Chapter 138 The household registration system of the Ming Dynasty is definitely not a caste system.

"In the early years of Hongwu, when the Ming Dynasty was just established, the old man ordered a nationwide investigation."

"In order to maintain civil order, restore agricultural production, and protect the source of national tax revenue."

"But the old man never thought that the household registration system he designed with full confidence would not only fail to guarantee civil order, but would even lead to riots."

"Take the north for example. Under the household registration system established by the old man, farmers are farmers, doctors are doctors, and craftsmen are craftsmen."

"Then you never thought that every industry has its ups and downs. If the industry is not doing well, the craftsmen will not be able to continue working and will not be able to make a living."

"But due to the household registration system established by the old man, they can only be craftsmen for the rest of their lives. If the father is a craftsman, the son will also be a craftsman, forever and ever."

"So once the craftsmen's industry makes them unable to make a living, what else can they do?"

"The only options are starvation and becoming a refugee, and then starvation and death again."

Zhu Gang looked at Zhu Biao, who looked shocked, and continued speaking as they walked.

Although the voice was light, it was heavier than a thousand pounds, and it made Zhu Biao feel heavy in his heart.

Indeed, when Zhu Yuanzhang first considered the system, he only sought two things: order and production.

Because the people had experienced the chaos at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and were displaced, it would cause great instability and turmoil.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang perfected a household registration system that could maintain civil order and restore agricultural production.

It was hoped that this would allow the people to no longer be displaced. Moreover, at that time, the court's expenditures were almost stretched to the limit because it had to help the people rebuild their homes.

But everything is moving in a good direction, and this is also because of the household registration system. The people are all doing their own jobs and the society is relatively stable.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang also overlooked a fact, that is, the household registration system he established meant that if the people could not afford to eat, they could not engage in other industries.

This is equivalent to walking onto a dead end, and no matter which dynasty or era, the people's will to survive is vividly remembered.

So they would go into exile, begging along the way in order to survive.

And if this happens in the later period and the dynasty's land annexation becomes serious, it will cause a large number of people to become refugees. How can the world not perish?

"But the imperial examination of my Ming Dynasty will be reopened one day."

"As long as they are not from a lowly family, anyone can participate in the imperial examination, which naturally includes farmers, military households, and artisan households."

"Besides, this is the rule set by the old man after he established the household registration system."

"So as long as they work hard, they can also change their background through the imperial examination."

Then, Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Gang and said softly.

Although the household registration system of the Ming Dynasty had its drawbacks, as long as one was not of a lowly class, one had the right to participate in the imperial examinations.

So even if you cannot become a high-ranking official, as long as you work hard, you can become a court official and change your own background.

This is not nonsense, but is based on facts.

Take Zhang Juzheng of the Ming Dynasty for example. Zhang Juzheng, whose courtesy name was Shuda and pseudonym was Taiyue, was born in Jingzhou Wei, Huguang, so he was also called "Zhang Jiangling".

And Zhang Juzheng came from a military household family.

This means that Zhang Juzheng's family belonged to the military category under the Ming Dynasty's household registration system, that is, a family specifically responsible for military service.

Therefore, although Zhang Juzheng came from a military family, he was able to stand out in the imperial examination with his own abilities.

He eventually became an important politician and reformer in the Ming Dynasty, and even served as the chief minister of the cabinet, wielding great power in the government.

It even had a profound impact on the political situation of the Ming Dynasty.

After all, being good at serving the country but poor at managing himself is the best evaluation of Zhang Juzheng.

It also repeatedly explains that loyal ministers and powerful ministers are never contradictory.

I have to mention here that some people in later generations always said that Zhu Yuanzhang established a caste system with four classes of people.

It's really ridiculous and absurd.

First of all you have to understand what caste system is.

The caste system is in a static state, which means that a person's caste identity is determined by his or her birth and remains unchanged throughout his or her life.

This also means that the inferior people will always be inferior people and they will never be able to cross the class line.

But Zhu Yuanzhang's household registration system seems similar to the caste system.

But there was a huge difference here, that is, except for the classes of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans that had been established by the feudal dynasty, as well as the class of commoners, everyone in the Ming Dynasty could take the imperial examination.

Through your own efforts, you can transcend classes.

The caste system will not allow you to cross the class level even if you work hard all your life.

This is an outcome that was destined at birth, full of exploitation and injustice.

Then why couldn’t people of low status take part in the imperial examinations?

Can this all be blamed on Zhu Yuanzhang?

Then why not look for trouble in past dynasties?
I won’t mention anything else. Since the Tang Dynasty, the imperial examination began to flourish, and it was clearly stipulated that there were merchants, sons of criminal families, special types of craftsmen, monks, and Taoists.

Prostitutes, actors, slaves, servants, etc. were not allowed to take part in the imperial examinations.

Then why not cause trouble for the Tang Dynasty?

Why do you have to cause trouble for Zhu Yuanzhang?

Therefore, those who use this to discredit Zhu Yuanzhang have definitely not read the history books carefully, they do it just for the sake of discrediting him.

If you insist on blaming the feudal dynasty on a single emperor, you can only say that it was the limitations of the times that prevented them from looking further ahead.

Think about it, when foreign races invaded the Central Plains and there was nearly a hundred years of turmoil, who stood up to turn the tide, expel the Tartars, and restore the Han dynasty.

In such turbulent times, whether it is politics or current affairs, we must respond decisively.

If he had hesitated even a little, Zhu Yuanzhang would have been instantly drowned by the torrent of history.

As for Zhu Yuanzhang, he had great love for the royal family and intended to use the power of the whole world to support the Zhu family.

From an observer's perspective, no matter what Zhu Yuanzhang's original intention was, even if he didn't think about it, he was ultimately wrong.

If you stand in Zhu Yuanzhang's perspective, you will find that the Zhu family's foundation is weak. If he does not use this opportunity to strengthen the royal family, how can he consolidate his rule?
Furthermore, when his son made mistakes, Zhu Yuanzhang was often lenient.

Then why can't you put yourself in their shoes and think about it. If you were in this position, you would have unparalleled power in your hands, and the power of life and death over the whole world would be in your hands.

But your son has made a mistake, a crime punishable by death by slicing. Can you have the heart to kill your son?

To put it bluntly, there will never be true fairness in a feudal dynasty where imperial power is supreme, because there will never be fairness in the power of this period.

Even if Zhu Yuanzhang hated his son for not living up to his expectations, he couldn't bear to do it. After all, even a tiger won't eat its own cubs, let alone a flesh-and-blood person.

"If one can pass the imperial examination and become an official, even if he is not a genius, he is still a good talent."

"But there are so many people in the world, and the population will increase exponentially in the future."

"Now the tax rate has been adjusted according to the amount of land, and officials and gentry pay taxes together, which has indeed reduced the burden on the people."

"But if things go on like this, with a population that's getting denser and denser, there are only so many acres of land in the world. Who will farm it and who won't? Can you make up your mind?"

"Or do you want to see the people become refugees? Become refugees begging on the streets, living a life worse than death?" "With such people and such a world, it is like the water in the lake freezing into ice in the cold winter."

"No matter how good your life is, you can't change your origins. What should you be?"

"Is it possible for a world like this to go further?"

"Moreover, this household registration system forces people to 'take root' at their doorsteps and they cannot move around at will. It's like drawing a circle for people and making them stay inside it."

"The advantage of doing this is that the court can clearly know where the people are, making it easier to collect taxes and manage them."

"But over time, problems will arise, and this will not only affect the world economy, but will also cause the people to lose their vitality."

Zhu Gang still shook his head.

To put it bluntly, such a household registration system is not practical, cannot reduce the burden on the people, and will only intensify social conflicts.

"You mean that we should not exacerbate the conflict, and we should loosen the constraints on the people and let them act freely, right?"

Zhu Biao thought for a moment before turning to look at Zhu Gang.

"That's right. You can do whatever you want. If you can't continue to be a craftsman, you can go farming. If farmers don't want to farm, they can also become craftsmen or do business."

Zhu Gang smiled and nodded.

"Can the imperial court still control it?"

Hearing this, a hint of worry flashed in Zhu Biao's eyes.

It is not impossible for the imperial court to relax restrictions on the people, but if it does so, the intensity of control will become weaker and weaker, which can easily lead to social unrest.

"The Ming Dynasty is moving forward, so it will get better and better, and the future will be the same."

"As long as your court's policies are good, the people will be better managed. After all, if they don't want to be managed, they are essentially refugees."

"Then you won't be able to enjoy the imperial court's policies, and good life won't just fall from the sky, so instead of restricting management, it's better to manage voluntarily."

"As long as they understand that if they follow the Ming Dynasty, they will live a well-off life."

"Besides, the household registration system is being rebuilt, not abolished."

"In short, whether you move your family or go out to work, you need to report to the local government."

"Thus, I can obtain the symbol of my identity as a citizen of the Ming Dynasty. This way, I can enjoy the policies of the imperial court and many preferential treatments."

"The common people are not fools, so they naturally cannot be unwilling."

"After all, we set the rules. Just like without Ming identity credentials, they will be restricted in what they do."

"This will also ensure the rights and interests of citizens of the Ming Dynasty."

"And if we let these young people go out and try their luck, there will be many smart people among them, so they will definitely be able to thrive."

"Then why can't this promote economic development for our Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Gang stopped again, turned to look at Zhu Biao and said with a smile: "After all, the current Ming Dynasty is at the forefront of reform and development. Even if it is a pig, as long as it can stand at the outlet of the wind, it can take off."

"What should I do, then?"

Zhu Biao nodded thoughtfully, but still asked.

"All of them will be abolished, and the Ming Dynasty will give them opportunities that no previous dynasty has ever given them."

"All dynasties have regarded them as pariahs, but not the Ming Dynasty."

"I just want them to feel grateful to the Ming Dynasty. I just want to tell the world clearly that foreign races have invaded our Central Plains for a hundred years, and the late Yuan Dynasty was a chaotic and turbulent time."

"But after this dynasty's bloodbath, the Han people's country was restored, and the orthodoxy of the world returned, but all the old customs and habits will not be inherited by the Ming Dynasty."

"Because this is a brand new dynasty, one that will no longer be defined by scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans."

"As the famous Tang Dynasty official Wei Zheng said, using copper as a mirror, one can adjust one's attire. Using the past as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of things. Using people as a mirror, one can understand gains and losses."

"My Ming Dynasty is to build a prosperous dynasty on the bones of past dynasties, a dynasty that is people-oriented and people-oriented."

"I want to turn this world upside down. If there are those who disobey me, if there are those who are dissatisfied, they will be met with thunderous wrath. This world will still be the world."

Zhu Gang spread out his fur robe, and his whole body was filled with tyranny that was no less than Zhu Yuanzhang's, and even more so.

To overthrow the feudal customs that have existed since ancient times is equivalent to taking the world's gentry and etiquette and laws on a path that goes against them.

But the Ming Dynasty has millions of armored soldiers, so why should it be afraid of these clowns?

It also confirms that when Zhu Gang returned to the capital, the two brothers and the Crown Prince had a night talk in the Eastern Palace, trying to shake the unchanging sky.

"it is good."

There was a flash of determination in Zhu Biao's eyes, and he nodded heavily.

Politics comes from the barrel of a gun, and since the Ming Dynasty has already embarked on the road of reform, there is absolutely no reason to stop.

Otherwise, we will be crushed to pieces, so only by moving forward together can we fight for a smooth road.

We should fight for a bright and clear sky for the people of this world.

Let all the people in this world understand that when the sun and the moon come together they are bright, and the world has its own justice that can replace the sun and the moon!

"Don't you need to discuss this with the old man?"

Zhu Gang looked at Zhu Biao with interest.

"A true man lives between heaven and earth, how can he be depressed and inferior to others for long?"

"And if I have to go to the old man to discuss everything, then there is no need for me to do this job as the prince."

Zhu Biao smiled meaningfully, then stretched out his hand to catch a snowflake, and then whispered.

"The old man is very lucky to have two sons like us. We always take care of him."

"We still have to clean up his mess everywhere, so let the old man enjoy himself."

A cunning look also flashed in Zhu Gang's eyes.

Cut the Gordian knot and finalize the deal as quickly as possible. Even if Zhu Yuanzhang is furious, everything has been settled and he will just scold them at most.

But for the world, that is enough to stir up huge waves.

It may even intensify the resistance of the gentry and powerful.

Moreover, under such extreme oppression, the gentry and powerful people have no way out, and the only option they have is to rebel.

So instead of playing games with them, confronting them politically, we can slowly weaken them.

It would be better to provoke their resistance, suppress their riots in one fell swoop, and thus completely quell the rebellion of the gentry and powerful.

From then on, the drawbacks of the old methods were eliminated, leaving only their essence, which was combined with the new policies and rituals of the Ming Dynasty to reshape the world's moral character.

"Your Highness, this is the secret report sent by the Secretariat today. Please take a look."

Just as Zhu Gang and Zhu Biao walked to the gate of Concubine Hui's palace, the Jinyiwei came hurriedly and presented a secret memorial.

There is no need to think about it, it must be that Hu Weiyong has done something weird again.

(End of this chapter)