Chapter 35: The Imperial Guards Return to the Capital

Zhu Youxiao said, "I have thought of this method too, but it is also unfeasible. Banning mining across the empire might seem advantageous to the imperial court at first glance, but in reality, the court lacks the capacity to exploit such vast mineral resources. This method won't work either."

Though Li Zhizao rarely spoke out in the imperial court, today he stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this subject has a method to resolve this issue."

Zhu Youxiao was overjoyed. Li Zhizao was known for his extreme prudence; unless he had pondered something repeatedly and deemed it workable, he would never speak up. Promptly, he said, "Minister Li, please speak without delay."

Li Zhizao said, "Your Majesty, first we can issue an imperial decree declaring that all mineral resources within the realm belong to the Emperor, thereby clearly establishing the court's ownership of all mines. Following that, an edict should be issued stating that Your Majesty pities the subjects of the realm and grants them permission to mine and extract resources across all mountains and marshes. However, to prevent disputes among individuals, anyone wishing to mine must register at the tax administration office of their respective prefecture or county, and pay a variable deed tax determined by the registered area size and the type of mineral."

Zhu Youxiao found this strange. How was this any different from past practices? Wasn't it essentially the same? Yet, knowing Li Zhizao's character, he remained silent.

As if waiting for the Emperor to question him, Li Zhizao paused. Seeing that the Emperor made no sound, he had no choice but to continue. "As for those who have already paid the deed tax previously, the tax office will refund them before they pay anew, because this new deed tax differs fundamentally from the old one. This gives rise to a potential problem: what if multiple people wish to mine the same location and are all willing to pay the deed tax? How do we choose between them? This subject believes there is a method, known as 'the highest bidder prevails.' If several parties wish to open a mine, they shall increase their bids upon the established deed tax amount, and whoever offers the highest additional sum secures the mining rights. Furthermore, it should be stipulated on the deed that if the imperial court requires the land back at any future date, the original deed tax and their capital investments shall be refunded, along with an additional compensation of roughly twenty percent. In this manner, the court can reclaim the mines whenever necessary without causing loss to the miners—who will even turn a profit—benefiting both sides. I await Your Majesty's sagacious ruling."

Zhu Youxiao thought to himself that this was essentially an auction. The people of this era were truly clever. As for the stipulations to be written on the deed tax, it was indeed an excellent solution to the problems Chen Xiu had recently encountered. Consequently, he said, "Minister Li's proposal is exceptionally good. It avoids harassing the people while allowing the court to reacquire mining rights in times of urgent need. Minister Bi, you and the others shall confer amongst yourselves on how to determine the deed tax amounts based on area and mineral types, how to ensure mine owners do not exceed their authorized boundaries, and which minerals must be kept strictly in the hands of the court. Once these matters are thoroughly discussed, submit a formal memorial for my perusal. Upon finalization, it shall be implemented nationwide. Additionally, the mineral tax was originally fixed at half a percent, which I deem inadequate; it must also be reassessed and reclassified according to category."

Bi Ziyang hastily assented without delay. Then came the second issue. Zhu Youxiao stated, "The *Great Ming Code* clearly stipulates that officials of the fourth rank and above are forbidden from engaging in commerce. While it is true that you ministers yourselves do not engage in trade, members of your households may very well do so. Naturally, the *Great Ming Code* cannot directly regulate the commercial activities of your family members, but whether your families leverage your official power when conducting business is something I believe you all keep in your hearts. I have no intention of digging up past misdeeds, but from this day forward, if any further collusion between officials and merchants, or the use of official influence for trade, is uncovered, it shall be dealt with strictly as corruption."

The *Great Ming Code* prescribed that corruption exceeding sixty liangs of silver would result in flaying and stuffing the skin with straw. While the punishment of flaying and stuffing was rarely applied nowadays, beheading remained unavoidable. Most officials in the court had relatives engaged in commerce, and Zhu Youxiao knew that the mere issuance of an imperial edict would not bring about instant enlightenment among them, nor was it possible to completely ban the practice overnight. Therefore, he merely drew a firm line against official-merchant collusion and the abuse of official clout, intending to address the rest gradually over time.

"From now on, the carriages and boats of any official passing through the customs checkpoints shall be inspected. Anyone concealing goods without reporting them for taxation shall be stripped of their rank and have their property confiscated. The households of princes and nobility shall be treated in the exact same manner. Tomorrow, I will have this edict published in both the Imperial Bulletin and the Weekly Gazette."

Lu Qin and his men were returning. To welcome the Southwest detachment of the Guards back to the capital, Zhu Youxiao organized a magnificent welcoming ceremony. At the forefront of the Guards entering the city were two grand banners: one inscribed with "Pacifying the Southwest," and the other with "Exalting Our Han Might." With immaculate armor and spirited bearing, the Guards marched through the North Gate toward Gongji City. Along the route, shops closed their doors while pedestrians gathered on both sides of the street to gaze upon the majestic posture of the sons of Han. From time to time, they handed fruits and boiled eggs to the Guardsmen. Not daring to halt, the soldiers gently declined as they marched, but when the crowds insisted on pushing the gifts upon them, the soldiers would call out in loud voices, "We are the soldiers of the House of Han; we touch not a blade of grass belonging to the people, nor take a single thread from the common folk!"

During the Ming Dynasty, soldiers were practically indistinguishable from bandits, and commoners generally avoided them whenever possible. Yet now, the Guards shouted such slogans, leaving the populace utterly astonished and compelling them to view the troops in a completely new light. Although many had simply been summoned to welcome them by local ward bailiffs and community heads, the people gained a novel understanding of the Guards: these were the soldiers of the Han, defending the sons of Han and striking down rebels, entirely different from the troops of the past.

Stirred within their hearts, the common folk naturally began taking the lead in chanting slogans: "Well done, Guards!" "Long live the Guards!" Seeing that the surrounding Brocade Guard did not stop those shouting "Long live," the populace joined in. Soon, the chorus swelled, growing louder and louder, the slogans shifting until, near the imperial city, they transformed into: "Long live the Emperor, wise and sagacious!"

At the Gongji City grand drill ground, the Emperor awaited them in person. Lu Qin wept tears of joy, and instinctively moved to drop to his knees before Zhou Yuji pulled him back, causing him to catch himself just in time.

Straightening his posture, Lu Qin stepped forward two paces until he stood ten steps from the Emperor. He executed a crisp military salute and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Your Majesty, this subject, Deputy General Lu Qin, reports to our Emperor that the Southwest detachment of the Guards has returned in glorious victory! This subject respectfully offers congratulations to Your Majesty, and congratulations to Great Ming!"

Zhu Youxiao returned the military salute, raised his right hand toward the heavens, and declared, "Everything for Cathay, everything for Great Ming!"

Lu Qin roared in response, "Everything for Cathay, everything for Great Ming, everything for Your Majesty!"

The original slogan had simply been "Everything for Great Ming," but Zhu Youxiao wished to forge a modern national military, and thus modified the motto.

All the officers and soldiers shouted in unison, "Everything for Cathay, everything for Great Ming, everything for Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youxiao proclaimed, "Mere barbarians dare to resist the heavenly troops! Yet I possess the bravest soldiers of Cathay, who shall annihilate them utterly. Chen Tang's words must be remembered by us all today: Those who offend the might of Han shall be executed, no matter how distant! Now, a pack of petty barbarians occupies our Liaodong, slaughtering our people—this can be tolerated, what cannot be tolerated? I command our heroic Guards to march upon Liaodong, rescue the sons and daughters of Cathay, and punish the shameless Jiannu!"

The officers and soldiers roared together, "Ever victorious! Ever victorious! Ever victorious!"

All kinds of requests welcomed, thank you for the support! Domestic affairs are nearly settled, and we now turn our focus toward the war against the Jiannu.