Ming Dynasty manuscript, Jiajing Administrative Examples

Author: Editor-in-Chief: Ming Fanqin / et al
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-12-01
Features: Excerpt:
On the day of the meeting regarding the disaster in Jingluwei, it was reported that on the 25th day of the 7th month of the 9th year of the Jiajing era, the troops of Sang Er in the Jingluwei garrison jointly petitioned, stating that the garrison was located at the most remote frontier, with troops suffering from salt and alkali desolation, many having starved to death and most having migrated. The ten villages were nearly empty. Recently, the troops had planted summer and autumn crops, but since April, countless rats had appeared across the land, forming groups day and night, gradually devouring the crops, leaving most soldiers with nothing to hope for. The disaster was extraordinary. Therefore, in addition to deep reflection and self-correction, the divisional inspector of the local government was ordered to investigate the extent to which the fields had been damaged by rats and prepare a report to be submitted separately on the specified day. The reports were submitted accordingly and are on file.
Now, regarding the aforementioned case, upon review, it is noted that the reports from the Shaanxi Provincial Governor Liu Tianhe and the Shaanxi Censor Zhu Guan state that the disaster in Jingluwei in the autumn of the 8th year of the Jiajing era was initially assessed as insufficient to qualify as a disaster according to the regulations, making it difficult to grant approval. However, the later assessment claimed complete crop failure, making it impossible to trust the conflicting reports. Nevertheless, the continuous drought and famine over the years were severe, especially the disaster in the 7th year of the Jiajing era, where more than half of the troops perished. The expenses were exhausted, the city walls were empty, and the soldiers and civilians were in dire straits, leading to banditry. Although the Grand Secretary Wang, the governor, suppressed and dispersed the bandits, in the 9th year of the Jiajing era, the area of Jingluwei was again plagued by a rat infestation, causing widespread panic. Even the autumn grain of the 9th year could not be harvested. If the grain tax of the 8th year were to be levied again, it would likely exacerbate the difficulties of the soldiers and civilians, potentially leading to renewed banditry. Therefore, it is requested that the grain tax for Jingluwei in the 8th year of the Jiajing era be temporarily suspended and collected in a prosperous year to alleviate the people's hardships.
Furthermore, it is noted that regarding the disaster in the autumn of the 8th year of the Jiajing era in Jingluwei, the Shaanxi Provincial Governor Kou Tianxi and the Shaanxi Censor Hu Mingshan jointly submitted a report, assessing that the disaster did not meet the criteria for a tax exemption due to insufficient crop failure. This has already been reviewed and approved by this department.