Chapter Forty: The Commission Against Corruption

At present, Zhang Cheng held the rank of Commander of a Thousand in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Upon entering the palace, Zhu Youxiao invited him to be seated. Then the emperor inquired, “Zhang Qing, when you were at the Imperial Academy, I heard you were quite close with a classmate surnamed Liu. What is his name?”

Zhang Cheng replied, “During my time at the Imperial Academy, I was on excellent terms with Brother Liu—Liu Jingwen. I wonder if Your Majesty refers to this man.”

“It should be him. Does he have a keen interest in matters regarding spies in Liaodong?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, that must be Brother Liu Jingwen.”

“Is he still at the Academy?”

“Brother Liu is due to complete his studies next year; he is still enrolled at the Academy.”

Zhu Youxiao sent for Liu Jingwen, then turned to Zhang Cheng and said, “I have an idea. I wish to supervise the corruption among local officials. Although we have censors, their effectiveness leaves much to be desired. Would you be interested in such a task, Zhang Qing?”

Zhang Cheng was already a Jinshi candidate, but due to his sister's circumstances, he had become a Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and could no longer participate in the imperial examinations. Thus, upon hearing of such an opportunity, he was overjoyed.

Emperor Zhu allowed him to rise, and the two engaged in casual conversation. Shortly, Liu Jingwen arrived. After exchanging greetings, Zhu Youxiao inquired about his background and learned that both he and Zhang Cheng had entered the Academy as recommended scholars. He then asked, “Liu Qing, you are already a recommended scholar, and next year is the Grand Examination. Are you inclined to continue your studies, or would you prefer to serve the realm now?”

Upon hearing this, Liu Jingwen glanced at Zhang Cheng, who kept winking at him. Liu Jingwen immediately knelt and said, “I am willing to serve Your Majesty.”

Given his academic standing, his chances of becoming a Jinshi through the metropolitan examination were slim. Now, however, the emperor himself was offering him a position—only a fool would refuse.

“Very good. I value men of action,” Zhu Youxiao said. “As I just discussed with Zhang Qing, official corruption is rampant, and the censors fail to supervise effectively. I am considering the establishment of a new institution, the Office of Integrity. There will be Integrity Divisions in each prefecture, Integrity Bureaus in every administrative region, Integrity Departments in the provinces, and an Integrity Commission in the capital. Each level of the Integrity Office will report directly upwards and remain independent of local authorities. Their primary duty will be to monitor officials for embezzlement and corruption.”

“For now, as it is newly established, you will first be tasked with overseeing tax collection. As your ranks grow, you will take on further duties. All personnel are to be recruited by yourselves—not from existing officials, but from among scholars and candidates. Funding will come entirely from my private treasury. Consequently, you are answerable only to me. Even the Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet has no authority to interfere. Do you understand?”

Zhu Youxiao understood that whether censors or remonstrators, they were all entangled with the bureaucracy, making true impartiality difficult. With this new Office, both its staff and funding would be independent from the officialdom, ensuring its autonomy.

Both men promptly agreed. Zhu Youxiao then outlined a few basic rules, largely modeled after the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption. He emphasized the importance of placing a “Public Integrity Box” outside each office to allow the people to make reports, for he knew that true anti-corruption efforts must rely on the masses—no handful of inspectors could match the vigilance of all the people.

The following day, the emperor issued an edict: Commander Zhang Cheng of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was appointed Director of the Integrity Commission (Seventh Rank), and Academy Student Liu Jingwen as Deputy Director (Junior Seventh Rank), thus founding the Great Ming Integrity Commission with the authority to oversee all officials.

Though the decree was brief, it alarmed the officials, particularly the Censorate and the Six Boards, who immediately sought an audience. Upon learning that the entire Integrity Commission consisted of only two men, they dismissed it with a laugh, convinced it was nothing more than a sinecure for the emperor’s brother-in-law.

Concerning official salaries, Fang Congzhe proposed that each official’s basic remuneration remain twelve shi of rice per year, as before, with a cash stipend of sixty taels of silver for lowest-ranked officials, increasing by thirty taels per rank. For instance, a regular Seventh Rank official like Yang Lian would receive two hundred and ten taels annually, about fifteen taels per month, while a First Rank official would receive five hundred and seventy taels per year.

Zhu Youxiao wondered, “Isn’t that rather little?”

Fang Congzhe replied, “It is already considerable. Officials are exempt from corvée and taxes, and their families often register land under their names, bringing in substantial income. Only those with little land are truly poor, and this plan ensures at least that they can support their families. Once commercial tax revenues improve, Your Majesty may issue another decree to increase salaries, for which the officials will be most grateful.”

Zhu Youxiao was pleased—such concern for the emperor’s interests marked a good minister. But then another issue occurred to him: “If an official’s family owns tens of thousands of acres, doesn’t the court lose vast sums in tax revenue? That must be changed.”

“Your Majesty, this policy has been in place since the founding emperor, with strict limits: Jinshi may exempt two thousand acres, recommended scholars four hundred, and licentiates eighty. Even if a family owns tens of thousands of acres, only two thousand are tax-exempt. Of course, some officials conceal their lands and households or use other means to avoid taxation.”

Zhu Youxiao realized he had been naive. Having finally secured the ministers’ agreement to collect commercial taxes, it was best to focus on that for now. Agriculture taxes accounted for the bulk of revenue, and any attempt at reform would provoke fierce resistance. Once commercial taxes increased, and the treasury was flush, then he could address hidden land and unregistered households.

Therefore, the next day, the emperor decreed that starting from the tenth month of the first year of the Tianqi reign, commercial taxes would be collected nationwide at a rate of five percent. Official salaries would be paid according to the new standards, and once the treasury improved, back pay for previous months would be made up.

Zhu Youxiao summoned Wei Zhongxian. “Director Wei…”

Wei Zhongxian immediately knelt. “Your Majesty, this servant dares not accept such a title. Please continue to address your servant as Companion.”

Zhu Youxiao laughed, “Enough, enough. You are now a titled official; to call you Companion seems inappropriate.”

Wei Zhongxian kowtowed, “This servant owes everything to Your Majesty’s grace. All I wish is to remain by Your Majesty’s side, serving diligently in this prosperous era. That is my greatest wish.”

“I know your loyalty. But since you have an official post, it is more fitting to address you as Director.”

“Then please, Your Majesty, call your servant ‘Minister of the Directorate.’ I supervise the Eastern Bureau for Your Majesty; thus, I am your Minister.”

Amused at being corrected by a semi-literate eunuch, Zhu Youxiao said, “Very well, Minister it is. Minister, have the Eastern Bureau investigate the situation regarding land concentration in various regions. Officials with excessive holdings are to be scrutinized. I intend to address this soon, and your intelligence will be an effective weapon against them. Understood?”

“This servant understands. Rest assured, Your Majesty, when the time comes, I will provide all the evidence you require.”

“Second, to prevent tax resistance, have the Eastern Bureau and the Embroidered Uniform Guard establish branches throughout the country. Be ready to deal with tax resisters swiftly and harshly. I want to make an example of them.”

Wei Zhongxian grinned wickedly. “Your Majesty, if I must move against peasants, I might hesitate, for I myself am of peasant stock and understand their hardships. But as for those unscrupulous, heartless merchants, I will make them wish for death but find no escape.”

Zhu Youxiao applauded, “Well said, Minister. The common farmers are our foundation. As long as they have enough to eat and spend, those high officials and nobles are but paper tigers—one gentle push will topple them. So before we act, we must first ask whether it benefits the people. If it does, we must proceed, even should we earn a bad name or be misunderstood. We call this ‘putting the people first.’ Should I ever forget this, you must remind me.”

Wei Zhongxian, face full of fear, repeatedly insisted he dared not. Zhu Youxiao rebuked him, “There is nothing to fear. As long as your reasons are sound, I will not be unjust. Besides, with the trust I place in you, would I ever blame you?” These words moved Wei Zhongxian to tears, and he kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude.

Zhu Youxiao bade him rise. “How much is the monthly allowance for palace staff?”

“Your Majesty, eunuchs and palace maids with official positions receive regular stipends according to their rank, usually about one-tenth that of court officials. Life in the palace requires little money. Those without rank receive nothing and rely solely on imperial rewards, as I did when I served Your Majesty.”

Zhu Youxiao realized he had never rewarded Wei before, something he would have to rectify. “Very well. Prepare for me a detailed list of the number and ages of eunuchs and palace maids, along with their monthly stipends. I will need it.”

“Should the numbers in the princely households be included?”

For now, it seemed unwise to touch the princely households, but perhaps in the future. After some thought, Zhu Youxiao said, “Include them, but make separate tallies.”