Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 167, Section 62, The Day of the Snake: Revolution Begins!
In the conference room of Wuying Hall.

Two eunuchs bowed and gently closed the heavy palace door, leaving only a few cracks in the windows for ventilation.

Inside the hall, fine silver-boned charcoal burned, making it warm as spring, but the atmosphere was even more somber than the cold winter outside.

The ministers and nobles sat in their respective rows, each with their own chair and table. The younger officials in the secretariat, however, could only sit on small stools at the back.

Zhu Youjian sat in the middle, slightly taller than the others, with more than a dozen handwritten commemorative books on the table.

His gaze calmly swept over each person seated below.

Almost all the prominent figures in the central government, including Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, Ministers of the Six Ministries, Censors, and the Nine Ministers, were gathered here.

In addition to the newly promoted young officials of the secretariat, as well as nobles from the capital, there were nearly a dozen people in total.

(Attached is a chart of the organizational structure of the Ming Dynasty court. Red represents committees, purple represents senior eunuchs, green represents the Donglin Party, and the rest are neutral or wavering.)
One by one, faces—some mature, some shrewd, some eager, some calm—flipped before his eyes.

Since ascending the throne, Zhu Youjian has worked tirelessly day and night, employing every possible means.

By bestowing favors and granting privileges, balancing factions, enticing with fame and fortune, seizing the moral high ground, and cultivating the image of a sage ruler, the emperor can achieve his goals.

That's why we have the well-behaved governing team we have today.

The eunuch faction, the Donglin faction, and neutral individuals were evenly distributed.

And a new policy collective with him at its core and the new policy as its guiding principle has gradually taken shape.

But this is not enough.

Zhu Youjian knew very well that most of the nobles sitting at the top of the pyramid were still observing, calculating, and waiting.

They are like old turtles who have been in officialdom for many years, hiding their heads in their shells, letting you blow and rain, only seeking "stability".

But what Zhu Youjian lacked most was time, and what he couldn't give them was this word "stability"!

What do you mean the Ming Dynasty has ninety years left, forty-four years left, twenty years left...?

It's all lies!

If Yongchang can't survive two years, and if he can't survive ten years, then this project is doomed!
Zhu Youjian had given these top-level officials enough patience and shown them enough goodwill.

Now, he has begun to develop the ability to speak based on his abilities.

The sixth day of the month, the day of the snake, signifies the beginning of reform!
"Boom, boom."

Zhu Youjian stretched out his finger and gently tapped the imperial desk in front of him. The crisp sound was particularly clear in the warm pavilion.

Everyone's spirits lifted instantly.

"Yesterday's grand court assembly only discussed the general outline of the new policies in order to boost morale and unite the people," Zhu Youjian began. "Today's smaller meeting is where we will truly discuss how to get things done."

He looked around at everyone, his tone flat and unambiguous.

"Today's agenda is simple. First, propose the agenda items; second, vote on the agenda items. If there are no objections, the agenda items will be passed; if there are objections, they will be raised on the spot, discussed on the spot, and resolved on the spot."

"Once a decision is made on any issue, it is a military order. Afterwards, if anyone goes back on their word, delays, feigns compliance while secretly opposing it, or tries any tricks like doubling or adding to the burden..."

He paused slightly, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp as a knife, sweeping across everyone's face.

"That would be to sever oneself from the Ming Dynasty, to sever oneself from the world, and to willingly become a sinner who traps China in a two-thousand-year cycle of order and chaos!"

After he finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Some people shifted uncomfortably.

Today, this young emperor has torn away all pretense of tenderness, revealing his sharpest fangs.

"Those who understand, raise your right hand," Zhu Youjian said calmly.

The atmosphere in the hall became suffocating.

Everyone was slightly taken aback, not expecting this to be a topic of discussion.

But the emperor's gaze was fixed on them, calm yet carrying a mountain-like pressure.

Huang Lijie, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, the Grand Secretary of the Jianji Hall, and a member of the New Policies Committee, was the first to raise his right hand.

Immediately afterwards, officials from the Secretariat and the New Deal Committee raised their hands without hesitation.

Then, the others, whether they were from the Donglin Party, the old eunuch party, or the neutral faction, hesitated, but some raised their right hands quickly and some slowly.

Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the new policy officials without leaving a trace.

He had already discussed this meeting procedure with the core team members.

He decides the agenda, the attendees, and naturally, the direction of the vote at today's meeting!

What talk of balancing factional strife? That's something Emperor Jiajing did when he was cultivating immortality.

What kind of secret police? That's the work of Tianqi carpenters.

Emperor Yongchang, Zhu Youjian, chose to follow the "centralized system" of later generations.

His path would be to personally take the lead in this new administration and urge the old empire to move forward!
Today, he will give this group of bureaucrats their first lesson.

"Very good." Zhu Youjian took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "The first thing to do today is to unify our thinking and determine the outline for the implementation of the new policies."

"I previously raised the issue of 'the conflict between people and land,' which is a deep-seated problem for the Ming Dynasty. To solve this problem, we must first start with the word 'nation.'"

He looked at everyone and posed a question.

"Why must there be a nation? Why must there be an emperor in the world? And why must the common people pay taxes with their blood and sweat to support officials and nobles?"

"Who can answer this question for me?"

These words caused an uproar among the court officials.

This is a huge problem, so big that they had never even considered it.

They studied the Four Books and Five Classics, took the imperial examinations, became officials, and governed the people—all as if it were the natural order of things.

The principles of ruler and subject, father and son, and the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues were the cornerstone of their understanding of the world.

Now, the emperor is asking them why this foundation stone exists.

A long silence fell over the hall.

Although the members of the New Policies Committee had been bombarded with similar questions by the emperor before, they dared not speak at this moment, knowing that they were not the main characters today.

The remaining senior officials, on the other hand, kept their eyes down, determined to observe more, listen more, and speak less.

Zhu Youjian did not expect them to give any earth-shattering answers.

He came here today not for "discussion," but for "coercion"!
Seeing that no one answered, he stopped waiting and gave his own answer directly.

"Because, nothing can be accomplished without gathering resources, and decisions cannot be made without the authority to be exercised!"

"To resist the northern barbarians, is the strength of the border troops in Xuanfu, Datong, Jizhou, and Liaodong enough? No! We must draw on the wealth of the south and conscript soldiers from the Central Plains! Otherwise, the northern barbarians will first conquer the north and then swallow the south, and the world will inevitably fall into chaos!"

"Can we manage the Yellow River and dredge the Grand Canal with just the efforts of Shandong and Henan provinces? No! We must coordinate efforts from upstream to downstream and span several provinces from east to west! The cost of river management, which can easily reach millions or tens of millions, is not something that a single prefecture or county can afford!"

"To provide disaster relief, if there is a severe drought in the west, then grain from the east will be used to supplement it; if there is flooding in the south, then wealth from the north will be used to help it!"

"The wealth and grain of the nation do not belong to any one province or region, but to all the people of the nation!"

Zhu Youjian stood up, placed his hands on the imperial desk, leaned slightly forward, and stared intently. He no longer intended to conceal his thoughts or attach himself to any Confucian doctrines.

From today onward, he will criticize the country's progress in every way, both ideologically and in action!
Zhu Youjian continued to output:

"This is why China has a nation, an emperor, and officials!"

"By adhering to the mean, one can govern the four directions and bring order to all people."

"This is the responsibility of the Ming Dynasty, the responsibility of the Emperor, and also the fundamental responsibility of all of you who receive salaries from the court and govern the country!"

"The people support us with their taxes, and we repay them with peace and prosperity! This is the way of Heaven, and also the bond between ruler and subject!"

"This is my answer. Those who agree, raise your hands!"

This time, the commotion in the hall was even more intense than before.

The officials of the New Deal raised their hands without hesitation.

The other officials exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with struggle and disbelief. The emperor's words completely abandoned the traditional theories of divine right of kings and the mandate of heaven, instead blatantly redefining the legitimacy of the state and imperial power from a purely utilitarian and pragmatic perspective!
Is it reasonable? Of course it is.

That is the truth, as each of the three matters in the world is more fatal than the last.

But... that's too domineering!

A moment later, Lai Zongdao, the Minister of Rites, stood up, his face flushed red, and gritted his teeth.

"Your Majesty!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement. "The Book of Documents says, 'Only virtue moves Heaven, and there is no place it cannot reach!' The reason why the Son of Heaven is the Son of Heaven is because he has virtue and can govern the people on behalf of Heaven, not because he can accomplish great deeds!"

"When a ruler follows the way of the king, the world will be at peace; when a ruler follows the way of the tyrant, the people will be alienated. Your Majesty's words today emphasize utilitarianism over moral cultivation, which is the beginning of tyranny and not the behavior of a true king! If this continues, the people will only know strength and not propriety, and the foundation of the nation will surely be shaken! I implore Your Majesty to reconsider and reaffirm the teachings of the sages!"

Zhu Youjian listened quietly to him finish speaking, nodded, and his face showed no emotion.

He simply said, "When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they are well-fed and clothed, they know honor and shame."

"Never before in history have I seen people displaced and starving, while the court has been able to maintain long-term stability by talking about morality."

"Your words, my dear minister, are quite apt to be spoken to Wang Mang of the Xin Dynasty."

Having said that, he didn't even glance at Lai Zongdao again, and instead scanned the assembled officials with his gaze.

"Does anyone else have any objections?"

The main hall was deathly silent.

Everyone was terrified by the emperor's words.

Comparing the current Minister of Rites to a minister who advised Wang Mang is practically an insult, calling him pedantic, hypocritical, and out of touch with reality!

Lai Zongdao was so angry that he trembled all over, his lips quivering, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Zhu Youjian waited a moment, and seeing that no one else spoke, he said, "Then let's vote by raising hands."

This time, I raised my hand more slowly and hesitantly than before.

But eventually, hands began to rise one after another, completely highlighting Lai Zongdao, who stood there alone with a flushed face.

Zhu Youjian tapped the table, as if he hadn't seen him, and continued speaking.

"Alright, the meaning of the nation, the emperor, and everyone here has been explained."

"Then let me ask again, how does the Ming Dynasty perform in its duties of resisting foreign aggression, repairing water conservancy, and providing disaster relief compared to the early years of the Hongwu and Yongle reigns? Is it better or worse?"

He looked at everyone and said directly, "Those who think it's inferior to the early days of the dynasty, raise your hands."

This time, almost everyone raised their hands, and even Lai Zongdao, after hesitating for a long time, reluctantly raised his hand.

This is an indisputable fact.

Zhu Youjian nodded: "Good. If you believe that the Ming Dynasty's national strength and order can still retain more than 80% of what they were at the beginning of the dynasty, then you can put down your arms."

No one let go.

"Those who believe that more than 60% of the original stock can still be sold should put down their arms."

This time, gradually, more than half of the people put down their hands, mostly middle-aged and elderly bureaucrats.

"Those who believe that more than 30% of the original nationality can still be retained should put down their arms."

As soon as he finished speaking, a large number of people put down their hands.

In the end, only a few young officials from the secretariat were still raising their hands.

Zhu Youjian waved his hand, signaling them to put it down as well.

"It seems that everyone has their own judgment."

"The struggle between people and land, like the threat of foreign invaders, river works, and natural disasters, is a matter that can destroy a nation. It's just that previous dynasties were too confused to have such foresight."

"Whether you say 60% or 30%, you all fundamentally agree that the Ming Dynasty is far inferior to what it was at the beginning of the dynasty."

"The official documents I received concerning state affairs, totaling millions of words, ultimately boil down to nothing more than three things: increasing production, reclaiming wasteland, and opening up the seas. However, if these three things are addressed, then issues such as governance, finance and taxation, border defense, imperial clans, and land ownership will all become entangled with them."

"Solving this problem is already fraught with difficulties. Adding to that the current chaotic and disorderly state of the Ming Dynasty, it becomes even more difficult."

He changed the subject, his tone softening slightly.

"However, governing a country is like treating an illness. Illness comes like a landslide, but recovery is like pulling silk from a cocoon."

"While strong medicine can cure diseases, it can also easily harm the body. The Wang Anshi reforms serve as a stark warning."

"Therefore, I believe that the new policies should be implemented in stages, by region, and by step."

“In the inner palace, I used strong medicine to induce it, because it is the easiest to control.”

"In the capital and Shuntian Prefecture, the punishment was carried out with a combination of leniency and severity. This was because the capital officials were numerous and supervised day and night, so there was no fear that they might make mistakes or be biased."

"The prefectures of Beizhili were subjected to this again. Their Embroidered Uniform Guard, Eastern Depot, and censors were sent to patrol the area, so that there was no fear that they would oppress the people, deceive the emperor, or outwardly comply but inwardly defy him."

"As for the rest of the provinces, we should take a slow and steady approach. We should select virtuous and capable officials and proceed gradually, not seeking quick results, but only stability."

"So, there is a distinction between inside and outside, a difference between near and far, and a proper balance between tension and relaxation. What do you all think? Those who agree, please raise your hands."

Zhu Youjian had repeatedly spoken these words about self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world, and they had become deeply ingrained in people's minds.

The most radical reforms are placed in the areas closest to us, while the more difficult-to-control aspects are placed in the least moderate category.

This explanation put most of the people present at ease.

Even though some officials and nobles with vested interests in the capital or Beizhili harbored resentment, they dared not be the first to speak out at this moment.

After all, the lessons learned from the past are still fresh in our minds.

For some reason, His Majesty has abandoned his benevolent ways and suddenly become so harsh.

So this time, the raising of hands became exceptionally quick and orderly.

"Okay." Zhu Youjian nodded, but the smile on his face vanished instantly, turning icy cold.

"Since everyone agrees, then I am puzzled."

"Since I ascended the throne, the official documents concerning state affairs that I have received have been piled up in carts and bushels."

"Why is it that among all these high-ranking officials, ministers, and nobles, countless people have been receiving the imperial salary for ten or twenty years, yet so few submit memorials to the emperor?"

"On the contrary, those minor officials of the seventh rank, and even those scholars in the capital who have not yet entered officialdom, are all eager to offer suggestions. Why is that?"

"Could it be that the rise and fall of this empire depends solely on ordinary people, and not on high officials?"

The air inside the hall seemed to have been sucked out in an instant.

The young secretariat officials standing in the back row had sharp, piercing eyes as they openly surveyed the silent, trembling bigwigs in the front row.

Cabinet ministers like Yang Jingchen and Li Guopu, who had already consulted with the emperor and were deeply involved in discussions of the new policy, felt uneasy, let alone others.

"Perhaps it's because you're all mature and prudent."

Zhu Youjian shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of unspoken sarcasm.

"I do not wish to dwell on the past."

"But the nation cannot wait any longer, nor can the people of the world!"

"Governance can be delayed, but action must be taken swiftly!"

"If you all don't move, then I will!"

He slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Minister of Rites, Lai Zongdao!"

Lai Zongdao trembled and subconsciously raised his head, his face full of astonishment and unease.

Is this emperor so vengeful that he punishes so swiftly?!

Zhu Youjian's voice was cold and authoritative.

"Stand up and receive the order!"

(Here are some other parts that I couldn't finish posting earlier; this architecture hasn't been adjusted to its final form yet.)

(End of this chapter)