Sweep Yuan

Chapter 285 The Departure and Remaining of a Literary Giant

On the walls of Hangzhou, red flags fluttered in the morning breeze.

For ordinary people struggling to survive under the harsh rule of the Mongol Yuan dynasty, the change of city ownership often meant an opportunity for change, however slim, it was still a glimmer of hope. But for those Mongol Yuan officials imprisoned, it was a watershed moment in their lives, with every step treading on the thin ice of life and death.

Before the somber atmosphere had dissipated from the courtroom of the Red Flag Battalion's temporary marshal's headquarters (formerly the Jiangzhe Provincial Government), Shishan had already swiftly identified and dealt with the captured Mongol officials.

For officials like Qi Guangzu, the Prefect of Qiantang, and Xiang Mengjie, the Assistant Magistrate of Renhe County, whose families were all within the actual control area of ​​the Red Flag Camp, whose own official reputation was acceptable, and who had no intention of being loyal to the old dynasty, Shishan adopted a policy of appeasement.

He did not criticize these people harshly, but instead comforted them gently, gave them a way out, analyzed the advantages and disadvantages, and persuaded them to work for him.

Qi Guangzu and other former officials were in their prime and were unwilling to end their hard-won careers. Seeing that Marshal Shi was not a cruel and bloodthirsty person, but instead showed the demeanor of a great leader who could restore the country, they hesitated for a moment and then switched sides.

Shi Shan then temporarily retained them in their original positions, ordering them to assist the Red Flag Battalion in taking over Hangzhou and stabilizing the local populace.

In times of chaos and strife, the struggle for power revolves around talent and the foundation of rule. The addition of these experienced and well-regarded former officials will provide the Red Flag Battalion with invaluable experience and connections to establish order in Hangzhou.

The Red Flag Battalion does indeed have a serious shortage of administrative personnel. We should address the issue of having enough personnel first, and stop being picky.

However, not every former official could enjoy this "leniency," such as Yu Yuan, the former Assistant Magistrate of Hangzhou Road.

This man was originally the county magistrate of Renhe County. Last year, he assisted Bolanxi in recapturing Hangzhou and made great contributions. As a result, he was promoted from the ninth-rank county magistrate to the fourth-rank assistant prefect, which can be described as "the emperor's great favor".

Moreover, their hands were stained with the blood of the rebels, and the two sides had long been sworn enemies.

Yu Yuan knew he had no chance of survival once he fell into the hands of the Red Flag Battalion. When the city fell, he intended to commit suicide to die for his cause, but his subordinates, who wanted to surrender and live, held him down and made him their "pledge of allegiance" to their new master.

However, given Shishan's habit of not only killing but also punishing the mind, Yu Yuan can live a few more days—at least his crimes will be thoroughly investigated and his property confiscated.

The properties of the other Mongol officials who fled Hangzhou to seek help would also be confiscated, as most of them remained in the city.

After all this was done, Yu Yuan and the others were escorted to the marketplace and publicly executed.

Between these two extremes of surrender and death, many more were caught in deep torment and confusion. Yang Weizhen, the deputy director of the Hangzhou Tax Bureau, was one of the most representative among them.

Yang Weizhen was a native of Zhuji Prefecture in Shaoxing Road. In the fourth year of Taiding (1327 AD), at the young age of thirty-one, he passed the imperial examination and was extremely successful. He was appointed as the magistrate of Tiantai County, full of ambition to "make the ruler like Yao and Shun and restore the purity of customs".

However, reality soon dealt him a heavy blow.

After taking office, he astutely discovered that the county government was controlled by eight cunning officials known as the "Eight Carvings." They manipulated the system, forged account books, colluded with local powerful figures, and wantonly oppressed and exploited the people, turning the government of Tiantai County into a chaotic mess.

How could the hot-blooded young Yang Weizhen tolerate this? He wanted to use swift and decisive measures to rectify officialdom, determined to overthrow this "eight evils" who harmed the people and ruined the government, and restore order to Tiantai County.

But he was still too young and underestimated the deep-rooted network of local forces and the ferocity of their counterattack.

Yang Weizhen's actions deeply affected the interests of the powerful families. Not only did he fail to completely bring down the "Eight Eagles," but he was also framed and slandered by corrupt officials after only a little over a year in office, and was eventually dismissed from his post.

This setback was like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing his initial enthusiasm for entering officialdom and giving him his first taste of the darkness and infighting in the bureaucracy. But he did not succumb to despair. Once the storm had passed, he went everywhere, seeking connections and opportunities, hoping to make a comeback and realize his ambitions.

Six years later, Yang Weizhen finally secured the position of commander of the Qianqing Saltworks.

This position was only a seventh-rank official position, lower than his initial post as the magistrate of Tiantai County (a sixth-rank official position). However, in order to realize his lifelong ambition, Yang Weizhen still resolutely went to Qianqing Saltworks to take up his post.

At that time, the Yuan court's finances were becoming increasingly strained, and the pressure on salt tax, such an important source of revenue, was intensifying. Officials at all levels took the opportunity to increase the tax burden at each level, enriching themselves and causing great suffering to the salt farmers at the bottom.

Yang Weizhen witnessed firsthand how elderly salt farmers under his jurisdiction collapsed from exhaustion in the salt fields under the scorching sun, never to rise again, while the government's tax collectors remained as ruthless as wolves.

He was filled with indignation and lamented, "How pathetic this official is!" He wrote a heartfelt petition overnight and sent it to the Salt Transport Commissioner of Liangzhe, requesting a reduction or exemption of the unreasonable salt tax quota for Qianqing.

What he received in return was a cold approval from his superior stating that "salt tax is the lifeblood of the imperial court and should not be discussed lightly," as well as the mocking looks from his colleagues.

At the age of thirty-eight, Yang Weizhen's deeply ingrained unyielding spirit erupted once more. He stormed into the salt commissioner's office, and in front of numerous officials, threw his official hat to the ground, sternly addressing his superior, the Salt Transport Commissioner:

"Either reduce the exorbitant tax of 3,000 yin (approximately 600,000 jin) imposed on me for clearing the land, or I, Yang, will resign from my post today and return to my hometown, never to set foot in officialdom again!"

Corruption in the Mongol Yuan dynasty was almost an open secret, and the lucrative salt administration was particularly notorious for it, with virtually no one in the salt bureaus clean. Yang Weizhen's reckless actions, if exposed, would bring trouble on everyone.

Ultimately, the corrupt salt commissioner was forced to compromise and agree to a tax reduction.

Although Yang Weizhen successfully spoke out for the people, he also completely offended his superiors and a much larger interest group, and was firmly "welded" to the lowly position of commander of the Qianqing Saltworks, with no hope of promotion.

In the fifth year of the Zhiyuan era (1339 AD), his father Yang Hong passed away. Yang Weizhen left office in accordance with the regulations for mourning, and was thus ruthlessly kicked out of the Mongol Yuan officialdom like a discarded pawn.

After the mourning period ended, he tried to get reinstated, but his repeated requests went unanswered.

The doors of officialdom seemed to have been completely closed to him. Disheartened, Yang Weizhen turned to education and literature, expressing his feelings through poetry and wine.

He initiated the "West Lake Bamboo Branch Poems" movement in Hangzhou, transforming the vulgar into the elegant, and making bamboo branch poems popular throughout the city; at Gu Ying's "Yushan Thatched Cottage" in Kunshan, he was the most popular talker and critic of poetry and prose.

At the "Jugui Literary Gathering" in Jiaxing and the "Yingkui Literary Gathering" in Songjiang, he presided over the evaluation, and could determine the quality of poetry and prose with a single word, gradually becoming the recognized leader of the literary circles in Jiangdong.

During this period, his works such as "Lize Yiyin" and "Xihu Zhuzhici" were published, which made the "Tieya Poetry School" he founded famous and firmly established it as the leading school of poetry in the late Yuan Dynasty.

However, the glory in the literary world could not ultimately compensate for the disappointment in his official career.

Yang Weizhen's scholarly ambition to "master both literary and martial arts and serve the emperor" never truly cooled down.

In the third year of the Zhizheng era (1343 AD), the Yuan court ordered Prime Minister Tuotuo to oversee the compilation of the histories of the Liao, Jin, and Song dynasties. However, even after the books were completed the following year, it was still not determined which of the three dynasties was the legitimate successor.

Yang Weizhen astutely seized the opportunity and wrote the monumental treatise "A Critique of the Orthodoxy of the Three Histories". After reading it, the chief compiler Ouyang Xuan praised it highly, saying, "A hundred years later, public opinion will be based on this," and intended to recommend him for a position in the Imperial Academy.

But how could the corrupt Mongol Yuan bureaucracy tolerate an outlier like Yang Weizhen, who was sharp-witted and unfamiliar with the "rules" of officialdom? The recommendation ultimately failed due to too much resistance.

It wasn't until the tenth year of the Zhizheng era that Yang Weizhen was finally able to return to public service with the recommendation of Kang Ruotai, a fellow Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), and was appointed as the deputy director of the Hangzhou Tax Bureau.

After twenty-three years of twists and turns, his official rank had returned to where he started after passing the imperial examination and becoming the magistrate of Tiantai County—a sixth-rank official. This was an extremely rare occurrence in the Mongol Yuan dynasty's officialdom.

The position of tax collector is responsible for managing the market and collecting commercial taxes. They have to deal with the targets set by their superiors and the resistance from merchants. Their income also largely depends on tax revenue. They are at the center of a vortex of contradictions and are prone to being blamed at the slightest provocation.

Yang Weizhen felt that this position was like being trapped in a "sea of ​​ink" and a "fiery hell," leaving him physically and mentally exhausted.

Having suffered the blow of losing his post twice, and already in his later years (born in 1296 AD), his mentality had become more resigned and composed. Although he found the position tedious and unpleasant, he still gritted his teeth and persevered, unwilling to easily lose this hard-won official position again.

Because of his notorious reputation for "discord with colleagues" and "disobedience to superiors," he was generally avoided by officials in Hangzhou.

With the Red Flag Battalion marching south and the city on the verge of falling, Qing Tong and others sent their trusted confidants to escape under the pretext of "calling for reinforcements and supervising the battle." Yang Weizhen, however, had no way to escape and was unwilling to abandon his official position in haste again. He could only stay in the city with trepidation, leaving his fate to chance.

Because of his renowned literary talent, Shi Shan had long heard of Yang Weizhen. Upon entering the city, he included Yang on his first priority list for investigation, ordering a detailed investigation into his past and conduct in the Tax Collection Office. It was discovered that Yang Weizhen had not committed any acts of corruption or misconduct.

The day after the city fell, Yang Weizhen was taken to the study of the Shishan Imperial Academy.

This place was no longer the decadent retreat of the Mongol Yuan officials of yesteryear. The desks were neatly arranged, maps hung high, exuding an atmosphere of simplicity and efficiency. Shi Shan dismissed his attendants and personally poured Yang Weizhen a cup of tea, his manner humble yet assertive.

"Lord Tieya." Shishan, having inquired about Yang Weizhen's character, went straight to the point:
"When Gongli served in local government, whether it was punishing the wicked in Tiantai or reducing taxes in Qianqing, he always put the people's livelihood first. He was ostracized by corrupt officials many times but never changed his original intention. He was of noble character and Shan has always admired him."

Now that the Mongol Yuan dynasty has lost its way and the world is in turmoil, I, Shi, have risen from humble origins, determined to drive out the invaders, restore the Han dynasty, and liberate the people from their suffering. This is a time when men of talent are needed. How could you, with your talent and ambition, Lord Tieya, bear to grow old in vain in the mountains? Would you be willing to lend us a hand, to jointly lay a new foundation, and to quickly settle this chaotic world?

Yang Weizhen was a kind and straightforward man who disliked pretense and evasion. Shi Shan's direct approach actually suited him quite well. He had heard many rumors about the Red Flag Battalion, some praising it and some criticizing it.

Seeing that this "traitor" leader, who was famous throughout the southeast, was so young, yet had a deep and steady gaze, and spoke words that affirmed his past persistence and pointed out the greater good at the moment, he was full of sincerity.

If it had been ten years earlier, when his career prospects were bleak but his ambitions remained undiminished, Yang Weizhen might have been tempted by such a straightforward offer.

Now, however, he is nearly sixty years old. Having experienced the vicissitudes of time and the darkness of officialdom, his ambition has gradually faded. Yet, the concept of "integrity" of a scholar-official and his concerns about being labeled a "traitor" weigh heavily on his heart.

Yang Weizhen remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of detachment and stubbornness:
"I am old, nearing sixty, and have spent half my life toiling away, yet I have accomplished nothing and have no desire for an official career. On the other hand, you, in your youth, were able to stir up the winds of change and achieve such a situation; you are truly no ordinary person."

Unfortunately… you were ignorant of your own limitations and caused this terrible disaster, which is unlikely to be a blessing for the people. I hope that you… will repent soon, and perhaps restore peace to the world.”

These words were quite impolite, almost accusatory. The guard standing to the side changed his expression slightly, but Shi Shan laughed heartily, unperturbed:

"Hahaha! Everyone says that Lord Tieya is upright and has the demeanor of an ancient gentleman. Having met him today, I can confirm that his reputation is well-deserved."

Shi Shan knew that old-fashioned intellectuals like Yang Weizhen, who were well-read and had firmly established views, could not be easily persuaded in a single conversation. Their acceptance of the new regime required time and the proof of facts.

Shishan is not in a hurry, much less force the other party to submit.

"Everyone has their own ambitions, and I cannot force you to."

Ishiyama's tone was quite calm as he continued:
"The order in the city has been largely restored. Lord Tieya may return to his residence on his own. Everything is fine at home, and I have sent people to look after him. If you wish to return to your hometown of Zhuji, you may wait a few days until the Qiantang River tide subsides. Our warships can then escort you safely across the river."

If you wish to travel elsewhere, please wait until our army has cleared away the surrounding deserters and bandits, ensuring the roads are safe, before proceeding, to avoid any unforeseen circumstances.

Yang Weizhen was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. He had thought that even if he was not punished, he would at least suffer some humiliation or be placed under house arrest. He did not expect that Shishan would not only let him leave so easily, but also make such thoughtful arrangements for his safety.

Looking closely at Shi Shan's eyes, they were quite clear and open, not like he was pretending.

Come to think of it, the other party now controls more than ten prefectures and commands hundreds of thousands of troops, so there is really no need for them to play any tricks on a down-and-out old scholar like me.

As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face. Faced with Shi Shan's polite treatment, Yang Weizhen's resistance lessened somewhat. He cupped his hands in greeting and his tone softened considerably:

"In that case... I thank you for your kindness."

Yang Weizhen's main areas of activity in previous years, including Jiaxing, Suzhou, Songjiang, and Hangzhou, have all been taken over by Shishan. His hometown of Zhuji Prefecture is also under threat from the Red Flag Battalion. After his release, he indeed had nowhere to go.

Moreover, he had long been accustomed to the fame and fortune of being the center of attention and could no longer return to the peaceful life in his hometown of Zhuji. In addition, since his friends Gu Ying and others had not taken office and had not been harmed in Shishan, it was better for him to stay in Hangzhou and wait for the situation to change.

With mixed feelings, Yang Weizhen walked out of the heavily guarded gates of the provincial government office.

The sunlight outside was a bit blinding, and he squinted as he surveyed the streets and alleys of Hangzhou, now a scene of devastation. The chaos, carnage, and looting he had imagined were nowhere to be seen. Although there were still traces of battle on the streets, they had been cleaned up quite neatly.

Squads of Red Flag Battalion soldiers, gleaming in their armor and displaying impeccable discipline, patrolled past, never harming the people in the slightest.

The beggars and vagrants that were once common seemed to have decreased significantly. He later learned that most of these people had been organized by the Red Flag Battalion in the form of "work relief" to participate in tasks such as repairing city defenses and clearing streets.

What surprised him even more was that most of the shops along the way were open for business. Although they were not as bustling as before, they still showed a tenacious vitality.

He strolled to the West Market, which he had once managed, and saw a crowd gathered in front of the market notice board. A former minor official who had surrendered to the Red Flag Battalion was standing on a stool, loudly reading out the "Five Articles of Law for Merchants and Market Households" issued by the new government.

Yang Weizhen was curious, so he leaned closer and was surprised when he saw the contents of the notice.

"A proclamation to all merchants and shopkeepers in the marketplace:"
I, the commander, drove out the invaders, restored the Han dynasty, relieved the people from their suffering, and recovered Hangzhou. Now I hereby agree to a five-point law with you, to abolish the oppressive policies of the Mongol Yuan dynasty, and to work together for the prosperity of the market…

I. Eliminate the harmful system of "purchasing and buying".

…All taxes on shops and stalls will be collected directly by the government according to regulations, eliminating the abuses of tax evasion by unscrupulous individuals! Any clerks or officials found to have privately established tax categories, over-collected taxes, or under-reported taxes, are permitted to be bound and handed over to the authorities. Upon verification, they will be executed without exception!…

II. Doorway tax is categorized by geographical boundary.

...Shops within the city are taxed in three tiers based on location, size, trade, and revenue, in an effort to ensure fairness...

Third, pawnshops and brokerage firms must present an official certificate.

...Anyone opening a brokerage firm to broker transactions or a pawnshop to pawn goods must possess an official seal and certificate, which must be renewed every five years, along with a fee for the certificate. Anyone operating a brokerage firm without a certificate will have their goods confiscated and be exiled to the army! ...

IV. Property transaction tax is mandatory.

…In the city, the buying and selling of houses and land requires paying taxes at the tax office. Property deeds must be written on official deed paper…The government verifies the deeds and affixes its red seal stating 'Tax paid' before the deed becomes a legally valid deed. Private transactions or deals without proper documentation will not be accepted by the courts in case of disputes!…

V. Invite elders to discuss tax regulations

...On the 20th of this month, the Tax Bureau will host a banquet, inviting two elders from each trade to discuss specific tax amounts and collection methods. You may truthfully report any problems or abuses within your trades; if you have a good solution to improve taxation and eliminate abuses, once adopted, you will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver! ...

Standing in the crowd, Yang Weizhen was increasingly alarmed!
He was a true expert. He suffered greatly in his position as the tax commissioner and knew the Mongol Yuan tax system, especially the drawbacks of the "Puma" (tax farming system), which were too numerous to list.

Tax farmers, driven by greed, often levied exorbitant taxes, causing widespread public resentment, while the government reaped the benefits without lifting a finger, neglecting its duties.

Hongqiying's move goes beyond simply abolishing bad policies; it proposes a comprehensive and feasible tax reform plan that emphasizes feedback from businesses and the public! This includes classifying tax grades, standardizing brokerage firms, clarifying deed tax, and even inviting industry representatives to discuss tax rates…

The insight, courage, and respect for public opinion displayed here are worlds apart from the corrupt, greedy, and rigid Mongol Yuan government he knew so well!
He keenly sensed that Shishan's decision was by no means a spur-of-the-moment one; this policy must have been tested and perfected in the cities previously controlled by the Red Flag Battalion, otherwise it would not have been so thorough and mature.

Even so, this person was still willing to listen to the opinions of merchants on the specific details! This pragmatism and open-mindedness...

Yang Weizhen couldn't help but recall Shi Shan's young yet composed face. Comparing it to his own impetuousness and helplessness when he first entered officialdom, a complex feeling welled up in his heart.

Who is merely paying lip service to winning people's hearts and minds? Who is genuinely eradicating deep-seated problems and building order? The difference is obvious!
A faint sense of regret, like a delicate vine, quietly crept into Yang Weizhen's heart. Perhaps, in Marshal Shi's study, he had indeed spoken too definitively, too recklessly?

But as soon as the thought arose, he forcibly suppressed it. His life had been full of hardships; when had he ever easily bowed his head to anyone?
Yang Weizhen sighed, turned around and left the bustling market, leaving behind the contents of the notice and the hopeful discussions of the surrounding merchants.

However, the ambition for officialdom that he thought had long since died down was stirred by what he had seen and heard in the past half-day.

What lies ahead? Should I retire to Zhuji and spend my remaining years in the mountains and forests, or...?

……

PS: Historically, in the sixteenth year of the Zhizheng era (1356 AD), Yang Weizhen was transferred from Hangzhou to Jiande Road as a judge because he wrote an article satirizing Dashi Timur, the Left Vice Minister of Jiangzhe Province, for abandoning the city and fleeing.

Two years later, Zhu Yuanzhang sent Hu Dahai to capture Jiande Road, and Yang Weizhen, who was 64 years old at the time, fled to Fuchun Mountain in Hangzhou to avoid the chaos. In the same year, he accepted the position of Director of Confucian Studies in Jiangxi Province of the Yuan Dynasty, but due to the war blocking the roads, he was unable to take up the post.

Yang Weizhen was upright and unconventional in character, which led to repeated setbacks in his official career. However, after losing his post several times over a period of more than thirty years, he spared no effort in asking people to help him get back on his feet, showing that he was indeed very ambitious for official positions.

(End of this chapter)