Chapter 69: Grain

By the principle of "if you disgust me, I'll disgust you right back," Minister of Rites Meng Shaoyu stepped out from the ranks and memorialized: "Your servant Meng Shaoyu memorializes Your Majesty.

Since the coming year will be the first year of Chongzhen, and Your Majesty also desires a new atmosphere for the new year, may the civil examinations be held next year?"

Hearing this, Chongzhen felt another wave of disgust in his heart. At this moment, he rather missed the civil-service-slave recruitment system of the later era.

Unfortunately, the Great Ming did not go in for that sort of thing. Even if he forcibly pushed it through, the end result would still be recruiting the disciples and grand-disciples of the Confucians — utterly useless.

Disgusted, Chongzhen said bluntly: "The civil examinations will be held as usual next year. As for the content of the exams, however, We have some thoughts.

First, appropriately increase content on the conditions of the common people's livelihood across the regions. These students cannot shut their ears to the affairs outside the window and read only the books of the sages.

Since they are to take the examinations and become officials, it will not do for them to be ignorant of matters of people's livelihood. We cannot let them cross the river by feeling the stones, governing by mere assumption.

Second, add case selections from the Great Pronouncements. If an official cannot adjudicate cases, knows nothing of the law, and relies purely on private secretaries and litigation masters to help him, then We might as well directly recruit those secretaries as officials instead.

Those are the two points We wished to make."

After a moment's thought, Chongzhen added: "Beloved Minister Wen, together with Beloved Ministers Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu — the three of you shall deliberate on this matter and submit a memorial."

At these words from Chongzhen, Wen Tiren, Shi Fenglai, and Zhang Ruitu all secretly glared at Meng Shaoyu, cursing the bastard for stirring up trouble for them at a time like this.

But the Emperor's golden mouth had already spoken; the three could only step out from the ranks, accept the command, and assent.

The reason Chongzhen chose Wen Tiren and the other two to handle this matter was that Wen Tiren was himself a puppet Chief Grand Secretary, who basically went along with whatever Chongzhen wanted in all things.

Shi Fenglai was a standard member of the eunuch faction, placing Chongzhen first in everything, so Chongzhen was naturally at ease.

As for Zhang Ruitu, Chongzhen had learned from a novel written by some later-era fellow called Old Wolf Wu, titled "Return to the Great Ming as a Talent," that this fellow was also a standard member of the eunuch faction.

With all matters arranged, Chongzhen left court and ran back to the rear palace to amuse himself. Minister of Rites Meng Shaoyu, however, was left holding the bag.

The gazes cast over by Wen Tiren and the other two, who had been saddled with extra work, were filled with ill intent.

Meng Shaoyu could only give a bitter laugh and cup his hands to the three big shots: "This humble official shall go to the Court of State Ceremonial at once to meet with the envoys of the various countries."

Wen Tiren, however, said: "Minister Meng, do not be in such a hurry. Regarding the matter of the sacrificial rites at the Shrine of the Loyal, you still need to produce a set of procedures."

Shi Fenglai also fixed his eyes on Meng Shaoyu and said: "This matter of the civil examinations could well have been raised after the new year. You, Minister Meng, just had to bring it up at this moment. Now none of us will have a good New Year."

Seeing how blunt Shi Fenglai was, Meng Shaoyu smiled bitterly: "Oh, my dear Grand Secretary Shi. This humble official had only intended to mention it in passing.

Who knew His Majesty would toss out so many difficult problems on top of it? Well, well.

This evening, this humble official shall host a banquet at Swallow Tower to apologize to the three Excellencies. I earnestly hope the three Excellencies will be magnanimous and forgive this humble official this once?"

Wen Tiren, however, said loudly: "Enough. You are also loyal in state affairs — how could we take offense?

It is only that this Majesty of ours, I fear, is no less than the Chengzu Emperor. Henceforth, we must serve the state with all our hearts and not entertain any fanciful notions."

These words were spoken without the slightest concealment, and were plainly meant for the ears of the assembled officials who had not yet dispersed from the court hall.

Hearing this, the officials all felt a chill in their hearts. Judging by this Emperor's actions since ascending the throne, it might truly be as Wen Tiren said.

With that, those officials who had been harboring their own little schemes simply abandoned their thoughts and stopped eyeing the grain in the Ever-Normal Granaries. Money was easy to take — but the key question was, would one live to spend it?

Taking in every expression of the assembled officials, Wen Tiren continued: "Minister Meng, you may proceed to the Court of State Ceremonial. We officials must also go and deliberate on other matters."

With that, Wen Tiren and the other Grand Secretariat ministers all headed toward the Grand Secretariat. Meng Shaoyu also shook his head and made his way to the Court of State Ceremonial.

Upon arriving at the Court of State Ceremonial and exchanging courtesies with the envoys of the various countries, Meng Shaoyu was the first to speak: "Gentlemen, at court today, His Majesty gave some instructions."

The envoys of the various countries were all puzzled upon hearing this.

Originally, when everyone came to pay tribute, they would offer up some things from their own countries, whether valuable or not, add a few beauties on top, and then receive a heap of rewards from the Great Ming before returning home.

When had they ever heard of the Son of Heaven having any instructions?

The Joseon envoy, however, paid no mind to the others and spoke first: "May I ask, Minister Meng, what instructions the Son of Heaven has? Our subordinate country will certainly devote the strength of the entire nation to fulfill them."

Seeing Joseon, long hailed as the number one loyal dog, be the first to declare its stance, the envoys of the other countries also expressed one after another that their own countries would certainly handle matters according to the Sacred Son of Heaven's instructions and would definitely satisfy the Sacred Son of Heaven.

Meng Shaoyu glanced at the Joseon envoy and said: "This matter does not greatly concern Joseon. At present, the Great Ming has many famine-stricken areas across its regions, and crop failures are frequent.

So that the common people do not go hungry, His Majesty specifically requires that each country offer grain as its tribute goods.

Joseon is situated in the bitter cold of the northeast. The Sacred Son of Heaven has long since given instructions: if your esteemed country has a surplus at home, you may naturally sell the extra grain to the Great Ming.

If you are not well-off, then merely fulfilling the tribute quota will suffice.

As for the countries of the Southern Seas, His Majesty instructs that you must by all means gather grain in great quantities. Beyond the tribute quota, the Great Ming will also bring out silver to purchase it."

The many envoys had originally intended to plead poverty, but the moment they heard the Great Ming would spend silver to buy, they all said: "Please, Minister Meng, reply to the Sacred Son of Heaven on behalf of our small countries that our small countries have grain in abundance.

This humble official will immediately write home to notify our sovereigns to prepare grain. Only, may we ask how much the Great Ming requires?"

Another envoy said: "Minister Meng, rest assured. However much grain the Great Ming needs, we tributary countries shall do our utmost to prepare it.

The sovereign of my humble country has long stated that our country should serve the Celestial Court and Superior State as a father. Now that the Sacred Son of Heaven has given his command, our entire country shall exert all efforts to gather grain."

Meng Shaoyu recalled the ravenous-wolf look in the Chongzhen Emperor's eyes, the way they gleamed when he spoke of grain, and simply took it all upon himself: "The Great Ming has vast lands and a huge population — even the greatest amount of grain would not be enough.

Gentlemen, please write to your respective sovereigns: in gathering grain, the more the better."

When Meng Shaoyu emerged from the Court of State Ceremonial and reported back to Chongzhen, Chongzhen praised him: "Good, just so. We only worry that the grain will be insufficient. If there is too much, it is of no consequence. After all, our Great Ming has many people — we can always finish it.

Regarding the matter of grain, Beloved Minister, coordinate well with the Ministry of Revenue. First, use money to buy. Problems that money can solve are no problems at all."

After Meng Shaoyu left the palace, a piece of news reported by Cao Huachun, the Director of the Eastern Depot, made Chongzhen even happier: "Imperial Sire, the children below, following Imperial Sire's instructions, have nearly finished the preparations.

So long as one does not consume too much at once or conduct a specific test, the stuff mixed in will likely not be easy to detect."

Chongzhen was even more delighted at heart upon hearing this and immediately ordered Cao Huachun to lead the way to the Eastern Depot.

After going on the split-strong recommendation, the data has surged too fiercely. We have decided to hurry up and add more chapters to pay off the debt.

Dear ministers, cast your votes as you will, send your rewards as you will — let's see if we can burst the chrysanthemums of those in the top spots of the split-strong recommendation.

Also, take a guess: what is being mixed into what? And what is it for?

(End of Chapter)