Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 215 Zhu Houzhaoxiance
Huguang, Anlu.

As the fourth son of Emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty and the half-brother of Emperor Hongzhi, Zhu Youlang enjoyed a high prestige among the royal family.

On the third day of November, it happened to be the birthday banquet of Empress Dowager Zhou, and the royal family jointly requested to go to Beijing to celebrate her birthday.

However, this memorial was rejected by Emperor Hongzhi. Since Emperor Taizu Gao, it has become the ancestral precept that royal family princes are not allowed to leave their fiefdoms without permission.

The royal family members had to settle for the next best option and requested Emperor Hongzhi to allow Prince Xingxian Zhu Youji to go to the capital on behalf of the royal family and princes to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, out of filial piety.

Emperor Hongzhi knew that these members of the royal family had other intentions, and Prince Xingxian Zhu Youju was the representative they nominated to discuss the issue of royal family salaries.

Emperor Hongzhi had been delaying this matter for a long time. This time, Emperor Hongzhi had to agree to the requests of the royal family and princes. Delaying it without appeasing them was not a solution.

……

Inside Huaihua Hutong.

Zhu Houzhao still had one thing he couldn't figure out. Although Chen Ce's solution was good, it was only a matter of power. This crisis was resolved, but what about the next one?

We can't keep using this excuse, can we?
The problem of the economic burden that the princes had placed on the national treasury had already begun to emerge in the previous dynasty. Everyone in the six ministries of the cabinet knew about it, but due to the ancestral laws, no one had the power to say that the salaries of the princes should not be paid.

After hearing Zhu Houzhao's question, Chen Ce knew that he had not yet understood his intention.

Chen Ce said to Zhu Houzhao: "I never said that I was only going to solve the problem of the salaries of the royal family and princes this year."

"Now that the matter has been done, all subsequent problems will be resolved."

"So when discussing the issue of salary distribution with the vassal kings, we must focus on the future. The distribution of land in the southwest is not about the present, but about the future of Ming Dynasty."

"If they choose to accept, then we will give them the Southwest. If they choose not to accept, then the Ming Dynasty will stop paying them their future salaries."

The most difficult thing is that Emperor Hongzhi may not be able to make up his mind to fight against so many vassal kings.

Emperor Hongzhi was easily influenced by others. If the princes kept whispering in his ears, he would eventually become soft-hearted.

Chen Ce handed an account book to Zhu Houzhao. This was a statistical book he wrote in the past few days. According to the future population of the Ming royal family, it estimated the annual salaries that the Ming Dynasty would need to pay to the vassal kings and the proportion of the Ming Dynasty's income data.

I believe that when Emperor Hongzhi sees this huge and shocking data, he will definitely make up his mind.

"what is this?"

Zhu Houzhao asked Chen Ce curiously.

"Regarding the impact of the population development of the princes and royal families on the fate of the Ming Dynasty, you should go back and take a closer look. If there is an opportunity, please submit a letter to the emperor."

Zhu Houzhao said, "Okay."

"Brother Ce, didn't you say you had two suggestions? What is the other one?"

Chen Ce thought for a moment, looked at Zhu Houzhao, and asked, "What do you want to hear?"

Zhu Houzhao pecked at the rice and nodded.

Chen Ce narrowed his eyes and said, "There will be another day when it will be even easier. We will destroy two countries. Do you know about the feudal system?"

Zhu Houzhao seemed slightly excited.

Chen Ce shrugged: "After destroying Japan in the east, Ryukyu, Java, Lusong and other countries in the south, send the vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty there, let them occupy their own land and be self-sufficient. The financial burden of the court will no longer be affected by the huge salaries of the vassal kings."

Zhu Houzhao clenched his fists and said excitedly: "This is good! This is much better than your previous one!"

"In my opinion, all the control measures we set up before are not as practical as this one. Right, right, right! That's it. Isn't it enough to destroy a few countries? Why didn't I think of it?!"

He is indeed a fanatical warmonger.

But I am destined not to see what happens after you ascend the throne. It is easy to destroy a country, but it is also difficult. I can only try my best to create the conditions for you to destroy the country. It depends on you in the future. Chen Ce smiled and said, "Our emperor is kind and will not do such things. Besides, the Ming Dynasty has not yet developed and become strong. Now is not the opportunity."

"If I could see this scene one day, I would be very happy even if I died."

Zhu Houzhao clenched his fists secretly, he remembered Chen Ce's words!
Yes! I will, little brother!
I will definitely work hard and let you see. You must live well and live to see this day. I will definitely do it for you in person!
……

The lights in the Qianqing Palace were still on.

With a confident smile, Zhu Houzhao stepped forward and found Emperor Hongzhi who was busy reviewing memorials.

"Father, you must keep your word. I now know how to help you solve the salary problem of the royal family. Not only can I solve this year's salary, but I can also solve the salary for the future."

Emperor Hongzhi laughed, not taking it seriously at all, and said casually: "Oh, go ahead."

He was still reviewing the pile of memorials on his desk.

"Your great-grandmother's birthday is coming soon. As her great-grandson, you should think carefully about what gift to give her."

"Also, your fourth uncle may have to go to the capital. Be polite to your father when he comes."

Zhu Houzhao hurriedly said: "Father! Please be serious, I am talking to you about serious matters."

Emperor Hongzhi put the memorial aside and said, "Isn't this an important matter?"

Zhu Houzhao said helplessly: "I know, do you still want to listen?"

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Go ahead and speak. I am not stopping you."

Zhu Houzhao said excitedly: "If you want to solve the problem of royal family salaries once and for all, it's very simple!"

"We will destroy the island of Japan, as well as countries like Luzon, Ryukyu, and Java."

"Then we can assign these princes to these countries and let them be the real kings of these emperors. In this way, the court won't have to pay them salaries. How do you think?"

Emperor Hongzhi frowned, stared at Zhu Houzhao and said, "Not very good."

"A great country seeks nothing more than to rule over all other people, and a small country seeks nothing more than to serve all other people."

"The bigger a country is, the less it should resort to war. Doing so will only cause the country to fall into the quagmire of war and make the people complain. If this continues for a long time, the country will surely perish!"

"Who taught you this mess?"

This child has something wrong with his thinking. Is this how an emperor should be?

"Don't say that! Just talk to me, okay?"

Zhu Houzhao sighed, his father was just too kind and righteous, what was wrong with this, I think it was feasible, the only reason it wasn't possible was because the country was not big enough and strong enough!

Zhu Houzhao could only settle for the next best thing and said, "Then I have a second suggestion."

Emperor Hongzhi was not interested, and did not expect Zhu Houzhao to come up with any earth-shattering theories. "Go on."

Zhu Houzhao said: "The local princes are actually rich. They have so much land, but they are all hidden. However, they still want to suck the blood of the court."

"In fact, the land they are hiding in is enough for them to be self-sufficient, right?"

Emperor Hongzhi smiled knowingly and said to Zhu Houzhao: "This is a good view, it is indeed true, but I cannot bring it up to the table."

"It's one thing to know, but I can't point it out. Human nature is to seek profit. They have money, but they still want to give more money. Moreover, the salary system was set by our ancestors. I can't overturn it or change it. Otherwise, it would be unfilial. Such a serious crime, even if I am the emperor, I can't bear it!"

(End of this chapter)