The group wasted no time, deliberating the entire day.
After compiling the situation across various prefectures and counties, the forcefully purchased "touqian" (投献) fields were redeemed by the government. Those that could be returned were returned, leaving approximately 200,000 mu of land for which original owners could no longer be found. An additional 100,000 mu had been seized by powerful clans after their families became extinct. The four provinces' imperial estates totaled 800,000 mu, over a hundred times larger than initially. Most of this expansion came from purchased "touqian" fields without traceable owners, vast tracts of undeveloped land granted for reclamation, and occupied idle land. In total, this amounted to over 1.1 million mu, with the imperial estates forming the bulk. Compared to the 900,000 "qinu" (契奴) across the four provinces, this land was insufficient. However, numerous uncultivated wastelands in various regions existed, and solutions could eventually be found.
When the idea of utilizing the imperial estates first arose, the officials hesitated. However, recalling a recent imperial decree ordering all feudal lords to clear their "touqian" fields, they inferred that Zhu Mo had likely coordinated with the Emperor. Thus, no longer fearful, they roughly formulated a strategy and decided to first allocate the imperial estate lands.
The first batch of 160,000 "qinu," with 130,000 settled near the imperial estates in various regions, each received 10 taels of silver and 2 mu of land. For the time being, they were to cultivate this land, with all harvests belonging to the "qinu." Simultaneously, they were to work on imperial fields for the estates, with profits split between the two. After all, the numerous residents of the princely manors also needed to eat, and the imperial reform was the final step, not yet opportune.
The 30,000 individuals already participating in the "yiyong" (义勇, volunteer forces), comprising 20,000 active members and 10,000 reserves, were settled in Jinshan Wei and Taizhou Wei. After the government redeemed the "touqian" fields under gentry ownership that were without owners, one mu was allocated per person. They then commenced reclamation according to the "yiyong" organization.
All allocated land was exempted from taxes for five years. Those participating in the garrison reclamation corps would be permanently tax-exempt.
This was because the two regions, Taizhou and Jinshan, where the garrison reclamation corps were located, originally had little arable land. Although the garrison system had decayed, much of the land had been spontaneously occupied by commoners over decades. These claims were too complex to untangle, making it impossible to reclaim them. Fortunately, these coastal areas had suffered Japanese pirate raids for twenty years, and in the twenty-ninth year of Jiajing, maritime trade was prohibited, leading to a significant population decrease. Coupled with the "touqian" fields purchased by the gentry, enough land was eventually made available for the "yiyong."
The officials deduced from various details that, in general, the plan was sound. As long as the foreign trade in silk, tea, and porcelain proceeded smoothly, even redemption fees totaling one to two million mu could be gradually raised, even if it meant staggered payments. Moreover, these redemption fees would not be at full value, as the original transactions of "touqian" purchases were inherently unjust and would be subject to discounts.
Now, the only issue remained:
How would the Emperor view the submitted report?
After all, he was the head of the imperial family. If he disagreed, all efforts would be in vain.
Zhu Mo and Zhang Juzheng held another lengthy private discussion. Working together, they meticulously drafted a memorial regarding the reform of imperial estates, titled "Memorial on Imperial Estates Sharing Benefits with the People."
The general gist was that in the future, feudal lords would focus their energy on management, receiving more for more work and less for less work, and nothing for no work. The personnel within the princely manors would also not be idle; they would be assigned to work on imperial fields, with only essential staff retained. These matters were highly sensitive, and any misstep could anger Emperor Jiajing. Throughout the night, both men felt as if they had lost a considerable amount of hair.
Zhu Mo estimated that this memorial might be half-rejected, but as long as the first batch of "qinu" was settled, they would proceed. After all, there were over 800,000 more to go. Leaving them without a place to go would inevitably lead to unrest. However, how could they not abolish the "jiading buqu" (家丁部曲, household retainers and troops) tied to indentured servitude? Within ten years, the Great Ming would become a "jiading" dynasty, rendering the government a mere facade. Other issues could only be addressed once the time was ripe for further adjustments.
The essence of this memorial was to help the Zhu family's imperial relatives shed the animosity of the populace. Only in this way could they truly prosper.
Because, if others didn't know, how could Zhu Mo not know?
The later Prince of Fu, who occupied half of Henan's land, was boiled by the rebel army! And how many of the million imperial relatives remained by the early Qing dynasty? Clearly, as long as this scoundrel Jiajing could think clearly, he should recognize this as a good approach.
He reread it several times, utterly devoid of further ideas, and the "dog system" offered no solutions. He could only sign, and Zhang Juzheng, though trembling with apprehension, finally appended his signature, considering this the only viable path.
It should be known, if he could deceive others, how could he deceive Zhu Mo?
Zhang Juzheng had contemplated this matter for over twenty years. Clearing the "touqian" and releasing taxable and ownerless land was meant to be the greatest undertaking of his life. Now that Zhu Mo was working with him, what was there to be unwilling about? In fact, even the reform of imperial estates was something Zhang Juzheng had considered but dared not act upon. Presenting it all at once made him slightly unaccustomed, and thus, somewhat flustered.
As for the battle reports to the court,
Their opinions were identical:
There was simply no need to report.
Because the battle was not yet over!
The Yan family could do as they pleased.
...
With the major matters concluded,
From the following day,
Zhu Mo and Zhang Juzheng joined hands once more, reiterating the previously established four decrees. Then began the grand, large-scale migration.
The two had expected this task to be difficult, but to their surprise—
The "qinu" were exceedingly well-behaved. With the cooperation of the 20,000 "yiyong," the entire migration proceeded very smoothly. Local prefectures, counties, and townships, following the newly compiled household registers, distributed the land to the "qinu" with the assistance of the "yiyong." Upon reaching their allocated land, the "qinu" produced three to five taels of silver and hastily constructed makeshift shelters on scattered village wastelands.
Zhu Mo personally visited several settlement points in the Jinqu and Jiangyou regions and found the situation to be extraordinarily smooth. The reason for this was simple—
The "qinu" had never possessed anything. At this moment, being able to settle down and have their own small space, who wouldn't be excited?
...
Meanwhile,
In the capital,
The atmosphere was starkly different.
Everyone knew that Japanese pirates could land at any moment, and Zheng Jian and Mang Yinglong could expand the war at any time. However, what they awaited with uneasy anticipation turned out to be completely beyond their imagination—
The supposedly incredibly formidable Japanese pirates were driven back into the sea less than two days after landing!
And Mang Yinglong, hailed as heavenly soldiers and generals, made no move. Zheng Jian, having dispatched a large army, retreated entirely before even reaching Zhancheng...
However,
To say that the Japanese pirates were finished would not be entirely accurate, as they still had four to five thousand people holed up in Zhoushan!
Therefore,
This battle was truly too bizarre. This grand spectacle was incredibly perplexing, leaving many utterly clueless as to what had transpired.
This sentiment was not limited to the officials; even various foreign powers were bewildered. From Japan and Korea to Annam in the south, Burma in the west, and Tumote Chuan in the north, the entire continent was confused by this inexplicable campaign.