When Zhu Yijun began to take charge, he did not pay enough attention to the management of the canal. After all, he was not an economist and had never studied the history of the canal before. Therefore, he did not have a high level of understanding of the status of the canal in imperial governance as Zhang Juzheng, Wang Guoguang and others.
high.
In the third year of Wanli, Zhu Yijun's understanding of the canal finally equaled that of Zhang Juzheng. The main reason was that Zhang Juzheng and other cabinet ministers paid great attention to the management of the canal in the past two years. Whenever there was a general canal memorial, Zhang Juzheng would inevitably analyze the pros and cons at length, and often even
Please see, Zhu Yijun's mind has been changed subtly.
Zhang Juzheng pointed out to Zhu Yijun many times that because the capital was the core of the empire, with a dense military and civilian population, the output of the North China Plain was not enough to support the empire, so the rice transported south of the Yangtze River became the lifeblood of the empire.
One day, when Zhang Juzheng asked for instructions on water transportation again, he described the importance of water transportation to Zhu Yijun and said: "If you don't have it for one day, you will be hungry; if you don't have it for three days, you will not know what your destiny is." This sentence deeply frightened Zhu Yijun.
People of later generations lived in an era of extremely abundant materials and lacked perceptual understanding of the shortage of materials. After Zhu Yijun traveled to the emperor, some inconvenient places in life, including some enjoyments of later generations, were killed one by one by Zhang Hong, Zhang Jing and others.
People solve it.
Zhu Yijun has high requirements for the quality of life, such as bathroom facilities, the development and use of daily necessities, etc., which have gradually spread from the palace to the outside world in the past two years. Except for household appliances, which Zhu Yijun cannot help for the time being, the rest of his enjoyment is not as big as that of later generations.
difference.
Because of this and because he traveled back in time to the emperor, Zhu Yijun didn't know much about the living conditions of the people.
The information and silver medals from various places described the hardships of the people, and the words were highly summarized, such as "More than ten thousand people's houses were floating" or "There was a great famine, and the ground was full of hungry people." There were no detailed descriptions. Zhu Yijun looked at these memorials at the time, like
It's like reading historical documents, without any personal experience.
But Zhang Juzheng's frightened eyes and serious expression when he said to him that "if you can't live without it for three days, you won't know what your destiny is." Zhu Yijun suddenly realized that even though he had lived in this world for two years, he and the world had always been inseparable.
Alienated.
This feeling was absurd, but also very real, like a dagger slicing through the soft membrane that had been covering Zhu Yijun's body since he traveled through time, making him feel a flesh-and-blood connection with the world for the first time.
This feeling became more and more clear after that day, reflected in his daily contact with the two palaces, his younger brother, his sister and other family members, and reflected in every detail of his life with Sun Qian, Wei Chao and others.
Assimilate and empathize with him more and more, making him more sympathetic and resonant with the Ming Dynasty in this time and space.
At this time, Zhu Yijun looked back at his policies in the past two years. Many bad things emerged one by one.
Zhu Yijun reflected on himself: In the past two years, he has been talking about being close to the people, but he has long lost his flesh-and-blood ties with the people. The little "party spirit" in him has long been riddled with holes.
Reflecting on myself again? In the past two years, I have treated political affairs as if I were playing a game? I have manipulated the world at will, but ignored every order I gave? It involves the survival of millions of people. - What if the time was turned back to two years ago?
Many things will be handled much better.
Comparing this state of mind with the time when he was intoxicated by power when he first traveled to the Tianjing Banquet, Zhu Yijun felt that he had advanced. His sense of identity as the emperor became stronger and stronger, and he understood the mission and responsibilities he shouldered.
It's getting deeper and deeper.
Looking at water transport with this mentality? Zhu Yijun finally realized that every change in this grand canal is related to the livelihood and property of millions of people on both sides of the canal.
If conflicts cannot be properly handled and resolved, and reforms are carried out as haphazardly as the reform of the salt policy, countless people will have their families destroyed. Therefore, he very cautiously used his magic weapon first: investigation and research.
Following the feedback from each research report, in June of the third year of Wanli, Zhu Yijun finally constructed the overall impression of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal.
The relationship between the central canal and the central and local governments? The distribution of classes up and down the canal, the structure of the people who depend on it, and the organic connections between the canal and major water systems? What are the shortcomings of the current water transportation system of the imperial court?
Outlined? And finally let him - an emperor like no other? find out the answer to the problem.
Do you have some confidence in your heart? The next step is to unify your thoughts. When Zhu Yijun was making plans, Wang Zongmu, who had suffered repeated defeats, once again suggested to the court in mid-August that he wanted to conduct a sea canal.
This suddenly stirred up a hornet's nest. With the torrent of bullets, Wang Zongmu's position as the chief minister began to shake. Zhu Yijun continued to show off on various occasions, making drizzle to protect Wang Zongmu. At the same time, he issued an order to the Ministry of Household Affairs, asking him to propose further measures.
Hai Cao's opinion.
On August 30, the Ministry of Revenue sent the memorial to the six departments for filing and then reported it to the cabinet. The Attendant's Office listed it as a chapter for Zhu Yijun to read in detail. Zhu Yijun saw that its content was:
"First, the minister described the merits of sea transportation. I said that the benefit of all times lies in the river, and there is an urgent need to use the sea. Now the minister proposes to increase the sea transportation by 240,000 dan. I think that the sea route is unpredictable, but if you are familiar with this road,
In order to prepare for emergencies, there is no need to impose additional taxes. In the past, Zhang Huan and others agreed with the ministers on the matter, and said that in the sixth year of Longqing's reign, there was no grain and stone, and the minister issued silver to buy supplements. The ministers did not realize that Zong Mu was so wise, and they actually made it happen.
"
"However, it was difficult to find out more about the incident. At that time, I thought that the brave minister who had done the first thing could be forgiven to see the consequences. However, in the first year of Wanli, seven ships were lost and fifteen people died. I thought that food could be replaced.
And human life cannot be repaired."
"I have examined the sea canals of the Yuan Dynasty, and found that three out of ten of them drifted without encountering wind and waves. It can be seen that one of the incompetences of sea transport is that sea transport must use ships with thousands of materials, and they can be driven by hundreds of people in each boat to transport thousands of meters of stone. If we calculate the river canals, then the sea canal
One canal can carry ten river boats, and there are fewer soldiers to transport without risk of capsizing. This sea transport is not as good as two river canals."
"If it is like the Yuan Dynasty's maritime transport, lookout soldiers must be set up and defensive troops prepared to prevent plundering. If river canals are used, thieves will not dare to peep. This river canal has three advantages."
"My ministers and others have agreed that sea transportation will only start in the third year of Wanli, and the limit will be 120,000 stones, in case of emergency use of the sea. Fuqi Shengcai."
After Zhu Yijun read the memorial, he felt very unhappy and commented: "When I read the memorials, I only talked about the disadvantages of sea transportation, but did not talk about its advantages; I talked about the advantages of rivers and canals, but did not talk about the disadvantages. There are such advantages in the world.
Is there no harm, or is it all harm and no benefit? I have repeatedly stated this in the outline of "seeking truth", but you and other memorials have not seen this at all, presupposing a position, and it is difficult to correct your intentions."
"In the sixth year of Longqing's reign, I reported it to the public. Because the imperial examination was popular, the court had no conclusion - how can we say that Wang Zongmu was 'self-defeating'? The speech of the Ministry was hypocritical, not solemn, and lost the integrity of the minister.
.”
After scolding the Ministry of Household Affairs, Zhu Yijun wrote again: "When the cabinet ministers saw this memorial, they did not ask for a detailed explanation, but responded with 'asking for the Holy Judge'. Does this mean 'seeking truth'?"
"The cabinet is ordered to instruct the Ministry of Household Affairs to conduct serious research and review the report in detail. If there are any more arguments that cannot seek truth from facts, and those who make false claims about advantages and disadvantages without verifying the facts, we will be reprimanded!"
Because Zhang Juzheng was coordinating water conservancy and other major political affairs, he left all household affairs to Zhang Siwei. He didn't read the memorial at all. When the Superintendent of Ceremonies approved the emperor's red hair, Zhang Juzheng became furious after reading it.
He called Zhang Siwei to his office. Zhang Juzheng scolded him loudly for a quarter of an hour and almost threw the memorial on Zhang Siwei's face. Zhang Siwei did not dare to contradict him and lowered his head to listen to the lecture.
Zhang Juzheng had lost his temper and felt that he had gone too far. He softened his tone and said to Zhang Siwei: "Fengpan, you have been in the cabinet for several months, and you still haven't figured out the emperor's temper? The emperor only governs with "real things", "please"
"It's just a few words, multiple meetings, and repeated emphasis, but you still don't understand?"
"If the Ministry of Finance can act out of public motives, it will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of sea-cao canals and compare them with river-cao canals. Since the second half of the second year of Wanli, the memorials of various ministries have not compared the pros and cons and supported them with details.
I dare to present this chapter. How can I be so confused about this matter?"
"Or am I deceiving you because of your lack of experience and using big words to deceive the saints? With the emperor's wisdom, how can you be fooled by these bastards? From now on, remember the four words 'seeking truth from facts'. If you cannot act with this intention and prudence, you will be scolded!"
"
Zhang Siwei only said yes and said with a wry smile: "Yuan Fu, I was wrong about this matter. Jia Sanjin and others also discussed Hai Cao in this chapter, and their words were very spicy. I didn't dare to report it, for fear of angering the emperor.
Nowadays, none of the ministers say that Hai Cao is good, and the memorial to the Ministry of Household Affairs is fair——"
After hearing this, Zhang Juzheng felt a little angry again. He criticized in a low voice: "How can we, the cabinet ministers, block the way of speech? Every memorial cannot be withheld! If there is anything inappropriate, it is recommended that it be re-submitted."
It's better if you keep it in your hands like this."
Zhang Siwei asked Zhang Juzheng to wait, then went back to his room and took out the memorial. When he came back, he handed it to Zhang Juzheng and said, "I am planning to talk to Jia Sanjin. Yuan Fu should take a look first."
Zhang Juzheng read Jia San's recent memorial, which first said that sea transportation was not feasible, and then Zhang Siwei's spicy words:
"Your Majesty has sent Wang Zongmu's memorial to the Ministry of Households for discussion, and may have the intention of restoring the sea to the canal. I think that there are barbaric roads in the world, so I will take Jiuzhiban. People have ginseng and ginger and osmanthus to maintain health. Why try to order Wu to attach it just in case?
?If a wise man does not take this, a fool will laugh at it. I beg for an edict to consider carefully, stop the sea transportation, and put all the grain into the river transportation." [Note 1]
When Zhang Juzheng saw what he said in the memorial, he was indeed very disrespectful to the emperor. The last sentence was almost an order to the emperor, and the analogy in it was also vaguely mocking.
He sneered a few times in his heart, his eyes turned cold, and he said to Zhang Siwei: "If you give me a report on the matter, the cabinet can't suppress it. You and I will blame it, and then we can report it."