Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 136 In this world, nothing is more frightening than taking things seriously.

—Your subject, Lu Xiang-sheng, is just about to ask this question!
As soon as Lu Xiang-sheng finished speaking, Zhu You-jian gently tapped the imperial desk and said:

"Very well! Answer me, and let me see your talents."

Lu Xiang-sheng took a deep breath.

He suppressed all the excitement of seeing the emperor for the first time, the awe he felt when speaking before him, and the lingering fear of prying into his heart.

All the thoughts and reflections I had had on my journey to the capital, along with what I had seen and heard during my five years as an official, came flooding back to me at this moment.

"Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty is now plagued by numerous problems, whether it be official corruption, finance and taxation, border affairs, or people's livelihood. There are countless issues, and they are all deeply intertwined."

"Your subject dares not speak presumptuously about the affairs of the world. Please first state the two matters concerning your administration of Linqing Granary and Daming Prefecture."

"By seeing the big picture in the small details, the question becomes clear."

Zhu Youjian raised his eyebrows and sat up slightly.

Being deep within the palace, what he lacked most was firsthand intelligence, and what he most wanted to hear was practical experience from the local areas.

For him, there is never a lack of means or methods; what he lacks most is information, and real information!

Lu Xiang-sheng's voice was steady and clear, slowly echoing in the hall.

"When I took over the Linqing granary, it was in accordance with the regulations that more than 100,000 shi of rice and wheat were collected annually from Shandong and Henan to prepare for famine years."

"For every shi of grain, eight qian of silver is levied, and local wealthy households are all assigned to purchase it and pay the tax."

"However, local officials often used the excuse of famine to avoid collecting taxes; wealthy families also avoided purchasing and transporting goods, making all sorts of excuses."

"From the 42nd year of the Wanli reign to the 2nd year of the Tianqi reign, over a period of nine years, the amount owed reached 440,000 shi (a unit of dry measure), accounting for more than half of the annual quota."

He gave a wry smile as he said this.

"What can I do after I take office? The burden of nine years is heavier than mountains. I can only settle old scores first and then plan for new things."

"Therefore, I will first recover the 350,000 taels of silver that were delivered for grain purchases over the years but have not yet been delivered, and use it for national use."

"Only then did they specifically urge the collection of taxes in kind from the second year of the Tianqi reign onwards."

"Investigating corruption and recovering stolen money are difficult tasks, but as long as they are done diligently, they will always be effective."

At this point, Lu Xiang-sheng changed the subject, raising his voice slightly.

"Then, has this been something extraordinary that I have done?"

"The regulations and laws of the dynasty are as they are. What I have done is merely to fulfill my duties and uphold the old rules!"

"But why is it that simply doing this old-fashioned thing as a model official is enough to earn a top evaluation?"

Zhu Youjian remained silent.

Times change, and so do circumstances.

In later local governments, KPI assessments pursued "incremental growth," innovation, and development.

But for the Ming Dynasty today, let alone talking about growth, even talking about existing assets is extremely difficult.

Simply restoring the existing state apparatus to its state at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, or even just to the state during Zhang Juzheng's reforms, would have been enough to allow the dynasty to survive the early famine of the Little Ice Age.

only……

Who could have imagined that fate would present this doomed dynasty with a script of eighteen calamities?

Good heavens! That bookmaker is a bastard!
Lu Xiang-sheng sighed and continued.

"I was promoted to Prefect of Daming Prefecture in March of this year. After taking office, I realized that Daming Prefecture was no different from Linqing Granary."

"Taxes were in short supply for many years, and people were displaced. The fixed amount of tax was then distributed to the remaining households at each level. This cycle continued, and the people were destitute."

"I started by clearing up wrongful convictions to build up my prestige. I also cleared up donations, recovered debts, and personally supervised farming. Only then did the region recover some of its vitality."

"If His Majesty had not summoned me to the capital, my performance evaluation this year would probably have been another top-notch one."

He raised his head and looked sincerely at the young emperor on the throne, his eyes filled with genuine confusion.

"Although I passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty, I failed the selection for the Imperial Academy and was not selected for a position in the capital. I could only be sent to a local post. I do not consider myself to be a person of exceptional talent and intelligence."

"In the end, all that I've done in the past five years has been to do things diligently."

"But why is it that in matters of state, all that is required now is to be considered 'serious'? Your Majesty, is this the right thing to do?"

Zhu Youjian gazed at Lu Xiangsheng below the steps. In his eyes, he saw a sincere question and the most basic confusion of a pragmatist.

He shook his head and sighed softly, but did not speak. He simply gestured for Lu Xiang-sheng to continue.

Lu Xiang-sheng calmed himself down slightly before continuing.

"I have been stationed in various localities for four years. If I were to answer Your Majesty's question about the 'crisis of the Ming Dynasty,' my thoughts can only be summed up in the word 'earnest.'"

"Whether it's the local area or the granary, they've been in arrears for years. Eventually, they'll receive a tax exemption or a revised tax payment from the imperial court."

"But if things just keep going like this, who will bother to take it seriously anymore?"

“In local areas, exempting taxes and levies can earn one a reputation as a good official who loves the people, and also allow one to exchange poems and drink wine with local gentry. Why not do it?”

"Why bother playing the villain and offending the local officials? If you send a memorial to the capital, you'll ruin your future. What's the point?"

"Isn't it a hundred times better to just collect the usual daily fees and then send some gifts to the capital to make arrangements when it's time for the selection examinations? That's far better than doing your job diligently in office."

He paused for a moment after saying this, but finally couldn't hold back his tears. His eyes reddened slightly, and his voice choked with emotion.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, when I was summoned to the capital this time, passed through Linqing and privately inquired with a familiar post station soldier..."

"It's only been half a year since I left office, and now Linqingcang... has almost reverted to its old ways!"

"I have devoted myself to this cause day and night, pouring out my heart and soul for four years... but in the end, it was all just a fleeting moment!" After he finished speaking, he seemed to realize his lapse in composure and quickly bowed to apologize: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, I was out of line."

After saying that, he raised his sleeve and hurriedly wiped the corner of his eye.

Zhu Youjian remained silent, lost in thought, as a memory inadvertently surfaced in his mind.

"Why should this project belong to their BG from now on?"

"The organizational restructuring is something we can't avoid."

"Research, project initiation, R&D advancement, market commercialization—which of these wasn't done by me leading the team alone? What did they do? They weren't even willing to provide a single piece of data back then! Now that the chickens are laying eggs, is a mere 'structural adjustment' all they're going to say?"

"What's the point of yelling at me! Do I keep my word? What am I anyway?! If you're not happy, go yell at me at the next big meeting!"

……

He shook his head, feeling a mix of amusement and disbelief.

That was seven or eight years ago.

No... that actually happened more than three hundred years later.

Young people are still young people, after all.

When faced with setbacks, one will always feel some doubt and frustration.

However, they fail to see that time will ultimately reward those who truly work hard.

Zhu Youjian suppressed the memories that had surfaced before asking the question.

"Then, what method do you think we should use to solve this problem, Lord Lu?"

Lu Xiang-sheng suddenly looked up, his gaze intense, as if flames were burning within him!
"I believe that the performance evaluation should be reinstated!"

His tone was urgent, as if these words had been bottled up in his heart for a long time, and once released, they erupted like a volcano, impossible to contain.

"When I passed through Chengtian Gate, the list of official documents on state affairs was indeed excellent, setting a new trend in officialdom. However, I humbly believe that... the supplementary list of official documents is even better!"

"List all tasks, specify what needs to be accomplished, the deadline, and the reward. Then submit an official document in advance for record-keeping, and investigate the results afterward according to the document!"

"In this way, the capable will rise, the mediocre will fall, the diligent will be rewarded, and the lazy will be punished!"

He stepped forward, his voice growing increasingly impassioned.

"I govern Linqing, but I am troubled by the fact that I cannot govern all the prefectures and counties at the same time!"

"I govern Daming, but I am constrained by the fact that I cannot govern all the prefectures and counties within the same prefecture!"

"If this good method can be implemented, all matters can be carried out simultaneously, and the official conduct will be standardized. Why worry about a lack of people to do things or a lack of things to do?"

"I don't expect everyone to be rated as top, but only that everyone be of above-average ability. If that were the case, the world would not be in such a state!"

"This is precisely... to hold those responsible accountable for their titles, and to ensure that rewards are given and punishments are imposed accordingly!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his breathing became rapid, and his already fair face flushed with excitement.

The main hall was completely silent.

After a moment, Zhu Youjian smiled slightly.

He turned to Gao Shiming, who was standing beside him, and asked with a smile, "Gao, at the beginning of the month, I asked you to work with the Ministry of Personnel to draft that task management system and the red and green reward and punishment system. How is the coordination with Minister Yang going?"

Gao Shiming bowed and smiled, replying, "Your Majesty, Minister Yang and I have reached an agreement. We will use this month as a period of adjustment, making judgments but not announcing anything for the time being. Things are gradually going smoothly now."

"If Your Majesty wishes to implement this method, with the current manpower of the Ministry of Personnel and the Directorate of Ceremonial, it is possible to start the red and green assessment of officials in the capital at any time. However, if it is to be extended to the whole country, I am afraid that the manpower and procedures are not enough."

Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction: "Continue to work things out, no rush. We'll have the manpower soon."

Having said that, he turned his head and looked at Lu Xiang-sheng, who was staring at him in astonishment, with great interest, and smiled:

"Minister Lu, do not be anxious. I gave the order for this matter on the sixth day after my ascension to the throne, and preparations have been underway for nearly a month now."

"When you take up your post in charge of the horse grazing, you'll probably be put to the test by my new laws."

Lu Xiang-sheng was extremely embarrassed, and his face seemed to burn even hotter.

He could only bow deeply and say awkwardly, "Your Majesty is far-sighted and acts with great care. My words just now were truly presumptuous."

—Wait, don't I think I've said this before?
Zhu Youjian smiled and said, "You are still young. As long as you can uphold the word 'diligence,' your future will be limitless. A momentary oversight is nothing."

Those who have made their mark in history have indeed all possessed extraordinary qualities.

The word "serious" sounds rather ordinary.

But this is Lu Xiang-sheng at the age of twenty-seven.

What if he turns thirty-seven, forty-seven, or fifty-seven?

What heights will Lu Xiang-sheng, who has dedicated his life to this, reach?
It’s really exciting!
As for the slight immaturity, naivety, and impatience he currently displays, these are actually just minor flaws in an otherwise perfect work.

Zhu Youjian breathed a satisfied sigh of relief, expressing great satisfaction with the second SSR card he had seen.

He stretched slightly.

Outside the warm pavilion, the test he had temporarily added for the warriors of the Nine Borders should be coming to an end soon, judging by the time.

He was quite looking forward to seeing what kind of answers Cao Bianjiao, Kong Youde, and the others would come up with.

You see, his questions were like roasting them over a fire.

Having considered this, he decided to end the audience and, as was his habit, asked:
"I have no more questions. Do you have any questions for me?"

(End of this chapter)