Chapter 23: Don't Think About Lying Flat — All of You, Get Rolling! Meeting! Meeting!

After the morning court session ended, the Emperor held a banquet at the Gate of Imperial Supremacy, as was customary.

Rows of banquet tables were set out in the open space, and once the civil and military officials had taken their seats according to rank, a buzz of discussion immediately arose.

For one simple reason — this banquet was slightly different from those of the past; the dishes presented by the Court of Imperial Entertainments were actually rather palatable.

The Grand Secretaries, however, had no mind to notice such trivial details, and ate their meal without tasting a thing.

The shifting winds and clouds at the morning court session had truly left them terrified and shaken.

Every action of this new sovereign defied all expectations.

And yet, seated upon the great throne, with that roster in his hand held back like a drawn bow, he was truly terrifying.

Such methods, such temperament — how could they belong to a seventeen-year-old Son of Heaven?

After the midday meal, palace servants brought tea. The four Grand Secretaries gathered together, and for a moment, no one spoke.

It was Chief Grand Secretary Huang Liji who broke the silence first. He lifted his teacup, gently blew away the floating leaves, and said unhurriedly, "Today's events — how do you all see them?"

His tone was as mild as ever, as though he were speaking of some inconsequential idle matter.

The youngest Grand Secretary, Li Guopu, still carried between his brows a trace of the morning court's fervor. He could not help but sigh and say:

"Though His Majesty is young, he sees the world's affairs with piercing clarity, and his temperament is neither rash nor impatient. One may hope that the affairs of state will gradually improve."

Having earned the praise of "my Wei Zheng" for his outspokenness today, those words still rang in his ears, and his heart could not help but lean favorably.

Beside him, Second Grand Secretary Shi Fenglai, a man seasoned and circumspect by nature, merely nodded at these words and said cautiously, "His Majesty indeed bears the makings of a sage sovereign. It is only... his actions are too swift and fierce; who can say whether that bodes fortune or calamity? We who serve as ministers must still assist with care, lest we bring harm to the state."

As for the last Grand Secretary, Zhang Ruitu, his heart at this moment was filled with nothing but unease.

He had once written an inscription for a living shrine to Wei Zhongxian. Now that the traitor Wei had fallen, he, a man who had "followed the traitor," had found no savor in food and no sleep at night for the past two days.

Today, the new sovereign had set aside the matter of corruption, yet had kept utterly silent on the matter of allegiance to the traitor. What exactly was he planning?

Hearing his colleagues' words, he forced out a smile and chimed in, "What Master Shi says is absolutely right. We must naturally exhaust our hearts and strength to share His Majesty's burdens."

Huang Liji took in the expressions of all three men, smiled inwardly to himself, and was just about to offer some more pleasantries.

At that very moment, a young eunuch strode briskly in and bowed to the four men.

"Four Grand Secretaries, His Majesty summons you for a platform audience."

The four men felt a jolt in their hearts and hurriedly rose to their feet.

Huang Liji offered a brief salute. "Please wait a moment, Eunuch. We shall return to our residences to bathe and change our robes before coming to audience."

A platform audience was a grand ceremony for Grand Secretaries to meet the sovereign; those involved had always bathed and changed robes to show solemnity.

The young eunuch, however, shook his head and replied respectfully, "His Majesty has decreed: no need to change robes. The four Grand Secretaries are to follow this slave at once."

No need to change robes?

The four men looked at one another, doubts bubbling up in their hearts.

What sort of rule was this?

Full of misgivings, they followed behind the young eunuch, passing through gate after gate of the palace.

Yet the further they walked, the more alarmed and suspicious they grew. This direction was not toward the Cloud Terrace Gate, where platform audiences were usually held.

At last, the young eunuch stopped before a great and imposing hall.

"Grand Secretaries, please proceed. His Majesty awaits within the hall."

The four men looked up. The three great characters on the plaque before the hall made their hearts lurch violently.

Wuying Hall!

This place, in the early Ming, had been where emperors summoned great ministers and deliberated on military and state affairs. Though later it had become the seat of the painting academy, the military and political connotations inherent to it had never dissipated.

They wondered whether the new sovereign's choice of this place for the audience carried some deeper meaning.

It was not that the four men were overthinking things, but that this new sovereign's words and deeds were truly somewhat... different.

With anxious hearts, the four men straightened their official robes and strode into the hall.

The arrangement inside the hall was completely different from what they remembered.

The paintings and the four treasures of the study that had once adorned it were now nowhere to be seen. In their place were a few simple tables and stools, making the space feel utterly vast and empty.

Zhu Youjian was seated in the host's position. Seeing them enter, he merely nodded faintly.

"Sit."

The four men sat as bidden, but dared not relax in the slightest. They sat rigidly upright, eyes fixed on their noses, noses fixed on their hearts.

Zhu Youjian swept his calm gaze over the four of them.

"Henceforth, platform audiences will not be held at Cloud Terrace Gate, but here at Wuying Hall."

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable finality.

The four Grand Secretaries felt another jolt in their hearts, but none dared raise an objection. They bowed in unison and responded, "Your subjects obey the decree."

Zhu Youjian beckoned to Gao Shiming, the brush-holding eunuch standing in attendance beside him.

Gao Shiming understood at once and immediately had two young eunuchs carry a large screen to the center of the great hall, directly facing the four Grand Secretaries.

Upon the screen, several lines of large characters had already been written in brush and ink:

First: Nine Frontiers — arrears in military pay — Huang Liji

Second: Shandong — flood inspection and disaster relief — Shi Fenglai

Third: Liaodong — commutation of horse fodder to silver

Fourth: Tianqi-era — roster of officials involved in factional disputes — Li Guopu

The four Grand Secretaries looked at the characters on the screen, their pupils contracting slightly.

"Today, we shall discuss these four matters."

Zhu Youjian paused, his gaze settling upon Chief Grand Secretary Huang Liji.

"Chief Grand Secretary, let us begin with you. Regarding the matter of the Nine Frontiers' arrears in military pay — how do you intend to handle it?"

Huang Liji's heart pounded like a drum, but he dared not show any negligence. He hastily rose and bowed.

"Your Majesty, at today's court session, hearing Your Majesty's discourse on 'affairs rest in the four quarters, the pivot lies at the center,' this subject's mind was suddenly opened."

"This subject occupies the post of Chief Grand Secretary, and ought to share Your Majesty's burdens and plan for all under Heaven."

Having first delivered this practiced piece of flattery, he continued:

"This subject intends, together with Minister of Revenue Guo Yunhou, to first clarify the portion of the old Nine Border pay that comes under the capital-transport silver. Within three days, the accounts can be presented for Your Majesty's inspection."

Zhu Youjian gave no sign of approval or disapproval, merely responding with a flat "Mm."

Seeing this, Huang Liji had no choice but to steel himself and press on: "Only… regarding the portion of civilian-transport silver, there are two points of difficulty."

"Speak."

"First, civilian-transport silver has always been escorted directly by the local prefectures and counties. The documents are not reported to the Ministry of Revenue, so the Ministry has no way to examine them and holds no corresponding documentary archives."

"Second, to investigate this matter thoroughly, the Ministry of Revenue is at present truly short-handed. Many posts remain vacant, and I fear… our strength may fall short."

Zhu Youjian listened, his expression unchanged.

"Very well. Where there are problems, we solve the problems," he said crisply.

"The first matter is not difficult. Shortly, We will issue an edict ordering the relevant Provincial Administration Commissions connected to the Nine Borders to immediately collate the civilian-transport documents dating from the Taichang era into registers and submit them to the Ministry of Revenue for the record. We shall begin with the provinces of Shaanxi, Huguang, Shanxi, Sichuan, and Henan."

He shifted the direction of his words and looked toward Li Guopu.

"As for the manpower problem… Guopu, let us first discuss the fourth matter."

Li Guopu's spirits lifted; he immediately stepped forward from the line. "This subject is here."

"You shall take the lead. Compile a roster of all officials who, during the Tianqi era, were demoted, banished, or stripped of their registration on account of factional disputes."

"We shall personally review it and reinstate a group of capable officials."

Zhu Youjian's gaze returned to Huang Liji, the corner of his mouth carrying a faint, ambiguous smile.

"Thus, the Ministry of Revenue's manpower — will it not be found?"

He asked Li Guopu again: "How many days will this matter require?"

Li Guopu rapidly calculated in his mind, then said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, if we can borrow personnel from the Hanlin Academy to assist, three days will suffice!"

"Granted." Zhu Youjian nodded, then signaled to Gao Shiming.

Gao Shiming immediately understood. He walked to the screen, picked up the brush, and began recording on it.

Very quickly, the writing on the screen changed.

Nine Border old pay, capital-transport silver audit — Huang Liji — three days

Nine Border old pay, civilian-transport silver audit — Huang Liji — to be determined

Tianqi-era factional dispute officials roster — Li Guopu — three days

Looking at that clear "three days" deadline on the screen, apart from Li Guopu, who still felt some excitement, the other three all sensed grave trouble.

Was this not Zhang Taiyue's performance-evaluation method!

Yet even Zhang Taiyue had only conducted evaluations once a month — how could there be a principle of reporting every three days.

What was more, the performance-evaluation method was for evaluating the Nine Ministers and the Six Ministries — how could it be used to evaluate them, the several Grand Secretaries.

Seeing the displeased expressions on their faces, Zhu Youjian simply asked directly.

"Do the various Grand Secretaries have any questions?"

Huang Liji was the first to offer a smiling face. "Your Majesty's measure is truly clear and decisive. Your subjects have no questions."

Zhu Youjian nodded and continued: "Good. Now let us discuss the matter of disaster relief in Shandong."

His gaze turned to the Second Grand Secretary, Shi Fenglai.

"Minister Shi, before we discuss this matter, We have one point of uncertainty."

Shi Fenglai hastily bowed: "Your Majesty, please speak."

"When the people suffer disaster and the fields yield no harvest, why is it not a direct remission of taxes, but instead a levy collected in 'converted silver'?"

Zhu Youjian's voice carried a note of puzzlement.

"The common people already have no harvest. To then make them exchange grain for silver to pay their taxes — does this buying and selling not add yet another layer of exploitation? Can this be considered a method of disaster relief?"

Hearing this, Shi Fenglai's estimation of this young Son of Heaven in his heart rose another notch.

Dwelling within the ninefold depths of the palace, yet able to think of the hardships of the lowest common people — this was truly no easy thing.

He raised his clasped hands and explained: "Your Majesty may not be fully aware. Our dynasty's tax levies are divided into tax-in-kind and converted-silver. Tax-in-kind means collecting the actual grain; converted-silver means commuting it to silver taels."

"If tax-in-kind is levied, what the government granaries receive is grain, which can be directly used for the military provisions of the capital and the border garrisons."

"But levying tax-in-kind requires the localities to arrange transport and delivery themselves. Often, for a single picul of grain transported from its place of origin to the capital or to Liaodong, the shipping cost alone reaches five mace of silver, or even eight mace. This expense is, in the end, apportioned onto the heads of the common people."

"Therefore, when tax-in-kind is levied, the common people's burden is in fact heavier. Whereas commuting to silver for delivery costs far less."

"Shandong's grain tax has always been supplied for the military use of Liaodong, and thus tax-in-kind has always been levied. Permitting converted-silver this time is, in truth, already a lightening of the locality's burden."

Only after hearing this did Zhu Youjian suddenly understand, feeling immensely fortunate that he had not rashly spoken out during the court session.

Otherwise, the prestige he had just built up would have been canceled out in the blink of an eye by a display of ignorance about practical affairs.

He had taken it for granted that remitting taxes was best, but had overlooked the absurdly high logistics costs of the ancient world.

Compared to being exploited once when exchanging grain for silver, those exorbitant transport costs were, for the common people, an even harder burden to bear.

"We understand now," Zhu Youjian nodded.

"But even so, regarding the Shandong flood relief, you must still dispatch capable men to investigate carefully, ascertain the true extent of the disaster in each department and county, and provide relief according to need. You must absolutely not use another phrase like 'beyond counting' to fob the matter off."

Shi Fenglai felt a chill in his heart. He bowed and responded: "This subject obeys the edict."

He glanced at that screen, knowing that he too must now provide a deadline.

He pondered for a moment, then replied: "Your Majesty, this subject will shortly go to the Censorate and request the dispatch of censors to Shandong. The journey to Shandong, riding at full speed, will take roughly ten days for the round trip. Adding the time for local investigation and supervising relief efforts, this subject estimates that a total of thirty days will be needed before the matter can be settled and reported back."

Zhu Youjian shook his head: "Thirty days is too long."

He looked at Shi Fenglai. "Do it this way: once the men you send arrive in Shandong and have grasped the general situation, have them immediately send back a summary report first. We give you fifteen days. We want to see the first report by then. Is there any problem?"

Shi Fenglai's heart tightened, but he gritted his teeth and accepted: "Your Majesty is merciful. This subject… obeys the edict."

Gao Shiming raised his brush once more and wrote on the screen:

Shandong flood relief inspection — Shi Fenglai to report within fifteen days, concluded within thirty days.

Zhu Youjian rapped his knuckles on the table and swept his gaze across the assembled men.

"Now, only one last matter remains."

His eyes came to rest upon Zhang Ruitu.

"Governor Huang Yuntai of Liaodong has submitted a memorial requesting that horse fodder be commuted to silver. What are your views on this?"

Huang Liji and Shi Fenglai exchanged a glance, and both wisely chose silence, leaving the opportunity to this last man, Zhang Ruitu.

Zhang Ruitu felt his mouth go dry. He drew a deep breath and, forcing himself to remain composed, stepped out from the ranks.

"In reply to Your Majesty: the Liaodong troops, during the winter and spring seasons, require three million six hundred thousand bundles of horse fodder. In the past, this has always been procured by summoning merchants in the Ji Garrison and Yongping Prefecture to purchase it."

"It is only that… the practice of summoning and purchasing is rife with abuses. When merchants are subjected to forced levies, they are often ruined and reduced to utter misery. As a result, the fodder collection may not reach the full quota, and the common people suffer grievously as well."

"For this reason, Governor Huang has proposed that the silver for purchasing the fodder be delivered directly to Liaodong, and that they purchase it locally themselves, so as to eliminate these abuses."

"Your subjects… your subjects believe that this proposal may be feasible."

Having heard him out, Zhu Youjian found himself momentarily unable to tell whether this great calligrapher, in matters of state, was naively foolish or simply rotten to the core.

He reined in his temper and guided the discussion: "The crux of this matter is getting three million six hundred thousand bundles of horse fodder to Liaodong. Is that correct?"

The several Grand Secretaries all nodded.

"Previously, when purchasing was done in the Ji Garrison and Yongping, the hardships of transport and the extortion by officials and clerks — were these not all borne by those fodder merchants, or by the common people subjected to levies? This, I take it, is what you call 'abuses'?"

Zhang Ruitu hesitated a moment, then nodded again.

Seeing his expression, Zhu Youjian understood at once.

This Zhang Ruitu, he reckoned, was probably entirely unfamiliar with the actual conditions in Liaodong — very likely a complete dullard.

He shook his head and pressed on: "Very well then. Now, if the silver is given directly to Liaodong, by what method will Liaodong ensure that these three million six hundred thousand bundles of horse fodder sprout legs and run there on their own?"

"Will merchants, drawn by profit, transport it of their own accord?"

"But if merchants in the Ji Garrison and Yongping fear extortion, why would they cease to fear it once they reach Liaodong?"

"I have not grasped the inner workings of this matter, and it seems that you, Ruitu, have not grasped them either."

Zhu Youjian softened his voice as much as he could. "Perhaps you should go back and get a clearer understanding, and then return to report? I, too, am quite perplexed by this matter."

Zhang Ruitu's face instantly flushed scarlet, and fine beads of sweat seeped out across his forehead.

He stood there at a loss, knowing that the moment had come to give a deadline, yet for the moment he could not think where to go to find the answer — and if he could not find it, how could he possibly give a deadline?

Seeing the Son of Heaven upon the throne still waiting for a time, Zhang Ruitu steeled his heart and said through gritted teeth:

"Your subject… your subject will get to the bottom of this matter within three days!"

Three days it is… if the worst comes to the worst, I'll just beg to be put out to pasture!

Zhu Youjian was somewhat surprised, but nodded in agreement. "Very well. Then I shall await your report, my minister."

Gao Shiming understood the cue and stepped forward once more, writing on the screen:

Liaodong horse fodder commuted to silver — Zhang Ruitu, three days.

By this point, all four matters under discussion had been assigned clear deadlines and preliminary plans.

Zhu Youjian nodded with satisfaction and rose to his feet. "Then, my ministers, let us conclude here for today."

At that moment, however, Huang Liji hesitated and stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, the posts of Minister of War, Minister of Personnel, and Minister of Justice are all currently vacant. Should we… summon the Nine Ministers and the officials of the various offices and circuits for a court recommendation, so as to fill these positions?"

Zhu Youjian had intended to refuse. In his mind, he already had ideal candidates for all three posts.

But on second thought, using this matter to probe the logic of court personnel arrangements would not be a bad idea.

So he nodded. "Very well. After the court recommendation, submit the list of names. I shall look it over, and then decide."

With that, he delayed no longer, turned, and strode away, leaving behind only a single brisk and resolute sentence.

"If there is nothing else, disperse. Go attend to your respective duties."

Before his voice had faded, his figure had already vanished behind the hall.

The four Grand Secretaries stood rooted where they were, staring at one another in bewilderment.

They turned back to look at that enormous screen, at every item written there in black ink on white paper, and at the glaring deadlines of "three days" and "fifteen days" appended after them.

A sense of anxiety such as they had never known seized them in an instant.

The four exchanged glances. No longer having any mind for the pleasantries and small talk they usually shared, they hastily cupped their hands in salute and hurriedly dispersed.

They had to go at once to find the personnel of the Six Ministries, to find the men of the Hanlin Academy, to find every available hand they could, to complete the tasks each had been assigned.

Very soon, the vast Wuying Hall stood empty, only that enormous screen remaining, still standing silently in the hall.

Friends, I was so bored that I actually made a "Great Ming National Salvation Sprint Task Management Board v1.0."

Hahahahaha, I'm cracking myself up. Please see the bonus chapter.