Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 142 Can I catch a fish? (Seeking monthly votes!)

Fishing Platform in Xiyuan.

The lake surface was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the clear blue sky and the weeping willows on the shore that were beginning to turn yellow.

(Attached photo: Scenery of Diaoyutai Lake Pavilion, absolutely stunning in autumn~)

A fishing rod extends at an angle, its bamboo body remaining motionless in the breeze, while the thin fishing line dips into the water, creating a faint ripple on the surface.

Following the fishing rod was Zhu Youjian, dressed in casual clothes.

He wasn't holding a fishing rod; his hands were tucked into his wide sleeves, his body leaned slightly forward, and his gaze was fixed on the float on the water's surface. His eyes seemed distant, as if he were looking at the fish or at the autumn colors that filled the lake.

In front of him, on a white marble base, there was an inconspicuous groove where the end of the fishing rod was firmly inserted.

Wang Tiqian stood three steps behind him, bowing slightly, his eyes downcast and his breathing extremely soft, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility.

Apart from the occasional birdsong and the rustling of the wind through the willow branches, there was no other noise around.

After a long while, long enough that Wang Tiqian thought the emperor had entered meditation, Zhu Youjian's indifferent voice finally rang out.

"Wang Tiqian, do you think there are fish in this lake?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the silence.

Wang Tiqian quickly stepped forward, his smile humble and respectful.

"Your Majesty, the water in the West Garden is stocked with new fish by the Imperial Household Department every year. Not to mention fish, there are quite a few rare species such as golden carp and jade-tailed crucian carp."

"It must have been cool last night, and the fish all sank to the bottom of the water to keep warm, so they didn't want to move."

Zhu Youjian hummed in agreement, his gaze remaining fixed on the water.

"Isn't the bait appealing?"

Wang Tiqian bent down even lower, and his smile became even more sincere: "Your Majesty is too kind. The fish bait used in the Imperial Kitchen is made from carefully selected millet mixed with sesame oil and honey. Not to mention the fish, even this servant finds it sweet and fragrant."

"It seems that all the fish in this pond are too dull to know the value of dragon bait and have missed this great fortune."

Zhu Youjian nodded and stopped talking, just staring blankly at the fishing line.

As the sunlight gradually slanted downwards, it cast his long shadow onto the white marble railing behind him.

He knew there were fish in the lake, and the bait was tempting enough.

However, the fish at the bottom of the water each have their own thoughts.

Some are observing, some are testing the waters, and some are waiting for other fish to bite the hook first.

Still waters run deep; the source of the commotion is not the fish, but my own heart.

What he was waiting for was not just the fish in the lake, but also the fish in the lake.

……

At the same time, dozens of civil officials dressed in various official robes, led by two eunuchs, passed through layers of palace gates and headed towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

At the very front of the procession was Han Kuang, the former cabinet minister who had just been reinstated.

Soon, they arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

When Han Kuang stepped across the threshold of the main hall, he was completely stunned.

Unlike usual, the hall was not furnished with only the emperor's desk. Instead, it was decorated with over a hundred sets of tables and chairs, just like in a palace examination.

On each table, there is a cup of tea.

Beside the tables and chairs, there were several screens, but they were covered with a layer of plain white Xuan paper, so it was impossible to see what was behind them.

(Attached image; background image from a real picture of the Hall of Supreme Harmony)

Just as he was surprised, Huang Liji chuckled and patted his shoulder familiarly.

"Brother Yu Chen, look for your name tag. There are tags on the table."

After saying that, Huang Liji looked around for a moment, then walked straight to the first table on the left in the front row and sat down leisurely.

Han Kuang hesitated for a moment, and then some of the officials behind him found their seats and took their places.

Only a few of his newly reinstated officials remained standing there, somewhat at a loss.

Huang Liji, who had already taken his seat, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He turned around and waved to Han Kuang.

"Brother Yu Chen, come here, your seat is here."

Han Kuang looked in the direction he pointed and saw a seat in the third row.

He hesitated for a moment, then walked over and sat down.

The chair was made of fine rosewood and had a thick, warm cushion.

As soon as he sat down, he couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh of relief.

After being dismissed, Wei Zhongxian also convicted him of embezzling two thousand taels of silver. He sold all his property and borrowed money from relatives and friends to barely scrape together the fine.

In the end, he could only live in a thatched hut next to his ancestral graves in a sorry state.

It wasn't until the rumors subsided that he was able to move back into the house with the help of old friends.

But the thatched hut was cold and damp, and in just one year, he developed a condition where his hands and feet would become cold and painful whenever the weather got really cold.

He subconsciously shifted his body; the warm and comfortable feeling made him feel somewhat uncomfortable, but more than that, he felt a strange unease.

Coincidentally, Lai Zongdao, the Minister of Rites, was sitting to his right.

Han Kuang frowned, lowered his voice, and said seriously, "Brother Ziyou, this seems to be against ancestral rules. Daily lectures are a regular part of the imperial lectures, intended to resolve the emperor's doubts. How could it be set up like this?"

Lai Zongdao turned his head, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face, unsure of what to say for a moment.

This matter is neither a big deal nor a small one.

Normally, ancestral rules should be upheld, but the ministers are not spineless; they understand what makes them more comfortable.

In the Ming Dynasty, things that benefited civil officials were done according to ancestral rules, while things that were not were reformed. There was no such thing as a true ancestral rule.

Out of concern for his reputation, he submitted several memorials to the emperor, but the emperor only responded gently and never changed his ways. Over time, he became too lazy to bother with anything else.

Just then, someone nearby snorted and said sarcastically, "If we have to follow ancestral rules in everything, then the Great Ancestor's punishment of skinning people alive should also be reinstated."

Han Kuang was furious and turned around abruptly, only to see that everyone around him was sitting upright, some looking down at their tea, others tidying their clothes, and he couldn't tell who was trying to assassinate him.

His chest heaved, but he managed to suppress his anger.

Having been away from Beijing for several years, how could these young people be so rude!
……

One after another, nobles, scholars, and officials from the Six Ministries also entered.

There were more than a hundred people in total.

Everyone took their seats according to their name tags. Those who knew each other whispered among themselves, creating a buzzing noise in the hall, somewhat like a bustling marketplace.

"What exactly is this supposed to be? Is this some kind of nonsense?"

"I doubt it. Why would we need such a grand display? The problem with the Ming Dynasty last time, if we were to discuss it openly today, would simply be about officialdom, finance, and border affairs. Does that mean we're going to decide on new policies today?"

"If new policies are to be established, how can everyone just sit there? What kind of decorum is that!"

No one responded to that last sentence.

Just then, a young eunuch walked to the front of the hall, flicked his whisk, and shouted in a high-pitched voice, "Silence!"

The civil and military officials, who had long been disciplined, almost reflexively shut their mouths, and the hall fell silent instantly.

Gao Shiming, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, slowly emerged from the shadows beside the hall.

He cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping across the room, and said in a clear voice:

"Now that everyone is here, let's announce the rules we'll be discussing today."

"Ten days ago, His Majesty left a question: 'What is the problem facing the Great Ming today?' Many scholars from the Hanlin Academy worked tirelessly and presented dozens of official documents on state affairs. After reviewing them, His Majesty was delighted and found them to be of great benefit. He even found the 'most magnificent article in the world' to be created. He could not bear to keep it to himself, so he summoned all his officials to appreciate it together."

As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of suppressed gasps erupted in the hall.

The area where the Hanlin Academy was located was instantly abuzz with excitement. The Hanlin scholars, readers, and editors all straightened their backs, their eyes darting eagerly left and right, their faces filled with anticipation and self-confidence.

The greatest masterpiece in the world!

Could it be my own post?

It must be!

My own article, full of quotations and insightful observations, is unparalleled!

"quiet!"

The young eunuch shouted again, this time three times, before finally calming the increasingly out-of-control scene back down.

With the emperor absent, and this "daily lecture" not being a traditional one, and Gao Shiming not being a powerful eunuch like Wei Zhongxian who had amassed his influence over the years, everyone's mindset had unknowingly become much more relaxed.

Gao Shiming wasn't annoyed. He waited until things had completely quieted down before continuing to speak.

"The Hanlin Academy submitted a total of thirty-seven official documents on state affairs to answer this question."

"The Imperial Archives of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has been ordered to print it into a book. Please read it before His Majesty arrives. You have two hours."

"Your Majesty will arrive at the Hall of Supreme Harmony at the beginning of Shen Shi (3-5 PM) to discuss matters with you all."

Gao Shiming waved his hand, and dozens of eunuchs immediately filed in, distributing stacks of booklets, still smelling of ink, to everyone present.

Han Kuang took the booklet and suddenly felt his arm sink.

It was over a foot tall!
Seeing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, Gao Shiming added in a low voice, "Everyone, please begin."

As soon as he finished speaking, an even more intense discussion erupted in the hall.

"Two hours? To read through this booklet that's over a foot tall? How is that possible!"

“That’s how official documents are these days. They emphasize evidence and data. If they’re not at least ten thousand words long, they’re almost embarrassed to call them official documents,” a young scholar explained proudly to the person next to him. “Look, the ink on this booklet doesn’t seem to be completely dry yet. Was it really printed overnight?”

"Huh? Why are none of these policy proposals signed?"

Han Kuang did not participate in the discussion. He raised his head and glanced around the noisy hall. His gaze met that of Liu Hongxun, who was diagonally opposite him. Both of them saw a deep sense of confusion in each other's eyes.

He looked up again, gazing at the dragon throne at the very front of the hall, which was high above but empty, and his brows furrowed tightly.

Is this the newly enthroned monarch?

Why... is he acting so unusually?
A country should be governed with prudence and composure. Such frivolity, even with kindness and ingenuity, will ultimately do no good to the country.

He shook his head, stopped thinking about it, and reached out to pick up the first memorial at the top.

A spirited headline immediately caught my eye.

"On the Greatest Malpractice in the World: The Incompetence of Officials"

The title alone conveys an unquestionable determination.

Han Kuang took a deep breath and opened the main text.

The opening is a profound and thought-provoking statement that sets the tone for the topic.

"To correct the branches, one must straighten the roots; to purify the stream, one must unclog its source."

"Officials are the foundation of the state and the source of governance. The difficulty in governing the world is not in enacting laws, but in ensuring their enforcement; the problem is not the lack of virtuous officials, but the failure to promote them."

"The accumulated problems of the Ming Dynasty are deeply rooted and complex, but at their root, they all stem from the corruption of the bureaucracy."

"When officials are too numerous, things fall into disarray; when there are too many people, governance becomes sluggish; the good policies of the ruler do not reach the people; and the hardships of the people are not communicated to the ruler."

“If this problem is not eliminated, the new policies cannot be implemented, the national treasury will not be replenished, and the borders will not be peaceful.”

"Therefore, I believe that the problems facing the Ming Dynasty today are numerous, complex, and multifaceted, but the most crucial issue is simply the governance of its officials!"

color!
Han Kuang couldn't help but give a soft compliment.

Could this be the greatest masterpiece in the world?

He couldn't help but squint, turned to the second page, and brought the booklet even closer.
Table 1: Data on Corruption by County Magistrates in This Dynasty

Then there are densely packed numbers displayed in the table.

Han Kuang gasped.

He looked up and glanced around. Everyone was engrossed in reading, and the noise gradually subsided.

He looked down at the booklet again.

A moment later, he opened the other booklets, flipped through them briefly, and found that they were indeed filled with tables.

This……

This this this? !

Why is this official document on state affairs different from Xue Guoguan's document on road construction?!
……

Xiyuan, Diaoyutai.

A young eunuch ran up to Zhu Youjian and reported, "Your Majesty, it has already begun at the Hall of Supreme Harmony."

Zhu Youjian nodded, but put a finger to his lips and gently shushed.

"Keep your voice down, don't startle my fish."

Upon hearing this, the eunuchs and maids serving nearby all held their breath and dared not even make a sound.

The world is vast and boundless, with only the sounds of wind, birdsong, and the rustling of leaves in the wind remaining.

……

Two hours passed in a flash.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony gradually became lively again.

Some of the quick-readers had already put down their booklets and started whispering with their neighbors.

Some readers, though slower, continued to furrow their brows and carefully savor each word and sentence.

"Well written! Incisive and thought-provoking!"

"It is said that Hanlin officials only know how to write and do nothing practical. After seeing them today, I realize that this statement is completely wrong. Several of these articles could not have been written without a deep understanding of local government affairs."

"What's so strange about that? Although they are in the capital, they can consult memorials from previous years at any time. They also have colleagues, fellow students, and fellow townsmen serving in various ministries, from whom they can ask questions. With a little more effort, it's not surprising that they could write these."

Some people were worried: "These thirty-seven articles have almost covered all the problems of our Ming Dynasty. If we try to implement new policies at the same time, it may be too hasty and do more harm than good."

"Indeed, governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. Such swiftness may not be a blessing for the nation."

Some even shook their heads, pointing out incisively: "These articles are good, but the issues they address are ultimately limited to one corner. His Majesty is asking about the 'world,' and these strategies do not seem to deserve the title of 'the most magnificent articles in the world.'"

"Speaking of which, do you think His Majesty might use this as the topic for this year's imperial examination?"

Upon hearing this, the person fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a discussion more intense than ever before.

Just then, a crisp crack of a whip suddenly rang out from outside the hall.

Immediately following was the high-pitched, drawn-out chant of the young eunuch.

"Your Majesty - Ascension to the Palace -!"

Huang Lijie and other officials in office almost immediately stood up, quickly walked to the open space in the hallway, lifted their official robes, and knelt down.

Seeing this, the others followed suit and knelt down.

In the blink of an eye, the hall was filled with a dense mass of people kneeling down.

"Your Majesty—ascend the throne—!"

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

A roar like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami echoed within the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Zhu Youjian slowly walked up the imperial steps, sat down on the dragon throne, and raised his hand.

"Rise, my lords, and take your seats."

Everyone stood up, and Huang Lijie and the others, already used to it, went straight back to their seats.

Han Kuang hesitated for a moment, then sat back down as well.

This time, however, the feeling was even stranger than before.

Whether the emperor is present or not, the feeling of sitting is completely different.

Zhu Youjian didn't waste any words, but simply said, "Gao Banban, let's move on to the next step."

Gao Shiming bowed and accepted the order. With a wave of his hand, more than a dozen eunuchs immediately walked to the screens covered with white paper and stood solemnly.

Gao Shiming cleared his throat, and his voice echoed throughout every corner of the hall.

"His Majesty has reviewed all thirty-seven official documents concerning state affairs. His Majesty has said: 'If a matter is not fully explained, it shall not be submitted in writing.' Therefore, after being rejected many times, each document is now limited to addressing only one matter."

"Each scholar expressed his own opinion and had his own expertise, but in the end, they all came down to nothing more than three matters: administration, military affairs, and finance and taxation."

"The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has compiled a list according to the number of times the three matters were mentioned. Gentlemen, please look at the screen."

Gao Shiming gestured towards the screen, and the dozen or so eunuchs immediately reached out and peeled off the first layer of plain white Xuan paper covering the screen!

The civil and military officials in the hall subconsciously looked up, and the next moment, everyone's pupils suddenly contracted.

On the screen, a huge and strange "cake" was clearly painted.

The "cake" was divided into three pieces, each a different color, and was clearly labeled in regular script.

Gao Shiming's voice rang out again at just the right moment.

"This is the 'pie chart' invented by Your Majesty, used to visually express the proportion of things."

"Among them, the blue one is 'official governance,' which is mentioned nineteen times, accounting for half of the total."

"The yellow text refers to 'finance and taxation,' which is mentioned eleven times."

"Red represents 'military and political affairs,' and is mentioned seven times in total."

Looking at this novel chart, almost everyone understood its meaning immediately.

Visual charts, by their very nature, align with the most intuitive cognitive habits of humans; their greatest advantage lies in their ease of understanding and clarity.

However, before they could even marvel at the ingenuity of this invention, an even more significant piece of news followed.

Gao Shiming continued, "Your Majesty believes that although the scholars of the Hanlin Academy are full of enthusiasm for the country and the people, they have been living in the study for a long time and have not been involved in local politics. Therefore, their words may always be biased."

"And all of you present here are pillars of our Great Ming Dynasty, the backbone of our nation. His Majesty also wishes to see your inclinations, so that your words may truly be considered as advice for the country."

He waved again as soon as he finished speaking.

Several eunuchs immediately brought up a long table, on which were placed three bamboo tubes about half a person's height. On the bamboo tubes were written large characters: "Government Affairs", "Finance and Taxation", and "Military Administration".

Several more eunuchs pushed over several screens to surround the long table, leaving only a small opening on the side for one person to pass through.

Gao Shiming said in a clear voice, "Later, each of you will be given three red beans. You may take turns going behind the screen and putting the red beans into the bamboo tube that you think is the most important."

"Three red beans can be thrown into one tube, or into two or three tubes, it's all up to your own judgment, sir."

After saying this, he bowed deeply to Zhu Youjian on the dragon throne and stepped aside.

Only then did Zhu Youjian slowly speak:
"Everyone, let's get started."

"Let me see what the most important ministers of my Great Ming Dynasty think about this great scourge of the world."

I'm not trying to promote democracy, but you'll never guess what I'll do.

(End of this chapter)