Zhang Juzheng's "Please Review the Memorials and Examine the Results of the Events to Improve Practical Politics"

I have heard that Yao ordered Shun to say: "Inquire about the facts and examine the words, then the words can be implemented." Gao Yao said in his discussion on governance: "Do things and review them repeatedly before they can be accomplished." In fact, the affairs of the world are not difficult to make laws, but difficult to enforce them; not difficult to listen to words, but difficult to make sure that the words are effective. If you inquire about things without examining their end, and do things without reviewing them repeatedly, and the superiors have no clear mind to review and examine, and the people are complacent, even if Yao and Shun are the rulers, and Yu and Gao are the assistants, it is unlikely that they will achieve success.

I have seen that in recent years, there have been many memorials, and the various government offices have been busy with them. However, although the memorials are made frequently, the actual results are rare. When the censors propose to establish a law, the court says "yes", and the post is sent to all directions, then the censors are responsible for it, and it is not necessary to know whether the law is effective or not. When the ministers propose to rectify a malpractice, the court says "yes", and the post is sent to all directions, then the ministers are responsible for it, and it is not necessary to know whether the malpractice is correct or not. A certain crime should be investigated, but it may be delayed due to private requests; a certain matter should be discussed and dealt with, but it is difficult to report because of the argument of whether it is possible or not. It often takes years to collect and hold meetings, and the supervision and inspection are only empty documents. Although the emperor has repeatedly issued clear orders, he does not say "implement it in reality", but always says "record it in the department". However, although the superiors supervise it earnestly, the subordinates always listen to it indifferently. As the old saying goes, "the mother's mouth is stubborn and the woman's ears are stubborn", and today's politicians are almost like this. Isn't it difficult to achieve what you desire?
When I was in power, I once submitted the "Six Convenient Matters" to the late emperor, including the "Re-edict", and I also made some comments. The Ministry of Personnel replied that all government offices should keep a record of the inspection and verification, and that the matter should be sent to each governor, and the deadline should be set, and they should be ordered to complete the report. However, I have not heard of any one who actually responded to the order within the deadline. Some even shelved it as before.

Now we have an emperor with rare talent who is working hard to govern the country. All the stewards are also conscientious in their duties and none of them dares to be lazy or slack. However, the so-called repeated examination and reflection has not yet been added. I am afraid that the way to achieve governance has not been fully realized.

I found a clause in the Ming Dynasty Code, "Every day, the six departments receive memorials from various government offices. Those who receive imperial edicts shall submit memorials with their names and send them to the Silijian for collection. They shall also keep a document book, number them one by one, and issue memorials, all of which shall be sent to the Silijian for collection." Another clause, "Every memorial submitted by each government office shall be accompanied by a written document book. Five days later, each government office shall submit the date of issuance and go to the department to cancel it. Those who delay the deadline shall be reported." Another clause, "Every time the six departments in the two capitals are transferred and checked, the filled-in books shall be sent to the departments for storage for future reference. This is my decree." I found the precedents. For the six departments, the memorials are still submitted in the first and second half of the year; for the ministries and courts, the handwritten copies are still submitted in the first and second half of the month and sent to the department for cancellation. Therefore, we know that the inspection of memorials has been a law established by our ancestors, but it has been followed for many years and regarded as a tradition.

Please clarify the old rules from now on. When the six ministries and the Censorate encounter various memorials, whether they are submitted to the emperor or re-submitted to the emperor for approval, they will be forwarded to the relevant government offices. They will first consider the distance and urgency of the matter, set a deadline, and keep a written book for record, and cancel it at the end of each month. Except for the memorials that do not need to be examined, the handwritten copies will be issued as usual. For the memorials that are transferred for re-examination, questioning and discussion, and urging for inspection and verification, two separate books will be made, each with important details and the original deadline. One book will be sent to the department for cancellation, and the other will be sent to the cabinet for examination. The department will attach the books one by one according to the previous items in the book for inspection, and will be closed gradually next month. The books of general records will be submitted in the first and second half of each year, and the events in the books will be checked to see if there are any violations that have not been cancelled. If there is any delay in the cabinet, a list will be issued for the emperor's order, and the government offices will be questioned and ordered to make a statement. The books will be submitted in the spring and summer of the following year, and the unfinished documents from the previous year will be checked again. If there is any evasion, the facts will be reported. The same will be done in autumn and winter. Next year, they will be checked again. They must wait until all the cases are cleared up. If the governors and magistrates report on the affairs of the state, and if there are delays in the cabinet, the relevant departments will report them. If the ministries and courts cancel the documents, and if there are any concealments or frauds, the officials of the Ministry of Justice will report them. If the six departments submit the original documents and report them, and if there are any concealments or frauds, we will report them. In this way, there will be monthly inspections and annual inspections. Not only will the reports be true and the cases can be held accountable, but the law of comparison and comprehensive verification will be strict. Even those who propose legislation will worry about the ineffectiveness of the end, and dare not be careless at the beginning. There is no greater key to achieving justice than this.

I humbly hope that your wise judgement will be implemented.