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A renowned decadent literati in the Central Plains Hall once said a famous quote: Bottom lines are meant to be broken little by little, and ancestral teachings are also meant to be violated bit by bit.
To show the people of the world that he was indeed focused on agriculture and to stabilize people's hearts, Old Zhu shyly stipulated that merchants were not allowed to wear silk clothing, not allowed to join the army, participate in the imperial examinations, or become officials. In short, he came up with a lot of messy regulations, but in the end, they were all useless.
Old Zhu did not allow merchants to become officials, so some people became officials first and then instructed their trusted subordinates to engage in business, or colluded directly with wealthy merchants and magnates.
Old Zhu imposed a maritime ban, and Old Zhu Si took advantage of the search for Zhu Yunwen to monopolize maritime trade.
Old Zhu enforced border defenses against the kings, and the uncle and nephew, Zhu Yunwen and Old Zhu Si, successively weakened the vassal states.
Old Zhu prohibited eunuchs from interfering in politics, but Zhu Zhanji specifically established an Inner Eunuch Academy, inviting a group of great scholars to teach the young eunuchs in the palace to read and write.
In short, the ancestral system established by Old Zhu was relatively well enforced only during the Hongwu period. At other times, it was truly not enforced at all, and it also made subsequent Ming emperors hesitant. They had to contend with the court and the merchants of the southeast just to open a maritime trade.
Because times changed, after the Ming Dynasty developed for decades and hundreds of years, the rules set by Old Zhu no longer conformed to the social productive forces of the time, nor did they meet the needs of the emperor, the court, or even the people.
However, it is absolutely not possible to completely negate the rules set by Old Zhu just because they did not meet the later needs. This is because the rules set by Old Zhu were absolutely the most suitable for the development situation during the Hongwu period, and it was precisely because of these rules that the Ming Dynasty accumulated a certain foundation during the Hongwu period.
Now that Emperor Zhu suddenly brought up the old affairs of the Hongwu period and the old affairs of the Eighteen Alleyhouses in Yangzhou, the scholars from merchant families were immediately choked into silence.
Emperor Zhu coldly glanced at the scholars from merchant families and asked, "You think merchants are also part of the common people of the world and that it is unfair for me to only collect commercial taxes and not agricultural taxes. But have you ever considered that merchants, despite being the smallest in number, control the vast majority of wealth? Is this fair to the farmers, artisans, and soldiers who are the largest in number?"
The scholars from merchant families instinctively felt something was wrong – collecting only commercial taxes was indeed fair to the farmers, artisans, and soldiers, but was it really fair to the merchants? Merchants also risked their fortunes by doing business, didn't they? Wasn't the money in the hands of merchants accumulated bit by bit?
However, no matter how wrong they felt it was, these scholars from merchant families did not dare to mention it in front of Emperor Zhu, because the gazes of the farmers from Cui Ge Zhuang and the imperial guards guarding them seemed even more wrong, as if they wished they could tear them apart.
Seeing that the scholars from merchant families all appeared to be outwardly obedient but inwardly unconvinced, Emperor Zhu chuckled again and said, "I know there are risks in doing business, but I also know that business can make money. Those merchants who make money can live lives far beyond those of ordinary people and enjoy many benefits that common people can never enjoy in their lifetime."
"Or I can tell you this: if you feel that I treat merchants unfairly and feel wronged, you are completely free to choose to join the army, work, or farm. I am not stopping you, nor is the Great Ming Law. This is your freedom."
First, Old Zhu Si monopolized maritime trade under the pretext of searching for Zhu Yunwen, followed by
There is an old saying in the Central Plains Hall: "Many mouths can melt gold, and slander can destroy bones."
For example, before the seventeenth year of Jia Shen, a story circulated in the Great Ming, even reaching the Great Qing:
Xiao Mei acted spoiled and asked her husband not to worry, so Xiao Mei's husband went out again.
Well, Old Wang felt that Xiao Mei's affair with him was an extremely shameless act. After his conscience kicked in, he crawled out from under the bed and killed the lover Xiao Mei with a knife. After killing her, he brazenly went to work.
The execution officer saw that there was a problem and quickly reported it level by level, finally reaching Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang was also straightforward. He summoned Old Wang and asked him face to face, "Why did you kill someone?"
After listening, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Killing an unjust person and saving an innocent one is a good thing!" (Original text: Killing an unjust person and saving an innocent one is commendable.)
Is it bizarre enough?
Anyone who understands the brother Zhu Zhishan should understand here that this is another piece of nonsense fabricated to smear Zhu Chongba.
Similarly, there is the troublesome matter of Fang Xiaoru being executed with his ten degrees of kinship.
Then, Old Zhu Si demanded that Fang Xiaoru write the edict of enthronement.
The description of this historical event in "History of Ming" is: "Xiaoru threw his brush to the ground, weeping and cursing, 'I am willing to die, but the edict cannot be drafted.' Chengzu was enraged and ordered him to be dismembered and sold in the market. The description in "Veritable Records of Taizong" is: 'The treacherous officials Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, Fang Xiaoru, and others were brought to the阙下. Shang counts their crimes, and all admitted their guilt and were then executed in the market.'"
However, the "Veritable Records of Taizong," which had been altered by Ji Gou countless times, did not mention the matter of Fang Xiaoru's ten degrees of kinship being wiped out. Even "History of Ming," which was specifically dedicated to smearing the Great Ming, did not record this matter. The books concerning the loyal ministers of Jianwen, such as "Li Zhai Xian Lu" and "Ge Chu Lu" compiled by Song Duanyi in the Chenghua period, only wrote "exterminated his clan" but did not have the saying of "wiped out ten degrees of kinship."
"History of Ming" also recorded that after Fang Xiaoru and his younger brother Fang Xiaoyou were killed in Nanjing, Fang Xiaoru's wife, Madam Zheng, and two of his four sons, Fang Zhongxian and Fang Zhongyu, committed suicide by hanging themselves, and his two daughters also jumped into the river. However, this was not "extermination of clan" by Zhu Di, but rather their wife, daughters, and sons martyring themselves after their husband was killed.
Real university students are genuine treasures, a scarce human resource.
Even the later ridicule of "bachelor's degrees everywhere, junior college degrees are worthless" is actually nonsense among nonsense.
However, this does not mean that Emperor Zhu would indulge these scholars' recklessness without limit.
As everyone knows, the group of scholars is the most magical.
They are young, passionate, indignant at the injustices of the world, and cannot tolerate any unfairness.
But their biggest flaw is that they think they are very smart and are easily fooled.
They only care about the ideals they recognize in their hearts.
If these ideals are correct, it's fine, but what if the ideals they insist on are wrong?
For example, those who hold up white paper and shout slogans are idiots, and those who shout that the "human fireworks" are recovering are bastards – perhaps, the "human fireworks" do not communicate with each other?
Therefore, the passion of scholars is essentially a double-edged sword, easily hurting the enemy and easily hurting oneself.
As for whether scholars will hesitate to stand up due to a lack of courage at the critical moment of a nation's and a people's life and death...
Yue Wumu did not come from the background of a traditional scholar. The Chairman had half a year of military service before entering Hunan First Normal School.
On the contrary, Qian Qianyi, who was too cold, came from the Donglin faction, and Wang Zhaoming, who failed to assassinate Prince Regent Zaifeng, was a Xiu Cai.
Don't forget, there is another old saying in the Central Plains Hall: "Righteousness often comes from the butcher's sons, while betrayal often comes from scholars."
What kind of bullshit is this!
Zhu Jinsong was unhappy, and his expression naturally became colder: "If they are willing to come, am I supposed to stop them? Don't you want to know what they want to do?"
These are over three thousand Jinshi!
But killing three thousand scholars would be an unprecedented event!
More importantly, these three thousand Jinshi have only arrived outside the palace, and there are many more who have not yet arrived!
And behind these people are thousands of families, which can easily involve tens of thousands of people!
Upon thinking of thousands of scholars and their families or clans behind them, Zeng Cheng felt a dizzying sensation.
The sky is falling!
This is a solution that is not a solution, after all, revoking the scholarly titles of several thousand people is already insignificant compared to killing several thousand Jinshi!
However, Emperor Zhu let out a cold laugh and stared at Zeng Cheng and Liu Heming, "Do you know what the Son of Heaven is?"
For Emperor Zhu's question, let alone the well-read Zeng Cheng, even Liu Heming, who came from the military, knew the meaning of the Son of Heaven.
The logic is sound, but the nature of the matter changed when they gathered outside the palace shouting for the abolition of the ancestral rule that "only scholars are not allowed."
Forcing the Son of Heaven to revise ancestral rules is equivalent to negating Zhu Chongba, and negating Zhu Chongba is equivalent to negating the legitimacy of Emperor Zhu's accession from the root.
After pondering for a long time, Zeng Cheng tentatively advised, "Your Majesty, those scholars are mostly fools who have read too much and become stupid. I believe that according to what the Great Commander said, their scholarly titles should be revoked, and they should be sent back to their hometowns and never be employed again. Why should Your Majesty's reputation be damaged because of them?"
However, as soon as Zeng Cheng finished speaking, a錦衣衛校尉 hurried into the hall, whispered a few words to Ke Zhiming, and then quickly left.
Emperor Zhu let out a cold laugh and said, "What new news is there? Why don't you tell me?"
Ke Zhiming, with a gloomy face, bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, those scholars... those scholars are shouting slogans, asking Your Majesty to come out of the palace to see them. They also said that if Your Majesty does not come out of the palace to see them, they will go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Temple of Confucius to cry out their grievances."
After listening to Ke Zhiming's words, Zeng Cheng knew that this matter was completely finished. Regardless of whether Emperor Zhu had been persuaded before, or whether he had thought of changing his decision, there was no room for maneuver anymore.
Emperor Zhu laughed out of anger, looked at Zeng Cheng and Liu Heming, and said, "Is this what you call scholars who have read too much and become stupid? In my opinion, they are not too stupid. At least they know to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to cry out their grievances!"
Zeng Cheng and Liu Heming lowered their heads and exchanged glances, seeing helplessness in each other's eyes – as the saying goes, even the King of Hell cannot save a ghost who is determined to die. These scholars, instead of diligently studying, are coming to force their way into the palace, and now they even want to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Temple of Confucius to cry out their grievances?
This is truly seeking death!
After a moment of silence, Zeng Cheng couldn't help but sigh slightly, then resolutely clasped his hands and bowed, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I request that the Grand Commander mobilize the Capital Garrison into the city. After nightfall, all rebellious traitors will be executed!"
Emperor Zhu couldn't help but cast an unexpected glance at Zeng Cheng.
Although it was certain that the Capital Garrison would enter the city to arrest and execute people, the order being issued by Emperor Zhu directly and being proposed by Zeng Cheng were two entirely different concepts. If Zhu Emperor directly issued an order to mobilize troops to arrest and kill people, then all the blame would fall on Zhu Emperor, and he would be branded as cruel and bloodthirsty in the historical records.
However, if it were proposed by Zeng Cheng, the Chief Grand Secretary, it would be equivalent to Zeng Cheng voluntarily taking the blame for the massacre of scholars. Although Emperor Zhu might be branded as having poor judgment, at least he would not be branded as cruel and bloodthirsty.
The difference between these two is immense. And once Zeng Cheng bears this blame, he will face endless impeachment and even retaliatory assassination.
First, the Censorate will memorialize the throne to impeach Zeng Cheng for unauthorized troop mobilization and harming scholars. The Censorate will also summon Zeng Cheng for tea. If they find any minor fault, Zeng Cheng might face death.
Even if the Censorate and the Censorate cannot find any fault with Zeng Cheng, will the relatives of the killed scholars not think of killing Zeng Cheng?
As the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty and an old hand who had served as a prefect in the Great Qing, Zeng Cheng could not possibly be unaware of the risks involved. In other words, when Zeng Cheng proposed this suggestion, he had already prepared himself for death.
Just as Zeng Cheng had slightly closed his eyes, preparing to face his unknown fate, Liu Heming suddenly chuckled and looked at Zeng Cheng, saying, "Although Elder Zeng is the Chief Grand Secretary, your Grand Secretariat does not have jurisdiction over my Five Military Commanderies, so if troops are to be mobilized, it should be ordered by me, the Grand Commander."
After saying that, Liu Heming solemnly bowed to Emperor Zhu and said, "Your Majesty, I am a piece of rotten mud that cannot be propped up. You asked me to read more, but I just can't get myself to read, and there's nothing I can do about it."
"But, even if I am stupid, I still remember the hardship of sweat drops falling like beans when farming, and the bitterness of waking up hungry in the middle of the night and only being able to drink water to fill my stomach. I also understand a principle – the popularization of community schools, county schools, and prefectural schools is to enable all people in the world to read and understand reason, and to give everyone a way out, so that they don't have to be blind as we were back then."
"Those bastards are now shouting for the restoration of the imperial examination system, simply because they have already become Juren. They do not want more people to become Juren. They want to cut off the way out for others, and they want to manipulate the world as they did before."
Liu Heming took a deep breath and continued, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I will mobilize the Capital Garrison into the city without an imperial decree to quell the rebellion!"
After saying that, Liu Heming took a deep breath, bowed heavily to Emperor Zhu, and then prepared to leave.