Chapter 60 Jinling Cangyue (Part 6) "If Zhu Yongxing returns to the Crown Prince's side..."
Summer days in Jiangnan are unpredictable, with sunshine and rain shifting rapidly. After several days of scorching sun, a sudden downpour one night eased some of its heat, but this relief was equally fleeting. By the next day, only the lonely sound of raindrops on the eaves and a newly risen sun remained. As the dew dried and the fog dissipated, a suffocating, oppressive humidity gradually filled the air.
Yan Chao went out without paying attention to the time, and returned covered in sweat, feeling sticky and greasy. After washing up and changing his clothes, he went out of his room and found Duan Shou waiting to report that the Suzhou government had investigated the case of Madam Cui's assassination.
"...At first, those assassins only said they were after money and wanted to kill, but they confessed after being tortured that someone was indeed behind them. However, since the person behind the scenes has not shown up, they only know that the person came from Jinling. They can't get anything else out of the interrogation. I have transcribed a confession for Your Highness to review."
Yan Chao took it, glanced through it, and nodded, saying, "I understand. It was expected."
A few robbers were not enough to expose the real mastermind. She had already guessed seven or eight parts of the truth, and since this matter was not suitable to be publicized, she had no choice but to keep it quiet for now.
"The mastermind behind this confession is probably untraceable. Since the confession was for financial gain, just sentence him for robbery. There's no need to go through all that trouble."
Duan Shou understood and withdrew, accepting the order.
Liang Lu stood to the side, silent for a long while, before finally saying, "Your Highness, is this matter just going to be left like this? Besides, they've already set their sights on Madam Cui; there's no guarantee there won't be a second time..."
“You’ve been by my side for so many years, you shouldn’t be so clueless about this matter. It’s just that you’re a bit too impatient to focus all your attention on Lady Cui.” Yan Chao glanced at him, and Liang Lu lowered his head sheepishly, replying softly, “Yes.”
"In any case, since Lady Cui has met me, she must not be allowed to have any mishaps at Zhuoyuan, which naturally includes her journey home. That is why someone dared to send assassins to openly ambush and kill her. There are countless people watching her, both openly and secretly. In addition, given the current situation, it is not appropriate to make this public or investigate it in detail."
"Neither I nor he are entirely confident. It all depends on who can remain calm. Now that things have come to this point, the safest course of action is to wait and see."
Yan Chao's eyebrows twitched, somewhat surprised. Lin Zhan?
.
The front hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Zhu Yongxing sat calmly in his chair, glancing at Lin Zhan beside him from time to time. He saw that Lin Zhan remained calm and composed, showing no fear or unease despite it being his first time meeting the Crown Prince.
A mere eighth-rank official in the local area, who knew in his heart that he had been deliberately suppressed for many years, showed no resentment when he met the crown prince. This was either because he had been worn down by the infighting in officialdom, or because he had seen through the ways of the world and become worldly-wise and worldly-wise.
The two waited for about half a cup of tea's time, when suddenly they heard several footsteps. The curtain rustled shut, and the Crown Prince, dressed in casual clothes, strode in. He wore a winged crown, a round-necked, narrow-sleeved robe, a jade belt, and a brocade dragon pattern, looking dignified and noble. She never dared to be disrespectful when formally meeting officials, so she had to take off her casual clothes and change into something else.
The two immediately rose and bowed in greeting. Yan Chao said, "Rise." After everyone took their seats, Yan Chao glanced at Zhu Yongxing and said, "It seems that Governor Zhu has come for someone else today."
Zhu Yongxing bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness is wise. Lin Zhan has been reinstated and is more aware than anyone of the civil unrest that occurred a few days ago, as well as the tax system problems behind it. Therefore, he wished to report to Your Highness in person."
His gaze then shifted to Lin Zhan, who stood up and bowed deeply, saying, "Your Excellency the Governor thinks highly of me; I am ashamed."
Yan Chaoping said in a flat voice, "There is no need to be modest. Since you have won the favor of the governor, you must have extraordinary abilities. I am willing to listen attentively."
Lin Zhan repeatedly said he dared not, then bowed again and replied solemnly, "Your Highness, please allow me to report. I have served as a county magistrate in various counties under Suzhou Prefecture for nearly ten years. During this time, I have personally witnessed no fewer than ten civil unrests, large and small. The causes were either the court's excessive taxation and the people's unbearable suffering, or the desperation caused by famine and hunger. This civil unrest was caused by heavy taxes, floods, and last year's snow disaster, with taxes being the root cause. Many farmers had no harvest, and the people were crying out in despair. The government only knew how to cover up and suppress the unrest, making it appear peaceful. Since the beginning of the year, there has been a continuous influx of refugees, affecting the security of the prefecture. As a result, the civil unrest was quite large. The rioters besieged the prefectural city. Although it was eventually suppressed by the government troops, the battle was extremely fierce, with most of the dead and wounded being unarmed civilians. In their anger, the rioters injured some government officials, but I have only just heard that the court has issued an edict to investigate and punish them, and those who were most seriously injured will also be punished the most severely."
Yan Chao waved his hand to interrupt: "Then, in your opinion, where should we begin to solve the problems of taxation?"
"In my humble opinion, besides surveying and registering farmland, resettling displaced people, and reducing or exempting taxes, the transportation of grain as a major burden on the arrears of taxes in Jiangnan should not be underestimated. As the Assistant Magistrate of the County in charge of agriculture, I supervise agricultural affairs and collect taxes. When I am busy, I am occasionally seconded to be in charge of the transportation of taxes. The amount of grain in Suzhou Prefecture and counties is enormous, and the number of officials in charge of agriculture in each county is currently too small. In addition, there is an old rule that prohibits officials in charge of agriculture from interfering in the transportation of taxes. The separation of the collection and transportation of taxes will only make the arrears of taxes heavier and heavier. Therefore, I request that officials in charge of agriculture be allowed to take on the responsibility of transportation. This is the first point."
"Currently, the grain transport system still employs a branch transport method, where commoners who participate in transporting grain are exempt from paying the annual grain tax, and conversely, those who pay the tax are exempt from transporting grain. However, transporting grain in the Jiangnan region is time-consuming and laborious, with some round trips taking as long as a year, which is extremely inconvenient and delays the farming season. I hereby request that the grain tax from Jiangnan be transported directly to nearby garrisons, and then transported to the capital by the grain transport army, with compensation provided for the surcharges and travel expenses during this period. This would benefit both the military and the people, and this is my second point. As for the surcharges, they can be determined based on distance. I am confined to a small county and have a limited perspective, so I request Your Highness and the other officials to discuss and decide on a specific matter."
"In my humble opinion, while the heavy tax on government-owned land cannot be completely reduced in the short term, we can start by addressing the difference between the tax on heavily taxed government-owned land and lightly taxed private land, thereby reducing the tax burden on poor households. This can be achieved by using silver and government-issued cloth to offset part of the tax. Poor households can use one tael of silver to pay for four shi of rice, and one bolt of wide white cotton cloth to pay for one shi of rice. For example, among heavily taxed government-owned land and poor households, those with a tax of six or seven dou per mu or more can have their tax fully offset by silver and cloth, those with four or five dou can have half the tax, and those with one or two dou or lightly taxed private land can still pay the tax in kind. Since silver and cloth are cheap to transport, this can also reduce the burden on ordinary people. This is the third point."
"Furthermore, the annual silver cloth collection should begin at least after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so that people will have surplus grain for the New Year after paying their rice taxes in winter. Farmers can sell their livestock in February to pay silver, and spin cotton to pay cloth, which will then be transported to the court in April. This staggered collection of grain will allow people to have more resources. As for the different conditions in various places, they need to be adapted to local conditions. For example, the high soil in Kunming and Jiaxing is not suitable for growing grains, so cotton is planted in these areas. In Changshu and Wujiang, cotton cloth is not produced, so gold and silver can be paid in these areas."①
"The above three points are my humble opinion. However, the specific situations in each prefecture and county are even more complex and intricate. I am of low rank and limited in knowledge, and therefore unable to fully comprehend them."
Although he spoke in a humble tone, his experience and strategies were already quite remarkable, given his background. When he spoke calmly, he was not merely a county magistrate, but rather someone who stood amidst the entire landscape of Jiangnan, along the waterways and roads, in the fields, speaking with great passion.
Zhu Yongxing's eyes gleamed as he looked at him earnestly, then clapped his hands and exclaimed, "This method is truly excellent! Magistrate Lin's insightful observation is truly enlightening!"
Yan Chao also praised, "Just as the governor said, such a talented person has not been given important responsibilities and has been relegated to a corner. It is the fault of the court."
"Your Highness flatters me. Since I receive the emperor's salary, I should do my duty to the emperor. It is my duty to share the emperor's worries and seek benefits for the people."
Lin Zhan stood in the hall, his back slightly hunched from years of hard work, his spine sharply defined, his head and tail neatly arranged, his face looking older than his age, occasionally revealing a pair of hands weathered by time.
Yan Chao nodded and said, "I need to discuss the policy proposed by Magistrate Lin with the other officials. You can first draft a detailed policy statement."
"I obey the order."
She then looked at Zhu Yongxing: "Since he is recommended by the governor, you will have to put in more effort." Zhu Yongxing agreed.
Yan Chao raised his hand, about to tell Lin Zhan to sit down, but unexpectedly he suddenly knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject has requested an audience today for another matter, and has come to apologize to Your Highness."
The atmosphere in the hall seemed to freeze instantly, even Zhu Yongxing couldn't help but lower his expression. Yan Chao calmly raised his eyes, grunted, and asked, "What offense do you wish to plead guilty to?"
"I am currently imprisoned for dereliction of duty. My wife, Lady Cui, is reckless and has dared to visit Zhuoyuan Garden. I fear that her words and actions are inappropriate and disrespectful to Your Highness, which would damage Your Highness's reputation..."
Yan Chao stared at him for a moment, silently sipped his tea, and slowly smiled, "Is there some rumor going around?"
He hesitated for a moment, then Yan Chao put down her teacup and continued, "You say your wife is pleading for her husband to curry favor with the powerful, and that I am abusing my power for personal gain?" Before Lin Zhan could defend himself, she replied, "If you seek an audience today because of this matter, I will certainly not see you."
"Your Highness, please forgive me."
Zhu Yongxing finally couldn't sit still any longer. He stood up and warned him in a deep voice: "Lin Zhan, if you plead guilty today, you will only confirm the rumors. Not only will you betray my trust in you, but you will also put His Highness the Crown Prince in an unjust position!"
"What the Empress Dowager and the Governor appreciate is your talent. As you just mentioned, there is a shortage of agricultural officials in various parts of Jiangnan, and now is a critical period. Naturally, we must prioritize the overall situation. As the saying goes, one should not avoid relatives when recommending the virtuous. If you have real talent and make achievements, you can make amends for your mistakes. We are both upright and honest, so what is there to fear from rumors?"
"Whenever rumors, gossip, stories, schemes, praises, or accusations arrive without official authorization, a wise man should be cautious. Upon hearing them, he should clearly discern their truthfulness and determine their appropriateness before administering punishment or reward accordingly."②
"You are a wise person, so there is no need for me to say more."
Lin Zhan kowtowed again: "Thank you for your teachings, Your Highness. I will keep them in mind and will certainly live up to your and your benefactor's expectations." He straightened up slightly and continued: "However, my wife is foolish and has caused much trouble at Zhuoyuan. I request to bring her back. Please grant my request, Your Highness."
"Of course. You must have heard about the assassination attempt on her a couple of days ago, which must have frightened her. She needs to be comforted."
Yan Chao called Liang Lu in and instructed him to fetch Madam Cui from the backyard. Lin Zhan thanked him again and finally took his leave.
The front hall fell silent. Yan Chao picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and immediately felt a sweet aftertaste and a refreshing feeling. She glanced at Zhu Yongxing and said softly, "Lin Zhan is indeed talented. However, he must have received guidance from the governor before he came."
They are even fully aware of the strategies currently being implemented.
"Yes, nothing can escape Your Highness's discerning eye. Lin Zhan is upright and honest, acts with composure and decisiveness, and offers insightful advice. I am willing to recommend him to the court."
"There's no rush. Once he's reinstated and has made some contributions, it will be more legitimate to recommend him based on his merits. I can also bring it up before the Emperor."
However, when discussing this matter, the current rumors must be taken into account. Yan Chao's eyes darkened slightly; she didn't want things to be ruined by rumors before they were even finished.
When Li Shihuai in Nanjing received the news, three days had passed since the assassin was arrested. He had just finished discussing matters with his officials and was parched from the heat when a minor official rushed in to report the news. He was so startled that he spilled the bowl of tea in his hand and broke out in a cold sweat.
"...But don't worry, sir. The men below did hire a group of robbers, but they never mentioned you, so it won't implicate us. Besides, I heard that the case in Suzhou has been closed, and the charge is indeed robbery."
Li Shihuai breathed a slight sigh of relief, finished the remaining half bowl of tea, and sat down heavily, leaning on the table. The clerk quickly stepped forward to fan him.
He leaned back in his rattan chair, sighed, and spoke with his eyes closed: "Given the Crown Prince's caution, he will surely alert the enemy this time. Oh well, the rumors have already spread. Let's just wait and see. If Lin Zhan proves useless, then we'll make a huge fool of ourselves."
The minor official asked, "So we're just going to let this go like this? What about the Cui family...?"
"Fool!" Li Shihai glared at him, snatched the palm-leaf fan from his hand, and began to fan himself, explaining with exasperation, "The Crown Prince may very well suspect me. If we force him to investigate further, and he finds out about me, it won't look good for anyone. The Emperor is still watching from the capital, and it's him, not me, who will be biased. At least for now, we can't touch Cui; her death won't do us much good."
The clerk hurriedly smiled and agreed, then took the fan and fanned himself attentively. He secretly thought that the matter of Cui Shi packing her things and going to her parents' home for a visit as soon as she returned to the Lin family was insignificant. Fearing another scolding, he simply kept quiet.
Li Shihuai was wondering how the Crown Prince had gotten so close to the Governor of Southern Zhili. Zhu Yongxing still held the title of Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. This year, there had been constant turmoil in Jiangnan. Even when the civil unrest occurred in Suzhou, where the Governor of Southern Zhili was stationed, a large number of officials were brought down after being held accountable. However, Zhu Yongxing was not affected in the slightest, which showed his status in the Emperor's heart.
If Zhu Yongxing were to join the Crown Prince's faction, it would undoubtedly pose a great threat to Prince Xin.
However, it is not advisable for him to stir up any more trouble in Suzhou at present. The Crown Prince treats him like a thief, and if the problem in Jiangnan is not resolved properly, when he returns to the capital to report, the Crown Prince will be the Crown Prince after all, and he will be held accountable.
On another note, I heard that the tax negotiations in Suzhou are in full swing, but he, the Minister of Revenue in the capital, can't participate and can only communicate by letter. It's truly laughable.
Even that eunuch Lan Huaien was able to go to Suzhou, under the pretense of reporting important matters to the Crown Prince.
Lan Huaien was on the river at that moment.
He dared not make a grand display like the Crown Prince, so he only took a dozen or so men, all dressed incognito. They leisurely traveled, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way. He really missed the city and felt bored staying there all day, but he also knew that Yan Chao would be displeased to see him. Therefore, he made arrangements for things in Nanjing in advance and prepared his explanation before setting off.
He was lying on the boat, taking a sip of tea from his teacup, and asked the person next to him thoughtfully, "What kind of tea is this?"
"Reporting to the Grand Eunuch, it is Mengding Dew. It was presented to you by Sheng Ji'an, the eunuch in charge of the Nanjing garrison. He privately told me that even His Highness the Crown Prince praised it highly after tasting it."
Lan Huaien gave an "oh," touched the tip of his nose, put down his teacup, and got up to walk outside. A gentle breeze caressed his face at the bow of the boat. Looking out, he saw misty waters, clear skies, seagulls, water lilies, cicadas chirping among the weeping willows on both banks, and wine flags fluttering in the wind.
He looked refreshed, took a deep breath, and asked, "Have you found the person?"
The young eunuch replied, "Found it."
"Do not act rashly; just keep an eye on things from the shadows."
"yes."
Author's Note: Chaochao: I'm so engrossed in my work that I don't have time for you. Go ahead and give me your love!
Note:
① This paper draws on Zhou Chen's tax reform, referencing the paper "A Study on Zhou Chen and His Tax Reform in Jiangnan during the Ming Dynasty";
②From Xunzi's "On the Respect for Scholars"
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