Chapter 150: Abolition

Li Banghua was deeply dissatisfied with the Chongzhen Emperor's words. Investigating and impeaching official misconduct was the duty of the Censorate, yet it had now become a task monopolized by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His Majesty's heavy reliance on the Embroidered Uniform Guard was not a blessing for civil officials.

When officials violated the court's laws and discipline, they should naturally be investigated and punished by the proper court authorities. The Embroidered Uniform Guard was the emperor's personal army—how could it meddle in everything? How would the Censorate maintain its standing in the future?

He spoke up in rebuttal: "Your Majesty places the Embroidered Uniform Guard above all else. Does that not render the court's proper authorities superfluous? Using private instruments for public affairs is hardly a long-term solution! I beg Your Majesty to think thrice!"

The Emperor waved his hand and smiled: "Minister Li, calm yourself! This matter involves a court official of the third rank. It is my intention that Right Censor-in-Chief Minister Shi personally proceed to Yangzhou to take charge. I hope Minister Shi will adjudicate fairly and without favoritism! Regarding today's discussion of the Huai'an affair, I have given it some thought—let me share it for you ministers to consider."

Right Censor-in-Chief Shi Bangyao stepped forward, performed the ritual, and accepted the decree. The ministers then returned to their positions and fell silent, awaiting the Emperor's words.

The Emperor spoke: "The breadth of official involvement in the Huai'an Salt Administration affair has shocked me deeply! The scale of embezzlement has left me utterly astounded! A small office with only three court-appointed officials, and not a single one among them clean—this is unprecedented since the founding of the Great Ming! It is truly a disgrace to the court! You ministers, as senior officials, should you not reflect on the failings behind this?"

The ministers all hung their heads in silence. Wen Tiren and Li Banghua stepped forward, bowed, and said: "This is our fault. We beg Your Majesty to calm your anger!"

The Emperor sighed: "You ministers bear the duty of leading your fellow officials. While holding yourselves to strict standards, you must also shoulder your own responsibilities! The criminals of Huai'an embezzled nearly a million taels—and this was only one salt administration office. What of the Salt Transport Commissioner's Office, which holds even greater power? I dare not imagine the results! What I fail to understand is, what use does one have for so much money? As far as I know, an ordinary family of five in the capital spends no more than thirty taels a year, and they can live without worry of food or clothing. Yet a ninth-rank official managed to embezzle three hundred thousand taels—enough to cover the annual expenses of ten thousand families of five!"

The ministers had only been astonished at the amount that ninth-rank clerk had embezzled, without calculating just how staggering it truly was. Only after the Emperor's explanation did they realize—the man's greed was indeed appalling.

The Emperor continued: "If it were legitimate business, even a fortune of a million taels would please me to see. But what I cannot abide is that this money rightfully belongs to the court! Last year, the Lianghuai salt tax contributed just over five hundred thousand taels. Had this affair not come to light, I would have taken that as the normal figure. Now it is clear that both I and you ministers have been deceived without knowing it!"

All the ministers knew there was great corruption hidden in the salt tax. As the most important salt-producing region in all the Great Ming, those in charge of Lianghuai would certainly be dipping their hands in and siphoning off private wealth. Now, seeing the Huai'an case, they could not help but begin calculating just how much of the salt tax had been pocketed by others.

The Emperor then dangled a carrot: "Last month, I used the privy purse to raise salaries for the capital's offices. Calculated out, the annual cost comes to three hundred thousand taels. I had originally planned that once the Taicang treasury and the privy purse had more income, I would introduce another round of new policies and raise reward amounts. But the Huai'an affair has chilled my heart! I have no desire to let certain insatiable types receive rewards on top of enriching themselves at public expense!"

Li Banghua stepped forward and memorialized: "Your Majesty's concern is most proper. When the year-end assessments of the various offices come, I will ensure the Censorate conducts strict reviews—His Majesty's grace shall never be betrayed!"

What? You just raised everyone's salaries—surely you don't mean to go back on it? Many officials were just about to start living well. You're just upset that people might take your money and still collect your rewards, feeling wronged inside, aren't you? Well, the Censorate will solve that problem for you.

The Emperor nodded: "I trust Minister Li. For the year-end assessments, the Censorate shall take the lead, with the Ministry of Personnel assisting. Anyone who violates court law and discipline shall be severely punished!"

Li Banghua and Zhou Yun, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, performed their rituals and returned to their places in the ranks. Since Wang Yongguang had been dismissed from the post of Minister of Personnel, the Emperor had not found a suitable candidate for the ministry's top post. Ministry affairs were handled by Zhou Yun, who was also quietly maneuvering to have his provisional appointment made permanent. Today's proceedings, however, Zhou Yun could not quite read the direction of the wind, so he had not spoken up.

The Emperor took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, then continued: "From the Huai'an affair, I deduce that the salt profits of Lianghuai must be a staggering figure. I will absolutely not permit interests that rightfully belong to the court to be seized by individuals! I have decided to abolish the Salt Transport Commissioner's Offices across the realm! The ancestral system of salt certificates and salt taxes shall be done away with! From now on, no salt certificate will be needed to sell or obtain salt—salt throughout the Great Ming shall be sold at unified prices set by the court!"

Nearly everyone in Qianqing Palace was stunned by the Emperor's words.

Since the Grand Ancestor founded this dynasty, the salt certificate system inherited from the Song had been in place for over two hundred years. Salt certificates had become a symbol of money—in certain times and certain regions, they could even circulate as currency.

The salt tax was also one of the court's important sources of revenue. Though it had been declining year by year, for a court as desperately short of funds as this one, it was still a substantial income. How could the Emperor simply abolish it on a whim?

Of those present, only Hou Xun had an inkling of what was really going on. He was now increasingly certain that the new salt appearing on the market was the Emperor's own enterprise—who else could command the Embroidered Uniform Guard to protect it? This move to abolish the salt offices across the realm and eliminate the salt certificate and salt tax under the pretext of the Huai'an affair was merely seizing the opportunity. To fill the privy purse, the Emperor was certainly putting in real effort.

Wen Tiren hesitated for a moment, then still stepped forward to memorialize: "Previously, Your Majesty abolished Changlu because it produced very little salt—keeping the office there only drained the state treasury while leaving over ten thousand salt-making households in destitution, a hidden danger right at the capital's doorstep. But Lianghuai has operated for two hundred years, with vast influence throughout Jiangnan; countless people depend on it to support their families. If Your Majesty abolishes it so abruptly, might there not be problems? I believe punishing the corrupt officials will suffice—the matter of abolition requires more careful deliberation."

Wang Yingxiong memorialized: "The Chief Grand Secretary speaks truly! I too feel the abolition is ill-advised! Your Majesty has already dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and with a senior minister like the Right Censor-in-Chief overseeing the anti-corruption effort, the Lianghuai matter should be properly resolved. But if, as Your Majesty proposes, the salt certificates and salt tax are eliminated, there are many whose interests are entangled in this—when their private profits are harmed, it may provoke unforeseeable disasters! I beg Your Majesty not to make hasty decisions out of momentary impulse!"

After all, he was a Grand Secretary. Though lacking in ability, he had to consider matters from the court's perspective—Wang Yingxiong would naturally think that the Emperor's measures might stir up unnecessary trouble.

Yang Sichang, Minister of War, who had been watching coldly from the side, stepped forward and memorialized: "I do not agree with the two Grand Secretaries! Your Majesty has already explained the ills of Lianghuai with perfect clarity! Suppressing bandits and comforting the people both require vast sums of money and grain. The Lianghuai salt tax contributes only five hundred thousand taels of silver—barely adequate in peacetime, but as the Huai'an case reveals, its profits are far greater than that! To capture those profits, one must act decisively! Troubled times demand severe laws! While punishing corruption, we must also reform and eliminate abuses! Your Majesty must surely know the full details of this matter—why else would you make such a resolute decision! I support the abolition of the salt offices and the elimination of the Huai salt system!"

Yang Sichang was exceedingly shrewd. His Yang family had no interests entangled in Lianghuai—whether it was abolished or not had nothing to do with him, so he planned to simply watch the show from the sidelines.

But when he saw the Emperor first present the Huai'an nest of corruption to stir up the ministers' discontent with Lianghuai, then subtly point out that the Lianghuai salt tax could yield far more, and that once the privy purse and Taicang treasury benefited, the treatment of capital officials would improve even further—and then smoothly unveil the abolition policy—he understood at once: the Emperor wanted to bring the Great Ming's salt profits entirely under his own control.

Since he knew the Emperor's purpose, of course he would perform along with His Majesty's wishes.

The Emperor nodded approvingly at Yang Sichang and said warmly: "Minister Yang's words align perfectly with my intentions. Since taking up your post as Minister of War, you have been diligent and dutiful—I have seen it with my own eyes. Your abilities are worthy of trust. I am most reassured with the Ministry of War in your hands!"

The Emperor naturally did not know what Yang Sichang was thinking, but Yang Sichang's words suited his intentions well.

Coming from a later age, he naturally knew just how lucrative salt profits were. With finances stretched thin, he had been scheming to take all salt profits into his own hands.

Yet Yang Sichang, standing right in the middle of the situation, had been able to deduce that he knew the inside story. This forced him to admit—one must never underestimate the wisdom of the ancients. He merely possessed a bit more knowledge and broader vision than they did.

If it came to raw intelligence—had he been a native-born Ming man, he could never have reached their level in a lifetime.

Yang Sichang returned to his place in the ranks, fully satisfied. The Emperor's praise was the true foundation for promotion—no matter how loudly others objected, it counted for nothing. Behind his back, the whole family cursed Old Wen until his flesh stank, yet the man still sat in the Chief Grand Secretary's seat. The key was that Old Wen could discern His Majesty's intentions—as long as imperial favor did not wane, the position of Chief Grand Secretary would remain rock-solid.

Those who climbed to high positions were all true elites—put a hair on them and they'd be cleverer than monkeys.

Zhou Yun, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, also stepped forward. Seeing the Emperor's warm reassurance of Yang Sichang, he knew Yang Sichang had guessed the Emperor's intentions correctly.

He declared with great fervor: "I second the Minister of War's words! The profits of Huai salt must not be held in private hands! The officials of the Huai'an Salt Administration were corrupt, and the Ministry of Personnel lacked effective oversight over them—I bear an inescapable responsibility! The governance of the capital has already begun to show signs of clarity, all thanks to Your Majesty's vigorous efforts at reform! The Ministry of Personnel is currently drafting relevant regulations, striving to extend the capital's experience in governing officials to the whole of the Great Ming! So that Your Majesty's subjects may be spared the harm of cruel officials!"

Such blatant flattery naturally drew silent contempt from everyone present, though the Emperor rather thought Zhou Yun was a capable fellow—able to steer the topic of Huai salt toward official governance. Promising.

The Emperor spoke: "Minister Zhou, since you have such ambition to reform official governance, then go and do it well. When you encounter difficult matters, communicate more with the Grand Secretariat. As long as it benefits the Great Ming, I will naturally support you wholeheartedly!"

Since the man had chosen his side, one naturally had to show some response—one couldn't let his warm face press against a cold backside, could one?

Zhou Yun was secretly pleased. With a solemn expression, he performed his ritual and withdrew. The Emperor's response meant he had guessed correctly, which left a good impression with His Majesty and advanced him one step further on the road to permanent appointment. It was just a pity that he still couldn't tell who his competitors were, so he had no chance to slip them some poison while the opportunity presented itself.

The Emperor looked toward Hou Xun, who had been silent all along, and asked: "On the matter of Huai salt, the Ministry of Revenue has the most say. Minister Hou, what is your stance?"

This was forcing Old Hou to take a position. As long as the Minister of Revenue agreed, the words of the other laymen would carry little weight.

Hou Xun hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and memorialized: "Your Majesty's measure does have merit. As long as future salt revenue exceeds the present amount, reclaiming the salt profits would be a good thing for the state and the people. But I also find Grand Secretary Wang's words most reasonable. For the sake of stability, I believe it would be better to proceed gradually!"

The Emperor selectively ignored his suggestion of proceeding gradually and decisively made the call: "Good! Since the Ministry of Revenue also approves of my strategy, then it is settled! From this day forth, the Salt Transport Commissioner's Offices shall be abolished, and the salt certificate and salt tax system shall be eliminated!"