Chapter 29 Section Three

In the thirty-ninth year of Jiajing (AD 1560), Zhang Juzheng was promoted to Youchunfang Youzhongyun (Zheng Liupin) in Zhan Shifu, and also the Secretary of the Imperial College (deputy chief).Three years later, Yan Song was dismissed from office, and Xu Jie became the Chief Assistant (Cabinet Chief).Shizong knew that only Zhang Juzheng could take on the important task of assisting the crown prince in governing the country and the country in the future.Therefore, Zhang Juzheng was appointed as Youyude (congwupin) in Youchunfang, and he lectured on the history of scriptures and history for Zhu Zaihou, king of Yu.Zhang Juzheng has a dignified appearance, and every time he gives a lecture, he must quote the classics. With his profound knowledge, he uses a wide range of analogies and metaphors, which greatly inspired King Yu.Then, Zhang Juzheng moved to serve as a bachelor's servant and took charge of the affairs of the Imperial Academy.From then on, he began to show his prominence in the court.

In December of the forty-fifth year of Jiajing (AD 1566), Shizong Zhu Houcong died of illness.King Yu Zaihou ascended the throne and changed Yuanlongqing to Muzong.Xu Jie, the chief assistant, discussed with Zhang Juzheng and drafted the will, announcing that all the ministers who were punished for admonishing during Sejong's time will be cleared of their grievances, and the deceased will be given compensation;It can reflect Zhang Juzheng's firm determination to reform the bad government.In the first month of the first year of Longqing (1567 A.D.), Mu Zong promoted his mentor Zhang Juzheng to be the right servant of the Ministry of Rites and a bachelor of the Imperial Academy, and he was promoted to the left servant of the Ministry of Officials and a bachelor of Dongge University.In April, the copy of the vast "Yongle Canon" was completed, and he was promoted to the Minister of Rites and the University of Martial Arts Hall. 20 years ago, Zhang Juzheng, the "prime minister", finally realized his ideal of joining the cabinet and participating in politics.

In July of the second year of Longqing (1568 A.D.), Xu Jie, the chief assistant who fell out of favor, retired and returned home.Li Chunfang, who succeeded the first assistant, catered to Mu Zong's wishes with peace and tranquility.Zhang Juzheng despised him because of this.One day, Li Chunfang sighed and said: "Mr. Xu (Jie) still speaks in human terms, how long can I be safe? Let me beg for my body and ears every day and night." Zhang Juzheng said: "It's such a concubine to protect the name!" ("Ming Ji" Volume 37 ) Li Chunfang was taken aback when he heard this, and then went to the shu three times to ask for Hugh (retirement).Since Zhang Juzheng entered the cabinet, he has been thinking about how to change the bad government day and night.In August, he submitted "Chen Liushishu", putting forward six policy proposals, namely, provincial discussion, revitalizing discipline guidelines, emphasizing edicts, verifying names and facts, consolidating the country's foundation, and ordering military preparations.Because Zhang Juzheng was at the bottom of the cabinet and his power was not obvious, his proposals were not put into practice.However, this memorial has become a blueprint for Zhang Juzheng's future policy program.

On May 25th in the sixth year of Longqing (1572 A.D.), Mu Zong was seriously ill and on his deathbed, he summoned three cabinet ministers, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and Gao Yi, in Qianqing Palace, and entrusted them with important positions as consultants.The next day, Mu Zong died. The 10-year-old crown prince Zhu Yijun came to the throne, and his reign name was Wanli, that is, Shenzong.In June, under the planning of Feng Bao, the eunuch of Bingbi, the supervisor of ceremonies, Gao Gong, the hot-tempered chief assistant, was forced to step down and return to his hometown to live idle.Not long after, Gao Yi also died of illness.Naturally, "the big handle knows that the commission is the right one."Zhang Juzheng served as the first assistant, "he took the world as his own responsibility, and China and foreign countries hope to be rich (style)" ("Ming History·Zhang Juzheng Biography").

During his more than 20 years of political career, Zhang Juzheng deeply felt that the feudal rule was in crisis.He once compared the Ming Dynasty to a mansion that "will be ruined [pi] but not yet destroyed", "Its exterior is full of holes, and the red paint is green and chalky [e evil], and it has not changed its old style, but the center is moth-eaten".It is urgent to "invigorate it" ("Zhang Taiyue Collected Works", Volume 9, "The Story of the Reconstruction of the Gongyuan in the Capital").Otherwise, "what happened at the end of the Yuan Dynasty can be used as a lesson for Yin", "the disaster of the decline of the Song Dynasty is not far away" ("Zhang Jiangling Letters" - "Response to Governor Xue Zeng Que'an").Faced with this precarious situation, Zhang Juzheng insisted on carrying out reforms, with the purpose of "enriching the country and strengthening the army" and saving the crumbling Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Juzheng's reforms were mainly carried out in three aspects: politics, economy and military. (1) Politically, correct the unhealthy ethos of "failure to enforce rules and regulations, and fail to enforce laws and regulations", reform bad governance, rectify the administration of officials, and strengthen the centralization of power. Zhang Juzheng's political policy is to "respect sovereignty, rule officials, trust rewards and punishments, and order one" ("History of the Ming Dynasty Zhang Juzheng Biography").He took measures to rectify the administration of officials in response to the corruption of the government's lax laws and regulations and the evasion of various affairs from top to bottom. 1. Get rid of redundancy and make others worthy.Eliminate redundant officials, punish those who commit crimes, and reward aggressive officials.He emphasized the use of talents on the basis of talents, "those who can manage state affairs and are courteous to the emperor will be recorded" ("Zhang Jiangling Shudo" 5 "Da Jiong [jiong embarrassment] Qing Li Jian'an on the use of talents").The appointment and removal of officials is "based on merit", regardless of qualifications or closeness.In his words, if there is a law, it should be added, but if it is close, it will not be revealed;People at the time commented: "When Jiangling is a country, its title can employ people, and its talented ministers are all happy to use them. They must make the best use of their talents." ("Guoyan" Volume 71) into law.It is to remove all things that do not match the name and reality, strengthen supervision and accountability, and improve actual efficiency.The test method is to assess the effectiveness of work.All the six ministries, the Metropolitan Procuratorate and other chapters are ordered to consider the priorities of the matter, the distance of the road, and regularly sign books to urge the supervision and inspection.Officials at all levels will strictly picket if there is any delay.After the promulgation of this law, Chao Gang revitalized and improved the efficiency of functional departments.Once the government decrees, "Thousands of miles away, it will be followed at night."

Implement the legal system, establish the Baojia Law, and stabilize the ruling order.Zhang Juzheng has always adhered to the legal system and strict discipline in his reform.In the autumn of the sixth year of Longqing (1572 A.D.), Zhang Juzheng ordered the arrest of Mu Chaobi, the Duke of Qian, who had repeatedly violated the law.This restrained the illegal behavior of princes and relatives, and also enabled the reform measures to be implemented more smoothly.At the same time, the Baojia Law was set up to allow the people to protect each other; city defense, river defense, and coastal defense were strengthened to prevent peasant uprisings and civil uprisings in cities and towns.Zhang Juzheng is known for his strict law enforcement.He once said: "Those who steal must be captured, and those who capture must be punished, so people dare not do it." ("Zhang Jiangling Booklet" eight "Answer to the General Constitution Wu Gong") Zhang Juzheng's purpose in doing this is to maintain and consolidate feudalism. rule.

(2) Economically, adjust policies, develop production, and promote national prosperity.This is the focus of Zhang Juzheng's reform. Control the Yellow River and build water conservancy.In the mid-Ming Dynasty, the Yellow River still often burst and flooded, flowing southward into the Huaihe River, blocking the canal.The rulers of the Ming Dynasty worried that the Yellow River would wash away the Fengyang Emperor's Mausoleum, affect water transportation, and cause economic losses in the north.What is even more frightening is that Huang Fan made the people desperate and mobilized them to rebel.In the third year of Wanli (1575 A.D.), the Yellow River overflowed again.Zhang Juzheng recommended Pan Jixun, who used to be the censor of the river capital, to preside over river governance.Pan Jixun was a famous hydrologist in the Ming Dynasty and had rich experience in water control.From the sixth to eighth years of Wanli (1578-1580 A.D.), he visited the Yellow River control construction site in person. According to the characteristics of the Yellow River, he proposed the water control principle of "containing water with dikes and attacking sand with water", that is, using the force of the water to wash the silt into the sea.He also compiled his years of experience in river control into a book called "A List of River Defense".Pan Jixun achieved certain results in treating the Yellow River. The floods were reduced and people rebuilt their homes. Cang) carry on" ("Zhang Wenzhong Gong Xingshi").

Clear the land and organize taxes and servitude.The guiding principle of Zhang Juzheng's financial management is "strengthening the public office and keeping private doors".He believes that the root cause of the country's lack of finances lies in the hidden occupation of land and population by bureaucratic aristocrats and powerful landlords. "The wealthy people have land but don't pay it, and the poor are tired of losing. The people are poor and flee, so the amount is reduced" ("Ming History Chronicle" Volume 61 "Jiangling Bingzheng").In order to solve the problem of disparity in taxation and labor, in the sixth year of Wanli (1578 A.D.), Zhang Juzheng resisted all opinions and ordered the clearing of the land.The "Regulations on Qingzhang" was presided over by Zhang Xueyan, Minister of the Ministry of household affairs.In those years, first measured the farm land of Xun Qi in Liangjing, Shandong, and Shaanxi, and then reassessed the land of Zhuang Tian, ​​Min Tian, ​​Zhi Tian, ​​Tun Tian, ​​pasture land, and dang land in the prefectures, prefectures, and counties of the whole country. In the ninth year of Wanli (AD 1581) ), Qingzhang ended, with a total of more than 7 million hectares of land across the country.Although some officials flattered and lied about the figures, and the figures were not true, after all, many lands hidden by powerful landlords were found out.Zhang Juzheng also ordered the reform of the tax and service system, promoted a whip method, changed the separate collection of taxes and services since the early Ming Dynasty to combined collection, and reorganized the tax and service collection.This is an innovation in labor law.A few years after the implementation of the above two measures, "the treasury [tang if] is full, and the country is the most prosperous" ("Ming Tong Jian" Volume 76). "Taicang Suke supported ten years, and Jiong Temple (Taipu Temple) accumulated funds to more than four million" ("Ming History Chronicles" Volume 61 "Jiangling Bingzheng"). "History of Ming Dynasty Zhang Xueyan Biography" also records that the Ming Dynasty was the most prosperous since the Zhengde and Jiajing years, and the ten years of Wanli.

(3) In the military, we should straighten out our military equipment, train soldiers, and appease the ethnic minorities in the border areas. After Zhang Juzheng entered the cabinet, he attached great importance to strengthening border affairs.General Li Chengliang was ordered to sit in Liaodong, and the famous generals Tan Lun and Qi Jiguang who fought against the Japanese on the southeast coast were transferred to the north to guard Jizhou, Yongping, and Shanhaiguan.Zhang Juzheng often discussed military affairs with Tan and Qi (Figure 5).Under the auspices of Tan and Qi, a section of the Great Wall from Juyongguan to Shanhaiguan was built, and 1,200 enemy towers were built, so that "the frontiers will be repaired and Jimen feasts" ("Ming History Biography of Qi Jiguang").

In the fifth year of Longqing (AD 1571), with the strong support of Zhang Juzheng, Wang Chonggu and Fang Fengshi negotiated a peace tribute with Altan Khan, the leader of the Tatar Tumed tribe in Xuanhua and Datong, turning hostility into friendship.The Ming government canonized Altan Khan as "King of Shunyi" and his wife San Niangzi as "Mrs. Zhongshun", and awarded 56 leaders, big and small, with different official titles.At the same time, Datong and Ganzhou horse markets were reopened to trade with each other.At that time, many people publicly opposed this practice.Zhang Juzheng retorted that the tribute was neither a marriage between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu, nor a so-called donation between the Song Dynasty and the Liao and Jin Dynasties. The initiative rested with the court.He insisted that the Mongolian and Han peoples live in harmony.In the following 30-40 years, starting from Yanyong in the east and reaching the seven towns of Jiayu in the west, the frontier was guarded for thousands of miles, the fire was not alarmed, the three armies were put to sleep, and the water, land and fields inside and outside the Great Wall were reclaimed and reclaimed, just like the interior.The Mongolian and Han people "become one family and enjoy peace forever".