Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 188 Zhu Yuanzhang: We say you are loyal and devoted to the country, and you are loyal and devoted to the country.
“Starting next month, all students of the Imperial Academy will have their tax exemption revoked.”

Zhu Yuanzhang, carrying a large megaphone, looked at the many teachers and students of the Imperial Academy present and set off his most fierce fire.

Upon hearing this, many of the teachers and students of the Imperial Academy present were stunned and stood there dumbfounded.

Afterwards, many people whispered among their classmates.

I asked my classmates to confirm if I had misheard.

How could the emperor say such a thing now?

Just now, His Majesty, the wise and virtuous ruler, personally announced a series of policies that are particularly beneficial to the Imperial Academy.

They're talking about building a new Imperial Academy and improving the food.

At the same time, he made a personal promise to those students who did not meet the requirements.

Even if a clerk performs well, they can still become an official.

Why have you suddenly turned on me?

Is this a blow to tax exemption?

However, not all the people who came to study at the Imperial Academy came from wealthy families.

Many people also come from impoverished backgrounds.

For example, Huang Guan, a former student of the Imperial Academy and now a teaching assistant, is one such person.

His parents died early, leaving him all alone.

Without this tax-free policy and free room and board, it would be almost impossible for him to come to the Imperial Academy to study.

Don't underestimate the importance of tax exemption.

It's nothing to wealthy families, but for those from impoverished backgrounds, it's a considerable sum of money.

However, His Majesty said that there would be no more tax exemptions from now on.

This is a devastating blow to many students from impoverished families!
Seeing the students of the Imperial Academy buzzing and whispering amongst themselves as soon as he uttered a word, as if countless bees had taken flight at the same time, Zhu Yuanzhang was not surprised at all.

After all, he was well aware of the power of his words.

We had already made the necessary preparations.

After waiting a moment and allowing everyone to discuss it, Zhu Yuanzhang forcefully tapped the table in front of him.

The chaotic noise disappeared in an instant.

The students stopped whispering and turned their attention to Zhu Yuanzhang.

I want to see what Zhu Yuanzhang will say next.

This is especially true for students from impoverished families.

There was some doubt and uncertainty, but also a lot of anticipation and trepidation.

Hopefully, we can hear some different opinions from His Majesty the Emperor in the future.

This matter is very closely related to them.

“We know that many of you students come from families that are not well-off.”

If this tax exemption is cancelled, it will make things even worse for you, making it impossible for you to concentrate on your studies.

Back then, when my sister suggested that we exempt you from taxes, it was also for this reason.

I want you to be able to focus on your studies from now on.

We certainly won't let the girl's kindness go to waste.

However, we will not turn a blind eye to your difficulties.

Although tax exemption will no longer be implemented in the future, we will provide subsidies here.

In the future, students from impoverished families can apply to the school for financial aid.

Back home, you are still paying your taxes as usual.

The financial aid for students from impoverished families will not only make up for the taxes you paid, but will also provide more than you could have previously paid.

Of course, this needs to be categorized into different levels.

For ordinary students from impoverished families, the fees they paid are returned, and the school provides direct subsidies.

For students from moderately impoverished families, the school provides a subsidy equal to the amount of taxes they pay, and also makes up half of that amount in additional funds.

Students from severely impoverished families receive double that number.

Upon hearing this, the eyes of many students present lit up.

Especially those from truly impoverished families.

For them, this policy couldn't be better.

This way, there's no need to worry about them increasing their burden and being affected as a result.

I knew it! How could His Majesty, the current wise and benevolent ruler, possibly do such a thing?

In this way, taxes are collected, but if you really calculate it, it's as if no taxes are collected at all.

Even if a family is truly impoverished, they can still receive more benefits.

This makes it difficult for them not to support it.

His Majesty is indeed single-minded, considering the well-being of these students!

"As for those whose families are doing well, they shouldn't try to take advantage of this."

The original intention of tax exemption for students here is to truly take care of those whose families are in difficulty.

Doing it this way is truly in line with our original intentions.

Students from families that are financially well-off will not be exempt from taxation.

However, the expenses of the Imperial Academy were still very high, requiring a large sum of money every year.

You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household; even the imperial court wasn't having an easy time.

Save where you can.

You should also share more of the burdens of your sovereign and father.

You are all people who are loyal to the country and devoted to serving it, so I think you can understand our good intentions.

They also support our decision.

Of course, it doesn't matter if they don't understand their good intentions or are unwilling to share the burdens of their ruler and father.

Zhu Yuanzhang assumed that's what they thought.

He said they were loyal and devoted to the country, that they shared the burdens of their ruler and father, and that's who they are.

When he spoke to these people at this time, he was informing them, not discussing the matter with them.

The tax exemption policy should not be opened.

Once it's opened, there will be endless troubles in the future.

At this point, it seems like not much tax is saved.

However, there are always many intellectuals who are not satisfied.

Always wanting more.

Once a door is opened, countless people will flock there like flies to the smell of blood.

Then they used all their knowledge to scheme and make this small opening extremely large.

It's so big that it's completely unacceptable!
Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang is now taking action to restrict this matter.

Indeed, many of the students at the Imperial Academy were poor.

He couldn't ignore such a situation.

Moreover, if the duty-free policy was previously opened up, canceling it now will definitely cause a huge uproar.

Those students who are truly impoverished will find their lives even more difficult as a result.

Some students may even be unable to attend school because of this.

In the past, finding a suitable way to resolve this matter would have been very difficult for Zhu Yuanzhang.

Moreover, even if someone had told him about such a method in his past life, he wouldn't have agreed.

They would think this is like taking off your pants to fart, a completely unnecessary step.

It's far better to directly exempt impoverished students from taxes than to collect taxes from them first and then provide subsidies later.
It can save a lot of trouble.

But this life is different.

His experience in the modern world allowed him to easily find solutions.

And they also know just how beneficial it is to do so.

Abolishing tax exemptions and requiring gentry, officials, and merchants to pay taxes together was something Zhu Yuanzhang had to do.
However, this needs to be done step by step.

Currently, the subsidies are being offered to students of the Imperial Academy, and will gradually be extended to more places in the future.

It's not just about tax exemption; it's about breaking down the boundaries between clerks and officials, allowing clerks to rise to the rank of official through hard work and good governance.

Breaking down the welded-on boundary was also something Zhu Yuanzhang planned to do.

And without a doubt, either of these two things, if actually implemented, would provoke countless objections.

After all, this concerns the vital interests of many officials.

If you take it out of context, any official would be easy to deal with.

But if you're going to take action against the entire bureaucracy, that would be much more difficult.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang also decided to proceed step by step.

This time, the order was to use students who failed the Imperial Academy's examinations to become clerks, and that as long as they performed well, they could be promoted to officials.

Zhu Yuanzhang made a hole in the car door that had been welded shut.

Now that this breach has been opened, when the time is right, it can be completely eliminated.

Sometimes, drastic measures are needed to govern a country.

Sometimes, however, the frog is inevitably boiled in lukewarm water.

After all, as Lao Tzu said, governing a large country is like cooking a small fish.

"We implemented this policy to truly benefit students in need."

To enable those from truly impoverished families to learn.

Therefore, in order to prevent fraudulent claims, the imperial court will verify the information of those who apply for hardship assistance.

"Only the truly poor and destitute can receive this educational subsidy," Zhu Yuanzhang said, raising his voice and looking at the crowd.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

"Long live your Majesty!"

After Yuanzhang finished speaking, someone couldn't help but offer the most sincere praise.

Some people were so excited that they were moved to tears, and they were almost ready to kneel down before the emperor.

This is true care for the poor!
Your Majesty truly lives up to your title; you genuinely care about the plight of many impoverished students.

They truly hold a place in my heart.

This is the reasonable approach.

The imperial court's money doesn't come from thin air; there are too many places where money is needed.

Many of the students come from wealthy or impoverished families.

Those from well-off families do not need to receive subsidies at all.

The fact that all students are exempt from taxes, regardless of their family background, is inherently unfair.

The adjustment Your Majesty has made is now truly reasonable and justified.

Many of those from wealthy families, however, were not entirely willing.

But at this point, things have come to this.

What else can they say?
I dare not say anything.

All we could do was join in chanting praises of His Majesty's wisdom.

Seeing this scene, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and was very happy.

"Good! Good! We knew you students were the most reasonable and understanding of the country's difficulties."

From now on, everyone should study hard.

Learn your skills well and serve your country well!
You gentlemen are the hope and the future of our Great Ming Dynasty!
A strong youth means a strong country!

This world belongs to us, and it also belongs to you.

Ultimately, it still belongs to you.

You young people are full of vigor and vitality, like the morning sun; our hopes are pinned on you!
Let me share something with you all—

As the sun rises, its light shines brightly. The river emerges from its hidden source, flowing into a vast ocean.

A dragon rises from the abyss, its scales and claws flashing. A young tiger roars in the valley, causing all beasts to tremble in fear.

The eagle tests its wings, stirring up dust and wind. A rare flower begins to bloom, resplendent and magnificent.

The sword is sharpened, its edge gleaming. The sky is its canopy, the earth its foundation.

Through the ages and across the vast wilderness, the future stretches as far as the eye can see, and the days to come are long.

How beautiful is my young China, as timeless as the heavens! How magnificent are the youth of China, as boundless as the nation!

As Zhu Yuanzhang's voice faded, countless people at the Imperial Academy were deeply moved!
Many people's faces turned red as a result!

A strong youth means a strong country!

The world belongs to the young!
No one had said these things before.

But now, they heard it.

Not only did I hear it, but it came from the mouth of the Ming Emperor!

It was His Majesty who said it to them personally!

Such words must have been incredibly moving for them!
How can we prevent them from getting emotionally agitated?
How can we prevent them from wanting to strive for excellence and make progress?
How could such an emperor not win their heartfelt support?

Before this, some people thought that the emperor wasn't very learned because he spoke in very colloquial language.

At this moment, upon hearing the emperor's impassioned speech, and hearing his words about the rising sun and its radiant light, one can understand the meaning of his words.

One by one, their moods changed.

Shame on them for their previous thoughts.

Zhu Biao looked at his father, the emperor, his eyes shining.

Such inspiring words, expressing earnest expectations for young people, are also very well-written.

He had never heard of it before.

This is my own father, the emperor. I don't know when he wrote it, but it's just like the ancient saying, "The road ahead is as solid as iron."

My own father is indeed a great talent!
It always manages to unleash a thunderous roar unexpectedly!
"Your Majesty, please leave your calligraphy to inspire our nation's students!"

Song Ne's old face flushed with excitement.

He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and made a request.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in agreement.

Pick up the pen and start writing.

A series of beautiful characters leaped onto the paper, writing out an excerpt from "Ode to Young China".

Song Ne personally took action and rallied the others to work together, quickly transcribing the passage multiple times and handing it over to the middle school students below.

As for Huang Guan, when Song Ne asked the emperor to leave his calligraphy, he silently picked up his brush and wrote all of these down from memory.

Huang Guan's memory was exceptionally good; he could remember everything he saw, which was just a basic skill for him.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang only said these inspiring words once, but Zhu Yuanzhang remembered them firmly.

And write it down.

"The rising sun shines brightly, and the river emerges from its hidden source, flowing into a vast ocean."

A dragon rises from the abyss, its scales and claws flashing. A young tiger roars in the valley, causing all beasts to tremble in fear!

......"

After about fifteen minutes, led by Song Ne, the former Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, the students present began to recite in unison, their voices full of passion and fervor.

I read it three times in a row, each time louder and more majestic, and each time I read it, I felt that all the petty scheming and despicable thoughts in my heart were swept away at this moment.

The more I read, the more I felt a heavy responsibility on my shoulders.

The more I read, the more I feel the need to master my skills and serve my country!
The sound boomed, soaring straight into the sky!
The birds in the trees outside the Imperial Academy were so startled that they all fluttered their wings and flew away.

Outside the Imperial Academy, the bronze inscriptions of Wei Chao and others, hanging in the air, swayed back and forth as the recitation, which sounded like thunder, soared straight to the heavens.

They seemed to be intimidated by the imposing presence.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the high platform, looking at the passionate faces of the many students.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

With the people's hearts at heart, there is much that can be accomplished!
Under my leadership, the Ming Dynasty will surely embark on a completely different path!
We will surely create new glories!
From here on, let the Ming Dynasty surpass the Han and Tang Dynasties!
I am increasingly satisfied with my decision to become the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and I am increasingly grateful for this decision.

Otherwise, how could we have seen the scene we see today?

How can we motivate this group of young students to strive for excellence?

He was already impatiently imagining what it would be like for this group of students to graduate from the Imperial Academy and enter the officialdom at all levels.

Some of them will inevitably be assimilated by the corrupt and conservative forces.

However, there are many more people who are willing to strive forward under their leadership!
As more and more students from the Imperial Academy enter officialdom, they will surely be able to sweep away the various chaotic phenomena inherited from the Yuan Dynasty.

Sweep away the petty scheming and despicable behavior, and make the Ming Dynasty's officialdom worthy of the newly established nation, full of vigor and vitality!
Not only in officialdom, but also in the local clerks, the Imperial Academy will influence them.

His decision to appoint those with poor academic performance at the Imperial Academy as clerks was just the beginning.

In the future, as the Ming Dynasty has been established for a longer period of time and the level of education continues to improve...

There will be more talented and knowledgeable people.

Under these circumstances, there will definitely not be enough official positions in the future.

Then we can take the clerks into account as well.

This led many students who wanted to become officials to first take the civil service examination.

Then they would be promoted step by step from the clerk level.
What we're doing today is just opening a door. Once more people are receiving education, we can naturally proceed with the civil service exam!
A prime minister must come from the provincial government, and a brave general must come from the ranks!
Without starting from the bottom, one can be in a high position.

They will not have a good understanding of many situations, which will be detrimental to future governance.

Only those who rise from the bottom through hardship are true heroes.

In all aspects, including governance, things will change.

"Gentlemen, let's work together!"

Empty talk harms the country, while hard work builds it. Things are accomplished through action, not words!

Let's work together to create a brilliant future!
May my Great Ming Dynasty soar above the heavens, may my Great Ming Dynasty surpass the Han and Tang Dynasties, and create a brand new golden age!

When the golden age arrives, we will be there, and so will you all!
Only in this way can one make the most of this life!

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his voice, ending the conversation.

His words once again stirred the emotions of many people, who cheered loudly.

This also marked the successful conclusion of Zhu Yuanzhang's trip to the Imperial Academy.

Zhu Yuanzhang stayed at the Imperial Academy for more than an hour, carefully inspecting all parts of the academy and giving instructions on matters that needed to be explained. Then, accompanied by his son, Crown Prince Zhu Biao, he left the Imperial Academy, seeing off by the teachers and students.

Looking at the hanging skins of Jin Wenzheng, Wei Chao, and others, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly felt a pang of regret.

I feel like I've lost out big time.

The resources were not used to their fullest potential!

In the future, if someone is sentenced to be skinned alive and stuffed with straw, the executioners should no longer be allowed to carry out the torture.

Instead, the people in the Imperial Medical Academy should be allowed to perform the dissections.

Let the doctors examine the muscle structure carefully, and check the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and so on.

This approach can also promote a major advancement in medicine.

It can be regarded as waste utilization.

From now on, that's how we'll do it!

……

"Your Majesty, clerks cannot become officials. Please reconsider."

The next morning at court, Chancellor Hu Weiyong looked at the emperor with a sincere expression.

(End of this chapter)