Chapter 209: Eunuchs Discuss Politics

In the tenth year of Hongwu, the ninth day of the fifth month.

At daybreak in Yingtian Prefecture, the palace erupted into chaos.

The cause was trivial: two young eunuchs were idly chatting in a corner of the Imperial Garden.

One eunuch said, "I heard the Crown Prince dealt with several corrupt officials from Jiangnan a few days ago, confiscating over a million taels of silver."

The other replied, "Exactly! Those families have been rampant in Suzhou Prefecture for years; this time they finally got crushed."

The first added, "If you ask me, the Crown Prince is too merciful; with another Emperor, they'd have been beheaded long ago."

The other lowered his voice, "What do you know? The Crown Prince is just saving face for the officials. I heard the women of those families were sent to Dongying Prefecture, a fate worse than death…"

Engrossed in their talk, they didn't notice someone had appeared behind them.

Zhu Yuanzhang.

The founding Emperor of Great Ming rose early today, intending to stroll in the Imperial Garden; just after turning a rockery, he overheard the conversation.

The two young eunuchs turned, saw his grim face, and their souls fled; they "thump" knelt, kowtowing as if crushing garlic.

"His… His Majesty, spare me! I will never dare again!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said nothing, only lowered his head to stare at them, his gaze as cold as the ice of a waning moon.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice terrifyingly calm.

"I… I deserve death! I should not discuss state affairs! I should not speak rashly of the Crown Prince!" the young eunuch trembled, his forehead bruised from kowtowing.

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then turned and left.

The two young eunuchs collapsed on the ground, knowing they were finished.

……

In Qianqing Palace, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed about to drip water.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind the imperial desk, his face a steely blue.

Empress Ma sat beside him, sighed softly, and said nothing.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong were urgently summoned to the palace, stood in the hall, exchanged a glance, and saw helplessness in each other's eyes.

"Today in the Imperial Garden, I heard several eunuchs discussing state affairs. They said… that the Crown Prince is merciful, that we would be beheaded, that being sent to Dongying is worse than death," Zhu Yuanzhang said, his voice low.

Zhu Biao frowned slightly, saying nothing.

Zhu Yong stood dumbfounded, his mind racing.

Eunuch interference in politics is an inescapable topic in history.

It wasn't limited to historical dynasties; even in the late Ming such events happened. Naturally, the biggest matters in the late Ming were calamities and the civil official cliques.

Father has been guarding against this since early on.

"We begged for food as children, never studied, but since we had means, we read often and now roughly know how eunuchs wreak havoc on the world."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood, paced back and forth, and said, "Those eunuchs, relying on the Emperor's favor, sell offices and titles, oppress the good, commit every evil."

"When we founded the nation we swore that, once we ruled the world, such deeds must never recur!"

He halted, looked at his two sons, and said, "Biao Er, Yong Er, what do you think should be done with those two eunuchs?"

Zhu Biao pondered briefly, and said, "Imperial Father, discussing state affairs warrants flogging by law, but considering they are first‑time offenders and ignorant youths, perhaps after flogging they should be expelled from the palace as a warning."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "Hmm, Biao Er makes sense, but is that enough?"

Zhu Yong scratched his head, saying, "Father, I think punishing just these two is useless; today it's them, tomorrow it will be others. We need a rule so everyone knows eunuchs cannot meddle in politics."

"We must set a regulation so all understand eunuchs cannot interfere in state affairs."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes brightened, "Yong Er, well said! Set the rule!"

He paced a few steps, then slammed the table, "We shall erect an iron plaque at the palace gate for every entrant to see! It will read: No inner officials may intervene in state affairs; offenders behead!"

Zhu Biao felt something stir within.

The Imperial Father intends to carve the rule in iron, so future generations remember.

"Imperial Father, your wisdom, the iron plaque will warn posterity, but…" Zhu Biao bowed and said.

He paused, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and asked, "Imperial Father, may I dare ask, how should those two young eunuchs be dealt with?"

Zhu Yuanzhang squinted, "What do you think?"

Zhu Biao whispered, "Father just said, offenders behead; though the plaque is not yet erected, the crime is already committed. If we do not act now, when the plaque is set up later, some may hope for leniency."

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at his son for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Biao Er, Biao Er, you think more thoroughly than I do. Issue the decree: those eunuchs behead at once, announce it to the Six Palaces, let everyone see the consequence of discussing state affairs."

He waved his hand and said.

Zhu Yong stood nearby, watching Zhu Biao's gentle face, silently admiring him.

This is the elder brother's skill: a matter of killing, yet spoken as if easing the Imperial Father's worries.

Black‑heart rice dumpling, the name lives up to its reputation.

In a previous life those young eunuchs were merely expelled from the palace; now they are beheaded directly—the butterfly effect is truly powerful.

……

The decree was transmitted, and the two young eunuchs were escorted to Wu Men that same day for execution.

Fresh blood splattered on the bluestone slabs, a shocking sight.

Everyone in the palace was summoned to watch; from top to bottom, no one dared speak.

The next day, Zhu Yuanzhang issued another decree.

He ordered the Ministry of Works to cast an iron plaque, five feet tall, three feet wide, one inch thick, inscribed with the eleven characters "Inner officials must not intervene in state affairs; offenders behead," and hung it above the palace gate.

On the day the plaque was finished, Zhu Yuanzhang personally took Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong to view it.

Sunlight fell on the plaque; those eleven characters radiated a cold, murderous chill.

"Biao Er, Yong Er, remember, what's written here is not only for eunuchs, but also for you, for your descendants."

Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at the iron plaque and said.

Zhu Biao solemnly said, "Your son will remember."

Zhu Yong nodded innocently and said, "I've got it, Father."

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at the iron plaque, silent for a long while.

"In this lifetime I've killed many people—some deserved it, some… perhaps didn't—but I have no regrets. Because I know that if I don't kill them, it could be my own family or my people who die."

He suddenly opened his mouth, his voice a little deep, and said.

He turned his head toward his two sons and continued, "Biao Er, Yong Er, this realm we have taken, you must guard well; defending the realm is harder than taking it."

Outside enemies we're not afraid of—we just fight them—but inside… the people inside are the ones we must watch most carefully."

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong listened attentively.

"Eunuchs, maternal relatives, powerful ministers, feudal princes… all of these people could wreak havoc on the court. I set up this iron plaque to tell future generations that eunuchs must never be allowed to meddle in governance."

Zhu Yuanzhang listed them one by one and said.

He paused, looked at Zhu Biao, and said, "Biao Er, you are the Crown Prince; this realm will be yours in the future, and you must remember to be cautious in employing people and even more cautious in guarding against them.

Those who circle around you all day may not truly have your best interests at heart."

Zhu Biao bowed, "Your son understands."

Zhu Yuanzhang turned to Zhu Yong and said, "Yong Er, you are the King of Wu, the sword of Great Ming. A sword must be sharp, but it must not be swung recklessly. If someone wants to borrow your sword to kill, you must discern whether that person deserves to die."

Zhu Yong said innocently, "Father, I don't understand all that; I only know that if anyone tries to harm our family, I'll hammer them."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily, "Good! That's exactly the principle!"

A few of them turned and left; Zhu Yong was the last to glance at the iron stele, which ultimately was smashed by a eunuch.

All of this was the opening made by the virtuous grandson of Great Ming.