Chapter 382: The Hidden Abuses

There were many people like this—men who, in the guise of couriers, carried out the work of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Such nameless heroes, living out their lives in obscurity, existed in every dynasty, hidden in corners that no one noticed, silent and unknown, faithful to their duty, until they carried with them from this world the many secrets they never had the chance to tell.

Zhu Youjian had even wondered whether, in his previous life, such people might have existed at his side—whether in the bustling streets he might once have brushed past many such figures.

"My minister Wen's proposal is most fitting. The situation today is entirely different from what it was when the stations were abolished back then, and reopening the postal stations is now an imperative. However, the old management of the postal stations, the express relay posts, and the transport depots still has many points requiring improvement. Otherwise, once they are reopened, aside from wasting the court's money and grain, the loopholes within may well fatten a pack of rats! Has my minister Wen given any thought to this?"

Faced with Wen Tiren's proposal, Zhu Youjian first offered his full approval, but then immediately raised his own thoughts and concerns.

Based on the original staffing of the postal stations and their associated personnel and facilities, the total annual operating cost of the entire Great Ming postal system came to roughly two million taels. Such a huge expenditure, if borne by the Taicang treasury alone, would certainly be beyond its means.

And while the privy purse was not short of this silver, if the old management model and system were not reformed, a large portion of it would be squandered or even embezzled by others through various means.

Although Zhu Youjian had always adhered to the principle that water too clear has no fish—permitting a gray zone within tolerable limits—he was nonetheless unwilling to be taken for a fool because of it.

The postal stations and courier services had to be fully restored and improved, the relevant regulations had to be revised, and the old management style, in which no one supervised anything, had to be changed.

"I report to Your Majesty: your servant has made a rough survey of the documents concerning our dynasty's postal stations and courier services, and during a day of rest I happened to discuss the matter with my second son. My son Kan has also, on several days of rest, gone out to survey the postal stations of the counties around the capital. After several rounds of investigation, my son and I believe that the burden of the courier system is too heavy for the court's finances. The only way is to find other avenues besides cutting expenditures—to use revenue to offset costs and reduce the subsidy from public funds as much as possible. If the method proves effective, then even though the court reopens the postal stations, the expense will be greatly reduced! When your servant heard this, I too felt there was something workable in it, and that is why I raise this proposal today!"

Old Wen was trying hard to leave an excellent impression of Wen Kan in the Emperor's mind. Not only had he told his son of his plans, he had also sent Wen Kan and his servants out to visit and investigate the postal stations, so that when the proposal was presented it would strike precisely at the advantages and disadvantages—and when success came in the future, the Emperor would immediately think of Wen Kan, the man who had first proposed it.

"Oh? My minister Wen still finds time in his leisure to worry over state affairs—truly rare indeed! What is it that you and your son have discussed? Pray tell me!"

Hearing Wen Tiren's words, Zhu Youjian could not help but feel a surge of spirit. Although he already had an immature plan of his own for reforming the courier system, he still hoped all the more to hear extraordinary insights and methods from people living within history itself.

"Your servant obeys Your Majesty's command. After much investigation into this matter, my son and I believe that, first, the existing express relay posts and transport depots should be merged into the postal stations, and the stations established every sixty li should be modified on their original sites—this will make the management of transport and delivery far easier. Second, apart from the courier services and couriers themselves, the labor foremen, grooms, cart drivers, and all related personnel should be placed under the authority of the postal stations, with the court bearing the costs of raising horses, repairing carts, and hauling and transport, so as to spare the common people from bankruptcy and ruin through bearing these costs themselves, and truly let Your Majesty's benevolent governance reach every subject under heaven!"

"Wait a moment! In what my minister Wen just said, he mentioned bearing the costs themselves. Do you mean to say that for two hundred years, those who formed the backbone of our Great Ming's courier system have had to pay the expenses incurred out of their own pockets?"

Zhu Youjian suddenly interrupted Wen Tiren's account, leaning forward, his gaze fixed directly on Wen Tiren, his face full of confusion and shock.

Although he knew that the various institutions of the Great Ming's courier system were backward, he had never known that those who worked in it had to pay out of their own pockets to serve the state. Hearing it for the first time, he could scarcely believe his ears.

Ever since his transmigration, his attention had been focused on the great matters—suppressing bandits, reassuring the people, and making money through commerce. He had not paid excessive attention to the courier system until today, when Wen Tiren raised it, and only then did he think of the postal system of later ages, and consider applying that later model to reform the present one.

But what he had never imagined was that those common folk at the very bottom of the postal stations, who toiled and rushed about all day, had to spend their family fortunes to serve the court. How miserable, then, must the fate of such people be?

"Heh heh, Your Majesty manages a myriad of affairs daily; it is only natural not to know of such minor details. Your Majesty should know that when officials of the Great Ming travel on distant journeys, they rely on travel permits to enter and leave the postal stations and to commandeer horses, carts, and manpower. But the practice formed over many years is that the Ministry of War issues permits but never takes them back; gentry pass them on to one another, and a single sheet of paper is patched and altered four or five times. The power of the corvée is fierce as a tiger; the lives of the common folk are fragile as silk! The grooms, cart drivers, and labor foremen of the courier system either bankrupt their families to supply what is demanded, or sell their wives and children to meet it. At a time when the people are poor and the treasury exhausted, they suffer the added cruelty of being devoured by wolves and swallowed by tigers. Local officials also arbitrarily dock the funds of the postal stations and embezzle them for private gain—it is through all such abuses that the courier system's expenditures have become so enormous!"

Wen Tiren had anticipated the Emperor's shock.

He knew that anything touching on the suffering of the common people would inevitably draw the Emperor's highest attention.

He had searched through all the histories, and had never seen an emperor so kind and so concerned for the lowest of the common people.

Even Song Renzong, praised by the world and famed through the ages for his good treatment of the people, did not measure up to one-tenth of the present Emperor.

"How can this be! How could this be! This is utterly outrageous! It is my failure! It is my fault! This must be changed! It must be changed thoroughly!"

Zhu Youjian's expression at this moment was very ugly. A nameless fire of anger accumulated in his chest, yet he could find no outlet to vent it.

Wen Tiren's account had not touched on specific cases, but the miserable scenes that could be imagined still floated up in Zhu Youjian's mind, and the cheerful mood he had been in suddenly turned foul, guilt and self-reproach flooding his entire mind.

The assembled ministers in Zhaoren Hall were also moved by Wen Tiren's description, solemn expressions on every face.

They had all lodged at postal stations, and many had commandeered their manpower and resources, mostly assuming that it came from the court's public funds, so they had used them with easy consciences. They had never imagined the truth behind it all.

"Your Majesty, calm your anger! This state of the courier system is of long standing; it did not come about because of Your Majesty. Now that its evils are known, removing the harm and promoting the good is inevitable. Therefore, your servant has several suggestions to present, and I beg Your Majesty to consider them!"

After offering this word of consolation to Zhu Youjian, Wen Tiren smoothly steered the conversation back onto the main track.

"My minister Wen, speak frankly! The courier system in such a state has become a source of harm to the people; rectification must be strict and swift!"

Zhu Youjian said with a furrowed brow.

Whatever suggestions Wen Tiren might offer, the rule that private family wealth must be spent to serve the state had to be abolished immediately. Every single day this evil policy remained in place, it would leave countless victims struggling in misery for one more day.

"Your servant believes that the chief evil of the postal stations lies in the corvée exactions. I suggest that, from this year on, when officials of the court, great or small, pass through postal stations, aside from enjoying what their rank entitles them to, they shall in no case commandeer the labor foremen, carts, horses, or other such things of the station. If there is a genuine urgent need, they must hire them at their own expense. Furthermore, an official's travel permit may only be used for himself and the family members he brings with him; the permit must record his name, native place, age, appearance, and official post, to prevent others from using it fraudulently. When the station master receives an official lodging at the station, he must check the permit and verify the man's identity; anyone not holding his own permit shall be treated as an impostor. In your old servant's opinion, this regulation should be posted in a conspicuous place at every station, using the court's statutes to suppress any possible dispute!"

This time Wen Tiren had thoroughly thrown caution to the wind.

These two regulations directly sealed off the avenues by which officials had been skimming off the top. Once they were truly put into practice, Old Wen's name would surely be cursed black by all those officials accustomed to taking advantage.

"Excellent! These two policies of my minister Wen strike straight at the heart of the matter—you are truly an upright minister who serves the state with all his heart! That you are Chief Grand Secretary brings great comfort to my heart!"

This praise from Zhu Youjian was truly heartfelt.

He was, of course, well aware how many officials would resent Wen Tiren's proposals.

Whatever Wen Tiren's motives in this matter, so long as he did not fail in the great principles, and so long as it benefited the state and the people, then he was a man worthy of trust.