The story of Zhu Yuanzhang building an imperial house

One day during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, heavy snow suddenly fell in the capital and the temperature dropped sharply. A few days later, in the morning, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang shouted at a group of civil and military officials with a livid face.

It turned out that the day after the sudden heavy snowfall, Zhu Yuanzhang paid a private visit incognito and walked around the capital for most of the day. The more he watched, the more he became depressed. Yingtianfu, the capital city, originally belongs to the south of the Yangtze River and has a warm climate, but suddenly a heavy snowfall that has never happened in a century came and many homeless people froze to death. Zhu Yuanzhang suppressed his anger and waited for the officials to report to him. But who would have expected that after several days, the civil and military officials would still go to court as if the country was peaceful and the people were safe. Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't bear it any longer, so in the morning he scolded everyone starting from the prime minister.

All the officials listened with trepidation. In fact, some officials wanted to report but did not dare. How to report? Long live the sudden heavy snowfall, which froze many beggars to death. Don't forget that Zhu Yuanzhang was once a beggar. According to Zhu Yuanzhang's suspicious and mean temper, he might be beheaded, so this time all the officials did the same thing: pretending not to know and saying nothing.

Zhu Yuanzhang had scolded enough, and his expression softened a little, and he said: "Since the day I ascended the throne, I have sworn an oath that all people in the world are of my own flesh and blood. But I didn't expect that a heavy snowfall would freeze everything. So many people have died. Come and convey my decree: Choose a vacant land to build houses for the homeless people." The emperor issued the decree in anger. Who dares to delay. From the Minister of the Ministry of Industry to the Yin of Yingtian Prefecture, I was so busy that I wanted to split it into two people. In just over half a year, the houses were built, totaling 260 units. Zhu Yuanzhang personally led hundreds of officials to visit and was very satisfied. A decree was issued to reward the Minister of Industry and others. Then he announced that all the homeless people in Yingtian Mansion would come to live here without paying a penny of rent. Those who could work would be responsible for arranging work by the state. Although they would take care of food, they would not receive wages. The country feeds the old, weak, sick and disabled.

Suddenly, the people in Yingtian Mansion cheered and praised Zhu Yuanzhang's benevolence, and all the officials also shouted "the most benevolent monarch throughout the ages." Among the praises, only Liu Bowen remained silent.

On this day, Liu Bowen asked to see Zhu Yuanzhang. After first praising Zhu Yuanzhang, he changed the subject and said: "Long live benevolence, the best in ancient and modern times. But there is something I don't know whether to say or not."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "If you have something to say, just say it directly, don't beat around the bush. Tell me, do you want to advise me that benevolence should not be abused? Otherwise, I am afraid it will be difficult to govern in the future?"

Liu Bowen said: "Exactly. Lao Tzu once said, 'Heaven and earth are unkind, and treat all things as stupid dogs; saints are unkind, and treat the common people as stupid dogs.' Now our Ming Dynasty was founded not long ago, with a shallow foundation and an empty treasury. This is exactly what happened. "Government by doing nothing, and recuperating with the people. This is a virtuous thing."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and said, "It's really a good idea to govern by doing nothing." Let me tell you, I want to be a capable monarch so that the people of the world can live and work in peace and contentment, and I, the Ming Dynasty officials, also need to be proactive. Want to be an incompetent official? That won't work for me." At this point, he snorted. Then he said, "Just back off, there is no need to say any more."

A few more days passed. In the morning, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly issued another building order and asked Liu Bowen to go to Huating County in person to build the house there. Homeless people build houses. Liu Bowen had no choice but to accept the order.

Just over four months later, Liu Bowen returned to Yingtian Mansion after completing the construction of the house. Unexpectedly, that night, Zhu Yuanzhang was called to the imperial study. Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "Liu Aiqing is going to Huating County. How is the people's livelihood there?" Women, even starving to death, I am very sad."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Then you still insist on doing nothing?"

Liu Bowen glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang. , whispered: "Yes! Inaction does not mean inaction. It means that officials should not give random orders and let the people find their own way to support themselves. Although it seems cruel, it is actually the most kind."

< p> "That's nonsense!" Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry that he almost didn't give Liu Bowen a word, "The people have already sold their sons and daughters, but you still don't do anything."

"Long live!" Liu Bowen was also a little anxious. "I am saying that those who deserve relief must be helped, but everything cannot be supervised by the government. Benevolence cannot be abused, otherwise the country will be weak and the people will be lazy. Once there is a change by then, the country will not be a country."

Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and roared: "Benevolence benefits the people, and punishes officials severely. You have been with me for many years, but you didn't expect that I built houses for the people, but you think that I am indiscriminately practicing benevolent policies!"

Liu Bowen was stunned and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang a little strangely. An inexplicable chill came to his heart - Long live there is something in his words, could it be...

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped roaring and took a breath. The weather finally said: "Okay, please step back. It's better to say less when you officially return to life tomorrow."

Just like that, Liu Bowen returned to Zhu Yuanzhang in the morning. It was really simple and concise. . After Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he issued an order to reward Liu Bowen and the magistrate of Huating County heavily. After the rewards were given, Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the officials and said: "When I was young, I was lonely and helpless, and I knew the hardships of the people's lives. Although I have become the emperor now, the scene when I was young often comes to my dreams." At this point, his voice suddenly changed. Improved a lot, "Preach the decree, I, all counties in the Ming Dynasty, must build houses for homeless people to give them a place to live."

He then pointed to the Minister of Industry and Liu Bowen and said, "You two are solely responsible for this matter." ”

In this way, a large-scale housing construction movement was launched across the country. But within two months, news started pouring in from all over the country. The Minister of Industry and Liu Bowen immediately grinned. It was time to take action. It’s really not much. It’s either “our government’s conditions don’t meet the requirements” or “our county has difficulties that we can’t solve.” To sum it up, it’s really just two words – no money!

Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Liu Bowen hurriedly reported to Zhu Yuanzhang: "In accordance with your wishes, how should we solve it?"

The Minister of Industry said cautiously: "In my humble opinion, this is nothing more than an excuse for officials everywhere. Just let it resolve itself. "

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled noncommittally and said, "Did Aiqing ever encounter this situation when he was building a house in Yingtian Mansion?"

The Minister of Industry suddenly trembled and said : “When Yingtianfu built a house, all the money was taken care of by Yingtianfu Yin, but I don’t know much about it.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "In that case, why don't you think about it carefully and see if you can remember it." At this point, he looked at Liu Bowen and said, "What can Liu Aiqing do? It doesn't matter." "

Liu Bowen lowered his head, suddenly lifted his clothes, knelt down and said, "I deserve death for my crime." People's livelihood in Huating County was difficult, the official treasury was empty, and there was no way to build houses, so the ministers took it upon themselves to make false claims that the houses had been built, but in fact they had not been built at all.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Liu Bowen and said: "That's why after you came back, you told me what to do by doing nothing, and benevolent government should not be abused."

Liu Bowen nodded and said: "Yes, I don't know the suffering of the people if I don't join the people. I don't want to disturb or harm the people anymore." Therefore, deceiving the emperor and neglecting the emperor is a crime of death!"

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said, "I already know these things. Moreover, you and the Huating County Magistrate also distributed all my reward money to the people of Huating County. Since you care about the people, I will not punish you. After saying that, Zhu Yuanzhang turned to the Minister of the Ministry of Industry and asked, "Have you remembered it, and how long will you have to think about it?"

Now the Minister of the Ministry of Industry is trembling with fear, and his face is as white as a piece of paper. , Plop also knelt down, and cried: "I am guilty of death, I am guilty of death!"

Zhu Yuanzhang shouted with a livid face: "You and Yingtian Fuyin, in the name of building houses for the people, corrupted the law and enriched their own pockets. , do you think I don’t know? Now I know it’s a capital crime after hitting the south wall. Okay, I will help you, come here! Put the Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Ying Tianfu Yin into death row, and they will be executed in the future. "

The next day, in the morning, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an order to stop the "house-building movement" and ordered Liu Bowen to patrol the country on his behalf. If any officials found to be corrupt and disturbing the people in the name of building houses were found, they would all be taken down.< /p>

Finally, Zhu Yuanzhang shouted in a fierce voice: "What worries me the most is that the people of our Ming Dynasty have no clothes, no food, and no shelter. Since you have become officials of my Ming Dynasty, you should share my worries. Don't become a corrupt official. Otherwise, I would rather bear the infamy of a tyrant, but I will definitely take your lives and kill all the corrupt officials in the world!"

In this way, what was originally a "house-building movement" eventually turned into a campaign. However, no matter what, Zhu Yuanzhang was the only emperor in Chinese history who forced officials to build houses for poor people.