Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 321 When the wall falls, everyone pushes it down! Dealing with all matters in Jiangnan!
Xu Jie's funeral has been held.

But his crimes also need to be dealt with.

The Xu family, consisting of over two hundred members, along with several other prominent families in Jiangnan who were also planning to venture overseas, numbering in the hundreds, were all apprehended and brought to justice.

This incident has generated almost as much buzz as the three major cases during the Hongwu era.

In the capital, everyone was silent and trembling with fear. Even the usually fearless censors and upright officials had fallen silent these past few days.

It wasn't that they lacked backbone, but rather that everyone remembered the formidable reputation of the founding emperor, Gaozu.

Most importantly, in the past, staging a coup or a suicide plea might have earned one some fame.

But these aristocratic families in Jiangnan just had to court disaster, devising a plan to flee overseas and even carrying a huge amount of silver with them.

Faced with such blatant treason, even the most eloquent and outspoken officials would be at a loss as to how to exonerate the situation.

Even these days, some officials from Jiangnan are avoiding talking about their origins.

If relatives are involved, publicly severing kinship ties can happen almost overnight.

Everyone knew in their hearts that the outcome of this battle was already decided, and that the Zhang family father and son had won.

When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. In an instant, all the memorials that had impeached Zhang Yunxiu disappeared, replaced by verbal attacks on Xu Jie's crimes.

In order to quell this long-standing conflict, the Wanli Emperor finally decided to hold a court assembly.

Nearly three months have passed since the last court assembly.

Outside the Meridian Gate, amidst the swirling snow, countless officials in scarlet robes filed in.

At today's court assembly, no one whispered or smiled; everyone remained expressionless and calm.

Everyone understood that today's court assembly was not only a final judgment on Xu Jie's fate, but also played a pivotal role in the future direction of the Ming Dynasty.

In a sense, it even signifies that the Ming Dynasty is about to enter a completely new era.

Huangji Palace.

Feng Baoju read the imperial edict aloud.

"Now there are powerful families in Jiangnan, such as the Xu and Wang families, who rely on their power and act recklessly, disregard the law of the country, and commit heinous crimes. Their crimes are obvious."
Firstly, hoarding and speculating on goods and manipulating market prices led to hardship for the people and unrest in the marketplace.
Secondly, harboring rebellious intentions, he secretly ventured to the coastal regions to collude with foreign powers and Japanese pirates, intending to use his wealth to aid the enemy.
I am mindful of the laws established by our ancestors and also concerned about the suffering and well-being of the common people. Such treacherous and wicked individuals must not be allowed to escape justice.

However, the case involves a wide range of people, many of whom were instigated or coerced by the ringleader.

I have always ruled the world with benevolence and righteousness, and I should naturally embody Heaven's virtue of cherishing life.

The entire Xu and Wang families, the ringleaders, regardless of age or gender, were to be apprehended and brought to justice.

The remaining ringleaders were to be executed immediately, their heads displayed to the public as a warning to others.

The remaining accomplices, regardless of their relationship to the criminals, were spared the death penalty but exiled to the coldest, most remote border regions, never to return home.
All of their family's assets, including land, shops, residences, gold, silver, and other valuables, were confiscated and turned over to the government to replenish the national treasury and help support the people's livelihood.

This single act caused a huge uproar, with countless civil and military officials displaying expressions of shock.

This judgment can be described as the most extensive and detailed case since Emperor Wanli ascended the throne.

But everyone knew in their hearts that such a sentence was already a lenient one.

The actions of Xu Jie and others in attempting to defect overseas were practically tantamount to treason under the Ming Dynasty law, and if seriously punished, would have resulted in death by a thousand cuts.

However, it would be simple to execute the ringleaders of the Xu and Wang families by slow slicing, but what should be done afterward?

The Jiangnan gentry were involved in far more than just these two families. If a real purge were to take place, it would be impossible to subdue even thousands or tens of thousands of people, not to mention how many officials in the imperial court were implicated.

Emperor Wanli noticed the commotion among his court officials. After a long silence, he sat on his dragon throne and slowly began to speak.

"Since all of you have no objections, Minister Yan, this matter should be handled jointly by the Ministry of Justice, the Eastern Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. We must not tolerate anyone, nor should we wrongly kill anyone."

Minister of Justice Yan Qing, with a solemn expression, stepped forward, bowed, and spoke.

"The minister obeys the order."

At the same time, Feng Bao and Zhang Yunxiu also bowed in greeting.

"This servant obeys the decree."

The decision on how to deal with the powerful families of Jiangnan has already been made; today is merely the final verdict, and naturally no one will object.

For many officials from the Jiangnan region, simply executing the ringleader was already the best outcome.

At least Zhang Juzheng and the Wanli Emperor did not have any intention of using this as an excuse to escalate the matter.

Seeing the opportunity, Yang Wei, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, came out and reported, "I have something to report."

He stepped forward to pay his respects.

"Since May, there has been constant strife in Jiangnan. First, there was the disaster of floods, and then there were powerful families hoarding goods and speculating on prices. Jiangnan is a major source of tax revenue for the Ming Dynasty. If Jiangnan is not at peace, the Ming Dynasty will not be at peace either."

The people are in turmoil; we earnestly implore Your Majesty to stabilize the populace and consider the well-being of the nation.

Yang Wei was old and a veteran of the court. Moreover, he was neither a member of the Qingliu faction nor a Zhang faction, making him the most suitable person to raise this matter.

The Wanli Emperor nodded slightly and said, "This matter cannot be delayed."

He looked at Zhang Xueyan and said, "Minister Zhang, please draft a plan to ensure that Jiangnan can recover and thrive."

Zhang Xueyan also stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, the disaster in Jiangnan is due to the volatile market prices. In the past, when there was flooding, the market prices were high, but now, due to powerful families, the market prices have fallen to the bottom."

If we want the people's livelihood to be stable, market prices must be stable. This involves the principles of economics, and I believe that Zhang Zhangwei must take charge.

All the ministers turned their attention to Zhang Yunxiu in the ranks of military officers. His tall stature made him stand out from the crowd.

Everyone understood that the two of them, speaking in unison, were giving Zhang Yunxiu a prompt.

Facing the gazes of the civil and military officials, Zhang Yunxiu stepped forward and spoke in a booming voice.

"Your Majesty, the essence of the world's economy lies in the relationship between supply and demand."

The Jiangnan gentry acted perversely, hoarding large quantities of goods in Jiangnan, which naturally led to a severe drop in prices.

In my humble opinion, this is only a temporary setback. Once the canal transport resumes smoothly next spring, the market price will surely recover.

Minister of Works Zeng Shengwu stepped forward and said, “What Zhang Zhangwei said is somewhat biased. Jiangnan is already exhausted. If we wait until next spring, I don’t know how many ordinary people will be displaced.”

"We cannot sit idly by and wait to die."

Zhang Yunxiu said with a smile.

"The current price drop in Jiangnan is due to the imbalance between supply and demand, and it's not just about daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt."

These days, the changes that have taken place in our Great Ming Dynasty are surely evident to all of you. The output of briquettes from Xishan has reached new highs for months, the glass workshops in Xishan are also producing a steady stream of products, and there is also the Tiangong weaving machine.

As you all know, there are countless people engaged in textiles in Jiangnan, and the production of cloth and silk in Jiangnan has more than doubled compared to previous years!
As you all know, if this continues, it will inevitably lead to a crisis lurking everywhere!

Faced with Zhang Yunxiu's impassioned speech, the court officials fell silent, and many of them wore strange expressions.

The Xishan workshop and the Jiangnan textile factory were all established by you, Zhang Yunxiu. Why are you saying it won't work now?
But now, few people dare to voice their opposition.

Minister of Revenue Zhang Xueyan immediately stepped forward and said, "Minister Zhang, you are mistaken. The increase in productivity in Xishan is a blessing, not a curse. The coal has freed the people of Beizhili from the suffering of the cold, and the increase in silk and cloth has made clothing more affordable for more people. Not to mention how many people in Jiangnan have gained a livelihood because of this. It cannot be summed up in a single sentence."

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said, "Oh dear, what Minister Zhang said is very true. There are two sides to every coin. We must not throw the baby out with the bathwater. But how can we increase productivity while also keeping prices stable?"

"This..." Zhang Xueyan looked ashamed. "I really don't know. Please enlighten me, Commander Zhang."

Emperor Wanli sat on the stage, watching the two perform, and his face showed an expression that almost made him burst out laughing.

He feigned composure and coughed before speaking.

"Ah~ that~ Shiyuan, you were originally a military officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but when it comes to economics, you are still the most authoritative. Don't keep us in suspense, this matter involves the livelihood of millions of people, speak quickly."

"According to the order."

Zhang Yunxiu bowed slightly, then turned to the civil and military officials and said, "In my opinion, there are only three strategies to quell the unrest in Jiangnan."

Minister of Works Zeng Shengwu's comedic timing was quite good; he immediately launched into the conversation.

"Oh? Which three strategies?"

Zhang Yunxiu spoke eloquently.

"One of the measures is to stabilize prices so that the canal transport can be smooth by the spring of next year, and goods can be exchanged. This is a method, but it is lazy governance."

The term "lazy governance" caught the attention of many court officials.

Zhang Yunxiu may have questionable character, but his ability to invent apt vocabulary is top-notch.

Zhang Juzheng stood at the front of the line, resting with his eyes closed. Upon hearing this word, he silently memorized it, intending to include it in the official evaluation documents in the future.

Zhang Yunxiu continued to report to the Wanli Emperor, saying, "If the court does not want to be lazy in its governance, it must take proactive measures. I think we can relax the restrictions on maritime transport so that more goods can be transported from Jiangnan to the prefectures and counties of Beizhili by sea."

Upon hearing this, many court officials gasped in shock.

Zhang Yunxiu is about to disrupt the grain transport!

Almost everyone knows how much profit is involved in the canal transport, and how deeply entrenched it is.

Did the court officials, who were well-versed in literature and poetry, not know all these years that sea transport was more convenient than canal transport for connecting the north and south?

Compared to the high-pressure canal transport, the prospects for sea transport are obviously much broader.

It's not that I don't want to, it's that I simply can't!

The livelihoods of millions of canal workers depend on them; how could they be so easily swayed? How many local officials in the imperial court have profited from this?

It's truly unbelievable that Zhang Yunxiu spoke of such a complicated matter so casually.

Emperor Wanli also narrowed his eyes. He turned to Zeng Shengwu, the Minister of Works, and said, "You are the Minister of Works, in charge of all matters related to the grain transport throughout the country. Do you have any objections to this law?"

Zeng Shengwu looked troubled: "This matter is of great importance and cannot be discussed lightly, Your Majesty!"

But then he turned around and said something else.

"However, if the situation in Jiangnan becomes urgent, I believe that opening up some sea routes would be beneficial."

The Wanli Emperor then looked at Zhang Juzheng and asked, "What does the Grand Secretary think?"

As if he had rehearsed his lines, Zhang Juzheng opened his eyes ahead of time, cupped his hands, and addressed the emperor.

"Your Majesty, the matter of the Grand Canal is of great importance. As Minister Zeng said, it should not be changed lightly. However, the situation in Jiangnan is urgent. It is not unreasonable to expedite the opening of the sea route this time."

He casually added a sentence.

"We can temporarily open sea routes, and then make further plans once the situation in Jiangnan has eased."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but admire his father. He truly was a seasoned veteran of the officialdom.

We will not cancel the canal transport, nor will we fully open the sea transport; rather, we will temporarily open the sea transport as an emergency measure.

The situation is urgent and lives are at stake. What problems can you point out?
As for when the situation in Jiangnan will ease, isn't that up to the imperial court?
The Wanli Emperor nodded slightly and said, "These are words of wisdom for governing the country."

From this point on, the court assembly had become a stage for Zhang's faction, with even the emperor participating in the performance.

They seemed to be fighting against a group of non-existent enemies together, resolving their doubts and questions with a few words, and then making decisions on related matters.

How could the officials present dare to act recklessly?

Is there any force in the court capable of opposing Zhang's faction?

Emperor Wanli then looked at Zhang Yunxiu, signaling him to continue.

Zhang Yunxiu was not intimidated and continued to speak eloquently.

"Secondly, it is about ensuring people's livelihood. Grain is the most important thing for maintaining people's livelihood. Jiangnan can promote the way of commerce, but it should also know the principle of moderation."

If all the fields in Jiangnan are converted from rice paddies to mulberry fields in the future, it will be a bad thing regardless of what grain is grown.

Let's not even talk about whether sweet potatoes can be cultivated immediately. Even if they could be cultivated immediately, it would still take time to promote their cultivation nationwide.

If, during this period, all the rice paddies in Jiangnan were allowed to be converted into mulberry fields, it would cause a huge mess.

Zhang Yunxiu also proposed a plan based on this.

"In my opinion, the imperial court should further increase its efforts to stabilize grain prices. Based on the futures market, since grain prices are not high now, it should purchase a large quantity of grain to replenish the Ever-Normal Granary."

The imperial court may, at its discretion, provide further compensation to grain growers to increase their enthusiasm.

Zhang Yunxiu rattled off a series of well-thought-out plans. He had a wealth of research papers on the Wanli era from later generations in his mind, and with the help of Zhang Juzheng and Shen Shixing to revise them, he was naturally able to hit the nail on the head.

Most importantly, after Xu Jie's outburst, the imperial court could seize a huge amount of silver from the powerful families of Jiangnan.

With millions of taels of silver in hand, why worry about the inability to restore Jiangnan?
The court officials had some reservations about Zhang Yunxiu's methods, but they generally agreed with them, especially the point about stabilizing grain prices, which resonated with everyone.

Throughout history, both the Zhang faction and the Qingliu faction have been most opposed to Zhang Yunxiu's new policies, particularly their tendency to favor commerce and suppress agriculture.

Minister of Revenue Zhang Xueyan bowed to Emperor Wanli and said, "Commander Zhang's plan is truly a strategy for the country. Your Majesty, I agree."

The Wanli Emperor nodded slightly and said, "Then let's proceed as usual. The Ministry of Revenue and the Grand Secretariat shall draft a plan."

Then the court fell silent, and the ministers looked at each other, all turning their gazes to Zhang Yunxiu.

Yang Wei finally couldn't help but ask, "Um... there's still something you haven't mentioned about Guard Zhang."

"There's one more thing."

Zhang Yunxiu narrowed his eyes and said with a slight smile.

“There is a surplus of goods in Jiangnan, and simply cutting costs will not solve the problem.”

“The fertile fields of Jiangnan were originally occupied by powerful families. The rich owned vast tracts of land but did not pay taxes, while the poor had no place to stand but were burdened with heavy corvée labor.”

If there is an intention to punish the wealthy, it will have far-reaching consequences, as they often collude with officials, making it difficult to implement government policies.

If the poor are wronged, the people will suffer, and the common people will face even greater hardship. At that time, people all over the world will be displaced and suffer from hunger every day.

How could they not rebel?

He turned his gaze to the officials present. It was likely that none of them were entirely clean. Some were indifferent, while others remained silent with their heads down. Everyone was playing dead.

Zhang Yunxiu naturally did not expect that simply eliminating the powerful families of Jiangnan would completely solve the problems of the Ming Dynasty.

While Xu Jie, Wang Xijue, Wang Shizhen, and others were certainly greedy, what did they amount to in the grand scheme of things in the Ming Dynasty?

If I had to use a metaphor, the affliction in Jiangnan would be like a boil on a patient's neck. Is this boil fatal? If left unchecked, it will naturally become fatal.

Once the abscess is removed, can we rest easy?
Not entirely. The reason why there are pustules on the neck is ultimately because there is a problem with the body.

Simply put, the collapse of the Ming Dynasty was not caused by a particular region, a particular person, or a particular event.

This is a systemic collapse.

Within a system, a single move can have far-reaching consequences, just like the entire court of civil and military officials. Could Emperor Wanli really kill them all?
The only solution is to start from scratch and solve the problem outside the existing system!

Zhang Yunxiu paused for a long time, causing many court officials to break out in a cold sweat. What exactly did this kid want to do? Could he really be going to use us as an example?
The Wanli Emperor spoke in a somewhat impatient, gruff voice.

"Shiyuan, just tell me frankly, what is the best solution that satisfies both of these conditions?"

Zhang Yunxiu smiled slightly and said, "In that case, there is only one way."

"Open the fishing season!"

(End of this chapter)