Zhu Di ordered Xia Yuanji to be executed, but he said: "I know that I will die, can I have a grace period of three days to complete the accounts." This sentence is incomprehensible, a person who has been sentenced to death is still worried about the country's financial accounts before he dies? Who is Xia Yuanji, who is such a loyal side? What is the relationship between him and Zhu Di, so that Zhu Di did not execute him in the end? There must be a little-known story behind this. Let's find out.
Natsuharaji's family background and ambitions
Born into a poor farming family, Natsuhara grew up witnessing the farmers around him having to sell their children as commodities in exchange for a warm salary in order to survive the harsh winter. These shocking scenes were deeply engraved in the heart of the young Natsuhara Yoshi.
Despite his poor family, Xia Yuanji was diligent and studious since he was a child, and he was literate in a private school in the village. Due to the limited supply at home, Xia Yuanji can only rely on his own hard work to maintain his studies. He often worked in the fields in his spare time to earn a small tuition fee.
Xia Yuanji's diligent and studious conduct was soon appreciated by the local gentlemen. With the sponsorship of the gentleman, he was able to enter the county school for further study, and since then he has started his career path. Despite this, Xia Yuanji never forgot his family background and those hungry and cold farmers, and he secretly determined that he must change the problem of food and clothing for the common people through his own efforts.
Hard work paid off, Xia Yuanji quickly stood out with his extraordinary talent and perseverance, and won Zhu Yuanzhang's appreciation. Zhu Yuanzhang attached great importance to him and appointed him as the head of the household department, in charge of the country's financial and taxation affairs.
From then on, Xia Yuanji was like a fish in water, and he used the power in his hands to carry out reforms in a big way, and began to rectify the financial and taxation system of the Ming Dynasty. He knew very well that in order to solve the problem of food and clothing for the common people, it was necessary to fundamentally change the tax system and lighten the burden on the peasants.
To this end, Xia Yuanji first abolished the harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes in the early Ming Dynasty, unified the national tax standards, and delegated the collection of taxes to the county level, which was directly responsible for the county officials. This reform has greatly reduced the tax burden on the peasants and effectively curbed the corrupt practices that flow to the higher levels.
After the initial results of the tax system, Xia Yuanji set about reorganizing the state's fiscal expenditure. He strictly controlled the central government's expenditures and invested a large amount of financial resources in livelihood projects such as farmland and water conservancy. Under his auspices, an upsurge of water conservancy construction was set off throughout the country, and a large amount of farmland was effectively irrigated, resulting in a great increase in agricultural production.
In this way, with the unremitting efforts of Xia Yuanji, the financial revenue and expenditure of the Ming Dynasty was finally on the right track, and the lives of the common people were greatly improved. The farmers who were forced to sell their children back then now live a worry-free life, which is exactly Xia Yuanji's long-cherished wish when he was young.
However, just when Xia Yuanji made outstanding contributions to the country's finances and people's livelihood, a turbulent coup d'état quietly came, which brought a huge impact and test to his career. All of this has to start with Zhu Di's plot to usurp the throne...
The entanglement between Xia Yuanji and Zhu Di
Zhu Di's conspiracy to usurp the throne brought a huge impact and test to Xia Yuanji's career. At that time, in order to seize the throne, Zhu Di launched a huge mutiny and attacked Nanjing and other places.
As a royal minister, Xia Yuanji went to Nanjing to inspect the financial and taxation situation in accordance with the will of Zhu Di, the ancestor of the Ming Dynasty. Who knows, not long after he arrived in Nanjing, Zhu Di's rebels had already attacked the city.
The defenders of Nanjing were defeated and soon lost the city. Hundreds of civil and military officials fled for their lives, and only Xia Yuanji sat alone on the street, concentrating on the losses caused by the war to the country's finances.
At this time, Zhu Di personally stepped into the city of Nanjing. Seeing Xia Yuanji's appearance, he was furious and immediately ordered his execution. After all, Xia Yuanji was an important minister of the previous dynasty, and Zhu Di naturally would not show mercy to his subordinates.
In the face of life and death, Xia Yuanji was not afraid at all, he just begged Zhu Di: "Can you give me a grace period of three days and let me finish these accounts?"
Seeing this, Zhu Di couldn't help but laugh dumbly. In his opinion, Xia Yuanji is simply a madman, and he is still worrying about the country's financial accounts before he dies, which is really ridiculous.
However, when Zhu Di took a closer look, he found that what Xia Yuanji was calculating was the loss caused by the war to Nanjing City and the cost of repairing the city. This surprised Zhu Di, he didn't expect that at this critical moment, Xia Yuanji would be so loyal and wholeheartedly for the sake of the country and the people.
Although Zhu Di is resolute, he also knows people well. Seeing that Xia Yuanji loved the people like a son so much, he decided to keep this old minister, and said to Xia Yuanji in person: "Why don't you continue to be your household servant." ＂
When the soldiers around him heard this, they were all surprised. After all, Xia Yuanji was an important minister of the previous dynasty, and Zhu Di kept him without punishment, which was really unexpected.
Some soldiers privately questioned Zhu Di's decision, and Zhu Di explained: "This is the official appointed by the first emperor, what do you think he is doing now? It shows that the first emperor did not recognize the wrong person, such a person will definitely contribute to my Ming Dynasty." ＂
Sure enough, under Zhu Di's appreciation, Xia Yuanji continued to make outstanding contributions to the country's finances and people's livelihood. In the area under his jurisdiction, there has never been an unjust case or excessive taxation, and the common people live and work in peace and contentment.
However, the good times did not last long, and with Zhu Di's insistence on going his own way, building huge projects such as the Yongle Grand Ceremony and the Grand Canal, the national finances once again could not make ends meet. In order to raise military spending, Zhu Di had to increase the tax burden on the peasants, which made Xia Yuanji feel unprecedented pressure and challenges...
Zhu Di's appreciation and reservation of Xia Yuanji
Although Xia Yuanji has made outstanding contributions to the country's finances and people's livelihood, his career has not been smooth sailing. Zhu Di insisted on going his own way, building a large number of construction projects, such as the Yongle Grand Ceremony and the Grand Canal, and the state finances could not make ends meet.
In order to raise military spending, Zhu Di had to increase the tax burden on the peasants. As the head of the household department, Xia Yuanji naturally shouldered a heavy tax responsibility, and he knew that raising taxes would increase the burden on farmers, but Zhu Di turned a deaf ear.
In the face of Zhu Di's stubbornness, Xia Yuanji has repeatedly admonished him, hoping that Zhu Di will think twice. However, Zhu Di was so overjoyed that he ignored Xia Yuanji's admonitions, and instead suspected that he was protecting his shortcomings, and finally ordered Xia Yuanji to be imprisoned.
In this way, a generation of famous ministers Xia Yuanji suffered this catastrophe and was imprisoned in a dark and damp prison. However, even in prison, Xia Yuanji still had a pure heart for the country and the people, and he often gave advice to Zhu Di in prison, hoping to reduce the tax burden on the peasants.
Although Zhu Di is resolute, he also knows people well. He clearly remembered the scene when Xia Yuanji was still calculating the war losses and repair costs before his death in the city of Nanjing. It was this sincerity for the country and the people that made Zhu Di look at Xia Yuanji differently, and finally decided to retain this old minister.
Therefore, although Xia Yuanji was imprisoned, Zhu Di never really punished him. On the contrary, Zhu Di often summoned Xia Yuanji to ask for his opinions and suggestions. Sometimes, Zhu Di would even go to the prison in person to drink and talk with Xia Yuanji and discuss national affairs.
All of this stems from Zhu Di's appreciation and respect for Xia Yuanji. In Zhu Di's view, although Xia Yuanji has a stubborn personality, he is a real pillar of the country, a good courtier who is loyal and serves the country and the people.
It is precisely out of this appreciation that Zhu Di will still give Xia Yuanji the position of Hubu Shangshu and his salary during his imprisonment, and never deprive him of his official position and salary. Even after Xia Yuanji was released from prison, Zhu Di personally restored his original position for him and let him continue to be in charge of the country's financial and taxation powers.
Under the auspices of Xia Yuanji, the fiscal revenue and expenditure of the Ming Dynasty were once again on the right track, and the tax burden of the peasants was also appropriately reduced. All this is thanks to Zhu Di's appreciation and reservation of Xia Yuanji.
However, although Zhu Di valued Xia Yuanji, he couldn't fully follow his advice after all. Zhu Di was so happy that he insisted on the Northern Expedition and seized a larger territory. To do this, he had to again increase the tax burden on the peasants in order to raise military expenses.
Faced with Zhu Di's decision, Xia Yuanji once again admonished, but Zhu Di still turned a deaf ear. In the end, Xia Yuanji had to be forced to go to prison again, and just like that, the career of a generation of famous ministers fell into a trough again...
Zhu Di's reflection before his death and Xia Yuanji's comeback
Zhu Di insisted on going his own way and insisted on the Northern Expedition to seize a larger territory. To do this, he had to again increase the tax burden on the peasants in order to raise military expenses. Faced with Zhu Di's decision, Xia Yuanji once again admonished, but Zhu Di still turned a deaf ear.
Eventually, Natsuhara had to be forced to go to prison again. In this way, the career of this generation of famous ministers fell into a trough again, and he was imprisoned in a dark and damp prison.
However, even in prison, Xia Yuanji still has a pure heart for the country and the people. He often gave advice to Zhu Di in prison, hoping to reduce the tax burden on the peasants and maintain the foundation of the country.
It's a pity that Zhu Di was so happy that he didn't listen to Xia Yuanji's advice at all. He insisted on going his own way, ignoring Xia Yuanji's opposition, and insisted on the Northern Expedition. To do this, he had to increase the tax burden on the peasants in order to raise military expenses.
In this way, under Zhu Di's insistence, the national strength of the Ming Dynasty weakened day by day, and the lives of the peasants became increasingly impoverished due to heavy taxes. However, Zhu Di didn't know it, and still went his own way, obsessed.
It wasn't until his deathbed that Zhu Di realized his mistake. On the sickbed, he recalled those exhortations of Xia Yuanji back then, and suddenly realized that Xia Yuanji's words were so prescient.
Zhu Di was full of remorse, and he finally realized that his single-mindedness had brought heavy disasters to the country and the people. If he had followed Xia Yuanji's advice, the Ming Dynasty might not have declined.
Before dying, Zhu Di said to the prince beside him: "It's all because I didn't listen to Xia Yuanji's words, his way of governing the country is correct." ＂
After Zhu Di's death, the crown prince soon succeeded to the throne and was for Yingzong. As Emperor Xinke, Yingzong knew that the foundation of the country had been destroyed by Zhu Di's willful actions, and he must turn the situation around and revive the country's vitality as soon as possible.
For this reason, the first thing Yingzong did was to release Xia Yuanji, who had been imprisoned for many years. In Yingzong's view, Xia Yuanji is a generation of famous ministers, a real pillar of the country, and he must reuse this loyal old minister.
After his release, Xia Yuanji was once again appointed by Yingzong as the head of the household department, in charge of the country's financial and taxation powers. Under the auspices of Xia Yuanji, the fiscal revenue and expenditure of the Ming Dynasty were once again on the right track, and the tax burden of the peasants was also appropriately reduced.
In this way, a generation of famous ministers Xia Yuanji, after experiencing several captives and blows, finally re-emerged from the mountain and did his part for the country and the people. Until the last moment of his life, Xia Yuanji worked hard for the country and the people, and realized his long-cherished wish when he was young.