Chapter 24 Section 8 Sweeping Unspoken Rules

In the 45th year of Jiajing (AD 1566), on December 26th, Emperor Zhu Zaihou (hou) of Longqing ascended the throne.Every time a new emperor comes to power, there will always be a short period of recovery for the dynasty.The emperor had heard of Hai Rui's name a long time ago, and had admired this loyal minister for a long time.On the day he ascended the throne, Hai Rui was released.Soon, under the recommendation of Xu Jie, the chief assistant of the cabinet, he moved three times a year and was promoted to Zuo Cheng of Dali Temple.Hai Rui encountered the warmest spring in his political career.

After ten months in prison, the Hai Rui who came back is not what it used to be.His role in the political life of the empire changed radically.At this time, Hai Rui was no longer the "sea pen holder" that people laughed at back then.He became famous all over the country, and changed from a eccentric little bureaucrat in a department to a model representing social justice.When he was in prison, some officials complained for him regardless of the danger of his life. Once Emperor Jiajing passed away, calls for Hai Rui to be reused were endless. People have regarded Hai Rui as the only light in this dark and chaotic world. No matter whether they support or oppose it, no one can but face up to this political reality: Hai Rui has become a banner, a symbol, and the head of the imperial political power. represent.

In the third year of Longqing (1569 A.D.), under Xu Jie's recommendation, Hai Rui was appointed as the high-ranking governor of Yingtian, reaching the culmination of his political career.This year, he was fifty-six years old. Yingtian was one of the most economically developed regions in China at that time. Its jurisdiction included Suzhou, Changzhou, Zhenjiang, Songjiang and more than ten prefectures. Here, including the chief assistant Xu Jie.Due to the unclear governance of officials, corruption is the most prevalent, and the accumulation of problems is also the most.Xu Jie hoped that Hai Rui could use his integrity to dispel the unhealthy winds in this place, clean up the chaotic situation, and create some remarkable achievements for the new court team.

Despite grizzled hair and many setbacks, "Hai Qingtian"'s fifty-six-year-old toughness has not changed at all, and "Gangfeng" is as strong as ever.Hearing the appointment, he immediately took it easy and went to the post quickly. Before Hai Rui drove out of Beijing, people in Yingtian area were already in a state of turmoil.Officials, gentry, scholars, civilians, there are those who are excited, those who hope, those who are disappointed, and those who are afraid.In any case, people realized that the arrival of this person would definitely cause great changes in social life in Yingtian area.

Those who had heard about Hai Rui's administrative style for a long time took action in advance. Reduce public obedience". Those with eminent reputations simply resigned to avoid being punished by the new governor.The rich and powerful family painted their red lacquered gates with black lacquer.The eunuch who supervised the weaving affairs of the royal family in Yingtian used to take a large sedan chair with eight people, but now he also took a small sedan chair with four people. It's understandable for the corrupt people to run away upon hearing the news, but when Hai Rui comes, what's the matter with closing the door and the sedan chair?

In an autocratic society, how people dress and wear hats must be decided by the autocrat.In the eyes of Hai Rui, and in the eyes of scholars in the Ming Dynasty, gates, sedan chairs, including clothes and mansions, were not trivial matters, but important matters concerning "noble and humble".Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Rules are established and the upper and lower divisions are established. The division is established and the name is correct. The name is correct and the world is governed." very detailed.Specifically, officials of several ranks can use red lacquer gates, and officials of several ranks can sit in eight sedan chairs, which are clearly and clearly stipulated in the imperial edict of Ming Taizu.It's just that two hundred years have passed, the society has become prosperous, and the rules and regulations have been abolished. People have almost forgotten these cumbersome regulations.

However, Hai Rui's arrival made everyone wake up in horror that they were living in mistakes and sins.Sitting in the small car going south, Hai Rui's heart was full of ups and downs, and his thoughts were full of thoughts.Unexpectedly, in his lifetime, he finally met the Ming Lord, met the virtuous minister, and finally became a feudal official in charge of one side, and his jurisdiction was the most important area of ​​the empire.What he cares about is not the promotion of the official position, but that he finally has the space to fully display his political ideals.What he has learned and thought in his life can finally be fully reflected in politics. His dream of changing the customs of the world and serving Emperor Yao and Shun is really possible.How could he not be excited!

Hai Rui's administrative policy is very simple, that is - follow Taizu's rules.Before arriving in Yingtian, he had already announced his ruling policy: Get rid of accumulated evils and make peace with each other, and restore the law of the ancestors.Unconventional, not old. That is to say, we must restore the old law in an all-round way and resolutely not compromise with human inertia.As long as you strictly follow the rules of your ancestors, "there is no uncertainty in the world, and everything is right." He is determined to do his best to overcome any difficulties and obstacles, to govern Yingtian into a clean sea, and to set an example for officials all over the world.If Ying Tian manages well, it will inevitably affect other parts of the empire, and all regions will learn from his experience. Then, wouldn't the whole world be governed just around the corner?In his opinion, to do this, in fact, only one word is needed, which is "just".Although he has not yet set foot on the ground of Yingtian, based on years of encounters and experiences, he knows that what he encounters will be the greatest challenge in his life.

He has full confidence in his "just". In his opinion, the reason why the world is so riddled with holes is that the word "just" is missing. "When I was in the high position of the public minister, I was completely ambiguous and looked after him. I followed the rules and kept the officials for a day."Only by sticking to the tactic of "rigid" and "although there are tens of thousands of people, I will go", then we will be able to turn the tide and help the building to collapse.Perseverance solves all problems because the truth is revealed. Hai Rui's political orientation should be extreme conservatism, but from another perspective, it can also be called extreme radicalism.In the past two hundred years, the population has increased several times, and many changes have taken place in the structure and scale of society, politics, and economy. up rules.And Hai Rui's principle is to "change" all new rules, sweep them all, and leave nothing behind.

In Hai Rui's body, in the bodies of Chinese intellectuals of all ages, the blood of radicalism has always been surging.They always believe that there is such an ultimate truth that can explain the entire universe and solve all problems.If you find this truth, stick to it, and cut it hard, you can shatter an old world and exchange it for a bright new one.Therefore, when they do things, they are always so self-righteous, always so fierce and absolute, always so unrelenting, and always so lacking in constructive space. And their failures are always fragile.Wang Anshi is like this, Hai Rui is like this, and so is Kang Youwei.

On July 22nd of the third year of Longqing (1569 A.D.), Hai Rui entered the governor's office with his bicycle.Thirty-six articles of the "Governor's Treaty" were promulgated on the same day, which stipulated in detail all aspects of Yingtianfu's political life. The details, trivial, strict and rigid were exactly the same as Zhu Yuanzhang's "Emperor Ming Zu Xun".The main points of these thirty-six items are: When the governor goes on tour, it is forbidden to pick up and see off everywhere, and it is forbidden to decorate hospitality houses. Clearly stipulate what kind of clothes officials at all levels should wear when meeting the governor. Eating and drinking is prohibited, and dietary standards are formulated.When the governor stayed in various prefectures and counties, the food standard provided by the local officials was two silver coins per day. Chicken, fish, and meat could be supplied, but geese and wine could not be supplied. It is forbidden for the common people to wear exotic clothes. Prohibition of indecent fees, prohibition of soliciting entrustments, prohibition of giving gifts to past officials, prohibition of past officials taking watchmen, prohibition of sending money and food to cover intrusions, prohibition of false public affairs for personal gain, prohibition of sending harsh servants... There are so many, thirty-six prohibitions.After other officials take office, they will also formulate some high-sounding rules and regulations, but most of them are for show.Du Hairui's regulations, when written on paper, are equivalent to being implemented.As soon as the paper was issued, the political atmosphere in the entire Yingtian area changed.The cars and houses of officials at all levels were rearranged according to the regulations, the reception expenses were greatly reduced, and the feasting and drinking stopped immediately.Administrative expenses have been greatly reduced, and the burden on farmers has been reduced.For a time, people praised "Hai Qingtian" endlessly. Hai Rui's second act after taking office was to build water conservancy projects to solve the flood problem of Wusong River and Baimao Pond for many years.As now, the biggest challenge in carrying out construction is funding.The application went up, but the imperial court did not approve it for a long time, and when it was approved, the appropriation was extremely limited.This is also the reason why this project has been proposed every year, but has never been started.Hai Rui went back and forth to the central government, various ministries, and neighboring areas to establish projects, policies, and support.Borrowing from east to west, finally made up for the funding gap.Hai Rui led his subordinates to spend the whole day on the construction site, solving problems on the spot. Hai Rui deserves to be Hai Rui.A large-scale project that everyone was skeptical of at the beginning was quickly succeeded under his nail spirit, and the benefits were very obvious. The land that was dredged out housed 130,000 disaster victims.When the news reached the public, the court specially commended him.Those who were going to watch Hai Rui's excitement also had to be convinced.