I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 194 Counterattack! If my family monopolizes, we will monopolize the whole country.
Late at night, in Nanjing, at Zhang Siwei's residence.

In the study room.

Zhang Siwei lay on a soft couch, playing with two tiger-head walnuts in his hands, looking quite content.

Ever since he was demoted to Nanjing, his number one enemy has become Shen Nian.

Without Shen Nian's advice and strategies, the remaining three cabinet ministers would have neither the ability nor the energy to continue the new policies.

Given that Zhang Juzheng was unable to return to the capital, his return to the cabinet was the best course of action.

Unfortunately, Shen Nian ruined everything!

Shen Nian's proposed policy of establishing a new drafting office and three other policies to curb mergers greatly alarmed Zhang Siwei, who considered it the biggest obstacle to his return to the cabinet.

So he ordered people to investigate everything about Shen Nian.

He was overjoyed when he learned that Shenjia Juwentang had almost monopolized half of the books and writing implements in Hangzhou.

In his eyes.

Shen Nian was repeatedly promoted through exceptional means.

He relied on his unconventional proposition of "putting the people first and opposing officials," as well as his close ties with Zhang Juzheng.

His father, Shen Yaoshan, and his father-in-law, Gu Dongyi, ran the Yaodong Trading Company, which grew larger and larger under the pretext of "not seeking personal gain and promoting the trade in the north." Their real purpose was to advance Shen Nian's career.

The Shen family cultivated a reputation for not being eager for wealth and status, which earned them the respect of the world.

However, Shen Jiajuwentang was a near-monopoly and extremely profitable business. Based solely on this money-making business, Zhang Siwei was able to instigate some censors to attack Shen Nian.

But he knew that this method of attack would do too little harm to Shen Nian.

then.

He chose to first elevate Shen Nian's reputation as "Little Grand Secretary," and then orchestrated this conspiracy to "sell the Little Grand Secretary's pen."

The person who instigated the sale of the "Little Grand Secretary's Brush" was Meng Sheng, the cousin of the owner of one of the Shen family's Juwentang shops.

He worked as a purchasing agent at Juwentang, and then used Juwentang's name and Shen Nian's name to sell "Little Grand Secretary's Brushes" at high prices. In just a few days, he earned several thousand taels of silver.

Currently, under Zhang Siwei's coercion and enticement...

Meng Sheng will insist that he was instructed by Shen Nian's father, Shen Yaoshan, to use the "Little Grand Secretary's Pen" to promote Shen Nian's name and make huge profits.

Zhang Siwei had already ordered people to forge Shen Yaoshan's fake letters.

This kind of thing is basically like mud falling into your crotch; even if it's not poop, it still looks like poop.

No matter what, check it.

The Shen family is guilty, and Shen Nian will be implicated.

At the very least, Shen Nian would be charged with "lax discipline and moral flaws."

Zhang Siwei knew that this scheme of framing Shen Nian would not be able to completely bring her down.

His goal this time was to get Shen Nian suspended from her post.

This matter involves Shen Nian's reputation and has generated considerable public discussion. The imperial court will certainly dispatch censors to investigate, and the entire process will be drawn up and dragged on for at least two months.

With Zhang Juzheng and Shen Nian absent from the imperial court, Zhang Siwei had many ways to make the new policies difficult to solve.

Lü Diaoyang and Ma Ziqiang are too conservative, while Yin Zhengmao has a bad temper and is not good at drafting proposals.

If problems arise with the new policies, Zhang Siwei is the most capable person, besides Zhang Juzheng, to take charge of the reforms.

Also.

If the three cabinet ministers violated the law and insisted on protecting Shen Nian, Zhang Siwei would have his protégés and old friends impeach the three cabinet ministers for protecting Shen Nian and accuse them of "forming cliques and abusing their power for personal gain".

If these three lose public trust and are questioned by officials, Zhang Siwei will have the opportunity to return to the cabinet.

"If Shen Nian is suspended from his post, I will surely cause chaos in the land surveying; if the cabinet protects him, I will surely cause the three cabinet ministers to be besieged by the officials. I hope to return to the cabinet!" Zhang Siwei murmured, a bright smile on his face.

……

On the ninth day of the second month, in the early morning, the usual morning assembly was held.

As is customary, all civil and military officials lined up in advance in front of the Meridian Gate.

Many officials were somewhat surprised to see Shen Nian still in the queue.

present.

There was much discussion among the people about "Shen Family Gathering Hall" and "Little Grand Secretary's Pen". Shen Nianli should submit a memorial to the throne, request to suspend his duties, and then cooperate with the investigation at home while waiting for the results.

Instead of continuing to stand above the usual court.

At this time.

Several censors looked at Cai Gui, the Left Councilor of the Court of Judicial Review, who was on duty that day.

The several volumes of memorials that Cai Gui was holding were all memorials that would be read aloud later.

If Shen Nian had not submitted a memorial requesting suspension from his post, the censors could have continued to impeach him.

Cai Gui met the gazes of the other officials and immediately knew what they wanted to ask.

He immediately shook his head.

An official in the Ming Dynasty was impeached for allegedly violating the law.

If it is a minor official of the sixth or seventh rank, the matter is not a big deal, and there is no need to submit a memorial requesting suspension from duty; the superior will handle it.

For someone like Shen Nian, a fifth-rank official, it was necessary to submit a memorial requesting a suspension from duty; otherwise, it would be considered a violation of custom and an act of coveting official position.

unless.

He had ample evidence to prove his innocence, or the young Wanli Emperor reviewed the memorials and rejected the impeachment.

During the Jiajing era, Yan Song was impeached multiple times, and the Jiajing Emperor rejected each impeachment memorial by writing "I examine myself" on it.

But this time.

The young Wanli Emperor had not yet reviewed the memorials impeaching Shen Nian submitted by Lin Jing, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and Pei Zhi, a supervising censor.

Lu Diaoyang, Ma Ziqiang, and Yin Zhengmao stood at the forefront of the officials, knowing that Shen Nian had not submitted a memorial requesting to be suspended from his post.

They were certain that, given Shen Nian's wisdom, it was impossible for him to go against the norm and unjustly incur another sin.

His refusal to submit memorials and his participation in regular court sessions suggest only one possibility: he could immediately prove the Shen family's innocence.

The three cabinet ministers all found this possibility somewhat unbelievable.

present.

The reputation of Shenjia Juwentang's monopoly in Hangzhou Prefecture has spread to the capital, and this has been confirmed by many businessmen.

Juwentang's business was so large, occupying nearly half of the writing and printing industry in Hangzhou, that it was enough to accuse Shen Nian of monopolistic practices.

Such a monopoly is naturally inseparable from Shen Nian's current status.

Also.

It is almost certain that the sale of the small old-fashioned brush was indeed done by someone inside the Shen family's Juwentang.

This made it impossible for the Shen family to remain uninvolved.

monopoly?

Transgression?

Using official power to seek exorbitant profits?

There's bound to be some crime that can be pinned on Shen Nian's head.

……

A moment later, the civil and military officials arrived at the Huangji Gate and stood on either side.

The young Wanli Emperor sat on the throne.

He frowned when he saw that Shen Nian was still in the queue.

Yesterday, Feng Bao reported to him that the news that Shen Jiajuwentang's business accounted for nearly half of the book and ink shops in Hangzhou Prefecture was true, and that the profits were very high.

Upon hearing this, the young Wanli Emperor felt somewhat uncomfortable.

In his heart, Shen Nian, her father, and her father-in-law were all very pure. He never imagined that this family would be exactly as Feng Bao had described: making fame in the north and money in the south.

If it weren't for the "Little Grand Secretary's Pen" incident, probably no one would have known that the Shen family's business in Hangzhou was so large.

The current Wanli Emperor still wants to help Shen Nian, because Shen Nian is indispensable to the current court.

But he didn't know how to help Shen Nian.

A few moments.

After Cai Gui, the Left Councilor of the Office of Transmission, read out the officials' memorials, the young Wanli Emperor and the three Grand Secretaries resolved some issues.

Pei Zhi, the Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, immediately stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I have a plan to tell you!"

"Recently, there have been rumors circulating among the people that the Shen family's businesses are suspected of monopolizing the market and engaging in bullying. It is alleged that the Shen family has overstepped their bounds by selling small pens to make huge profits!"

"According to the usual practice of our dynasty, after we impeached him, Shen Shijiang should have submitted a memorial to suspend him from his post and await punishment at home. However, Shen Shijiang ignored our impeachment and continued to stand in the regular court assembly. This behavior is contrary to the duties of a subject, and we suggest that he should be severely punished!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

……

After Censor Pei Zhi finished speaking, more than ten officials from the Censorate and the Imperial Academy stood up to second his opinion.

Not all of these officials had a grudge against Shen Nian.

Instead, they simply perform their duties and express their agreement by saying "I second that opinion," which will earn them an extra credit in their performance evaluation this year.

The young Wanli Emperor sat up straight and looked at Shen Nian.

"Minister Shen, you are not unaware of this common practice. Explain it to me and the officials!"

Shen Nian strode forward, first bowing to the young Wanli Emperor, and then said, "Your Majesty, I was quite surprised when I saw this rumor in a local tabloid yesterday, but since I am not very familiar with my family business, I do not know how to draft a memorial to suspend my duties."

"The affairs of my family in Qiantang are currently being managed by my mother in the capital through letters. After I returned home, I inquired about this matter with my mother. After she told me the details, it was already past midnight. After listening to her, I felt that writing a memorial to suspend my duties would be unfilial to my mother. Therefore, I dared to explain this to the court!"

“Continue!” said the young Wanli Emperor.

At this moment, the three cabinet ministers, Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue and others all raised their heads.

They knew that a turning point might be approaching.

Shen Nian paused for a moment, then took out a book that looked like an account book from her sleeve.

"Your Majesty, it is true that my Shen family's Juwentang business accounts for nearly half of the book and ink shops in Hangzhou Prefecture. It is also true that the profits are very high, but my family's profits are very meager."

"This ledger is a record kept by my mother of the expenses and profits of the eight Juwentang businesses over the past three years, the use of the profits, and the development of Juwentang after my father and father-in-law established Yaodong Trading Company after I entered officialdom. Your Majesty will know upon reviewing it that my Shen family has neither monopolized nor engaged in market manipulation, and it is impossible for us to sell pens at exorbitant prices! Every figure in the ledger can withstand scrutiny. If there is even a single falsified word, I am willing to atone with my death!"

Immediately.

A young eunuch presented the account books to the young Wanli Emperor.

The young Wanli Emperor opened the account book, examined it closely, and a faint smile appeared on his face. Then he picked up the account book and looked at the young eunuch beside him.

"Order the three Grand Secretaries and the heads of the three judicial departments to review and verify their authenticity!"

Immediately, the young eunuch handed the account book to Lü Diaoyang first, and Ma Ziqiang and Yin Zhengmao, one on each side, carefully read it together with Lü Diaoyang.

Little Wanli looked at Shen Nian.

"Minister Shen, based on this account book, explain to me and all the officials in detail the operation of the Shen family's Juwentang!"

"I obey!"

Shen Nian cupped his hands in greeting to Xiao Wanli and then said, "This ledger records that in the autumn of the second year of Wanli's reign, the business of my Shen family's eight Juwentang shops accounted for nearly 70% of the scale of the book and ink shops in Hangzhou Prefecture."

"At that time, I was a seventh-rank Hanlin scholar, and my family obviously could not rely on my influence."

"Our family mainly sells books, pens, ink, paper, and inkstones. Among these, books, paper, and pens are the most numerous. The reason why our business is thriving is because our book printing plates are exquisite and rare. Their quality is in no way inferior to the printing plates of the Directorate of Ceremonial, but the price is moderate."

Upon hearing this, Feng Bao slightly raised his head, saying that the books printed by the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs were the best among the official printed books of the time.

He had never met Shen Jiashu.

However, I am certain that the books published by the Shen family are not as good as those printed by the Directorate of Ceremonial, otherwise they would have been bestsellers in the capital long ago, instead of being unknown.

"Furthermore, none of the paper and brushes in my family are made by any one generation; they are all branded with the name of Shen family paper and brushes."

"The reason why Shen family books, Shen family pens, and Shen family paper did not sell well throughout the country, but still occupied half of the market share in Hangzhou Prefecture, is twofold."

"Firstly, my father and mother had limited energy, and most of the employees they hired were residents of Hangzhou Prefecture, so they did not expand. Paper, books, and writing materials were not sold outside of Hangzhou Prefecture. If they had expanded, according to my father, based on their quality, even if they could not monopolize the book and ink market in Southern Zhili, they could have monopolized the book and ink market in Jiangnan!"

"Whether I am exaggerating or not, Your Majesty can send the Imperial Guards to Qiantang to investigate and find out."

"Secondly, because I entered officialdom, my father and mother were worried that our family business would affect my career, so they began to scale down the business in the spring of the third year of Wanli's reign, which is clearly recorded in this account book."

"However, since my family has more than 7,000 people working in papermaking, carving, engraving, and writing, and they have worked for my family for many years, my father was reluctant to let them lose their livelihood. Therefore, he made it a fixed practice for my family's business to occupy half of the Hangzhou Prefecture's book and ink market."

……

The two reasons Shen Nian mentioned can be summarized as follows:

Firstly, if my Shen family's Juwentang wanted to expand its monopoly, it could completely monopolize the entire Jiangnan region, or even the whole country.

Secondly, the fact that my Shen family's Juwentang holds a 50% market share is due to a reduction in the size of the market, the purpose of which is to support the long-term workers in the family.

Shen Nian continued, "Since the first year of the Wanli reign, 30% of the profits from my family's business have been distributed to the workers. After the third year of the Wanli reign, this increased to 50%. This practice is recorded in the account books and can be verified when you go to Hangzhou Prefecture!"

The workers receive 50% of the profits.

This is a truly remarkable achievement!
Because some profits need to be converted into costs, some merchants who can provide food and lodging for their workers and give them a pork knuckle during festivals are considered great philanthropists.

"Your Majesty, if my Shen family wanted to make money, why would we need to rely on my influence? This is evident from the account books!"

"The accusations that my Shen family monopolizes profits and bullies the market are pure lies! Furthermore, it is absurd that my Shen family would rather sell so-called 'Little Grand Secretary's Brushes' than make money from them!"

"These account books will prove the innocence of my Shen family. The rumors circulating among the people are actually malicious slanders against my Shen family. I cannot fall for their schemes and delay important matters of the court!"

……

"Your Majesty, I beg you to consider this carefully!" Shen Nian bowed deeply.

Immediately, the court fell silent.

Judging from Shen Nian's demeanor and expression, it was clear that what Shen Nian said was true.

As Shen Nian said, besides the account books, a trip to Hangzhou Prefecture would be enough to verify their authenticity.

Lying in court is a capital offense that no one can save you from.

Some officials were left speechless, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Throughout the entire Ming Dynasty, the Shen family was truly the first to conduct business in this way!
Some officials originally thought that Yaodong Trading Company, owned by Shen Nian's father and father-in-law, was only set up for Shen Nian's career advancement.

I didn't expect they were already aware of this!

This ledger is very important.

This was crucial evidence that allowed Shen Nian to avoid suspension.

At this time.

Lu Diaoyang cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, after carefully examining these account books, I believe the possibility of forgery is extremely low. I think that since Shen Shijiang has this evidence, it is not appropriate to suspend him from his post!"

"We second that!" Ma Ziqiang and Yin Zhengmao said at the same time.

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

……

One by one, the officials bowed and said, including the dozen or so censors who had just seconded the motion.

At this moment, anyone who advocates for Shen Nian's suspension from her post, pending a thorough investigation of the case, and then expects the entire nation to praise the Shen family, is nothing but a clown.

(End of this chapter)