Chapter 591: The Imperial Power Was Too Great
Chapter 581 of "The Great Ming in the Box" kicks off with thrilling moments: A long line formed at the entrance of the fertilizer store, and the ordinary people... Read more!
A long line formed at the entrance of the fertilizer store, and the ordinary people were eagerly buying fertilizer.Beside the fertilizer store, a new shop opened, called the âAgricultural Technology Training School.â Several âagricultural technology expertsâ from Gaojia Village were giving lessons there, teaching the ordinary people âscientificâ planting methods for free.
The salaries of these teachers were paid by Wu Shen.
Wu Shen had already used up his hundred thousand taels, but these days, he suddenly had money again.
The money came from Qin King Mansion.
Qin King Mansion volunteered to contribute fifty thousand taels for âdisaster relief,â and without saying a word, quickly handed the fifty thousand taels of silver to Wu Shen.
At this time, Wu Shen and Shi Kefa were sitting in the backyard of the fertilizer store, drinking tea and chatting with Li Daoxuan.
Shi Kefa sighed deeply: âThe assassin I sent to the capital suddenly fell ill with a strange disease and died on the way. With no living witness left, Qin King Mansion adamantly refused to admit doing it. The emperor expressed great trouble but ultimately couldnât do anything to Qin King Mansion, issuing an edict to reprimand them harshly. Ah⌠trulyâŚâ
Wu Shen sipped his tea gently, with a rather strange expression: âQin King Mansion was reprimanded and gave fifty thousand taels of silver to me.â
Li Daoxuan chuckled: âThe result was quite good! Hmm, roughly within my expectations.â
Wu Shen and Shi Kefa retorted in unison: âIs this result considered good?â
Li Daoxuan spread his hands: âDo you two lords really think that such a small matter could topple the most powerful feudal lord? Abolishing the fief is unthinkable, and reducing military power is also impossible. Qin nobleâs escort soldiers had already been reduced to five hundred people a century agoâhow could they be further reduced? Drag Qin Kingâs heir to be beheaded at the Wu gate? Is it possible to harm imperial relatives over a minor issue of fertilizer? Place yourselves in the emperorâs position; what could you do to Qin King Mansion?â
The two civil officials thought carefully: Yes, indeed? What could the emperor do to Qin King Mansion? Scolding them fiercely and forcing them to surrender fifty thousand taels was already a severe punishment.
Thinking that, the energy they had previously built up vanished with a puff.
Li Daoxuan added a final blow: âThat assassin who died suddenly of a strange illness must have been silenced by the Imperial Guards.â
Shi Kefa objected: âHow is that possible? They were Imperial Guards I carefully selected myself, absolutely loyal to the emperor, and couldnât be bribed by Qin King Mansion.â
Li Daoxuan said: âWhat if the emperor ordered the execution? Without killing that person, the Qin King Mansion affair couldnât be resolved, and civil officials would stir up endless trouble; better to kill him cleanly.â
Shi Kefaâs whole body stiffened.
Li Daoxuan burst out laughing.
Shi Kefa said with deep frustration: âHow could it be like this? We exerted such great effort, and finallyâŚâ
Li Daoxuan suddenly said in a mocking tone: âThis is the flaw of âimperial supremacyâ!â
His abrupt attack on âimperial supremacyâ was truly a great traitor move, startling the two civil officials terribly.
Wu Shenâs first thought was: Donât let the Imperial Guards hear it, or itâs all over.
However, he immediately recalled that Shi Kefa sitting beside him was one of the Imperial Guards, damn it!
Wu Shen waited for Shi Kefa to flip the table.
Shi Kefa did not flip it, wearing a bizarre expression, as if wanting to flip the table yet forcing himself to listen: âMr. Li, I cannot pretend I didnât hear that.â
Li Daoxuan chuckled and shifted the topic: âThe power of civil officials is too small; the emperorâs power is too great; this is very bad. We should give cabinet officials more voice.â
This phrase hit the sensitive spot for the civil officials.
Wu Shen was greatly pleased: âOh? I find this highly reasonable.â
As soon as he said it, he felt heâd gone too far and quickly covered his mouth.
Shi Kefa was now awkward; although he belonged to the civil ministerial group, he was also part of the Imperial Guards system. Shi Kefa felt Li Daoxuanâs words were sensible, but his Imperial Guard identity made him want to flip the table. What to do?
How could he overturn the table over words he personally thought were sound?
Li Daoxuan noticed Shi Kefaâs internal conflict and smiled secretly to himself.
Actually, towards the end of the Ming Dynasty, capitalism had already sprouted, and there was a slight sign of constitutional monarchy emerging. Back then, the cabinet six ministries often opposed and confronted the emperor. For instance, in the case of Qin Kingâs title inheritance, the Ministry of Rites dared to delay approval indefinitely, and the emperor had no choice but to issue an edict scolding the ministry.
Civil officials were uniting to seize the emperorâs power with relentless effort!
This was essentially the prelude to constitutional monarchy, an inevitable development of the system.
It wasnât that the civil officials were far-sighted; rather, their power grab for personal gain aligned exactly with the proper path of political evolution.
So Li Daoxuan bringing up such remarks easily resonated with the civil officials.
Li Daoxuan continued: âMinister Shi, last time, my wife told you that advanced productive forces require an advanced political system to match. If the political system lags, it will hold back the productive forces. Do you remember that?â
Shi Kefa was somewhat embarrassed, not wanting to admit recalling such traitorous words, yet he replied: âI remember.â
Li Daoxuan said: âNow you see the flaws everywhere in the emperorâs autocratic system. Instead of the emperor deciding everything alone, better to have officials from the cabinet six ministries step up, each with a vote, assisting the emperor in decision-making through voting. Three cobblers are smarter than Zhuge Liang; with the six ministries as six cobblers, they could top two Zhuge Liangs.â
Wu Shen and Shi Kefa both thought it reasonable, but as the talk deepened, neither dared to chime in further, only pondering in their minds.
Li Daoxuan was in no hurry; planting the seed was enough.
He let them reflect slowly.
He shifted the topic: âNow that Qin King Mansion has backed down, they wonât dare cause trouble again for some time. We have gained a rare period where the political system wonât restrain productive forces. Lord Wu, letâs take larger steps during this time.â
Wu Shen, rushing with pride, pulled his thoughts back: âPlease advise further, Mr. Li.â
Li Daoxuan said: âSince Qin King Mansion wonât interfere, I can set up the fertilizer factory, new crop experimental fields, chicken farms, pig farms, and such around Xiâan. With heaven granting rain and livelihood stabilizing slightly, launching these will increase food yield and naturally rescue more disaster victims.â
Wu Shen, rushing with pride: âThis reasoning is sound.â
After all, the matter of political systems was distant; Wu Shenâs present task was still primarily disaster relief. Happily holding fifty thousand taels of silver, he might as well learn from Mr. Li to establish new factories.
Wu Shen said: âMr. Li, just tell me how you plan to do this, and I will help where I can. Also, I want to join in and learn; please teach me.â
Li Daoxuan smiled: âNo problem! Lord Wu, youâre welcome to learn from my experience in setting up factories.â