Chapter 65: The Malice of Imperial Censor-in-Chief Chen Ning

Before dawn, the Fengtian Hall was already alive with the presentation of state affairs.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright on the imperial throne, listening to the officials report on various matters, analyzing their pros and cons, inquiring about vital affairs, and making prompt and decisive judgments.

Liu Shaoxian, the Minister of Rites, knelt and reported: "Your Majesty, the number of Buddhist monks, nuns, and Daoist priests across the realm has been fully investigated, totaling ninety-6,320 persons. Nowadays, the teachings of Shakyamuni and Laozi are overly revered, and their followers grow daily. They sit idly and eat, vainly draining the wealth of the common people, and should be strictly regulated. In particular, the number of Buddhist temples has increased drastically over the years. Within a single county, where the populace does not even reach 50,000, there are already five temples..."

Hu Weiyong glanced sideways at Liu Shaoxian. Why was this fellow so dense? After all, the Emperor had once worked at Huangjue Temple and struck the temple bells. Had it not been for the monk's robe and broken alms bowl issued by Huangjue Temple, who knows if the Emperor could have survived to join the Red Turban Army?

Asking the Emperor to crack down on Buddhist temples was tantamount to asking the Emperor to bite the hand that fed him and forget his benefactors.

As expected.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened, and he said slowly, "We are aware of this matter. Minister Liu, you may step back."

Liu Shaoxian sighed inwardly, stood up, and retreated to his place.

It seemed His Majesty had not yet realized the hazards of the teachings of Shakyamuni and Laozi. To allow them to grow unchecked was simply to nourish a pack of idlers.

Aside from striking wooden fish by day and picking alms boxes by night, what else could monks do?

Aside from performing Daoist rites by day and sitting in meditation by night, what else could priests do?

This group contributed no material goods or wealth to the Great Ming Dynasty. Everything they ate and drank was offered by the common people, and what they wasted belonged to the common people. Yet, once these people acquired wealth, they instead seized the people's land, plundered the people's grain, and lent out high-interest loans to the populace.

Nearly one hundred thousand monks and priests, and yet no one would put a stop to it!

Liu Shaoxian was deeply unreconciled, but he also knew that provoking Zhu Yuanzhang would bring no good end. He simply decided to wait for another opportunity to memorialize the matter again.

Seeing no other officials coming forward to report, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Hu Weiyong and asked, "Is there any news regarding the salt smugglers in Huaian Prefecture?"

Hu Weiyong stepped out of the ranks and knelt in obeisance: "Replying to Your Majesty, Ren Guangzu, the Prefect of Huaian, acted with thunderous speed. When the interrogation of Zhang Sanxiu yielded no results, he collaborated with the Dadhe Garrison and the Inspectorate to set a trap, luring the salt smugglers into action. Twenty-seven salt smugglers were captured successively, and subsequent interrogations led to the arrest of another 172 men. Presently, from Huaian Prefecture northward, the roads are unobstructed, and the salt smugglers have vanished without a trace."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction and said with majestic solemnity: "Salt smugglers, mounted bandits, and vagrants have been plaguing the localities and harming the people in countless ways since the founding of the dynasty. All prefectures and counties must be ordered to conduct more thorough inspections and deal with them severely. Along the Grand Canal line, establish more inspectorate offices to ensure that traveling merchants and commoners are not obstructed."

"This subject obeys the decree," Hu Weiyong proclaimed loudly.

Zhu Yuanzhang patted his belly, let out a rare laugh, and said to the assembled officials: "Yesterday, on the Mid-Autumn Festival night, the Eastern Palace held a banquet to freely discuss the principles of statecraft. We heard someone say that the core essential of governing a country is simply the two words 'eating'. What do you all think?"

"Eating?"

The officials looked at each other in dismay.

Among the Eastern Palace guests and academicians, who could be so vulgar as to use 'eating' as the core principle of governance? It was truly the most preposterous joke under heaven.

Chen Ning, who had recently been promoted to Right Censor-in-Chief, let out a scoff of derision.

Zhu Yuanzhang fixed his gaze upon him and asked, "Chen Ning, speak your mind."

Realizing he had breached etiquette, Chen Ning hurriedly stepped out and knelt. First, he begged for forgiveness, and seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang showed no sign of displeasure, he spoke bluntly: "State governance is complex and arduous; even with painstaking effort, it is difficult to manage properly. Amidst a thousand different crises, how can the foundation be pinned on the simple matter of eating? This subject believes that using 'eating' as the guiding principle of statecraft is truly a vulgar and coarse notion."

"Oh. Yu Pu, you lead the Ministry of Revenue. What is your view?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked toward Yu Pu.

Yu Pu stepped out with some unease. Just last month, he had still been a clerk in the Grand Military Commission, and now he had suddenly become the Minister of Revenue. Many matters remained unclear to him. Pondering Zhu Yuanzhang's intentions carefully, he replied cautiously: "Your Majesty, this subject believes that regarding 'eating' as the guiding principle of statecraft probably does not mean the mere act of eating itself. Rather, it implies that if all common people can eat their fill, then the masses will live in peace and pursue their vocations, and the realm will be at peace. This argument does have its merits."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd: "Are there any others who believe that eating can serve as the core principle of statecraft? Step forward and let Us see."

The civil and military officials were bewildered, unable to discern what Zhu Yuanzhang had in mind.

Seeing that no one dared to move, Mu Ying stepped forward and said, "This subject believes this statement is entirely correct."

Once someone took the lead, the other officials also breathed a sigh of relief. Over twenty individuals, including ministers of the Six Ministries, vice ministers, and censors, stepped out.

Hu Weiyong observed for a moment before finally stepping out at the very end.

Looking at the civil and military officials who had remained still, Zhu Yuanzhang rose and said, "Since you do not believe that eating is the guiding principle of statecraft, then do not eat today. We want to see how you manage state affairs when the problem of the empty stomach remains unsolved!"

"Court dismissed!"

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang depart, the imperial attendant hurriedly raised his voice and shouted.

Chen Ning and the others inwardly cursed their ill fortune.

Huagai Hall.

Not long after Zhu Yuanzhang seated himself, Crown Prince Zhu Biao entered the hall to request an audience.

"Send word to the Directorate of Imperial Banquets: We and the Crown Prince will have our midday meal here," Zhu Yuanzhang instructed the attendant.

The attendant acknowledged the command and made the arrangements.

Looking at Zhu Biao, who seemed somewhat different from the day before, Zhu Yuanzhang inquired, "What do you think of Gu Zhengchen's words?"

Zhu Biao said with a serious expression: "Imperial Father, this son believes that the core principle of statecraft being the two words 'eating,' although somewhat crude in wording, is extremely simple, clear, and cuts straight to the crucial point. Surveying all matters under heaven and the common masses, nothing is greater than eating. If the court can wholeheartedly solve the difficult problem of the people's sustenance, the hearts of the people will return to the court, and the dynasty can endure for ten thousand generations."

A trace of sorrow flashed through Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze as he sighed heavily: "Ever since We ascended the throne, We have established institutions, punished corrupt officials, and repaired water conservancy works. For what purpose? It is for clean governance and to ensure the people can afford to eat. Among the four classes of people—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—only the farmers toil the hardest. Even when the court levies light taxes from the people, they still have no surplus grain at home, struggling day in and day out just to fill their bellies by the end of the year. At the slightest hint of drought, flood, or pestilence, every household lacks food, forcing them to sell their children and cattle!"

"How could We not wish to solve this difficulty of feeding the people? Gu Zhengchen is right: only when they can afford to eat will the people peacefully remain law-abiding subjects! Those rebellious mounted bandits and salt smugglers—were they not initially driven to desperation, unable to eat or survive, before they took such desperate risks? Biao'er, you must remember that the greatest matter in governing a country is solving the people's food problem. From this day forward, at every meal, you must ponder these two words."

Zhu Biao accepted the instruction solemnly: "This son receives your teachings with utmost reverence and will reflect upon them at every meal."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with gratification: "This Gu Zhengchen is truly a talent, summarizing such a monumental task of statecraft in just two words. Though different from Laozi's saying 'governing a great state is like cooking a small fish,' it shares the same underlying principle."

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was in a good mood, Zhu Biao thought for a moment and said, "Imperial Father, this son believes that Gu Zhengchen possesses considerable capability. He frankly stated that if the people are to be fed, one cannot blindly adhere to outdated rules; instead, he proposes adapting to local conditions and developing local industries..."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and slapped the table: "What do you mean by not blindly adhering to outdated rules? He is trying to undermine the rules! Serving as an official in the imperial court requires placing utmost importance on rules and propriety. If even this cannot be done, and everyone transgresses the bounds, what would the imperial court become? This brat is also a cunning fellow, knowing how to take a detour to seek permission from Us. Biao'er, tell me, can We grant him this permission?"

Zhu Biao's heart tightened. He knew that his father had always attached extreme importance to rules, never permitting any transgression of established rituals and etiquette. If he granted Gu Zhengchen such leeway, who knew to what outrageous lengths the man might go?

Now that his father was asking him, it was abundantly clear that he was pushing the burden onto his shoulders.

Perhaps there was also another layer of meaning: should Gu Zhengchen run into trouble in the future, it would become his problem, and he would have to decide whether to step forward and protect him.

After all, his father was the Emperor, and it was impossible for him to absolve a mere seventh-rank magistrate of wrongdoing. But he was the Crown Prince; a crown prince could shield an official, and the hundred officials would not place too much blame upon him.

After pondering for a while and steadying his mind, Zhu Biao made his decision: "Imperial Father, Gu Zhengchen is young, bold, and eager to innovate. His speech is filled with unconventional theories and methods—whether it is the method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation or that strange physical conditioning technique, neither can be found in the historical texts. If he has a genuine strategy in his heart to make the people of Jurong eat their fill, this son believes we can permit him to memorialize his plans first, and after Your Majesty reviews and approves them, he may then carry them out."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, looked at the thoroughly thoughtful Zhu Biao, and said with a smile: "That is the right way. We may permit him to implement new methods, but We can never allow him to act without a formal memorial. In the Great Ming realm, the rules must never be broken, yet the methods of implementation remain open to discussion. How about this? You convey word to Gu Zhengchen: if he has any matters to report, he must submit duplicate memorials—one to the Central Secretariat and one to the Eastern Palace."

"Imperial Father..." Zhu Biao was somewhat startled.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "Do not overthink it. We are merely thinking that even if Gu Zhengchen's memorials were sent to the Central Secretariat, they would likely be intercepted and suppressed by Right Chancellor Hu. Since you appreciate this man, We will grant him the right to submit matters directly to the Eastern Palace. If this fellow is merely boasting and fighting battles on paper without bringing prosperity to Jurong, it will also serve as a disciplinary warning for you."

"Back then, Confucius lamented: 'In the past, my way with others was to hear their words and trust their conduct; today my way with others is to hear their words and observe their conduct.' You must engrave this deeply in your heart. Officials are adept at deceiving their superiors and deluding those below them; you must not merely listen to their words. In governing and administering the state, whether a man is a capable minister or a treacherous villain can only be judged by observing his actions."

"This son will engrave this in his heart." Zhu Biao was immensely excited.

For an official to submit memorials directly to the Eastern Palace—this might sound ordinary on the surface, but in reality, it was anything but ordinary.

This was the first time his Emperor Father had permitted him to participate in state affairs, even though it concerned only a single person and a single county!

Yet this was a milestone, a beginning!

From this moment on, he, the Crown Prince, had taken a step into the imperial court.

No, just the tip of a toe...

Even so, Zhu Biao was overjoyed. Instead of attending endless lectures or poring over historical texts, instead of memorizing rituals and rules, he could now touch upon a trace of statecraft. This meant he could attend slightly fewer lectures and read slightly fewer books...

The Censorate.

Censor-in-Chief Chen Ning was tormented by hunger. Gnashing his teeth inwardly, he could not help but complain: "Among the Eastern Palace guests and academicians, who was so blind as to propose that 'eating is the guiding principle of statecraft,' landing us in this state where we have nothing to eat!"

No one dared to respond.

Although Supervising Censor Dalu Yuquan had supported that viewpoint, he certainly did not dare to go and eat.

The Censor-in-Chief was starving; as a supervising censor, how could he possibly go eat a meal? Wasn't that deliberately making his superior look bad?

Seeing Chen Ning's fury, Supervising Censor Chen Shiju took the initiative to gather some intelligence and even brought back a few pastries. He said to Chen Ning: "Lord Censor-in-Chief, I have already found out clearly. The one who proposed that eating is the guiding principle of statecraft is a provincial graduate named Gu Zhengchen. The Ministry of Personnel has appointed him as the Magistrate of Jurong, though he has not yet assumed office..."

"A mere provincial graduate—what right does he have to enter the Eastern Palace?" Chen Ning refused to believe that this fellow had no backing whatsoever.

Chen Shiju said in a low voice: "I hear he has a very close relationship with Assistant Commissioner-in-Chief Mu Ying, and currently this person is staying right inside the Mu Estate."

Chen Ning's eyes lit up. He sneered malevolently as he looked at Chen Shiju: "A court provincial graduate, yet to take up his post as a magistrate, yet walking so intimately with a military general of the court—there is bound to be something fishy in this, don't you agree? A seventh-rank magistrate, Jurong... hehe, too close for comfort. Let's send him far, far away."