At the same time, the High-rank began setting up a harsh system to stop the common people from moving around freely and becoming rebels.
He divided the people into different occupations.
"For generation after generation, except through the Imperial Examination, this shall not be changed!"
"Farmers are farmers, artisans are artisans, fishermen are fishermen!"
"Lowly musicians are forbidden from taking the Imperial Examination."
"Traveling five li from home requires a Travel Permit. Anyone without one is to be killed on sight!"
"No one may be without an occupation. The unemployed shall be killed!"
"The court has enfeoffed sixteen Princes. Anyone who submits memorials in opposition, sowing discord within the imperial family, shall be killed!"
"Princes shall inherit their titles, and their descendants shall continue to be enfeoffed as princes, Prefectural Kings, dukes, marquises, light-chariot commandants, lieutenants of commanderies and states..."
"The set annual stipend for a prince is fifty thousand shi, and for a Prefectural King five thousand shi, to be allocated as a priority by each region..."
Each article, each decree, had been established to preserve the rule of his Zhu Family.
As for the modern knowledge he had learned, heh—ideas like equality for all had long since been thrown beyond the highest clouds.
Soon, the newly established Secret Guard discovered that many officials had been lining their own pockets, and even great generals were involved.
"How dare they!"
"They took seventy percent and left only thirty percent. What about my descendants?"
"If the common people rebel, won't they kill my descendants?"
"No. They must be killed, so the rest will obediently take a little salary and be done with it!"
"As long as they don't starve to death, what do they need so much salary for?"
"The court's salaries should be used to support my descendants!"
That was