The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 100 Zhu Yuanzhang draws his sword, how many heads will be enough to cut down?

On the Qinhuai River, there is a painted boat in the middle.

The second-floor window was half-open, with curtains hanging down.

The head manager stood by the window, next to a middle-aged man, who was burly and had slightly graying temples.

"Fifth Prince, you didn't expect to come to the capital, did you?"

"If it weren't for the head manager's invitation, I would have preferred to spend the rest of my life in Huzhou."

The head manager smiled slightly: "The people of Huzhou must all miss the King of Wu."

Zhang Shicheng once proclaimed himself King of Wu in Suzhou, controlling eleven prefectures in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. He was known for his lenient taxes and levies, which won him the hearts of the people. After his death, the people of Suzhou secretly built the Zhang Wang Temple, and on the anniversary of his death, incense is burned continuously.

"The Zhu family now rules the world," the Fifth Prince sighed softly.

The head manager smiled faintly: "I've heard that the people of Suzhou and Hangzhou call Zhang Wang (a derogatory term for the emperor) but don't respect the emperor."

The Fifth Prince snorted coldly: "That was Zhu Yuanzhang's own doing."

"How harsh was he on the people of Jiangsu and Zhejiang? Their taxes were several times higher than in other places; Suzhou alone had to pay 2.8 million shi (a unit of dry measure) in taxes. With such a heavy burden on the people, how could they respect the emperor?"

"Not only that, he relocated more than 10,000 wealthy families from Suzhou, Hangzhou and other places to the capital, ostensibly to strengthen the capital region, but in reality to weaken the local areas. He wanted to sever the roots of Jiangnan, but can the roots of Jiangnan be severed?"

The head manager said slowly, "Even so, the gentry and powerful families in the Jiangnan region remain strong."

"This has also become a major concern for Zhu Yuanzhang." The Fifth Prince's gaze was cold. "Hmph, scholars from these places cannot be appointed to positions in the Ministry of Revenue."

"The people's hearts are not with him, and Zhu Yuanzhang harbors resentment," the head manager sighed.

The Fifth Prince raised his head, his gaze sharp: "The head steward has said so much, is he planning another rebellion?"

The head manager remained silent for a long time, then shook his head: "The world is at peace, and the trend of the times is irreversible; rebellion is impossible."

"Then what are you trying to do by pulling this stunt?" The Fifth Prince frowned.

Since they weren't going to rebel, what was the head manager's motive for contacting wealthy merchants in Jiangnan, winning over Zhang Liangbi, and secretly weaving one web after another?

The head manager stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from the Fifth Prince and towards the Qinhuai River outside the window.

"If we can't win on the battlefield, we'll fight in the government and among the people."

"I will infiltrate his officials, manipulate them, and corrupt his Great Ming Law."

The Fifth Prince was stunned, then burst into laughter: "This is interesting. We've all died once before. I'll do it with you."

The head steward pulled out an account book, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of the Fifth Prince.

"Look, I'm going to make an account book that covers all thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty."

The Fifth Prince took the account book and casually flipped through it.

The first page contains three lines: a person's name and official title. Below that, densely packed details are recorded: the date, who handled it, how much silver was received, and what was done.

He flipped through the pages one by one; they were all records like this.

"Use the officials to humiliate the emperor?" His eyes lit up.

Using the emperor to command the feudal lords—that was Cao Cao.

This is the first time I've ever seen someone control all the officials to command the emperor.

All the officials are on your ledger, and each of them has a messy account in your hands. Whether the emperor's edict can leave the Fengtian Hall or the Six Ministries is another matter.

The head manager laughed loudly: "Who can hold Zhu Yuanzhang hostage?"

"If all the officials of the Ming Dynasty were on this ledger, would Zhu Yuanzhang have killed them all?" The Fifth Prince frowned.

The head steward shrugged: "Every time Zhu Yuanzhang raised his sword, how many heads rolled? Other emperors couldn't do that, but Zhu Yuanzhang could."

The Fifth Prince remained silent.

He was aware of both the Hu Weiyong case and the blank seal case.

Zhu Yuanzhang's sword was never used to kill one person at a time, but to kill piece by piece.

"So, even if this account is completed, it's useless," said the Fifth Prince.

"it works."

The head manager stood up with his hands behind his back, walked to the window, and said in a deep voice, "At that time, we'll see whether he burns this ledger or the entire empire."

A glint flashed in the Fifth Prince's eyes.

If this fire were to burn the account books, it would be tantamount to condoning corrupt officials.

With the collapse of the rule of law and rampant corruption, the Ming Dynasty was rotten to the core.

If we burn the country down and kill everyone in the government offices, then the six ministries will be empty, local governments will be without tax collectors, and the government offices will be completely deserted.

You yourself have destroyed the country, so what are you talking about regarding the Ming Dynasty?

"The head steward is indeed generous." The Fifth Prince flipped through the account book again, his gaze darkening. "There are enough names of officials in this account book, but it's not enough to burn down the country."

The head steward waved his hand: "Don't worry, more officials will come to the accounts on their own initiative."

The Fifth Prince looked suspicious: "Zhu Yuanzhang severely punished corruption; they wouldn't dare, would they?"

"Zhu Yuanzhang could see the rotten soil beneath the dragon throne, but he was too eager for quick success and used the wrong methods," the head steward sneered. "It's not that people want to be corrupt officials, it's that his Ming Dynasty laws forced people to become ghosts."

The Fifth Prince finally understood and laughed: "If he burns the tents at that time, it will be condoning corruption. But if he doesn't burn them, it will implicate all the officials, cause suffering to the people, and shake the foundation of the country."

""

"Punishing corruption endangers the country, while condoning it leads to the loss of the people. If this situation succeeds, let's see how Zhu Yuanzhang will break it."

The two of them laughed for a while, then simultaneously fell silent.

The head steward picked up the teacup on the table, and the Fifth Prince straightened his clothes, both regaining their composure.

One has returned to being the unfathomable head manager, and the other has returned to being the low-key and reserved wealthy merchant from Jiangnan.

"I am in the capital," the head manager said. "I will take care of all the officials, big and small, in the capital. As for the local officials in Jiangnan, I will rely on you."

The Fifth Prince nodded: "That's my territory."

Although Zhang Shicheng has been dead for almost twenty years, the roots he planted in Jiangsu and Zhejiang could not be completely eradicated by Zhu Yuanzhang's harsh laws and punishments even after twenty years.

"This is the big business I've asked you to do," the head manager said.

The Fifth Prince raised an eyebrow and asked, "I heard that Zhang Liangbi is also in the capital?"

"Yes, not just Zhang Liangbi, but also Li Siqi." A glint flashed in the head manager's eyes. "With them, we can make good use of Guanzhong."

The Fifth Prince said admiringly, "Master Manager, at this rate, it won't be long before this ledger contains the entirety of the thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty."

He has the head manager in the capital, the Fifth Prince in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the two veteran generals Li Siqi and Zhang Liangbi in Guanzhong.

Encircled from the north, south, and west, a vast net was cast out from Yingtian Prefecture, stretching along the Grand Canal, the post road, and through Tongguan Pass, all the way to the northwestern frontier.

"We are both players and pieces," the head manager said, extending and clenching his hands. "Let's see how Zhu Yuanzhang breaks this deadlock."

The Fifth Prince's chest heaved slightly: "At most ten years. Which government office in the Ming Dynasty won't obey our orders? We have the ledgers of bribes taken by all the officials. Heh heh, Zhu Yuanzhang's officialdom will collapse by then."

"So what if he seizes the throne?" the head manager sneered. "I'll make him feel like he's sitting on pins and needles. With the Northern Yuan eyeing him covetously, I'll give him both internal and external troubles."

The Fifth Prince could not hide his excitement: "I'm looking forward to it! When we were fighting for the throne, we lost to Monk Zhu. We must get our revenge."

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter again.