amaotonovel Chapter 287 Old Zhu: We envy the Marshal for having such a good son-in-law
Chapter 287 Old Zhu: We envy the Marshal for having such a good son-in-law
After all, the household registration system was the foundation of a dynasty.
If we compare a dynasty to a tree, then the household registration system is the root of that tree. If the root has a problem, the tree cannot grow well.
Emperor Zhu naturally understood the unspoken meaning behind Li Shanchang's words.
The implementation or abolition of a system is never something that can be accomplished simply by saying one thing and meaning another.
Especially something like the household registration system, which touches upon the very foundation of the imperial court, cannot be changed so easily.
Because it involves not just one prefecture or county, but the entire Ming Dynasty, involving a chaotic mix of household registration categories such as military households, artisan households, medical households, salt-making households, and agricultural households, the first issue to change all these household registrations to civilian households is land.
After all, some places have a large population and little land, while others have a small population and a large land. Places with a small population and a large land are better off, but places with a large population and a small land involve the question of whether to relocate people.
The relocation of people also involves a whole host of issues, such as where to move to, food, clothing, shelter, transportation along the way, accommodation, land and farming tools, seeds and oxen, and living with the original inhabitants.
The implications are far-reaching?
This isn't just a matter of far-reaching implications; it's a matter of affecting everything from the smallest thing!
What's even more critical is that changing the household registration system involves not just one prefecture or county, but nearly a thousand prefectures and counties across the country!
However, the household registration system cannot be left unchanged.
After all, the drawbacks of the household registration system are obvious. If the household registration system is not completely reformed, various drawbacks will become more and more serious over time, and even the various plans formulated by the Secretariat and the Six Ministries will be affected.
After a long silence, Emperor Zhu gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Change it! We'll discuss it properly after the New Year, and then try it out in Shandong first."
"At that time, we won't distinguish between this household and that household anymore. They will all be ordinary households. We will have Wang Guangyang allocate land to them, and then we will take over the salt fields in Hongzhou to the Salt Administration. We will then recruit people to boil salt through employment."
"Damn it, if that bastard can make a name for himself in Ningyang County, we refuse to believe that Wang Guangyang can't do something great in Shandong!"
Upon hearing Emperor Zhu's words, Li Shanchang breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to Emperor Zhu, saying, "Your Majesty is wise!"
Emperor Zhu nodded and said, "We'll have to trouble Brother Shanchang to come up with a plan for us then."
As Emperor Zhu finished speaking, Li Shanchang suddenly felt a strange pang of sadness.
In the end, it was all for naught.
After seeing Li Shanchang off and returning to Kunning Palace, Emperor Zhu couldn't help but say to Empress Ma, "I suddenly feel a little envious of the General."
The Emperor Zhu's words seemed out of place, and Empress Ma was slightly taken aback, asking, "What's wrong?"
Emperor Zhu sighed and said, "We envy the Marshal for having such a good son-in-law—sister, tell me, how did we share the Marshal's burdens back then? And look at us now, how that scoundrel makes us so anxious and upset? Sigh, we're both sons-in-law, how come the difference is so great?"
……
While Emperor Zhu and Li Shanchang were racking their brains over the two memorials from Magistrate Yang, Magistrate Yang was at Chang Yuchun's house listening to Chang Yuchun's nagging.
"I originally thought that they could protect the Empress and the Crown Prince when they went to Ningyang, which would be considered as some progress."
"But those two, they actually had the audacity to go to the Qinhuai River!"
"Now everyone knows that my son, Chang Yuchun, was only twelve or thirteen years old when he went to the Qinhuai River to drink and carouse."
"You're talking about my old face..."
Chang Yuchun sighed heavily and said, "Alas!"
Magistrate Yang could somewhat understand Chang Yuchun's feelings.
How old are these two unfortunate kids?
Chang Mao was thirteen years old, and Chang Sheng was twelve years old.
Even though these two have gradually begun to get involved in leading troops and even can lead troops to escort Empress Ma and Zhu Biao to Ningyang County, it still cannot change the fact that they are only twelve or thirteen years old.
So, how could two mischievous twelve or thirteen-year-old kids not get a beating just because they heard others talk about how amazing the pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River were?
Even in later generations, if a twelve or thirteen-year-old brat keeps asking to go to Honglangman and sneaks off to experience it when the adults aren't looking, he'll probably get a beating in the end, right?
Thinking of this, Magistrate Yang couldn't help but shake his head slightly. Then he took out the two small medicine bottles that Chen Zhong had given him from his pocket and waved them at Chang Yuchun: "These are medicines for bruises and sprains that His Highness the Crown Prince sent through Chen Zhong. I'll take them to Mao-ge and Sheng-ge first."
Chang Yuchun was about to nod when he suddenly sensed something was wrong. He looked at Magistrate Yang with suspicion and asked, "Something's not right, kid. Something's up."
Magistrate Yang was startled, but Chang Yuchun said to himself, "The news of their beating didn't just spread today. His Highness the Crown Prince would have given them medicine long ago if he wanted to, and there's no need for you to go through his hands."
"Hmm, the Crown Prince wants you to curry favor with those two idiots, and the only possible use for them recently is your upcoming wedding—so, you're planning to have them as your best men?"
Chang Yuchun's face grew darker and darker as he spoke: "Well, originally they should have been the bride's family, but now they're inexplicably being asked to be your bridesmaids and get beaten up?"
Magistrate Yang's face stiffened, then he chuckled awkwardly and said, "Nephew...nephew just couldn't find anyone else."
Chang Yuchun's face grew darker and darker, and he even wanted to grab Magistrate Yang and ask him, "Why can't you find anyone else but my two sons to cause you trouble?"
But then, on second thought, Chang Yuchun suddenly chuckled inexplicably and said, "Forget it, those two rascals caused you a lot of trouble back in Ningyang County, so it's only right that they act as your best man now. However..."
Chang Yuchun suddenly changed the subject and said, "You've married two princesses, but having just the two of them as your best men is still a bit lacking."
"Here's what we'll do. I'll personally go to Xu Da, that old scoundrel, and Tang He and Li Shanchang's houses to see if any of them have any suitable people. I'll call them over for you. You just need to entertain them well."
Magistrate Yang immediately became wary.
If Chang Yuchun captured Xu Da and Tang He's sons to be his bridesmaids, it's possible that this charcoal-headed man didn't want only his own son to get beaten up, so he wanted to drag Xu Da and Tang He's sons into it as well.
But if Li Shanchang is involved... is this charcoal-faced guy up to something?
Just as Magistrate Yang was lost in thought, Chang Yuchun continued, "I helped you this time, but you have to help me back when your sister gets married. You can't be a bridesmaid for His Highness the Crown Prince, understand?"
Magistrate Yang stared blankly at Chang Yuchun.
Good news, but it's not directed at me.
Bad news, this charcoal-faced man is after my brother-in-law!
Then, Magistrate Yang nodded without hesitation and agreed: "Uncle Chang, rest assured, I will definitely treat His Highness the Crown Prince well as a member of the maternal family!"