Chapter 4 The common people have the most say
This statement came out.
Zhu Xi was stunned for a moment.
Simultaneously.
The secret room next door was deathly silent.
Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the chair, holding the handle of the chair tightly with his hands. The bulging veins on the back of his hands were clearly visible.
His face was ashen, and his whole body couldn't stop shaking.
Lin Che's words, 'The Ming Dynasty is in danger', struck Zhu Yuanzhang's heart like a giant bell.
I simply couldn't bear this blow.
Think about it, the Ming Dynasty was only a few years old and the country was booming, so why was it in danger?
Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it repeatedly.
How could the policies you formulated have such great harm? At the beginning, he had some considerations when promulgating the above decree.
This starts with the salary of the Hongwu Dynasty.
You must know that the salaries of officials in the Hongwu Dynasty were the lowest compared to those in other dynasties.
Zhu Yuanzhang was born as a farmer. He was well aware of the sufferings of farmers, so he was extremely strict when formulating salaries for officials.
It was stipulated during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty.
The official salary system is uniformly implemented and paid monthly, and the salary level is consistent with the grade.
The highest official rank is 750 shi for the first rank, and [-] shi for the junior rank.
The lowest one from Grade [-] is only fifty stones.
In addition to supporting the family, these salaries must also be used for daily entertainment, reception, hiring staff, handymen, etc.
The salary of officials in the Hongwu Dynasty was only one tenth of that of officials in the wealthy Song Dynasty.
Compared with equivalent exchange in other dynasties, it is far inferior.
With this salary, officials would live a very tight life if they didn't make some extra money.
This also indirectly breeds official corruption.
This is the case.
In the fifth year of Hongwu's reign, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered that public land be granted to all civil and military officials and exempted from taxes on public land to ensure the living supply of officials at all levels.
That is to say, public land is used to subsidize official salaries.
Lin Che pointedly pointed out the harmfulness of this policy, which made Zhu Yuanzhang break into a cold sweat.
If it is true, as this mad man said, that the salary he set was given to public land to make up for it, resulting in a bad phenomenon of officials and the people competing for land.
In the end, it is the people of the world who are harmed.
When I first promulgated this policy, all civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty praised it.
Thinking about it now, they are the beneficiaries of this policy.
It would be strange not to support it.
Think of this.
Zhu Yuanzhang stood up tremblingly.
Then I felt dizzy, I staggered forward two steps, and I was a little unsteady.
Zhu Biao, who was standing next to him, quickly stepped forward to help him and asked with a concerned look on his face: "Father, are you alright?"
Then he said angrily: "Father, this traitor's words are alarmist, and he still dares to discuss government affairs in prison!"
"Simply audacious!"
"My son, go over and capture him now, and he will be punished!"
With Zhu Biao's support, Zhu Yuanzhang sat down again and waved to him:
"Stay back, I will make my own decision!"
"Let's listen again. I want to see what other shocking words this crazy person can say."
Zhu Yuanzhang stared at the wall with his deep eyes, as if he wanted to see through the wall.
Although Lin Che's words were bold and unbridled, the truth behind them could withstand scrutiny.
No matter how alarmist the madman said, Zhu Yuanzhang was deeply shocked after hearing what Lin Che said.
And he has doubts about the policies he has racked his brains to formulate.
Did I really do something wrong? After a moment of silence, Zhu Yuanzhang said to Zhu Biao who was supporting him:
"Boss, please immediately prepare pen, ink, paper and inkstone to record all the conversations on the other side."
"My son obeys the order."
Zhu Biao quickly walked to the door of the secret room and whispered a few words to Mao Xiang, who was waiting at the door.
Hearing this, Mao Xiang left quickly.
After a while.
Mao Xiang walked in with pen, ink, paper and inkstone.
Put the things on the table and carefully exit.
Zhu Biao spread the paper on the table, grinded the ink, rolled up his sleeves, picked up the pen and stood ready.
...the prison cell next door.
Zhu Xi was stunned by Lin Che's words, and it took him a long time to react.
"Mr. Lin, are you too alarmist?"
"Even if there are cases of officials and gentry occupying farmers' fields, it's not as serious as you said, right?"
"Otherwise, how could the court not know?"
"You must know that the current emperor is famous for being diligent and caring for the people. How could he not know about such major incidents that harm farmers?"
"Once I understand this situation, I will never let it go and let these people harm the people."
Speaking of this, Zhu Xi glanced at Lin Che, who nodded for him to continue.
“So, these are just isolated phenomena at most.
"It's not as exaggerated as you said."
“The Ming Dynasty was so big, it’s normal to have some sesame pests.”
"But it cannot shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, let alone the phenomenon of 'the Ming Dynasty is in danger'."
Zhu Xi wiped the cold sweat from his head and said with lingering fear.
"Alarmist?"
Lin Che drank the wine in the glass, stretched her body, and said calmly:
"If you think what I said is alarmist, you are totally wrong."
"It seems that you are still a little short-sighted. You should really go out more and broaden your horizons."
Lin Che glanced at the luxurious prison building, which was clean and tidy and fully equipped with daily necessities, and continued: "I know that you come from a wealthy family and don't usually have contact with the common people, but if you want to make a difference in the future, you really should have more contact with the common people."
"Because the most real situations come from ordinary people."
"Every policy of the imperial court will eventually be implemented on them, so the people have the most say."
Zhu Xi scratched his head and said embarrassedly: "Sir, what you said is absolutely true. I usually have less contact with you."
"I can't fully understand what Mr. Wang said. When we get to the feudal lord in the future... we will move around more frequently and pay attention to the happenings of the people at all times."
"Think about what the people think and worry about what the people are anxious about."
The secret room opposite.
Zhu Yuanzhang leaned on the chair, squinted his eyes slightly, and nodded frequently.
"Second brother, I usually have a rough head, but I didn't expect that when I met this mad man, my mind would spin very fast."
"Leave aside this crazy paradox, from a teaching point of view, he is really more flexible than the academics in the Imperial Palace Academy."
Zhu Biao, who was holding a pen to record, also stopped writing and said with a smile:
"Father, I see that under the influence of this mad man, my second brother not only speaks politely, but also learns to think about problems."
"I see, there is no need for you to whip him and force him to come out of prison. He will definitely take the initiative to become a vassal."
"My second brother's change is due to this crazy life."
"Although this mad man makes extreme remarks and talks nonsense about the government, he is still a talented person."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly and said calmly: "Whether he is really talented or not, we will find out if we listen further."
Say the other side.
Lin Che put down the wine glass, propped up her chin with one hand, looked at Zhu Ming and said:
"Everyone knows that the current emperor is one of the few diligent emperors in history. It is said that he corrects tens of thousands of words of memorials every day. He wakes up earlier than a chicken and goes to bed later than a dog every day. He is a typical workaholic."
"But you don't know anything about such a big thing?"
"Do you know why?"
Facing Lin Che's question, Zhu Xi scratched his head, thought for a long time, and replied awkwardly:
"I can't guess the reason. Please tell me sir."
Lin Che smiled slightly.
"Because everyone in the court is hiding the truth from the emperor."
Everyone is hiding this from me? Zhu Yuanzhang next door was shocked, opened his tiger eyes in an instant, and stared at the wall.
He really wanted to step over the wall and confront this mad man.
Is there no minister who is loyal to him in the Hongwu court? Could it be that those ministers who shared life and death with him also deceived him?
And the bodyguards who he trusts the most to protect his safety, are they also disobedient? Then wouldn’t my own safety be guaranteed?
When Zhu Yuanzhang thought of this, he suddenly broke into a cold sweat, which instantly soaked his clothes.
Zhu Biao, who was recording, also stopped writing.
He was also shocked when he heard this.
Zhu Biao knew how strictly his father usually controlled the court officials.
Even the trivial matters in the minister's home cannot satisfy him.
What's more, for such a big event, it is absolutely impossible for all courtiers to be airtight.
Keeping his shrewd and suspicious father in the dark.
(End of this chapter)