Adopted Sons and Daughters Were Slaves

The feast was laid out, its aroma filling the air.

Gu Qingqing hid in the kitchen, swallowing hungrily, but did not dare go outside.

Gu Shi watched the slowly burning firewood, her expression distant.

From the glory of Zhengchen passing the provincial examination, the fawning crowds and noisy celebrations, to the court suspending the imperial examinations, his dejected return, the heart-piercing mockery, the helpless desperation and pleas for help everywhere, and finally to the clouds parting to reveal the moon, danger giving way to safety.

In just a few short months, they had plunged from peaks into valleys, everything dreamlike and unreal.

Gu Zhengchen wanted his mother and sister to eat with them, but neither would agree, so he could only carry two dishes into the kitchen.

Sun Bing and Liang Fengyang discussed the white sugar business. To Gu Zhengchen's surprise, their initial clash of sharp words and flushed faces soon gave way to amiable, measured discussion.

On reflection, it made sense. The Sun Family had great wealth but little influence, while the Liang Family had great influence but little wealth. Their strengths complemented each other perfectly. Listening to their chuckles, Gu Zhengchen could not help catching the scent of wolves and jackals joining forces...

The Sun Family would provide the funds, buy Black Sugar in bulk, establish five white sugar workshops, and find premises for shops in Teng County, Zou County, Rencheng, Jining, and Qufu. The Liang Family would step forward to smooth the way through their connections, ensure that the white sugar could enter each market without trouble, and settle any problems that might arise locally.

"Young Brother Gu, how about thirty percent of the profits from selling white sugar?"

Sun Bing asked tentatively.

Gu Zhengchen shook his head with a smile.

Sun Bing hastily said, "Then forty percent. We really can't offer more..."

Gu Zhengchen raised his wine cup and drained it. Looking at Sun Bing and Liang Fengyang, he said earnestly, "You are both older than me, so I regard you as elder brothers. I'll speak plainly."

"Please do."

Sun Bing and Liang Fengyang spoke together.

Gu Zhengchen's expression turned serious. "Brother Liang, Brother Sun, my ambitions lie not in trade, but in an official career. The founding emperor of our Great Ming rose from humble poverty. He knows all too well the harm corrupt officials cause, and regards them as raging floods and savage beasts, as creatures that devour the people's parents. He will not rest until they are eradicated. If I take a cut from this business and the court learns of it one day, wouldn't that be clear proof of corruption? How would that be any different from killing me?"

Sun Bing's and Liang Fengyang's expressions shifted slightly.

The Hongwu Emperor was a ruthless man. He believed that no abuse of official administration was worse than corruption and tyranny. In the First Year of Hongwu, he had already issued repeated orders that corrupt, treacherous men would never be treated leniently.

In the Second Year of Hongwu, the Hongwu Emperor had told the assembled civil and military officials, "When I was a commoner, I saw corrupt officials who cared nothing for whether the people lived or died, and I hated them to the core. From this day forward, any corrupt official who dares harm the people will never be forgiven."

He had said it, and he had acted on it.

When civil and military officials committed ordinary offenses, their punishments amounted to dismissal, demotion, or reassignment. Even when criminal penalties were imposed, most were not executed. But he had never shown mercy to officials who took bribes and perverted the law, and in the Second Year of Hongwu, he had issued the harshest anti-corruption decree in history:

Anyone who embezzled sixty taels of silver or more was to be executed immediately!

These matters had long since spread among the people and were known in every street and alley.

Sun Bing looked at Gu Zhengchen and said quietly, "We won't put Candidate Gu's share in the accounts or leave any written record. It will never get out."

Liang Fengyang nodded emphatically. "Brother Gu supplied the method for making white sugar. He rightfully deserves a share. To keep things safe, we'll set it aside outside the accounts each month, leaving no trace. Nothing can possibly go wrong."

Gu Zhengchen smiled and waved a hand. "There's no need. Leave my share to the villagers of Dayan Village. Once the white sugar business turns a profit, work out the figures clearly and determine how much each villager here should receive. Set aside five percent and divide it among them."

"Five percent? Isn't that far too little?"

The flesh on Sun Bing's face quivered.

Seeing that Gu Zhengchen was firm, Liang Fengyang nodded. "In that case, we'll do as Brother Gu says. This afternoon, our two families will each send someone with twenty strings of cash as payment for the white sugar-making method. Brother Gu, you must accept that money."

Seeing that Gu Zhengchen still wanted to refuse, Sun Bing hurriedly said, "Buying a method isn't corruption. Even if the court investigates, there can be no trouble. Besides, this method enriches and benefits the people rather than harming them, much less perverting the law. Moreover, Candidate Gu has yet to enter official service. You aren't accepting money while in office, so no matter how you look at it, it cannot fall under corruption."

Gu Zhengchen considered it. Only after confirming that there was indeed no risk did he nod in agreement.

Liang Fengyang and Sun Bing both breathed sighs of relief when Gu Zhengchen accepted.

Looking around the dilapidated Gu Family home, Sun Bing changed the subject. "The Zhao Family forced Candidate Gu to renounce his marriage agreement. I wonder whether their guts have turned green with regret by now. Sadly, I have no daughter, or I would certainly promise her to you."

Liang Fengyang felt bitter. He did have a daughter, but she had married two years ago...

"By the way, Candidate Gu, you have no one at hand to help you. Would you like to buy a few Foster Sons and daughters to run errands?"

Liang Fengyang suddenly asked.

Gu Zhengchen froze for a moment and looked at Liang Fengyang in confusion. "Foster Sons and daughters?"

What does that mean? I'm not even married yet, and I'm supposed to take in a few godsons and goddaughters first?

Liang Fengyang and Sun Bing exchanged a glance and could not help laughing.

Sun Bing explained.

Understanding dawned on Gu Zhengchen.

These so-called Foster Sons and daughters were, in fact, male and female slaves.

During the Yuan Dynasty, slaves were also known as "driven mouths"-people captured in war, forced into slavery, and made to serve others.

The series of wars in the early Ming had produced vast numbers of captives. A large proportion had been bestowed on meritorious officials, noble families related to the imperial house, aristocrats, and bureaucrats, reducing them to slaves.

Zhu Yuanzhang understood the evils of allowing an unrestricted slave trade. He prohibited the private enslavement of free commoners and opposed the buying and selling of people.

Both the current Code of Laws and the forthcoming Great Ming Code explicitly stipulated:

Any commoner household keeping slaves was to receive one hundred strokes of the heavy bamboo, and the slaves were to be freed immediately.

Ordinary commoner households had no right to keep slaves. Neither did landlords of common birth or wealthy merchants. None of them had that right. But the problem was that the Code of Laws prohibited wealthy households from keeping slaves, not from employing other labor...

Since the court wouldn't let them keep slaves, they simply wouldn't keep slaves. Surely there was nothing wrong with taking in some Foster Sons and daughters? Your Honor, this is my son, and this is my daughter, not slaves. Take a good look.

By adopting "Foster Sons and daughters," gentry and commoner households could evade legal risks while still acquiring slaves.

Liang Fengyang urged him, "You are a provincial examination graduate recognized by the court, not an ordinary commoner. You may buy slaves and aren't covered by that prohibition. However, the court also stipulates that only officials with meritorious service may enjoy the privilege of keeping slaves. To avoid trouble, it would be better to call them Foster Sons and daughters."

Sun Bing smiled. "You're the only man in the Gu Family. Surely you can't do everything yourself, or keep wearing out Auntie Gu and your younger sister? Buy a slave or two, and you'll have attendants at hand to run errands, deliver messages, purchase goods, guard the house, and keep watch at night."

Gu Zhengchen lowered his head in thought.

Indeed, no major case in the Ming had arisen over slaves, and commoners and officials alike were rarely punished over the matter. In the future, Lan Yu would keep thousands of "adopted sons," but that was asking for a beating. He didn't even consider whose territory he was standing on...

Sun Bing had a point. The Gu Family was desperately short of hands. Even buying Black Sugar required Gu Zhengchen to go to Teng County town himself, an eight-li round trip that was no easy task.

He ought to have two trustworthy people at his side. Someone to carry a message or watch the gate was necessary, after all. Having made up his mind, Gu Zhengchen raised his head and asked, "Where can I find Foster Sons and daughters?"