with the court's land survey.

At this time.

Dozens of memorials, including one written by Shen Nian the night before, were all submitted to the Office of Transmission.

soon.

These memorials were all copied three times.

One copy was sent to the Forbidden City, one to the Cabinet, and one to the Drafting Department.

among them.

Shen Nian's memorial was placed at the very top by the officials of the Office of Transmission.

In less than an hour, the contents of Shen Nian's memorial had reached various government offices in the capital.

The title of this memorial is unremarkable: "Memorial on Suppressing Land Consolidation and Land Grabbing".

But the content was horrifying to all who saw it.

"Land is the foundation of the people. When land is consolidated, taxes become unfair, granaries gradually empty, the nation's lifeline is eroded, and the state is in grave danger."

"At present, there are six types of families that have annexed property in our dynasty: imperial princes, gentry, military generals, wealthy merchants, powerful clans, and monks."

“These six families either petitioned for the return of government land, forcibly seized farmland from the people, converted public land into private land, forced the people to donate, took advantage of disasters to seize land at low prices, or forced believers to donate, to the point that the large families owned vast tracts of land, while the common people were all tenants and servants.”

……

"Only when fields have fixed boundaries and taxes have designated owners can the state be stable and the nation prosper."

"Those who acquire other businesses will inevitably become powerful clans a hundred years later, and the harm caused by powerful clans must not be repeated."

"In order to curb land annexation, make it difficult for the wealthy to evade taxes under various pretexts, and prevent the poor from becoming displaced people by avoiding heavy corvée labor, I hereby offer three strategies."

"Firstly, a tax on fictitious land shall be established. 'Fictitious land' refers to illegally acquired land, including land acquired through fabricated petitions, land offered as tribute, land fraudulently registered, land purchased at a low price, land acquired through coercion, and land donated in the name of believers, etc. 'Fictitious land' shall not be exempt from taxation. For fictitious land exceeding ten mu, the tax shall be tripled; for fictitious land exceeding fifty mu, the tax shall be five times the amount; for fictitious land exceeding one hundred mu, the tax shall be ten times the amount..."

"Secondly, erect steles to mark the names of those who illegally obtained land. These 'land' refers to land that has been exploited. For those who have illegally obtained land and are unwilling to return it, steles should be erected in various prefectural and county schools, county government offices, and examination halls to record the names of those who illegally obtained land, so that the whole country may know about it."

"Thirdly, the right to take the imperial examinations will be revoked. Anyone who illegally owns more than 500 mu of land or has held onto land for a year without returning it will have their descendants removed from the imperial examinations, thus cutting off their path to officialdom."

……

"My three strategies are all aimed at ensuring that the number of acreage in the Ming Dynasty is accurately recorded. In this way, the national treasury will be abundant, the people will live in peace and prosperity, and a golden age can be expected."

……

In short, Shen Nian took three measures against the six major groups of land annexers: imperial clansmen, gentry, military generals, wealthy merchants, powerful families, and monks: fines (fictitious land tax), disgrace (land monopoly stele), and banishment from officialdom (removal from the right to take the imperial examinations).

These three strategies are not good solutions that combine firmness and gentleness, kindness and severity; they are more like cutting flesh with a dull knife, hurting people without killing them.

Shen Nian's choice of words is very precise.

Both empty fields and hog fields belong to the category of fields that have been annexed.

However, some of the fictitious land was a reward from the imperial court, existing on the edge of legality and legitimacy. Therefore, the only way to force them to sell the land was to increase taxes.

As for the "ba tian" (霸田), they were all illegally acquired land, mostly belonging to local powerful clans who valued their reputation above all else. However, they would exchange their land for land if their reputation was tarnished.

The brilliance of these three strategies lies in their ability to strike at the weak points of every type of acquirer.

The princes and nobles loved money the most, so they increased taxes.

Monks in temples love fame the most, so if their reputation is ruined, the temple will collapse.

Aristocratic families, military generals, wealthy merchants, and powerful clans love fame and fortune. What's more fatal is that they all develop in a family-based model. Once the right to take the imperial examination is removed, it is tantamount to cutting off their family's path to development.

These three strategies are ruthless yet highly practical.

Unlike ideas like using force to suppress them or killing one to save another, which forcefully push their heads down, this approach forces them to lower their heads.

The choice remains with them.

……

Inside the Hanlin Academy.

Wang Jiaping, Shen Yiguan, Zhao Zhimou, Wang Zudi, Zhao Yongxian, and others were dumbfounded after reading Shen Nianzhi's plan.

Their first thought was: even if they had another ten years, they still couldn't come up with such a strategy.

It's not that they're too stupid.

Instead, Shen Nian's strategy completely disregarded his own interests.

Shen Nian was a member of the gentry.

He offended all six groups of people with influence: imperial princes, gentry, military generals, wealthy merchants, powerful clans, and monks!

Shen Yiguan curled his lip and muttered, "I think this memorial should be called 'Shen Nianliu's Manipulation,' its essence being to manipulate the imperial clans, the gentry, the military generals, the wealthy merchants, the powerful, and the monks. Shen Ziheng is too arrogant. In order to gain the respect of the people and to gain fame, he didn't distinguish between advantages and disadvantages, right and wrong, and wrote such an unfeasible policy. He's simply a madman!"

“I don’t think so! Although this memorial is somewhat crazy, especially the clause on abolishing the power of examinations, which is almost like strangling the annexers, if it can really be implemented, it might have a miraculous effect!” Wang Jiaping said.

Zhao Zhimou stroked his beard lightly.

"I admire Ziheng's courage, but the cabinet will probably not agree to this plan. Even if Grand Secretary Zhang were in power, I doubt he would dare to do it!"

Wang Zudi's eyes darted around.

"The three Grand Secretaries may disagree, but His Majesty is very likely to agree. If this plan succeeds, our Great Ming Dynasty will surely prosper!"

……

While the Hanlin Academy officials were discussing, officials from other government offices were also discussing Shen Nian's three proposals.

Some people think Shen Nian is a devil.

As always, he believed that "it's better to make the officials suffer than the common people," and he wanted to skin all those who had annexed the government alive.

Some people think Shen Nian is an audacious madman.

If this policy is implemented, countless powerful and wealthy merchants will hate Shen Nian to the bone, but he is not afraid at all. He is determined to suppress mergers and acquisitions and to give back the benefits of many privileged families to the people.

Some people also think that Shen Nian is both brave and resourceful.

These three strategies directly struck at the Acquisitionists' weak points, forcing them to return all the wealth they had seized from the people.

……

Cabinet value.

The three Grand Secretaries, Lü Diaoyang, Ma Ziqiang, and Yin Zhengmao, looked at Shen Nian's memorial with different expressions.

The first two people looked as if they had just married off their most beloved daughters, while the last person looked as if he were a spoiled only son who had married a well-educated, gentle, and virtuous wife.

"Haha, I thought I was unconventional and always did things in unorthodox ways, but I never expected that Ziheng's memorial could be written so wildly. To fine him, ruin his reputation, and cut off his career, just thinking about it makes me feel very satisfied!" Yin Zhengmao said with a smile.

This strategy would allow the Ministry of Revenue to easily collect money from sacks, so Yin Zhengmao was naturally pleased. Lü Diaoyang rolled his eyes at Yin Zhengmao.

"Grand Secretary Yin, do you know that once these three policies are implemented, if these people really start a riot, they could turn the world upside down. If they do nothing, the court and the people will be in chaos!"

Yin Zhengmao sneered with disdain.

"So what? What can they do? Are they going to rebel?"

"The court only reclaimed the land they didn't deserve! They received their due salaries and public funds without missing a single penny, and the court turned a blind eye to their privately obtained regular income. With this land, the people can survive, and with this land, the court can win battles and effectively develop people's livelihoods. But will they starve to death if they lose this land?"

"Gentlemen, how can we create a prosperous era if we are conservative? These three policies, even if not implemented thoroughly, can still curb the continued annexation of land. Why can't we do them? The court has been too lenient with the imperial clans, gentry, military generals, wealthy merchants, powerful families, and monks, making them lose their sense of propriety and their moral compass!"

"Whenever there is a new policy, it should be implemented first, and then its shortcomings should be identified and addressed. This is the way to reform. If it is not implemented because of its drawbacks, then nothing will be accomplished! Gentlemen, as cabinet ministers, we must dare to act. What good is it to be a cowardly cabinet minister who only knows how to agree and agree?"

Both Lü Diaoyang and Ma Ziqiang's faces were burning.

Because of the Wuqingbo incident, the two remained silent, and some officials had already called them: incompetent Grand Secretaries.

……

Just as Yin Zhengmao felt he was about to persuade Lü Diaoyang and Ma Ziqiang, a eunuch delivered an order summoning the three Grand Secretaries to the Wenhua Hall immediately.

……

A moment later, inside the Wenhua Hall.

The three cabinet ministers and all the officials in charge of drafting proposals gathered in the main hall.

The young Wanli Emperor sat before the throne, with Shen Nian's memorial, "Memorial on Suppressing Land Consolidation," on the imperial desk.

At this moment, the young Wanli Emperor had a smile on his face.

What impressed him most about this book was the sentence: "Those who annex others will inevitably become powerful clans after a hundred years."

These words had a profound impact on him!

Zhang Juzheng and Shen Nian told him more than once that it was difficult for any dynasty to last more than three hundred years, mainly because of the harm caused by annexation.

now.

Shen Nian's three strategies were to seize profit, seize fame, and ruin his official career.

It can be described as cunning and ruthless.

But for the young Wanli Emperor, it felt more like scraping the bone to heal the wounds of the Ming Dynasty.

The young Wanli Emperor sat up straight, looked down, and said, "My lords, I am very pleased after reading Minister Shen's 'Memorial on Land Measurement and Suppressing Land Consolidation.' This is indeed a good strategy, but it is difficult to implement. However, because it is difficult to implement, I feel that it is even more necessary to implement it!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yiguan, the official in charge of drafting the bills below, immediately became anxious.

In his eyes, how could such a strategy possibly pass!

The imperial family, gentry, military generals, wealthy merchants, powerful clans, and even monks are all pillars supporting the stability of the Ming Dynasty. How can they be treated so poorly!

Shen Yiguan strode forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, your subject..."

"Let me finish speaking!" The young Wanli Emperor interrupted Shen Yiguan with a serious expression.

Helpless, Shen Yiguan had no choice but to retreat.

The young Wanli Emperor continued, "I know what you all are thinking, and I also know the drawbacks of this policy. I am expressing my opinion because I believe that doing so is positive and effective. Even if it is difficult to implement, we should give it a try!"

"This time, I'm prepared to take a break."

"I intend to order the Office of Transmission to swiftly disseminate Minister Shen's proposal throughout the two capitals and thirteen provinces, not only for discussion among the gentry and nobles, but also for discussion among the common people. Those who are dissatisfied with this proposal may offer better strategies!"

"I want to hear the thoughts of the people, for they are the majority. I particularly like a statement Shen Qing once made: Why are those who make sacrifices for the court always the common people, and not the more capable ones such as the imperial family, the gentry, the military generals, the wealthy merchants, and the powerful clans?"

Little Wanli slowed down.

"After the New Year's Day court assembly, I have decided that the holiday for all officials will last from the second day of the first lunar month to the twentieth day of the first lunar month, during which time they will not be required to attend court. I know that everyone has been very tired this year, so I want everyone to take a break and also think about whether this policy is feasible."

In previous years, officials would go to their offices from the sixth to the tenth day of the first lunar month.

This means we got an extra five days off.

Immediately, the young Wanli looked at Shen Nian.

"I have promised that any official in our dynasty who has a good plan to get the gentry who have illegally acquired land to cooperate with local officials and voluntarily give up the land they have illegally acquired will be promoted one rank immediately."

"Now, I believe that Minister Shen's plan meets this standard. Although it was not implemented, his original intention was to ensure fair taxation for the court and to ensure that all the people in the world could have enough to eat. He deserves this reward!"

"Anyone who has objections can persuade me with a better strategy than Shen Qing, and I will promote them two ranks!"

At this moment, the young Wanli Emperor was quite domineering, and with these words he directly silenced the officials.

He chose to promote Shen Nian immediately.

It was not only for Shen Nian's sake, but also to let the world know his opinion on Shen Nian's strategy.

He wanted to see who would dare to oppose a strategy that even the ruler of a country approved.

At that moment, Shen Yiguan licked his lips.

He was not envious of Shen Nian's promotion to the fifth-rank Hanlin Academy lecturer, because Shen Nian's three policy proposals had offended countless people.

His future career will be very bumpy.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Shen Nian bowed deeply.

Shen Nian approved of the outcome of the young Wanli Emperor's decision.

What he was thinking was that as long as this plan could be implemented, it would be fine.

The significant obstacles encountered during implementation provided Zhang Juzheng with a reason to return to the capital; if the implementation proceeded smoothly, it would be a blessing for the Ming Dynasty and its people.

A moment later, the emperor and his ministers dispersed.

That afternoon.

Many couriers carried Shen Nian's strategy to suppress land annexation and headed to various places.

A group of secret agents from the Embroidered Uniform Guard also set off immediately, intending to listen to the voices of the annexers and the annexed in various prefectures, counties, and townships.

……

The following day was New Year's Eve.

After reading Shen Nian's "Memorial on Land Measurement and Suppression of Land Consolidation," the common people of the capital and many poor scholars were full of praise.

They admired Shen Nian, a member of the gentry, for daring to use this method to seek fairness for the people.

Especially the clause about "removing the right to take the imperial examinations".

If a family were punished in this way, it would be even more painful than having their ancestral graves desecrated, and they would definitely hold such hatred against Shen Nian.

into the night.

The capital city was bustling with noise.

Shen Nian bought half a cartload of fireworks and firecrackers and put them in the yard because her son, Xiao Yanche, really liked watching fireworks and firecrackers.

at the same time.

Emperor Wanli arranged for several Imperial Guards to secretly protect the Shen family.

Shen Nian thus opposes the annexers.

There must be many who want to kill him, and the young Wanli Emperor would never allow anything to happen to Shen Nian and his family.

In the absence of Zhang Juzheng, Shen Nian was his strongest support.

(End of this chapter)