When Xu Da finally woke after getting enough sleep, the sky was already dark.
His stomach rumbled loudly, and he hurried to the kitchen to look for something to eat.
Li Zhen rummaged through the ashes in the stove and pulled out several dirt-covered lumps. “Chen Guorui left you some beggar’s chicken.”
Xu Da grinned broadly, squatted right there in the kitchen, cracked open the clay shells, and started eating.
Li Zhen took several still-warm steamed buns from beside the pot. “Don’t get your hands covered in mud. Are you planning to eat the dirt too? Wait a moment, I’ll pour you some tea.”
Xu Da said, “The buns and tea must have been Biao’er’s idea. It’s already impressive enough that the Marshal remembered to leave me a chicken. He’d never be this thoughtful.”
Li Zhen laughed. “Then you’re mistaken. Guorui was the one who prepared all this. He said it was an apology for keeping you awake last night.”
Xu Da paused, then took a bite of the drumstick.
“Then the Marshal must have learned it from Biao’er. That’s why he’s become so considerate.”
Li Zhen smiled as he poured the tea.
“That much is true.”
Since childhood, Zhu Yuanzhang had drifted from place to place, constantly losing the people and things most important to him.
After finally finding stability under Guo Zixing, Zhu Yuanzhang had genuinely wanted to be a loyal son-in-law. But because he was too capable, Guo Zixing not only stripped him of his military command but had nearly starved him to death.
Other than Madam Ma, who had never abandoned him, Zhu Yuanzhang never completely trusted even the poor brothers he’d recruited from his hometown.
That deep-rooted insecurity was etched into his very bones.
But after Chen Biao was born, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly became much more simple and honest. It was as though every trace of his ruthlessness and brutality had been worn smooth by his soft, cuddly son.
Even the last shred of insecurity in his heart disappeared beneath his immortal son’s daily baby-voiced declarations of, “Marshal Zhu will definitely execute you after he becomes Emperor!”
The change was so obvious that even Li Zhen, Zhu Yuanzhang’s only relative of the same generation, and Xu Da, his closest childhood friend, could see it clearly.
And Zhu Yuanzhang himself never seemed interested in hiding it.
“Today the Boss joked that I’d become too meritorious and overshadowed him, so he’d execute me, build me an empty tomb, and have Biao’er perform the mourning rites for me.” Xu Da wiped the grease from his mouth. “The moment he could joke with me about something like that, I knew that as long as I don’t do anything wrong in the future, the Boss would never harm me.”
Li Zhen replied, “Executing you is nothing. He even plans to wipe out Chen Guorui’s entire family.”
Xu Da nearly choked from laughing.
…
“Achoo!”
Having finally woken up from his nap with his son in his arms, Zhu Yuanzhang let out an enormous sneeze.
Rubbing his nose, he looked at the darkening sky with deep disappointment.
A whole day had passed just like that?
I’d barely done anything, and the day’s already gone?
How could I waste time like this?
No, I need to gather everyone immediately and discuss restoring the Well-Field System!
Zhu Yuanzhang pulled the manuscript titled The Ming-Style Well-Field System from beneath his pillow and gave the stack of papers a kiss.
Heh heh. Biao’er said this Well-Field System revives the teachings of the sages, so it must be Mencius’s Well-Field System. Let’s see how those scholars dare criticize me now!
Feeling immensely pleased with himself, Zhu Yuanzhang was just about to get up when he realized something heavy was hanging from his waist.
Chen Biao was hugging him around the waist, staring up expressionlessly.
“Dad, you’re not going to stay up all night again, right?”
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…Right.”
“Dad, you hesitated.”
Helplessly, Zhu Yuanzhang said, “Son, it’s not that I want to stay up all night. Once I hand this to the Marshal, if he wants to work through the night, what can I do?”
Chen Biao complained, “Then give it to him tomorrow.”
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.
“I disappeared for half the day today. If I don’t show my face before the Marshal tonight—and don’t bring him some results—he’ll get angry.”
Pouting, Chen Biao let go of his waist.
“Then at least eat dinner first. Come back early, and try not to stay up too late. You’re already thirty. Staying up all night is bad for your health. I don’t want to be the one with black hair burying someone with white hair.”
Zhu Yuanzhang had just begun to answer “All ri—” before suddenly realizing something was wrong.
After thinking for a moment, his eyes flew wide open.
“Biao’er! What nonsense are you saying?!”
Chen Biao had already jumped off the bed and, without even putting on his shoes, ran barefoot across the brick floor.
“Hahaha! Dad’s such an idiot! It took you this long to realize!”
Zhu Yuanzhang watched as Chen Biao dashed out the door. The instant he stepped outside, Chen Ying suddenly appeared, scooped him into his arms, and ran off like a kidnapper snatching a child. They disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn’t decide whether to laugh or get angry.
Has Wenying been lingering outside the door this whole time, just waiting for Biao’er to wake up?
That kid is getting a little too attached to Biao’er.
Stretching lazily, Zhu Yuanzhang tucked The Ming-Style Well-Field System into his robes, put on his shoes, and strolled outside.
Forget it. If I won’t stay up all night, then I won’t. At worst I’ll stop working around midnight.
Otherwise tomorrow Xu Da will claim he’s too sleepy again and swing his hoe onto my feet.
Remembering how Xu Da had been nodding off while hoeing the fields that morning, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn’t help laughing.
After hastily finishing dinner, Zhu Yuanzhang took the “late-night meal box” Chen Biao had packed for him. He not only brought Xu Da along but also his three adopted sons—Chen Wenzheng, Li Bao’er, and Chen Ying.
Officially, it was because the matter was extremely important and he wanted them to learn.
Scolding them, Zhu Yuanzhang said, “Marshal Zhu has dozens of adopted sons. More than twenty of them bear the Zhu surname and have names beginning with ‘Wen.’ If you don’t work harder, how are you supposed to stand out?”
Chen Wenzheng: “…” Right, right. The Marshal has plenty of adopted sons named Zhu Wen-something. But he only has one nephew—me.
Li Bao’er: “…” The Marshal only has one nephew through his sister—me. I don’t think I’ll have trouble standing out.
Only Chen Ying felt a little nervous.
Patting Chen Ying’s shoulder, Zhu Yuanzhang said, “You became the Marshal’s adopted son only after first becoming mine and receiving my recommendation. Don’t embarrass me.”
Chen Ying: “…Yes.”
His nervousness vanished instantly.
Foster Father… what exactly are you doing? Why are you getting so immersed in your role?
As Xu Da picked at his teeth, he thought to himself that Old Zhu’s acting skills had become even more polished. Whenever he disciplined the children at home, he automatically slipped into the role of “Chen Guorui.” At this rate, he’d end up with a split personality.
While Zhu Yuanzhang was lecturing the children, Chen Biao looked rather aggrieved.
Xu Da asked, “Biao’er, why are you unhappy?”
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.
“Biao’er, don’t worry. Tonight I’ll tell the Marshal that we absolutely won’t stay up all night.”
Xu Da’s eyes lit up.
“Really?!”
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted.
“If I say we won’t stay up, the Marshal will definitely agree. Whether you stay up or not depends on what the Marshal decides.”
Xu Da: “…”
Ordering yourself around is quite impressive, isn’t it?
Chen Biao shook his head.
“That’s not why.”
Looking up at his three older brothers, he pouted.
“I was just wondering… what kind of obsession does the Marshal have? Every time he sees a capable young man, he adopts him as a son and even changes his name.”
How many adopted sons did Zhu Yuanzhang have?
Whenever Chen Biao went outside, any random person who greeted him might well be named “Zhu Wen-something.”
Some had parents, some were orphans, some had been picked up off the roadside, and some had already caught someone else’s eye. If Zhu Yuanzhang saw a boy around ten years old that he liked, he’d adopt him.
Chen Biao suspected the number of adopted sons Zhu Yuanzhang had casually acknowledged without changing their names was far more than just a few dozen.
“Oh? Your son is pretty capable? Hand him over. He’s my adopted son now!”
After sizing up his three older brothers, Chen Biao became even more worried.
“Although the Marshal has countless adopted sons named Zhu Wen-something, our family alone accounts for three of them. Dad, does the Marshal value you… or is he keeping an eye on you? When I grow up, will he make me his adopted son too? Zhu Wenbiao… Hmm. That actually sounds nicer than Chen Biao.”
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…”
You’d be Zhu Biao, not Zhu Wenbiao.
Chen Wenzheng: “…”
This is bad. I’m about to burst out laughing.
Li Bao’er silently began reciting Buddhist scriptures he’d heard somewhere.
Chen Ying rubbed his precious little brother’s clever head.
“You’re Foster Father’s eldest son. Foster Father wouldn’t…”
This foster father, that foster father…
Chen Ying’s tongue tied itself into a knot.
He shot Zhu Yuanzhang a pleading look.
Foster Father, you still haven’t told me what I’m supposed to call Chen Guorui now.
Xu Da covered his mouth with both hands, his shoulders shaking violently.
Massaging his forehead, Zhu Yuanzhang said, “About adopting sons… all the Red Turban commanders liked doing it. Not just the Red Turbans—even Zhang Shicheng and Xu Shouhui had dozens of adopted sons. Fine, I admit it’s rather bandit-like. But look, Marshal Zhu hasn’t adopted any new ones lately, has he? He definitely won’t make you his adopted son. You’re not changing your name to Zhu Wenbiao. Stop making trouble.”
Folding his short arms, Chen Biao said in an old-fashioned tone, “Actually, Zhu Wenbiao does sound pretty nice. Right now my cousin is Zhu Wenzheng, my cousin is Zhu Wenzhong, my Brother Ying is Zhu Wenying, and I’m the only Chen Biao. I don’t fit in at all. Dad, why don’t you ask the Marshal to adopt me too?”
He wasn’t joking.
Looking at his three older brothers, all adopted sons of Marshal Zhu, Chen Biao recalled reading somewhere that Zhu Yuanzhang was exceptionally tolerant toward his own family.
Did adopted sons with changed surnames count as members of the Zhu family?
Probably.
If he suffered a little and became Zhu Yuanzhang’s adopted son, then the Chen family’s heir would also be Zhu Yuanzhang’s godson. By rounding up a little, wouldn’t that make the Chen family part of Zhu Yuanzhang’s own household? Zhu Yuanzhang might become much less wary of the Chen family.
The more Chen Biao thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. He explained his reasoning to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Teacher Li wants me to educate the second generation of officials. That’ll definitely attract Zhu Yuanzhang’s attention. I’ll become Zhu Yuanzhang’s adopted son! I’ll change my name to Zhu Wenbiao!
Xu Da lowered his hands, his expression completely serious—although his shoulders still twitched slightly.
“Boss, I also think Biao’er makes a lot of sense! Isn’t this exactly what the history books call a hostage prince?”
Zhu Yuanzhang replied flatly, “Mm. A hostage. When you have your first son, remember to send him to Marshal Zhu as an adopted son.”
Xu Da nodded solemnly.
“Absolutely.”
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately kicked Xu Da, then grabbed his chubby son—who was enthusiastically volunteering himself as a political hostage—and vigorously rubbed his head.
“What exactly goes on inside that little brain of yours all day? Marshal Zhu doesn’t have a hobby of stealing other people’s sons!”
Chen Biao said seriously, “He does!”
Xu Da said just as seriously, “He really does.”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s three adopted sons looked at one another.
Should they say yes… or should they say yes?
Shaking his head, Chen Biao sighed.
“I feel sorry for Marshal Zhu’s eldest legitimate son, whoever he is. At such a young age, he’ll already have so many older brothers. Tsk tsk. Once Marshal Zhu becomes Emperor, all those adopted sons will carry the imperial surname. Won’t he make them princes? The future Crown Prince will suddenly have to support dozens of older brothers who aren’t even related to him by blood. That’s just too miserable. Luckily, my dad only has Brother Ying as an adopted son. Brother Ying! Don’t worry! I’ll definitely be able to support you in the future!”
Chen Ying replied softly, “…No need. I’ll support you.”
Including Xu Da, no one could laugh anymore.
At first, they had only been amused that Zhu Yuanzhang kept adopting members of the Chen family’s relatives, making Chen Biao feel threatened enough to volunteer himself as an adopted son—a political hostage.
But Chen Biao’s latest remark exposed a far greater problem.
Exactly.
Simply adopting sons wasn’t unusual. Zhang Shicheng and the others all had dozens or even hundreds of adopted sons.
But Marshal Zhu not only adopted them—he also changed all their surnames and gave them generation names under the Zhu clan.
That meant they were being entered into the Zhu family genealogy.
It didn’t matter much now.
But once Marshal Zhu became Emperor…
Would he really place dozens of unrelated princes above Biao’er’s head and make him support them?
Chen Biao looked around in confusion.
“Why do you all suddenly look so miserable?”
Xu Da replied, “Biao’er… you’ve really pointed out a huge problem.”
Chen Biao looked even more puzzled.
“It’s such an obvious problem. How could the Marshal not have thought of it himself? If he’s happy with it, why are you all worrying?”
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…”
When I started adopting sons, I really hadn’t thought that far ahead.
Chen Biao continued, “Besides, even if the future Crown Prince suffers because of it, what does that have to do with you?”
Everyone: “…”
It has everything to do with you, Biao’er!
“Oh, right,” Chen Biao said. “Everyone keeps talking about this nameless Crown Prince. So what’s the Crown Prince actually called? Dad, remember to avoid his name when you name my younger brothers.”
Zhu Yuanzhang replied, “…I don’t know. Marshal Zhu keeps his son hidden very carefully. None of us know what his children are called.”
Chen Biao nodded.
“Oh.”
Forget it. Even if they accidentally used the same name, once the Emperor ascended the throne, the court would announce the naming taboo to the entire realm. There was no need for them to go out of their way to curry favor.
Looking at them, Chen Biao asked, “Why are you all still standing around me? Isn’t the Marshal holding a meeting? Aren’t you going to be late? Hurry up! Don’t keep the Marshal waiting, or he’ll get angry and have you caned!”
Like wooden puppets, Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da, and the three adopted sons marched away in perfect unison.
Chen Biao watched them leave in bewilderment.
“Uncle, what’s wrong with Dad and the others?”
Li Zhen answered in a heavy tone, “Biao’er, you’ve hit the heart of the matter. Once Marshal Zhu ascends the throne, he certainly won’t allow the imperial Zhu dynasty to have dozens of princes with the imperial surname. So all those adopted sons whose names have already been changed… in the future…”
Chen Biao’s little topknot nearly stood straight up in fright.
“In the future… what? Surely the Marshal won’t execute all of his adopted sons?”
Li Zhen gently smoothed down his puffed-up little topknot.
“Probably not. Looking on the bright side, he may simply restore their original names. Looking on the darker side, he might find excuses to strip them of the Zhu surname. Let’s hope it’s the former.”
Chen Biao patted his chest in relief.
“As long as he doesn’t execute them, it’s fine. If he strips their surnames, then so be it. At worst they’ll lose their titles and positions. As long as I’m here, would my three older brothers ever end up living in hardship because of a punishment like that?”
Li Zhen smiled again.
“Exactly. With Biao’er around, we won’t need Marshal Zhu to support us. It’s getting late. Are you going straight to bed, or do you want to read for a while first?”
Chen Biao muttered to himself.
There aren’t even any glasses in this era. If I become nearsighted, there’s no cure.
“I’m not reading. I’m going to exercise.”
“I want to find a martial arts instructor.”
Li Zhen said worriedly, “You’re still so young. Your bones are soft. There’s no need to practice martial arts.”
Pinching the soft flesh on his belly, Chen Biao replied, “Not martial arts. I just want to make my body stronger and healthier.”
After thinking for a moment, Li Zhen said, “If it’s only for improving your health… the physician who treated you probably knows some exercises for strengthening the body. I’ll go find him.”
Chen Biao nodded.
“Remember to pay him extra! If you’re asking someone to work at night, you have to pay extra!”
Li Zhen laughed.
“All right. I’ll remember.”
…
Zhu Yuanzhang walked silently at the front.
Xu Da followed slightly behind on his right.
The three adopted sons trailed behind them, exchanging nervous glances.
Actually, Chen Wenzheng and Li Bao’er weren’t all that nervous. They were both related to Zhu Yuanzhang by blood, so it wouldn’t matter much if they stopped being adopted sons.
But Chen Ying was an orphan whose parents—and even ancestral home—were unknown. And he was so close to Chen Biao.
If he left the Chen family…
No, probably not. Biao’er was just as attached to Wenying. The Marshal would surely consider Biao’er’s feelings.
As they approached the brilliantly lit meeting hall of the temporary Marshal’s residence, Xu Da spoke.
“Marshal, find an excuse to let your adopted sons return to their original families sooner rather than later. Otherwise, if you only issue the order after becoming Emperor, those adopted sons who’ve already earned great merit may become dissatisfied.”
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.
“When I announce the new Well-Field System, I’ll also say that seeing so many entire families wiped out in Yangzhou moved me deeply. I’ll order all adopted sons to return to their birth families and continue their ancestral lines.”
“Fourth Uncle, what about Wenying?” Chen Wenzheng asked anxiously. “He doesn’t remember where his family came from!”
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Chen Ying.
“You really don’t remember?”
Chen Ying immediately knelt and kowtowed.
“I truly don’t remember!”
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.
“If we trace the route you used while begging, we should be able to find out.”
Chen Ying kowtowed again.
“I am only Father and Mother’s son.”
Zhu Yuanzhang was about to speak again when Chen Wenzheng pulled Chen Ying to his feet.
“Fourth Uncle, stop making things difficult for Wenying. Even if you want to send him away, would Biao’er agree? Biao’er is even closer to Wenying than he is to me, his own cousin.”
Zhu Yuanzhang had been trying to maintain a solemn expression, but his nephew ruined it.
“Then we’ll change your surname back to Chen for now. Once Biao’er ascends the throne, he’ll grant you the Zhu surname again. Wenzheng! You really need to work on that temper…”
Chen Wenzheng nodded repeatedly.
“Mm-hmm! I’ll change back to Chen too. Heh! Then only Bao’er will still be surnamed Li. We’ll isolate him!”
Li Bao’er rolled his eyes dramatically.
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered.
“The Chen family has grown too powerful. It needs to send a hostage so Marshal Zhu can rest easy. I think you’re perfect. You’ll keep the Zhu surname and remain Zhu Wenzheng.”
Chen Wenzheng: “…”
Li Bao’er burst into laughter.
“That’s right. You can be the Marshal’s hostage in Biao’er’s place.”
Even Chen Ying couldn’t help laughing.
Xu Da smiled.
“All right, enough fooling around. We’re here. Put on the proper act. Especially you, Marshal—you should turn back into Zhu Yuanzhang.”
Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled softly, rested his right hand on the saber at his waist, his expression darkened, and he strode forward with the bearing of a tiger and a dragon.
Xu Da likewise straightened his face, returning to his calm, impassive demeanor.
As for the three adopted sons…
They were just junior officers who hadn’t yet earned any great achievements. As long as they kept their heads down, who would pay attention to them?
Several commanders were already waiting inside the hall.
Song Lian and Ye Zheng, the newly joined civil officials, had also been summoned because there weren’t enough literate men present. Their task was to record the proceedings.
Keeping meeting records had been something Chen Biao had casually suggested, and Zhu Yuanzhang had remembered it.
In the future, those records would become part of the historical archives, preventing later generations from fabricating whatever they pleased.
The three adopted sons quietly joined the ranks of the younger officers.
Zhu Yuanzhang took the seat at the head of the hall.
Xu Da and Chang Yuchun sat below him on the left and right respectively.
Looking at the arrangement, Song Lian and Ye Zheng couldn’t help twitching at the corners of their mouths.
For some reason, it felt as though they had wandered into the stronghold of a mountain bandit king.
Zhu Yuanzhang skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.
“Now that my territory has expanded, it’s time to discuss land redistribution.”
Every commander immediately straightened in his seat and perked up his ears.
Most of Zhu Yuanzhang’s commanders had come from poor families. Even though they now possessed piles of gold and silver, they still yearned for farmland.
If the Marshal was distributing land to the common people…
Surely he’d also distribute land to us meritorious officers, wouldn’t he?
Song Lian and Ye Zheng exchanged surprised glances before immediately focusing their attention as well, ready to offer suggestions at any moment.
Land distribution was the very foundation upon which a new regime was built. It would largely determine the direction that regime would take over the next hundred years.
After the Yuan Dynasty was established, aside from allowing its own nobles to seize land, it did not continue the governing practices of previous Huaxia dynasties. Instead, it adopted a tax farming system, similar to the feudal lord system in Europe.
Under tax farming, the central government did not directly administer local regions. It simply collected taxes. Tax quotas were contracted out to local gentry and wealthy merchants. As long as they paid the required amount, the central government did not care what they did in their territories.
This policy completely destroyed the centralized local administration that had existed since the Qin and Han dynasties.
From then on, imperial authority no longer reached the villages. Local affairs were decided by local strongmen.
That was also one of the main reasons why, at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, poor Mongols in the north rebelled against Yuan rule, while Han landlords and local gentry in the south largely supported it.
Under Yuan rule, local strongmen were much like European feudal lords, exercising real control over their own territories.
The poison this left behind ran deep.
The Grain Chief System that Zhu Yuanzhang would establish in the future was intended to rebuild the central government’s authority over local administration.
Unfortunately, once that system lost an enlightened ruler with an iron will—and an even sharper blade—it quickly decayed, bringing countless hardships upon the common people.
Later emperors also kept stripping authority away from the Grain Chiefs and transferring it to local officials. The Grain Chief System survived in name only. Instead of restraining local tyrants, it became another tool for them to oppress the poor.
The Zhu Yuanzhang of history instinctively understood that the central government needed stronger control over local regions to restrain powerful families from exploiting the people.
But he did not understand the root of the problem.
Song Lian and Ye Zheng did.
The people depended on food; the nation depended on grain.
At the heart of every issue was grain—and behind grain was the land that produced it.
So if a regime wished to govern the countryside effectively, the first requirement was a workable land policy that allowed the central government to intervene in local affairs.
Zhu Yuanzhang had barely received any formal education.
Could he really produce such a policy?
Song Lian and Ye Zheng studied him carefully.
In their minds, this was the first true test they had set for Zhu Yuanzhang.
Seated at the head of the room, Zhu Yuanzhang pulled out a thick stack of papers and cleared his throat.
“I have decided to implement the Well-Field System.”
His voice rang through the hall like thunder.
But only Song Lian and Ye Zheng were truly thunderstruck. Their bodies trembled slightly, and they were too shocked to speak.
The other generals simply scratched their heads, looking completely bewildered.
“Commander, what’s this Well-Field System thing you’re talking about?” one general asked. “We ain’t read as many books as you. We can’t understand it.”
Most of the generals nodded vigorously.
A few pretended they understood.
Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table and cursed.
“Didn’t I tell you all to hurry up and study? When you study, don’t you read Mencius? The Well-Field System is right there in Mencius!”
Xu Da stared straight ahead with perfect composure while complaining inwardly.
Yeah, sure. Didn’t you all read Mencius? You read it too, Commander, and you still had to ask Biao’er what the Well-Field System even was.
The generals shrank their necks after being scolded and hurriedly nodded while patting their chests in promise.
We’ll study! We’ll definitely start studying tomorrow!
But… what the heck is the Well-Field System?
Looking at his fierce battlefield commanders—who instantly turned into clueless fools the moment books were mentioned—Zhu Yuanzhang felt utterly embarrassed.
He took several deep breaths, suppressing the urge to kick every last one of them in the rear.
Then he said gravely, “Master Song and Master Ye should both know the Well-Field System. Would you kindly explain it to this group of ignorant idiots?”
Song Lian exchanged a glance with Ye Zheng.
Ye Zheng gestured politely.
“Please.”
The school of thought Song Lian studied advocated restoring the Well-Field System. No one knew it better than he did.
After observing the generals and gauging just how little they knew, Song Lian explained the Well-Field System in the plainest language possible.
When he finished, he hesitated briefly before adding a little of his own commentary, explaining both its advantages and its shortcomings.
Its greatest advantage was naturally that it curbed land concentration, allowing ordinary people to have fields to cultivate.
Its greatest obstacle was equally obvious.
Every wealthy person under Heaven would oppose it.
The generals were dumbfounded.
All land belonged to the state?
We could only farm it, but it wouldn’t belong to us?
If we were still poor peasants, this system would actually be pretty good. At least we wouldn’t have to worry about landlords stealing our fields someday.
But we weren’t poor anymore.
We wanted to seize other people’s land too!
Although they all thought this, none dared say it aloud.
Instead, they tactfully argued that the resistance would simply be too great.
“The landlords and gentry will definitely oppose it fiercely.”
“We can’t possibly kill them all… can we?”
After speaking, they nervously looked toward Zhu Yuanzhang.
Based on what they knew of him…
If Zhu Yuanzhang truly insisted on implementing the Well-Field System, he just might slaughter every landlord and scholar-gentry who opposed it.
Song Lian also looked toward Zhu Yuanzhang.
The Well-Field System was his lifelong hope.
It was the ideal system he believed could solve the injustice of the world.
Yet despite generations of great Confucian scholars advocating it, it had never been restored across China.
Its flaws and the resistance it faced were so overwhelming that even Song Lian regarded it as nothing more than an impossible ideal.
Was Zhu Yuanzhang truly going to implement it?
Song Lian clenched his fists.
He held almost no hope.
Zhu Yuanzhang might dare offend the Neo-Confucian scholars of the Cheng-Zhu school, but he would never dare offend every landlord and powerful family in the realm.
The gentry possessed wealth, grain, and men.
If cornered, any one of them could raise an army in these chaotic times.
Yet somewhere deep inside Song Lian, a tiny spark of hope remained.
If Zhu Yuanzhang truly dared carry out the Well-Field System…
Even if it meant becoming the enemy of the entire world…
Even if it doomed him to eternal ruin…
Song Lian would accompany him to that ruin.
His voice trembled.
“Commander… if you implement the Well-Field System, you will make every wealthy man in the realm your enemy.”
“I beg you…”
“Please reconsider.”
He raised both clasped hands before him and bowed deeply until his body was nearly parallel with the ground.
Zhu Yuanzhang swept his gaze across the anxious generals opposing him.
The words from the Heavenly Book flashed through his mind.
Why could the peasant class never overthrow the landlord class?
Because once they rebelled and gained power and wealth, their class changed as well.
They ceased to be peasants.
They became landlords.
He had once wondered why the weak, after becoming strong, would turn around and oppress those weaker than themselves.
How could human hearts change so easily?
The Heavenly Book had given him the answer.
Class.
So… the future “Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of Great Ming” whom Biao’er had described becoming so cruel and tyrannical…
Had he gone mad because he became the greatest landlord of them all, desperately protecting the interests of his own class?
But the current Zhu Yuanzhang was not yet that mad Emperor of Great Ming.
Since becoming Chen Guorui, he had earned mountains of wealth.
Gold.
Silver.
Jewels.
Fine robes.
Delicacies.
He possessed them all.
Yet he did not indulge himself.
As long as he had clothes to wear and food to eat, that was enough.
Even the most magnificent jewels grew tiresome after looking at them for too long.
He wanted something that brought a greater sense of accomplishment.
Once, becoming Emperor had been his greatest dream.
But after reading the Heavenly Book…
Even being Emperor no longer seemed that extraordinary.
I truly want to become a great sage admired for ten thousand generations.
It would be even better if the descendants of my Zhu family replaced the descendants of Confucius as the hereditary Dukes Yansheng who preside over Confucian rites.
Wait… Zhu Zi?
Not Zhu Xi.
Me—Zhu Yuanzhang. Or my son, Zhu Biao!
Closing his eyes, Zhu Yuanzhang let his thoughts wander for a moment before sighing heavily.
“The reason all of you oppose this…”
“…is because you’ve all become men of power.”
“You’ve become just like those landlords who once stole our land.”
“And now…”
“…you want to seize other people’s land as well.”
The noisy hall instantly fell silent.
Not a single general uttered a word.
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.
“Master Song.”
“You may sit down first.”
Song Lian straightened up.
Looking at the loneliness on Zhu Yuanzhang’s face, he remembered Li Shanchang’s tearful words.
First he condemned scholars for supporting foot-binding.
Then he insisted on sacrificing surrendered generals to console the spirits of Yangzhou’s dead.
Now he wanted to restore the Well-Field System.
Commander Zhu…
Not every righteous thing can actually be accomplished.
The other generals also looked at Zhu Yuanzhang’s lonely expression, and their hearts grew heavy.
Chang Yuchun slowly clenched both fists.
For some reason…
He felt as though Zhu Yuanzhang’s words had been directed at him.
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed again.
“Do you all remember why you followed me in rebellion?”
“Great ambitions?”
“Saving the empire?”
“No.”
“We weren’t that noble.”
“We simply couldn’t survive anymore.”
“I’ve often thought about it.”
“If my family had still owned land…”
“If my parents and elder brothers hadn’t starved to death…”
“Maybe I would’ve spent my entire life farming.”
“Or perhaps my family would’ve tightened their belts and somehow sent me to study for the imperial examinations.”
“But no matter what…”
“I never would’ve rebelled.”
“If the monastery where I stayed hadn’t burned down, I probably would’ve become nothing more than a smooth-talking old monk.”
“At most, I’d have cheated the common people out of a few offerings.”
“The thought of rebellion…”
“Of living every day with my head on the executioner’s block…”
“I would’ve never dared imagine it.”
“I was like that.”
“And all of you were too.”
Zhu Yuanzhang looked once more at every general under his command.
“As long as there was food to eat…”
“I’m not even talking about eating your fill.”
“As long as you didn’t starve…”
“Who would’ve chosen to live with a blade at your throat every day?”
The generals all lowered their heads.
It was true.
But…
Zhu Yuanzhang declared,
“I’ll say this plainly.”
“I haven’t proclaimed myself king yet.”
“But my goal is to become Emperor.”
“I will become Emperor.”
“And every one of you sitting here will become founding heroes of the dynasty.”
The generals all jerked their heads up.
Zhu Yuanzhang stood and paced back and forth twice with his hands clasped behind his back.
“I am establishing this system not to strip you of the chance to become wealthy.”
“I simply want every ordinary person under Heaven to have enough food to survive.”
“So that our descendants won’t one day be slaughtered by another generation of desperate poor people.”
“Do you understand?”
Xu Da immediately stood.
Keeping a straight face, he said,
“Commander!”
“When I first followed you into rebellion, I already said I’d obey you in everything!”
“If you say this is the way, then this is the way!”
“I believe you’ll never let your brothers suffer!”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes reddened.
He grasped Xu Da’s hands tightly.
“Good brother!”
Seeing Xu Da seize the initiative, the other generals hurried to follow.
“Commander… you know me. Outside of fighting, my brain’s about as useful as a pig’s… ah! I didn’t mean you’re a pig! Dog’s brain! Dog’s brain! I really don’t understand any of this. Just tell us what to do!”
“The Commander is right. We used to be poor ourselves. How can we steal land from other poor people? If the land belongs to the state, then so be it. We’ll still be managing plenty of land as meritorious officials.”
“Exactly! Why do people want private land? So they can leave it to their descendants. But children and grandchildren have their own fortunes to make! Why should they enjoy the rewards we fought for in piles of corpses? Let them earn it themselves!”
“Commander, we’ll follow your lead!”
Chang Yuchun looked at the generals enthusiastically pounding the tables.
He was deeply shaken.
These people truly believed in Zhu Yuanzhang.
Blindly.
Completely.
Why?
Why?
Because Zhu Yuanzhang had led them out of misery?
Chang Yuchun slowly exhaled and stood with cupped fists.
“Commander.”
“I’ll say the same thing as always.”
“In any battle…”
“I’m willing to be your vanguard.”
The other generals all shot Chang Yuchun contemptuous looks.
Since when did you become so eloquent?!
Aren’t we all supposed to be illiterate brutes?
Have you been secretly studying behind our backs?!
“Right, right! Commander, that’s exactly what I meant too!”
“Commander, just go ahead. I don’t understand any of this anyway. I’ll just follow you.”
“So… Commander, how exactly does this Well-Field System work?”
“Do we start by drawing the character ‘井’ on the ground?”
“Idiot! Didn’t you hear what Master Song just explained? It means the fields are arranged like the character ‘井’!”
“You’re the idiot! What’s the difference between arranging fields like the character and drawing the character on the ground?!”
All the joy and emotion filling Zhu Yuanzhang’s heart instantly cooled when he heard what his generals were arguing about.
It was…
Just…
So incredibly embarrassing.
These are the founding heroes of my future Great Ming Empire?
A bunch of illiterates?
Absolutely not!
Zhu Yuanzhang silently resolved to force every one of them to study.
Then he tapped the table.
“Quiet.”
Every general immediately covered his own mouth.
The corner of Zhu Yuanzhang’s eye twitched.
Xu Da rolled his eyes.
Song Lian and Ye Zheng exchanged another glance.
Both saw the same expression on the other’s face—
Utter helplessness…
Mixed with a trace of… affection?
The generals under Commander Zhu…
Were actually rather…
Interesting.
They seemed like people who would be easy to get along with.
“The state ownership of all land is merely the foundation of the system,” Zhu Yuanzhang continued. “If the government could reclaim land at any moment, the people wouldn’t farm with peace of mind. So I made some changes.”
“The land will instead be contracted to the people for thirty-year terms.”
“Every thirty years, the land will be reassessed.”
“Those still alive will simply have their contracts renewed for another thirty years.”
Now Zhu Yuanzhang began explaining the actual contents of the “Zhu-style Well-Field System.”
His son had once told him:
If you want to open a window, first announce that you’re going to tear the whole roof off.
What he hadn’t expected was that after stirring his poor brothers’ emotions a little, they had all agreed to tear off the roof.
Many of the arguments he had prepared were no longer necessary.
As Zhu Yuanzhang explained the details of his “Zhu-style Well-Field System,” the generals gradually relaxed.
When they first heard that all land would belong to the state, they had been terrified.
They had simply trusted Zhu Yuanzhang on instinct.
But after hearing about the thirty-year contracts—and that the remaining contract period could even be transferred—they all breathed sighs of relief.
In the Song Dynasty, people became adults at twenty.
How many lived another full thirty years after that?
For most people, this effectively meant they would have land for life.
And if someone lived to fifty, their contract would simply be renewed for another thirty years.
That practically meant the land could remain in the family for generations.
Families would certainly take better care of their elderly.
Women would also receive land.
Parents would no longer kill baby girls simply because they couldn’t afford to raise them.
With more women surviving in the countryside, ordinary farmers would have a much better chance of finding wives.
Brilliant!
The generals’ eyes lit up.
Song Lian was practically having trouble breathing.
Ye Zheng kept patting his back.
“Calm down! Calm down!”
Song Lian suddenly leaped to his feet.
“Calm down my foot! How am I supposed to stay calm?!”
“Commander!”
“May I ask which great sage gave you this idea?”
His voice was hoarse.
His eyes were bloodshot.
“I beg you…”
“You must introduce him to me!”
The moment he finished speaking, Song Lian actually dropped to his knees and kowtowed.
Zhu Yuanzhang replied,
“I… just thought it up myself…”
Ye Zheng sighed.
He too knelt and kowtowed.
“I am willing to devote my life to serving you, Commander. I would willingly sacrifice everything. I ask only that you grant me one opportunity to meet this great sage!”
Zhu Yuanzhang said helplessly,
“I already told you, it was me…”
Among the simple-minded generals, someone whispered—or at least thought he was whispering—in a voice loud enough for the whole room to hear,
“Commander… when you say that…”
“…do you believe it yourself?”
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…”
Then if I tell you that this great sage is my five-year-old son… would any of you believe that?