釋鑑稽古略續集 3.19

3.19

乙酉永樂三年四月。上謂侍臣曰。致治之道莫先於廣言路。蓋天下之大吏治得失生民休戚。人不言朝廷何由悉知。

In the yiyou year, the third year of the Yongle reign (1405), in the fourth month, His Majesty said to the attendants: "In the way of bringing about good government, nothing takes precedence over broadening the avenues of speech. The successes and failures of the administration of officials and the well-being and distress of the common people across the realm—if people do not speak of them, how can the court know them fully?"