I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 278 Complete Takeover! The Peppered Ginger Mutton Soup for the Officials of the Ministry of Revenue

At 04:00 AM, the weather was quite cool.

The area north of the Daming Gate, where all the government offices converged, was pitch black except for the Ministry of Revenue, which was brightly lit.

Inside the Ministry of Revenue's council chamber, the officials were engaged in a very lively discussion.

Some have suggested that a reward and punishment mechanism for land survey completion should be established as soon as possible, and that officials who fail to complete the land survey task on time should be severely punished in order to urge them to make a final push in the last two months of the year.

Some suggested that local village chiefs, respected elders, and gentry should be ordered to mobilize all available manpower and resources to coordinate land surveying.

Some suggested that provincial officials, including the provincial governor, left and right councilors, and left and right advisors, be ordered to personally go to counties and townships where the land survey task was difficult to complete to supervise the work.

Some suggested coordinating with the Ministry of War to have soldiers from local garrisons go to nearby counties and townships that had failed to complete the land surveying and registration tasks.

……

Officials and clerks expressed their opinions enthusiastically, but most of their suggestions were quickly rejected.

Establishing a reward and punishment mechanism at this point would be asking too much of anyone, or it might lead lower-level officials to simply give up, or it might lead them to fabricate evidence and deceive the court.

Ordering local gentry and clerks to coordinate or sending provincial officials to the countryside are not good solutions.

Local officials, from top to bottom, have long been drained of their energy by the imperial court's performance evaluation system, leaving them with very limited options for what to do.

In addition, some neighboring states and counties even have conflicts over land ownership. Instead of helping each other, they will cause trouble for each other and laugh at the backward ones.

Provincial officials going to the countryside only talk the talk, and they can't solve the problems of inefficiency and disunity between officials and the people.

As for using the garrison soldiers to take over the land surveying, it sounds like a good idea.

Soldiers are far more efficient than ordinary civilians.

However, the military discipline of the Ming Dynasty's garrisons is lax now, and desertion is rampant. Gathering them together to measure the land might not be as efficient as the local people.

Also.

Some personal relationships in the prefecture, county, and township governments, some landlords and wealthy families who try to sabotage the land surveyors, and people who oppose the new policy from the shadows will all hinder the timely completion of the land survey.

The strategy that everyone came up with through discussion.

There is almost no chance that the nationwide land survey task will be completed on schedule.

……

Before long, it was 06:00 AM.

As dawn broke, the temperature rose somewhat.

Liu Sijie, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, sighed and said with a helpless expression, "If the magistrates of the fifty-six counties who are unable to complete the land survey task on schedule are all like Tang Xianzu and Feng Mengzhen, we can still try our best in the remaining two months and complete the task on schedule."

These words made many officials raise their heads.

Since the group of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) went to local areas to take charge of county and township administrations and participate in land surveying, various novel methods and approaches to land surveying have emerged and been continuously reported back to the capital.

Among them, Tang Xianzu and Feng Mengzhen did the best.

The two men were characterized by their lack of empathy, fearlessness in offending others, high efficiency, and the trust and love of the people.

This personal charisma made the land surveying efficiency in the counties and townships under their jurisdiction extremely high.

Currently, 56 counties are struggling to complete their land survey tasks on schedule.

On the surface, it's due to natural disasters causing blurred land boundaries or farmers fleeing, but in reality, it's caused by a lack of unity and concerted efforts.

If these fifty-six counties that might be lagging behind are to complete the land survey task on schedule, then all the officials, clerks, and people in the counties must be of one mind and work together towards a common goal.

However, in many local counties and townships, officials and the people are like enemies, and it is simply impossible to get them to work together in a short period of time.

Upon hearing Liu Sijie's words, Shen Nian couldn't help but think of candidates with similar abilities and personalities to Tang Xianzu and Feng Mengzhen.

There can't be just two or three of these candidates; there must be at least fifty-six.

Before long, Shen Nian's eyes lit up.

He looked around and said loudly, "We can't find fifty-six Tang Xianzus and Feng Mengzhens, but it's still possible to find a group of people who can unite the land surveyors as one!"

"Where is he?" Yin Zhengmao and Liu Sijie asked Shen Nian almost simultaneously.

If only a few people are needed, Yin Zhengmao, Liu Sijie, and Shen Nian are all capable of doing the job due to their enormous influence.

However, it would be much more difficult to find a group of talented people who could solve all the land surveying problems scattered across the fifty-six counties!
Shen Nian straightened his chest and said loudly, "If we send the nine hundred students of the Jingwu Academy to each of the fifty-six counties to take full charge of the land surveying, and lead the local officials and a suitable number of soldiers from the garrisons to survey the land, I think there is a great chance that the mission will be accomplished!"

"Nine hundred students from the Jingwu Academy?"

Yin Zhengmao was taken aback at first, then said excitedly, "These nine hundred men are all veterans with strong execution capabilities and experience in managing large groups of people. They are also the Emperor's personal guard and can represent His Majesty. If we let them take charge of this matter and lead the clerks and soldiers to work like crazy for two months, it is very likely that we can complete it. Their participation will not only demonstrate His Majesty's authority, but also prevent many trivial matters from happening."

The "trivial matters" here refer to civil unrest, bandits, and the various schemes of opponents.

As the saying goes, one force can bring down ten.

These fierce veterans, though bearing the title of trainees, are all soldiers who have fought on the battlefield. Their execution ability is outstanding. As long as they are given enough power, they can make even the opponents dare not show their teeth.

When dealing with opponents, their first resort was naturally force, rather than writing memorials and reporting them up the chain of command.

This will reduce many steps.

Liu Sijie thought for a moment and said, "They are indeed energetic and can quickly assemble an efficient field surveying team. But... although they are the emperor's personal guards, they have no official positions. Local officials may not cooperate and may even rebel. You know, if they succeed in this task, it will make those officials who failed to complete the task seem even more incompetent!"

Yin Zhengmao nodded in agreement.

These days, some cunning and shrewd officials aren't afraid of their colleagues being just as clumsy and incompetent as they are; they're afraid that what they can't do, their colleagues can do perfectly well.

If colleagues are too outstanding, they will appear even more foolish, and therefore they will surely try to trip them up.

Shen Nian smiled slightly and said, "What if Your Majesty could grant them special privileges, allowing them to take full control of land surveying affairs, with the provincial government not allowed to interfere, and the authority to execute first and report later to local officials?"

Upon hearing this, Yin Zhengmao and Liu Sijie's tightly furrowed brows relaxed considerably.

If they could possess such privileges, the students at Jingwu Academy would indeed have a very high chance of completing this task on schedule.

More importantly, if this job were applied for for these martial arts academy students, Emperor Wanli would definitely agree immediately.

This move would, on the one hand, enhance the status of military officers in the court; on the other hand, they would be representing the young Wanli Emperor in resolving the issue, and if successful, it would boost the young Wanli Emperor's prestige.

The young Wanli Emperor needed this opportunity to prove his ability to rule personally.

The students of Jingwu Academy also need this opportunity to prove their worth; otherwise, while they enjoy the best treatment, many soldiers in the Beijing Garrison point fingers at them and provoke them.

Yin Zhengmao nodded slightly. He had also led a group of soldiers to suppress the Japanese pirates and knew very well the difficulty of gathering local scattered soldiers together to do things.

But these border veterans have the capability; if they treat this as a battle, they are very likely to succeed.

“I think it’s worth a try!” Yin Zhengmao said decisively.

Liu Sijie nodded in agreement. Of all the strategies available, this was the most suitable one.

immediately.

Yin Zhengmao looked at the officials of the Ministry of Revenue. "Gentlemen, at present, Shen Youtang's plan is the best plan. Does anyone have any objections?"

"No!" all the officials and clerks shouted in unison.

“Alright! Then the three of us will draft this proposal and submit it to His Majesty. Everyone has stayed up all night, so let’s go to the official kitchen for a bowl of ginger soup first, and then go back for a short rest. Except for some officials on duty, everyone else can come to the yamen in the afternoon.” Yin Zhengmao still felt quite sorry for the officials of the Ministry of Revenue.

It wasn't the first or second time that everyone had stayed up late, so they all said "Yes, Your Majesty" to Yin Zhengmao and walked towards the door.

Yin Zhengmao, Liu Sijie, and Shen Nian immediately prepared to draft a memorial and submit it to the palace.

The sooner the work is carried out, the greater the chance of completing the nationwide land survey on schedule.

Squeak!

The moment the council chamber doors opened.

Fang Ping, the eunuch of the young Wanli Emperor, suddenly appeared outside the door, clearly intending to read out the young emperor's edict.

Yin Zhengmao and the other two quickly stepped to the front and bowed with their hands clasped in front of them.

Fang Ping announced loudly, "By order of His Majesty, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue have worked tirelessly day and night for the new policies, which has greatly moved His Majesty. He has specially ordered the Imperial Kitchen to cook five pots of Sichuan pepper and ginger mutton soup, so that everyone can have a share. Only when they are full can they have the strength to carry out their duties!"

Upon hearing this, all the officials of the Ministry of Revenue were deeply moved.

This reward is truly extraordinary.

Pepper is precious, mutton is nourishing, and pepper and ginger mutton soup is a delicacy that most officials cannot afford.

In late autumn, a bowl of mutton soup with pepper and ginger can keep you warm all day long.

Emperor Wanli (the young emperor) never bestowed such a generous reward upon the Six Ministries.

What delighted the officials of the Ministry of Revenue even more was that the pepper and ginger mutton soup came from the Imperial Kitchen, not the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

The Imperial Household Department only cared about the presentation of its cooking; the taste and ingredients of the imperial meals were far inferior to those of the Imperial Kitchen.

"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!" More than a hundred officials from the Ministry of Revenue bowed in unison to express their gratitude.

The fact that the young Wanli Emperor could take this action was naturally at the suggestion of Zhang Juzheng.

Last night, Zhang Juzheng learned that the Ministry of Revenue was going to calculate whether the nationwide land survey could be completed on schedule. The purpose of the calculation was, of course, to find a way to complete it on schedule if the calculation showed that it could not be completed on schedule.

After learning that the officials of the Ministry of Revenue had not slept all night, Zhang Juzheng knew that they must be thinking of ways to remedy the situation.

The hard work of the Ministry of Revenue officials over the past two years has been evident to all the officials in the court.

Zhang Juzheng suggested that the young Wanli Emperor reward him with mutton soup, partly to show favor to the Ministry of Revenue, and partly to put greater pressure on the Ministry.

I have already drunk the mutton soup with pepper and ginger bestowed by the emperor. If I still cannot complete the national land survey task on schedule, then I will have failed the emperor's grace.

Yin Zhengmao, Liu Sijie, and Shen Nian naturally saw through this purpose, and the three of them were under tremendous pressure at that moment.

……

Before long, the mutton soup was brought in from outside.

Accompanied by the strong aroma of pepper, the aroma of mutton filled the air, making many people's stomachs rumble.

Each of the more than one hundred officials and clerks in the Ministry of Revenue was entitled to a bowl of mutton soup, with at least four large pieces of mutton in each bowl, as well as baskets of steaming hot flatbreads, which were all you could eat.

As for Yin Zhengmao, Liu Sijie, and Shen Nian, the young Wanli Emperor provided them with unlimited mutton soup and allowed them to eat as many pieces of mutton as they wanted.

Soon, everyone began eating and drinking in the courtyard.

This breakfast was not just about eating mutton; it also reflected the emperor's care and highlighted the status of the Ministry of Revenue.

Today, officials from the Ministry of Revenue who had drunk mutton soup went outside and declared that the Ministry of Revenue was the most important of the six ministries, and no one dared to contradict them.

After each of them drank a large bowl of mutton soup with flatbread, Yin Zhengmao, Liu Sijie, and Shen Nian went to the Ministry of Rites together.

……

Half an hour later.

The news that the officials and clerks of the Ministry of Revenue had been rewarded with pepper and ginger mutton soup by the young Emperor Wanli for working through the night quickly spread to all the government offices.

"That's a mutton soup with pepper and ginger made by the Imperial Kitchen. Each bowl has four pieces of mutton, each the size of a baby's fist. Our Ministry of Personnel often claims to be the best among the six ministries, but we have never enjoyed such treatment!"

"Alas! I regret that I am not an official in the Ministry of Revenue. His Majesty is too kind to the Ministry of Revenue. I have made up my mind. From today onwards, I will work even harder. If His Majesty can grant me a bowl of mutton soup, then my career will soar to great heights in no time!"

"Gentlemen, you only hear about the officials of the Ministry of Revenue drinking mutton soup, but you don't talk about the suffering they have endured in the past two years. His Majesty's gift of soup is actually a way of putting pressure on them. If the national land survey task is not completed by the end of the year, all the officials of the Ministry of Revenue may be punished!"

"What if it's completed?" someone asked.

"If they succeed, even if they are promoted as special cases, rising three levels in a row, I won't be envious. They really have it tough!"

……

Officials from various government departments were discussing the matter of Emperor Wanli bestowing pepper and ginger mutton soup upon the Ministry of Revenue. Some were envious, while others felt sorry for the officials of the Ministry of Revenue who had a difficult job.

……

Near noon.

The "Ten-Field Assistance Strategy," written primarily by Shen Nian with assistance from Yin Zhengmao and Liu Sijie, has been completed.

The core meaning of this strategy is—

Emperor Wanli ordered nine hundred students from the Jingwu Academy to travel on official business on behalf of the young emperor. They were to be dispatched in batches to fifty-six counties where the land survey was difficult to complete, according to the difficulty of the survey. Upon their arrival, they would become the imperial envoys for land survey, and would be fully responsible for the land survey. All the land survey officials, people, and soldiers in the local area would be taken over and deployed by them, and the local government officials would no longer interfere.

Anyone who obstructs the land survey, regardless of their location or status, is subject to the authority of the Imperial Commissioner for Land Survey to act first and report later.

This strategy aims to enable the students of Jingwu Academy to rely on their execution and troop management skills to do their utmost to complete the field surveying task.

Shen Nian summarized the task of land surveying into five words: investigation, measurement, registration, verification, and reporting.

They only need to focus on these five steps.

If a problem occurs in any step, that step's problem is addressed; any minor issue is resolved forcefully.

soon.

This "Ten-Field Assistance Policy" was then presented to the imperial palace.

After reading it, the young Wanli Emperor almost jumped up in excitement.

The students of Jingwu Academy were his direct subordinates, a team he had actively built despite the pressure.

If these people can successfully complete their mission, it will bring many benefits to the young Wanli Emperor. If the young Wanli Emperor has any reform plans in the future, he can rely on the achievements of the Jingwu Academy students to inform his ministers.

If this succeeds, it will greatly accelerate his path to taking power.

"Shen Qing understands me best!"

Emperor Wanli was extremely excited, feeling that Shen Nian's idea was for his benefit and wished he could immediately promote Shen Nian to the position of Grand Secretary.

(End of this chapter)