Chapter 97: I, the Emperor, Am Still Frugal!

I truly am not neglecting my duties. Volume Nine-Seven: I, the Emperor, Am Still Frugal!

He's not a ten-year-old child whose character is set in stone—what's there to fear in letting him meet officials?

With the New Year approaching, officials of every rank in Great Ming may now see the Emperor—this too is an assertion of imperial authority, even if he is but a rising sun.

Zhu Zhu Yijun, using Zhang Zhang Juzheng's lectures as an opportunity, thoroughly explained the definitions of public and private, and the process of severing the connection between the national treasury and the imperial treasury.

At Yuegang's Maritime Trade Office, all levies are split fifty-fifty—a different accounting method from other taxes, which typically follow a three-seven split: three parts to the imperial treasury, seven to the national treasury.

This was done back then to secure the Emperor's continued support for opening the seas; Tan Lun, Xu Fuyuan, Tu Zemin, and Yin Yin Zhengmao essentially bribed the Emperor Longqing Emperor—systematically bribing him to gain imperial backing for maritime trade. Of course, in Great Ming's own narrative, Tan Lun and the pro-sea faction were merely expressing their loyal devotion.

Zhu Zhu Yijun wore thin clothing, gripping a long staff, utterly focused on Luo Luo Sigong—he was practicing staff techniques with Luo Luo Sigong. Both trained in the staff method from Yu Yu Dayou's Sword Classic, adapted for short weapons used as long ones; Yu Yu Dayou's staff technique was ferocious and brutal, emphasizing one principle: momentum like a round stone rolling down a ten-thousand-ren mountain, never pausing.

Once even a slight advantage was gained, the assault became relentless, unceasing, like a sudden storm battering down until the opponent was utterly crushed.

In prolonged sparring, Luo Luo Sigong grew increasingly cautious, for the supreme Emperor before him, in martial arts, always played by four words: treacherous and cunning.

In Luo Luo Sigong's eyes, the young Emperor was nothing but a venomous snake, coiled with impenetrable defense, and when attacking, like a river surging forth, cascading a thousand li, unstoppable.

Here it comes!

Luo Luo Sigong held his breath and saw the young Emperor's shoulder shift—this was the signal to attack. Instantly, a powerful horizontal sweep came crashing toward his chest and abdomen. Luo Luo Sigong immediately raised his staff to block, then spun, lifted the staff onto his shoulder, raised his right knee and stepped forward, released his left hand, and thrust the staff downward toward the Emperor's groin.

This strike was swift and brutal!

Empress Dowager Chen and Empress Dowager Li, watching from the martial arts chamber, felt their hearts leap! Though the Emperor had issued strict orders: no holding back, no hiding skills, full effort required—could one really strike such a place with such force?

Zhu Zhu Yijun reacted with lightning speed and blocked the groin strike.

Before Luo Luo Sigong could retract his staff, Zhu Zhu Yijun stepped forward with his left foot into a bow stance, raised the staff, and drove a direct thrust straight at Luo Luo Sigong's lower abdomen—again targeting the lower path.

Luo Luo Sigong cried inwardly: Disaster! I've been tricked! There was no opening—the young Emperor deliberately exposed one to lure me in! He frantically dragged his staff backward to evade the thrust, but it was too late—he had already lost his defense.

Zhu Zhu Yijun retracted his leg, loosened his left grip, pulled the staff back and up with his right hand, then stepped left with his left foot, slid his right foot forward into a bow stance, twisted his waist and hips, and thrust the staff forward in a sweeping arc, crouching low to hide his head, executing a continuous combo: a point to the chest followed by a flick upward toward the face.

This entire sequence unfolded in the blink of an eye, like a venomous snake striking its tongue!

Luo Luo Sigong caught the first strike but missed the second—he stared, frozen, at the staff tip quivering mere inches from his face, his scalp prickling: one more inch forward, and it would shatter his brow bone, killing him instantly.

Zhu Zhu Yijun retracted his staff and exclaimed angrily: "You're not playing fair—you used a groin strike!"

Luo Luo Sigong recalled the thrust aimed at his lower abdomen—the angle was vicious. You didn't go for the lower path yourself? We're both playing dirty!

"Your servant is guilty." Luo Luo Sigong wiped sweat from his brow, repositioned his staff, and resumed sparring.

Luo Luo Sigong lost every round today—never won once. He was stunned: normally, they split wins four to six, him four, the Emperor six; today it was zero to ten—him zero, the Emperor ten!

"Enough. I give up." Luo Luo Sigong surrendered. Enduring one-sided beatings was unbearable—he couldn't win, couldn't curse, and his frustration made his technique sloppy.

"Look at you, you're getting impatient again," Zhu Zhu Yijun said, putting away his staff with a smile. "Let me tell you why you keep losing."

Zhu Zhu Yijun analyzed his own training insights on Yu's staff method and summoned Commander Zhu Zhu Xixiao: "To master Yu's staff technique, one must first perfect the linked step—the sticky, entwining motion where left and right feet serve as mother and child. The Sword Classic says: 'When advancing, follow; when following, advance—unceasing, continuous—only then can it be properly paired with staff techniques.'"

"I use this linked step—twisting the waist, cutting the hips, aligning the knees—like this."

Zhu Zhu Yijun demonstrated the key movements of the linked step—techniques he had learned through countless beatings. Luo Luo Sigong showed no mercy, fighting like a madman, never holding back. To defeat Luo Luo Sigong, Zhu Zhu Yijun had poured in tremendous effort.

Eventually, he mastered the linked step.

"Your Majesty, your waist, hips, legs, knees, shoulders, elbows, arms, wrists, and staff are all unified as one. Your staff movements are plain, devoid of flashy tricks; swift, agile, alternating fast and slow, balanced in attack and defense. Your staff moves with a whistling wind, your feet stir up dust; your body turns like lightning, your form has no fixed posture, yet your momentum is like a rainbow. Your servant congratulates Your Majesty." Zhu Zhu Xixiao bowed deeply after observing the young Emperor's footwork.

The young Emperor had devoted serious effort to studying and summarizing his own experience—his staff technique was now proficient; what remained was merely refinement.

To grasp and thrust the staff—this is the essence of long weapons. Master the staff, and you master all other long weapons.

This does not mean the young Emperor need not train further—only that he has now entered the door. A master leads you through the gate, but cultivation lies within the individual. The staff must be trained for life.

"It's hard on Commander Zhu—you had to think up so many flowery phrases. If you can't flatter, don't strain your brain inventing them." Zhu Zhu Yijun, hearing Zhu Zhu Xixiao's flattery, merely laughed—Zhu Zhu Xixiao was terrible at it; it sounded like recitation.

Zhu Zhu Yijun thoroughly discussed the application of this footwork with Luo Luo Sigong. The effects of long-term standing Zhuang were becoming increasingly clear: if the lower body is unstable, everything else is hollow; if the lower body is unstable, the whole body is unstable. During sparring, if you don't trip yourself, it's thanks to ancestral blessings.

Zhu Zhu Yijun always felt all martial arts under heaven were rooted in standing Zhuang —whether horseback archery, foot archery, short weapons, or long weapons, to speak only of techniques while ignoring the lower body was hypocrisy.

Zhu Zhu Yijun's lower body was exceptionally solid, which is why he had consistently dominated Luo Luo Sigong.

In late December of the first year of Emperor Wanli, the young Emperor grew busy: various sacrificial rites required his attendance. These rites had previously been handled by Prince of Prince Chengguo Zhu Zhu Xixiao, but Zhu Zhu Xixiao had departed; the Ministry of Rites proposed that the Duke of Ying take over, following a tradition dating back to the Hongzhi era.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng disagreed, and court ministers were also reluctant. The greatest matters of state are sacrifice and war—these rites should be performed personally by the Emperor. Even if years pass, when he comes of age and assumes full rule, and the situation is fully stabilized, it will still be soon enough to delegate to military nobles.

Court ministers debated endlessly. The young Emperor adopted Zhang Zhang Juzheng's advice: he would perform the rites himself—this was, after all, the Emperor's duty. If others perform it, why not let someone else be Emperor?

Amidst the bustle, news arrived from Sichuan: the people rejoiced, spreading the word. General Liu Zhang Xian and his son led 140,000 troops and eradicated the Dujiang Man. The southwestern barbarian Dujiang Man was utterly destroyed.

The southwestern barbarian Dujiang Man were the Bo people. The enmity between Great Ming and the Dujiang Man began in the sixth year of Emperor Hongwu.

In the sixth year of Emperor Hongwu, the founding Emperor declared: "Those barbarians who submit shall retain their hereditary offices." This was the longstanding practice—these hereditary native chieftains were local emperors in their own right.

Soon, led by the Dujiang Man, southwestern barbarians stormed prefectures and counties—Gao, Gong, Junlian, and Qingfu. The founding Emperor dispatched troops to quell the rebellion.

After the Dujiang Man were suppressed during Emperor Hongwu, they rose again in Yongle, capturing Gao and Gong counties; the court had no choice but to send troops again.

In the first year of Emperor Jingtai, the Dujiang Man killed imperial envoys and declared: "If the Ming court sends more envoys, we shall retaliate—binding them to trees and hanging them to intimidate the court." The court was forced to send troops again.

By the During Chenghua era, Emperor Xianzong could no longer tolerate the repeated rebellions. On the advice of minister Huang Mingshan, he employed the Five Poisons Strategy to crush the Dujiang Man.

The Dujiang Man remained quiet for over seventy years—until the end of Emperor Longqing six, when they rebelled again. This time, General Liu Zhang Xian annihilated them completely—no complaints remained, no further rebellions would arise.

Minister of War Tan Lun ordered further campaigns to hunt down Dujiang Man fleeing into the deep mountains, uprooting the source of trouble, sweeping away remnants like clouds dispersed by wind, to exterminate their lineage.

There were no court ministers of Dujiang Man origin to speak for them. Their repeated rebellions had turned the matter into an irreparable knot. The Dujiang Man had interacted with Great Ming for two hundred and one years, and in the friction, vanished without a trace.

The Dujiang Man became a negligible footnote in history, leaving only suspended coffins clinging to cliffs, weathered by wind and rain, proof they had once existed.

Zhu Zhu Yijun personally went to Huangji Gate to hear the Grand Honglu Temple official announce the victory over the Dujiang Man in Sichuan.

To preserve the young Emperor's strength, Zhang Zhang Juzheng and the Ministry of Rites agreed: during the New Year ceremonies, only the eight-bow salute and congratulatory address by officials in Huangji Hall would be retained; all other rites were abolished.

Zhu Zhu Yijun wanted to say his stamina was excellent—he ran ten li daily, his breath long and steady—but those rituals were tedious, lengthy, and hollow. Emperors generally disliked attending them; since Emperor Jiajing twenty-one, even the annual audience in Fengtian Hall and New Year greetings had been canceled.

Now that the Emperor had finally agreed to appear before officials, Zhang Zhang Juzheng consulted Minister of Rites Wan Shihé: let's take small steps. If we pile on too many rituals and the young Emperor grows resentful and refuses to appear again, what then?

Wan Shihé was a staunch ritualist who initially wished to insist—but if the Emperor grew so weary he refused to appear again, wouldn't that be worse? He thus agreed to Zhang Zhang Juzheng's proposal.

Thus, the New Year rituals were finalized.

On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth month, Huangji Hall opened, and the young Emperor received the New Year congratulations from officials.

On the twenty-ninth day, Zhu Zhu Yijun went again to Huangji Gate and met twenty external officials, including Xie Xie Pengju, Left Administrative Commissioner of Zhejiang. The external officials saw the Emperor for the first time—this was what he looked like!

Though this meeting remained superficial, the Ministry of Rites officials all wore broad smiles—especially Wan Shihé, who saw this as a triumph of revering Heaven and honoring ancestors.

The ritual of meeting external officials had been abandoned since the Yongle era and never revived—until Zhang Zhang Juzheng, as Chief Grand Secretary, resurrected it.

Yet everyone, including Wan Shihé, was displeased: the Prefect of Weng Dali Prefecture in Yunnan, Shi Xu, was on the list of officials for this audience—but for unknown reasons, he did not attend. Like Jia Jia Sanjin, he was arrested by Zhu Zhu Xixiao and thrown into the Heavenly Prison for interrogation.

Upon interrogation, Shi Xu differed from Jia Jia Sanjin—he had been delayed by heavy snow.

A heavy snow fell on the twenty-seventh; the postal road remained passable, but Shi Xu's arrival in the capital was still delayed by the snow. He had crawled and scrambled, yet still failed to arrive on time—the imperial guards caught him just as he entered the city.

Upon hearing this, the young Emperor returned to Huangji Gate and met Shi Xu alone.

Shi Xu knelt on the ground, trembling: "Your servant deserves death for causing Your Majesty to travel, and for missing the deadline—deserving execution. I humbly beg Your Majesty's mercy to spare me, that I may serve you as a loyal dog or horse."

Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled: "A minor matter. Rise, speak. Heavy snow, icy ground like a mirror—it was not your willful disobedience, nor disrespect. Missing the deadline is understandable. I heard General Liu Zhang Xian borrowed grain from Weng Dali Prefecture to suppress the Dujiang Man—did he repay it?"

General Liu Zhang Xian had borrowed over twenty thousand shi of grain from Weng Dali Prefecture to fight the Dujiang Man. The young Emperor knew of this—it had been reported by the Ministry of Revenue—but no resolution followed. Now that the Prefect of Weng Dali had arrived, it was natural to ask.

"He repaid it. After defeating the Dujiang Man in September, General Liu returned every grain, down to the last measure. He had expected the campaign to last until next September, so he prepared extra—but the Dujiang Man collapsed in just three months." Shi Xu quickly bowed and replied.

"Then, in your view, Prefect Shi, is there any chance the Dujiang Man might rise again?" Zhu Zhu Yijun inquired about the Dujiang Man's situation.

"None whatsoever," Shi Xu said after careful consideration. "The Dujiang Man have lost the people's hearts."

"They occupied key passes, relied on their numbers and strength, enslaved other barbarians, raided other Miao villages, kidnapped women and children, burned, killed, and looted—every evil deed. The Miao suffered greatly; the southwest had long seethed with hatred. When General Liu launched his campaign, local militia followed, guiding the army: 'There they are!'"

"The Dujiang Man practiced no benevolence or righteousness—they were abandoned by both heaven and earth."

Shi Xu briefly recounted the events: General Liu's strategy was divine. When the local Sheng Miao and Shu Miao heard the imperial troops were coming, they immediately gathered in force to guide the army: "They're right there!"

The local people also harvested the Dujiang Man's crops, forcing them out of the forests—this was why the rebellion was crushed in just three months.

Shi Xu knew clearly: the remaining Dujiang Man had no hope. Great Ming had shattered their main force; other Miao villages with grudges against them would surely kick them while they were down.

The young Emperor asked many questions about Weng Dali Prefecture's customs and geography. Shi Xu answered everything fully—whatever the Emperor asked, he replied.

Zhu Zhu Yijun took a book from the tray held by Feng Bao and handed it to Shi Xu with a smile: "Then, since Master Zhang Yuanfu teaches me to read, I give you this book—The Book of Contradictions."

"Thank Your Majesty for this great grace." Shi Xu knelt again in thanks for the Emperor's favor.

The gift of The Book of Contradictions was Zhu Zhu Yijun's New Year present this year. Whether court ministers read it or not—he had given it.

Inside the palace, the New Year was bright with lanterns and decorations, filled with joy—but the young Emperor still had much to do: he had to finish writing all the "Fu" and "Ji" characters. The "Fu" would be given to officials on New Year's Day; the "Ji" would be given on the Lantern Festival, to bestow blessings of fortune and auspiciousness.

During New Year's Eve vigil, Zhu Zhu Yijun slept only two hours, rising at the third watch to burn incense before each palace gate, setting off firecrackers to invite gods and Buddhas to celebrate the New Year in the palace. After wandering for hours, it was noon—he still had to summon ministers to Fengwang Hall for a grand banquet. At the banquet, officials of fourth rank and above sat; below fourth rank, they stood.

This grand banquet followed the nine-cup ritual, accompanied by music from the Taichang Temple musicians and dances by court dancers.

Zhu Zhu Yijun had little interest in these rituals; the dancers were uninspiring—nothing inappropriate was revealed, and nothing essential was shown—extremely dull.

Finally, after completing all rituals, Zhu Zhu Yijun went to the martial arts chamber to train.

Wiping sweat, he told Feng Bao: "Even during the New Year, no peace. The faction's ally, Censor Su Minmu of the Shaanxi Circuit, submitted a memorial: since the Altan Khan's tribute, three years have passed without border alarms, seven garrisons tranquil—attributing this to his assistance. He requests imperial rewards for civil and military officials stationed in Xuan and Da."

"Have you forgotten Altan Khan's breach of Hu Yu Kou last year? And Wu Dui, who falsified military reports and stirred up the court—do you pretend nothing happened?"

"Must I grant Wang Wang Chonggu another title of Wang Shaobao and enfeoff one of his sons as a National College student? Doesn't Wang Wang Chonggu already have three sons in the National College? And Wu Dui promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief—what nerve."

"What does Master Zhang Yuanfu say?"

After finishing training, Zhu Zhu Yijun inquired about state affairs. Even during the New Year, the faction couldn't let him enjoy peace.

Wang Wang Chonggu's Wang Shaobao title had been stripped over his daughter's golden edict; now he demanded it back. Wu Dui demanded promotion to Vice Censor-in-Chief.

"Master Zhang Yuanfu says there is no objection," Feng Bao quickly offered him iced pear syrup. "Currently, the southeast is investigating land encroachment. Master Zhang Yuanfu intends to appease the faction—for before the capital garrison is properly trained, pushing too hard risks overextension."

Zhu Zhu Yijun sat down to rest, sighing: "In complex matters, contradictions abound, and due to differing positions, these contradictions play different roles in development. One contradiction always dominates, determining the course of events—this is called the principal contradiction."

"Clearly, in the principle of public good, the principal contradiction lies between the powerful southern bureaus' land encroachment and the destitute peasants losing their land and tenancy."

"Then let us follow Master Zhang Yuanfu's advice."

"Have there been any problems with the inspection of the Great Wall's construction by Vice Minister of War Wu Wu Baipeng, Censor Li Le, and Zhang Jing in Xuan and Da?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun asked about the Great Wall construction in Xuanfu and Datong. Wang Wang Chonggu had poured two million taels into it, employing over 190,000 laborers. If this turned into the Yuan dynasty's Yellow River project—digging up a stone man with one eye, stirring rebellion across the land—it would be a disaster.

Feng Bao shook his head: "Wang Wang Chonggu spent every silver tael, and no major issues arose. In fact, Wang Wang Chonggu played this cleverly: after finishing the wall, can these laborers return home? They remain in Xuanfu and Datong, filling the border regions, reclaiming wasteland. Deputy Commander of the Capital Tianjin Tianjin Weisuo Ma Fang reported that come spring, he will return to Xuanfu and Datong to oversee land reclamation, returning to the capital by June."

"According to Wang Wang Chonggu's previous practice of issuing military pay in kind, then reimbursing silver after imperial inspection, he always recoups this money."

Zhu Zhu Yijun pounded his leg and sneered, "Wang Wang Chonggu is quite the businessman—killing two birds with one stone. These laborers took his silver, yet must not only repair the Great Wall but also till his fields and grow grain for him. He won't suffer a single loss."

Feng Bao pondered and said, "Indeed, the Wang clan of Puzhou are among Shanxi's most powerful magnates; Wang Wang Chonggu's elder brother, Wang Wang Chongyi, is also one of the Jin merchants."

Zhu Zhu Yijun asked curiously, "It's strange—last time, Song Yangshan, Wang Daoqun, and others were outmaneuvered by the southern faction's power brokers. They targeted Song Yangshan and Wang Daoqun, but struck at Grand Secretary Xu's face. How could Grand Secretary Xu just swallow this?"

"He won't swallow it." Feng Bao understood Zhang Zhang Juzheng well—this insult, if endured, would not be Zhang Zhang Juzheng at all.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's entire persona is vengeance for every slight; to avoid his own downfall, he would never let this pass.

"Then what is Grand Secretary Xu waiting for?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked, puzzled.

Feng Bao shook his head—he truly didn't know what Zhang Zhang Juzheng was waiting for.

Zhang Hong whispered beside him, "Grand Secretary Xu is waiting for Marshal Yu to settle matters. Marshal Yu just cleared eighteen mountain strongholds and now holds a host of captives. He must first sort out the innocent peasants coerced into joining them before he can pursue further."

Zhang Hong's adopted son, Zhang Cheng, serving as Provincial Military Commander in Songjiang Prefecture, knew more clearly: these captives are the chains binding Marshal Yu's hands. Until they are processed, no further action can be taken. As long as Marshal Yu cannot move, Zhang Zhang Juzheng will not move.

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Marshal Qi once said wars always have lulls—partly because soldiers need rest, partly because captives must be processed before continuing. You're right."

"Over four thousand examination candidates have arrived in the capital. The Hubei, Shanxi, Zhejiang, and Shandong guildhalls have all opened their doors. Feng Feng Da Ban, make the trip."

"Just now, Minister of Personnel Zhang Han said: Grand Secretary Xu's six-year term as First-Rank official is complete. Requesting imperial favor—grant him the salary of a Top-Rank official, and bestow honors upon him, so he need not refuse."

Zhu Zhu Yijun finished drafting the imperial edict and handed it to Feng Bao.

Feng Bao bowed swiftly. "Your servant obeys the imperial command."

Feng Bao took the edict and waited for the young eunuchs to announce his arrival before proceeding to the Hubei Guildhall.

At this moment, the Hubei Guildhall was thronged with noise—students from Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Guanxi all entered here; students from Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan went to the Shanxi Guildhall; those from the southern faction, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Jiangxi went to the Zhejiang Guildhall; students from Shandong, Henan, and parts of the southern faction went to the Shandong Guildhall.

Hubei, Shanxi, Zhejiang, Shandong—four pillars standing firm.

Feng Bao arrived at the Hubei Guildhall with the imperial decree, holding up the edict and declaring, "Grand Secretary of the Zhang Wenyuan Pavilion, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, receive the imperial command."

"The Emperor's edict: Your Excellency has enlightened my heart and labored for the realm—your merit serves the state. Now, as your six-year term concludes, I promote you to Grand Secretary of Zhongji Palace, grant one of your sons the post of Secretary of the Central Secretariat, and bestow upon you the salary of a Top-Rank official. Extraordinarily, I grant you one set of python robe and one set of Douniu robe, one hundred taels of silver, four bolts of silk brocade, five thousand paper notes, five sets of tea and meals with three sheep, and thirty bottles of wine—small tokens of special favor. Do not refuse. So decreed."

"Your servant thanks the Emperor's boundless grace." Zhang Zhang Juzheng received the edict with reverence, deeply moved.

On this New Year's Day, students from Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Guanxi all watched Zhang Zhang Juzheng, wondering inwardly: How has our Hubei faction's leader, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, performed as the Emperor's tutor for a year and a half? Is the Emperor satisfied? No matter what outsiders say, nothing compares to the Emperor's New Year's gift—this carries far more weight.

To the students of the Hubei Guildhall, this was the young Emperor paying New Year respects with the rites of a disciple.

This was the Emperor's respect for Grand Secretary Xu. This was the young Emperor standing firmly behind Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

"I am shallow in learning and unworthy of the post of state counselor. I tremble with fear and dare not accept." Zhang Zhang Juzheng spoke to Feng Bao—this was the ritual refusal, a formality of courtesy.

"Grand Secretary, accept it. The Emperor specifically instructed me not to let you refuse." Feng Bao stepped aside, glanced left and right, then whispered, "The Emperor asked today about the southern faction's land encroachment case. He said: Has Grand Secretary Xu truly swallowed this insult?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng smiled. "Marshal Yu is currently immobilized, so no action yet. But after the New Year, when Marshal Yu can move, action will follow. They started with dirty tricks—don't blame me if I respond in kind."

"I shall return to the palace and report. Grand Secretary, do not see me off." Feng Bao had his answer and departed without delay.

On the second day of the New Year, offices resumed roll call; on the third, sacrificial rites were reported; on the fourth, the Spring ceremony was held; on the fifth, court deliberations resumed.

"Your servants pay homage to His Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!" The twenty-seven court ministers bowed low.

Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his small hand. "Rise."

"On the second day of the New Year, palace maid Zhang Zhang Qiuju ignited the window frames of Yongshou Palace with fire. This maid was a former servant of the late Emperor's former residence, notoriously reckless. My mother and Empress Dowager Li wished only to cane her fifty strokes. I find this insufficient. Her crime is grave—she conspired with outsiders. She cannot be pardoned. Cane her thirty strokes, expel her from the Forbidden City, and send her to the Anletang outside the walls. After the New Year, she may return to her kin."

Zhang Zhang Qiuju was indeed a former servant of the Yu Yu Wangfu. She served Empress Dowager Li in Qianqing Palace, but, emboldened by her old ties, she had always acted without restraint. During procurement trips, she accepted bribes from the Shanxi faction and acted as intermediary for Zhang Hong.

Zhang Hong informed Feng Bao, who investigated and uncovered the full story.

Before reporting to Empress Dowager Li, Zhang Zhang Qiuju had nearly burned down Yongshou Palace with her fire. Empress Dowager Li, seeing her as an old retainer, thought fifty strokes with bamboo rods or thorns would suffice.

Zhu Zhu Yijun refused leniency. He ordered thirty strokes, expulsion from the Forbidden City, and confinement in Anletang—a place housing old palace maids and eunuchs, a refuge for the discarded.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng bowed low. "Your Holy Mother is compassionate, unwilling to harm even a servant. But Your Majesty, ruler of all under heaven, if you spare the guilty, how can you govern the myriad people? Laws may be lenient in some cases, but not in others. The palace and the court are one body; rewards and punishments must be uniform. This is precisely what is meant."

"Your Majesty is wise."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng led the chorus of praise, endorsing the young Emperor's decision—clearly, when conflict arose between Empress Dowager and Emperor, Zhang Zhang Juzheng sided with the Emperor.

"Your Majesty is wise." The ministers reluctantly joined in. Yet some harbored doubts: according to filial piety, once Empress Dowager Li had decided, one should not speak further.

But if they spoke up about the maid's collusion with outsiders, they would be inviting trouble and staining themselves.

Zhu Zhu Yijun sat upright. "Last year, while still in mourning, we held no banquets and canceled the Lantern Festival lights. This year, we shall hold a grand palace banquet with feasts, but the Lantern Festival fireworks and lantern towers shall remain canceled, as before."

"The people's strength is exhausted, state finances are depleted. Officials are helpless and can only constantly tighten their belts to prepare for emergencies. I have seen the suffering of the people through provincial officials. I must cultivate self-restraint and frugality."

"The Aoshan fireworks crown the spring city; the dragon banners and palanquins retreat in reverse."

The Ming palace's fireworks were colossal lantern structures shaped like mountains—called the Ao Mountain Lantern Festival. Hosting one cost over thirty thousand taels. Too expensive!

Zhu Zhu Yijun simply waved his hand and canceled the Ao Mountain fireworks entirely.

Minister of Rites Wan Shihé immediately stepped forward. "Your Majesty, in the seventh year of Yongle, Emperor Emperor Chengzu decreed: during the Lantern Festival, subjects and officials may gather at Wumen to view the Ao Mountain lanterns for three days—ruler and ministers sharing joy. The mourning period has passed. Cancelling it now may violate ancestral precedent."

This was Yongle-era precedent. Last year, the Lantern Festival was canceled due to mourning. Should it be canceled again this year? This was ritual and music!

Zhu Zhu Yijun shook his head. "During Yongle's reign, annual tax grain reached thirty million shi, nearly twenty million shi of garrison grain, and millions of bolts of silk and cotton."

"In December of Emperor Wanli Year One, the Ministry of Revenue reported: public and private resources are exhausted. Profits from mountains, forests, customs, and markets are depleted. The policy of selling offices remains open, yet every possible source of revenue has been squeezed dry. Total spring and summer tax grain this year: 11,917,456 shi odd; silver: 2,780,000 taels. After annual expenditures, only slightly more than 100,000 taels remain."

"You compare this to Yongle's era? Our annual revenue doesn't even match the grain yield of our garrison farms. Even counting silver conversions, it's less. Minister Wan, poverty has its way, wealth has its way. We are poor now—we must all save. Isn't that so?"

Tianjin Tianjin Weisuo grain—the grain from the garrison farms—since the decay of the garrison system, Ming state revenues declined yearly. In Emperor Wanli Year One, 11 million shi of tax grain yielded only 2 million taels in silver. Without the imperial treasury's share from the great ocean-going ships, the state coffers held not a single hair's worth.

With such poverty, no more empty formalities.

"So little?" Wan Shihé bowed hastily. "Your Majesty, by virtue, self-restraint, and frugality, you cultivate benevolence and win the people's hearts. Your servant rejoices for the Great Ming and humbly obeys Your Majesty's wise instruction."

Wan Shihé now realized the Ming was this destitute! No wonder Wang Wang Guoguang was so stingy—not because he was a miser, but because there was nothing to spare.

"Proceed with court deliberations." Zhu Zhu Yijun, seeing no opposition to canceling the Ao Mountain fireworks, signaled the ministers to begin.

The court ministers settled. Zhang Zhang Juzheng pulled out a memorial. "A servant of the Gu family of Kunshan went to Songjiang Prefecture to seek out the Assistant Regional Commander Luo Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang. The Gu family was found to possess armor and powerful crossbows. Commander Luo launched a surprise raid on the Gu residence, confirmed the evidence, seized over a hundred sets of armor and a thousand crossbows. The case file has been sent to the Northern Capital Security Office. Your Majesty issued a stern edict to the Zhang Wenyuan Pavilion, ordering me to handle this case rigorously."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng struck with lethal force.

Assistant Regional Commander Luo Inspector Luo Bingliang Bingliang had gone to Songjiang to investigate Wang Daoqun's rape case. Before that case was resolved, he uncovered a rebellion case.

Possessing armor and powerful crossbows was high treason!

Zhang Zhang Juzheng, reviewing the file, was deeply moved. The Gu family's servant did exist—he had arranged for Song Yangshan to plant him. Zhang Zhang Juzheng had merely intended: since the Northern Capital Security Office's commander was already in Songjiang, why not poke around the Gu family? A little harassment might make them behave.

Yet they had truly found over a hundred sets of armor and a thousand crossbows!

Today I attended a wedding—if I drank too much, I may not write tonight's chapter. If I didn't drink too much, I will! Please vote for monthly tickets! Awoooooo!!!!