PFC Chapter 10 A Master of Strategy
Chapter 10 A Master of Strategy
Zhu Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang entered from the rear hall, with Old Zhu going directly to the inner room.
After entering the front hall, Zhu Biao scanned the area but did not find Li Jinglong.
"Didn't the Duke of Cao come today?"
The eunuch replied, "Your Highness, no!"
"Go to the Left Army Headquarters and summon Duke Cao to the Eastern Palace!" Zhu Biao instructed the eunuchs, then addressed Huang Zicheng, Hua Lun, and the others in the hall, "Let's begin!"
Old Zhu, who was inside, couldn't help but twitch his lips, thinking to himself: I'd forgotten about this kid!
So he waved his hand to summon the eunuch, who brought Li Jinglong to the East Palace.
Just as Old Zhu finished giving his instructions, a voice came from the front hall. Old Zhu immediately pricked up his ears and listened attentively.
"Your Highness, I hereby submit a memorial regarding the abuses of the grain tax collection system in Wujiang County, Suzhou Prefecture."
Hua Lun stood inside the hall and said loudly:
"Upon reading the memorial, I am greatly angered. The grain commissioner's extortion of the people's money is truly a scoundrel of the nation. The memorial is approved, and I hereby issue a further stern edict:"
I. The Ministry of Revenue shall determine the regulations for additional grain consumption throughout the country within fifteen days. In Suzhou Prefecture, the additional grain consumption shall not exceed one dou per shi of regular grain. Anyone who dares to increase it to three dou shall be punished by the grain magistrate. If any prefectural or county official knows of this but fails to report it, he or she shall be punished in the same way.
2. If a citizen is allowed to use the "Great Proclamation" to report wrongdoing, anyone who reports a grain chief levying taxes will be rewarded with fifty taels of silver and exempted from taxes for three years in their place of origin; any local official who dares to obstruct this will be punished.
Third, the corrupt grain official of Wujiang County shall be immediately arrested by the Imperial Guard and brought to the capital for trial. His crimes shall be published in the "Continuation of the Great Proclamation" to instill fear in all grain officials throughout the land.
Zhu Yuanzhang sat in the inner room of the Wenhua Hall, listening to the Hanlin scholars' proposals. He frowned slightly, feeling somewhat uneasy and awkward.
However, Lao Zhu listened carefully to the report and gave it a naive evaluation.
At this moment, Zhu Biao's voice came into Old Zhu's ears from outside:
"Article 1: The grain chief's crime shall be punished by slow slicing; Article 2: Any local official who dares to obstruct this shall be beheaded and his entire family exiled; Article 3: Proceed as requested!"
After hearing Zhu Biao's solution, Old Zhu's face showed a satisfied expression.
Before he could even feel smug, he heard the sound of the next memorial coming from inside the hall.
A look of surprise flashed in Old Zhu's eyes, and he thought to himself: So fast!
After the Hanlin scholar outside finished presenting his proposal, Zhu Biao immediately agreed, which displeased Zhu Yuanzhang. Why didn't he even consider it?
However, after careful consideration, Lao Zhu found that the reply was very thoughtful and there was no need to add anything.
At this moment, Zhu finally understood that this was simply a matter of asking his ministers for their opinions, and if he agreed, he would approve them; if he disagreed, he would reject them or revise them.
The decision-making power is in one's own hands, and there is not much difference between that and personally approving the documents.
At this moment, when Old Zhu thought about all the hard work he had put into reviewing the memorials, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.
The commotion outside continued, but Old Zhu was lost in deep thought.
Suddenly, Old Zhu's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Wasn't this just dividing up the Prime Minister's duties among a few people?
No! Old Zhu immediately rejected his own idea. These people had no decision-making power, which was the biggest difference from the prime minister system.
At this moment, Li Jinglong was also led to the inner room of the Wenhua Hall. Upon seeing Old Zhu, Li Jinglong was stunned for a moment. Just as he was about to bow, Old Zhu waved his hand to interrupt him, signaling him to be quiet.
Seeing that Old Zhu glanced at him and then fell silent, Li Jinglong had no choice but to stand respectfully to the side.
An hour later, Li Jinglong felt his legs were numb!
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang remained unmoved, Li Jinglong secretly rolled his eyes at the old man and thought to himself: "So petty! All I did was talk back to you last night!"
Time flew by, and it was already noon. He walked into the inner room with the food box he was carrying.
"Jiujiang? When did you arrive?" Zhu Biao was surprised, not expecting Li Jinglong to be among them.
"Your Highness, I've been here for a while!" Li Jinglong greeted him with a smile.
"Father, Jiujiang, let's have a meal together!" Zhu Biao called out to the two.
After sitting down, Li Jinglong hadn't even taken a couple of bites of food when Old Zhu asked him, "Second daughter, let me ask you, what do you think we should do if a powerful minister emerges from among these Hanlin scholars?"
Li Jinglong was taken aback and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang in disbelief. The cabinet hadn't even been established yet, and you'd already thought about the next step?
Li Jinglong lowered his head slightly and said with great certainty, "Your Majesty, I believe that no powerful minister will emerge from among these Hanlin scholars!"
"Why?" Zhu Yuanzhang naturally didn't believe it.
"They are only fifth-rank officials. Although their positions are crucial, they will not become powerful ministers!" Li Jinglong explained.
Has a powerful minister emerged in the cabinet? No, nominally.
In reality, in terms of power, it wasn't until Zhang Juzheng during the Wanli era that he could be considered a powerful minister!
However, the cabinet at that time had been strengthened countless times compared to the early Ming Dynasty!
Starting with the establishment of the Grand Secretariat by the Yongle Emperor, and through continuous strengthening during the reigns of the Ren and Xuan Emperors, it eventually surpassed the Six Ministries. Moreover, there was a very important opportunity in this process, namely that Emperor Baozong ascended the throne at the age of nine.
However, in the struggle between the Ming Dynasty's cabinet and the imperial power, the cabinet was always at a disadvantage when it encountered an capable emperor, because the cabinet had a fatal flaw: it could only draft proposals, but had no decision-making power.
Li Jinglong's words made Lao Zhu fall into thought again.
"However, this way of governing will eventually surpass the Six Ministries over time, since they have the right to participate in government affairs!" Li Jinglong continued.
"That's right! That's exactly what we're worried about!" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.
"Your Majesty, scholars in the Imperial Academy who have no decision-making power are ultimately subject to the Emperor!" Li Jinglong said with a smile, then swallowed the rest of his words.
"Jiujiang, if the emperor is lazy, wouldn't he just leave all the affairs of state to others?" Zhu Biao suddenly interjected.
Li Jinglong nodded, but did not offer any opinion.
"With such a scoundrel appearing, the Zhu family's empire is doomed!" Old Zhu sneered.
Zhu Biao's cheeks flushed slightly; it seemed his question was somewhat unnecessary!
"Second daughter, we've already made a rule that we will not reinstate a prime minister!" Old Zhu looked at Li Jinglong with a serious expression.
Li Jinglong shook his head slightly and concluded: "Your Majesty, this palace system, although it does not have the title of prime minister, has the substance of a prime minister, and although it has the substance of a prime minister, it does not have the power of a prime minister!"
In truth, I mostly serve as an advisor and assistant, except, of course, in the situation Your Highness mentioned!
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were both frowning and deep in thought, Li Jinglong continued, "Your Majesty, the same axe is used by a woodcutter to chop wood, but in the hands of a soldier, it is used to kill the enemy."
"Hehe!" Zhu Yuanzhang's face revealed a playful smile. "Second girl, we underestimated you before!"
Alarm bells rang in Li Jinglong's mind: Oh no!
At this moment, Li Jinglong wanted to slap himself twice! Why did he have to show off like that?! You think you're so smart?!
Zhu Biao looked at Li Jinglong with increasing satisfaction and praised him, "Father, Jiujiang is a man of great talent and strategy; he will surely become a pillar of the nation in the future!"
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, I was just being sarcastic!"
Li Jinglong chuckled twice, then felt a chill run down his spine!
I think I've gone a bit too far!