All Heavens and Worlds Modified History System

Chapter 196 The Way Out for the Princes

"The war between the feudal lords in various parts of Japan and between the feudal lords and the imperial court has become blood-curdling."

Chen Ran, who returned to replace the navy commander, introduced himself to the old Zhu father and son. "The madness in his bones was completely exposed."

"It's faster than I expected." His tone was relaxed, as if he wasn't talking about the lives of tens of millions of people. "After the autumn harvest, most of the grain they kept for military rations was used to exchange for military supplies."

Zhu Biao was surprised, "What do the local people eat?"

"Eat whatever you can get. Tree bark and grass roots can also fill your stomach. If that doesn't work, just eat soil."

Chen Ran looked indifferent. "Besides, whether it is the feudal lord or the shogunate, they have given the local people a way to survive. If they voluntarily sign up to work in the mines, they will definitely be given food."

Old Zhu and his son looked at each other.

The Jinyiwei on the ship had already submitted a report on what the mining scene was like.

I thought that mining in Ming Dynasty was one of the most difficult things in the world, but compared with Japan which was completely exchanging human lives for ore at that time, it was completely two different worlds.

"Why, are you soft-hearted?"

Chen Ran looked at Zhu Biao and laughed at him, "Don't forget, this is to make room for your son! You sympathize with the Japanese, but why don't you sympathize with Zhu Yunwen?"

He knew very well that it was all nonsense to talk to Zhu Yuanzhang and his son about patriotism, national justice, world pattern, and development of the times. There was no such environment in this era at all.

There is only one way to persuade them, and that is to concern their own interests.

The future prospects of their sons and grandsons are the interests that Mr. Zhu and his son are concerned about.

There is no way. This is the limitation of the times. Old Zhu has a typical old peasant mentality. He will only work seriously when benefits come to his family, even if it means overthrowing the court.

But if it has nothing to do with them, their motivation and enthusiasm will be extinguished in an instant.

"It's easy to say that we should give you land and grass, but the local people won't give up everything they have so easily."

Chen Ran continued to persuade him, "Let the natives get rid of their own people now, and when Yun Wen grows up and is enfeoffed, they can just take the flags, documents, soldiers and horses and immigrate directly to the shore."

"While His Majesty is still alive, we should kill as many natives as possible, so that we can relieve the pressure when we are crowned king later. At least we won't have to fight the natives to death."

There is no doubt that these words angered Old Zhu, and he was so angry that he gasped, "You wish I would die sooner every day, right?! What do you mean I am still alive? I am fine!"

Chen Ran shrugged indifferently, "I know, I know. Your Majesty is in good health. He should have no problem living another twenty years."

"Twenty-twenty years?!"

Zhu Biao quickly changed the subject, "Okay, where is the food you got from Japan? Why was it that only gold, silver, copper and sulfur were delivered to Yingtian Prefecture, but not a single grain of food?"

"Yes, where's the food!" Old Zhu was also drawn to it. "Where did you put the food? Are you trying to hide the food to recruit soldiers?!"

Chen Ran was speechless. Old Zhu really worried every day that someone would rebel against him.

There is no way. Zhu Yuanzhang made his fortune by rebelling, so naturally he was afraid that someone would replicate his success.

"The food was sent by sea to the Beiping Provincial Government."

Chen Ran spread his hands and said, "The King of Yan is preparing for the Northern Expedition. The food can be sent directly there, saving the trouble of transporting it to Yingtian Prefecture and then transferring it. It also reduces consumption on the road."

In ancient times, the longer the distance over which food and supplies were transported, the greater the consumption.

After all, the civilians who transport food and fodder also need to eat, and their transportation capacity is limited. If the journey is long, it would be good if they can have two or three dou left after transporting one stone of food to the front line.

The ancients were not stupid. They had long known the benefits of water transportation. The excavation of the Grand Canal is the best evidence.

As for sea transportation, at least there was sea transportation during the Hongwu period, and it became increasingly prosperous.

Maritime transport was banned until civil officials came to power.

For the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty, it was not difficult or shameful to destroy the interests of the country and nation for the benefit of their own families.

Lao Zhu also loves fighting.

Although he no longer led troops in person after becoming emperor, his addiction to war never faded.

Moreover, compared to arranging nobles to lead the troops to fight and worrying that they would rebel, Zhu Yuanzhang was very relieved to let his son lead the troops to fight.

For example, Zhu Yuanzhang found a reason to dismiss General Feng Sheng, who led the troops last year, and instead arranged for Zhu Di to be fully responsible for this northern expedition.

"Remember to register at the Ministry of Household Affairs."

After leaving the imperial study, Zhu Biao, who was traveling with him, walked with his hands behind his back. “Are you really going to let Yunwen go to Japan to be the king?”

"What else?" Chen Ran spread his hands. "Where do you want to enfeoff him, Nanzhili or Huguang and Sichuan? What do you think Xiong Ying will think when he sees that the country is full of vassal states who obey orders but not orders? What will the people around him say?"

Of course Zhu Biao knew about it, it was nothing more than reducing the power of the princes.

But since ancient times, any reduction in power would inevitably lead to violent turmoil, and it was not uncommon for wars to break out and even the country to be destroyed.

"I have read the war report from Japan sent by the navy." Zhu Biao seemed a little worried. "Japan has a large population and is very fierce when fighting."

"No matter how fierce they are, can they be as fierce as the Southern Barbarians, Northern Hu, Eastern Yi and Western Di during the Zhou Dynasty?" Chen Ran disagreed. "Didn't the princes during the Zhou Dynasty also expand their living space by force?"

“The conditions now are much better than they were then.”

"Let's not talk about anything else. At least the Ming Dynasty is strong enough now and is a strong backing."

"Provoking internal strife in Japan will also greatly weaken Japan's resistance. If we can't control it even in this way, then we might as well let Zhu Yunwen stay in Yingtian Prefecture and be a prince who lives a life of drunkenness and dreams all day long."

Zhu Biao stopped talking.

It is better to go outward than to be a spoiled good-for-nothing, or to have an internal war of reducing the power of the vassal states and counter-reducing the power of the vassal states.

"From now on, the prince can arrange these matters himself." Chen Ran continued, "My main focus in the future will be on supporting the King of Yan in his western expedition."

Hearing this, Zhu Biao finally asked his doubts, "Why is Zihou so concerned about his fourth brother?" "This is because if you unfortunately die early one day, the Prince of Yan is the most suitable to inherit your position." Chen Ran looked at him with a smile, "The Prince of Yan dares to fight against foreign countries! Instead of showing off in his own little piece of land all day long."

Looking at Chen Ran's departing back, Zhu Biao, whose expression kept changing, stomped his feet hard.

"How dare I go to war with a foreign country!"

As if to prove to Chen Ran that he dared to expand outward, when Zhu Di sent troops to the north, Zhu Biao, against all odds, took the initiative to launch a military operation against Annan.

The reason for attacking Annan first is simple: it is rich in grain.

In the agricultural age, food is the foundation of everything. Only with food can we do anything.

At this time, the Ming Dynasty, with its national strength at its peak, was also capable of supporting two large-scale wars at the same time.

Gyeongju, the main base of King Yan.

Putting away the letter in his hand, Zhu Di looked at Yao Guangxiao who was wearing a black monk's robe and asked, "How did Chen Zihou know that the Yuan Lord was in Buir Lake (Lake Beier)?"

Yao Guangxiao bowed and said, "I don't know."

"It's like I didn't know that Japan had gold, silver, copper and grain, didn't know that there were spice islands and gold mountains overseas, but Lord Chen knew them all."

"Humph."

Zhu Di snorted, and first instructed the military generals around him to arrange some men to go to Bui'er Lake for reconnaissance.

Then he asked again, "Why did Chen Zihou send you back again?"

Yao Guangxiao first followed Zhu Di to Beiping when he established his government.

Later, Chen Ran specifically asked him to go and teach him personally.

Now that it was sent back, Zhu Di naturally felt curious.

Yao Guangxiao bowed again and said, "In reply to the King of Yan, Lord Chen said that I am suitable to assist the prince in building an unprecedented feat and to establish a family tree to claim my name as the ancestor."

As soon as these words were spoken, the generals in the camp were suddenly in an uproar.

This is clearly a sign of rebellion.

Before Zhu Di could get angry, Yao Guangxiao continued to explain, "Let everyone know that this matter is not something that cannot be mentioned in Yingtian Prefecture. Even Your Majesty tacitly approves it."

"I haven't been back to Yingtian Prefecture for some time." Zhu Di's expression changed. "I didn't think about these things. Please tell me in detail."

"Your Majesty and the Crown Prince, impressed by the power of the vassal kings, followed Lord Chen's suggestion and expanded the territory to enfeoff the kings."

"The imperial army is marching south now, and it's just around the corner to conquer Annan. His Majesty has already agreed that after conquering Annan, the crown prince's third son, Zhu Yunhuan, will be enfeoffed as a vassal king in Annan and pay tribute as a vassal."

"There is constant war in Japan. The imperial court is waiting for the right time. When the time is right, we will cross the sea and launch an expedition to seize the country and destroy the clan. We will transfer the crown prince's second son, Zhu Yunwen, to be a vassal king and pay tribute to him."

"Hey." Zhu Di narrowed his eyes. "They are all the eldest son's sons."

"The Crown Prince is the regent." Yao Guangxiao said with a smile, "If there is a benefit, then naturally one's own son will come first."

"In addition, all the sons of your majesty who have not yet been enfeoffed have also found their own destinations. For example, Burma, Luzon, and the Spice Islands."

The generals, who were listening to the mysterious book, could not help but ask, "These are all wild and desolate places, aren't you afraid that you won't be able to survive if you go there?"

Yao Guangxiao laughed again, "When the Zhou emperor divided the land and built a hut, which of the surrounding areas was not a wild land? What about now?"

Need I say more? Now it is a well-known place, even a land of fish and rice.

Zhu Di coughed and said, "Then what do we, the princes who have been enfeoffed, say?"

"Master Chen has something to offer. It depends on your ability."

Yao Guangxiao's words puzzled Zhu Di. "What do you mean? Explain clearly."

"Yes." Yao Guangxiao explained again, "Master Chen means that the fiefs of the princes in various places that have been granted fiefs must be taken back."

"what?!"

“How can this be possible?!”

"Isn't this the reduction of power?"

There was an uproar in the camp, and all the generals under the command of Prince Yan were speaking up for him.

Zhu Di, with a dark face, raised his hand to stop the noise. "Regarding the recovery of the fiefdom, if His Majesty issues an order, we will obey. But how should we brothers deal with it? Will you give us a cup of poisoned wine?"

"The prince is joking."

Yao Guangxiao's smile did not diminish. "There is a prerequisite for taking back the fiefdom, and that is to conquer a large territory for exchange."

Zhu Di's expression eased a little. "What if you don't want to go out and fight?"

"That's fine. The fiefdom will not be taken back, but the decree of enfeoffment must be issued."

After hearing this, Zhu Di understood that he had to fight even if he didn't want to.

After all, no vassal king could resist such a conspiracy as the Enfeoffment Order.

If you extend your favor to the end, there will be nothing left.

He pondered for a moment and asked again, "Then Chen Zihou, where do you think I should go?"

"Lord Chen means that the Prince of Yan should follow the path of the Mongols and go all the way west to Europe to become the Emperor of Europe!"

(End of this chapter)