Chapter 921: Looking Back, the Young Ones Have Grown Up

There were countless major events during the Ming Dynasty. Compared to the Jingnan Campaign, suppressing rebellions, and military uprisings… the fourth year of the Xuande era seemed insignificant. Yet for the Ming Dynasty as a whole, the series of major events that began from this year undoubtedly shook the world.

For princes and sons of concubines, inheritance would be reduced in rank starting from legitimate sons. Below the rank of General Who Stabilizes the Country, people were allowed to take part in imperial examinations and engage in agriculture and sericulture.

The land across the country was re-measured starting from Nanjing Directly Governed Province. Military examinations were introduced, military households were reorganized, and new policies for replenishing them were established. People from the south served in garrisons in the south, while those from the north served in those in the north. The heavy burdens on military households were reduced, and military settlers were classified as garrison troops, who would become civilian households after three generations. Sons of military households were required to attend military schools in prefectures, counties, and garrisons.

Corvée labor was integrated into land taxes, and a fair taxation system was implemented. Those who had evaded labor or taxes during the Hongwu era were all exempted. During the Yongle era, seven or eight out of ten were exempted; during the Hongxi era, five or six out of ten; and before the fourth year of Xuande, three or four out of ten were exempted. Farmers were encouraged to reclaim wasteland, with tax exemptions for three years and reduced taxes for ten years. Village communities were established to promote mutual assistance in farming.

Commercial taxes were set at one in thirty, with tax collection handled by market supervision agencies. An annual inspection was conducted jointly by the Censorate, Ministry of Revenue, Grand Secretariat, and Court of Rites.

Half of the grain tax was transported by sea. Market supervision agencies were established in Tianjin Garrison and Jinzhou Garrison. The Three Divine Might Garrisons were designated as the navy, with ships from these garrisons conducting drills at the Yangtze River estuary every three years. The Ministry of War in Nanjing would oversee these drills, and every three years, the ships would set sail to the East, West, and South Seas.

In short, from start to finish of each year, and into the following year, the whole country was gradually shaken by these measures. Fortunately, among these new policies, some were strict while others were lenient, balancing severity and tolerance. Their impact on ordinary people gradually deepened over time.

Thankfully, the country was now at peace. The Oirats and Tatars in the north were preoccupied with their own affairs. Although the princes caused trouble, their guards had already been recalled. Moreover, since inheritance rights were reduced for sons of concubines, it was already in line with traditional norms. Although Prince Ning of Jiangxi led a rebellion, Zhu Youdun, Prince Zhou, and other princes with good reputations showed compliance by submitting petitions and receiving imperial rewards. Seeing that they couldn’t overpower the central authority, the other princes gradually calmed down.

For the powerful families and wealthy landlords, especially those in the Jiangnan region, the impact was significant. However, when the renowned stern scholar Du was “demoted” to Nanjing and ordered to work with Li Qing to oversee land re-measurement in Jiangnan, becoming Yu Qian’s strong supporter, these wealthy families, no matter how reluctant, found themselves in a difficult dilemma.

Breaking the ice is ultimately the hardest task in the world—going from one province to several provinces, even across the entire realm, and in the blink of an eye, three more years passed. Zhang Yue had already been promoted from Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War to Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and by the end of the year, he became Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Although it took him five years to advance from vice minister to minister, a minister in his early thirties was, as far as history knew, either unprecedented or at least unique to his dynasty. Since Zhang Yue was no longer in the Ministry of War, and considering the Zhang family’s long history of military generals, the voices suggesting he should avoid conflicts gradually faded. After all, Zhang Fu was handling government affairs, Zhang You was recovering at home after being seriously injured, and although some younger members held positions such as deputy commander, they were all stationed in the same region, not in key positions in the military headquarters as before.

As the old saying goes, one should establish oneself by age thirty. Now that Zhang Yue was over thirty and his eldest son, Jingguan, was already twelve, tall and strong with both literary and martial skills, and blessed with the emperor’s given name Bohui, he stood out even more among the Zhang family’s sons. On this day, when Zhang Jing got married, dressed in brand-new clothes, he welcomed guests at the door. The guests who arrived would stay a bit longer and talk to him, often asking his age before giving him a meaningful once-over, which made Jingguan feel quite uncomfortable.

The Zhang family had two noble members, and since Zhang Yue was a civil official, although he had many enemies in the court, he also had many friends. Thus, when Zhang Yue arranged his sister’s marriage, the Zhang family’s doorstep was almost trampled underfoot. Marriage is inherently a matter of family connections. Although the Marquis of Wu’an had more than just one residence, the two families were branches of the same lineage, and as in-laws, they naturally helped each other out. Anticipating that there would be too many guests to fit in their home, both families prepared places for people to rest. Even the Marquis of Wu’an sent many of his family members over, ensuring that everything was well-organized inside and outside.

In the women’s quarters, Du Wan looked at Zhang Jing, who was fully dressed, and seeing her awkward expression, she smiled gently. “What’s wrong? Are you scared now that it’s time to get married?”
“Who’s scared!” Zhang Jing frowned. Seeing Aunt Cui nearby quickly trying to stop her, she could only sigh. Then she stepped forward, gently pulling at her sister-in-law’s clothes and saying softly, “I just don’t want to be separated from you.”

“Where did we part? The house is located in the fence-lined alley south of South Bridge, just a few steps away from the carriage. Besides, your future husband is the most honest and kind-hearted man around. Why would you worry that he would stop you? If it’s inconvenient for you to come over, just send someone to call me, and I’ll come right away. We’ll see each other often; don’t complain that I’m annoying you later.” Du Wan knew full well that Zhang Jing had always liked to stick close to her. Seeing her say this, Zhang Jing’s eyes still turned slightly red, so Du Wan gently persuaded her, “Cheer up! It’s a joyous day—don’t you worry he’ll feel sorry for you if you look unhappy?”
“Sister-in-law!”
After joking around for a while, the somewhat somber atmosphere lightened by quite a bit. Seeing that Zhang Jing was still nervous, Du Wan kept talking to distract her until Zheng Fangfei and Li Yunzhao Fen, along with the other sisters-in-law, arrived. Only then did she leave for a while. But as soon as she walked along the corridor, she saw Jing Guan rubbing his arm vigorously.
“What are you doing?”
When Jing Guan turned around and saw it was his mother, his grim expression vanished instantly. He respectfully lowered his hands, greeted her as “Mother,” and stood there without even lifting his eyes. Seeing him like this, Du Wan couldn’t help but recall Zhang Yue’s constant remark that while other families had strict fathers and kind mothers, theirs had a strict mother and kind father—advising not to let the son become too fearful and lose closeness. But since Zhang Yue spent little time at home, Du Wan knew well that his solemn behavior wasn’t out of fear of her. She told Cui Ma Ma to handle things first and then walked over slowly.
“What’s the matter now?”
Hearing this, Jing Guan immediately made a pained face and hesitated before awkwardly saying, “How did you know I had something on my mind, Mother?”
“How could I not know how many roundworms are in your stomach?” Du Wan glanced at her eldest son, who was only half her height, and smiled irritably. “You stand properly, but your eyes keep wandering. It’s obvious you have something to say. Otherwise, why be so coy?”
Jing Guan already knew his mother’s mind was as clear as a mirror—nothing could be hidden from her. Yet he still had a glimmer of hope. Now, giving up, he simply bowed his head honestly and said, “Mother, today I was standing at the entrance, and everyone who came in stared at me strangely. Later, when I went to the inner courtyard, I heard people talking—saying that my younger sister-in-law got married, and next it would be my turn… Mother, I’m not thinking of anything else. I’m just worried…”

Coming from a prominent family, one learns to be sensible at an early age. Zhang Yue and Du Wan were strict with their children, ensuring they learned both theory and practice from a young age. Jing Guan, on the other hand, spent his days traveling around with Tian Ci and already behaved like a little adult. When Du Wan heard these words from her son, she initially thought he must have been influenced by someone or harbored some ulterior motives, but concern dispelled her suspicion and anger. Though she let him go out every day to study, practice martial arts, and gain experience, how could she not know her own son?

“What’s there to fear? Fear of being married off against your will?” Seeing Jing Guan nod earnestly, Du Wan sighed inwardly. She pulled him closer and gently tapped his forehead with her finger. “Don’t you know your father’s character? If he really wanted a marriage based on social status or connections among colleagues or peers, how could your cousin end up with your Uncle Fang? Since he can’t even see the girl, I’ll make sure to find someone truly suitable for you. If possible, you’ll get to meet her a few times too. I certainly won’t agree to a marriage just because it involves your father’s close friends or colleagues.”

Jing Guan had a few good classmates in the small academy—some poor, some wealthy—but all were two or three years older than him, with some already engaged. In their casual conversations, he often heard them talk about engagements. Several of them had never even met their fiancées, and this situation made him feel uneasy. After all, his father had once told him about his time in Shandong with his mother, and Zhu Ning, who often visited, had joked with him as well. Although his cousin and Uncle Fang met infrequently, they still corresponded. So it was hard for him to imagine what it would be like to marry a wife he had never met. Now that he was relieved, he chatted with his mother for a while before rushing off happily.

“That kid!”

Sending off a bride is different from迎inging one back. The Zhang family has been bustling since adding items to the bridal sedan two days ago, and most of the guests present are there out of respect for him. Yet, as the eldest uncle, he still has the responsibility of seeing the bride off. So once the time came for sending her off, after all the rituals were completed, he naturally led the group to see her off. The dowry had been sent the day before—a full sixty-four sedan loads. Though he knew some would criticize it as extravagant, if not for his intervention, his mother would have prepared 128 sedan loads. This was already the most economical use possible. When they arrived at the Fang family’s home, they saw everything freshly decorated. Once all the rituals were over, he, as an elder from the groom’s side, barely exchanged a few words with Zhang Fu, the Duke of Ying, before being pushed to the head seat. The eldest uncle, representing the bride’s family, naturally took the head seat. Unlike the civil and military officials from the Fang and Zhang families who came to offer congratulations—mostly young people from small academies, including some poor scholars and many descendants of nobles—the atmosphere here was more relaxed. It was still okay while Zhang Fu and a few older people were present, but once they left to talk elsewhere, the groom, who was usually his teacher, was quickly made half-drunk. Some even dared to toast him. Seeing this young minister not at all serious as usual, but instead welcoming everyone warmly and chatting amiably with them, everyone was greatly excited. Under such circumstances, the groom managed to escape unscathed and go through his wedding night somewhat sober, while Zhang Yue returned home completely drunk. Although he usually had official duties and social engagements, his high position meant people didn’t dare be too bold, and the high-ranking officials also knew their bounds. The few times he got drunk recently were when he indulged in drinking with Xu Kuo. So now, seeing him in this state, not only Du Wan and Hu Po Qiu Hen were surprised, but even his parents, Zhang Zhuo and Lady Sun, laughed for a while. Only the dazed Zhang Yue himself knew what his sister’s marriage meant to him. Zhang Jing called her his sister, but she was actually much younger than him. He had almost always treated her like his own daughter. Now that his sister was getting married, it felt as if his first child was getting married, giving him a stronger sense of being an elder—even though he had already been a father to several children for a long time.

So, after a night of hangover, he was still suffering from the excruciating headache. Du Wan then talked to him about the troubles regarding their eldest son, Jingguan. Before he could speak, she said seriously, “Although he’s thinking about it a bit early, this isn’t something to be taken lightly. Just yesterday, among the guests who came to attend the wedding, the wives of the Marquis of Wu’an, the Marquis of Baoding, the Earl of Xing’an, and the Earl of Guangning all subtly mentioned marriage proposals. As for the civil officials, Lady Xu, who is on good terms with you, said her eldest granddaughter is good at needlework, while Lady Guo said her younger daughter is skilled in calligraphy and painting… In short, adding all those who have expressed interest, there are at least a dozen or so families, but those who have explicitly mentioned it are these six.”

Because Zhang Yue handled Zhang Jing’s marriage quickly, resolving it before others could make specific proposals, they could only watch helplessly. After all, Jingguan was only eleven years old. According to his plans, he didn’t intend to arrange his marriage until he was seventeen or eighteen, but unexpectedly, others had already set their sights on him. He knew Jingguan was good-looking and likable, and having received an imperial name, everyone thought he had a bright future. But the child was still so young—was it really necessary? Although he had experienced matchmaking events before, he was much older than Jingguan now, and even then it took a long time to arrange his marriage.

“If they really bring it up to you, just say it was my suggestion. The child is too young to show his true character; let’s wait a few more years. It would be fine if it were a daughter, but if it’s a son and he gets married too, I’ll really feel old. God knows I’m only thirty…” Zhang Yue couldn’t help but sigh heavily, then looked at Du Wan and said, “Sister Wan, after accompanying the emperor on his northern tour to Kaiping this time, I plan to take time off to return to Kaifeng to pay respects to my grandmother, bringing the children along.”

Among their children, aside from Jingguan who had met Lady Gu, the others had never seen their grandmother, so Du Wan agreed immediately. Noticing that Zhang Yue suddenly took her hand, she didn’t pull away but simply looked at him quietly.

“There are a few great blessings in my life. First, I had the fortune to serve under my father-in-law, where I not only learned from classical texts but also gained countless insights into how to conduct oneself in life. Second, both Emperor Taizong and the current emperor were willing to adopt my strategies and provided strong support at critical moments. Third, I had many elders who cared for me—my parents, Uncle Yuan, and my eldest uncle, to name a few. Without my grandmother’s support back then, I wouldn’t be where I am today. She helped me greatly throughout my journey, and my eldest uncle even showed me the letters from that time… Looking back now, it’s sad that she passed away so early. Out of respect for her, I helped the Gu family secure some farmlands in recent years, but that was only superficial. This time, I’ll go back to see if things have been properly handled. If there are capable people like Huanzhang, I might consider promoting them.”

As for prominent families, if none of their descendants stand out over several generations, they will soon decline. Although the Gu family produced someone like Gu Bin, he was merely a scholar-official who led a simple life, bringing little glory to the family. Moreover, due to his various tactics, people were reluctant to visit them easily. If they knew how to reform, that would be one thing; but if not, they could only watch to see if any outstanding individuals emerged among the Gu family’s younger generations.