jdhmnovel Chapter 1176 Some things cannot be changed!
Chapter 1176 Some things cannot be changed!
There are some things that Emperor Zhu could do, and that only Emperor Zhu could do.
Even if you replace it with black sesame dumplings, there's still the risk of someone stealing the fruit.
Give the simplest example.
Historically, Emperor Zhu had issued a ban on maritime trade. During the reign of Zhu the Fourth, the ban was not lifted. Instead, the momentous Zheng He's seven expeditions to the Western Ocean were launched.
Zhu Yuanzhang built the Forbidden City in Beijing, compiled the "Eternal Encyclopedia," and launched five expeditions to the Mongolian steppes. Almost all of this was made possible by the money and provisions that Zheng He brought back from the Western Ocean.
However, after Zhu Yuanzhang, the sea ban was misinterpreted as a sea ban. Zheng He's activities to scare the Western Ocean were stopped. Coastal families, gentry, officials, and merchants colluded with each other and completely controlled maritime trade. The Ming Dynasty's treasury became emptier day by day, yet these people still had the audacity to produce such outrageous works as the "Record of the Five Martyrs' Tomb".
Later, there were others who considered reopening the sea, such as the famous "Cricket Emperor" Zhu Zhanji, and the famous Oirat student Zhu Qizhen.
However, it was of no use.
In June of the ninth year of the Xuande reign, Emperor Zhu Zhanji appointed Wang Jinghong as the chief envoy to preside over the eighth expedition to intimidate the Western Ocean. As a result, Wang Jinghong suddenly died within half a year. The emperor, who was still able to inspect the border three months before his death, died suddenly and inexplicably. The mystery of his death was comparable to that of Zhu Houzhao dissolving in water.
After the "Cricket Emperor," the famous Oirat student Zhu Qizhen also wanted to resume his activities in the West. However, no sooner had he finished building his ship than a miners' rebellion broke out along the southeast coast, followed by the Tumu Crisis.
Later, the notorious Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen, a master of unfinished projects, also wanted to scare the West, but was told that the blueprints had been burned by a man named Liu Daxia. The blueprints for the treasure ship were practically equivalent to the complete set of technical data for the Little Boy and Fatty in later generations. And then he said they were burned.
Then, the even more famous emperor in the martial arts world, Emperor Shizong of Ming, Zhu Houcong, seeing that the risk of scaring the Western Ocean was too high, simply strictly enforced the maritime ban. As a result, Japanese pirate raids broke out again along the southeast coast, and the two sides remained deadlocked until Emperor Muzong of Ming, Zhu Zaiji, became emperor.
Emperor Muzong of Ming, Zhu Zaiji, lacked the ability and skill of his father, Zhu Houcong, and had no choice but to completely abandon maritime trade, which led to the famous "Longqing Opening".
Following these clues, it's not hard to see that anyone who wanted to send people to Jiangnan to investigate taxes or interfere in maritime trade either died easily in water or in all sorts of bizarre ways.
Pay attention!
The Ming Renzong Emperor Zhu Gaochi, who was also very famous in the martial arts world, died mysteriously. Before his sudden death, he sent an imperial censor to investigate taxes in the eight prefectures of Zhenjiang.
While secretly marveling at the audacity of the powerful families, gentry, officials, and maritime merchants of the Ming Dynasty, Yang Shaofeng bowed to Emperor Zhu and said, "My idea is that my father-in-law should establish several ancestral rules that will never be changed, and anyone who dares to alter them..."
Before Yang Shaofeng could finish speaking, Emperor Zhu chuckled and said, "Childish!"
"We must know that times change and things change. The Ming Dynasty changes every day. The rules we set now may not be suitable for the future."
"If we can't change the ancestral rules we've established when that time comes, wouldn't that just be creating trouble for future generations?"
"You're a father yourself, how can you still say such childish things?"
Yang Shaofeng almost rolled his eyes in front of Lao Deng.
You think you've never done such a lousy thing?
You actually did it in history!
Unfortunately, most of the rules you set were just trouble for future generations. Even if a few were useful, your descendants didn't know how to use them and instead used them to harm the Ming Dynasty.
While Yang Shaofeng was internally ranting, he said to Emperor Zhu, "Times change and things change, and it's not wrong to be flexible with some rules when you need to adapt."
"but!"
Yang Shaofeng changed the subject, saying, "Is there any way to make exceptions for merchants participating in the imperial examinations?"
"Can we make an exception to allow ordinary people to bind up corrupt officials and take them to the capital to file a complaint?"
"Is there any way to circumvent the ban on maritime smuggling?"
Three questions in a row caused Emperor Zhu's expression to change drastically.
After a long silence, Emperor Zhu finally snorted and said, "You mean, all of these things could change?"
Yang Shaofeng stood up, solemnly bowed to Emperor Zhu, and said, "If I were to intend to prohibit the people from coming to the capital to file a complaint, it would be quite simple—just send someone to build a wall to surround the Dengwen Drum, or add a few more lines to the regulations that allow the people to come to the capital to file complaints..."
"Or they might stir up trouble with Japanese pirates every few days, or create other kinds of chaotic pirates if there are no Japanese pirates. As long as they cause the court a lot of headaches, the maritime trade overseen by the court will have to come to nothing."
"As for merchants participating in the imperial examinations..."
Yang Shaofeng grinned and said, "I've transferred all the shops and workshops in my family to a trustworthy person, and I'm here alone to take the imperial examination. Is there anyone who can stop me?"
After a slight pause, Yang Shaofeng added, "I once heard someone say that there is no such thing as loyalty, it's just that the price of betrayal is not high enough."
As soon as Yang Shaofeng finished speaking, Emperor Zhu's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
The other points Yang Shaofeng mentioned were fine, but the one he mentioned at the beginning—building a wall to surround the Dengwen Drum, or revising the regulations that allowed people to bind corrupt officials and bring them to the capital to file complaints, so that the people would no longer have a way to deal with those corrupt officials—truly frightened Emperor Zhu.
To put it bluntly, enabling ordinary people to bind corrupt officials and take them to the capital to file complaints is actually a way to relieve pressure.
The fact that ordinary people could bind corrupt officials and bring them to the capital to file a complaint meant that they still had one last way to seek justice, that they could still monitor the officials on behalf of the emperor, and that the officials did not dare to act recklessly.
However, when ordinary people have grievances but nowhere to seek redress, or even when they can't survive, it often means that public resentment is boiling over, that officials are forcing the people to rebel, and that the world is in chaos.
After a long silence, Emperor Zhu looked at Yang Shaofeng and said, "Then tell me, what ancestral rules should we establish?"
Yang Shaofeng bowed to Emperor Zhu again and said, "Firstly, maritime trade is not prohibited, but maritime smuggling must be strictly forbidden."
"Secondly, merchants should not be prohibited from studying, but merchants and their direct and collateral relatives should be strictly prohibited from taking the imperial examinations to become officials."
"Thirdly, it is forbidden to build a wall next to the Dengwen Drum, and it must be ensured that the people can beat the Dengwen Drum at any time."
Yang Shaofeng took a deep breath and then said to Emperor Zhu, "What other prohibitions are there? The Duke of Han should lead the cabinet members to discuss them. But I ask my father-in-law to formulate an ancestral rule that violates the prohibitions. The stricter the rule, the greater the cost, the better. Ideally, it should be so great that no one can bear the consequences of amending these prohibitions!"