Chapter 73: Family Matters, State Matters, and Matters of the World

Emperor Hongzhi was surprised. It should have been implemented now. Wasn’t that Fang Jifan’s idea? Why did he say it wasn’t good at this point?

Even Liu Jian and Li Dongyang frowned, eager to hear his brilliant reasoning.

Fang Jifan smiled. “If we rush the Bureaucratization of Native Chieftains, the native prefectures in Yunnan-Guizhou will surely rebel again. The revolt will be even bigger then.

Has Your Majesty considered? For thousands of years, the native people relied on the chieftains. Those hereditary chieftains have total power in their villages. Even if You implement Bureaucratization and give benefits to native people, will they truly trust the imperial court?

With a nudge from the chieftains, they will still rebel.”

Emperor Hongzhi frowned and nodded thoughtfully. “That makes a lot of sense.”

“So…” Fang Jifan’s eyes lit up with slyness, and he smirked. “Before Bureaucratization, we must hide the news. Meanwhile, after crushing the rebellion, the first step is to tell native people everywhere. Say this: the troops are getting ready to leave, but moving so much military grain is tough. His Majesty shows extra kindness and will share the leftover grain with native people. Any native can come to the garrison camps just by showing their identity. Each person gets 20 jin of grain and one jin of salt.”

Fang Jifan added. “Then, if native people come, the garrisons must not cheat or hold back. Give grain and salt to every last one who shows up…”

“After a few months, His Majesty issues another Imperial Decree. Say this: we heard native folks got grain and salt and were happy about it. His Majesty felt great joy and, knowing they suffer, gives out more grain…”

“Chieftains will think the court’s forces are about to leave. They won’t dare meddle since it’s His Majesty’s order. After all, the revolt was just put down. Many chieftains still feel scared and want the imperial army gone fast. As for native people getting grain and salt, why block something good? So they won’t get in the way.”

Fang Jifan grinned at this point. “Next, we can announce Bureaucratization. His Majesty’s decree says this: we feel for the native people’s pain. We also heard chieftains own vast lands, and like His Majesty, they treat their people like their own kids. His Majesty has talked to chieftains. He will take their lands and give them to native people. His Majesty highly commends the chieftains for making this sacrifice. Naturally, he will reward them with better titles and ranks. But those new jobs are for mobile officials. They must leave the native zones and settle elsewhere. Those chieftains and native officers will be caught off guard. They will protest… But what good will that do?”

“By giving out grain each time, His Majesty showers the native people with imperial grace. Most key is this: it makes native people truly believe His Majesty keeps his word. He says give grain, he gives it. He says give salt, he gives it—no strings attached. So they will trust that when His Majesty pledges land to them, he will do it exactly as promised. Without skimping.”

“At that time, that bunch of chieftains—how can they fight the imperial troops? How can they defy the Imperial Decree? Can they stir up native people to fight against the emperor handing them land? Your Majesty, this way brings lasting peace. With these steps, Bureaucratization will be a success.”

That fellow… was quite sneaky.

Especially by first giving out grain and salt, using tiny favors to win trust—it was cleverly done.

Liu Jian and the other two looked thoughtful. They seemed to weigh if this method of Bureaucratization was right.

After all, this was a big national policy for Southwest. Any slip-up could end in disaster.

Emperor Hongzhi seemed even more anxious now. He put his hands behind his back and stayed silent, thinking.

After a long pause, Emperor Hongzhi looked at Liu Jian. “Minister Liu, what do you think?”

Liu Jian was forming words in his mind and about to speak when someone said. “I think this is the best plan.”

Everyone turned to see who spoke. It was Zhu Houzhao.

“…” Emperor Hongzhi felt a bit angry.

The grown-ups were talking—what business did a little kid have here? This was state policy. He hadn’t even read much, yet he dared speak so boldly.

Of course, Emperor Hongzhi was grumpy mostly because his son had no firm views. He was the Crown Prince, a royal heir. He had no mind of his own. Just because he was close to Fang Jifan, he came to join in. Affairs of state weren’t a game.

Seeing Imperial Father’s face turn dark, Zhu Houzhao fretted. Lately, Imperial Father hadn’t shown him many kind looks. He had just said what he felt. But he displeased Imperial Father, so he quickly pretended to be hurt, making himself seem harmless, with an innocent look in his eyes.

Fang Jifan thought, grinning inside—for practice as an actor, it was a shame the Crown Prince didn’t go into showbiz.

Emperor Hongzhi said coldly. “Well, does my son have any other bright ideas?”

The words clearly had a bite. Today was meant to rein in Fang Jifan. Yet Fang Jifan had gone beyond his expectations, making Emperor Hongzhi like him even more.

But with the whip raised high, not swinging it felt awkward. Fine, now it was you—not shaping up the other kid? Then he had to handle his own son.

Zhu Houzhao already sensed doom. He spoke fast. “Your Son and Servant believes… Bureaucratization will surely work. Why? Because whether native people or common folk, whoever fills their bellies, gives them enough food to live on—that’s what matters most to them.

Chieftains rule native people by authority alone. They seem united and solid. But common people and native folks just crave food and warmth. Whoever feeds them and keeps them warm shows the greatest kindness. So Your Son and Servant is sure that Fang Jifan’s Bureaucratization—if the court puts it into practice—will win native people’s loyalty. That little group of chieftains? Deal with them. If they don’t play nice, one Imperial Decree, one Imperial Commissioner, a few guards can lock them up as prisoners. Imperial Father, everyday folks see things differently than we do.”

“…”

All at once, the Warm Pavilion went silent.

Emperor Hongzhi, worried sick, and the three Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat all looked amazed.

If someone else had said this, it might be plain. But how could it come from the Crown Prince? That was shocking.

Even Emperor Hongzhi couldn’t picture it. His son, usually sharp but used to cushy life, would speak so.

And the argument really held up.

But native people were just like regular folk. Most would be grateful if fed and clothed. What is a peaceful age but where all have food to eat and clothes to wear?

Emperor Hongzhi knew this. The ministers in the Grand Secretariat should too.

But… why did the Crown Prince catch on?

Zhu Houzhao’s speech lifted Emperor Hongzhi from his gloom over Guizhou. He broke into a joyful smile and felt deeply at ease.

The crisis in Guizhou was bad. But it didn’t shake the nation’s roots. The Crown Prince was the Heir Apparent, the future of the Great Ming Dynasty. With such insight, and by caring for people’s pains—this was truly comforting.

But then, Emperor Hongzhi’s heart sank. Something felt off… Did Fang Jifan teach these words to Zhu Houzhao?

He pretended not to care. “Was someone coaching you to say that?”