I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 191 The Strategy of Suppressing Annexation! Who Agrees, Who Opposes?
On the first day of the first month of the sixth year of the Wanli reign, a grand court assembly was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The music of ceremonies began.

Surrounded by a group of eunuchs and ceremonial guards, the young Wanli Emperor arrived before the throne.

Led by the master of ceremonies, all officials performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows.

Subsequently.

Civil and military officials presented congratulatory memorials praising the virtuous rule and praying for national peace and prosperity; foreign envoys knelt to present their letters of state and tributes; and Lü Diaoyang, on behalf of the young Wanli Emperor, read out an edict looking forward to the new year.

Next came the performances of singing, dancing, acrobatics, and various other entertainments by the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau).

Around noon, the banquet began.

Emperor Wanli specially hosted a banquet for the families of the three Grand Secretaries and the officials of the Drafting Office to reward them for their hard work in drafting documents.

On this day last year, at a banquet.

Shen Nian was very popular with officials, and many officials would greet him, clink glasses, and chat happily.

However, this year, due to the three policies to curb land annexation—"establishing a tax on fictitious land, erecting a monument to the land tyrants, and abolishing the power of imperial examinations"—the interests of too many people were infringed upon, and many officials deliberately isolated him, not even offering a nod when they met.

Shen Nian didn't mind.

After chatting and laughing with several old friends from the Hanlin Academy, and having eaten and drunk their fill, they went home to catch up on sleep.

Shen Shixing did not assign Shen Nian any duty assignments during her annual leave.

If there are no urgent political matters, Shen Nian can rest from today until the 20th of the first month.

This was arguably the most relaxing annual leave he had ever had since entering officialdom.

……

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, officials in the capital began visiting relatives and friends.

These days, it is normal for people of the same year and hometown to gather for a banquet, for students to pay respects to their teachers, and for subordinates to visit their superiors.

The most lively of them all.

It was in front of the mansions of the three Grand Secretaries and Feng Bao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The three Grand Secretaries had many protégés and old friends; Feng Bao had many adopted sons and grandsons.

Afternoon, the back hall of the Feng residence.

Feng Bao was quite pleased with himself as he played with the calligraphy, paintings, rubbings, and elegant stationery items presented by his godson and godgrandson.

These are the things he loves most right now.

at this time.

A young eunuch rushed into the back hall and said, "Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Yin has personally presented a visiting card, saying he wishes to pay you a visit. He has already dismounted outside the gate!"

"Who?"

Feng Bao couldn't believe his ears.

He accepted the visiting card, but when he saw Yin Zhengmao's name, he still looked unwilling to believe it.

Although in order to ensure harmony between the outer court and the inner court, the cabinet ministers and the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs would exchange New Year's greetings and gifts.

But neither of them will visit the other.

In addition, Yin Zhengmao and Feng Bao had a poor relationship; they would not greet each other when they met, let alone visit each other during holidays.

"That old geezer is definitely up to no good! Invite him into the front hall... no... no... I'll go greet him myself!"

Feng Bao strode out.

With the young Wanli Emperor's wedding imminent, the gifts for the betrothal and naming ceremony all had to go through the Ministry of Revenue. Whenever money was involved, Yin Zhengmao was a ruthless spender. Therefore, Feng Bao dared not be presumptuous in front of Yin Zhengmao, and was even less willing to offend him.

After a while.

With a forced smile, Feng Bao welcomed Yin Zhengmao into the front hall. Yin Zhengmao was carrying a long box made of nanmu wood, which most likely contained calligraphy and paintings.

Yin Zhengmao smiled and said, "Eunuch Feng, I know you have a fondness for refined things. On this festive occasion, I am sending you a piece of calligraphy. I hope you will accept it with pleasure!"

Say it.

Yin Zhengmao placed the long nanmu box on the table beside him.

Feng Bao's eyes darted around, and he looked at Yin Zhengmao, saying, "Grand Secretary Yin, there's no need for such formalities between us. What is it that you need me to do?"

Feng Bao chose to get straight to the point.

Yin Zhengmao wouldn't dare accept the gift if the purpose of the gift wasn't clearly stated.

"Haha..." Yin Zhengmao laughed and said, "At the beginning of this year, Ziheng's 'Land Measurement and Suppression of Land Consolidation' was bound to be implemented, but there will definitely be voices of opposition in the local areas. I hope that Lord Feng will instruct the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Eunuchs to spread some rumors that His Majesty ordered the people of the world to discuss this matter in order to find out all the opponents and focus on investigating the land under their names!"

Feng Bao frowned slightly and said, "His Majesty has never said that!"

"It's just a rumor! Since it comes from your secret police, it's just your speculation. It's meant to scare the opponents. Once His Majesty announces the nationwide land survey, you can arrest a few secret police officers for spreading rumors and accepting bribes. Then the truth will come out, and His Majesty's reputation won't be damaged!"

Feng Bao immediately understood Yin Zhengmao's purpose.

After the "Land Measurement and Suppression of Land Consolidation Policy" was put to public discussion, local princes, gentry, military generals, wealthy merchants, and powerful clans would naturally be eager to ascertain the court's intentions, and the secret police would undoubtedly be the first to inquire. Some secret police made their living by selling this information.

If the imperial guards speak as Yin Zhengmao suggested, it will greatly reduce the protests from those opposed to the merger.

Feng Bao shook his head.

"This underhanded tactic is too dirty. Using it would ruin the reputation of the Imperial Guard. I cannot accept it!"

"Too dirty?" Yin Zhengmao puffed out his chest.

"Isn't most of what the secret police do all year round dirty work? Accepting bribes, acting as accomplices to evil, and always thinking about how those who want to seize power can get away with it? And now they can't even tell a lie for the benefit of the common people?"

“If you don’t do it, I’ll go find Zhang Hong, and maybe I can even ask His Majesty privately. His Majesty might agree!” Yin Zhengmao got up to leave.

"Okay...okay...okay...I promise you!" Feng Bao said helplessly.

Although Yin Zhengmao's move was not honorable, it was practical and could reduce many obstacles. Perhaps the young Wanli Emperor would actually agree to it after hearing it.

In addition, the Ministry of Revenue was required to contribute to the young Wanli Emperor's wedding, so Feng Bao had no choice but to agree.

Yin Zhengmao smiled broadly, glanced at the long nanmu box, and said, "Eunuch Feng, there's no need for a return gift, nor for any further gifts!"

After saying that, Yin Zhengmao quickly left the Feng residence.

Feng Bao opened the long box made of nanmu wood and found a scroll inside.

His mood couldn't help but brighten.

The calligraphy and paintings presented by a Grand Secretary of the current dynasty are certainly not inferior.

Wow!

He opened the scroll, his face suddenly turning grim, and then he cursed, "This...this...that stingy old fox!"

The scroll bears four large characters: Loyal to the Emperor and Serving the Country.

The signature and seal below are: Yin Zhengmao.

Feng Bao had an extremely high level of appreciation for calligraphy, and his main purpose in collecting it was to increase its value.

The calligraphy works given to him by his godson and godgrandson were generally by famous calligraphers from previous dynasties and were quite valuable.

The calligraphy works that Zhang Juzheng once gave to Feng Bao were all masterpieces by famous artists.

Although Yin Zhengmao was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), his calligraphy lacked any aesthetic appeal and could not be considered a work of calligraphy at all. If sold on the market, it would be practically worthless.

The phrase "loyalty to the emperor and service to the country" also made Feng Bao uncomfortable.

If this character was written by the young Wanli Emperor, it would be a compliment to him; but since it came from Yin Zhengmao's hand, it seems more like an admonition.

Snapped!
Feng Bao threw the scroll aside, feeling that such calligraphy was not worthy of being in his study.

……

The third day of the Lunar New Year.

After visiting relatives and friends, Shen Nian took his family shopping, eating, drinking, and sightseeing, completely ignoring the heated discussions among the people about the "three policies against land annexation."

He believed.

Having experienced the immense benefits that land surveying in Henan brought to the imperial court, the young Wanli Emperor would surely dedicate himself to accomplishing this task.

……

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, inside a post station.

"Good! Good! Good!"

After reading Shen Nian's anti-annexation strategy, Hai Rui first exclaimed "Good!" three times, then stroked his beard and said, "Ziheng is just like me! From now on, I will absolutely not allow him to become a lonely minister ostracized by all the officials, and I will definitely protect him well!"

……

Huguang, Jingzhou, Jiangling County.

Zhang Juzheng, who was in mourning for his father, also read Shen Nian's three anti-annexation strategies.

Although he was not in the imperial court, nothing that happened there could escape his notice.

"This Shen Ziheng is even bolder than I am. I never expected His Majesty to support him so much. However, he has already made countless enemies as soon as he enters officialdom. His future career will be very difficult. I will do my best to help him!"

……

In the northern border region, at Jizhou, one of the nine border towns, the cold wind howls.

Qi Jiguang, inside the military camp, shouted, "Summon all the lieutenants in charge of the land reclamation!"

Military generals annexed land, mainly by turning military farmland into private land, making soldiers work for them.

Qi Jiguang also had land that he had annexed.

However, since Shen Nian had done a good deed for the border soldiers and this was a new policy promoted by the emperor, he naturally carried it out completely.

Qi Jiguang decided to immediately return all the annexed land in Jizhou to the imperial court, setting an example for the generals of the nine border regions.

(End of this chapter)