The most reckless man in the Ming Dynasty

Tang Hao left.

After dinner, he asked Mou Bin to send His Majesty back to the palace.

Zhu Houzhao learned this secret and had no intention of wandering around anymore.

His mind was full of what Tang Hao had just said.

"The power of public opinion?"

"Information barrier?"

"Tongzhengsi?"

Zhu Houzhao actually wanted to refute, but when he really calmed down and thought about it, he was horrified to find that there was nothing wrong with what the savage said.

Does the emperor really understand the people?

He has lived in the deep palace for many years. Isn't it through local reports that all the news from the outside world?

Even the Jinyiwei only monitors officials in Beijing, and there are also the nine frontier military towns and local princes. The power of the Jinyiwei is not that great, and they can't monitor officials all over the world.

And where do these local reports come from?

Officials!

Gentry!

To put it more bluntly, the gentry and the local officials have already built an information barrier!

Except for a few truly upright people, most of these local officials are old-timers in the officialdom. They choose to cooperate with local gentry and win together, which only damages the interests of the court and the people!

And the next level is the information barrier built by local gentry.

The rural people don’t even know the court’s laws and regulations, and even the court emperor doesn’t know. What can they use to protect their own rights and interests?

There is no way to protect them, and they can’t protect them at all!

Therefore, some local governments have created various names and collected various taxes, and the people will only regard the local government and the central court as one, and blame all the resentment on the court and the emperor!

However, whether it is Hongwu or now, except for the tax-intensive areas such as Jiangnan, the court’s tax system is thirty-one tax. As for the tax amount limited by the local prefectures, it is also formulated according to their wealth and population!

But today, the taxes that the court can collect are getting more and more, while the burden on the people is getting heavier!

So, what is the problem?

Gentry!

Information barrier!

After figuring this out, a cold light flashed in Zhu Houzhao's eyes.

Then he summoned Tongzhengshi Cong Lan, the talented person recommended by Yang Tinghe, the chief minister of the cabinet.

Cong Lan was a Jinshi in the third year of Hongzhi. He was granted the title of Jieshizhong of the Household Department, and then the right Jieshizhong of the Military Department. He was transferred to Tongzhengsi and Zuo Tongzheng.

There was nothing particularly outstanding about her resume. Zhu Houzhao agreed to let her be promoted to Tongzhengshi just for Yang Tinghe's sake.

Cong Lan himself also did not expect that he would sit on the high position of Tongzhengshi at such a young age.

Even though the Tongzhengsi's power is far less than before, it is still one of the nine ministers in the court, so Cong Lan is full of energy and is preparing to make some achievements and realize her political ambitions.

"My dear Cong, I called you here to give you an errand!"

"From now on, the Tongzhengsi has a long-term and lasting task, which is not to sort out internal and external memorials, but to edit a newspaper called the Daming New News!"

Cong Lan was stunned when he heard this.

Daming New News?

What is this... thing?

Doesn't the court have a court report now?

Thinking about it, Cong Lan asked: "Your Majesty, our Ming Dynasty inherited the system of the previous Song Dynasty and established the Tongzhengsi and the Titang officials, the latter of which is responsible for the collection and delivery of official documents and newspapers."

"Since there is already a Dibao, why do we need to create a new newspaper?"

Hearing this, Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said self-deprecatingly: "The newspaper I am talking about is not the Dibao you are talking about."

The so-called "Dibao" is a news copy of documents and political intelligence specially used by the court to convey the court's government affairs. The task of the Titang officials is to liaise between the emperor and the provinces and prefectures of various places, and regularly write down the emperor's edicts, edicts, ministers' memorials and other official documents, as well as relevant political intelligence such as palace events on paper, and then have messengers riding fast horses send them to the governors of various provinces through the post road network system established by the Ming Dynasty.

To put it bluntly, this Dibao is an official newspaper, and it is specifically for officials to read, not for ordinary people, and they are not qualified to read it.

"This new newspaper is not for officials like the old court reports, but for the people. It is open to the public and can be bought and read to understand the recent policies of the court!"

As soon as these words came out, Cong Lan's face changed drastically.

This Ming New Newspaper is sold specifically to the people to let them understand the policies of the court?

How can this be possible?

What does His Majesty want to do?

Cong Lan was anxious and immediately shouted in a low voice: "Your Majesty, this move must not be done!"

"The ancient sage said: 'The source of chaos is words. If the king is not discreet, he will lose his ministers. If the ministers are not discreet, they will lose their lives. If the secrets are not discreet, harm will be done. Therefore, gentlemen are cautious and do not reveal them!'"

"If the court's policies are not discreet and are all sold in the market, not only will the court lose its dignity, but it may also cause a disaster!"

"May I ask, if Your Majesty really acts in this way, where is the dignity of the court? Where is the dignity of Your Majesty?"

If Zhu Houzhao had not listened to Tang Hao's words, he might have been fooled by Cong Lan at this moment.

However, Zhu Houzhao is no longer the Zhu Houzhao of the past. After Tang Hao's transformation of the script with private goods, Zhu Houzhao has become more and more disgusted with this decadent Confucianism, and he is even more clear about the routines commonly used by these civil officials and gentry.

So Zhu Houzhao did not rush to refute, but took a sip of tea leisurely and waited quietly for Cong Lan to finish.

In fact, this really cannot be blamed on them, but only on this era.

Emperors of all dynasties like to play the trick of "divine right of kings", taking advantage of the common people's belief and worship of natural forces, pretending their will to be the order of heaven, calling it "heaven's will"!

Dong Zhongshu of the Han Dynasty also very tactfully proposed the "Heaven-Man Resonance", believing that the monarch was chosen by heaven, and if the monarch made a mistake, heaven would punish him, thus tying Confucianism to imperial power and establishing the supremacy of Confucianism.

To put it bluntly, emperors of all dynasties used this unfounded sense of mystery to win the recognition and awe of the people of the world so that they could better rule the people and dominate the country!

This is the so-called majesty of the emperor!

As for the common people, they only need to obey the orders of the emperor, living in ignorance and numbness!

Before the people's wisdom was opened, emperors of all dynasties adopted the policy of fooling the people to rule the people, and the increasingly corrupt Confucianism made indelible contributions in this regard.

Even the most holy teacher said the Confucian holy words "The people can be made to follow it but not to know it". It is conceivable how his disciples and descendants would misinterpret the holy words of the most holy teacher and what measures they would take to fool the people.

What Tang Hao has to do now is to enlighten the people, dispel this sense of mystery, and let the emperor walk into the people!

And he can't do this thing himself, because it will leave hidden dangers, so Tang Hao handed it over to Zhu Houzhao to do it himself. As for the effect and whether it can succeed, it depends on Zhu Houzhao's determination to revive the Ming Dynasty!

If Zhu Houzhao wants to truly revive the Ming Dynasty, he will inevitably stand on the opposite side of the gentry. Now it's just about breaking the information barriers they have built. If you don't even have the courage to do this, then don't talk about reviving the Ming Dynasty.

After Cong Lan's impassioned persuasion, seeing that His Majesty the Emperor didn't respond at all, he tactfully calmed down.

"Have you finished? It's my turn to say it?"

"My dear Cong, you are also a child of a famous education. You have read sage books all your life. I think you should have learned a lot of ways to fool the people, right?"

Hearing this, Cong Lan's heart was shocked, and his face gradually became ugly.

As the rumors say, the emperor really has a lot of complaints about scholars!

After all, we scholars fool the people, isn't it for your Zhu family to sit firmly on the throne?

Do you want to use this Daming New Newspaper to enlighten the people and dilute the power of your Zhu family?

When that time comes, who will be willing to listen to your Zhu family's orders?

Isn't that like going to the toilet with a lantern - looking for death?

Cong Lan has always been stubborn, and asked with her neck stiff: "What does your majesty mean?"

"It's very simple, literally, you Cheng-Zhu scholars, the confidence that you are fearless, isn't it because you can help the court fool the people and consolidate the court's rule? I'm not wrong, am I?"

Zhu Houzhao sneered, and his bad nature was exposed.

"You talk about benevolence and morality all day long, but you are full of bad water about how to fool the people. I really don't know where you get the face!"

Cong Lan was stunned.

How dare you, the emperor, say this?

Even if we, the gentry, are fooling the people, why should we fool the people?

Isn't it for the stability of the court and for your Zhu family to firmly rule the Ming Dynasty?

Now you are blaming us!

But at this point, he understood it.

Your Majesty founded the Ming New Newspaper to enlighten the people!

Isn't this digging the grave of your own Ming Dynasty?

No matter what, you can't enlighten the people, otherwise there will be chaos in the world!

"Your Majesty, this is a big mistake!"

"The people are simple and self-sufficient in farming and planting. This is the premise of the stability of the dynasty and the foundation of the long-term peace of the dynasty!"

"And scholars read books and practice calligraphy, read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles, understand the great principles and distinguish right from wrong, so they can be the shepherds of the emperor!"

"If the people of the world are enlightened like scholars, they will be dissatisfied with the current situation, and desires will spread like weeds. Who will be willing to work hard at that time?"

"Your Majesty, if the heart is like a ravine, it will be difficult to fill it. Once this hole is opened, I am afraid that my Ming Dynasty will be unstable!"

If these sincere words fall into the ears of others, I am afraid they will think it is golden advice.

However, Zhu Houzhao has been transformed by Tang Hao's thoughts. At this moment, he is undoubtedly a progressive young man in later generations. He just thinks it is ridiculous to hear this.

"Enlighten the people, let the people understand the major policies of the court, and let the people dare to resist exploitation and oppression. Is this shaking the country and society of the Ming Dynasty?"

"So what you mean is that continuing to maintain the status quo and allowing the gentry and scholars to bully the people and enslave the people is the right way to do it?"

Zhu Houzhao sneered: "Cong Lan, Cong Lan, if you only have this knowledge, then you should not be the Tongzhengshi!"

"I will send you to the county government in the countryside to let you open your eyes and see how those gentry exploit the local people!"

Cong Lan was stunned, but he still said loudly: "I eat the salary of the emperor and I am loyal to the emperor. Wherever your majesty tells me to go, I will go!"

Oh, he is still a stubborn guy!

Zhu Houzhao suppressed his anger and decided to teach this guy a lesson.

"Cong Lan, have you ever understood the suffering of the people? What kind of life are the people of the Ming Dynasty living now?"

"Minister...minister..." Cong Lan was shocked and didn't know how to answer.

Seeing this, Zhu Houzhao sighed, "Let me tell you."

"Nine out of ten people in the world have become tenants of gentry, and the remaining one or two farmers have to pay heavy taxes for the gentry!"

"You can ask Zhang Zongxian of the Censorate more about this issue. He has been an official for his whole life and knows more than anyone else."

Seeing that Cong Lan still didn't say anything, Zhu Houzhao became a little impatient, and simply ordered someone to invite Zhang Fuhua, the chief censor, over.

The old man saw that he didn't have much time to live, so he has been handing over his work recently and preparing to retire and return to his hometown to enjoy his old age.

Zhu Houzhao chose to acquiesce to this, but he had not yet determined the new chief censor.

After all, the most basic requirement for the chief censor of the Censorate is to be honest and upright. If Jiao Fang is put in the position of the chief censor, the Censorate, which has finally revived, will be finished.

This is the problem.

It is necessary to choose someone who is obedient to oneself and to ensure that this person is upright and incorruptible. Looking at the officials of the whole court, it seems that there is really no such suitable candidate.

After listening to Zhu Houzhao's narration, Zhang Fuhua frowned and couldn't speak for a long time.

He didn't expect that he would retire soon, and His Majesty the Emperor would dig a hole for him. Where can people go to reason?

He has always been aware of the trend of land annexation in the countryside, but he has never dared to face it.

Because land means everything, and a single hair can move the whole body!

Why do local gentry dare to challenge local government?

Because they control the local fields, and the people have to rely on others if they want to farm and make a living. This is the real problem.

If you want to farm, you must rent my family's fields. Once you become a tenant of these gentry, will the people dare to disrespect the gentry?

Life and death are entrusted to others, and you have to rely on others to support your family. What can you let the people do?

No matter what, it's still a land issue.

Seeing this, Cong Lan's heart was shaken, and his face was filled with horror.

Could it be that... what His Majesty the Emperor said was actually true? !

Most of the people in the world have become tenants and slaves of the gentry?

Those few self-cultivating households have to pay taxes that should not belong to them?

Then whose world is this?

Is it the world of the royal Zhu family?

Is it the world of the people?

Or...

Is it the world of gentry and scholars? !

He thought that he had been abiding by his original intention as an official, enforcing the law impartially, and not tolerating corruption, and had done a lot of practical things for the people.

However, what he heard from the King of Han today made him panic!

The great Ming Dynasty, with billions of people, has become tenants of the gentry in nine out of ten cases!

The remaining one or two percent of farmers have to bear the heavy taxes that should belong to the gentry!

No one can imagine how difficult life would be for these common people!

Why?

Isn't this a peaceful and prosperous era?

Who gave the gentry power?

Who knew the truth but still whitewashed it to deceive people?

It was not until this moment that Cong Lan finally understood why the emperor had such deep hostility towards the gentry and scholars!

Thinking back to when he was just making excuses for these gentry and defending them, Cong Lan felt ashamed for a moment. He turned his head to look at Zhang Fuhua and asked with hope on his face.

"Old man, is all this true?"

Zhang Fuhua was startled when he heard the words, and the whole person seemed to have lost his soul and looked extremely lonely.

"Tingxiu (Cong Lan's name), since ancient times, emperors of all dynasties have attached great importance to agriculture and sericulture, and land and sericulture are the foundation of our Chinese people to this day."

"Not only emperors, but also Chinese people are attached to their land, scholars are like this, and ordinary people are even more like this."

"Your Majesty is right. Since the Jianwen period, there has been a trend of gentry and powerful people annexing land in the countryside. To be precise, this phenomenon has appeared since the founding of the Ming Dynasty."

"For example, Li Shanchang, Hu Weiyong and other members of the Huaixi meritorious group used their power to annex land, often hundreds or thousands of acres. Emperor Taizu Gao repeatedly launched major prisons to suppress these meritorious old ministers, which forced a halt to this trend. Otherwise, do you think that the Hongwu prison was for no reason?"

"The situation has become extremely serious now. Royal relatives, clan princes, military generals, nobles, gentry... even eunuchs in the palace like to annex land and buy houses. Nine out of ten people in the world have become tenants. It is not an exaggeration, and there may even be... more!"

Shocking!

Horrifying!

At this moment, even Zhu Houzhao couldn't sit still.

Because this sentence came from Zhang Fuhua's mouth!

And Zhang Fuhua has been to most of the prefectures of the Ming Dynasty during his official life. In other words, what he said at this moment undoubtedly represents the most real situation of the Ming Dynasty!

When Cong Lan heard this, he shouted angrily: "You old man clearly know the truth, why don't you report it to the court and His Majesty, and ask the court to stop this trend of annexation?"

"Oh, stop it?"

At this point, the old man who had worked hard all his life couldn't help but sigh.

"How to stop it? What if those people voluntarily become tenants?"

"What? Voluntarily become tenants? How is this possible?"

Cong Lan was dumbfounded. Although he was upright and outspoken and was an honest official, he was still too young and had too little experience as an official. The most important thing was that he had no experience as a local official. How could he compare with local officials like Zhang Fuhua who had been busy all his life?

"Tingxiu, after scholars pass the imperial examinations, they can be exempted from certain taxes and abolish corvée labor, which means that most of the land under their names does not have to pay taxes to the court!"

"This gives them the opportunity to profit. In order to avoid the increasingly heavy taxes from the government, local people will take the initiative to give land to these scholars with official titles, that is, local gentry."

"They sign an agreement privately. This land is only given to local gentry in name. With the help of their scholars' official titles, they can avoid paying heavy taxes to the court."

"But those local gentry can't help you for free. You have to give them enough benefits so that these gentry can take risks for you. As for the benefits they want, they are naturally not much, just a little less than what the government collects."

"Tingxiu, think about it carefully. In this way, local gentry don't have to do anything, but there are a lot of land harvests every year. Local people who become tenants also live a little better than before because they don't have to pay taxes. Who will lose in the end?"

Local gentry got the land harvest.

The people are freed from paying heavy taxes.

In the end, who loses?

The imperial court!

Only the imperial court!

"Think about it again, why the imperial court's annual tax revenue has been slightly reduced, but it has generally remained at the same level, and it has not decreased much?"

Zhang Fuhua smiled coldly, looked at the pale Cong Lan, and gave a direct answer.

"Because... apportionment!"

"The local government has set the tax amount, but more and more people are voluntarily donating their land to the gentry. What should the local officials do to complete the tax collection task?"

"Apportion it to the people who farm themselves!"