Chapter 15 3. Future generations thinking

The princes of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the lessons of history are really profound and worth thinking about. First, the princely system was established for a reason.The establishment of a system must consider both the needs of the time and sustainability.The imperial son system in the Ming and Qing Dynasties had its own reasons.However, times have changed and adaptations are required.As early as November of the 41st year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1562), Yushi Lin Run pointed out sharply: The biggest problem in the world lies in the vassal's salary.The whole world offers 4 million stones to the capital every year, and 8.53 million stones to Lumifan, the kings.Taking Shanxi and Henan as examples, there are 2.363 million shi of rice left in reserve, and 5.04 million shi of Lumi in the clan.Year after year, it is multiplying more and more, and the situation is extremely poor. How will it be supported?What's more, there are officials Lumi and army food and pay!In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, a serious situation emerged: "Those who are above the king of the county still enjoy a lot, but those below the general are unable to survive on their own. Famine, cold, humiliation, and humiliation are inevitable. They are always calling for the road, gathering criticism and having divisions. The ministers who guard the land are always afraid of changes. Husband's endowment cannot be increased, but the clan is growing more and more, so it is not chilling." (Volume 514 of "Ming Shizong Shilu" volume 514) It is difficult for the country to support the growing emperor's clan.In the late Qing Dynasty, the children of the Eight Banners had no land to divide, idle around, and struggled to make ends meet. The clan problems of the Ming Dynasty were repeated.

Second, no business, no agriculture, no industry, no business.Fu Wang Changxun went to the feudal clan and asked for 40,000 hectares of Zhuangtian.Prime Minister Ye Xianggao said: "The world is exhausted. Today, not only the people have no land, but the court also has no land." Emperor Wanli ordered Henan, Shandong, and Huguang fields to be the farmland of King Fu, reaching 40,000 hectares.The officials of the royal family and the eunuchs collected taxes from the land, raised tens of thousands of servants, arrested the people, killed the farm tenants, and collected cruelty and poison.At the time of the apocalypse, the kings and princesses Zhuangtian moved tens of thousands. "After Gai Zhongye, Zhuangtian invaded the people's business, and ended up with the country." ("Ming History Shihuo Zhiyi" Volume 77) The vassal king also controlled the patent of salt, set up a store in Luoyang, and the palace was exclusive, and the price was arbitrary. Why did the people worthy? ("Third Edition of Zizhi Tongjian") Zhu Yuanzhang let his descendants be neither scholars nor farmers, nor workers nor merchants, but they will be blessed for life and rich and honored from generation to generation.The Qing Dynasty was even worse. Not only the clan, but also the Eight Banners were all "hardcore crops" - guaranteed harvest during drought and flood.The emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties originally intended to love their clan, but in the end they actually harmed it—not only harming their descendants, but also ruining the country.

Third, the times have not advanced, and the situation has not changed.In the feudal vassal system of the Ming Dynasty, household registrations increased and land decreased.In the second year of Longqing (1568), Shangshu Wang Shizhen said: "In the twenty-ninth year of Jiajing, when I met someone who revised the "Jade Document", from the prince to the common people, there were tens of thousands of people who had written names, and twenty In one year, you can get 50,000 people. The Zhou family has nearly 4,000 people, and the Han family has nearly 1,000 people. Although the financial resources of the world are exhausted, it may not be enough to provide them with a steady stream of property." No crime, trapped in a city, no one Official career, sit back and enjoy the success.The members of the clan were invited to live separately in prefectures and counties, engaged in agriculture and business, and took imperial examinations.On the sparse play, it is not accepted.

In May of the third year of Longqing (1569), Qi Yuanzuo, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, said: "The feudal vassals are flourishing, and the income and food are not sustainable. If they are not densely divided into districts now, it will be even more difficult in the future."At the beginning of the country, there were only 49 pro-county kings and generals, and 9 female talents. Although the number of titles in Yongle increased gradually, there were not many.At that time, the salary could no longer be given in full.It has been two hundred years now, and there are 28,492 survivors in the "Jade Document", which is a thousand times more than that at the beginning of the country!Ten years later, it will be even more serious!How to do it?One kind of advocates talk about reform, and the other kind of advocates say "the ancestral system dare not be changed without authorization."In fact, the latter did not understand a truth: "If the law is poor, it will change, if it changes, it will be clear, and if it is good, it will last forever." Also; after that, the kings’ arrogance and extravagance gradually increased, and the country of lawlessness was eliminated. This was another time; The unmarried, the strong plunder in the suburbs, and the weak rush into the village." This is another time.At the beginning of the country, the princes paid 50,000 shi, but soon it was reduced to 10,000 shi, and some later gave 500 shi. It can be seen that Emperor Gao ordered him to pay himself, and the words before and after did not match.During the Yongle period, some of the salary counts were five thousand stones, some two thousand stones, and some only seven hundred stones. It can be seen that the ancestors did not always abide by the ancestors' precepts!Therefore, Qi Yuanzuo proposed to discuss the five matters of restricting titles, discussing heirs, discussing the lord, discussing fraudulent expenses and discussing marriages without permission.For example, there are poor clans who conceal their names and identities, work as servants, and serve as servants. They are just and fair, so what shame is there!Some can enroll together with folk children to take the scientific examination, or farm and do business, so as to facilitate their physiology.Another example is that today's children and grandchildren succeed each other, and they are rich and honored for generations, so it should be restricted. Below the middle lieutenant of Fengguo, only one hundred taels of silver will be given to the first son born, which will be used as capital, and it will only be passed on to the fifth generation.For another example, since there are restrictions on male titles today, female titles should also be restricted-only the third is given to the daughter of a prince, the second is given to the daughter of a county king, and so on.The marriage capital is two hundred taels for the silver relative king, one hundred taels for the county king, and so on.For another example, from now on, the sons of concubines and others will only be given names, not rations, and they will still be allowed to do as they please.Sparse it in and forward it to the Ministry.Gao Yi, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, said: "Yuanzuo's play is conclusive and feasible, but the matter is so important that the ministers dare not discuss it. Please go through the palaces of the princes and discuss the internal affairs with an open mind to ensure that they are fair and the regulations are heard." (Volume 32 of "Records of Emperor Muzong of the Ming Dynasty") What about the end?The kings objected, "It's not enough." (Volume 38 of "Records of Emperor Mu Zong of the Ming Dynasty") The princely system of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the times did not advance, the situation did not change, it fell behind the times, and was eventually eliminated.

The establishment of a basic system should not only consider the needs of the time, but also consider sustainability.The system is stable and the times are changing.There are two attitudes: keep pace with the times and change with the times. "Don't dare to change the ancestral system" is true; "if the law is poor, it will change, change will make it better, and the rule will last forever", it is even more true.From the current point of view, it is not good; in the long run, it is good.No change will lead to great change, and those who suffer are those who resist change.The lessons of the imperial prince system in the Ming and Qing Dynasties are worthy of serious consideration by future generations.