Chapter 26: Abolishing Ancestral Precedents to Win Popular Acclaim

"Not going to speak, huh?"

After waiting a moment, the hundreds of students remained completely silent.

Chongzhen’s voice turned cold: "Li Ruolian, seize these students and give each one fifty strokes of the military cane. I want to see if their spines are as stiff as their tongues."

At his command, Li Ruolian waved his hand, and hundreds of Embroidered Uniform Guards charged into the crowd of students, causing chaos and confusion.

"Your Majesty, these are tribute students. The Great Ming Code forbids corporal punishment on scholars above the level of xiucai (licentiate)!"

"Your Majesty, the law states that if students err, the local Confucian education authorities must be notified to handle the matter."

"Your Majesty, please reconsider. These are students of the National Academy, disciples of the Son of Heaven—this..."

"Enough!"

Watching ministers step forward one by one to plead, Chongzhen shouted angrily.

"You lecture me about the Great Ming Code? You talk to me about rules? I want to ask, whose realm is this really—mine, or theirs?"

"Look at these so-called scholars—what kind of character do they truly have?"

"At the nine major border forts, frontline soldiers fight and bleed, resisting foreign invasions. How many have died? How much military funding has been spent?"

"Did you not hear the memorials from the Shaanxi inspector about the disaster there?"

"People are displaced, starving corpses lie for miles. The victims are forced to eat grass roots, tree bark, even 'Guanyin soil' to survive, and resort to cannibalism. And what are these scholars doing?"

"The court grants them six privileges and a monthly stipend, yet look at them now, gathering to cause trouble. Have they considered the suffering of the common people?"

"At the slightest dissatisfaction, they attack those in power, curse the merchants and laborers, acting as if they are superior, with their eyes set on their crowns."

"Without the sacrifices of frontline soldiers, without the support of the people, without the court’s grace—would they even have the chance to study here?"

"They waste their opportunities, neglect the sacred classics, and do not strive to serve the nation after learning."

"Instead, they focus solely on forming cliques and climbing the social ladder through connections. Are these truly scholars?"

"I truly feel sorrow for the soldiers and common folk, who have exchanged their lives for nothing but a group of apathetic people."

"These people will enter the Ming bureaucracy through the imperial exams and become the foundation of the realm."

"But look at them—uttering the words of sages and virtuous men with full mouths, yet harboring nothing but corruption and debauchery. The sacred texts have been read straight into the dogs’ bellies."

"If these people enter the court, the fall of the Great Ming will not be far off."

...

Chongzhen suddenly erupted, berating the hundreds of students kneeling on the ground mercilessly.

He was truly enraged.

Thinking that nearly half of these students would defect to the Manchus seventeen years later, he wished he could have them all arrested and set ablaze as sky lanterns.

Everyone was shocked—was this really the emperor?

How could he say such coarse things?

But his words struck directly at the hearts of all the onlookers.

After the anger subsided, Chongzhen turned his gaze to Qian Rulin: "Qian Rulin, I’ll give you one last chance. Name the mastermind behind this gathering, and I will be lenient. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

---

Qian Rulin remained silent, bitterness flickering at the corner of his mouth, yet he steeled himself to speak: "Your Majesty, this was organized by the students themselves—they only seek justice for Lord Qian."

"Heh..."

Chongzhen sneered coldly, then barked: "Li Ruolian, seal off the Jiangnan Guild Hall immediately. Everyone inside is to be thrown into the Zhaoyu prison and subjected to harsh interrogation. If anyone resists, kill them on the spot."

This command sent a shiver through Qian Rulin and the Donglin faction ministers present.

"Your Majesty, you..."

"Silence! I have already given you chances, but you wasted them. Now you beg for mercy—it’s too late."

Chongzhen cut off Qian Rulin sharply.

He then glanced at the tribute students inside the National Academy, then at the hundreds kneeling troublemakers on the ground, and finally at the gathered crowd of onlookers.

"Su Maoxiang, Meng Shaoyu, step forward!"

Minister of Justice Su Maoxiang and Minister of Rites Meng Shaoyu stepped out from the ministers’ ranks and bowed before Chongzhen.

"Su Maoxiang, you oversee the Great Ming Code. Meng Shaoyu, you oversee the scholars of the realm."

"The Taizu Emperor granted six privileges to scholars. What do you think of these honors bestowed by Taizu?"

Su Maoxiang quickly answered, "Your Majesty, Taizu’s intention was to allow scholars to study in peace and serve the nation once accomplished."

"Minister Su speaks rightly. Taizu’s acts elevated the status of scholars and greatly encouraged scholars across the realm—it is a blessing for us."

Meng Shaoyu echoed the sentiment.

But neither understood why the emperor raised this topic now.

"I have heard that some scholars conceal and shield others from paying grain taxes, using this to amass wealth. Is this true?"

"Your Majesty, I have heard rumors of this matter."

Su Maoxiang was surprised. Where had this young emperor heard such things? Was he to conduct a thorough investigation?

"Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Since you have heard this, begin your investigation with the National Academy. I grant you permission to use corporal punishment. Remember, the inspections must be carried out simultaneously in both northern and southern provinces."

"Your Majesty!"

Su Maoxiang tensed but replied, "The Great Ming Code stipulates that scholars above the level of xiucai must first be reported to their local Confucian education authorities for instruction. To use corporal punishment, their titles must first be revoked. Should we notify the local officials first—"

"No need!"

Chongzhen cut him off and looked at the ministers: "Where is the official in charge of the Imperial Shrine? Prepare incense and sacrificial items immediately. I will go to the Ancestral Temple to apologize to Taizu and abolish the regulations set by him!"

Chongzhen’s seemingly casual declaration struck like thunder from the heavens, shaking everyone’s hearts.

Not only the hundreds of kneeling students but even those inside the National Academy watching were filled with shock.

After the ministers recovered, they all knelt down in unison.

"Your Majesty, this is ancestral law; it cannot be changed at will. Are you not afraid of Taizu’s reproach?"

"Indeed, Your Majesty, Taizu established this to remove worries from scholars, so they could focus on their studies. If these privileges are revoked, scholars will be distracted, which will greatly hinder their development and harm the cultivation of talent in our Great Ming."

"We beseech Your Majesty to reconsider!"

All the ministers knelt.

Chongzhen looked coldly at the prostrate ministers, fully aware of their intentions—they merely wished to protect their own descendants.

"You say it is ancestral law. Then it is a family matter. I will go to the Ancestral Temple later to offer incense to Taizu. Surely Taizu would not hold grudges against a junior like me!"

...

The ministers and students of the National Academy were at a loss for words. How could this emperor be so unpredictable?

"You claim Taizu’s rules were meant to free scholars from worries so they could study peacefully. But I do not agree."

"Look at these people—they have time to hold gatherings and criticize the administration because they have nothing better to do."

"If Taizu knew of this, he would probably personally abolish this regulation."

"Your Majesty, the students also serve the Great Ming. There are currently 600,000 registered xiucai. If the ancestral law is abolished because of these few tribute students, it would be unfair to the others. Please reconsider!"

Minister of Rites Meng Shaoyu knelt, pleading bitterly. Though he was aligned with the eunuch faction and opposed the Donglin Party, he was first and foremost a scholar. If he agreed to abolish the ancestral law, he would be despised by scholars everywhere, and enraged scholars might even desecrate his ancestral tomb.

He could not bear this burden alone; none of the ministers could. Only the emperor could.

Hearing the figure of 600,000 xiucai, Chongzhen’s expression shifted slightly.

After a moment of silence, he said solemnly, "Since you say it would be unfair to other scholars, I will compromise."

"The other privileges may remain, but the legal privilege must be abolished."

"The prince who breaks the law is punished like the commoner. Scholars are no exception."

"From today onward, this decree will be announced throughout the realm."

"And do not petition me again on this matter. If they obey the law and follow the way of the sages, what fear should they have of losing this privilege?"

Silence fell, then erupted into a thunderous cheer.

"Long live the emperor! Your Majesty is wise!" The crowd’s praises soared to the heavens.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Chongzhen’s lips.

Truly, when one is drowsy, someone always brings a pillow. Just after ascending the throne, students caused a disturbance.

This was the perfect opportunity to abolish the ancestral law and gain popular support.

The scholars could only swallow their grievances.

The ministers listened to the cheers in silence—the abolition of this privilege was now a settled matter.

After a while, the cheers gradually subsided.

Chongzhen looked at his ministers: "Listen to the people’s cheers—that alone proves everything."

"The common folk have long suffered under the scholars’ privileges. This shows my decision aligns with the will of the people."

"If any of you officials still oppose this, be careful you do not encounter foul play when you leave at night."

The crowd laughed uproariously.

The ministers’ faces darkened—it was the barefoot challenging the shoed.

Seeing their grim expressions gave Chongzhen a secret thrill.

He immediately shifted the topic.

"Very well, let us return to the matter of scholars concealing and shielding others from grain taxes, using it to get rich!"