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

Chapter 39 Painting Can Save the Common People
"This is the Three-Character Classic for Eliminating Plague!"

Zhang Yunxiu explained.

“Recently, I saw that a plague had broken out in the capital. I was thinking of publishing methods to prevent and control the plague in the newspapers, but not all people can understand the text. With His Majesty’s illustrations and my simple and clear Three Character Classic, even children can understand it!”

"But..." the Wanli Emperor said with some doubt, "Will this work?"

"Of course it works."

Zhang Yunxiu introduced himself with great confidence.

"The so-called plague is not caused by wind, cold, heat, or dampness, but by a strange energy in the world that affects people. It does not invade the body from the surface to the interior, but enters through the mouth and nose and stays in the space between the surface and the interior."

In fact, the ancients were not as ignorant as later generations think. It was discovered long ago that some plagues and infectious diseases could be transmitted through the air via the mouth and nose.

Zhang Yunxiu's statement was not original; it came from "Treatise on Epidemic Diseases" by Wu Youke, a famous physician in the late Ming Dynasty.

During the Chongzhen era, while treating the plague, Wu Youke summarized a set of theoretical knowledge about the spread of the plague, which was quite advanced for the 16th century.

Considering that Wu Youke will not be born until next year, Zhang Yunxiu has brought this theory to the Ming Dynasty ahead of schedule.

"You also know medicine?"

Emperor Wanli initially didn't take it seriously, but after hearing Zhang Yunxiu's seemingly plausible explanation, he couldn't help but believe it somewhat.

"I know a little bit." Zhang Yunxiu's face was serene and composed.

He immediately pressed his advantage, saying, "What does Your Majesty think? This move benefits the country and its people; it is for the sake of all living beings! If Your Majesty is willing to help, I dare not guarantee that the plague will be completely eradicated, but it can certainly suppress and mitigate the epidemic to some extent!"

“Drawing a few pictures is no problem, especially since it’s for the benefit of the common people.”

Emperor Wanli nodded, almost agreeing.

But suddenly realizing something was wrong, he abruptly turned his head and squinted at Zhang Yunxiu, saying...

"You wouldn't be thinking of using me to make money, would you?"

Zhang Yunxiu's face stiffened for a moment, then he said with great distress, "Your Majesty! This is a matter of great importance for the country and its people. How can you speak of personal gain so readily? Am I that kind of person?"

"This"

Emperor Wanli immediately felt a pang of guilt. Zhang Yunxiu's actions were indeed beneficial to the country and its people, and he realized that he had been judging Zhang Yunxiu by his own petty standards.

He sighed and explained, "It's not that I doubt you, but what you said is exactly the same as what the upright officials in the court said? They said the same thing when I wanted to increase commercial taxes before."

Zhang Yunxiu couldn't hold back.

No wonder I was misunderstood; it turns out the money from Goose City had been collected decades later?
After thinking for a moment, the Wanli Emperor said somewhat embarrassedly, "Was there any payment for my assistance in painting this picture?"

"A fee for the writing?" Zhang Yunzheng asked, his expression serious. "Your Majesty possesses the wealth of the entire realm. Would you care about such a small fee? Besides, this is an act for the sake of the country and its people. It's not that I'm unwilling to spend the money, but rather that I fear such valuables would soil Your Majesty's hands!"

I care.

Emperor Wanli wanted to blurt it out directly, but he was ultimately a shy person.

On second thought, the newspaper's intentions were indeed good, and besides, he really didn't need those few hundred taels of silver.

Emperor Wanli outwardly expressed his desire to oppose Zhang Juzheng, but his actions betrayed his words; he genuinely enjoyed the benefits brought by the new policies.

Since the implementation of Zhang Juzheng's reforms in the first year of the Wanli reign, although the national treasury revenue cannot be said to be completely surplus, it is still much better than during the Longqing reign.

It should be noted that during the Jiajing reign, the annual revenue from the Taicang granary was only a little over two million taels of silver, but by around the sixth year of the Wanli reign, the annual revenue from the Taicang granary had reached over four and a half million taels.

By the tenth year of the Wanli reign, even the Taipusi (Imperial Stud) had accumulated over four million taels of silver.

This is sufficient to demonstrate that Zhang Juzheng's reforms were quite effective in alleviating the national fiscal deficit.

Over the years, whenever the Wanli Emperor had the opportunity, he would draw silver from the Ministry of Revenue to supply the imperial treasury.

A few years ago, Emperor Wanli took advantage of Zhang Juzheng's absence from Beijing to bury his father and planned to have the Ministry of Revenue allocate 200,000 taels of silver to the imperial treasury.

Unfortunately, Zhang Juzheng discovered it, and in the end, he only received 100,000 taels of silver.

Even so, Emperor Wanli's private treasury was still quite abundant.

So the emperor appeared very magnanimous, waving his hand and saying...

"Fine, since it's something that benefits the country and its people, why shouldn't I do it? I don't need your money."

Seeing the emperor's cheerful expression, Zhang Yunxiu narrowed his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, you've seen the profits from the newspapers. I have another business opportunity here. I wonder if Your Majesty would be interested?"

"Trading?" Emperor Wanli immediately became wary, seemingly afraid that Zhang Yunxiu was coveting his private treasury. He quickly retorted, "Gentlemen often say that the emperor should not compete with the people for profit. How can I, as the emperor, engage in commerce?"

The mentality of thinking like a commoner is not advisable!

Zhang Yunxiu inwardly grumbled, knowing that the Wanli Emperor was a real tightwad, and temporarily abandoned his plan to ask the emperor for money. Upon leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Zhang Yunxiu bumped into Zhang Cheng, the emperor's personal attendant.

In fact, at the time of the ninth year of the Wanli reign, Zhang Cheng's status was not very high. Feng Bao was in charge of the inner eunuchs, concurrently serving as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and the Director of the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Horse Administration. This could be considered the pinnacle of eunuch positions.

Zhang Cheng fared rather poorly, failing to even become a minor eunuch.

However, it was precisely because of his low rank and the fact that he was an old friend of the emperor that his status was all the more significant.

Compared to Feng Bao, who was always in charge of the emperor, Wanli now clearly trusted Zhang Cheng more.

"Please take me out of the palace, sir."

Zhang Yunxiu cupped his hands in greeting and said.

"Lord Zhang, please come with me." Zhang Cheng snapped out of his reverie and quickly said politely.

He wasn't stupid; seeing how much the emperor valued Zhang Yunxiu, he naturally didn't dare to show any disrespect.

As Zhang Cheng led them toward the palace gates, Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Last time, we had to thank you, Eunuch. If it weren't for your message, the situation in the court would probably have been very different."

Zhang Cheng's smile immediately widened: "Everyone is working for His Majesty, we have no merit, it's all what we should do."

Speaking of this matter, Zhang Cheng recalled the writing on his arm and couldn't help but ask, "Lord Zhang, why can't the writing on my arm be wiped off? Is there something wrong with your peculiar pen?"

That's right, he did send a message to the emperor with his arm that day, but after he finished, he found that he didn't know what kind of ink Zhang Yunxiu had used, because the writing on his arm couldn't be wiped off at all.

Unfortunately, Zhang Yunxiu's handwriting was extremely ugly, so only the Wanli Emperor, who was familiar with him, could understand it.

"Handwriting?" Zhang Yunxiu introduced with great interest. "Oh my! My ink is quite famous; it's a renowned super lacquer ink, containing ingredients like borneol and cloves. It has a delicate texture, doesn't stick to the brush, and doesn't bleed on paper, making it very easy to preserve for a long time."

For a moment, the atmosphere between the two became somewhat awkward.

Zhang Yunxiu stroked his chin and said, "Does Father-in-law want some? I'll send him a few later."

Zhang Cheng's facial muscles twitched; he was somewhat annoyed.

"I'm not asking Lord Zhang for the ink; I'm asking how to remove it!"

If Zhang Yunxiu's handwriting were neater, Zhang Cheng would have tolerated it, but those scribbles would make anyone who didn't know better think that Zhang Cheng was cursing and raising poisonous insects on his arm.

In the past few days, even when Zhang Cheng was eating the palace maids, people thought that Zhang Cheng had been infected by some evil sorcerer.

Who can he reason with?

Even the emperor's personal eunuch sounded somewhat aggrieved when he spoke.

Zhang Yunxiu said somewhat apologetically, "Perhaps... it will disappear in time?"

Zhang Cheng: "."

He really wanted to curse, but he couldn't afford to offend the person in front of him, so his face turned a deep purplish-red.

Back at the Zhang residence.

These days, Zhang Yunxiu comes home swaggering around, a stark contrast to how he used to sneak in through the back door.

When people have strength, they have confidence.

The matter of the newspaper was settled in the imperial court and spread throughout the capital.

In the past two days, even the servants in the manor have been looking at the young master with some surprise.

"Uncle You! I'm back! Quickly prepare some food for me."

But Zhang Yunxiu's smugness didn't last long before You Qi, who had heard the news, immediately ran over, his face filled with panic.

"Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!" You Qi grabbed Zhang Yunxiu and said. "Young Master, you must go and see! The Fourth Young Master is about to be beaten to death by the Master."

Is it bad again?

Zhang Yunxiu subconsciously turned his head and left.

Upon hearing that it was Fourth Brother who had an accident, he couldn't help but turn around and ask.

"What do you say?"

　Thank you "Ye Xiaoqiang" for the 500 Qidian Coins reward!
　　
　　Note 1: A comparison of annual revenue between the Wanli and Jiajing reigns can be found in Volume 55 of the History of Ming: "Initially, during the reign of Emperor Shizong, the revenue from the imperial granary was over two million taels. By the sixth year of the Wanli reign of Emperor Shenzong, the annual revenue from the imperial granary had reached over four million five hundred thousand taels."

　　Note 2: The effectiveness of the Wanli New Deal reforms can be found in the "Veritable Records of Emperor Shenzong of Ming," June 15th, Wanli 10th year: "Within ten years, the country was pacified, the barbarians were subdued, the granary was full of grain for several years, and the temple accumulated more than four million coins."

　　
　
(End of this chapter)