The Ming emperors after the Renwu Dynasty were most powerful when they reigned for more than ten years.
When he completely took over all the power of the Ming Emperor, he also had the ability to control and use these powers.
But the time when things are done most efficiently and when orders are most efficient is most likely in the few years after he takes the throne.
The Emperor is still alive, but has completely delegated power, but still provides guidance and consultation.
The most senior ministers of the Emperor's generation also chose to retire directly according to the wishes of the two generations of emperors, or to become consultants after decentralization, and then gradually left the court.
The ministers approved by the new emperor are being promoted rapidly.
The new generation of ministers must "submit themselves" to the new emperor before they can be promoted to the highest ministerial rank.
In the past dynasties, princes and ministers usually accepted the secret submission of ministers when the prince coveted the throne, so that they could work hard to obtain the throne and serve as heroes.
Princes after the Jinwu Dynasty of the Great Ming Dynasty would only accept the public surrender of the new generation of courtiers after they officially ascended the throne as princes.
The method of effectiveness is very simple. It depends on whether these ministers can serve the new emperor, whether they can handle affairs, and whether they are active or not.
Do you deal with errands perfunctorily, or do you proactively offer suggestions and suggestions, solve difficulties and get things done?
At this time, even if some of the new emperor's orders are contrary to the interest groups represented by certain ministers, the ministers usually will not directly conflict with the emperor, but choose to tolerate it for a few years before talking.
After getting along with the new emperor for a few years and getting to know each other, they can then find ways to gain benefits elsewhere.
After the new emperor takes control of the situation, he will also indulge his trusted ministers a little to seek their own interests.
If you want a horse to run, you have to let it eat eggs and beans.
If you resist the new emperor's orders at this time, the new emperor may think that this means that he does not recognize himself from the bottom of his heart, or even threatens himself.
I have just succeeded to the throne and my father is still here. Why don’t you show me power? If my father is gone, why don’t you curse every day?
Then such ministers may be relegated to another register, and there is a high probability that they will never have the chance to be promoted again in this life, and have no chance to enter the world's top power group.
Therefore, at this time, the new emperor can usually, or will deliberately, directly issue some special orders to solve special problems without going through cabinet or imperial meeting discussions, which is also to verify his authority.
After Zhu Jianyan issued these orders, the ministers in the relevant departments had mixed emotions.
The scope of influence of these orders is too large, and the difficulty of executing them must be very high.
However, it was not impossible, and the emperor also gave a sufficient buffer period, up to ten years.
Moreover, this policy is not a sudden decree, but the continued strengthening of a long-standing policy.
The policy of restricting the use of slaves has been continuously strengthened since the Renwu Dynasty.
Starting from Emperor Shizu, each generation of emperors would make a fuss about slaves and further restrict the use and circulation of slaves.
The emperors of each generation are not particularly radical. No one wants to get it right in one step. They all use dull knives to cut their flesh.
The emperors of the Five Dynasties persisted in this way for more than a hundred years.
The first is to prohibit the Ming Dynasty from being slaves.
The second step is to implement a slave registration system to completely eliminate any form of invisibility.
Then limit the groups of available slaves.
Next, limit the number of slaves held by different status classes.
When the Supreme Emperor Zhu Zhongliang came to power, he further tightened the slave trade policy.
The emperor's grandson Zhu Jingyuan banned the export of slaves from the Mo tribe, and also proposed a solution to completely abolish slavery, return to the hometown in rich clothes, and return to the ancestors.
Now, in Zhu Jianyan's generation, we have reached a very critical node.
Zhu Jianyan wanted to completely ban slaves in the Ming Dynasty.
The reason for making this decision at this time is actually very simple.
Now the Ming Dynasty lacks population, and the newly expanded lands lack immigrants.
There are at least 20 million local slaves in the Ming Dynasty.
These are all well-trained docile people, and they are definitely easier to manage than newly recruited natives.
However, the strategy is still to make small gains, still leaving enough room, and there is no complete and unconditional abolition of slavery.
It also allowed vassal states to continue to hold slaves, and also allowed them to immigrate to specific vassal states with their slaves.
Anyway, the purpose is to immigrate. The master of the slave takes the slave to immigrate himself, so the court actually has less worries.
Those who are willing to hand over their slaves can also use the method of redemption by the court, and immigrate to the most confirmed places to work as slave workers, slave soldiers, wives and concubines.
This itself is a continuation of long-term policies and meets current political needs.
Even if the monarch and his ministers already get along well with each other, they will only have a little quarrel for a while at most.
I accepted it in exchange for better compensation conditions.
Now that the new emperor has been on the throne for less than two years, the ministers in the DPRK and China are changing rapidly.
There is no need to fight for the conditions, you can only directly comply with them.
Old people who are familiar with history can't help but sigh in their hearts that the policy direction of the Ming Emperor has always been highly consistent.
This is true when it comes to restraining slaves.
And it can be expected that a subsequent successor who will almost default will definitely continue to restrict the application of slaves.
Because he had already proposed the direct abolition of slavery.
Many ministers understand that the slave trade and slave labor have no future at all, and they should continue to develop normal industry.
Aviation and shipbuilding should both be good directions.
The current two generations of emperors support it, and they almost default to the next generation of successors, who support it even more strongly.
He promoted the opening up of the private shipbuilding industry, presided over the design of the new generation of warships, and established the Aviation Industry Association.
This is the long-term policy support direction in the future.
There is no in-depth communication between the ministers of North Korea and China, because the situation between North Korea and China is still relatively chaotic, and the factions and interests are not yet clear.
The ministers and bachelors silently observed their colleagues, and after confirming that no one took the initiative to oppose or question, they made the same decision in their hearts, and then acted in a tacit understanding.
Meetings began within each yamen. The emperor Zhu Jianyan did not hold an imperial meeting, but the departments had to hold meetings.
The news and trends must be released, and officials at all levels must be allowed to communicate internally and externally.
In the meeting room of the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites, Huang Yue, the Minister of Rites, issued the emperor's order. After a brief introduction, he finally said:
"Your Majesty has made up his mind. Of course, the views of me and all the old gentlemen are completely consistent with your Majesty's.
“So, this matter must be implemented. Please go back and remind and warn all parties, don’t take any chances.
"Of course, you can also tell your relatives, friends and old friends, so that everyone does not need to worry too much. The court will provide relatively reasonable compensation, and the redemption price will be as reasonable as possible.
“However, it is impossible to reach the market price and the price they spent, otherwise it would not be a redemption, but a purchase.
"If you really can't accept it, you can arrange for the family nephews to move to the feudal country with their slaves, or you can simply immigrate at home.
"Finally, I reiterate that this is the unanimous decision of the Ming Dynasty court, and the resolution itself cannot be changed."
All officials from the Ministry of Rites agreed honestly, and no one stood up to contradict or question Huang Yue.
Just someone asked for some details, someone confirmed the authenticity of the news, and inquired about the strength of the policy.
Huang Yue rarely kept a serious expression and gave the most serious answers one after another.
Huang Yue's attitude made the officials of the Ministry of Rites realize the seriousness of this matter, and they could only accept it silently.
This is something that the central court has decided. If you cannot accept it, you can only resign or rebel.
Huang Yue was ten years younger than the Supreme Emperor. He had just turned fifty-five when the Supreme Emperor abdicated, and was not yet the age for retirement.
I am fifty-seven years old this year, but my body is still very strong, and I have basically determined that I will continue to use it.
Once ministers of this age are retained at this time, they can often serve for many years beyond their term.
I will continue to preside over the work of the Ceremony Department for a long time in the future, so I have to continue to work hard.
After Huang Yue conveyed and explained the policy itself, he began to preside over the work of his own yamen:
“We, the Ministry of Rites, control the Ming Dynasty’s mouthpiece, and we must do our best to protect the implementation of policies.
"Let's discuss the implementation plan and what our Ministry of Rites should do..."
At the end of the day, all the yamen were holding meetings.
After the meeting, ministers at all levels went home and attended various gatherings in the evening.
Huang Yue himself also attended a private party.
The people attending a banquet of this level were all celebrities from Capital New City.
In addition to wealthy businessmen and wealthy families, there are also people from newspapers.
Families with a large number of slaves are also either rich or noble, and they are highly overlapped with these people.
When Huang Yue attended the meeting, he had already released some news, so now these people are thinking about it.
Amid the graceful singing and dancing, everyone, whether they knew or didn't know each other, chatted absentmindedly at the banquet.
After the warm-up was completed, the irrelevant personnel quickly left the stage, and the real business finally began.
The entourage brought by Huang Yue preached the court's policies, the gentlemen's decisions, and the words prepared by the Ministry of Rites one after another, triggering waves of discussion.
After the entourage basically finished speaking, everyone looked at Huang Yue.
One of Huang Yue's nephews instinctively asked a topic that everyone was concerned about:
"Uncle, is there really no way to do this? We must no longer have slaves in our house from now on?"
Huang Yue took a sip of tea and did not directly answer his nephew's words. Instead, he talked about his own approach:
"Before the end of the year, I will replace all the servants at home with hired servants, and all the original servants will be confiscated by the Ministry of Household Affairs."
Now everyone understood that Huang Yue, the Minister of Rites, would fully support him with actions.
If you object, there is no need to ask Huang Yue to support you.
After understanding it, the scene immediately started talking.
"Then we can only use hired servants instead. But can we continue to use slaves who are already used as hired servants?"
"Hiring workers also has the advantage of hiring workers. They can be increased or decreased at any time, and there is no need to support idle people."
"The slaves used at home are fine, but what about the ones in factories and farms? Are they all going to be replaced by hired workers?"
"Now the cost of hiring is getting higher and higher. Hiring so many workers suddenly will make the cost of labor rise further."
"So the slave labor factories should be moved to the feudal state."
"Recently I heard that the Great Food Country has developed rayon and is promoting it vigorously. I originally had the intention to try it. Now I just go to Mozhou to build a factory and purchase raw materials nearby..."
"On the other side, the conditions in the eastern part of Mozhou, the country of Big Food, are very good. His Highness the King of Food's inventions and creations are all profitable businesses."
"The King of Food has always shared the profits with his colleagues. Even if there is no such thing, I would still like to arrange for people to go and have a look."
"The lifting of bans on the six major industries was initiated by the Food King, and the new overseas land was also negotiated by the Food King."
"This good era of making money in anything you do is brought about by His Highness the Food King. Now that the Food King is vigorously developing Mozhou, we should also go and support it..."
"Ahem..."
Huang Yue suddenly coughed twice, mainly because he heard that these people were planning to set up a slave labor factory on Zhu Jingyuan's territory, and he quickly reminded them:
"As far as I know, Prince Dashi has always supported the abolition of slavery, and is giving citizenship rights to the people of the vassal country in Dashi Country. You are bringing a large number of slaves to Dashi Country, and you must be prepared for your slaves to be liberated..."
The scene immediately fell silent. This seemed to be a well-known thing, and no one thought of it immediately.
After Huang Yue mentioned it, everyone immediately realized that they were out of their minds.
Huang Yue coughed twice again, and then continued to explain his suggestions:
"If you are planning to change the slave labor factory into an ordinary labor factory, you can try it in the Mozhou area of Dashi Country. His Highness the Prince of Dashi will probably welcome it.
“But if you want to continue using slave labor, or even if someone secretly engages in slave reproduction, it’s best to go to Beiyinzhou.
“As for wanting to stay in the country and convert the existing slaves into hired workers, let’s give up this idea as soon as possible.
“The fundamental purpose of the imperial court’s redemption of slaves was not to set these slaves free.
“It is to quickly obtain more immigrants who can be forcibly used.
"That's why the imperial court encouraged emigration with slaves."
Huang Yue actually only saw one layer.
There is no requirement for slaves to be hired locally. In addition to using slaves for immigration, it is also to clear foreigners from the mainland.
However, the final result of Huang Yue's choice and reminder was in line with the intentions of Zhu Jianyan and his son.
So there was another sigh at the party.
The purpose of this policy is so clear, and it is made in response to the current situation, so there is no room for questioning.
The party eventually broke up.
There were many similar gatherings, and the results were very similar.
They all suggested immigrating with slaves.
When the relevant news was conveyed to Zhu Jingyuan, question marks almost appeared above his head.
My father's actions were... too rough.
Ban slavery but not abolish it, and make the most of existing slaves.
When the imperial court redeemed existing slaves and sent them overseas, it was equivalent to the official turning slaves into immigrants.
Forced immigration is no longer required for common people, but it is allowed for slaves.
At the same time, the vassal state was allowed to retain slaves, forcing the wealthy class who had slaves, and arranged for the family's children to immigrate to Mozhou or Yinzhou.
This will probably cause many people to run towards me with their slaves.
Even bring a group of slaves to work, let the slaves work in the factory, and then hand over the wages to the master?
The impact of this kind of operation is so bad that our big food country must legislate to ban it.
However, Zhu Jingyuan was overly worried. Zhu Jingyuan's reputation for supporting the abolition of slavery had long been spread, and those who did not want to free the slaves would not come.
On the contrary, the first batch of slave immigrants redeemed by the Ministry of Household Affairs were sent to Meng County before winter in the second year of Ankang.
