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

Chapter 51 Measuring the Bow
Zhang Juzheng slammed the measuring bow onto the table with a sharp "crack," and the bowstring snapped instantly.

"What a wonderful Yin-Yang measurement method!"

His eyes were filled with anger.

"Local officials claim to have achieved remarkable results in measuring fields, but in reality they are harming the country and its people. If we continue to allow such villains to run rampant, our Great Ming Dynasty will be in grave danger!"

Zhu Xuezeng trembled and immediately prostrated himself on the ground.

"Your Excellency, please calm down. Not all regions use this bow; it's just an isolated case. The majority..."

"Hmph!" Zhang Juzheng snorted coldly, staring at Zhu Xuezeng and said, "Then tell me, where did you get this bow from?"

Zhu Xuezeng felt a chill run down his spine, but since things had come to this point, there was nothing left to hide.

"Some in Yingtian Prefecture, some in Yangzhou Prefecture, and some in Suzhou."

Zhu Xuezeng didn't dare to name names, only giving a general direction, but this still ignited Zhang Juzheng's anger.

Zhang Juzheng said angrily.

“These petty villains harm the country and its people. Last year, Yangzhou Prefecture reported an increase of 80,000 hectares of farmland. Thinking about it now, it is truly shocking.”

During the Hongwu reign, Emperor Taizu, to prevent land annexation, ordered wealthy families to relocate to other regions. But now, look what's happened—these cunning rats have created two different standards!

Zhu Xuezeng dared to bring the measuring bow, which must have been because he had the intention of speaking out for the people. Although he was upright, he was not stupid.

Why are there three types of measuring bows?

As a local official, he knew all too well that powerful nobles and influential families had previously seized land without anyone knowing. Why had the land holdings only decreased and not increased in the more than two hundred years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and why was the court in deficit year after year?
It was nothing more than powerful and influential officials running rampant and engaging in excessive land grabbing.

It wasn't that no one knew about it, but rather that no one could control it. The powerful and influential families were deeply entrenched, either being members of the imperial family or having intricate connections with certain ministers in the court.

How to investigate? How can it be done? Which officials in the court will be implicated?

This was even more true after the implementation of the new policies. As soon as the land survey law was promulgated, criticisms from noble families and powerful clansmen immediately rose up.

Zhang Juzheng was a determined and capable man. With his influence and prestige, as well as the support of the palace, he suppressed the dissenting voices for a time.

But with countermeasures from above and policies from below, and the power of the bow and arrow in the hands of local officials, could Zhang Juzheng still personally handle every matter?
This is the root cause of the "measuring bow" incident.

Zhu Xuezeng was conflicted. He disapproved of such acts of bullying the common people, but he was also afraid that the prime minister would be furious and rashly investigate the case. What would be implicated would be far more than just the official hats of one or two local officials.

This will inevitably cause a huge uproar in the imperial court!

Despite the many controversies surrounding Zhang Juzheng, Zhu Xuezeng still admired this prime minister who served the country and its people.

He quickly cupped his hands in greeting and said.

“Your Excellency, I believe this matter is of great importance and we must not act rashly. Now that the ‘Single Whip Law’ is about to be implemented, if we rashly reopen old accounts of land surveys, it may cause trouble and result in more harm than good.”

Zhang Juzheng glanced at Zhu Xuezeng and said, “Since I implemented the new policies, I have been repeatedly criticized. Some people used to say that the new policies were good policies, while others said that the new policies were ‘agricultural pests’.”

However, over the past nine years, my determination to implement the new policies has yielded remarkable results, which is the best proof of the merits of these policies.

Zhang Juzheng had already borne too much burden for the new policies, which only made him angrier.

With a clang, the teacup on the table was swept to the ground.

His long beard trembled and his eyes were bloodshot: "But these people should never have targeted the common people. The nobles and powerful are selfish and self-serving, but do they understand the principle that when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact?"
If we don't investigate thoroughly, how can we face the people of the world?

Zhu Xuezeng never expected Zhang Juzheng to be so furious, and he immediately regretted mentioning the matter.

He quickly offered words of comfort.

"Your Excellency need not be so angry. In my opinion, although the Yin-Yang measuring bow is infuriating, the court's land survey is still very effective. In my opinion, of the three million hectares of newly added land, four-fifths are still..." After Zhu Xuezeng took his leave, Zhang Juzheng remained sitting in the hall, gradually calming down.

Could Zhang Juzheng not have been unaware that there were shady dealings involved in the local land surveying?
He knew all too well the vile secrets of the imperial court after decades in office.

But to his utter surprise, he thought the local officials would only take minor actions, but they were far more audacious than he expected.

The "Yin-Yang Measurement Bow" incident reduced the land surveyed by several percent for the powerful and wealthy, but it also increased the land that ordinary people should not have had.

The powerful and wealthy families accumulated their wealth by renting out land, but for small farming families, a few acres of land were enough to make ends meet. Paying land taxes on ordinary days was already difficult, let alone paying more.

But Zhu Xuezeng was right; it might not be a good thing to reveal this matter rashly.

Zhang Juzheng was a man who hated evil, but he was not a reckless man who acted on impulse.

The matter of "measuring bows" can be a big deal or a small one. If it were taken seriously, how many people would lose their lives? How many people's interests would be affected?

This will inevitably provoke a strong backlash from the imperial court.

Now he is on the opposite side of many powerful people. If he overturns the table again, who can guarantee that these people will not resort to desperate measures?
Zhang Juzheng also had to consider that purging local officials and powerful figures would inevitably involve the new policies, and whether the benefits outweighed the drawbacks for the country and the people.

Once the "Yin-Yang Measure Bow" is exposed, the new policies will inevitably be questioned, and local powerful figures will be exposed. But will Zhang Juzheng and the new policies be spared?
Of course, the most crucial point is the rift between Zhang Juzheng and the emperor.

Emperor Wanli was no longer as obedient to Zhang Juzheng as before, and he also intended to suppress Zhang's prestige in the court.

Without the emperor's support, the "Yin-Yang Measuring Bow" project would be tantamount to playing with fire!

Even Zhu Xuezeng couldn't help but ask about the relationship between the two.

"Yuan Fu and Jin Shang"

Zhang Juzheng sighed. All the myriad thoughts and concerns boiled down to the emperor.

This world belongs to the emperor. Without the emperor's support, even Zhang Juzheng is nothing more than water without roots.

But the Wanli Emperor.
Zhang Juzheng's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the book "Discourses on Salt and Iron" on the table. He had been annotating it for some time now, taking time out of his spare time from official duties.

By studying Sang Hongyang's fiscal and tax reforms in the book, one can compare them with the advantages and disadvantages of the reforms in the Ming Dynasty today. The reasons and difficulties of the new policies can also be understood from the book.

"You Qi".

After a few calls, the steward You Qi rushed over from outside.

"What are your orders, sir?"

Zhang Juzheng pointed to the "Discourses on Salt and Iron" on his desk and said.

"Have someone find Eunuch Feng and send this document to the palace. Have Eunuch Feng present it to the Emperor, saying that it was submitted by Ju Zheng and that His Majesty should study it carefully."

You Qi paused for a moment, glanced at "Discourses on Salt and Iron," suppressed his doubts, and nodded.

"Please rest assured, sir."

As Zhang Juzheng's close aide, You Qi was responsible for running errands for Zhang Juzheng's daily interactions with the palace staff.

After You Qi put away the "Discourses on Salt and Iron", Zhang Juzheng thought for a moment and said.

"Shiyuan is going to the Imperial Academy today. Go and see him too, and make sure he doesn't cause any more trouble."

You Qi's face immediately fell, and he had a bad feeling. He nodded and said.

"Please don't worry, sir."

(End of this chapter)