Ming Dynasty: If Hai Rui Is Missing, Jiajing Will Not Be Restored

In the 20th year of Jiajing, Xiyuan Xiu Xuan did not go to court, but he controlled the cabinet and checked Yandang and Qingliu. The treasury was empty, and even the salaries of officials in the capital and the money for rebuilding palaces and Hu Zongxian's fight against the Japanese were spent. The Yan Party proposed to convert rice into mulberry in Zhejiang to enrich the national treasury. The Zhejiang officialdom wanted to take advantage of the implementation of national policies to annex land and make a profit. They brought about the case of destroying embankments and flooding the fields that shocked the government and the public. They collaborated with Shen Yishi, the richest man in the Ming Dynasty, to buy the fields of the people in the disaster-stricken areas at low prices. In order to stop the Yan Party from plundering the people, Qingliu sent Hai Rui to be the magistrate of Chun'an County. After taking office, Hai Rui enforced the law impartially and did not conform to the complicity of Zhejiang officialdom. Was framed by Shangguan. The Taiyamen concocted a fake case of Qi Dazhu's Japanese communication to kill Hai Rui, but Hai Rui found out. After the destruction of embankments and flooding of fields was revealed, the imperial court appointed Hai Rui as a jury officer and took down two corrupt officials, the governor of Zhejiang and Zhejiang Zhitai. The incident involved Yan Shifan, a core member of the Yan Party, and Gong Li. Jiajing, Si Lijian, Yan Dang and Qingliu conducted tests, pulls, checks and balances, and decisive battles. In the end, Jiajing just raised the sword high and then gently lowered it, killing several local officials without deeply interfering with Yan Dang and Si Lijian. Later, public dissatisfaction spread. Jiajing killed Yan Shifan and confiscated his family property to express the anger of the people. Hai Rui was later transferred to the Ministry of Household Affairs, gave Jiajing a security guard, and cursed Jiajing. He also advised Jiajing to return to his lost ways, not to practice Taoism, and to focus on state affairs. Jiajing sent Hai Rui to prison, and the court officials overwhelmingly defended Hai Rui. Jiajing finally came to his senses, but died soon after. Before his death, he told King Yu that Hai Rui was the sharp sword of the Ming Dynasty and must be used in the reform. If the court has no money, should we rob the people, the merchants, or the officials?