Chapter 475: A Pack of Cowards Far Inferior to Their Predecessors

Zhu Zhu Yijun's actions did not provoke opposition from Zhang Zhang Juzheng; Zhang did not submit a memorial urging benevolence, nor did he personally advise the emperor. He understood perfectly well what the Great Ming emperor was doing, yet chose not to stop him. The Way of Great Conduct is a noble aspiration, but in practice, to achieve its goals, one must employ any means necessary.

Solitary yang cannot give birth; solitary yin cannot grow; embracing yin and holding yang, harmonizing the vital breath—this was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's hard-won experience from years of struggle.

On March 23, the tenth year of Emperor Wanli, the Great Ming emperor, as usual, brought the empress and his eldest son to dine at his tutor's residence, turning the Quanchu Hall into chaos. Xiong Xiong Tingbi gradually grew accustomed to the emperor's monthly visits; had it not been for the imperial gifts, Xiong Xiong Tingbi suspected His Majesty would bankrupt the Quanchu Hall—mainly because the emperor's entourage was simply too large.

"Master, haven't you begun writing the third volume of your Treatise on Class?" Zhu Zhu Yijun searched the study of the Zhao Wenchang Pavilion in Quanchu Hall for a long time but found no manuscript of the third volume—either it had not been written, or it was hidden too well.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng rubbed his temples and said, "It simply doesn't exist."

The study had been turned upside down; the emperor, usually known for his composure, acted like the Great Sage Equal to Heaven wreaking havoc in Heaven's Palace, turning the Zhao Wenchang Pavilion into utter disorder.

For the third volume, Zhang Zhang Juzheng truly had not written it; he had reached the natural conclusion and chosen to stop.

"My Lord, these scholars are nothing special—far inferior to those of the Emperor Jiajing era. Back then, scholars dared storm the Huangji Gate to trouble His Majesty." Zhang Zhang Yuangong looked at the scholars with disdain.

The system of virtuous officials was a new promotion system under the Chengcheng Law, utterly unlike the old patronage networks. Anyone with even a shred of confidence would take up a supervisory post first, so those lingering in the capital to chatter and scheme were mostly base Confucians.

The court must find ways to solve these problems, not evade them.

Zhu Zhu Yijun said seriously, "Master, debt is, in fact, confidence."

"Hahaha!"

"White waste?" Zhang Zhang Juzheng's breath tightened—if they directly seized assets, Wang Wang Chonggu's covert maneuvering would be in vain, and the powerful elites would immediately realize the court intended to reclaim land, sparking instant conflict.

After the demonic book spread through the capital, the censorial officials forgot about Wang Wang Chonggu entirely; the legal wife began causing trouble. Though both parties had long known the truth, now that it was exposed, the wife had to respond; the concubines also protested, leaving the pure stream scholars utterly frazzled. For this period, Wang Wang Chonggu enjoyed peace, and Zhu Zhu Yijun found himself much quieter too.

It would only exist if the overall climate once again favored literature over martial affairs, halted expansion, and restricted commercial development.

Wan Shihé was exceptionally skilled at sweeping dirt under the rug. Since the Jiangxi 6.15 million mu land scandal erupted, Wan Shihé had been reviewing old cases, seeking a way to preserve the court's dignity while sparing the powerful elites a little face—and he truly found one.

"Indeed, our Great Ming's pure stream scholars are busy putting out fires everywhere." Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled brightly, his signature grin as deceptive as ever. He held up five fingers and exclaimed in mock astonishment, "You wouldn't believe it—just one seventh-rank Censor actually kept five concubines. Tsk tsk."

"Then let it be one tael per mu." Zhang Zhang Juzheng accepted the price. The Great Ming emperor Zhu Zhu Yijun could kill too; if the Duke of Duke Yansheng of the Kong family in Yanzhou had followed the court's land survey order, he would still be a Great Ming duke today; if the Yang family of Xindu had not stirred trouble and complied with the survey, they would still be a family of poetry, rites, and noble lineage.

Lin Lin Fucheng suddenly understood and smiled, "Ah, so it's Yang Tongshan. Truly… I didn't recognize you."

Speaking of a man of amusement, Wang Qian arrived at Guangde Bookstore surrounded by a crowd.

It was precisely this detailed census of Dingkou in Songjiang Prefecture that made Zhang Zhang Juzheng see the crisis.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said, "Your Majesty's words cut to the heart—indeed, debt is confidence. The state treasury borrowing from the imperial treasury must be repaid, but the imperial treasury borrowing from the state treasury is borrowing without repayment. That loophole must not be opened."

"The emperor's money is his own; the state treasury's shortfall is temporary. As long as the Suiyuan Expressway and mining yield even modest gains, the deficit will vanish—it's no problem. If it becomes unsustainable, the Grand Minister of Revenue and the Vice Minister are not men who will refuse to beg from the imperial treasury."

This kind of dialectic occurred every time the emperor visited—it was direct communication between the monarch and the head of the bureaucracy. Zhu Zhu Yijun placed great importance on such exchanges.

"Pay over ten years, one tael per mu on average." Zhu Zhu Yijun said calmly. The average price naturally followed Emperor Hongwu-era rates—could the court possibly expect market prices? Average price meant stripped of inflation; if they still complained, use grain at seventeen catties per mu; if they still complained, issue paper money.

Now, the situation was reversed: Zhu Zhu Yijun's imperial treasury had more silver than he could spend, and seeing the state treasury's liquidity crisis, he prepared to lend money. Zhang Zhang Juzheng countered with established rules, guarding against the emperor's insatiable private desires.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng now viewed the new policies with caution; Great Ming's development was growing increasingly dangerous, especially for the emperor.

"The state treasury suffers losses due to the Suiyuan Expressway and Suiyuan mining. Though the Grand Minister and Vice Minister have never mentioned it, the imperial treasury still holds over two million taels of silver, which can temporarily be diverted to support the state treasury." Zhu Zhu Yijun spoke of the court's fiscal issues.

Zhang Zhang Yuangong said firmly, "I'm here to watch the show too."

Population growth amplified the severity of agricultural, rural, and peasant problems—but it also forced the court to address them, such as the clan self-governance and private justice controlled by local gentry. Once land-population tensions eased somewhat, these could be attempted.

After thanking him, Lin Lin Fucheng straightened his back. A debate with a crowd of Confucians? He'd done it before. Last time at Taibai Pavilion, he took on sixty at once—and didn't lose.

Not giving money is white waste—it will indeed provoke widespread caution. But giving money, even if less, still means these local gentry defied state policy and imperial decree. This outcome should make them kneel and thank the emperor's mercy.

In the end, Zhang Zhang Juzheng lost, because he fell ill—and he could no longer stop the grown Emperor Wanli emperor.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng countered the emperor's act of spending imperial silver with established rules: keep your own money, Your Majesty. You used counterfeit currency twice for your wedding—truly too shabby.

This is why Zhang Zhang Juzheng opposed the military-engineering corps; this dynamic collective production method would trigger population concentration, turning more and more Great Ming cities into million-population metropolises—when that happened, population explosion would be the start of chaos.

Laughter erupted from the crowd. Lin Lin Fucheng's demeanor was indeed unlike traditional Confucians—he didn't even bother with polite words. Why should he? They'd come to his door; what was there to be polite about?

"Arrogant!" Yang Tongshan's face flushed red. Lin Lin Fucheng had not a shred of scholarly dignity.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's concern was justified.

Every year, the Ministry of Revenue petitioned to number and seal the million taels of silver in the outer treasury into the old treasury. Each time silver was deposited, Wang Wang Guoguang personally supervised, then wandered the old treasury for hours before leaving satisfied. The Great Ming's top miser was the emperor; the second was Wang Wang Guoguang; the third was Zhang Zhang Xueyan.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhang Zhang Juzheng ultimately endorsed the emperor's proposal to purchase the six million mu of Jiangxi land at average price. He believed the Jiangxi landowners could understand—better to cut flesh than lose one's head.

Scholars surrounded Guangde Bookstore, shouting loudly and preparing to storm in and smash it. They did not enter because the watchtower on the watchtower tower revealed that the Capital Military Commissioner, accompanied by captains, and the Vice Prefect of Shuntian, with Southern Yamen runners, were preventing any destruction.

The bookstore of Lin Lin Fucheng, leader of the Songjiang School, had been blocked.

The current state of Great Ming: a rigid Confucian class system coexists with a new class system fueled by massive silver inflows; smallholder agriculture coexists with commodity economy; powerful elites and aristocratic clans dominate power, while the system of virtuous officials coexists; the Great Ming Code coexists with clan self-governance.

"Ming Jinshi of the eighth year of Emperor Wanli, Yang Tongshan!" Yang Tongshan shouted loudly.

The emperor has no face to save; the ministers still do!

For Great Ming today, a large population is an immense advantage. No matter how many times it grows, solutions for feeding everyone exist—through production, through expansion.

"These 6.15 million mu of Jiangxi land, as state land, can only be leased, not bought or sold, right? Six million mu can support a hundred Battalion Commander—let the tiller own the land." Zhu Zhu Yijun spoke of the disposal plan for the surveyed land.

Who isn't an amusement-seeker? When there's a show, one must watch the outcome. Gathering to discuss issues is permitted by the court; what the court forbids is gathering to teach, especially for profit.

Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled, understanding Zhang Zhang Juzheng's concern, and waved his hand. "Then let it be as you say."

Once, twice, not thrice—that was Zhu Zhu Yijun's basic logic.

The Taicang treasury was divided into two warehouses: the outer treasury and the old treasury.

Jiangxi's local gentry could understand, because Pan Pan Jixun had ruthlessly suppressed locust plagues in Jiangxi; the powerful elites there knew that defying court orders meant the court would kill.

The smooth mapping of the fish-scale registers throughout Emperor Hongwu's thirtieth year was tied to Qian Qian Hegao's experience; Qian Qian Hegao proved with his own head that Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang truly killed.

Census of Dingkou, abolition of low-status status, rejection of indenture contracts, population concentration, and abundant goods would all Butongchengdu increase Great Ming's population, surpassing land supply limits, triggering famine, rebellion, and redistribution of means of production.

The Emperor Wanli emperor resented Zhang Zhang Juzheng—for denying him unlimited spending was one such grievance.

Will the Great Ming continue land surveys? Will the new tax system be implemented?

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was not worried about the emperor—he was worried about the future.

These four coexistences would inevitably trigger two core issues: land and the dominance of aristocratic clans in power. Almost every dynasty's social and political crises stemmed from these two core issues.

Lin Lin Fucheng shouted, "The court's coinage is insufficient because it contains copper. Should we cast iron coins and flying money like you? Base coinage harms the people! The court forbids you from harming the people, yet you blame the court? If you're right, should the people use base coinage? The people of Great Ming deserve the freedom to use good coinage!"

Lin Lin Fucheng was deeply disappointing. His descent into servitude was faster than any local's. Local poetry societies and bookstores had fought the court for ten years and still weren't servants—but Lin Lin Fucheng, after only months in the capital, had already groveled.

"Who among you will step forward and debate with me!" Lin Lin Fucheng stood with hands behind his back, like a master. He could not become a virtuous official, but could he not out-debate these base Confucians? His greatest strength was his tongue.

"The state treasury borrowing from the imperial treasury is not borrowing without repayment."

At year's end last year, the Grand Sacrificer, Duke of Ying, Zhang Rong, died. As the eldest son, Zhang Zhang Yuangong was preparing to inherit the dukedom. He absolutely would not allow violence to occur in his territory—otherwise, if his succession to the ducal title faltered, he would have nowhere to weep.

No problem—when Zhu Zhu Yijun writes it, he'll just attribute it to Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

"All scholars, don't disgrace the literary tradition. Street brawls: fifty taels fine, ten strokes of the cane, and six months' labor in the Xishan coal mines." Wang Wang Yie, seeing the parties emerge, immediately announced the rules: arguing was fine, fighting was not. Fighting violated Great Ming law; losers went to the Huimin Pharmacy, winners were arrested, fined, flogged, and conscripted.

"Indeed, land is of paramount importance, affecting everything. But the policy of land surveying is the Way of Great Conduct—cannot be lost." Zhu Zhu Yijun's action, on the surface, served the land-return edict, but its true aim was to protect the new policy of surveying. Without sufficient punishment, without stripping these hidden landowners of their land, such cases would quickly multiply from isolated incidents to countless.

Land can only support a finite population. Economic and technological development must outpace population growth to avoid upheaval and rebellion—that was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's thinking.

But during the Jianwen era, the wind shifted; the extravagant households immediately grew bold, resuming land consolidation and concealment.

The Vice Prefect of Shuntian, Wang Wang Yie, declared: you may argue, but no smashing or looting. Any such act counts as rioting: one hundred strokes of the cane; if you don't die, exile to Suiyuan.

"The world is vast—it can always accommodate."

"We're far from that point. Salaries and frontier military pay remain fully funded." Zhang Zhang Juzheng rejected the proposal. "The state and imperial treasuries have fixed rules: gold flowers and grain taxes are stored in the imperial treasury for the emperor's exclusive use; cash and grain for capital and frontier are stored in the Taicang for military and state needs."

"Your Majesty, in Songjiang Prefecture, there are over 930,000 children under six—almost every household has children, one or two at least, up to three or four." Zhang Zhang Juzheng spoke of what he had seen.

"In your latest 'Xiaoyao Yiwén,' you loudly promoted the court's coinage—does the court's coinage even suffice?" A Confucian immediately stood up and shouted.

"Actually, there's no need to worry." Zhu Zhu Yijun said confidently. "Don't worry about a problem that doesn't exist."

"For both individuals and the state: if one expects higher future income, one can take on more debt. For example, naval cadets at the Maritime Academy willingly owe sixty taels in tuition because they know they can repay it later."

Wang Qian was also an amusement-seeker. How could such a delightful spectacle be without Wang Qian? The court officials had fallen silent, no longer daring to attack Wang Wang Chonggu—the demonic book was simply too terrifying.

In the original timeline, in the tenth year of Emperor Wanli, the Emperor Wanli emperor, citing the marriage of Prince Lu, the birth of the eldest princess, the Empress Dowager's birthday, and the wedding of Princess Shouyang Zhu Yao'e, withdrew over two million taels from the state treasury within three months.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng led the Grand Secretariat and Ministry of Revenue to submit repeated memorials, attempting to negotiate. He had done this once before in Emperor Longqing's second year—the "Memorial to Halt Bai Yin Withdrawals"—and had reduced the demand from 300,000 to 100,000 taels. He expected to negotiate again, but provoked the rebellious Emperor Wanli emperor's resentment, intensifying the imperial-ministerial conflict.

In two generations—thirty years—Great Ming would face this cruel problem.

"I thought you feared nothing, Master, yet you dare not even write an essay." Zhu Zhu Yijun knew Zhang Zhang Juzheng's Treatise on Class should have five volumes, but he'd written only two—and had resisted the temptation to publish. He was too restrained.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng said hesitantly, "In Jiangnan, only Huizhou land is extremely valuable—once worth twenty or thirty taels per mu, now it's only five or six. And there are no buyers. Jiangxi is mountainous and narrow—each mu costs at least six and a half taels. Where will the money come from?"

His bookstore, located in Mingyu Lane, Xicheng, was the hub of Great Ming's gazettes. The entire street was lined with bookstores. Lin Lin Fucheng's 'Xiaoyao Yiwén' had suddenly surged to become the top gazette, naturally drawing envy—especially since folk gazettes pioneered advertising. Now, wealthy households planned to advertise in 'Xiaoyao Yiwén.'

"I'm here to watch the show—why aren't you leaving, Duke of Ying's heir?" Wang Wang Yie answered honestly. Watching spectacle is human nature.

In the year Wu Yuan—the year before Emperor Hongwu's first—Songjiang's powerful elites, led by the Yuan official Qian Qian Hegao, gathered over thirty thousand men to resist delivering bricks for city repairs, oppose land inspection, and defy surveying. Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang sent Xu Da to suppress them. Xu Da killed Qian Qian Hegao at Hengli, then seized the elites' land at one string of paper money per mu, or seventeen catties of grain, or one tael of silver.

The spring breeze of March was gentle; the poplars at Jiuzhe Bridge had sprouted new buds; the sweet potatoes by the pond were lush. Zhu Zhu Yijun and Zhang Zhang Juzheng discussed state affairs in the Zhao Wenchang Pavilion. The crown prince, Zhu Zhu Changzhi, chased Xiong Xiong Tingbi around, who trembled in fear—the crown prince loved the water's edge, especially enjoying having Xiong Xiong Tingbi shoot tailless arrows to catch fish. Each catch brought the prince wild cheers.

The court's survey was the first offer: if you cooperate, you may retain your land records and means of production. Jiangxi's extravagant households chose concealment. The average-price purchase was the second offer—the court had already been extremely benevolent. If Jiangxi's extravagant households still refused, Zhu Zhu Yijun would seize their land outright.

Zhu Zhu Yijun stretched. Even Hence Hai Rui had no good way to handle these pure stream scholars. The powerful elites who gifted concubines had not made explicit demands during the gifts—mainly to cultivate goodwill and subtly influence the censorial officials. You may call it collusion, but no direct exchange of power for money occurred—only gifting.

"Since there's no issue, why hasn't the Minister of the Royal Household left?" Zhang Zhang Yuangong asked, puzzled.

"For the state, the silver in the old treasury is the most direct manifestation of confidence. As long as silver remains in the old treasury, everyone will have faith in the state. Last year, we borrowed ten million taels from the people—no one doubted the court could repay, because the old treasury held seven million taels."

"Anyone with a spark of ambition is either serving as a supervisory official or governing locally. Those gathered here are merely base Confucians—cowardly, spineless fools." The Vice Prefect of Shuntian, Wang Wang Yie, smiled. A dozen Southern Yamen runners and a few captains had intimidated the furious scholars demanding justice from Lin Lin Fucheng.

"Doesn't exist?" Zhang Zhang Juzheng frowned, leaned back in his chair, and fell into thought. This problem could not be regulated by some invisible hand—it simply couldn't be resolved.

The new policies had no end, no shore—they would be a lifelong journey.

The streets were full of onlookers, gossiping. 'Xiaoyao Yiwén' was widely opposed by the literati—it was clearly the emperor's lapdog. How could it dare call itself a liberal? Do liberals serve the emperor? True liberals should be "the vanguard challenging bureaucrats and despotism"—that was the expectation the literati had of Lin Lin Fucheng when he first arrived in the capital.

In June of the tenth year of Emperor Wanli, Zhang Zhang Juzheng died. In August, Wang Wang Guoguang was branded a traitor of the Jin Party. Two months later, he was dismissed and stripped of office.

"Thank you, Vice Prefect, for protecting me." Lin Lin Fucheng bowed to Wang Wang Yie. They could have arrested them after the fight—then Shuntian could have met its performance targets—but Wang Wang Yie didn't do that.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhang Zhang Juzheng sincerely said. He was about to speak of the Songjiang Dingkou census. Shen Shen Shixing had exceeded his quota, setting an example for all provincial governors and administration commissioners—now there was a template for how to conduct the census and to what extent.

Five concubines, seven children—is this within the means of a seventh-rank Censor? His salary clearly couldn't support it. But Ming officials had countless ways to convert power into cash. Moreover, these five concubines didn't even need him to feed them—someone else always did. The brokers active in the capital always precisely sensed demand.

"Your Majesty's words are very reasonable." Zhang Zhang Juzheng pondered a moment, then agreed with the emperor's view. The population limit issue, after careful calculation, was indeed nonexistent under the current expansionist context.

Zhu Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and said, "It's a non-existent problem, because the surplus population of the current stage will become necessary population in the next stage. More importantly, even if we don't reach the next stage, we can still solve this through expansion."

A group of cowards far inferior to their predecessors—that was Zhang Zhang Yuangong's evaluation of today's scholars.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng avoided addressing this issue and changed the subject: "Wang Ci has had much quieter days lately; no one's been clamoring for him to retire and return to his hometown."

The old treasury silver is the Great Ming's foundational reserve; silver storage began in the third year of Emperor Wanli, and by the tenth year of Emperor Wanli, the old treasury had accumulated seven million two hundred thousand silver coins—this was a strategic reserve meant to be untouched if possible.

Lin Fu half-raised his head, raised an eyebrow, and sneered: "Who are you?"

The money lent from the imperial treasury to the state treasury, Zhu Zhu Yijun had no intention of demanding interest; the unity of sovereign and state had never been severed, nor could it be severed—it was merely shifting money from left hand to right. The Ministry of Revenue had been tightening its belt these past days, wanting to do many things but unable to act. Now, with the plan to purchase land at fixed prices, the first year's budget was only six hundred thousand taels, forcing the Ministry to tap into the old treasury reserves. Once tenant farming was organized, revenues and expenditures would balance.

This was why Zhu Zhu Yijun rejected Zhang Zhang Juzheng's idea as an impossible problem.

The state treasury could still manage its cash flow—even with the additional deficit of 615,000 silver taels from Jiangxi—but the emperor never repaid money taken from the state treasury.

"Your Majesty, I still maintain a cautious stance toward the Engineering Corps camp," Zhang Zhang Juzheng said after long deliberation, still unable to convince himself.

"If a child is born and can be raised, how beautiful a thing that is," Zhu Zhu Yijun said sincerely.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's expression was complex; he had thought the Emperor Wanli Reforms, culminating in the Single Whip Law, could be declared temporarily complete, ushering in another cycle of spiral advancement—but now it stretched endlessly ahead. This was certainly a good thing, yet it was extraordinarily exhausting.

We are currently in the Age of Great Navigation; overseas territories abound, capable of absorbing the Great Ming's surplus population.

Moral exemplars like Hence Hai Rui are truly rare.

Over the span of just ten years, Songjiang Prefecture transformed from coastal villages into a major metropolis. This dramatic shift provided the Great Ming with an excellent case study: rapid urbanization led to explosive population growth and intense social restructuring, which deeply worried Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

"Why are you all making such a racket at my door?" Lin Fu opened his gate and stepped out, bowing to all sides and calling out loudly.

"As population swells, contradictions will inevitably intensify and erupt suddenly, for hunger will strip everyone of reason; once reason is lost, human behavior becomes unpredictable and uncontrollable." Zhang Zhang Juzheng began elaborating his thoughts on governance.

This was the basis of Zhu Zhu Yijun's claim of fixed pricing: ancestral precedents existed; copying the textbook made solving the problem swift.

Zhu Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and said: "You're insisting so strongly because you've seen the census of household heads in Songjiang Prefecture, aren't you?"

This established the boundary: one may argue, but if words fail, one must not resort to violence.

"Won't that require tapping into the old treasury reserves?" Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled. "No interest."

Zhu Zhu Yijun shook his head: "It's not about seizing land outright. Wang Lin, the Provincial Governor, has found his way back. I'm not trying to make trouble for him. These sixty thousand hectares will certainly be purchased at fixed silver prices. But if they refuse the court's fixed-price acquisition, then I have no choice but to seize them. Land surveying is state policy; all matters must yield to it. Those who dare conceal land must be prepared to face punishment—otherwise, everyone will defy state policy, and where then is the court's authority?"

"Do you so enjoy riding roughshod over the poor and laborers, even denying commoners the freedom to use large coins?"

Lin Fu struck right at the heart of the matter; his words were brutally blunt, tearing off the hypocritical mask of the scholar-officials.

(End of Chapter)