Chapter 188: Suffer the Powerful Gentry, Let Zhang Zhang Juzheng Bear the Blame

"Hence Hai Rui, since returning to court, you've lost your upright integrity—why are you fawning on the powerful and afraid to speak out for justice?"

"When the state faces grave interests and the court harbors great villains, you refuse to offer blunt advice that invites punishment! Instead, you suppress officials who speak truth—claiming no one has upright integrity—what is your true intent?" Liu Liu Liangbi immediately grew agitated.

With Hence Hai Rui's judgment, the Qingliu path is blocked; the path of the virtuous administrator is also closed—how can you accomplish anything and still claim to be a virtuous administrator?

Hence Hai Rui spoke calmly: "Hou Hou Yuzhao has upright integrity; Zhang Chucheng has upright integrity; Chen Tang has upright integrity; Wang Wang Xiyuan has upright integrity—how can you say there are none with upright integrity in court?"

Hence Hai Rui smiled after speaking—he had judged many popular censor-officials and found some with upright integrity; Liu Liu Liangbi's words were untrustworthy.

Wang Wang Chonggu's sudden remark—that the white soil of Taotushan must not be abandoned—was because Taotushan's white soil is the core material of the woolen official factory, absolutely indispensable.

Wang Wang Chonggu has now fallen entirely into the money pit, spending his days chasing profit and hoarding wealth, and he's been tainted by Zhang Zhang Suiwei—he fits the classic profile of a sycophant; Hence Hai Rui's divine sword should swiftly punish him.

Yet Wang Wang Chonggu gets things done and remains unshaken—he has chosen the path of the virtuous administrator.

Hence Hai Rui smiled at Liu Liu Liangbi: "I said you lack upright integrity—aren't you now inviting punishment? You chatter and stir up trouble—aren't you just fanning discord?"

Hence Hai Rui finished his judgment and still had more to curse: the Ming Dynasty's original upright integrity was so strong that one memorial nearly killed the Emperor Jiajing Emperor; carrying a coffin to plead was no joke—but Hence Hai Rui did it anyway, declaring that Emperor Jiajing was no true ruler, spending twenty years only in Daoist cultivation, abandoning the people to their suffering!

Unlike Zhang Zhang Juzheng's scathing memorial, known only to a few, Hence Hai Rui's "Memorial on Public Security" became known throughout the land—the Qingliu had lost their upright integrity, yet Hence Hai Rui still possessed it.

Zhu Zhu Yijun pondered further, frowning: "Minister Liu, why are you so enraged? Could it be that General Tang Tang Kekuan's death is connected to you?"

"Investigate thoroughly—send a letter to Wang Wang Rulong, Regional Commander of Danningwei, and have him question Dong Dong Huzi. If Dong Dong Huzi speaks and submits documentary evidence to the capital, I have no objection to rewarding him." Zhu Zhu Yijun held cards—he had captured Dong Dong Huzi's nephew, Buha Chu; with careful maneuvering, intelligence could be extracted.

Dong Dong Huzi didn't care about Buha Chu's fate, even though Buha Chu had been captured trying to save him.

A reward? If ten thousand taels aren't enough, give twenty thousand—killing the traitor who murdered a Great Ming Regional Commander? Twenty thousand? One hundred thousand—Zhu Zhu Yijun would pay.

If Dong Dong Huzi demanded more, Zhu Zhu Yijun would simply hand the money to Qi Qi Jiguang and order him to ride beyond the frontier and capture him.

Catching traitors is always troublesome, but Dong Dong Huzi loved demanding rewards—in Emperor Wanli Year One, he was ambushed after failing to secure his reward; now, at Gubeikou, he again demanded payment first, was denied, infiltrated, defeated, and then Tang Tang Kekuan was ambushed and died for the state.

Tang Tang Kekuan's record wasn't poor—war is full of victories and defeats. In Emperor Jiajing Thirty-Two, as Deputy Regional Commander guarding Jinshanwei, he failed to repel repeated Japanese pirates raids on Retainer and Songjiang, was impeached, stripped of his rank, but later re-nominated as Assistant Regional Commander of Jiangxi due to his close ties with Wang Li Shizhen's father, Wang Yu.

Since then, he suffered few defeats.

Tang Tang Kekuan commanded troops for decades; from Emperor Jiajing Thirty-Three until Emperor Wanli Four, he never lost—until Dong Dong Huzi killed him.

After years of ups and downs, fighting Japanese pirates and bandits across north and south, did Tang Tang Kekuan misjudge the situation, thinking Dong Dong Huzi was easy prey and crossing the border to pursue him—or did Dong Dong Huzi, already shattered and leaderless, lure him into battle to expand his gains, only to be stabbed by a dagger from the shadows behind?

This matter must be thoroughly investigated.

The court beating was punishment for their chaotic bickering before the Emperor—Tang Tang Kekuan's case must be properly investigated!

Zhang Zhang Juzheng had made meticulous arrangements: internal Embroidered Uniform Guards racing about, censors dispatched to investigate personally; externally, he communicated with Dong Dong Huzi of the Tumens, hoping to glean information from beyond the frontier—for Dong Dong Huzi loved money.

Zhu Zhu Yijun took this case extremely seriously—death beyond the frontier made uncovering the truth exceedingly difficult for Great Ming.

The court deliberation continued; Zhu Zhu Yijun listened attentively at the imperial gate; Zhang Zhang Juzheng's handling was thoroughly sound.

For example, Shen Shen Yiguan of the Zhe Party submitted a memorial: "Autumn is high, the Tumens are furious over the sleeping on brushwood, Altan Khan is aged and withered; fortress walls are repaired but labor is falsely reported; military discipline is strict yet soldiers are unruly—troops recently arriving at the capital wander exhausted on the roads; laborers building fortifications tire from shovels and baskets; trade money and grain increase daily; half the purchased Tartar horses collapse and die—is this not like the Song Dynasty's annual tribute?"

Shen Shen Yiguan requested a new negotiation on the price of horses.

Shen Shen Yiguan's memorial addressed northwest military affairs: the court gives ever more silver, yet the Tartar horses bought immediately die—hope the court supervises and eliminates such weak, sick, and inferior horses; learn to say no, and don't fear Altan Khan—he is old; the power of the Mongol left and right wings is now far weaker than before; Great Ming's military is rising—no more timidity!

The court has never lacked war hawks, especially furious at the rising horse-price silver—Xuanfu and Datong alone spend over a million taels annually, over a million going to Altan Khan, yet the horses received are few and useless; the court is too passive in tribute trade—save that million taels and build an imperial garden or a Buddhist pagoda for the Empress Dowager—it's better than giving it to Altan Khan.

In Emperor Longqing Five, during the Altan Khan tribute, the war hawks' voices were loud—had it not been for Grand Secretaries Gao Gong and Zhang Zhang Juzheng, and Wang Wang Chonggu's relentless efforts by the Jin Party, this would never have been accomplished.

Now, Great Ming's military revival has borne fruit; even if constrained by softness toward foreigners, punishment of warriors, and the late emperor's autocratic policies, we cannot easily start war—yet for the court's dignity, can we not be slightly firmer? Must Great Ming give Altan Khan whatever he demands?

Zhu Zhu Yijun's reply: the horse-price silver is being renegotiated.

The court deliberation is to formulate negotiation strategy, determine the direction of policy, the degree of firmness or concession—without such deliberation, the Grand Honglu Temple's Chen Chen Xuehui and Grand Minister of Justice Wang Wang Chonggu cannot act effectively.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng picked up a memorial, rose with the ministers, and bowed deeply, kneeling and bowing his head: "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to submit."

"I humbly believe the way to good governance lies foremost in securing the people's peace. When the people are secure, the state is firm; even with floods, droughts, bandits, or foreign threats, the people's love and loyalty to the throne ensure the dynasty will not crumble—this is the art of lasting peace."

"To secure the people, one must pay special attention to those who govern them. Now, prefects and magistrates strip the people to flatter superiors, scramble to please and seek promotion…"

A ten-thousand-character memorial titled "Petition to Select Officials, Waive Arrears, and Secure the People's Livelihood"—requesting the waiver of overdue taxes.

Even demons eat only Tang Seng's flesh, not the people's—because the people are truly suffering.

Nothing can be combined, nothing can be merged—the social contradictions are extremely severe; thus Zhang Zhang Juzheng led the court ministers to petition, waiving all prior arrears.

In May of Emperor Longqing Six, before the Emperor Longqing Emperor's death, he followed court ministers' advice and fully waived all arrears from Emperor Jiajing Forty-Three to Emperor Longqing Five.

This time, the waiver covers all arrears from Emperor Longqing Six to Emperor Wanli Three.

Arrears are a symptom; the problem they cause is the well-worn complaint of fiscal deficit—but Zhang Zhang Juzheng explored the root causes from multiple angles.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng stated clearly in the memorial: 【Tax arrears are not the fault of commoners—they stem entirely from powerful, cunning elites who conceal and embezzle, causing regular tax losses.】

The arrears problem is not the people's fault—it is caused by powerful, cunning magnates who plunder and oppress, leading to losses in regular taxation.

Only Zhang Zhang Juzheng dared say this—analyzing the arrears cause clearly, not blaming the people for lacking propriety, being capricious, or deliberately withholding taxes—the common court rhetoric: Great Ming's fiscal deficit is because the people refuse to pay taxes!

But Zhang Zhang Juzheng did not say that—he said the sin of arrears lies with the powerful magnates, their concealment and embezzlement—this was his first conclusion.

During Emperor Longqing, Hence Hai Rui was impeached for oppressing the gentry—he did nothing but conduct land surveys in the southern prefecture, checking how much land Xu Xu Jie had seized during his tenure as Grand Secretary.

In the Ming Dynasty's 276-year history, only Zhang Zhang Juzheng submitted a memorial telling the Emperor where the arrears problem truly lay.

After Zhang Zhang Juzheng, no one in Great Ming dared discuss the negative role of powerful magnates and gentry in social hierarchy.

In the memorial, Zhang Zhang Juzheng also criticized the court: 【All government offices fail to restrain themselves, impose excessive unnamed levies, invent arbitrary fees, waste extravagantly, indulge in luxury—draining the people's strength so they cannot pay state taxes. The powerful magnates who plunder and deceive all fear local officials and dare not be questioned, so the burden falls on the poor households.】

As the supreme public authority, the mediator of social contradictions, the Ming bureaucracy fails its duty—instead, it exacerbates tensions, inventing endless levies on the people, while powerful magnates, fearing the court's authority, dare not intervene—forcing the poor to bear the cost.

This was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's second conclusion.

In the memorial, Zhang Zhang Juzheng also reflected and criticized himself: 【Recently, due to the Kaocheng system, officials fear demotion and punishment, so they ignore urgency, applying harsh penalties uniformly; worse, they enrich corrupt officials. As a result, the people groan, lamentation fills the streets, all saying the court demands taxes too urgently, leaving no peace.】

The Kaocheng system is good, but not without flaws—the censors' constant complaints about tax-collecting abuses have shown this: this hyper-utilitarian system drives officials to meet KPIs, fearing punishment, applying brutal penalties indiscriminately, leaving the people despondent, blaming the court for excessive tax pressure.

This was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's third conclusion—blaming himself, the chief minister.

Self-reflection and self-criticism are the foundation of mutual criticism; if one never examines oneself and only blames others, one becomes blind. Self-criticism and mutual criticism form a methodology for mutual progress.

Self-reflection is a virtue—Confucius said: "I examine myself three times daily."

For arrears, Zhang Zhang Juzheng's solution: waive arrears for commoners, yet continue pursuing arrears from the powerful.

"Your Majesty, I understand everything you've read so far—but I don't understand this: waive arrears yet continue pursuing them? How exactly is this done?" Zhu Zhu Yijun, having read the memorial carefully, voiced his confusion.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng wants both.

"Waiving arrears means forgiving the commoners' debts; continuing arrears means, after land surveys, the Tax Inspection Office issues collection notices to continue pursuing the wealthy." Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed again before rising, solemnly stating: "Your Majesty, commoners are bone-thin; the powerful are fat and slippery."

The commoners are so poor they yield no oil; the powerful are plump with fat—suffer the powerful gentry, and let the blame fall on me, Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng knew well—the Tax Inspection Office's collection notices were death warrants; Tax Inspection Captain Luo Luo Bingliang waited for a target to emerge so he could immediately confiscate their estates.

Why chase arrears when confiscation is faster?

The silver and grain needed for Great Ming's offensive against Danningwei were jointly sponsored by southern gentry and Zhang Zhang Suiwei's twenty associates!

"Sir, you mentioned powerful magnates shifting blame onto the poor—this is precisely what I fear: if we pursue the powerful and they pass the burden to the commoners, that is not my desire." Zhu Zhu Yijun voiced his concern—he understood Zhang Zhang Juzheng's intent, but how would it be achieved?

Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed again: "I take the case of a scholar assaulting the county magistrate of Jiangling, Li Li Yingchen, as an example: commoners, the powerful, and officials form a complex three-body contradiction—officials hold power, the powerful hold wealth and land, and commoners struggle for survival."

"When the court orders land surveys, the powerful will retaliate—assaulting officials intensifies the conflict. Similarly, when the court waives commoners' arrears and pursues the powerful, conflict and retaliation will arise; if the powerful plunder the people, they sever themselves from heavenly grace and popular trust—they will lose the people's hearts and destroy themselves."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng felt his words were too refined—he feared the young Emperor didn't understand, so he elaborated: "Previously, the powerful could force the poor to pay their arrears because the court tolerated and protected them, and because officials imposed excessive, arbitrary levies. The power of the gentry and magnates comes from above—from the court—and from below—from the people's reliance."

"If, after the court's decree, the powerful still resist collection notices and shift burdens downward, their power loses support from above—no court protection—and from below—no people's reliance. They become water without a source, a tree without roots—they will perish soon."

"Officials need not pursue arrears—the blame falls entirely on the Tax Inspection Office; officials merely need to pacify the people and act fairly."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's meaning was now clear: not all Ming officials are rotten to the core—Jiangling's magistrate Li Li Yingchen followed court orders to survey land, yet was beaten by local magnates—if such violence went unpunished, court decrees could not be enforced.

But the Jiangling magnates who beat Li Li Yingchen paid a terrible price: all scholars were expelled and exiled, and the land survey and land restitution were further implemented.

With officials no longer pursuing arrears, and the wealthy handled by the Tax Inspection Office, officials can act fairly—peace and stability may then be expected.

In this complex three-body contradiction, Zhang Zhang Juzheng's strategy was a coordinated strike: canceling all arrears through imperial decree divided the shared interests of the powerful and commoners, eased tensions between commoners and officials, while continuing arrears against the powerful intensified conflict between the powerful and local officials, further eliminating tolerance.

The poor households are the weakest in this complex three-body contradiction, yet they hold the only power capable of destroying the Ming court.

According to Zhang Zhang Juzheng's collected writings, for Great Ming to endure forever, if every commoner has shoes to wear, the dynasty will last.

On one hand, this is a strange quantification: feet are farthest from the heart, so least protected—if people think of shoes, it means they can at least live, not starve—who would rebel?

On the other hand, it is a metaphor: when governing, always think of the people—they are Great Ming's feet.

"Great Ming is fortunate to have you." Zhu Zhu Yijun highly affirmed Zhang Zhang Juzheng's policy—Zhang Zhang Juzheng earned the title "Imperial Regent" through ability, through his skill in securing the people's peace—he had the will, the means, the capability, and the confidence to ensure the people lived securely.

"I recommend Gao Gong of Lord Xinzhen to return to court to lead the campaign against corruption." Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed again: "Without crushing the corruption, I fear policies cannot be enforced."

Finally, they reached the step of eliminating official bribery—the Kaocheng system was a vital tool to break tolerance; now, to crush corruption, further administrative purity was needed.

The Ming bureaucracy was extremely precise—if one part rusted, it must be replaced to keep the machine running; the incompetent would be exposed under the Kaocheng system; the next step—crushing corruption—was perfectly suited for Gao Gong.

At these words, all turned pale: Zhang Zhang Juzheng's waiver of commoners' arrears was accepted—it was a benevolent policy; continuing arrears against the wealthy was also unopposed—the court's political correctness now favored pitying the commoners.

But to bring Gao Gong back? Everyone opposed!

Everyone acknowledged Gao Gong's fierce, uncompromising anti-corruption efforts—but bringing him back? You, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, have the talent to control him, the reputation of magnanimity—you take the credit, while the court ministers bear the cost.

"Your Majesty, I oppose this—Gao Gong is old, frail, and ill; such travel may bring misfortune." Ge Ge Shouli stepped forward first to oppose—Gao Gong's health was poor; another round of travel might kill him on the road.

Tan Sima Tan Lun immediately stepped forward: "Your Majesty, Gao Gong is ill; entrusting him with administrative reform is to entrust it to an unfit man—if he dies unexpectedly, how can we entrust the empire to a man in crisis?"

Tan Lun's words echoed those used against him in Emperor Wanli Year One, when censors accused him of being unfit for office—he now threw the boomerang back.

The Jin Party was the Lord Xinzhen Party—the very disciples of Gao Gong who had impeached Tan Lun over his coughing in the Chao Ri Altar incident; Tan Lun remembered every attack, especially those demanding he step down for Wang Wang Chonggu.

Wang Wang Guoguang stepped forward: "I agree with the Tan Sima—I support this view."

The traitor to the Jin Party, Wang Wang Guoguang, had even less desire for Gao Gong's return—how would he face himself if Gao Gong returned?

With the Chief Censor of the Censorate, the Tan Sima, and the Minister of Personnel opposing—and the leaders of the Jin and Zhe Parties clearly opposing—

Wan Shihé stepped forward: "I also oppose this—should Gao Gong return, I must yield my position to him."

Yielding position was rare in history—Wan Shihé held high office; he would never give it up.

Feng Bao, Gao Gong's mortal enemy, remained silent, his gaze sweeping the court—he knew Zhang Zhang Juzheng planned to recommend Gao Gong; they had coordinated in advance—Feng Bao was searching for who supported Gao Gong's return.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Zhang Juzheng and said firmly: "Sir, you know I have always disliked Gao Gong—he bullied me when I was young."

Hence Hai Rui looked around, stepped forward three paces, and bowed: "Your Majesty, I assure you of my integrity—I humbly request a major appointment; I will serve with all my strength, until death."

Zhu Zhu Yijun's eyes brightened—who said the dynasty had no capable men? Here was a divine sword at his side!

Previously, Hence Hai Rui was responsible for evaluating the integrity and uprightness of censor officials; Hence Hai Rui cracking down on corruption was like Zhang Fei eating bean sprouts.

Hence Hai Rui's unbending integrity was renowned throughout the land; his incorruptible purity was widely known; his administrative competence had been tested by practice. When Xu Xu Jie retired, the Xu faction still wielded immense influence in court—yet Hence Hai Rui, despite pressure from the Xu faction, thoroughly investigated Xu Xu Jie from top to bottom!

Hence Hai Rui's campaign against corruption and graft was perfectly suited to the task.

"I think it's good," Zhu Zhu Yijun asked with a smile. "What do you think, Master?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed and said: "Your Majesty, Hence Hai Rui is only a juren. The realm may not accept him."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng had indeed considered Hence Hai Rui—Hence Hai Rui was suitable in every way, except for his lowly background; the realm would surely erupt in debate.

Zhu Zhu Yijun immediately said: "Easy. Last time, the Grand Censor said there were no suitable candidates to administer Lu Song as a county system—why not send juren there? Extraordinary merit demands extraordinary measures. I hereby specially grant Hence Hai Rui the title of Ming Jinshi of the Imperial Grace Examination. That qualification suffices—after all, he's now a Ming Jinshi."

"Your Majesty is wise," Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed again.

Wang Wang Chonggu finally caught on! This was surely a trap set by the young emperor and Zhang Zhang Juzheng, using Gao Gong as bait! Their seamless dialogue and personnel appointments—this had clearly been rehearsed!

Feng Bao, that treacherous eunuch, kept glancing around furtively, searching for those who hoped for Gao Gong's return—targets like Ge Ge Shouli, Wang Wang Guoguang, Wan Wan Shihe, and even Wang Wang Chonggu himself!

Wang Wang Chonggu had originally thought Gao Gong's return to office wouldn't be bad—Gao Gong was truly skilled at cracking down on corruption. But Wang Wang Chonggu knew his own situation: he stood in court solely on his competence; to voice an opinion lightly would be suicide.

Wang Wang Chonggu remarked: "Your Majesty's hook was a bit clumsy."

Zhu Zhu Yijun personally approved Zhang Zhang Juzheng's memorial "Request to Waive Arrears to Stabilize the People's Livelihood," and also personally approved Hence Hai Rui's leadership of the anti-corruption campaign.

The court deliberation ended here.

On the fifteenth day of the eighth month of Emperor Wanli Year Four, the imperial edict was proclaimed throughout the realm. This edict was not written in classical prose, but in plain vernacular language meant for common folk to understand.

San San Niangzi saw the edict posted at the gate of Juyong Pass as she entered.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"Grand Secretary Zhang Zhang Juzheng petitioned to waive all past arrears. I have granted his request: all outstanding debts shall be forgiven. If any deceitful, wicked men pretend to act on my behalf and claim to collect arrears, write to the Censorate—Hence Hai Rui, the Pure Heaven, will personally deal with them. If you come to the capital, I will have Hai the Pure Heaven personally escort you before me to voice your grievances."

"This is my decree."

San San Niangzi stared at the imperial edict on the yellow notice for a long time, for she had seen identical characters carved in stone before the Tudimiao.

San San Niangzi had long heard that the Ming emperor's edicts were written in plain vernacular—this was classic. But since Xiaozong's reign, such edicts had become rare. San San Niangzi, a border dweller, had never seen one before.

Today, she saw one.

The most intriguing thing about this edict was how skillfully the young emperor exploited others' prestige. The people held Hence Hai Rui in extremely high regard, always calling him "Pure Heaven." The emperor directly borrowed Hence Hai Rui's reputation—this was precisely the act of moving the wooden pole to establish trust. The people might distrust the emperor, distrust Zhang Zhang Juzheng, distrust the court—but they deeply trusted Hence Hai Rui.

San San Niangzi's mood darkened instantly. She had come to the capital to negotiate horse prices with the Ming on behalf of Altan Khan!

The stronger the Ming became, the harder it was to negotiate horse prices. What had possessed the Ming court? Why had it changed so drastically?

This was San San Niangzi's second visit to the capital this year. The Joseon envoys Li Hou and Yin Yin Genshou were astonished to see her return. For Joseon, a loyal vassal of Ming, sending envoys ten or eight times a year was normal—but for a northern barbarian envoy like San San Niangzi to come twice in one year was unheard of.

Chen Chen Xuehui received San San Niangzi, and the next day, serious negotiations began.

"Ming is being far too harsh! Altan Khan is a Ming-appointed Prince of Prince Shunyi—that's the polite term. In blunt terms, he's Ming's watchdog, guarding against the Oirats' incursions. For years, the frontier has been quiet—now you want to cut the horse price silver? We don't take the silver home; we only need iron pots, salt, cloth, and tea. If you won't let these watchdogs live, they'll turn into wild dogs—and wild dogs bite their masters!"

Last time San San Niangzi came to the capital, she was humble and deferential. Now, she had become grotesquely ugly.

"Ming has broken its word!" San San Niangzi slammed the table, pointing at Chen Chen Xuehui, accusing Ming of lacking righteousness.

"The horses you sell are all weak, sick, and lame—even unfit for relay stations. Why? Ming pays nearly a million taels in horse price silver annually, yet receives only twenty thousand such horses—what logic is this? Are you accusing Ming of breaking faith? Is this even trade?"

"Trade is trade. Don't call us watchdogs! You speak sweetly, but even a dog knows to bark. Your raids and plundering—what are you? Not dogs, but wolves, tigers, and leopards!" Chen Chen Xuehui refused to yield an inch.

No matter how beautiful San San Niangzi was, when her face twisted in rage, she became a ferocious shrew. She kept slapping the table: "Lies! Slander!"

"The horses we sell may not be top-grade, but they are perfectly usable for relay stations. Officials in the tribute markets enforce strict standards—weak, sick, or lame horses are rejected outright. Wait, wait—horse price silver of a million taels?"

"Our annual income is barely twenty thousand taels! You can't just inflate a number fivefold!"

"Twenty thousand?" Chen Chen Xuehui's face showed shock.

"One million?" San San Niangzi looked utterly confused.

Wang Wang Chonggu awkwardly sipped tea and said: "Drink tea, drink tea. Calm down."

There were two total waivers of arrears—in Emperor Wanli Year Four and Emperor Wanli Year Ten—both overseen by Zhang Zhang Juzheng. The unpaid taxes and grain were never owed by commoners, but by powerful, cunning elites who concealed and embezzled, causing losses to regular revenues—this was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's own words. Yet in Ming literary collections, few ever analyzed the positive and negative roles of the social class of powerful gentry. Please vote for monthly tickets! Awooooo!!!

End of chapter