Jiajing Inherits the Ming

Regarding the Jiajing Emperor's governance, Tian Shu's *A Study of the Jiajing Reforms*, even Lin Qian's *The Great Biography of the Jiajing Emperor*, which is quite negative, doesn't deny Jiajing's early governance. Hu Fan's *Biography of the Jiajing Emperor* records both official and unofficial histories, but still maintains a positive attitude towards Jiajing's early period.

Dao Ye was originally highly intelligent, and in the early stages he was a passionate young man who worked hard to build his career. Later, he was probably tricked by an old fox who was respectful on the surface but stabbed him in the back. His sons died one by one. After adopting the strategy of "two dragons not wanting to meet," his sons stopped dying. If there was no conspiracy, no one would believe it. No wonder Dao Ye went into hiding later!

Without addressing the issues of ideology and consciousness, merely reforming systems and the economy will only cause this modern engine to break down the wheels of the old era.

Upon assuming power, he immediately began surveying land, lacking real control. This created an adversarial relationship between himself and the bureaucratic elites, resulting in extremely low productivity. He assumed everyone was a Wang Anshi or Zhang Juzheng. To generate revenue, an agrarian civilization would be far more effective.

Simply reducing the privileges of the imperial clan has limited effect. If there are more imperial clansmen in the future, they can be arranged to form the "Zhu Family Army" (the lowest-ranking imperial clansmen beyond the fifth degree of kinship have the least risk, and having them pay blood taxes can reduce some of the population burden).

Without increased productivity, no matter how much the system is reformed, it will eventually collapse with the death of the people who implemented it! No matter how evenly a regular steamed bun is divided, it's not enough to feed ten people!

In the Ming Dynasty, only one person could command the wind and rain: Lingxiao Shangqing Tonglei Yuanyang Miaoyi Feiyuan Zhenjun, Jiutian Hongjiao Puji Shengling Zhangyin Yanggongguo Dadao Siren Ziji Xianweng Yiyang Zhenren Yuanxu Xuanying Kaihua Fumo Zhongxiao Dijun, Taishang Daluo Tianxian Ziji Changsheng Shengzhi Zhaoling Tongsanyuan Zhengying Yuxu Zongguan Wulei Dazhenren Xuandu Jing Wanshou Dijun

The conspiracies and intrigues in Jiangnan are endless, it's exhausting to watch. They cause trouble but don't deal with the troublemakers; the knife is already in place but they just don't strike. It's inexplicable.

The beginning was alright, but the later parts became like a mortal cultivating immortality—too violent, with constant killing. That's not how politics is played.

Why did Emperor Jiajing pursue immortality? First, a palace maid almost strangled him to death; second, fires frequently broke out in the palace. Secondly, almost all of his sons had died; when he died, only one sick son remained alive. Thirdly, there was the controversy surrounding the Great Rites Controversy. Since the ministers were dissatisfied, the only recourse was to use the obedient and treacherous faction.