Chapter 278: The Scientist Arrives
The imperial study in the Forbidden City, capital city, first month of the second year of Chongzhen.
Zhu Youjian, the Chongzhen Emperor, was absorbed in reviewing memorials, his brow deeply furrowed.
A memorial from Wu Zhiwang, the Supreme Commander of Shaanxi's three border regions, detailed a mutiny in Guyuan. The rebellious soldiers had plundered the Guyuan state treasury before turning their assault on Jingyang, Fuping, and Sanyuan, even capturing General Li Ying in the process...
Reading this report sent his mood plummeting like a drop tower.
Though dated December of the previous year, he was only seeing it now, in January. The backlog of memorials was simply overwhelming, an endless tide he could not hope to stem.
A wave of shame washed over Zhu Youjian as he recalled the formidable administrative prowess of his ancestor, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Even the border troops have turned rebel. Sustained arrears in pay, it seems, truly breed discontent."
Zhu Youjian let out a weary sigh.
His trusted chief eunuch, Cao Huachun, spoke in a low voice, "Your Majesty, we must find a way to procure some silver, or else..."
Cao Huachun extended a hand, offering a new memorial. "Perhaps Your Majesty would care to peruse this document."
"Oh?"
Zhu Youjian opened the memorial and scrutinized it. It was from Liu Mao, a Supervising Censor of the Ministry of Justice, proposing a rigorous overhaul of the courier system. The document recommended establishing new usage standards, arguing that, once various abuses were eliminated, the imperial courier stations could save hundreds of thousands of taels of silver each year.
Abolish the rampant issuance of travel warrants, thus alleviating the people's distress!
Upon finishing, Zhu Youjian expressed a hint of skepticism. "Can a mere reorganization of the courier system truly save hundreds of thousands of taels of silver annually?"
Cao Huachun explained softly, "The expenditures for imperial courier stations are, regrettably, exorbitant. When officials, high and low, traverse the roads, they frequently extort laborers and horses, or even demand'folding dry' —Zhejiang)-forcing stations to provide far more provisions than necessary, with the surplus converted into silver for their personal gain. These inflated figures are then reported by the stations to the imperial court, eventually becoming expenses borne by the national treasury. "
Zhu Youjian's brow furrowed in a profound frown. "So, these scoundrels have been defrauding the national treasury of hundreds of thousands of taels every single year?"
Cao Huachun confirmed, "Precisely so."
Zhu Youjian erupted in fury. "Unconscionable! In that case, let the courier stations be immediately reorganized, their expenditures strictly controlled, and this rampant malfeasance brought to an immediate halt!"
Cao Huachun attempted to soothe him. "Your Majesty, pray do not fret. Once reformed, those hundreds of thousands of taels of silver shall return to the national coffers. You ought to be pleased."
Zhu Youjian considered this. Indeed! Such a malpractice had gone undetected before, leading to lost revenue. But now that it was exposed, the funds would be reclaimed. He would command hundreds of thousands of additional taels of silver each year for deployment. Was this not a profound boon? His perpetually strained treasury would find significant relief.
At this thought, Zhu Youjian's spirits soared like a jet.
His jubilation, however, lasted but a few fleeting minutes...
"Report! Urgent dispatch!"
A eunuch rushed into the imperial study, presenting an urgent military report.
He tore it open to read: "Bandits pillaging without restraint across Luochuan, Chunhua, Sanshui, Lueyang, Qingshui, Chengcheng, Hancheng, Yijun, Zhongbu, Shiquan, Yichuan, Suide, Jiazhou, Yao, Jingning, Tongguan, Yangping Pass, Jinsuo Pass, and myriad other locations..."
At the sight of the interminable list of place names, Zhu Youjian’s mood plunged like a stone. He erupted, "What is this situation?! Why bother listing every single location? You might as well simply write: 'Suyuan and Shaanxi are in utter chaos!'"
Cao Huachun broke into a nervous sweat.
Zhu Youjian thundered, "Are Wu Zhiwang, the Governor of Suyuan, and Hu Tingyan, the Governor of Shaanxi, merely ornamental figures drawing salaries?"
No sooner had he finished his outburst than another eunuch burst in, breathless. "Report! The Governor of Suyuan, Wu Zhiwang, has succumbed to illness. A new governor must be appointed with utmost urgency!"
Zhu Youjian was speechless.
He furrowed his brow, pondering for a long moment, then declared, "Summon Yang He to my presence."
In Chengcheng County, a vibrant aura of prosperity was beginning to bloom.
Following Dao Xuan Tian Zun's initial manifestation before all the common folk, miraculous signs began to appear with increasing frequency. First, before the eyes of every villager, he bestowed a much-needed rain upon Chengcheng County. Then, through his appointed emissary, Mr. Wang, working alongside the magistrate, he set about revitalizing every trade and industry within the county town.
Mirroring the development trajectory of Gao Family Village, the artisans in the official workshops were the first to reap the benefits.
The Heavenly Lord directly raised the wages of all artisans.
Though this contravened ancestral statutes, Liang Shixian offered no objection and promptly complied.
In truth, by the late Ming Dynasty, sagacious minds had long recognized the inherent flaws of the Artisan Registration system and yearned for its reform. Liang Shixian, however, had simply lacked the authority to enact such changes. Now, bolstered by the divine provisions bestowed by the Heavenly Lord, he found the courage to treat the artisans with unprecedented generosity.
Concurrently, the Heavenly Lord released vast quantities of grain, replenishing the county town's granaries.
Liang Shixian immediately established official grain stores, selling grain at prices akin to those of non-disaster years. In mere days, he curbed the exorbitant price of a thousand coins per dou, restoring it to the levels of ordinary times.
Liang Shixian was profoundly pleased by this achievement. Indeed, according to informed sources, he was seen standing in the county office's backyard, letting out several hearty laughs. "My people," he boomed, "this official has lowered the grain prices for you!"
Once grain prices normalized, the common folk were no longer forced to spend their entire income on staple food. With surplus funds at their disposal, they could now purchase other goods, and thus, every trade and industry began to revive, slowly regaining its lost vitality.
Fabric stores reopened, garment shops welcomed customers, tea houses buzzed with patrons, ceramics and earthenware once again found buyers, handicrafts sold steadily, and opera troupes captivated audiences...
The county town's resurgence proved swifter than anyone had dared to anticipate.
Amidst this vibrant hum of activity...
A Daoist priest, leading three companions, had just entered through the main gates of Chengcheng County.
The Daoist was Ma Tianzheng, and his three companions were none other than Song Yingxing and his two household servants.
The quartet had journeyed a considerable distance, leaving them utterly exhausted and famished.
Their journey had been fraught with peril. The four had encountered small bands of marauding bandits on several occasions. Fortunately, Daoist priests still commanded a measure of respect in those turbulent times; the bandits, upon seeing a Daoist, often hesitated to rob them. Even when an occasional, less scrupulous petty thief pressed the issue, Ma Tianzheng's mastery of the Quanzhen sword art proved sufficient to repel them.
"Mr. Song, this is Chengcheng County," Ma Tianzheng declared, letting out a long sigh of palpable relief. "From here, Gao Family Village is not far—a mere thirty li or so. Let us rest here for the night and set out afresh tomorrow."
Song Yingxing stepped into the county town, a visible weight lifting from his shoulders. "Splendid!" he exclaimed. "I confess, I am quite weary from the journey. Shaanxi truly is a dreadful place, rife with famine and infested with brigands. Alas, had it not been for Daoist Ma's solicitous care, I doubt I would have reached this point."
Ma Tianzheng replied, "It was but this humble Daoist's duty."
As they conversed, a sizable throng began to traverse the county's main thoroughfare. At its head walked a mother and son—Madam Bai and Young Master Bai—accompanied by the contractor Teng Yifeng.
Teng Yifeng was respectfully addressing Young Master Bai. "Young Master Bai," he began, "I have heard of your ingenious method for moving heavy objects. Our road-building crew has encountered an enormous stone that must be cleared from the middle of the path. We earnestly implore your assistance."
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