Corruption and Lawlessness, Daily Lecture on Taijia

Early morning, the second day of the sixth month of Longqing 6. ... A night passed. He was, after all, still a child, and his quality of sleep was vastly better than it had been before his transmigration. Zhu Yijun enjoyed a rare, long-overdue, restful slumber. When he first woke, his mind remained hazy, and he instinctively reached under his pillow for his smartphone. Feeling only empty air, he snapped wide awake. "Your Highness, you are awake," a palace maid beside the bed approached. Zhu Yijun asked abruptly, "Did I talk in my sleep last night? Did any of you hear anything?" The several palace maids were all taken aback. "Your Highness, you did not sleep-talk." Only then did he ease his mind and nod. "Then it seems it was merely a dream. Help me change first." Several maids immediately bustled forward, holding up his mourning garments. While they were helping him dress, the maid from before said, "Your Highness, Eunuch Zhang has already arrived at Ciqing Palace, saying he awaits Your Highness's orders at any time." Zhu Yijun could not help but smile. This Zhang Hong was truly eager to advance. Once he was clad in his mourning attire and had washed, he finally instructed, "Send Companion Zhang in." Zhang Hong entered carrying the morning meal. Looking at the still somewhat childish Crown Prince, he was momentarily taken aback, almost unable to reconcile him with the imposing, authoritative heir presumptive who had held court in Qianqing Palace the day before. Yet, as a senior eunuch, he certainly did not lack discretion. That fleeting hint of surprise was quickly tucked away. "This servant pays his respects to the Master." Zhu Yijun gave a warm nod and gestured for him to come closer. Then, with calm composure, he took his seat before the table and began to dine. Zhang Hong dismissed the palace maids, then pulled a stack of papers from his sleeve and said, "Master, everything you instructed yesterday is right here." Zhu Yijun received them with slight surprise. This Zhang Hong worked quite fast. He flipped through them briefly. From the first year of Longqing to the present, over the course of six years, there were a total of more than a dozen eunuchs dispatched to inspect the mining taxes in Huguang. Some were even annotated with their ages, duties, and other details. Pleased in his heart, he did not hold back his praise. "Well done." This was where the value of having ears and eyes showed itself. The matter in Huguang was not truly urgent; if he wanted to handle it, he would at least have to take hold of a portion of authority first. However, in all things, preparedness leads to success, while lack of preparation spells failure. Preparing in advance was always better than only ever obtaining information from memorials. Whether it concerned the inner palace, the court, local governance, border affairs, or fiscal revenues, he had to have a firm grasp of the facts before laying out concrete schemes. If he relied purely on modern knowledge, it would be nothing more than the blind men feeling the elephant, and he would likely land in ruin. He had to integrate his insights with current realities, letting the two illuminate each other. This was what it meant to adapt future knowledge to the contemporary era. Having received praise, Zhang Hong repeatedly claimed he dared not take the credit. While eating his breakfast, Zhu Yijun examined the documents with close attention. The waters surrounding Huguang's mining levies were bound to run deep, but such corruption could not have been built in a day. During the six years of the late Emperor's reign, tax inspections had been conducted, so why had not a single person ever reported a problem? That was what Zhu Yijun truly cared about. Seeing him absorbed in his reading, Zhang Hong said softly, "Master, another incident occurred in the palace last night." Without looking up, Zhu Yijun said, "Drop the suspense. Speak plainly." Zhang Hong hastily complied, then continued, "Last night, Meng Chong lost his footing and drowned." Zhu Yijun's hand paused. He looked up, his expression unreadable. "Lost his footing?" Knowing his master's mind was as clear as a mirror, Zhang Hong explained, "The Eastern Depot discovered him. After investigating, they declared it accidental drowning, and the Directorate of Ceremonial affirmed it as well. Eunuch Feng is busy seeing to the matter right now." Zhu Yijun shook his head. "They didn't even bother hiding it from people. How unsightly." Zhang Hong did not dare take up the topic. Zhu Yijun did not dwell on the matter either. After finishing the roster Zhang Hong had presented, he said, "These people must all be living quite comfortably nowadays, yes?" Zhang Hong weighed his words before replying, "Their posts aren't particularly high, but their pockets are indeed quite full." Zhu Yijun already knew the reality in his heart. In this Ming dynasty, one could say that out of ten officials, eleven were corrupt. Collusion between officials and merchants, or leeching off the common folk, were comparatively trivial matters. From the lowliest commoner up to imperial princes, who could escape it? When the Ministry of Revenue refused to disburse the annual stipend to Prince Yu's household, the entire estate had nearly starved. In the end, it was only by bribing Yan Shifan that the Ministry of Revenue's channels were greased, finally releasing the stipend that had been blocked for three years. Then there was Senior Grand Secretary Xu Jie, known as 'Half-City Xu,' who possessed hundreds of thousands of mu of fertile farmland—did anyone under Heaven not know this? Even when Hai Rui, acting under imperial decree, demanded that Xu Jie return the land, wasn't Hai Rui the one driven away in disgrace? Not to mention the ministries and yamen forming factions for selfish ends, exchanging illicit favors, and constantly currying favor for promotions and noble titles—a never-ending stream. If the high officials were like this, the lowliest petty clerks stripped the flesh and sucked the marrow all the same. Kicking the grain measures, skimming the top, inventing arbitrary taxes, seizing cattle, and tearing down houses—the abuses were too numerous to count. They would even drain the border troops' rations bone-dry! This was no longer an isolated issue; it was a universal disease throughout Ming officialdom. Officials of the time had lost all sense of shame regarding graft. Indeed, I took bribes. That's right, everyone takes them, so what of it? Even someone like Qi Jiguang, who was dedicated to eradicating the wokou pirates and did not hesitate to lay down his life for the realm, still could not escape playing the same game, could he? Why had such an atmosphere formed? In a word: miserable pay. Looking at historical officials who lived purely on their official stipends, when Gao Yi died, his family couldn't even scrape together his funeral expenses, and the palace had to cover the cost. Hai Rui had it worse; his post was too low to warrant palace assistance, so his colleagues had to pool money to bury him. Not only was the pay abysmally low, but it was also routinely paid late; getting half-pay was already something to thank the Heavens for. In the words of Gu Yanwu, it was 'because official stipends were so meager that officials could not support their families.' When men could hardly keep food on the table, who had the leisure to erect monuments to their own incorruptibility? Noble men were few and far between; the vast majority could only drift with the tide. With the excuse that refusing to take bribes meant starving, how could anyone rein them in? Against a background devoid of moral or ethical restraints, corruption naturally ran rampant. If officialdom was like this, eunuchs were even more shameless. Why was inspecting taxes such a lucrative assignment? If nothing was amiss locally, so be it; but if something was truly wrong, the tax-inspecting eunuch could make a fortune! Whether those taxes were inspected for the imperial palace or for their own pockets was anyone's guess. Most likely, an unspoken consensus had long been forged between the imperial auditors and the local authorities. Looking at these dozen-odd eunuchs, not a single one had reported an issue, yet every one of their purses bulged. The reality was plain as day. It was only unclear whether this Huguang mining tax incident stemmed from a failed negotiation between the two sides, or if the trouble had grown so immense that someone could no longer cover it up. Zhu Yijun pondered for a moment, then said to Zhang Hong, "Taking money while running errands for the palace is one thing, but if anything is hidden from me, I will not stand for it. "Keep an eye on these people. Make sure none of them drowns; I will have uses for them later. "Find a weak-kneed one in secret, and pry the truth of Huguang out of him for me. "Going forward, I do not care what the outer court claims. Once the inner palace inspects the taxes, I want to know the palace's account." Listening respectfully, Zhang Hong felt a chill in his heart. If it had to be done 'in secret,' could the man even be allowed to live afterward? Last night, he had merely felt an intimidating authority; now, he felt a bone-chilling dread. Was this the imperial family? He was only ten years old! Truly a sagacious sovereign—ruthless and decisive! Zhu Yijun had no need to put on an act in front of Zhang Hong; it was precisely this imperial majesty that could subdue such eunuchs. Displaying different traits before different people—that was politics. Zhang Hong held seniority in the palace and had men under him; he was well suited to handling such affairs. Zhu Yijun should not divert too much energy to this matter. Grabbing a junior eunuch to extract the situation and getting a clear grasp of the facts would be enough for now. Clashing openly with the local authorities in Huguang right now would be foolish; one slip, and a 'popular uprising' could erupt. But so long as these tax-inspecting eunuchs remained, he would eventually launch a massive investigation! Let them make their noise for now; he would draw up his ledger and settle the scores when the time came. As for eunuch corruption, he lacked the power to manage it at present. Rice had to be eaten one bite at a time, and things had to be done step by step. Zhang Hong stepped back. "This servant will see to it at once." Zhu Yijun called him back. "Review the people around me once more. Arrange some of your own men in Wenhua Hall and the Two Palaces." As Superintendent Eunuch, overseeing the roster of attendants across the halls fell squarely within his purview. Zhang Hong hesitated for a moment before replying, "This servant understands." What he left unsaid was that he already had people planted in the Two Palaces and Wenhua Hall. That was something every senior eunuch did. ... Having finished his morning meal, Zhu Yijun had to proceed to Wenhua Hall for his studies—the daily lectures. As an imperial convenience hall, Wenhua Hall naturally comprised numerous pavilions and chambers. Among them, the main hall was where regular court audiences were held, while the rear hall was where the Emperor attended the Classics Colloquium. The daily lectures for the Crown Prince took place in the right side hall of Wenhua Hall. By the time Zhu Yijun arrived, the various lecturers had already gathered. The Crown Prince's daily lecture was hardly a one-on-one tutorial. Attendant officials, lecturers and readers, collators, and scribes—over a dozen officials of various titles handled recitation, page-turning, proofreading, and note-taking in a complete, seamless service. He needed only to sit there, read along once, and ask questions if he had any; he had to do nothing else. Gao Yi stood at the head of the row. Seeing the Crown Prince enter, he hurriedly led the two rows of lecturers to their feet, lining up in formation. Zhu Yijun took the lead in performing the student's salute to his teachers. Having received the salute, the lecturers then performed a kneeling bow to the heir presumptive. Once both sides had exchanged courtesies, Zhu Yijun immediately flashed a bright smile, revealing teeth he had freshly cleaned that morning, and took two steps forward. Grabbing Gao Yi's hand, he said with fervent warmth, "Teacher, while reviewing my studies yesterday, this prince gained new insights. It is truly as Teacher said: 'Reviewing the old allows one to understand the new.'" Gao Yi was bewildered by this gesture. Since when had the Crown Prince become so affectionate toward him? While trying to pull his hand free without showing it, he braced himself and said, "The words of the Sages naturally contain no error. Yet that Your Highness has gained insight is also thanks to your own diligence." Far from letting him pull away, Zhu Yijun even slipped his arm around Gao Yi's forearm. "It is even more inseparable from Teacher's excellent instruction. What shall we study today? This prince can hardly wait." With that, he drew Gao Yi by the hand and walked inward. If Han Gaozu, Liu Bang, could do such things, so could he. He was fully committed to playing the irresistible charmer of the Great Ming! The other lecturers and readers exchanged glances, following behind in thoughtful silence. Only upon reaching his seat did Zhu Yijun reluctantly release Gao Yi's hand. Just as Gao Yi breathed a sigh of relief, Zhu Yijun called out to a young eunuch, "Teacher is a pillar of the state; how could we not treat him with courtesy? Come, bestow a seat upon Teacher." Gao Yi hastily cupped his hands in refusal. "Your Highness, this minister's bones are still sturdy. If I cannot even manage to stand, I would have no face to remain in the Grand Secretariat." How could Zhu Yijun let him off? "Why make excuses, Teacher? We are not in a regular court audience; do not refuse. "Imperial Father entrusted the three Grand Secretaries to me and specifically bade me treat you well. Teacher, do not force this prince to be unfilial." Singing high-minded tunes was his specialty. An honest man like Gao Yi was easiest to bully when one unfurled such a righteous banner. Without waiting for him to object, Zhu Yijun directed the young eunuch to place the seat beside Gao Yi. Though called 'bestowing a seat,' it was actually just a small stool, barely two handspans wide, just enough to support two buttocks. Gao Yi felt as though his life were one relentless sequence of being driven to do things against his will. The late Emperor had been like this, Zhang Juzheng was like this, and now the heir presumptive was like this too. Yet to say he was unmoved by the Crown Prince's conduct would be a lie. The sovereign clasping hands before the hall, just like the ancient precedent of Emperor Guangwu, and granting a seat while repeatedly honoring him as the late Emperor's trusted minister—what civil official could resist such affectionate reverence? However, touched though he was, the seat felt as if lined with needles. He carefully rested half a buttock on the stool to show his humble submission. "This minister thanks Your Highness for bestowing a seat." Zhu Yijun sat before his table, nodding in satisfaction, and asked casually, "Teacher, has the Grand Secretariat agreed upon the date to move the late Emperor's catafalque?" The late Emperor's coffin was still resting in Qianqing Palace, and Zhu Yijun was waiting to move in. On the surface, he was asking about moving the catafalque, but in truth, he was inquiring about the date he could move into Qianqing Palace—which was also when he would accept the petitions urging his accession and prepare to mount the throne before the coffin. Gao Yi weighed his response, then replied, "The Ministry of Rites submitted their deliberation: moving the catafalque on the sixth of this month, and offering the sacrificial announcement on the tenth. The Grand Secretariat has drafted rescripts in agreement; we await only the inner palace's pleasure." Zhu Yijun counted the days on his fingers. Today was the second, which meant accepting the petitions in four days, and the grand enthronement ceremony in eight days. Eight days, and he would ascend the throne as Emperor. His imperial mother would become Empress Dowager as well. At the same time, this meant Gao Gong's political career was nearing its end. Right now was when Feng Bao and Gao Gong were locked in their fiercest clash. Feng Bao was biding his time for precisely this juncture; were it not for this interlude, Zhang Hong might not have entered the Directorate of Ceremonial so peacefully. Did Gao Gong realize this? Zhu Yijun wanted to let Gao Gong retire with dignity. Otherwise, if he lost too miserably, his political legacy would be completely undone. If nothing else, the Shanxi Faction was held in check purely by Gao Gong's personal prestige. If Gao Gong retired with honor, maintaining the deterrence of being recalled at any time, the Shanxi Faction would not fare too poorly. But if, as in history, his mother publicly issued an edict declaring, 'Gao Gong usurps power and acts tyrannically; who knows what he intends? We, mother and son, are gripped by fear and unrest.' Then he would truly struggle to clean up that mess. His current plan was to use Gao Gong to wear down Feng Bao, ideally assisting Gao Gong in wrenching the Eastern Depot out of Feng Bao's hands. Once he took the throne, he would follow Noble Consort Li's wishes and advise her to let Gao Gong retire. By ritual precedent, upon the new Emperor's enthronement, all ministers had to submit resignations, and whether they stayed or left depended on the sovereign's will. Having himself initiate the matter would be far better than letting Feng Bao deliberately provoke Noble Consort Li, and it could at least secure Gao Gong the dignity of one of the Three Excellencies. In this way... Gao Yi would not have to die of dread and anxiety after Gao Gong was dismissed. As if sensing his thoughts, Gao Yi looked up at the Crown Prince, who seemed lost in thought. Seeing that the lecturers had all taken their places, he gave a soft cough. "Your Highness, it is time for the daily lecture." Zhu Yijun snapped back to attention at once, sitting upright. "Teacher, please proceed. Is today scheduled for the 'Yinzhi' chapter?" Gao Yi shook his head, keeping his expression as calm as possible. "Today, we lecture on the 'Taijia' chapter." With that, Zhu Yijun saw the scribe beside him turn the pages before him to 'Taijia.' His expression froze. He let out a long, drawn-out "Oh." He said nothing, yet waves of thought surged within his heart. In the Classic of History, the "Taijia" chapter told only one story—Yi Yin exiling Taijia to the Tong Palace. Taijia was a king of the Shang dynasty, while Yi Yin was a veteran minister of four reigns and Taijia's regent. The so-called exile of Taijia to the Tong Palace meant that after ascending the throne, Taijia had been dissolute and unruly, violating the laws established by Tang. Yi Yin then exiled Taijia to a separate palace near the tomb of Shang Tang and took over the regency himself. After three years of regency, seeing that Taijia had repented and reformed, Yi Yin invited him back and restored the government to him. The story was simple and far from uncommon; Zhu Yijun had seen his share of people who wrote letters admitting their mistakes before stepping back out to take charge. The issue was: why had Gao Yi suddenly thrust this chapter into the curriculum? He did not believe for a second that this was standard teaching. Gao Yi was not someone to court suspicion unnecessarily. It could only be deliberate! Whose idea was it? And what did it mean? Was it a warning for him to behave, lest he follow in Taijia's footsteps? Or was it an alert that someone intended to depose or establish a monarch like Yi Yin and Huo Guang? Or... was someone comparing himself to Yi Yin, planning to govern as regent and then return power, laying bare his ambitions? --- Note 1: In history, after Gao Gong was dismissed, Gao Yi immediately submitted his resignation, which was not granted. Two days later, he fell ill from anxiety and fear and died at home at the age of fifty-five. Note 2: On the gengwu day of the sixth month of Longqing 6, Grand Secretary Gao Gong was dismissed. Directorate of Ceremonial Eunuch Feng Bao and others conveyed the Empress's decree, the Noble Consort's directive, and the Emperor's imperial edict to the Grand Secretariat, the ministries, and other yamen officials: "The day before our late Emperor ascended to Heaven, he summoned the three ministers of the Grand Secretariat before the imperial couch. Together with us three, mother and son, he personally imparted his testamentary charge, saying: 'The Eastern Palace is young; I charge you to assist him.' Now Grand Secretary Gao Gong usurps authority and acts tyrannically, forcibly seizing all power and favor of the court for himself and forbidding the Emperor from taking charge. Who knows what he intends? We, mother and son, are gripped by fear and unrest. Gao Gong is ordered to return to his registered home to dwell in retirement; he shall not linger." — Ming Shenzong Shilu (Veritable Records of Ming Shenzong) Note 3: In 1571 (Longqing 5), the annual official stipend per official was 206 shi. At that time, the price of rice was 0.6 taels per shi, and the actual disbursed amount was less than 40 percent. — Chen Guanggui, "A Preliminary Study on the Fiscal Support Rate in China," Contemporary Economic Science, July 2003. — Wu Jianhua, "A Study on Official Redundancy and Vacancies in the Ming Dynasty," Doctoral dissertation, Xiamen University, 2001, p. 60.