Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 406 The Law Shows No Mercy! The Grand Show Begins! It's Raining!
Zhu Yuntong's voice sounded plain and unremarkable, yet it naturally carried an aura of domineering ruthlessness and invincibility.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze deep and unfathomable, and slowly said, "Technological diffusion is an inevitable trend that cannot be stopped by human power; at most, it will only delay it a little."

"One day, in addition to the Ming Bank that issues the Ming Treasure Notes, there will be more people in the world who will master the technology of making banknotes."

"However, correspondingly, anti-counterfeiting technology will also be like a rushing river, constantly being updated and upgraded, becoming more and more complex and sophisticated."

"From now on, it will be absolutely impossible for one person to master all the technologies related to the manufacture of precious notes."

"Only a powerful nation like the state could gather all the technology needed to print counterfeit money and have the ability to do so."

"For these forces, it is absolutely impossible to achieve 100% interception of counterfeit money by relying solely on anti-counterfeiting technology."

"After all, no matter how advanced the anti-counterfeiting technology is, if ordinary people cannot distinguish between genuine and fake products, then it is like a mirage, meaningless."

"It should be understood that banknotes are meant for everyday transactions by ordinary people. If the general public cannot distinguish between genuine and counterfeit banknotes, and only professional authentication centers at banks can do so, then the only purpose of anti-counterfeiting measures is to investigate and hold those responsible accountable afterward."

"At that time, if we want to maintain the credibility of banknotes, we may only be able to rely on the deterrent power of ships and cannons, especially for currencies circulating abroad."

To put it bluntly, counterfeiters can't replicate anti-counterfeiting measures that are too complex or sophisticated.

However, just like other people, they cannot distinguish this kind of "advanced anti-counterfeiting" technology.

When technology develops to a certain level, and there are banknotes that are indistinguishable from real ones, other forces will certainly have the means to create them.

At least it can be made to the point that ordinary people can't tell the difference.

Just like in later generations, every country issued banknotes.

So, can another country print banknotes that belong to other countries?

If it refers to a print so large that even the top authentication institutions of the other party cannot authenticate it, then it is extremely difficult, or even impossible.

Because some features are unique and cannot be faked.

However, if it refers to "counterfeit money" that ordinary people cannot distinguish from genuine banknotes, then the answer is yes.

It can be printed in another country too!

The only problem is getting these banknotes into other countries.

Therefore, countries in later generations have always controlled the entry and exit of cash.

Even in countries that allow free exchange and circulation of currency without restrictions, people are still not allowed to carry unrestricted cash across the border.

However, this measure can only be used to control one's own country.

They can't control the domestic currency circulating overseas.

In Zhu Yunwen's mind, the Ming Dynasty's paper money was the most important "commodity" in the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty will use the export of its precious paper money to continuously purchase all kinds of materials needed domestically.

This measure is crucial to the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.

After all, he was well aware of the enormous profits that came from collecting "printing taxes" from countries around the world.

Therefore, Zhu Yunwen absolutely could not allow this plan to be sabotaged.

The domestic forces need no further explanation; they should be strictly controlled.

If it's abroad, then we can only rely on the Ming army.

"Your Majesty, I am making every effort to plan this matter." Xia Yuanji bowed respectfully and said, "Currently, our Great Ming Bank has opened hundreds of branches in Japan."

"The currency circulating in the Japanese market is almost entirely the Ming Dynasty Treasure Note."

"As for opening branches in Southeast Asian countries, we will expedite the process."

"However, many factors need to be considered, the most important of which is whether the bilateral relationship is harmonious."

"Permission from the other country must be obtained before a branch can be opened."

"This matter not only relied on the army's strong deterrent power, but also on the cooperation of the officials of the Ministry of Rites."

Foreign affairs were the responsibility of the Ministry of Rites.

That's why Natsuhara Yoshitaka said that.

Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly and said, "As for the army, I will instruct the Military Affairs Department to strengthen its deterrence."

"As for the Ministry of Rites, I have already instructed that when the imperial envoys go on missions to various countries, they must make the establishment of banks and the promotion of bilateral trade a top priority."

"Minister Xia, you can just go and do it with peace of mind."

Xia Yuanji quickly responded and said with a smile, "With Your Majesty's support, things will be much easier for me."

Zhu Yunwen looked up, gazing at the distant horizon.

He noticed a thick cloud drifting in quietly, just enough to block out the blazing sun.

However, even so, the surrounding weather was still unbearably hot and humid, with a damp and stifling atmosphere in the air, but there was no sign of rain.

This drought has lasted for a long time, and it seems that God will not easily send down rain.

It's unknown when this drought will end, or how significant its impact will be.

He sighed softly to himself, withdrew his gaze, and asked, "Do any of you have anything else to report to me?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Shiqi cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the imperial court's dispatch of troops on this expedition has resulted in a great victory, which is truly a fortunate event for our Great Ming Dynasty."

"It is truly a cause for celebration that tens of thousands of Ming Dynasty citizens who were imprisoned overseas and enslaved were thus saved."

Changing the subject, Yang Shiqi said in a different tone, "However, although the person has been rescued, the follow-up matters are extremely complicated and difficult to handle."

"Among them, many were forced by the brutality and tyranny of human traffickers and mine owners to write letters to distant relatives and friends, fabricating lies to commit fraud."

"These actions have caused many innocent people to be deceived."

"Some were tricked into going overseas, where they also became slaves."

"Some were swindled out of their life savings under the guise of partnering in mining."

“Such tragic experiences are countless.”

"Although they had their reasons for doing these things, they ultimately went against the principles of heaven and human sentiment, and even violated the laws of our Great Ming Dynasty."

"Your Majesty, please advise on how to deal with them."

Zhu Yunwen's brows furrowed instantly, and his dark eyes flickered slightly.

He understood that Yang Shiqi's words implied a desire for the emperor to issue a general amnesty, pardoning everyone involved in the incident except for the heinous human traffickers and mine owners.

To be honest, Zhu Yunwen did have this idea at first.

But upon calming down and thinking it over carefully, I realized that this approach was inappropriate.

Does having a reason really give rise to an excuse to evade responsibility?
Among these many people who were coerced, the situations varied greatly.

Even when faced with dire straits, some people remain true to themselves, resolutely refusing to participate in fraud, preferring death to dishonor.

Some people may agree on the surface, but when writing the letter, they still hold onto the last shred of conscience and only target those with whom they have a shallow relationship, or those who are their enemies.

However, there are also some people who, for their own selfish gain, are so heartless as to deceive even their own parents, brothers, wives, and daughters into becoming slaves.

Even worse, some who start as victims gradually sink into depravity, eventually becoming deeply entangled themselves and transforming into accomplices of human traffickers or mine owners.

Everyone's actions are different, and the degree of evil they commit is also vastly different.

Some cases are forgivable, while others are truly unforgivable.

If a general amnesty is simply issued, it will undoubtedly confuse right and wrong and fail to distinguish between good and evil. How is this any different from the case of the monk who judged the gourd case?
However, in this feudal era, such things were indeed quite common.

A general amnesty is often seen as an act of imperial grace.

In many cases, the appearance of "the emperor's boundless grace" is far more important than upholding the fairness and justice of the law.

Ultimately, the law is nothing more than a tool for rulers to maintain their rule!

The emperor's prestige and reputation far supersede the law!

However, since the beginning of his reign, Zhu Yunwen has clearly rejected the kind of general amnesty that does not ask for reasons or distinguish right from wrong, and he will naturally be no exception now.

"Order the relevant officials to thoroughly investigate their crimes one by one, and to handle them in accordance with the laws of the Great Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Yunwen's expression was serious, and his tone was firm: "Our Great Ming will never turn a blind eye to the suffering of the people, nor will it allow criminals to go unpunished."

"The national laws and regulations clearly stipulate how to handle such cases." "Those who should be treated leniently should be treated leniently according to law; those who are truly excusable may be exempted from prosecution."

"But those who deserve severe punishment must not be tolerated and must be resolutely punished severely."

"Specific cases require specific analysis and specific handling."

“A stern warning was issued to the relevant officials: they should not be afraid of trouble, try to save time, and make arbitrary judgments without distinguishing right from wrong.”

"We must thoroughly investigate whether each person has committed a crime, and if so, what crime they have committed."

Yang Shiqi's expression hardened, and he quickly replied, "Your subject understands."

After a brief pause, he continued, "There is one more thing: these people have endured many hardships and suffered greatly overseas."

"Once they return to their home country, the tragic experiences they personally went through will surely spread rapidly among the people."

"If word spreads from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, it will cause many people to fear overseas places."

"In this case, it may have an adverse effect on His Majesty's grand plan to go to sea."

Outside the pavilion, on the calm lake surface, fish suddenly leaped out of the water.

Under the sunlight, the scales shimmered with tiny sparkles.

The moment the fish falls into the water, it makes a "plop" sound, creating ripples that slowly spread outwards.

Zhu Yunwen stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the lake with a calm expression, and said, "In this world, risk and wealth have always been inseparable."

“Overseas places have never been safe and peaceful places.”

"I have emphasized this point many times before, and I have also ordered the Da Ming Daily to repeatedly publicize and warn the people of the world."

"To this day, I am convinced that the people should have a clear understanding of this matter by now."

With a touch of emotion in his voice, he continued, "There has always been a saying that 'fortune favors the bold,' and going overseas is essentially a gamble that ordinary people risk their lives for."

"If you only want a peaceful life, then it's best not to go overseas."

"Although the imperial court encourages people to go to sea, it will never force them to go to sea."

"in addition."

A smile appeared on Zhu Yunwen's face as he said, "Didn't the intelligence report from the intelligence bureau mention that our Great Ming Expeditionary Force is demanding compensation from Siam and Pegu?"

"Among the compensation payments, besides military expenditures, there is another extremely important item: compensation for the Ming people who were forced into slavery."

As he spoke, he turned around and looked at Yao Guangxiao beside him, instructing him: "Old monk, in your letter to Zhu Shou, please also remind him that the compensation to the people of the Ming Dynasty must not be subject to any embezzlement or deduction. Every penny must be paid to those suffering people."

"If a commoner unfortunately dies during the period of enslavement, the details must be reported to the court in a truthful manner, and then the government offices will cooperate in handling the matter and deliver the compensation to his or her family."

Upon hearing this, Yang Shiqi's eyes lit up.

According to information from the intelligence agency, the amount of compensation is quite substantial.

This includes not only the wages that ordinary people were entitled to during their forced enslavement, but also compensation for injuries and deaths, and even compensation for psychological harm.

If such generous compensation could be delivered to the people without being embezzled or intercepted, it would be a huge sum of money that many poor people would find difficult to accumulate in their entire lives under normal circumstances!
If this is the case, when those people take this money back to the Ming Dynasty, it will not only not have a negative impact on the court's overseas expansion plans, but it is also very likely to further inspire more people's enthusiasm for going to sea to explore.

After all, life is extremely difficult for the poor people at the bottom of society.

Their lives are worthless!

In their eyes, as long as there is an opportunity to make a lot of money overseas and to "get rich overnight," countless people will be willing to risk their lives to pursue that glimmer of hope to change their destiny!
Upon hearing Zhu Yunwen's instructions, Yao Guangxiao hurriedly replied, "Your subject obeys."

Yang Shiqi laughed heartily, "Your Majesty has thought things through thoroughly. In this way, all these issues are resolved."

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing I need to report to you." His expression turned serious, his tone abruptly changing, and the gentle smile he usually wore vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.

"The new policies implemented by the Duke of Liang in the three Jurchen tribes have sparked increasingly fierce debates both in the court and among the common people."

"Many of them pointed the finger at Fang Xiaoru, who was spreading new ideas everywhere."

"I have heard that Fang Xiaoru has been harassed by local officials on many occasions while traveling around lecturing."

"Even worse, local officials ordered his detention, which triggered several violent clashes and the situation became very tense at one point."

"At present, the imperial court has won several major victories in succession."

"First, the Duke of Liang led an expedition against the three Jurchen tribes and won a great victory, which made him famous far and wide."

"Now, the Marquis of Zhulu's campaigns against Siam and Pegu have also yielded brilliant results."

"Your Majesty, I dare to suggest that you take advantage of this opportune moment and issue an edict to summon virtuous and talented individuals from all over the country to the capital to discuss the new policies implemented by the Duke of Liang in the three Jurchen tribes, as well as the new learning advocated by Fang Xiaoru."

"Analyze the rights and wrongs of the matter carefully, debate them thoroughly, and make everything clear."

"What are the advantages and disadvantages of the new policy, and can it be implemented in the Ming Dynasty?"

"Is the new learning truly the way of the sages, as Fang Xiaoru claims?"

"These all urgently need to be clarified in order to understand the principles and rectify people's hearts."

Zhu Yunwen felt a sudden chill run down his spine.

This matter was a "fundamental event" that he had been meticulously planning for a long time.

Zhu Yunwen was all too aware of the stakes involved.

Knowing full well the far-reaching impact of this matter, which could affect everything, he has always been extremely cautious and has not been in a hurry to push things forward. Instead, he hopes that time can be slowed down first.

Give it more time to ferment.

Let the bullets fly for a while!

After all, old ideas are deeply ingrained, while new ideas have not yet taken root in people's hearts.

Moreover, this involves the interests of countless people.

However, things are unpredictable, and events don't always go as planned.

The speed at which new ideas spread far exceeded Zhu Yunwen's expectations.

Like a wildfire, it spread rapidly.

At the same time, the resulting backlash was equally swift and intense.

Last time, Zhu Yunwen managed to temporarily suppress this wave of opposition by using the blood-written plea for help.

But he knew in his heart that it was just a temporary measure, merely a way to buy some time and give him a little room to prepare for the next steps.

After that, although he remained outwardly calm, he actually made the new policies and new learning known to more people through the "neutral, objective and unbiased" articles in the Da Ming Daily.

Now, the expeditionary force has achieved a great victory.

The act of writing a letter in blood to plead for help can no longer be used as an excuse.

The new policies and new schools have caused quite a stir, and it's time to confront them directly.

Zhu Yunwen gave Yang Shiqi a deep look.

He has always been mature and steady. Since he brought up this matter on his own initiative, he must have thought it through carefully and had a certain degree of confidence in it before daring to offer his advice at this time.

"Very well!" Zhu Yunwen said solemnly, "Issue my decree to summon virtuous and talented people from all over the country to the capital to discuss the new policies and new education."

As soon as he finished speaking, a sudden gust of wind howled in.

In an instant, waves surged up on the once calm lake surface, layer upon layer.

Looking up, large swaths of clouds rolled in from afar.

The wind is getting stronger and stronger.

In just a short while, the ground was covered in flying sand and stones, a chaotic mess.

The lake water crashed against the shore like a ferocious beast, stirring up layers of waves and making a loud noise.

All sides were on high alert.

The people present were both surprised and delighted.

Yao Guangxiao looked up at the sky, and couldn't help but run a few steps forward, leaning his whole body over the railing of the pavilion, excitedly shouting, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it's going to rain! It's going to rain!"

……

(End of this chapter)