Chapter 377: Rapping the Knuckles of the Capital's Crowd

Though there were still some loose ends to tie up in Shandong, Zhu Youxiao no longer needed to remain there. With Zhang Weixian's return, heading back to the capital became Zhu Youxiao's next order of business.

Three days later, the fleet set sail once more, heading straight for the capital.

The journey was smooth with no mishaps, and Zhu Youxiao returned to the capital he had been away from for quite some time.

This time, with the Emperor back, the entire capital could be said to be trembling with apprehension.

What Zhu Youxiao had done in Shandong was naturally well known in the capital. His Majesty had even dealt with the Kong family. He naturally wouldn't care about anyone else. So officials of every rank throughout the capital, from top to bottom, began to fear Zhu Youxiao.

This was the establishment of authority.

Why had the Yongle Emperor of yesteryear commanded such immense authority?

It wasn't because he succeeded in his rebellion — mainly it was because he commanded a powerful army, and his several northern campaigns let everyone witness this sovereign's vast power.

Whatever he wanted to do, he would accomplish it; if you refused to accept it, he would cut you down.

Only the military was a sovereign's true backbone — this had never changed.

This time, the Shandong affair let people see Zhu Youxiao's backbone. Though it wasn't enough to give Zhu Youxiao the same prestige as the Yongle Emperor, his current authority was already high enough to make countless people afraid to speak loudly.

After returning to the palace, Zhu Youxiao did nothing else — the first thing he did was summon Noble Consort Tian.

He hadn't touched any woman the whole journey, which truly made Zhu Youxiao miss it somewhat.

Young and hot-blooded, the first thing he did upon returning to the palace was have a grand London-style rendezvous with Noble Consort Tian.

After the pleasure, Zhu Youxiao was finally in the mood to talk.

Normally such matters should have fallen to Empress Zhang, but she was already more than five months pregnant and her belly had long since begun to show.

Zhu Youxiao wouldn't dare to exhaust his Empress — if something went wrong with the child, wouldn't he regret it to death?

Besides, there were plenty of other women in the palace.

Reaching out to embrace Noble Consort Tian, Zhu Youxiao asked, "How have things been at home?"

Hearing this, a hint of confusion appeared on Noble Consort Tian's face.

She knew that His Majesty had never been particularly fond of her or Noble Consort Yuan. When she first entered the palace, she had even been neglected. Even now that His Majesty treated her as a consort, he still wasn't that affectionate.

Understanding this, Noble Consort Tian was very careful and cautious in the palace. Now hearing His Majesty ask about her family, she understood in her heart that her family must have stirred up some trouble again.

Those people at home didn't know her difficult position in the palace. Relying on her status and standing, they must have done all sorts of improper things outside.

Noble Consort Tian scrambled frantically, wanting to get up and beg Zhu Youxiao for forgiveness.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Youxiao pulled her back down, held her in his arms, and said softly, "There are indeed some matters. I don't want any rift between us, so I wanted to talk with you. You don't need to take it too much to heart."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Noble Consort Tian quickly said, "Your servant's natal family is of humble origins — long poor and suddenly rich, they are bound to have some improprieties. If they have done anything wrong, Your Majesty need not be lenient. Your servant understands."

"What are you saying? We're family after all." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, his face showing no sign of taking it too seriously.

Though Zhu Youxiao spoke casually, Noble Consort Tian truly didn't dare to take it casually. She knew very well in her heart that although His Majesty appeared kind on the surface and had never even spoken harshly to her, if one truly committed an offense, it would absolutely not pass by so easily.

"It's just that someone sent some money to your family." Zhu Youxiao looked at Noble Consort Tian and said with a smile, "It's not a big matter. After all, your family is newly risen now — it's very normal for people to send money and seek favors. But this time they need to be dealt with, because some money can be accepted, and some cannot."

Hearing this, Noble Consort Tian was greatly startled.

In Noble Consort Tian's view, there was no such thing as money that could be accepted. Any messy money sent by others was certainly because they wanted something.

If it were merely social courtesy, His Majesty wouldn't bother with such matters. Now that His Majesty had spoken to her like this, it definitely wasn't good news.

"Your Majesty," Noble Consort Tian raised her head to look at Zhu Youxiao, her face crumpled as she said, "Your servant truly didn't know. If Your Majesty wishes to punish them, there's no need to consider your servant. If Your Majesty feels that's not enough, your servant is also willing to accept punishment."

"Put your heart at ease — I'm just informing you." Zhu Youxiao patted Noble Consort Tian and said.

"Your family's matter isn't serious — at most a fine of some silver and a reprimand. Besides, yours isn't the only family involved, so you needn't worry. When you go back, tell Noble Consort Yuan about it as well, and tell her not to worry too much either."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Your servant understands." Noble Consort Tian quickly said.

"Good that you understand. Now come keep me company for sleep." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, "But before we sleep, let's go one more round."

Hearing this, a bashful expression immediately appeared on Noble Consort Tian's face as she said, "Your Majesty, the imperial physicians said that Your Majesty is young and should exercise moderation."

"I've been holding it in for so long — can't listen to them." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said.

"Then your servant will attend to Your Majesty." Noble Consort Tian quickly said, but her face grew even redder.

Perhaps because of what had happened earlier, Noble Consort Tian was very proactive this time.

After releasing himself, Zhu Youxiao contentedly embraced Noble Consort Tian and fell asleep.

The next morning, Zhu Youxiao rose very early and was in good spirits.

Though he had been pent up in Shandong, Zhu Youxiao knew moderation and didn't do anything like seven rounds in one night.

After a perfectly measured night, he felt quite refreshed and clear-minded.

After having breakfast together with Noble Consort Tian, Zhu Youxiao returned to the Imperial Study.

He glanced at Chen Hong and asked, "Have they all arrived?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, they've all arrived and are waiting outside." Chen Hong hurriedly bowed and said.

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said to Chen Hong, "Then have them come in."

Before long, a group of people walked in from outside.

These people didn't know why they had been summoned, but they guessed it probably wasn't anything good. His Majesty had summoned them immediately upon returning from Shandong — the matter was likely connected to Shandong.

After all, everyone had a guilty conscience. They had all heard something about the Shandong affair.

Before this, they had bought grain for Shandong, passed off inferior goods as quality, and even taken quite a bit of money. Under such circumstances, no one wasn't uneasy.

Many people had gone to Xu Xianchun to probe for information, thinking he must know something. After all, he had accompanied His Majesty to Shandong, and had even lost his post there.

But with no knowledge of what Zhu Youxiao intended to do, how would Xu Xianchun dare to speak?

Xu Xianchun could only steel himself and apologize everywhere, but refused to say the reason.

After seeing everyone, Zhu Youxiao smiled, waved his hand, and said, "Rise."

Only after everyone had straightened up did Zhu Youxiao speak: "This trip to Shandong was deeply eye-opening for me — what I saw below was truly shocking. Those people thought I couldn't hear or see, treating me as deaf and blind. They even tried to bribe those close to me — one can see how audacious and reckless they were!"

"Those present should all be relatives of the imperial family, yes? There are members of my Empress's family, members of my Noble Consort's family, and some newly promoted ministers — all people who enjoy my favor. Those people must have treated you with great courtesy. You've taken no small amount of benefits, have you?"

At these words, everyone was startled, and their hearts began to cry out in misery.

So it really was because of the Shandong affair. They had naturally all heard about what Your Majesty did in Shandong. Your Majesty even dealt with the Kong family—so what were people like them compared to that?

These men dared not be remiss. They hurriedly knelt on the ground and said with fear and trepidation: "Your subjects are guilty!"

"You are guilty." Zhu Youxiao said with a stern face: "As for what specific crimes, go ask Xu Xianchun. I didn't summon you here today intending to punish you severely—I only wanted to tell you that there will be no next time."

"Before, I never said anything, so even though you did these things, I didn't plan to pursue them. This time I have spoken. If anyone dares to offend again, weigh the consequences yourselves."

After saying this, Zhu Youxiao stood up and walked toward the back.

The words had been said; the remaining matters no longer required his personal attention—there were subordinates to handle them.

As for these men, of course it wasn't merely a matter of rapping their knuckles. They needed to be put to good use as well.

If this Emperor wanted to extend his reach into the localities, he would need to make good use of these men.

In the Great Ming, the power of the gentry was extremely formidable. The reason was very simple: these men not only held official authority, but also controlled the actual economic power in the localities.

Land, mines, shops, and merchants in the regions—all were basically under the dominion of these gentry. If you wanted them to obey administrative orders, that was possible; but if you wanted to strip away their economic rights, that would be difficult.

It had always been the economic base that determined the superstructure. No matter how he reformed things from above, if the economy below was controlled by them, then no matter how he changed things, it would be useless.

To penetrate the localities through economic means, this Emperor could not personally descend into the fray.

If he personally involved himself, the scale would be too great, and he might very well attend to one thing while losing sight of another. So he needed others to help carry it out.

And the ones Zhu Youxiao selected were this group of hereditary nobles and imperial relatives-by-marriage, having them cooperate with the Imperial Household Department to do business in the localities; the Imperial Household Department would take the lead, and they would assist.

The Imperial Household Department was like the state-owned enterprises and central enterprises of later generations, controlling the lifelines. As for the remaining supporting facilities, those would go to these hereditary nobles and imperial relatives.

They had money and they had people—they could contend and compete with the local gentry.

You must understand, in the Great Ming there were no ordinary merchants at all. There was only collusion between power and money, or even the fusion of power and money into one.

Rather than raising these hereditary nobles and imperial relatives here like pigs, it was better to send them out to make money.

When it came to playing the ruffian and acting the scoundrel, these men were even more skilled than himself. As long as he divided up the regions and allotted them to each, or assigned them by trade and industry, they would get the job done well.

Zhu Youxiao had always had a clear blueprint in his heart for the state he wanted to build.

Capitalism was impossible, socialism was even more impossible, and feudal landlords wouldn't do either.

In the end, a choice had to be made—and that was Junker aristocratic ideology.

Placed in later generations, this was a backward system that had been discarded. But in the Great Ming, it was an extremely advanced matter.

Most crucially, it could complete the transition—it could transition smoothly from the current feudal system. Even if there were some problems and difficulties, they would be relatively much easier to resolve.

Junker aristocratic ideology—a very good direction. He wouldn't go do those things like Wang Mang did. When the people's wisdom was not yet awakened, those things couldn't be done; the common folk wouldn't support you.

The Junker landlord class was extremely conservative in political matters—they advocated absolute monarchy, revered military force, and approved of adopting protectionist policies toward agriculture.

As for how to keep them from oppressing internally, the method was also very simple: shift the domestic contradictions outward, transforming that internal oppression into external expansion.

As long as the overseas profits were sufficient, their gaze would remain fixed on overseas aggression, expansion, and plunder—a path destined to be soaked in blood.

But Zhu Youxiao didn't care. This was simply what kind of era it was.

Savage and bloody expansion would be the global theme for a very long time to come.

On the one hand, transform the old nobility; on the other hand, cultivate new nobles through wars of external expansion.

As long as people saw that foreign wars could bring new nobles, new classes, and new profits, the gentry would also complete their transformation very quickly.

At the same time, Zhu Youxiao would become an emperor commanding a vast army, further consolidating his own power.

So rapping these men on the knuckles was something Zhu Youxiao absolutely had to do.

After Zhu Youxiao left, the scene descended into chaos. Everyone crowded around Xu Xianchun.

Some of the more impatient ones couldn't even hold back, directly grabbing Xu Xianchun and asking.

Since he had already received His Majesty's permission, Xu Xianchun naturally wouldn't conceal anything, and so he told them everything.

How those people had bribed him, how they had drawn him into their encirclement, how they had used men like him to threaten His Majesty—none of it was concealed.

After hearing all this, everyone present flew into a rage.

Bribery and graft were commonplace matters to begin with, hardly rare in officialdom. But those people had dragged men like them into threatening His Majesty—weren't they just courting death?

Thank goodness His Majesty didn't pursue it. If His Majesty had pursued it, wouldn't men like them have been finished?

I only accepted some of your money, and yet you actually dared to do something like this? Have you gone mad?

Just because I took that little bit of money from you, we're supposed to stake our lives for you?

They had an impulse to kill the other party.

Xu Xianchun looked at the crowd and said slowly: "Gentlemen, I have already disciplined my son, and I also intend to donate all the money I received this time. After all, Shandong is still suffering from famine, and after this disturbance, it can be said that everything awaits reconstruction. The court also needs money, so this money should be donated to His Majesty for disaster relief."

Hearing this, everyone understood and hurriedly nodded in agreement: "What Lord Xu says is right—this is indeed how it should be. We too should devote ourselves wholeheartedly to His Majesty."

Although His Majesty said he wouldn't pursue the matter, if you didn't hand over the money, how could you know when His Majesty might remember it?

This money burns to hold—hand it over quickly.