Chapter 297: Levying the Estate Land Tax

Duke Cheng of the State, Zhu Chunchen, and the old Prince Fu, Zhu Changxun, found themselves in a predicament where they had no idea what to do.

Meanwhile, in the adjacent chamber, Zhu Youxiao had already finished his breakfast. He took the silk napkin Chen Hong handed him, wiped his mouth, and then rose to his feet.

Turning to glance at Chen Hong, Zhu Youxiao asked, "Is that matter on the other side finished?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is done." Chen Hong said hurriedly, his expression betraying neither joy nor anger.

The reason was simple—showing any emotion at this moment would be inappropriate. Having no presence at all was for the best.

Zhu Youxiao nodded lightly, casually tossed the silk napkin back to Chen Hong, and said, "Then let's go take a look."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong promptly acknowledged and turned to lead the way.

For Zhu Youxiao, meeting Zhu Changxun and the others was something he would rather avoid—seeing those two fools was enough to make him sick. But the current situation left him no choice; the matter was not yet finished.

Zhu Youxiao returned to his own palace and quietly waited for Zhu Changxun and the others to arrive.

Over on Duke Cheng of the State Zhu Chunchen's side.

A young eunuch said to Zhu Chunchen with a smile, "Your Grace, His Majesty summons you."

Hearing these words, Zhu Chunchen shuddered, and the ominous premonition in his heart grew even heavier.

But at this moment he dared not be negligent. He quickly rose to his feet and said, "May I trouble you, eunuch, to lead the way?"

The young eunuch hurriedly replied with a smile, "I wouldn't dare presume. Your Grace, please, this way, Your Grace."

Having said this, the young eunuch led the way ahead.

Next door, Zhu Changxun had experienced the same thing.

Zhu Changxun had already made up his mind—this time, no matter what, he would push all the blame onto Zhu Chunchen.

He absolutely could not take it upon himself. The situation was already bad enough; if he offended so many people in the capital on top of that, it would all be over!

Zhu Changxun and Zhu Chunchen arrived one after another before the palace where Zhu Youxiao was, and exchanged a glance.

In each other's eyes, all they saw was hesitation, and they also saw the chagrin in the other's gaze.

But neither of them said anything, because Chen Hong had already come out to greet them.

"Both of you, His Majesty is already waiting inside." Chen Hong said to Zhu Changxun and the others with a smile. "Please, follow me."

Having said this, Chen Hong turned and walked into the palace.

Zhu Changxun and the other man dared not hesitate and quickly followed Chen Hong inside.

Seeing the two walk in, Zhu Youxiao smiled and said first, "Did my two beloved ministers sleep well last night?"

The two secretly exchanged a glance, each seeing the bitterness and helplessness in the other's eyes.

Zhu Changxun hurriedly performed the ritual salute and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject has never slept better."

Zhu Chunchen beside him also hurriedly said, "Your subject also slept very well."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "I slept quite well too. My two beloved ministers are loyal and devoted to the state, and I am deeply gratified. If the Great Ming had more ministers like my two beloved ones, why would we ever worry about the Great Ming not prospering?!"

After saying this, Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Chen Hong and instructed, "From now on, when the Imperial Uncle enters the palace, there is no need to announce him beforehand. The Imperial Uncle's health is not good, so in the future he may enter the palace by sedan chair."

Chen Hong hurriedly acknowledged, "Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will remember."

Zhu Changxun dared not omit the ritual salute, and hastily knelt to the ground, saying, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

"Imperial Uncle, please rise." Zhu Youxiao said with a brilliant smile on his face. "Add one more provision—henceforth, when the Imperial Uncle enters the palace, the grand ceremonial kowtow shall be waived."

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty." Zhu Changxun hurriedly acknowledged.

"This is all what the Imperial Uncle deserves. The words the Imperial Uncle spoke last night moved me deeply. As the saying goes, to fight a tiger you need brothers, to go into battle you need father and sons—family is family after all."

"Although the Imperial Uncle made mistakes before, I have already felt his heart of repentance. As for the matter of the imperial estates, I have already sent people to make arrangements. As for the matter of paying taxes, I will inform the Ministry of Revenue."

"The Imperial Uncle need not worry. At the same time, I will also proclaim it to the court officials, so that they may know the Imperial Uncle's heart."

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace!" Zhu Changxun said. "This is all what your subject ought to do!"

After saying this, Zhu Changxun stepped forward once more and said, "Compared to Duke Cheng of the State's deeds, my own deeds make me feel ashamed."

"When I was in Henan, I erred in my conduct, brought shame upon the court, and disgraced Your Majesty."

"Looking instead at Duke Cheng of the State—yesterday, upon hearing me speak of the imperial estates paying taxes, he took the initiative to petition that estate lands pay taxes. He is truly a model for all ministers, an exemplar for nobles and imperial relatives. I beg Your Majesty to reward him handsomely!"

Hearing Zhu Changxun's words, Zhu Chunchen's face turned black.

In fact, Zhu Chunchen very much doubted whether he had ever said such a thing.

Could it be that he had truly been so drunk that he remembered nothing at all?

There was hesitation in his heart.

But now, whether it was His Majesty or the eunuchs in the palace, everyone was insisting on this matter with one voice. Now even the old Prince Fu was saying so. Zhu Chunchen dared even less to deny it, and dared even less to say he did not remember the matter.

For a moment, he found himself at a loss for what to do.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhu Chunchen, then glanced at Zhu Changxun, and a smile appeared on his face.

Clearly, his Imperial Uncle had already figured out what was going on. He was very explicitly cooperating with him—only the blame had been pinned onto Zhu Chunchen. This matter, Zhu Youxiao did not mind at all.

In fact, it was even better that it fell on Zhu Chunchen. So Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "Indeed. Previously, quite a few people impeached the nobles and imperial relatives, saying they had degenerated—spending their days only galloping horses through the pleasure quarters, only touring mountains and waters, only bullying the good and honest, having long lost the heart of serving the country that their ancestors had." But now, looking at it, it is different. Duke Cheng of the State has set an example for all ministers, and I am deeply gratified. The rewards have already been dispatched. Official positions have also been conferred. Duke Cheng of the State, you must work hard, and let those people see clearly that our Great Ming's nobles still know how to serve the country.

Zhu Chunchen was on the verge of tears, but he still hurriedly said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. Your subject will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty's hopes and will certainly do well."

This matter was simply too enormous—Zhu Chunchen had no idea what to do.

One should know that the matter of collecting taxes on estate lands had been raised not just for a day or two, and not just under one emperor or two. Long ago, civil officials had already submitted memorials on it, and the matter had been brought up more than once.

But His Majesty had never implemented it. The reason was simple—none of the nobles and imperial relatives had stepped forward to take the lead.

Let alone taking the lead—no one had even stepped forward to speak a word.

Although no one had opposed it, they had all been playing deaf and dumb.

Now that he himself had stuck his neck out, what were the other nobles and imperial relatives supposed to do?

Follow along and it hurts their flesh; don't follow along and what will His Majesty think of them?

With anything, the fear is always of someone making the first move. As the saying goes: the tree that stands out in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind; the mound that juts out from the shore is the first to be swept by the current.

Among the common folk, there is also the saying that the rafter that sticks out rots first. Those nobles and imperial relatives would surely hate him in ways unknown. He had effectively cut himself off from the nobles and imperial relatives. When that time came, what was he to do?

Zhu Youxiao couldn't care less what Zhu Chunchen was thinking. He said directly: "Good, very good."

Seeing that the official business was finished, Zhu Youxiao had no intention of keeping the two men any longer, so he said directly: "You were away from home all night last night, so your families must be worried by now. There's no need for you two beloved ministers to linger in the palace any longer. Return home."

Compared to Zhu Chunchen's unwillingness, Zhu Changxun was comparatively more composed. After all, he had already been squeezed for two million taels before, so this matter was nothing at all.

So Zhu Changxun bowed and said: "In that case, your servant takes his leave."

Although Zhu Chunchen still wanted to open his mouth and say something, he didn't know how to say it. He opened his mouth several times but nothing came out. In the end, he could only say: "Your servant also takes his leave."

Watching the two men leave, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Chen Hong and said: "Alright, you go handle your business as well. Get the news out as quickly as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong acknowledged the order, then quickly turned and walked out.

When Zhu Changxun and the others left, the sun had just risen — it was exactly the time when officials were reporting to their offices.

This news spread throughout the entire capital in an instant, and the officials at court were utterly shocked.

The matter of taxing manorial estates was itself extremely sensitive. When it was first proposed, it had been during the Hongzhi reign. But the emperor at that time had not agreed. Later, people raised it repeatedly, but it still never gained approval — every proposal had been rejected by the emperor.

No one had expected that this matter would suddenly be brought up at such a time.

For a time, the entire capital was abuzz with discussion, and officialdom was even more abuzz with discussion.

When the news reached the hereditary nobles and the relatives of the imperial clan, the reaction was completely different — countless people heaped curses upon the Duke of Cheng.

Within the Grand Secretariat, the news had naturally also arrived.

The four Grand Secretaries once again gathered in the duty room.

Before official business had even begun, the several men sat drinking tea and began discussing this matter.

The first to speak was still Han. He set down his teacup and asked: "What do you all think of this matter?"

"This is a good thing." Xu Guangqi was the first to speak: "The court's finances are insufficient these days. Whether it's training troops at the borders or providing disaster relief, all of it requires silver. The silver the court obtains can only come from increasing revenue or reducing expenditure.

"Reducing expenditure can't go on forever — there are some things and some matters that simply cannot be cut back. So we can only look for ways to increase revenue. The court doesn't have many methods for increasing revenue; raising taxes counts as one. But if we levy additional taxes, the common people's lives will become even harder."

"On the other hand, levying a tax on manorial estates has little impact on the common people. The hereditary nobles and imperial relatives at court all hold manorial estates. Moreover, over all these years they have seized land by force and guile, concealing vast amounts of land and population. If we can take this opportunity to audit and uncover it all, the court is certain to obtain a large sum of money."

"With this additional income, the court's finances will be able to ease. Whether it's training troops, suppressing rebellions, or providing disaster relief, everything will be much easier to fund."

The several men glanced at Xu Guangqi, but none of them spoke.

Everyone naturally understood the reasoning Xu Guangqi was presenting, and he was hardly the only one who could see this point — everyone could see it clearly.

Otherwise, people wouldn't have submitted memorials about it before. If you also counted the lands of the various feudal princes across the realm and taxed those as well, the court's tax revenue would at least double, perhaps even more.