The next day, during the court session, Emperor Wanli made several pronouncements, requiring the ministers to grasp the spirit of the assembly. He explicitly stated that to cope with future calamities, the Great Ming dynasty had no... no eternal, unchanging laws!
"I have decided to reinstate all of Zhang Juzheng's reform measures! From now on, everyone must attach importance to the implementation of the Single Whip Law, and no one shall intentionally neglect it or openly oppose these initiatives!"
Emperor Wanli's declaration shocked all the ministers.
Was he trying to vindicate Zhang Juzheng? Had he taken the wrong medicine?
However, having experienced several life-or-death crises, Emperor Wanli's character had matured fiercely. Upon learning that Emperor Jiajing had treated him as a mere tool, the last string in his heart snapped. At this moment, he suddenly felt that Zhang Juzheng wasn't so "bad" after all.
Therefore, if he were to save the Great Ming, he had to seek opportunities for change. Zhang Juzheng's reform bills were readily available and could be re-enacted directly, preventing inaction at a critical juncture of reform.
Emperor Wanli deeply understood that in the face of the great crisis that was about to unfold, his past trivial matters with Zhang Juzheng were insignificant. Should he stubbornly abandon the means of salvation, or discard his pride for a moment to earn the reputation of a sage ruler for eternity? The choice was clear.
Furthermore, there was another important measure. After a night of long discussion with Old Zhang yesterday, Emperor Wanli conceived a decision that went against ancestral traditions!
Reducing the power of the feudal lords!
Of course, this reduction was not about shrinking their fiefs, but about cutting the salaries of the imperial clan members! As for how much to cut, Emperor Wanli waved his hand. This was a time of life and death; why ask how much to cut? If you're going to cut, cut it all!
Great Ming Industrial Stock Company officially brought the layoff proposal to the table!
"I am about to be killed, and I still care about those imperial clan members? When I die, none of them will fare well! If this continues, I fear the Great Ming will be finished sooner or later!"
"Save this money and invest it in useful places... What, you ask where I will invest it? I will tell you immediately!"
"Except for Fengyang, all other imperial clan members will have the restrictions of ancestral laws removed, and they can engage in the professions of the four classes. All other supplies of grain, money, and provisions will be completely cut off!"
"Also, I have heard that the calamity of land ownership cannot be ignored. The wealthy possess vast tracts of land, enjoying the benefits of annexation, without needing any of the state's meager resources; the poor, though without a place to stand, still bear the same tax burden! Is this true?"
In the past, Emperor Wanli did not concern himself with affairs, but now that he had begun to manage them, many matters that had been suppressed surfaced.
If the large landowners were eliminated, it would inevitably provoke strong resistance from this class. Historically, the landlord class had always been a powerful force, especially in their opposition to imperial power, exhibiting remarkable unity.
However, Emperor Wanli now had an invincible backer by his side. Do you understand?
No matter what demons or ghosts these landlords of the fields found to oppose the court, it would be useless. With a great helper, he feared nothing. Coupled with his new subordinate, Hu Long, a Yuan Shen master whose strength should not be underestimated, and with the Jing Zhen Sword in hand, he could spar with anyone he met!
As for cultivation matters, although Old Zhang said Emperor Wanli's innate talent was very poor, only capable of becoming a martial arts master and not reaching the realm of immortals, becoming a martial arts master was still good. Emperor Wanli had ultimately obtained some cultivation techniques, and with the help of Old Zhang, a flying expert, he entered the Xing Huo realm in one night.
Upon entering Xing Huo, all illnesses vanished. The body's vital fire was stimulated, driving the metal element's energy to circulate throughout the body. Instantly, his back and legs felt no pain, and he could run five laps around the Forbidden City in one breath. Emperor Wanli felt excellent.
"Do not speak carelessly when you go out. I am watching you!"
The officials felt a chill run down their spines, and they knew in their hearts that the Great Ming was about to change.
Now that Shuntian had experienced two great disturbances consecutively, Emperor Wanli had evolved from an "otaku" to a "tyrant" who cut through Gordian knots. If the civil official group wanted to speak up for the large landowners now, they would inevitably be beaten into prison by Emperor Wanli.
Another day, His Majesty would host a banquet, and when asked which restaurant was booked, the answer would be: the Imperial Guard's Northern Bureau of Investigation Prison!
The three Grand Secretaries then emerged. Old Liu and Old Xu, who had become staunch imperial loyalists, immediately jumped up: "Cut! Well done cutting!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Alas, there was no Eunuch Party in this era, so the civil official group could only engage in internal strife.
And it was still seven years before the ancestor of the Donglin Party, Gu Xiancheng, would take over the "Donglin Academy" left behind by the Song Dynasty.
As for the matter of reducing the power of the feudal lords, Emperor Wanli's first target was his own younger brother, "Prince Lu"!
Forty thousand qing of estates were enough for him to squander his entire life. In the past, Emperor Wanli had indulged his brother without limit, to the point of arrogance. He had even let Prince Lu supervise the state affairs and had forced the Ministry of Revenue to provide three hundred thousand taels of gold.
The budget for the construction of Prince Lu's mansion was six hundred and seventy-seven thousand eight hundred taels of silver. The stone materials were all quarried from the deep mountains and old forests of Huguang and Sichuan, transported to Henan from a thousand miles away, employing numerous laborers and exhausting all means of extravagance!
Therefore, when the resentful ministers heard that Emperor Wanli intended to make an example of Prince Lu, they were all shocked and silent. Finally, they unanimously praised His Majesty's wisdom.
This was truly a case of righteousness over kinship!
"Prince Lu is your own brother..."
"I have already explained the reason. In the past, I was ignorant and acted recklessly. Now that I wish to atone, how can I not cut flesh from myself? The world is in turmoil, and it is in my reign! The imperial family is the most heartless! You can call me a tyrant, but I do not wish to be a deposed ruler!"
Emperor Wanli said this, but his thoughts were even more far-reaching.
This time, he had to act ruthlessly, not only for himself but also for the Great Ming. There were many who coveted the throne. His conversation with Old Zhang last night made him suddenly realize that there were far more than just a few people in this world who could be utilized by the "Inner Rivers and Mountains"!
Korea, Japan, Tatars... Even Jianzhou could produce a Heavenly Heart master like Nurhaci for focused cultivation. Then what about the feudal lords within the Great Ming?
Would they, like his own sons, be misled and utilized, or would they become pawns for others?
The most crucial reason why Emperor Wanli took such drastic measures was this: the changes in the "Inner Rivers and Mountains" had truly made him an "孤家寡人" (a solitary ruler). Even his imperial brothers had become chess pieces used by others, and his own mother was an incarnation of Guanyin!
Outsiders like Ji Xiang and Old Zhang were more trustworthy, while the imperial brothers had already become enemies of each other! And they were enemies that he had to confront!
Subsequently, Emperor Wanli issued an imperial decree, summoning Zhao Shizhen, Matteo Ricci, and Duo Sima.
Matteo Ricci brought those Western items, greatly astonishing the ministers. The maps, clocks, and other products made the envoys exclaim in wonder.
Zhao Shizhen and Duo Sima presented the "Artifact Compendium," detailing the essentials of firearms, along with Ji Xiang's sketches, all of which were presented, greatly impressing the Emperor and the Grand Secretaries.
Although they couldn't understand it, they were awestruck.
Wanli requested a list from Zhao Shizhen. Upon receiving the small slip of paper and reading the names written on it, along with brief annotations, Emperor Wanli had a clear understanding.
However, after wandering through the celestial realms for a thousand years and witnessing many events of the Great Ming, could it truly be like prophecy, pinpointing the roles and strengths of these individuals?
This doubt also puzzled Old Zhang, but soon, Matteo Ricci's "testimony" dispelled their concerns.
"Daoist Master Ji told me that he had seen my 'Elements of Geometry' in a distant place, and at that time, my books had only just completed the first volume..."
This confession completely dispelled the doubts of Old Zhang and Emperor Wanli.
At the same time, the presentation of the terrestrial globe made the expressions of all the ministers extremely serious. Emperor Wanli rotated the globe, pointing here and there:
"Look at how many kings can be utilized in this world. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of countries in the world!"
"And the finances I am cutting will all be invested in the research and development of new technologies. We must adopt Western techniques to enhance our Chinese techniques!"
Furthermore, Emperor Wanli harbored an even grander ambition.
To write a novel that would be published worldwide. Wouldn't the collected aspirations be incredibly powerful?
The vague outline of this book appeared in Emperor Wanli's mind!