Late Ming Dynasty: So what if Emperor Chongzhen was inactive?!

Chapter 95 Cao Huachun, the eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration
Zhu Youjian's elaborate invitation to so many people certainly wasn't just for a meal. If it were just a barbecue, couldn't he have done it with his wives? The people who came were all trusted confidants, some eloquent and some martial, all there to coordinate with Bi Ziyan's crackdown.

His reform measures had been implemented gradually, and official documents had been issued, but the results were not obvious. Perhaps his subordinates were deliberately obstructing him, or perhaps the bureaucratic system of the Ming Dynasty was inherently inefficient. Therefore, Zhu Youjian decided to step in and give it a push.

Zhu Youjian asked Lu Xiangsheng to share his farming experience: how he managed to collect enough taxes without offending the people.

The reforms will proceed step by step. Zhu Youjian plans to first use Daming Prefecture and even Beizhili as pilot areas for the reforms, to try out the various reform measures, clarify land ownership, and collect land taxes in full. Salt tax, customs duties, commercial tax, corvée labor tax in silver, and mining tax—taxes that have been largely evaded—will be collected again.

Bi Ziyan was struggling to implement the new tax law because he lacked sufficient manpower. Zhu Youjian planned to introduce military power and create an army specifically responsible for tax collection. Local officials also needed military support: some officials were corrupt and colluded with local gentry; others wanted to do things but were too weak and could only muddle through in the face of local power.

Maintaining an army is essential for collecting taxes; military affairs and taxation have always been intertwined. While implementing reforms requires pressure from higher levels, excessive pressure alone may not be effective; it could even lead to the death of a county magistrate or a rebellion among the people.

An army specifically for collecting taxes?! Upon hearing the emperor's suggestion, a rather unpleasant term immediately popped into everyone's mind: mining supervisor!

So everyone subtly reminded the emperor that this approach might provoke widespread opposition from officials and fierce resistance from the people.

Zhu Youjian stated that he established this army not to exploit the people out of thin air like the mining supervisors, but simply to promote the implementation of Bi Ziyan's reform measures. For example, even the most basic task of surveying land was difficult for local authorities to carry out. Since local officials lacked the capacity, the imperial court would directly dispatch officials and soldiers to do so, and anyone who dared to deliberately obstruct would be dealt with according to the law!
After enjoying the barbecue and a few rounds of drinks, everyone gradually relaxed a lot.

Lu Xiang-sheng recounted how he instigated a bandit rebellion and then assassinated the notorious bandit Ma Pianpian, sharing his exploits of subduing local powerful figures with just a few hundred battalions, thus successfully conducting a land reclamation. Of course, this was also because Daming Prefecture had fallen on hard times and lacked powerful gentry. He estimated that in his hometown of Changzhou Prefecture, it would likely have been much more difficult.

However, this also demonstrates the significant role the military played in the reforms. After discussion, the first tax army was established: 5,000 soldiers were drawn from the Beijing Garrison, 300 from the Northern Garrison Command, and all 3,000 men of the Golden Guard were incorporated, totaling 7,300 men. This 7,300-man force roughly corresponded to the size of a garrison, and Wang Lin was appointed commander.

Wang Zaijin finally understood why the emperor had invited him. He deeply regretted attending the banquet; it was practically a trap!

Zhu Youjian ordered Wang Zaijin to lead this tax army, drawing people from the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Personnel, and the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) this year. They were to first investigate the land in Beizhili (Northern Zhili), and then Nanzhili (Southern Zhili). Those who sold smuggled salt or secretly mined without paying were to be arrested.

Lu Xiang-sheng was promoted. Zhu Youjian appointed him as the Governor of Baoding, with the additional title of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, overseeing six prefectures: Baoding, Zhengding, Hejian, Shunde, Daming, and Guangping. He was also in charge of the Zijing, Daoma, and Longquan passes, and concurrently managed waterways, allowing him to continue his large-scale land reclamation project. Originally, he had come to the capital to handle wrongful convictions, but he hadn't expected such a sudden promotion, leaving Lu Xiang-sheng feeling somewhat dizzy.

While eating and chatting, Zhu Youjian had just eaten half full when he saw Wang Chengen rushing over. Zhu Youjian's heart skipped a beat, and he even had the urge to break Wang Chengen's legs. Could it be that some bad news was about to come?
Wang Chengen strode over, his expression excited, and said, "Your Majesty, a great victory has been achieved at Datong Town! The enemy's encirclement has been broken, and three thousand northern barbarians have been killed!"

Zhu Youjian was stunned for a moment, then his mouth stretched into a wide grin. He slammed his hand on the table and exclaimed happily, "Excellent! Excellent!!!" Everyone congratulated him! One person jokingly said, "Does Your Majesty possess the ability to foresee the future, and have prepared a banquet in advance for this great victory?"

Zhu Youjian wanted to say that he did know some things, but these were not good news; they would scare you to death if he told you!
The next day, Lu Xiang-sheng bid farewell to the emperor.

Zhu Youjian told him not to leave yet, but to go to the Imperial Horse Administration and retrieve two good horses before returning. At this time, the position of eunuch in the Imperial Horse Administration had been taken over by Cao Huachun, but the Yongwei Battalion had not yet begun training.

With the neglect of horse administration and the encroachment on pastures, the Imperial Horse Administration had less than 10,000 horses by the Wanli era. In the first half of the seventh year of the Tianqi era, another 2,000 warhorses were transferred to support Liaodong. Now, the Imperial Horse Administration only has a little over 1,000 sick and old horses left, and these horses are almost skin and bones.

Zhu Youjian summoned Lu Xiangshan to inspect the stables, but unexpectedly encountered such an embarrassing scene. Helpless, Zhu Youjian could only give him two of the imperial horses that pulled his carriage.

Lu Xiang-sheng was deeply moved and insisted on refusing the gift, but Zhu You-jian said that a ruler's word is law and told him to accept it.

The Imperial Horse Administration's warhorses included the emperor's mounts, the horses that pulled the emperor's carriage, and the warhorses of the Imperial Guards. In addition, the Court of Imperial Stud oversaw the national horse administration, and currently had 100,000 warhorses on paper, most of which were kept by private horse owners. In fact, acquiring warhorses was not the most difficult thing for the Ming Dynasty; the biggest challenge was the large-scale, long-term breeding of warhorses.

Zhu Youjian felt that the warhorses of the Imperial Horse Administration should be well cared for, otherwise, if something happened to them, it would be inconvenient for him to escape.

"Eunuch Cao, I will allocate 100,000 shi of grain to you from the Imperial Treasury every month. Can you help me take good care of the warhorses in the Imperial Stables?!" Zhu Youjian asked.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly do my utmost to live up to your high expectations. However, in addition to grain, Your Majesty still needs to allocate 10,000 taels of silver to purchase horses, and another 3,000 taels to repair the stables and warm sheds. The Imperial Horse Stable has 120 old horses in its stock, all over ten years old. Even with the best feed, their muscles and bones are already weak and they are not fit for battle. According to the old regulations on horse administration, any old horses that are no longer usable should be submitted for verification and then used as post horses or released into the wild, so as to avoid wasting grain reserves."

Your Majesty, I wish to select 150 foals under the age of three for the young horse stable, to be fed black beans and alfalfa in three separate stables, and to have a veterinarian from the Imperial Stud examine them daily. Furthermore, I intend to purchase ten stallions and fifty mares from the Wusun breed at the Zhangjiakou trade market. These horses are excellent runners and cold-resistant, making them ideal for breeding in the capital region. Within six months, the foals should be well-fed and healthy, and within a year, we can produce 100 new foals!

Cao Huachun spoke eloquently, leaving Zhu Youjian speechless. He patted Cao Huachun on the shoulder with satisfaction and said, "Go and do it. Just ask me for the money and supplies you need! Raising three thousand good horses will be a great achievement for you!"

(End of this chapter)