Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 369 "My Relationship with My Ministers"

The night was thick, like fine Huizhou ink slowly spreading on Xuan paper, swallowing the majestic city walls and continuous military tents of Xuanfu Town into an endless silence.

Only the Emperor's temporary residence, set aside within the General's Mansion, that solitary warm pavilion suspended in the vast ocean of darkness, shines with a gentle and bright light, like a piece of warm jade.

Zhu Youjian was gently twirling an ivory chess piece between his fingers; it was cool to the touch and had a dense texture.

However, his gaze was no longer on the map. His deep dragon eyes seemed to pierce through the illusions of the mortal world, passing through nine passes and thousands of miles of war, and landed on the Jiangnan region a thousand miles away.

Nanchang, a gentle land where the scent of cosmetics and the atmosphere of books intertwine.

At this moment, his blue robe must have been stained with blood.

This was a game he had personally orchestrated.

A game that seems unrelated to the war, the white bones and yellow sands of the North, but in reality, it is a life-or-death situation that holds the lifeline of the entire empire together.

The Tatars in the north are like tigers and wolves; though fierce, they are visible and tangible, and can be deployed to build fortifications and defend strategic passes.

In the south, those bookworms hiding beneath the elegant and refined facades of literary works, those self-proclaimed scholars who chant the doctrines of sages day and night while engaging in the embezzlement of state funds and the exploitation of the people, are the true termites that can devour and capsize this giant ship carrying hundreds of millions of people from within its very core.

Zhu Youjian moved his long fingers slightly, and the ivory chess piece was gently pressed onto the small vermilion circle of Nanchang Prefecture on the map.

This single move marks the beginning of a storm.

Judging by the time, it was time for the sharpest and most ruthless blade he had unleashed to be sheathed.

Just then, the heavy wooden door of the warm pavilion was silently pushed open a crack.

A wisp of cold air, like a snake's tongue, probed in, causing the candlelight to flicker violently to one side.

Wang Chengen floated in, holding his hands high above his head, carrying a black box sealed with three deep red wax seals.

"Your Majesty..." He rushed to the imperial desk, took three steps, his knees buckled, and he knelt heavily on the ground. "A 600-li urgent dispatch from Jiangxi!"

Zhu Youjian slowly turned around.

Wang Chengen had served this young emperor for many years and had thoroughly understood his temperament.

Ecstasy or rage are merely manifestations of the dragon's might, and there are still clues to be found.

But since ascending the throne, only this unfathomable calm before his eyes truly signifies that deep within the heart of this young emperor, a volcano, powerful enough to overturn heaven and earth and incinerate all things, is slowly accumulating its destructive energy.

Zhu Youjian extended his hand, his movements slow and graceful.

Wang Chengen felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly got up from the ground, stepped forward, and carefully presented the secret box.

The emperor used his finger instead of a knife, and with his neatly trimmed nails, he lightly scratched the crimson sealing wax seal.

Where the armor blade passed, the hard sealing wax cracked instantly.

The box was opened, and a scroll of a report wrapped in oiled paper lay quietly inside.

He pulled it out, unfolded it, and read it quickly.

The words on the report were written by Li Ruolian himself, each character firm and strong, like iron hooks and silver strokes. Reading the whole thing was like looking at a skeleton dissected by a skilled butcher.

From breaking down the door and arresting the person at midnight to counting the family's wealth at dawn; from the joint trial by the three judicial authorities at dawn to the execution by the market officials at noon... every step was timed precisely to the quarter-hour, and the amount of stolen silver seized was accurate to the tael.

There are no flattering words or sycophantic phrases in the text; the entire piece is filled with cold, objective, and irrefutable facts.

Zhu Youjian's gaze was like a sharp carving knife, slowly moving across the report, engraving every word deeply into his mind.

Finally, his gaze settled on the end of the report, on the sentence: "At noon, the execution was carried out in the marketplace. The traitor's head fell to the ground. Tens of thousands of onlookers watched with joy. People burned incense and kowtowed in the streets, praising His Majesty's wisdom."

A slight change finally appeared on his face, which had been taut like a bowstring.

"it is good."

He slowly walked to the window and reached out his finger to push open a crack in the window frame covered with Korean paper.

The night wind in Xuanfu immediately transformed into thousands of invisible steel needles, carrying the fierce chill of the borderlands, and rushed in.

Zhu Youjian took a deep breath, facing the biting cold wind.

The cold, clean air instantly filled his lungs, seemingly washing away some of the pent-up frustration that had been building up in his chest for days.

"Wang Chengen." His voice came from the window, as cold as the night wind outside.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Wang Chengen replied hastily, bowing even lower.

"Spread out the largest sheet of Xuan paper with cloud and dragon patterns made in the palace for me!"

Soon, a huge sheet of Xuan paper was slowly unfolded on the wide imperial desk. The paper was as smooth as jade, with subtle cloud and dragon patterns floating in the air.

Wang Chengen personally ground the ink, and the rich fragrance of ink mixed with the slightly fishy smell of cinnabar quietly permeated the air of the warm pavilion, creating a solemn and imposing atmosphere. Zhu Youjian returned to his desk, but quietly lowered his eyes, gazing at the spotless white paper before him. His mind, however, was already churning with turbulent thoughts.

The previous issue of the "Da Ming Weekly" gave the world a sweet treat.

Hong Chengchou was a capable minister and a pillar of the nation. The emperor spared no effort in writing a eulogy to praise him, proclaiming his achievements to the world and establishing him as a model for all officials.

The emperor wanted everyone to see what kind of people he truly needed and relied on as ministers.

That issue of the newspaper, like a spring breeze in March, swept across the north and south of the country.

Countless officials, especially those who considered themselves capable and efficient, were greatly encouraged and spread the news far and wide.

Some might think that after the brutal purges he experienced upon ascending the throne, the emperor finally became more gentle, mature, and learned the art of balance, as well as how to appreciate meritorious officials.

grown up?
Is it ripe?
Yes, Zhu Youjian has indeed matured more in the past two years.

Therefore, he understands more than ever that having role models is far from enough.

The power of role models lies in their guidance.

But for those who are rotten to the core, any form of guidance is nothing more than talking to a brick wall.

They don't need guidance; what they need is fear!

It's the kind of feeling that penetrates to the bone, making them suddenly realize, every time they reach out to seize ill-gotten gains, every time they form cliques to harm the country, every time they spout empty talk about sages and mislead the nation, that deep within the Forbidden City, thousands of miles away, a pair of cold eyes are watching their every move!
Therefore, Zhu Youjian wanted to use Cao Wenheng's still-warm blood to give a vivid, cruel, and most effective footnote to Hong Chengchou's brilliant achievements!
With this in mind, he no longer hesitated.

Zhu Youjian abruptly picked up the large purple-haired brush, its tip dripping thick ink, but he paid no heed. On the enormous sheet of Xuan paper with its cloud and dragon design, with unrestrained and powerful strokes, he wrote the title—

What are "pure streams" and "pure opinions"? — A discussion between the Emperor and his officials

A question.

A thunderous question posed by the emperor to all self-proclaimed scholars and high-ranking officials!

Then, his wrist flicked, and the brush moved like dragons and snakes—

Those who uphold integrity are not merely skilled in rhetoric, but the foundation of the nation; those who offer honest advice are not simply voices of factions, but the plans for the country. Yet, I observe that in today's court and among the people, there are many who indulge in idle talk and empty rhetoric, valuing empty fame and boasting with hollow words.

When they sit and discuss principles, they are eloquent and articulate; but when they get up and put them into practice, they are completely lost and helpless!
These people occupy high positions, squander our national funds, and harm our people's livelihood. They still call themselves upright officials and take it as their job to attack capable ministers. What are they if not major pests of the country?

I have asked my officials three times: How do you take on your duties? How do you accomplish your tasks? How do you finish your work?

These three questions are the core of what I am discussing today, and they are also the criteria by which I distinguish between right and wrong, and weigh merits and demerits.

First, the essence of doing a job lies in being pragmatic. What does it mean to be pragmatic? It simply means to be realistic and truthful.

One cannot know the difficulty of something without experiencing it firsthand; words that do not penetrate the heart are merely empty talk.

The strategies of the court do not originate from the vast classics and histories, but are born from the paths of the fields, the hustle and bustle of the marketplace, and the labor of the workshops.

If you want to know what happens in the mountains, ask the woodcutter; if you want to know the hardships of farming, ask the farmer on the ridge!
You who receive salaries from the court should think of the hardships of the people. What I desire is not eloquent writings, but detailed statistics and practical strategies.

Therefore, I hereby proclaim to the world that from this day forward, in all matters of government, the true situation must be investigated first, and in all suggestions, the facts must be verified first.

Without investigation, one has no right to speak; without evidence, one is guilty of deceiving the emperor.

In the past, empty talk harmed the nation; today, I personally advocate for it, for practical work builds the country! The merits and demerits of achievements are not determined by words, but by concrete evidence. This is the first principle of undertaking any task.

Secondly, the key to success lies in benefiting the people.

What does it mean to benefit the people? It means to treat the nation as your home and the people as your foundation. Your official positions are not your private property, but are entrusted to you by me and the people. The only criterion for judging your actions is whether they benefit the nation and the people. This intention is the intention of Heaven; this benefit is the greatest benefit.

Today, our Great Ming Dynasty faces the Jurchen invaders to the north and rampant bandits to the south. Natural disasters are frequent, and the people suffer greatly. Recovering Liaodong, providing relief to the disaster victims, developing industry and commerce, and replenishing the treasury—these four are the goals of my efforts and those of all my officials! Those who undertake these four tasks, even if flawed, will be forgiven by me; those who obstruct these tasks, even if they possess a good reputation, will be severely punished by me!
Those who govern should have a long-term vision, not concern themselves with short-term gains, but rather plan for a lasting foundation. Even if a policy is implemented today and the people have reservations, if in the long run it can ensure lasting peace in the region and the longevity of the nation, then it is a good thing. Officials must have a great sense of public duty to benefit the country and its people, and also possess the magnanimity to not seek personal credit for success. This is the second essential principle for achieving success.

Thirdly, the key to accomplishing a task lies in diligent practice.

What is steadfast action? It is simply perseverance and achieving success through diligent effort. Good strategies and well-intentioned plans are nothing but empty words without decisive implementation. Those in power should possess unwavering determination, like a craftsman working with wood, each nail and mortise, each hammer blow, striving for depth and strength. Once the court is established, it forms the warp; the various departments, adapting to local conditions, form the weft. Only when warp and weft intertwine can a magnificent tapestry be created. My grand plan is steadfast and unwavering; your strategies, too, must be pursued persistently and diligently, not abandoned because of others, nor changed because of time.

Promoting high-yield crops and establishing new schools of thought on natural sciences may seem trivial, but they are fundamental to the nation's well-being and cannot be accomplished overnight. This spirit is precisely what is needed.

I, in the central government, oversee the entire situation and formulate the overall plan; you, in the localities, guide the way according to the circumstances and explore the path forward. The policies of the court and the actions of the localities complement each other.

In conclusion, pragmatism is the cornerstone of undertaking any task, benefiting the people is the guiding principle for success, and steadfast practice is the guarantee for completion. These three are inseparable and indispensable. Without pragmatism, it is like trying to catch fish by climbing a tree; without benefiting the people, it is tyranny and oppression; without steadfast practice, nothing will be accomplished.

From this day forward, I and all my officials will strive together to uphold these three principles. Those who are pragmatic, benefit the people, and act diligently will be rewarded and promoted without regard to rank. Those who indulge in empty talk, harm the people, and are lazy in governance, like Cao Wenheng, will be severely punished without hesitation.

What is a "pure stream" (a term referring to a group of people who are upright and honest)? It is one that brings prosperity to the nation! What is "pure opinion" (or "honest and upright discourse")? It is one that benefits the people!

This is it.

(End of this chapter)