Chapter 221: Birds fly high, a lone cloud drifts away

Publicizing imperial assets was, after all, one of the agenda items for today.

But bringing it up so directly left Old Wang somewhat caught off guard.

Wang Guoguang's gaze darted between the Emperor in the main seat and the account books before him. After a long while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Your Majesty, shouldn't we deliberate on this first?"

Zhu Yijun cast a strange glance at Wang Guoguang: "Opinions have been collected for over a month now. Every official, scholar, and retired worthy who submitted a memorial to discuss this matter has exhausted every superlative in their praise."

"Since I ascended the throne, I have never encountered such a smooth-sailing affair."

"With such a consensus of public opinion, is there anything left to deliberate?"

Wang Guoguang was choked by the Emperor's words and had no choice but to look toward Shen Shixing.

Shen Shixing felt an immediate toothache.

Look at how this was phrased: the Emperor had already bound his own hands and feet to place restrictions on imperial assets. Who among outsiders could utter a single word of dissent, unless they wanted to be drowned in spit?

Not to mention anything else, the censorate officials seeking fame and reputation had reached a consensus almost overnight: anyone in the court who dared to oppose this matter was a money-grubbing eunuch partisan.

Added to that were the destitute retired worthies in the countryside and the young scholars who had yet to step into officialdom, all submitting memorials to advocate for it with all their might.

Even those court officials who harbored dissent had to offer endless praise on the surface; at most, they could only maintain silence.

As for the only question the court officials truly cared about, no one dared to ask it: after publicizing imperial assets, what about us?

It was common knowledge.

The Emperor's tactics had always been one after another, and the majority of court officials had fallen for the Emperor's unpredictable moves.

A conditioned reflex had almost formed; they couldn't help but mutter to themselves that the Emperor might be using this to force the court officials to follow suit.

Yet, no one dared to test the Emperor on this matter.

One couldn't exactly say to his face, "Your Majesty, just publicizing it yourself is enough; don't be ungrateful and cause trouble for everyone else."

Therefore, the pressure of this matter inevitably fell upon the Censorate, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Grand Secretariat, with colleagues making veiled inquiries every few days.

Wang Guoguang was someone who disliked getting involved. With the Emperor speaking directly, he had no choice but to turn his gaze to Shen Shixing—who else but Zhang Gelao Shen was the "licorice root"? One always had to harmonize the yin and yang.

Shen Shixing felt Wang Guoguang's pleading gaze and took a deep breath.

This matter truly affected the whole body by pulling a single hair; the Grand Secretariat naturally could not turn a deaf ear.

After pondering for a moment, he took up the Emperor's thread and began to harmonize the yin and yang: "Your Majesty, naturally there are still points to deliberate."

"Confucius said, 'If names are not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things.' Since the policy has been issued, there must be a justification. I do not yet know under what name Your Majesty is taking this action?"

Without rules, one cannot form squares and circles.

The name is very important; with a name, the framework is established.

If this matter wasn't clearly defined first and was just done in silence, the court officials would likely be unable to eat or sleep all day.

Zhang Gelao Shen had always been good with words.

Zhu Yijun couldn't help but laugh: "A fine 'names are not correct.' Is Zhang Gelao Shen afraid that I will act arbitrarily and want to push this further?"

Shen Shixing pulled the corners of his mouth in embarrassment.

Zhu Yijun scanned the officials in the hall; most of them wore expressions of concern.

Especially Yin Zhengmao, who looked concerned yet didn't want to be discovered, constantly stealing glances this way.

Even though it was an expected scene, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but feel a bit dejected.

He sighed, composed his expression, and spoke solemnly: "In the palace examination of the second year of Wanli, one essay by Li Sincai deeply won my heart."

"'Heaven entrusted the great position to me, not to favor one person with high status and wealth, but to entrust me with the lives of hundreds of millions of people, to act as their shepherd.'"

"'The salary for shepherding the world, I accept as a matter of course; as for high status and wealth, I respectfully decline.'"

"'Previously, after being rebuked to my face by He Xinyin, I woke up in an instant. I am not a gentleman and cannot be cautious when alone. I hold the great vessel, and I should publicize it to the people of the world.'"

"'As for the name, it is nothing more than this: principle and desire cannot stand together; public and private do not share the same path.'"

Although Li Sincai was overly selfish and fond of scheming and forming cliques, his talent and courage were truly impeccable.

Several years ago, he had already expounded on the public and private nature of the Emperor's property, laying a foundation in the classics—the topic of whether it is a "public world" or a "family world" was too sensitive to discuss, but at the very least, property did not belong solely to the Emperor; he should only take a management salary.

Using it now could be considered acting with a legitimate cause.

Shen Shixing and Wang Guoguang exchanged glances and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

If it were only this, who wouldn't support it? The ministers still remembered vividly how Emperor Shizong had constantly encroached upon the national treasury for his own selfish desires.

This justification was very mild, so mild that it wouldn't burn the court officials—the Emperor wanted to distinguish between public and private, what did that have to do with the court officials?

At the very least, it was much better than some justification like "leading by example to fight corruption and advocate integrity," which would leave the court officials in an awkward position.

Not just the two of them, but almost all the officials breathed a sigh of relief in unison.

Most were afraid that the Emperor didn't understand the stakes and was being too wishful; as for the minority, there was no lack of ministers like Yin Zhengmao.

"However..."

The Emperor's voice rose again, but the tone had a shift to it.

The hearts of the officials were hung up once more.

Zhu Yijun's expression was hard to fathom as he spoke leisurely: "It is not just me. The ministers present are all guides of the world and leaders of the nation."

"If we speak of obtaining high status and wealth through public affairs, I fear the ministers are only slightly inferior to me."

As soon as the words fell, the officials present were all struck with terror.

From Shen Shixing downwards, they all rose and left their seats: "We are guilty."

Zhu Yijun reached out and pressed down in the air: "I am referring to your offices and positions, not saying it about you."

Although the tone was gentle, the officials remained standing in the hall, feeling awkward and somewhat uneasy.

After all, since the Emperor had pointed it out, it naturally wouldn't be baseless.

Zhu Yijun continued to speak on his own: "The ministers are all my confidants, so I will not play games with you."

"I have indeed thought about making all the court officials reveal their family assets for the people of the world to see."

"Unfortunately, it is just wishful thinking; the ministers need not worry that I am being too idealistic."

"This matter does have a follow-up, but it does not apply there."

Zhu Yijun gestured for everyone to sit while raising two fingers.

Looking at his demeanor, the follow-up wasn't just in one place.

The officials looked at each other and had no choice but to sit down one after another.

After a slight pause, Zhu Yijun spoke slowly: "First, the Grand Secretariat acts on behalf of imperial power; it is truly the hub of secrets and the leader of the nation."

Shen Shixing heard this, his thoughts churning, both happy and worried.

He lifted his body, which had just touched the chair, and wore a bitter smile: "I ask Your Majesty to clarify."

Zhu Yijun didn't look at him at all, but turned to look at Wang Xijue: "I will not force an inspection of the Grand Secretaries' family assets, but from now on, whenever a Zhang Gelao is to be appointed, the Ministry of Personnel shall list those willing to publicize their family assets separately, and I will give them priority consideration."

A minor official is one thing, but if the leaders of the nation, like Minister of Revenue Ye Qi, start pursuing high wealth and ruining national policy for the sake of their descendants, then it truly is a downward slide from top to bottom.

There must be some lofty ideals.

Shen Shixing, who had already entered the Grand Secretariat, exchanged a glance with Wang Xijue, who was about to enter, and they looked away instantly.

Wang Xijue understood, took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and decisively stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I recommend myself; I request to publicize!"

This action was also the proper thing to do.

Not advocating it means absolute prohibition; priority consideration means established convention.

It was just so urgent that it lacked the cultivation of an official; everyone knew you were entering the Grand Secretariat next year, but being this blatant was a bit too arrogant.

Yet Wang Xijue was just that kind of person; his colleagues were already accustomed to it.

Who let the Emperor like this fellow?

Zhu Yijun was naturally gratified, but he was thinking about other things.

While the imperial system certainly had a low floor, there was a reason why the ceiling was high.

The backward "ruler-ruler, minister-minister" relationship and clear hierarchy could exert different advantages in certain aspects—at the very least, it allowed Zhu Yijun to righteously propose such a difficult request for his colleagues.

Zhu Yijun naturally followed the trend and ordered Chen Sanmo: "Hand this matter to the Personnel Division for verification and publication."

After the Division Chief received the order, Zhu Yijun looked at Shen Li: "I will continue; there is a second point."

"Minister Shen, from now on, regarding the land survey, all land owned by officials currently in office in each prefecture and county shall be publicized."

This was a matter of convenience.

If one were still in the dark after the land survey, wouldn't it have been in vain?

Shen Li heard this and felt it was expected; he had been mentally prepared for this on his way to the capital.

Not only that, he had already thought through the pros and cons several times over.

Shen Li was silent for a moment and advised: "Your Majesty, I fear this will only have a temporary effect."

Everyone hadn't been in officialdom for just one day.

It was naturally easy to publicize after this land survey; it was nothing more than singling out the officials' real estate and copying it down.

The problem was that a land survey wasn't something you got once and kept forever, nor was it a one-time certification.

In less than a dozen years, these numbers would inevitably lose their truth.

Zhu Yijun shook his head: "I know, so you, Minister Shen, will not be dismissed as the Land Survey Commissioner after the fact."

"Regular land inspections and accepting reports."

Reports?

Shen Li was stunned.

The first to react was Censor-in-Chief Wen Chun.

Wen Chun had headed the Censorate for several years and understood the Emperor's unspoken meaning immediately upon hearing it.

He frowned and remonstrated: "Your Majesty, exposing private matters risks inciting the common people and provoking officials; it is truly not the proper path."

Reporting such matters always carried the taboo of the inferior attacking the superior.

The Censorate never accepted reports from commoners or colleagues; the only proper path was to memorialize the Emperor and have it investigated thoroughly.

Otherwise, with the immense power of the ministries and courts, there would be no checks, and it would sooner or later become a tool for political strife.

Furthermore, such matters would inevitably involve false accusations; even if the ministries could remain upright and impartial, it would only waste manpower and resources, pointlessly ruining the court's atmosphere.

Wang Zongyi also reacted quickly and chimed in: "Your Majesty, acting in this way is slightly too rash and will inevitably cause panic; I believe we should deliberate on it at length."

Zhu Yijun felt the resistance of the officials and fell into silence.

He opened his mouth to speak, but swallowed it back.

Finally, he rarely failed to explain and just said stiffly: "My mind is made up; let us try it first."

The Emperor suddenly revealed a stubborn side; the officials' expressions froze, and then they became somewhat suspicious and uneasy.

Zhu Yijun saw this and sighed in his heart; it wasn't that he didn't want to explain, but he truly didn't know where to start.

Panic?

He naturally knew, but panic was exactly what he wanted!

The high-pressure workplace environment of publicizing land ownership clearly couldn't last long, and sooner or later, the policy would die with the man.

But some things had to be done, even if it was just a gust of wind blowing through.

It wasn't for the sake of so-called anti-corruption—the effectiveness of publicizing land ownership wouldn't be too great.

To put it bluntly, corruption is rooted in human nature; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it is an organic body with vitality. Corruption seems to have a survival instinct; no matter how difficult the situation, it will always struggle to survive and find its own way out.

After the Performance Assessment Law, the atmosphere of corruption had only been curbed by two or three parts; wanting to eradicate it was wishful thinking.

The same was true for this matter; if real estate had to be publicized, these people would go to hoard gold and silver, mint copper coins, set up shops, and even secretly support merchant firms.

If it doesn't shine in the east, it will shine in the west; there are plenty of ways to set up industries.

But, as luck would have it, this was exactly the goal Zhu Yijun wanted to achieve!

It was self-evident whose hands the world's wealth was hidden in—don't look at the millions of taels of silver confiscated every year; compared to the "seventy million total plundered after Li Zicheng broke into the capital, with three-tenths in the hands of noble families and two-tenths in the hands of officials," it was truly a drop in the bucket.

Guiding the economy is like managing water.

One must squeeze the wealth of these vermin out of real estate!

Publicizing land ownership isn't curbing the atmosphere of corruption; it's curbing the atmosphere of "seeking land and asking for houses"!

For thousands of years, the way to extract profit has been limited to annexing land; it's too slow!

It is precisely because the efficiency of "eating people" is not as good as outside that they were overtaken—and don't talk about any inherent inferiority; everyone is eating people, eating slowly is lack of virtue, and being weak is the original sin.

And once this move is made, as long as the court uses the reporting politics of panic during the Wanli reign, maintaining high pressure on land corruption while relaxing the rest, it will force these corrupt officials to move their eyes away from land.

These people will naturally use their privileges to trade in luxury goods, let their wives and relatives set up shops, support relatives in running handicraft workshops, and follow the nobles in opening merchant firms—Zhu Yijun had already paved most of this road, and the nobles were already starting to eat meat in front. Corrupt officials always have to eat people; like the gentlemen of foreign lands, they are always eating people.

Now, Zhu Yijun is precisely driving this group of people to change places to eat people, so that while eating people, they can unconsciously contribute to the prosperity of the commodity economy—the commodity economy, joining in is adding bricks and tiles, no matter the posture.

Capital needs accumulation, even feudal bureaucratic capital is no exception.

It just depends on how far this group of people can run before the policy dies with the man...

The Emperor's tone was rarely this cold; the officials in the hall felt more or less that the Emperor's mood was wrong, and for a moment, it was silent.

Seeing this, Shen Shixing had to come forward, intending to ease the atmosphere: "Your Majesty has a heart of a newborn babe; how could we not try it?"

On this matter, no one could understand what the Emperor was thinking.

Shen Shixing only assumed the Emperor hated corrupt officials and his ideas were too idealistic, which was why he was so insistent; his expression was inevitably somewhat reluctant.

In his words, he both echoed the Emperor and expressed that when the disadvantages outweighed the advantages, it should be abolished in time.

He just assumed the Emperor was acting on impulse, sighed in his heart, and silently comforted himself that no one is perfect, and youth is hot-blooded.

Wang Zongyi's brows were even more tightly furrowed.

Not a single mistake, not a single omission, look at it all!

He wanted to nip it in the bud and remonstrate, but was afraid of provoking the Emperor's temper, so he remained conflicted.

Shen Li and Wen Chun exchanged glances, feeling quite helpless; when a powerful Emperor wants to go against the crowd, no one can truly suppress him.

Added to Shen Shixing coming forward to mediate, the two had no choice but to swallow the words in their throats.

The two compromised helplessly: "We obey the decree."

Zhu Yijun looked at the reactions of the people in the hall and naturally knew what they were thinking.

A trace of melancholy rose in his heart again.

He looked up at the window.

"Birds fly high and vanish, a lone cloud drifts away at leisure..."

On this matter, I fear no one will understand me, not even in later generations.

I don't know when the final verdict is passed, how much merit and how much fault this "evil policy" will be assigned.

Zhu Yijun let his thoughts wander for a moment, then quickly gathered them back.

He didn't dwell on this topic and waved his hand: "Let it be decided as such."

After speaking, he looked at Wang Xijue, about to continue to the next topic.

Wang Guoguang abruptly took another memorial from his sleeve and spoke first: "Your Majesty, these are the tax and corvée labor records classified and compiled over the years for five prefectures: Songjiang, Yangzhou, Chengdu, Changsha, and Huzhou."

Zhu Yijun was stunned.

After a moment, he remembered and reached out to take the memorial: "Hao Weiqiao has finished his errand?"

Wang Guoguang nodded: "Exactly, Hao Weiqiao just returned to the capital from Chengdu Prefecture last month."

Since the first year of Wanli, Songjiang Prefecture had been the court's experimental field for tax reform in the south. When the Li clan became Imperial Consorts, the Southern Zhili side took the initiative to submit a memorial to add Yangzhou Prefecture, both of which were major tax prefectures.

Since then, whenever there were new ideas, most would be piloted in the counties around the capital and the two southern prefectures.

For tax reform, the Ministry of Revenue had made many preparations.

In the third year of Wanli, Supervising Secretary Hao Weiqiao submitted a memorial, saying that national taxes and corvée labor had fixed quotas. However, laws were changed frequently, with "positive reduction and negative increase" in levies, and miscellaneous supply fees and unannounced collections were constant. There were few who paid the two taxes to the government, and many who paid miscellaneous levies to the government. Consequently, he requested to consult with all provinces to clear up miscellaneous taxes everywhere.

The pilot naturally fell to Songjiang and Yangzhou Prefectures first.

The Ministry of Revenue issued documents, and the Censorate supervised the implementation, ordering the two prefectures to thoroughly audit all money and grain taken from the people, including the equal labor service, village system, public fee silver, and exorbitant levies outside the two taxes, and to compile them into registers and report them under three categories: increased quotas, added items, and inherited old regulations.

In short, it was to count how many miscellaneous taxes were levied on the people outside of the regular taxes.

Following this, after Sichuan Assistant Administration Commissioner Li Sincai volunteered and Huguang Provincial Governor Liang Menglong requested to lead, the pilot area was set in nearly a hundred counties across five prefectures.

Zhu Yijun carefully flipped through them.

These were the basis for the subsequent fixed quotas for regular taxes—too high or too low were not long-term solutions.

"Your Majesty, Chengdu Prefect Li Kun attached another volume at the end of the register." Wang Guoguang pointed to the end of the volume, "He says, money and grain have fixed amounts; if reduced too much, supplies will be insufficient; corvée labor has regular supplies; if recruited at the time of need, arrangements cannot be made in time."

"If those who suffer losses have to appeal, cunning and crafty people will inevitably take the opportunity to use inconvenience as an excuse to mix in complaints, instead disrupting the overall situation."

"I hope Your Majesty can adapt to local conditions so as not to cause the people to suffer losses in secret..."

The so-called "suffering losses in secret" meant that if the court reduced too much, the local areas would likely have to show their own magical powers again; at that time, the people would still have to pay taxes to the prefectures and counties in private.

When public opinion erupts, it will instead be hijacked by cunning people, ruining the good policy.

Zhu Yijun didn't look up and clicked his tongue: "It's rare that he dares to say this."

This tax clearing wasn't just for the hub to have a number in mind.

To speak plainly, this move was, on one hand, the court's attempt to establish a supervisory standard for the tax-related duties of local officials, and on the other, to ensure the full payment of the two taxes by limiting the collection quota of the four service silver.

In essence, it was still a struggle between the central and local governments for private wealth.

In this environment where the hub was striking hard, Li Kun daring to speak up for the local area could be considered risking his official career to state the pros and cons.

It's just...

Zhu Yijun poked his finger at the miscellaneous tax items of Chengdu Prefecture: "The miscellaneous taxes in Chengdu Prefecture are several times more than the regular taxes! I fear they have already been collected for decades to come!"

"Your Majesty, Sichuan's geography is complex, and the folk customs are fierce; prefecture and county expenses will naturally be more."

Wang Xijue said a fair word.

If it weren't for this, Li Kun wouldn't have said something like "adapt to local conditions."

Wasn't it just hoping that after the court reduced miscellaneous taxes, it could retain more regular taxes to cover expenses?

Zhu Yijun sighed: "Let's talk about the division of central and local taxes after the land survey."

He closed the memorial and passed it to Shen Shixing, signaling for it to be circulated.

He turned to instruct Wang Guoguang: "Change it. Let them come up with their own plans to change it first. Take advantage of these few years of land survey to see the results."

"By the way, spread the net; send documents to the governors of all provinces to classify and compile the taxes and corvée labor of each province according to the experience of the five prefectures."

Wang Guoguang silently agreed.

After waiting for a while and seeing that Old Wang had nothing else to report, Zhu Yijun turned to look at Li Youzi: "Minister Li, you have seen it too; in times of reform, the Ministry of Revenue is the busiest. The Minister of Revenue works day and night, and has grown much gray hair."

"Minister Li, after the new year, enter the Ministry of Revenue as the Left Vice Minister to help out."

Li Youzi was stunned, his fat body shifting somewhat restrainedly and awkwardly.

He raised his head, his gaze showing undisguised surprise: "Your Majesty, is there no need for a court recommendation?"

Zhu Yijun waved his hand: "You were brought up in the ministry's discussion; as long as I and the ministers have a consensus now, there is no reason for a court recommendation to lack votes."

Just kidding, the ministers of the ministries and courts were all here; even if there were a court recommendation, there would definitely be enough votes.

At this time, Wang Xijue explained: "Minister Li has headed the Court of Imperial Entertainments for seven years and is also the deputy editor-in-chief of the 'Wanli Accounting Records.' Regardless of seniority or ability, Minister Li is the consensus choice."

Of course, there was one thing he didn't say.

Li Youzi had a fat body and a chronic urological illness; he was even given the nickname "Li Three Pots"—tea pot, wine pot, and urine pot, all of which were indispensable. The former need not be mentioned, and the latter referred to his inability to hold his urine.

For an official in a high position, physical appearance and demeanor are most valued. If such a filthy defect wasn't settled by reaching a consensus in a small meeting, it would be hard to say what would happen during a court recommendation.

Li Youzi knew his own affairs best.

After a brief silence, he didn't decline, covered his face, and rose: "Your Majesty's great grace, I will not refuse even if I die!"

Zhu Yijun saw his moved appearance and didn't say anything, waving his hand lightly: "Leave the land survey in Henan to Deng Yizan; he handles affairs fairly and has always had talent; it is time for him to take charge on his own."

After speaking, he turned to look at Pan Cheng: "Minister Pan, you come to succeed as Minister of Justice."

As soon as the words fell, the officials turned their heads in unison to look at Zhang Han.

Pan Cheng was also caught off guard and was about to speak.

Zhang Han nodded first and explained frankly: "I am already in my seventies, and recently I have felt that my heart is willing but my strength is lacking."

"A few days ago, I already submitted my resignation to Your Majesty. After today, I will bid farewell to all my colleagues and return to my hometown to write books."

The officials looked at each other.

Zhang Han's intention to retire was truly within reason but beyond expectations.

Back when they sacrificed to Heaven at the southern suburbs, Zhang Han, Chen Yubi, and others prided themselves on being moral gentlemen, but out of consideration for the big picture, they stood on Zhang Juzheng's side.

Clearly, many of these people were just making compromises to have the best of both worlds, so that outsiders wouldn't classify them among those opposing the new policies.

Once the storm subsided, Chen Yubi resigned and returned to his hometown on the pretext of supporting his elderly father.

Now Zhang Han retiring at the end of the year could be considered following suit.

It's just that it was a bit too hasty.

Shen Shixing was somewhat displeased, his brows tightly furrowed: "I don't remember the Grand Secretariat seeing a memorial for the Minister of Justice's retirement."

He turned to look at the Emperor and was rarely firm: "Your Majesty, I do not know what crime the Minister of Justice has committed to lead to this?"

Zhang Han was, after all, a second-rank official who had headed the Ministry of Justice for seven years.

If the Emperor didn't have the heart to expel him, Zhang Han would never have left so abruptly, to the point where even the Grand Secretariat heard of it for the first time.

Zhu Yijun shook his head: "The Minister of Justice has headed the Ministry of Justice for years, with orders followed and prohibitions stopped; how could he commit a crime?"

The Emperor answered with a question and didn't answer Shen Shixing directly.

Zhang Gelao Shen was naturally unconvinced and was about to ask again.

At this time, Zhang Han gave a bitter smile: "Why must Zhang Gelao Shen insist on exposing someone's old bottom?"

"'Fame is not achieved by writing, officials should rest due to old age and illness.' What I said just now about being willing but lacking strength is truly not an excuse."

He sighed and spoke from the heart: "It is not just the matter of the former Zhang Gelao's retention in office."

"For several years, chaos has emerged in the Ministry of Justice, the revision of the Great Ming Code has been wrong again and again, and added to the increasingly intense situation of the new policies, I truly have no ability to linger in the hub and drag everyone down."

The words were sincere, and the colleagues were instead at a loss.

Wen Chun looked at Zhang Han's appearance and felt quite empathetic.

Zhang Han was old, and in these years, he had truly been scolded by the Emperor quite a bit.

A few days ago, when the Three Judicial Offices went to report to the Emperor, Zhang Han was scolded thoroughly; he still remembered how intense the Emperor's words were—"The outside is arguing to this extent, isn't it because your Ministry of Justice is occupying a position without doing its job, pulling sides all day long!?"

A seventy-year-old man, because he couldn't keep up with the Emperor's path, subsequently developed the heart to retire; it was truly bitter.

At this time, the Emperor also suddenly spoke: "Zhang Qing is a moral gentleman who has never made a mistake; it is truly that I did not put you in the right position, leading to your exhaustion."

"'Venerable and Respected, Contributing to the Nation'—these eight characters I have written myself as a gift to you, and I have already ordered people to mount them, and will send people to Zhang Qing's mansion later."

"Let alone talk of dragging down; your merits, I know clearly; a return home in glory as a Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince will definitely not be lacking for Zhang Qing."

Zhang Han was perhaps scolded by the Emperor to the point of a knot, and hearing this, the corners of his eyes couldn't help but turn red.

He hurriedly lowered his head to cover it, taking the opportunity to present the "Great Ming Code" from his sleeve: "Your Majesty, this is the Great Ming Code re-ordered according to Your Majesty's instructions; perhaps there are still many omissions."

Zhu Yijun felt that his temper had been a bit worse when facing Zhang Han before; now, taking the Great Ming Code and flipping through a few pages, he forced the corners of his mouth to pull, his expression rarely gentle: "Leave the draft in the History Office; leave the remaining unfinished business to Minister Pan."

After speaking, he passed the code to Pan Cheng for inspection: "Exactly, regarding the matter of the Earl of Yongnian's fraudulent registration, we still need to invoke the Eight Deliberations to reduce his sentence; Minister Pan, take this matter as well."

Pan Cheng hurriedly rose to take it.

Following the Emperor's words, he flipped to the Eight Deliberations.

And then he was stunned.

The opening was naturally about the meaning, with a pile of words at the beginning of the volume like "Rites do not extend to the commoners, punishments do not extend to the officials," "Clearly understand virtue and be cautious with punishment," "Virtue is the master, punishment is the assistant," "Treat ministers with courtesy, in every detail," and so on, to discuss the necessity of the Eight Deliberations.

Of course, the original draft naturally had many corrections, and these words were all crossed out.

Replacing them was the Emperor's imperial approval: "The Eight Deliberations system came into being to protect the crimes of members of the ruling group; it is the result of the game between maintaining rule and favoring the close; it is the concrete product of the compromise of legal authority to the power of the ruling group represented by the Emperor; it is also a short-term process that the legal code must experience at this stage."

Pan Cheng silently closed this re-ordered Great Ming Code, stealing glances at the Emperor and Zhang Han.

Zhang Qing couldn't keep up with the Emperor's train of thought; I fear it truly wasn't Zhang Qing's problem.

"Alright, let's continue to talk about maritime trade. Minister Li, can the Fujian Maritime Trade Office navigate next year? Minister Zhu, when can the long-distance ships go to sea? Give me a firm answer."

Topics followed one after another, and the Emperor began to call names.

Zhu Heng hadn't had time to speak when Li Zaiting spoke first: "Your Majesty, I have an uninvited request; if granted, Fujian will definitely be able to navigate next year!"

Zhu Yijun glanced at Li Zaiting: "Speak."

Li Zaiting said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I wish to rehabilitate Wang Zhi."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 222 =====