My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 256 "Memorial Requesting the Rectification of Security in the Capital Region and the Establishment of a Patrol System"

"Brother Zilin, I am very uneasy about taking office this time, and I have something to ask you."

Wang Renzhong looked serious; although it was a promotion banquet, he seemed preoccupied.

The two previous city patrol censors were dismissed for their poor performance.

In fact, it wasn't just the outer gate patrol censors; the other four gate patrol censors had also been impeached by the Six Ministries and the Censorate this year. It can be said that all four censors were carrying disciplinary actions.

As it turns out, being a censor patrolling the five gates is a tough job.

Wang Renzhong said:
"His Majesty has appointed me as the outer gate patrol censor, which makes me uneasy, fearing that I will fail to live up to the Emperor's favor."

"Since the beginning of this year, the security situation in the capital has remained serious. The imperial censors patrolling the city are exhausted, but cases continue to emerge. Brother Zilin, please teach me how to do a good job as the imperial censor patrolling the city."

Su Ze looked at Wang Renzhong and saw that what he said was indeed the truth.

Su Ze sighed; he understood the reason.

The reason is simple: although the capital was becoming increasingly prosperous, the flow of people brought about security problems.

Furthermore, with Su Ze's promotion, new production relations began to emerge. Industry and commerce needed to rely on urban development and were also absorbing the surrounding rural population into the city, which also created population pressure.

Historically, such periods of urbanization have always faced the problem of losing control of public security.

The original purpose of establishing the Five Gates Patrol Censorate was actually to apprehend bandits outside the capital city.

Yes, in the early Ming Dynasty when the Five Gates Patrol Censors were established, there were bandits outside the capital city.

After the establishment of the Five Gates Patrol Censorate, the number of bandits outside the capital was greatly reduced, and its function began to shift to maintaining security within the city.

However, with Su Ze's arrival in this world, the original security system was no longer able to maintain the security of such a large city.

However, although Su Ze knew the reason, he was unfamiliar with the work of the Five Gates Patrol Inspectors, so he asked:

"Brother Qingpu (Wang Renzhong's courtesy name), what are the main difficulties in the work of the Imperial Censors patrolling the five gates?"

Wang Renzhong had obviously inquired about the situation, and then said:

"Brother Zilin, the first problem is the lack of manpower."

“Take the Outer Gate Patrol Inspector I’m about to take office as, for example. He has a patrol battalion under his command, with one captain and a total of one thousand men. But it’s really impossible for one thousand men to be in charge of the security of the entire area outside the capital.”

"The second problem is the deterioration of public security outside the capital. In March of this year, bandits appeared outside the capital and robbed people in front of the official post station. They almost robbed an imperial censor who was out of the city on business. However, this bandit group was well-equipped. It is said that they were soldiers from the garrisons that were demobilized in Shanxi. Some of them even had family-inherited armor. Later, the Ministry of War had to send troops to suppress them."

"The last problem is that I have only just taken office, Brother Zilin. Even if I am willing to reform the system, I am afraid that I will not be able to mobilize the patrol battalion."

As expected, the main problem is still that there are too few people.

Before Su Ze transmigrated, there were more than this number of police officers maintaining order outside a county-level city, and the thousand men in the patrol battalion were probably not real personnel. Like the Imperial Guards of the capital, the number of men in the patrol battalion was also greatly exaggerated.

Wang Renzhong was formerly an anti-smuggling censor and had dealt with the police force before, so he naturally knew about their situation.

Su Ze thought for a moment and said:
"Brother Qingpu, you are well prepared. The security of the capital is of great importance, and I, Su, cannot hide my shortcomings."

Upon hearing that Su Ze was willing to offer his guidance, Wang Renzhong immediately said excitedly:

"Please enlighten me, Brother Zilin!"

Su Ze, drawing parallels to modern police systems, began by saying:
"The first problem is the manpower of the patrol battalion, and this problem cannot be solved in a short time."

Wang Renzhong nodded helplessly after listening.

Whether it's the issue of police battalions receiving salaries without working, or petitioning the court to increase the number of police battalions, both are extremely difficult matters.

Expanding the staff means expanding authority; everyone understands this principle.

The censor also had something to say: Your outer city patrol battalion has a full quota of one thousand men, but can you guarantee that none of those one thousand men are receiving salaries without working?

Since they haven't even solved their internal problems, asking the imperial court for money and official positions will surely lead to their impeachment by the censors.

Su Ze said:

"In that case, we should still mobilize the people. Large villages within a 50-mile radius of the capital can form joint defense teams, with respected people from the village serving as captains, responsible for the security of the village and the surrounding area."

"If you encounter a criminal, the patrol team can hand him over to the outer city police camp. If a search is needed, the patrol team can also be mobilized."

Wang Renzhong said:
"Isn't this just like the Baojia system?"

Su Ze shook his head and said:

"This is not a baojia system, but rather a system where people from the village are responsible for maintaining public order. It is the duty of the local people to maintain public order in their village."

“When there is no problem, the police battalion will not mobilize the patrol team, nor will it bear too much of the patrol team’s expenses. It only needs to pay some of the key personnel.”

Wang Renzhong thought about it and also felt that Su Ze's method was feasible.

Security around the capital deteriorated, and powerful families established their own patrol teams in their manors outside the city and in the villages around the capital.

As Su Ze said, defending one's homeland is a duty, and it cannot be considered a matter of conscripting manpower.

Su Ze simply institutionalized the patrol team and put it under the leadership of the police battalion.

Wang Renzhong thought about it more and more and felt that the method was ingenious. As Su Ze said, as long as a few key members were paid, the police battalion would have eyes and ears in each village. If a major case came up, the patrol team could be mobilized to search and arrest.

Su Ze continued, "The patrol teams alone can only barely maintain the security of villages around the capital, so Brother Qingpu still needs to break down the responsibilities."

"Detailed breakdown of responsibilities?"

Su Ze said, "Setting up a separate outer city patrol camp to manage the security of the entire outer city is like having everyone responsible for such a large area, which means no one is taking responsibility."

"It would be better to set up police stations in key locations outside the city, clearly define their powers and responsibilities, divide the area outside the capital into sections, and have each police station be responsible for the security of its own area."

Wang Renzhong's eyes lit up even more.

Su Ze said:

"The police station is assigned one detective commander to be responsible for investigating and apprehending bandits and criminals. Two night patrol commanders are also assigned to be responsible for maintaining order day and night."

“Brother Qingpu has trustworthy subordinates who can be appointed and then controlled through internal assessments.”

Wang Renzhong nodded repeatedly.

Su Ze said again:
"Finally, the world views the police force as bad people. Of course, the police force itself has its own problems, but there is also prejudice. I advocate the morality of the four classes of people. The police and officials are also important members in maintaining the town. They are not inherently lowly. They should be educated."

"Therefore, I am going to write a petition to select some outstanding constables to study at the Military Academy."

Wang Renzhong asked:
"A military supervisory body?! Do you think the imperial court and the Ministry of War would agree to that?"

Su Ze said:

“I will petition the court to equip the outer city patrol battalion with firearms and have them train at the Military Academy.” “Of course, they will not train with the Military Academy students, but in a separate class to learn the art of maintaining order, arresting and investigating, supplemented with education in benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom.”

Wang Renzhong seemed to understand Su Ze's meaning.

Just as Su Ze promoted the civil service examination and placed it in the Imperial Academy.

This patrol squad, which is under the jurisdiction of the Armed Police Bureau, is also for the purpose of cultivating a new generation of patrol officers.

This seems to be Su Ze's solution.

Wang Renzhong was even more moved when he heard that Su Ze was going to write a letter on his behalf. He said to Su Ze:

"Brother Zilin, you have shown me great kindness. I will do my utmost to help you in the future!"

Su Ze shook his head and said, "We are all loyal to the king, Qing Pu need not do this. However, if the patrol camp is to be reformed, it is not a matter for the outer city patrol camp."

Wang Renzhong immediately understood Su Ze's meaning, and he said:
"The other four imperial censors who patrol the city are also troubled by the problem of security in the capital. After the banquet today, I will go to find them and have them sign my memorial to Brother Zilin."

Su Ze nodded. If changes were to be made, they should be made together. As long as the five city patrol censors acted in unison, the resistance to passing the memorial would be even smaller.
-
Memorial Requesting the Establishment of a Patrol System to Improve Public Security in the Capital Region

Commissioner Yang Sizhong sat down in his office, and his subordinate, Hu Zhen, presented him with the latest memorials and official documents.

Yang Sizhong first opened Su Ze's memorial.

If there's Su, watch Su; if there's no Su, watch something else.

Hu Zhen had already come to understand the way this Grand Silver Tablet operated.

Su Ze began by writing:
"Investigations revealed that bandits frequently broke out in the areas under the jurisdiction of the five city gate patrol censors, causing great anxiety among the people. This was especially true in the outer city. Although the patrol battalion was set up with a thousand men, the area was too vast to be adequately covered."

Su Ze then cited examples of Japanese traitors and bandits from Shanxi, and continued writing:

The proposed bylaws consist of three chapters:

"Firstly, establish village patrols to jointly protect the local area. In large villages within fifty li of the capital and in the alleys of the city, select respected and well-regarded men to serve as patrol captains, leading the able-bodied men of the village to jointly defend the area. When there is no trouble, they guard the passes and patrol the villages and neighborhoods; when there is an alarm, they capture bandits and hand them over to the authorities; when a major case requires assistance in arresting criminals, they can be called upon to provide support."

"The patrol and police camp provides stipends to key personnel, achieving the effect of controlling the arm and finger without affecting the regular salary."

"Secondly, establish separate patrol stations and clearly define responsibilities. Divide key areas inside and outside the city into districts, each with a patrol station in charge. Each station will have one detective officer in charge of arrests and two night patrol officers in rotation. This division of responsibilities will eliminate the problem of mutual shirking of duties."

"Thirdly, train officers and guide their conduct. Police officers have long been looked down upon by the world, and we should promote the principle of the four classes of people sharing the same virtues. I request that a separate training class for police officers be set up in the Military Academy of the Capital Garrison, and that outstanding individuals be selected to study there. They should be taught methods of investigation and training, supplemented with instruction in benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, so that they may know that protecting the common people is a true honor, not merely a lowly job."

Sure enough, it's Su Ze's style.

Yang Sizhong pondered to himself that there was little resistance to the passage of this memorial.

Su Ze did not request quotas from the Ministry of Personnel, nor did he request funds from the Ministry of Revenue. The only thing he needed was to establish a "Patrol and Police Training Class" under the Military Supervisory Bureau.

However, Yang Sizhong recognized the significance of this memorial.

If Su Ze's reforms are truly implemented, the police force will undoubtedly be transformed.

Just like Su Ze's series of memorials on reforming the Office of Transmission.

Has Su Ze set his sights on the police force again?
Yang Sizhong decided to find a way to plant some of his own people in the police force. If Su Ze's reforms could be successful, the police force, which controlled the security of the capital and the surrounding area, would inevitably become an important force in the region.

"Is there anything else important?"

Hu Zhen was exceptionally capable; otherwise, Yang Sizhong would not have promoted him to be his secretary.

Hu Zhen said:

"A letter from Lord Feng of the Joseon Administration states that Joseon merchants are smuggling goods between Busan and Japan across the sea. The Tongjeongbu has informed the Joseon King, who has dispatched officials to arrest them."

Yang Sizhong nodded, saying that Feng Xueyan, the Right Vice Minister, was doing a good job in Korea.

Feng Xueyan was also a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), an academic qualification that was highly prestigious in Korea.

Countless Korean ministers and scholars considered it an honor to discuss scholarship with Feng Xueyan.

Feng Xueyan simply started lecturing in Korea. He didn't have much of a preference for academic subjects; he could talk about anything, from Song Dynasty Confucianism and the School of Mind to the latest practical learning.

Every time the Tongjeong-gwon lectured, the hall was packed with distinguished guests, sometimes even more so than the high-ranking officials who attended the opening ceremony of the Joseon king.

In addition, Feng Xueyan had another characteristic: he liked to promote younger people.

He readily offered guidance to young Korean scholars who sought his advice, and for those with talent, he would directly use the Tongzhengsi (Office of State Affairs) to recommend them for study in the Ming Dynasty.

For a long time, the state of Korea practiced the Yangban system, a system of aristocratic succession. Under this system, there were not enough positions in the court, even for the sons of high-ranking Yangban officials, leaving no way out for scholars from poor families.

Like the Ming Dynasty before it, Korea also implemented a policy of isolation, and there were simply not enough jobs in the country to accommodate so many scholars.

Feng Xueyan was essentially giving these young scholars a way out. After all, trade between the Ming Dynasty and Korea was booming, and being proficient in Chinese and working as an interpreter was far better than staying in Korea.

In this way, Feng Xueyan gained almost unanimous support from scholars throughout Korea, and at the same time, he exerted a huge influence on the small Korean court.

For example, this time, a merchant from the Ming Dynasty reported that Joseon was secretly doing business with Japan in the Busan area.

Feng Xueyan immediately informed the King of Joseon, who dared not delay and dispatched a senior official to investigate thoroughly.

Yang Sizhong nodded in satisfaction, then asked:

Has Wu Shaozu arrived yet?

Hu Zhen immediately said, "Lord Wu has arrived, and his official letter is below."

Wu Shaozu took office as the Chief Administrator of the Ryukyu Administration Office, and judging by the timeline, it should have been completed last month.

Yang Sizhong found Wu Shaozu's official letter.

The situation in Ryukyu is much worse than in North Korea.

After all, Ryukyu was a weak nation and close to Japan, making it easier for Japan to infiltrate it than Korea.

Wu Shaozu adopted a different approach than Feng Xueyan. After arriving in Ryukyu, he kept a low profile, focusing on building government offices and rarely making connections with Ryukyu officials.

Some people even tried to befriend Wu Shaozu, but Wu Shaozu turned them away and declared that he would "not interfere in the politics of Ryukyu."

However, Wu Shaozu also explained his reasons in the official letter: he was waiting for the Ming navy to arrive in Ryukyu before taking action. For now, he was just biding his time and waiting for the Japanese traitors within Ryukyu to come forward on their own.

As expected, Wu Shaozu quickly compiled a list of ministers in Ryukyu who had secretly sided with the Japanese. Of the thirteen Ryukyu ministers, more than half were secretly colluding with the Japanese, a shocking finding.

It should be noted that many of the thirteen families in Ryukyu were Han Chinese from Fujian and Guangdong who crossed the sea, and they all had Han Chinese ancestry.

Wu Shaozu was just waiting for the Ming fleet to arrive in Ryukyu so he could launch a purge of the Ryukyu court!

(End of this chapter)