Chapter Twenty-Five: Food is the Essence of Life, Part Two
Chapter Twenty-Five: The People Take Food as Their Heaven, Part Two
For a moment, Zhu Qizhen didn't know what to say. The opening of maritime transport, in Zhu Qizhen's view, carried countless meanings. Yet the Ming dynasty, founded by Zhu Yuanzhang, truly lacked the genetic inclination toward the sea. To them, the canal transport system of the Tang and Song dynasties was already perfected; all they needed was to inherit it. The complications of sea transport seemed far too many to handle. Although there were successful examples under the Yuan dynasty, Yuan governance was much too rough and broad. Many things that worked then were simply unfeasible for Ming, especially regarding attitudes toward the ocean. The Yuan had no sea bans as Ming did, and private ships abounded. Ming lacked such circumstances.
Zhu Qizhen set aside the matter of maritime transport for now and asked, "Grandmother, are we simply to watch the people of Henan, hungry and pleading for food?"
The Grand Empress Dowager smiled gently and replied, "Of course not. If grain is not dispatched from Beijing, it will be sent from elsewhere. If I am not mistaken, it will either come from Qingjiangpu or from Huguang."
"I estimate it will be Qingjiangpu."
Zhu Qizhen pondered this name for a moment and said, "Is that Huai'an?"
During the Ming and Qing periods, Qingjiangpu was more famous than Huai'an, yet it is unfamiliar to later generations. Qingjiangpu was a key node on the Grand Canal, home to the chief commander of canal transport, later the site of the canal transport governor's office, with vast granaries awaiting transshipment to Beijing.
The Grand Empress Dowager said, "From Qingjiangpu, entering the Huai River, one can reach most counties of Henan. Transport is easier here. As for governing the realm, next year we can supplement southern grain once again."
At that moment, Wang Zhen hurried over and said, "Knowing that Your Majesty is concerned about Henan, the cabinet has just submitted a memorial. I have brought it to Your Majesty."
Zhu Qizhen opened it and found it was Yu Qian's request for grain. The endorsement by Yang Shiqi matched the Grand Empress Dowager's words: to transfer grain from Qingjiangpu via Fengyang granary, and replenish what is used next year. The first batch was twenty thousand shi.
Zhu Qizhen felt both ashamed and annoyed. He had worried in vain. The only comfort was that, in terms of administrative efficiency, the Embroidered Uniform Guard surpassed the cabinet.
The Grand Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Your concern alone makes me immeasurably happy. Yang Shiqi, a veteran of three reigns, has eaten more salt than you have rice. Matters of state are safe in his hands."
Zhu Qizhen replied, "I was reckless today."
"Go to your lessons," said the Grand Empress Dowager. "If you are late, you may face punishment."
Zhu Qizhen bowed to her and then departed Cining Palace for Wenhua Hall.
All along the way, Zhu Qizhen’s thoughts revolved around the grain issue.
For the court, grain was the top priority. The imbalance between southern and northern economies was fundamentally due to the disparity in grain production; the south produced far more than the north. This was the root of the problem.
Especially since Beijing could not produce enough grain for itself, the annual four million shi transported by canal left Zhu Qizhen uneasy, particularly with the example of the Qing dynasty’s later troubles. Why was the Treaty of Nanking signed? Certainly, there were a series of defeats, but the most crucial reason was the British severing canal transport. Beijing could not hold out.
Thus, regarding grain, allocation was critical—whether by canal or sea, moving southern grain to the north—but production itself was equally vital.
“Is it possible that the north of Ming truly cannot support the Nine Border Garrisons and Beijing?” Zhu Qizhen pondered deeply. Confronted by this problem, he had no idea where to begin.
Before long, he arrived at Wenhua Hall.
Upon entering, he sensed something amiss in the atmosphere. Li Shimian stood before the imperial desk like a statue, unmoving.
When Zhu Qizhen arrived, Li Shimian greeted him with proper ceremony.
Zhu Qizhen quickly helped him up and said, “Sir, please rise. Today it was my fault.”
Li Shimian asked, “Where was your mistake?”
Zhu Qizhen answered, “I ought not to have missed today’s lesson.”
Li Shimian said, “Not so. Your error lies in breaking your promise. You will one day govern the empire, and may not change orders capriciously. The ruler’s words are never frivolous. Yesterday, you promised to attend today’s lesson, but when I arrived, you merely sent a young eunuch to inform me. That is not the proper way to treat a minister.”
Zhu Qizhen hurriedly said, “I know my mistake now. Yesterday I received news that the relief grain for Henan was insufficient, so I sought advice from the Grand Empress Dowager. I did not mean to delay.”
Li Shimian’s stiff expression softened a little upon hearing this, and he asked a few more questions.
Zhu Qizhen answered each in turn.
Seeing Li Shimian seemed inclined to forgive him, Zhu Qizhen finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Some people, even when standing beside you, seem to make the air itself serious. Zhu Qizhen knew full well Li Shimian would not dare do anything drastic to him—at most, a slap on the hand.
Yet before Li Shimian, Zhu Qizhen inevitably felt tense, as if meeting a university mentor.
Li Shimian said, “Your Majesty’s compassion is a blessing for the realm.”
Zhu Qizhen replied, “Today’s events revealed my ignorance of the empire’s finances; I made a fool of myself.”
Li Shimian said, “If Your Majesty wishes to know the empire’s finances, ask the Ministry of Revenue. To know them in detail, consult the Yellow Register.”
Zhu Qizhen asked, “The Yellow Register?”
Li Shimian explained, “The fish scale maps compiled under the Taizu Emperor gathered all tax and land data into a single register. With it, officials levied corvée and taxes. It was recompiled every ten years, and the lives and deaths of all subjects were recorded therein.”
Zhu Qizhen was astonished; it was almost like the household registers of later generations. He immediately asked, “Where is this Yellow Register kept?”
Li Shimian replied, “In the rear lake vaults at Nanjing. Yet since the Hongwu era, officials have grown complacent, and the register has become mere formality.”
Zhu Qizhen said, “Let us examine its usefulness. The Taizu Emperor and now are only thirty years apart; it cannot be utterly useless. I wish to bring the rear lake Yellow Register to Beijing. Is that possible?”
Li Shimian replied, “Your Majesty should consider carefully. I do not know how many registers there are; each compilation required thousands of scholars from the Nanjing Imperial Academy. The rear lake vaults hold dozens of registers under various names, all guarded strictly, not even birds can pass.”
“If Your Majesty wishes to transfer them, storage and personnel will be an issue.”
Zhu Qizhen immediately understood that Li Shimian had gently declined.
He had not expected the rear lake Yellow Register to be so vast. Naturally, the household records of two capitals and thirteen provinces would be extensive.
Without preparation, a hasty relocation would not do.
Zhu Qizhen said, “I understand. Let us set this aside for now.” Of course, only for now. He resolved to keep this matter in mind. To transform the Ming realm, one must deeply understand it.
The rear lake Yellow Register was one of the most important documents for understanding Ming’s essence.
Li Shimian said, “Since Your Majesty is here, let us resume our lesson.”
Zhu Qizhen replied, “Yes.”
He took his seat, opened the Mencius.
The Great Learning and Doctrine of the Mean are brief; Zhu Qizhen studied them diligently and soon memorized them. Li Shimian lectured on them for several days, then began teaching Mencius, the longest of the Four Books.
It might take several months to master.
“But before that,” Li Shimian said, “Your Majesty’s breach of trust must be punished.” At his command, two robust palace attendants seized Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen’s face changed drastically; before he could speak, he was held down.
Soon, cries of pain echoed.
Zhu Qizhen’s face showed reluctance, but he was accustomed to such scenes.
After all, to err is human. Li Shimian was a stern teacher, strict with Zhu Qizhen; whenever he made a mistake, someone close to him would be punished.
Wang Zhen was the one most often punished on Zhu Qizhen’s behalf. Zhu Qizhen knew Wang Zhen had long since bribed the ones wielding the paddle.
Nonetheless, the form was maintained, and even a mere formality still hurt considerably.