My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 178 National Origin
Tu Zemin did not accept his subordinates' flattery.

The salt workers added soybean milk to the dissolved crude salt solution.

When the soy milk was added to the coarse salt water, impurities quickly turned into tofu curds and floated to the surface.

The salt workers immediately skimmed off the "tofu" mixture containing impurities, and the originally murky brine instantly became clear.

At this point, the salt workers crushed the soapberry, mixed it with millet bran, and added it to the boiling brine while stirring. Soon, white salt lumps precipitated out.

They took out the salt blocks and handed them to Tu Zemin.

Tu Zemin only noticed that the salt block was pure white. He dipped a little into it and put it in his mouth. There was no bitter taste of coarse sea salt at all. He murmured:
"It actually worked!"

Tu Zemin's subordinates were unaware that Su Ze had taught him the salt-making method, and Tu Zemin did not explain it to them. Instead, he hurriedly took the salt and returned to his office.

Tu Zemin wanted to present the new salt-making method to the emperor, so that salt production would no longer be a problem.

Immediately afterwards, Tu Zemin wrote another letter to Su Ze. After finishing the letter, he put it into the carrier pigeon and sent the fat pigeon to the capital.
-
June 4th.

At the Lingji Palace assembly before the closing ceremony, the virtuous and learned scholars began to fiercely criticize Su Ze's memorial to abolish the status of craftsmen, kitchen workers, and musicians.

These conservative forces, representing local literati, once again echoed the "agriculture as the foundation" argument from the Salt and Iron Conference over a thousand years ago, criticizing Su Ze for abolishing the registration of artisans, stove makers, and musicians, claiming it was undermining the foundation of the nation.

If these household registration restrictions were lifted, allowing artisans, cooks, and musicians to hold any position, they would inevitably disrupt social morals.

Some scholars from Jiangnan also stepped forward to argue that farmers in the region were abandoning farming and moving to the city to engage in silk and cotton textile production, which disrupted the original social order.

At the Lingji Palace assembly, virtuous scholars also called for the restoration of the well-field system of the Western Zhou Dynasty, so that people could stay on the land to farm, and society could return to the simple and honest social atmosphere of ancient times.

After listening to Shen Shixing's lecture all day, I really don't understand why the topic has veered from abolishing the status of "lowly people" to "emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce".

Shen Shixing's wife's family were major cotton textile producers in Suzhou Prefecture. He also disapproved of the rhetoric that suppressed industry and commerce, but he couldn't bring himself to voice any objections.

Unfortunately, prioritizing agriculture and suppressing commerce was a national policy that persisted for almost a thousand years during the feudal era.

There are countless theoretical developments surrounding this point, and even theories that portray industrialists and businessmen as inferior have become quite sophisticated and complete.

For example, officials like Shen Shixing, even if they wanted to set up workshops, would usually entrust them to the clan and rarely set up workshops themselves.

Even if a merchant becomes a royal merchant, he is still looked down upon by officials.

Of course, this social atmosphere had already loosened in the industrial and commercially developed Jiangnan region. Even the ban imposed by Zhu Yuanzhang that artisans and merchants were not allowed to wear silk had become a mere formality in Jiangnan.

Wealthy workshop owners would simply tie a hemp rope to their silk clothes and pretend they were wearing hemp clothing, and the government wouldn't interfere.

Therefore, after Shen Shixing arrived in the capital, he did not consider this a problem.

However, at this Lingji Palace meeting, Shen Shixing realized that not all of the vast lands of the Ming Dynasty were in Jiangnan. Many places still rejected industry and commerce, regarding those engaged in them as lowly professions.

Just then, Wang Xijue came to visit again.

Wang Xijue held a newspaper in his hand and handed it to Shen Shixing, saying, "Brother Rumo, take a look at this article."

Shen Shixing opened the newspaper and found it to be a newly printed edition of the "Gentleman's Gazette." The article's theme was to support agriculture as the "fundamental industry," while industry and commerce were considered "secondary industries."

He also argued that industry and commerce corrupted public morals and encouraged people to think about speculation and profiteering instead of engaging in agriculture.

This would lead to a shortage of food in the country and shake the very foundation of the nation.

These arguments are also clichés, with the core points being similar to those in the article from June 3rd.

However, Shen Shixing's expression turned sour when he saw the row of signatures at the end of the article.

These are the signatures of virtuous and learned individuals from Shaanxi, Henan, and Hubei provinces, meaning they publicly signed their support for this article in the newspaper!

Oops!

Shen Shixing stood up and said:

"The dispute has escalated from a household registration issue to a conflict between farmers and businesses. If this continues, it could threaten the very foundation of the nation!"

Wang Xijue also said with a grim expression:
“Brother Rumo, if it’s just a dispute between farmers and merchants, it’s not a big deal. This issue has been debated for thousands of years without any results. The problem is that the New Yuefu Daily will publish another article to counterattack.”

"If this kind of fighting continues, it will end up like the North-South conflict at the beginning of the dynasty."

Shen Shixing's expression changed completely at this point.

Shen Shixing understood Wang Xijue's meaning.

The North-South rivalry at the beginning of the dynasty was not completely resolved by the North-South examination incident; instead, it evolved into a new conflict.

The issue gradually evolved into a new North-South conflict, namely a conflict between the southeastern coastal provinces and the inland provinces.

The debate over the Ming Dynasty's maritime ban policy was an external manifestation of this struggle.

Wang Xijue then said:

"The Lingji Palace Conference concludes tomorrow, and His Majesty will be attending in person. How can we bring up this topic again?"

Shen Shixing said:
"Let's go see Brother Su!"

The two left the Ministry of Rites and headed to the newspaper office, only to find a crowd gathered ahead. They then discovered that the people surrounded were newspaper boys.

All that could be heard was the newsboy shouting, "The *New Yuefu Daily* publishes an article 'Equality of the Four Classes'! Please lift the ban on artisans and musicians!"

Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue exchanged a glance. Nowadays, even newspaper boys in the capital have learned to hawk and sell newspapers.

They would hire literate people to summarize important news from the newspapers, and then sell them on the streets.

In this way, passersby along the way will stop and pay to buy newspapers if they hear interesting news.

Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue squeezed into the crowd, but in the end, it was Wang Xijue who was quick and snatched the last copy of "Xin Yuefu Bao" from the newsboy's basket.

After quickly reading the article, the two went to the newspaper office.

At this moment, Su Ze was proofreading the "New Yuefu Gazette" to be published the next day with Luo Wanhua. As soon as Shen Shixing saw Su Ze, he hurriedly said:
"Brother Zilin, please take a look at this article quickly."

Su Ze took the newspaper, and just as the system predicted, an article was published in the "New Yuefu Daily" proposing "equality among the four classes of people".

Su Ze finished reading the article and sighed softly.

As a time traveler, Su Ze naturally agreed with the principle of "equality among all people".

However, the concept of equality among the four classes of people discussed in this article is different from that of later generations.

Simply put, it incorporates Buddhist and Taoist ideas into the framework of Confucianism, blending ancient doctrines and leading to strange outcomes.

For example, this article discusses "equality among the four classes of people," but it veers off to the idea of ​​restoring the old system, ultimately suggesting a return to a self-sufficient small-scale economy as a way to achieve equality among the four classes.

The article also remained vague on the issue of the "ruler" and offered no effective reform measures. Su Ze understood that this was the predicament of late Ming Confucianism.

By this time, many Confucian scholars realized that using the Four Books and Five Classics to explain the problems they were facing was no longer sufficient.

Confucian scholars can no longer find solutions in the "political fairy tale" of "Zong Zhou". The problems that society has encountered in its current development cannot be solved by simply reciting scriptures.

In addition, a series of social realities in the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty prompted Confucian scholars to "seek change".

This led to the emergence of a group of Confucian scholars who appeared to be "unorthodox".

However, their criticisms were still within the framework of Confucianism.

In Su Ze's view, this "seeking change" was actually a form of "self-salvation" for the elite class of the Ming Dynasty.

However, since the overall social structure, productivity, and mode of production remained unchanged, these theories ultimately became "wild talk."

Some of these statements seem quite advanced at first glance, but the actual arguments are often esoteric and don't connect with the real people at the bottom of society. In essence, they are nothing more than self-indulgence by intellectuals.

The same applies to the "equality of the four classes" in this article. Although it sounds progressive, it ultimately reverts to the old, outdated approach.

Su Ze didn't find the article particularly original, but Shen Shixing said:
"Brother Zilin, this article echoes your proposal to abolish the lowly status, and it also bears the signatures of virtuous and learned scholars from five provinces. How will His Majesty view you now!"

Sure enough, at the end of the article, there were the names of virtuous and learned scholars from five provinces: Southern Zhili, Fujian, Guangzhou, Jiangxi, and Shandong.

Shen Shixing said:
"Now the new 'Gentleman's Gazette' has been jointly signed by three provinces, and now the 'New Yuefu Gazette' is jointly guaranteed by five provinces. If this continues, abolishing the lowly status will become a North-South dispute!"

Luo Wanhua, lacking experience in officialdom and not understanding the intricacies of the situation, asked:
"Since Brother Zilin has not colluded with the virtuous and learned scholars in these provinces, His Majesty should trust Brother Zilin."

Wang Xijue said:
"This is not a matter of whether His Majesty trusts or not!"

“Since the Japanese invasion, the conflict between the North and South has intensified. Now, Brother Zilin’s memorial has stirred up a court dispute. Even if His Majesty knows that it was not Brother Zilin who conspired with the government, no one can bear this responsibility.”

Wang Xijue then said:

"Those who advocate abolishing the household registration system are the most vocal in Jiangnan, and Brother Zilin is from Suzhou Prefecture..."

Shen Shixing understood this time.

At this point, it was no longer a question of whether the emperor believed it or not.

It's because you, Su Ze, stirred up such a huge controversy that the court, in an effort to quell the unrest, eventually had to take action against someone.

Just like the North-South Examination Scandal in the early years of the dynasty.

All those admitted were from the South. Was this entirely the fault of the chief examiner, Liu Sanwu? Probably not.

However, in the end, Liu Sanwu took the blame as the person in charge and was demoted by Zhu Yuanzhang to guard the border. He was not pardoned until Emperor Jianwen ascended the throne.

Su Ze reignited the North-South conflict, and the emperor may eventually punish Su Ze under pressure from the court and the public, thus bridging the North-South divide.

Wang Xijue and Shen Shixing had been in officialdom for many years, so they had naturally seen this kind of thing many times.

If you can't solve the problem, then solve the person who raised it. This tactic has always worked throughout history.

Luo Wanhua said:
"But Brother Zilin wants to abolish the register of artisans, musicians, and stove makers, isn't that also for the sake of the common people?"

Shen Shixing sighed:

"The North-South conflict is not so easily resolved. Now that the New Gentleman's Gazette and the New Music Bureau are locked in a fierce battle, and the virtuous and learned scholars in the capital are constantly gathering to discuss the matter, His Majesty and the Grand Secretaries are probably getting restless."

Shen Shixing looked at Su Ze and said:
"Brother Zilin, why don't you submit a memorial to plead guilty?"

Luo Wanhua wanted to tell the two that Su Ze had already written an article that would be published in tomorrow's "Yuefu Xinbao" newspaper, but seeing Su Ze's expression that he was not going to reveal it to Prince Shen and the other, Luo Wanhua swallowed his words.

It seems that Brother Su had planned this all along.

It seems everything will be decided at the closing meeting of Lingji Palace tomorrow.
-
June 5th.

After Emperor Longqing finished washing and dressing, he put on his dragon robe and lingered in his bedchamber, reluctant to leave.

The emperor was very annoyed.

When the Lingji Palace Grand Assembly opened, the emperor was in a very good mood. After the opening of the Hundred Plays Festival, he summoned the folk musicians who were playing "The Yellow River" to the palace and let the orchestra play for half a day before he was satisfied.

Next, the Censorate and the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs presented the minutes of the meeting. Overall, the meeting was harmonious. Local scholars and literati recounted the situation in their respective areas, while high-ranking officials of the court explained the court's major policies to these local scholars and literati.

If this atmosphere can last until the closing ceremony, then this Lingji Palace Conference will be a successful conference, a perfect meeting worthy of being recorded in the history of the Ming Dynasty.

Everything changed after Su Ze submitted his memorial.

It is unknown which official in charge of censorship leaked Su Ze's memorial and published it in the "New Gentleman's Gazette".

This memorial immediately sparked a huge debate in the court and among the public, and then the Xin Yuefu newspaper began to compete against each other from afar.

The learned scholars and intellectuals gathered in the capital, guided by the opinions of the two newspapers, engaged in debates throughout the capital.

According to reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, the capital is now in a state of "uproar," with the topic shifting from the abolition of the lowly status to the North-South conflict.

Things have come to this point, and it's not going to end so easily.

While ordering the censors Wang Renzhong and Shen Zao to continue their crackdown on the underground tabloids "New Gentleman's Daily" and "New Yuefu Daily," the emperor also ordered the cabinet to come up with a plan to quell the controversy as soon as possible.

To the emperor's surprise, the Grand Secretary Li Chunfang proposed a debate between the two sides at Lingji Palace, followed by Su Ze's self-defense, thus concluding the Lingji Palace meeting on this topic.

The Longqing Emperor no longer wanted to attend the meeting.

But as the emperor, there were certain things he had to do.

By this time, the emperor also harbored resentment towards Su Ze.

If you want to abolish the status of lowly people, start with the artisans and musicians. I will definitely approve it!
The artisan register was practically defunct, and there weren't many musicians either; this could be considered a benevolent rule during his reign.

But they had to drag the kitchen staff into it, and they had to submit a memorial during the Lingji Palace assembly!
If things escalate to this point and cannot be resolved properly, the emperor will have no choice but to punish Su Ze.

After mentally preparing himself, Emperor Longqing finally left his bedchamber and, accompanied by eunuchs, went to Lingji Palace.

The cabinet led the officials to gather in front of the palace, followed the emperor's imperial carriage, and headed towards Lingji Palace in a grand procession.

He Xinyin changed into a scholar's robe. He didn't know how he managed to blend into the group of virtuous and learned scholars and took a seat in the study of Lingji Palace.

Some conservative officials from the Six Ministries and the Censorate looked at Su Ze in the procession, preparing to submit a memorial impeaching him after the meeting.

Meanwhile, the newspaper boys in the capital, holding newspapers with freshly dried ink, loudly hawked the "New Yuefu Gazette".

(End of this chapter)