Chapter 48 Section 2 "Non-military affairs are not allowed to post"

In view of the lessons learned from the chaos of the post station in the Yuan Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang used strict laws to restrict certain privileged people from the beginning.He clearly stipulated: "Non-military affairs are not allowed to be given to the post" ("Zhaodai Wangzhang"), which means that if it is not a national or military event, it is not allowed to abuse the post horse or use the postal facilities of the post.In the 26th year of Zhu Yuanzhang's reign as emperor, that is, in 1393, the "Regulations on Yinghe Giving Posts" was promulgated. Unauthorized use of the post to pass the ship and horse", offenders will be severely punished.

But despite Zhu Yuanzhang's strict regulations, there are still people who knowingly commit crimes.These people generally think that they have a solid backer and don't pay attention to the government's regulations.Some people flog the postman unreasonably, and some people ride the post forcibly without holding the post card, asking for more horses and chariots.Lu Zhongheng, who was once a founding hero and named Marquis of Ji'an, returned to Beijing from Shaanxi, disregarding the king's law, and was good at passing on the post.Zhu Yuanzhang was furious about this, and reprimanded Lu Zhongheng, saying: The Central Plains has gone through wars, and the people have just lived a stable life. The post households finally bought horses, and life is still very difficult.If you act like you, even if the people sell their sons and daughters, they will not be able to satisfy their extravagant expectations!Therefore, Lu Zhongheng was no longer reused, and he was later killed for treason.

Zhu Yuanzhang also severely punished his two sons-in-law for violating post regulations.One is Guo Zhen, the son-in-law.When he came back from a business trip in Liaodong, he illegally brought three sticks of hazelnuts, and used postmen to transport them along the way.When Zhu Yuanzhang learned of this, he immediately ordered Guo Zhen to make up the full amount of the remuneration of the postman for private use, and at the same time ordered all post stations along the Shanhaiguan Pass to post notices, stipulating that in the future, the phenomenon of using official posts to privately carry goods should not happen again, otherwise All punished.The other is Ouyang Lun, the son-in-law captain. He used the post to smuggle tea many times against the law.When Zhu Yuanzhang found out about this, he was very furious, and ordered Ouyang Lun to die, and his slaves were also sentenced to death.

These few things have played a great role in the rectification of the station.Since then, the post offices in the Ming Dynasty have been in good order. "The post is clean and happy, but the Lijia is not disturbed" (Gu Zuyu's "Book of the World's Commandments and Countries' Benefits and Diseases", Volume 61).The postal service has developed, and the country's finances are surplus every year.