Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 468 Lan Yu admits his mistake, Zhu Yunwen makes empty promises!
Hearing these words, Lan Yu felt a surge of warmth in her heart, and her gratitude was palpable.

He bowed deeply and said, "I failed to report this matter to Your Majesty in time due to my own selfishness, which betrayed Your Majesty's trust. I should not have done so."

"Your Majesty, I assure you this is the first and the last time."

"From now on, whatever the matter, I will report to Your Majesty immediately and will never conceal anything!"

Lan Yu had long known that the government affairs office was bypassing the military and using its own resources to crack down on the chieftains in the southwest, and they had argued about it many times.

However, he deliberately did not report this to Zhu Yunwen.

The aim was to defeat them, making the situation unmanageable, and thus forcing them to call in the military.

Unexpectedly, the internal guards, constables, and yamen runners of the government office put up a surprisingly good fight.

It was only under this opportunity that Lan Yu took the opportunity of today's audience to complain to Zhu Yunwen about the overreach of the government affairs office.

Zhu Yuntong's face lit up with a warm smile, his eyes revealing kindness and tolerance.

He waved his hand, his tone light: "Why blame yourself so much, Uncle? Although I have ascended the throne, you are still my closest elder in this palace."

"Today, let us set aside the formalities between ruler and subject and focus solely on the bond between blood relatives."

After saying that, he personally helped Lan Yu sit down, then picked up the teapot from the table and poured Lan Yu a cup of tea. Instantly, the aroma of tea wafted between the two of them.

Zhu Yunwen asked with a smile, "Nowadays, many meritorious officials and nobles in the court have formed mercenary groups to go overseas and make a fortune."

"My great-uncle is a master of martial arts and has a great reputation, so why has he remained inactive and never taken a share of the spoils?"

A bitter smile appeared on Lan Yu's face. He sighed and said, "When His Majesty strongly promoted the naval strategy and encouraged the imperial relatives, nobles and gentry to form mercenary legions and set sail, I was stationed in Beiping and could not participate in the matter in Nanjing."

"Later, His Majesty ordered me to lead a large army on a distant expedition against the three Jurchen tribes. The campaign was busy and I had no hope of returning to the capital."

His eyes revealed a hint of weariness and helplessness as he continued, "After I led my army in triumph and returned to the capital, His Majesty entrusted me with an important task, appointing me as the Chief Minister of Military Affairs."

"The imperial court is now making every effort to build up the navy and prepare to establish military fortresses in various overseas locations to protect the interests of the Ming Dynasty abroad."

"If I were to form my own mercenary army now, I fear that when the navy goes on a long voyage, it will inevitably become involved with my private army."

At this point, Lan Yu's tone became more worried: "In this way, there may be criticism from both inside and outside the court, who will say that I am using the power of the Ming Dynasty's navy to expand my own army's territory overseas and seek huge profits."

"After much deliberation, I feel this matter is inappropriate. Therefore, I would rather suppress my thoughts and refrain from forming a mercenary army for the time being, so as not to cause Your Majesty any unnecessary trouble."

Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

He put down his teacup, his tone gentle yet tinged with sympathy: "Uncle, your considerations are so thorough, it's a bit difficult for me to do you this way."

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over Lan Yu's weathered face, and said, "My great-uncle had quite a few adopted sons in the army back then."

"After the new army was formed, apart from a few who were incorporated into the new army to continue serving, most of the rest were transferred to local government positions, while many others remained in their maternal uncle's house to await orders."

“These people are loyal and have fought alongside you for many years, but now you alone have to support them. The burden is heavy.”

"In order to implement the new policies, the court has strictly prohibited meritorious officials from purchasing land, and taxes are levied according to rank. Even if you own more land, it is not worthwhile. This cuts off your path to land acquisition."

"If we don't allow my great-uncle to find some legitimate work, how can we support such huge expenses?"

"In my opinion, your adopted sons are all fierce warriors on the battlefield. If they were to form a mercenary army and go to sea to make a profit, it would not be a bad idea."

“My maternal uncle is loyal to the country, and I know that very well.”

Why let other people's opinions hold you back?

"Go ahead and do it, I will support you!"

Zhu Yunwen was well aware of the ancient saying, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish."

Like Zhu Yuanzhang, he was deeply distressed by corrupt officials and abhorred those who abused their power for personal gain. However, he also understood the subtleties of human nature and realized that human desires could not be eradicated.

Are there any officials in the world who are selfless, incorruptible, and willing to live in poverty and hunger until death, yet still dedicate themselves to the court and strive for the well-being of the people?
The answer is yes.

Such people do exist!

However, such noble and virtuous individuals are extremely rare, as rare as phoenix feathers and morning stars.

The world is hilarious, all come for profit.

The world is a chaotic place, and everyone is driven by profit.

This is the majority of the masses.

Officials are no exception.

Can high salaries breed honest and dedicated officials?

The answer is not necessarily.

Without strict institutional constraints, even the most generous salaries will only fuel greed.

Human desires are like a bottomless abyss, never satisfied.

High salaries cannot guarantee integrity, but excessively low salaries will certainly become a breeding ground for corruption.

Just as people who have no means of livelihood and are desperate will find their own way to survive.

If officials are forced into a situation where they are penniless and destitute, they will inevitably seek ways to abuse their power for personal gain.

Allowing meritorious officials and nobles to form private mercenary armies to go to sea was to grant them the right to pursue wealth, and it was also intended to cultivate a new class of interest groups.

Only when this group of people reaps substantial profits from overseas campaigns can the Ming Dynasty's grand plan for going global proceed smoothly and continuously.

As for Lan Yu's concerns that some people might take advantage of the Ming Dynasty's navy establishing military fortresses overseas and conquering foreign lands to secretly seek benefits for their own army, this was a strategy that Zhu Yunwen tacitly approved.

Instead, he hoped that these nobles could cleverly "hitch a ride" and use the court's military power to pave the way for their own families.

If they remain completely aloof and do not involve themselves in the military, then when other forces oppose the imperial court's naval expedition, these people may simply stand by and do nothing.

Even worse, they themselves would secretly oppose the imperial court's overseas campaigns.

This would undoubtedly be detrimental to the Ming Dynasty's grand ambition of becoming a global superpower.

According to Zhu Yunwen's plan, the overseas wealth would be divided up among these nobles and their legions.

Those low-ranking soldiers who followed the legion to sea, those ordinary people from poor backgrounds who struggled to make a living, could also get a share of the spoils after risking their lives to join the army.

The imperial court also extracted its due profits from it.

All parties benefited and complemented each other; this was the situation he sought.

As for whether anyone was using the power of the court or relying on the might of the navy to seek personal gain, Zhu Yunwen did not care.

If all "free-riding" actions are strictly prohibited and all channels relying on official power are cut off, the Ming Dynasty's overseas expansion policy will inevitably face great difficulties and be hard to implement.

On the contrary, tolerance can inspire everyone to work together.

Moreover, the true source of wealth lies in relying on the abundant resources and vast markets overseas, paving the way for the industrialization process of the Ming Dynasty.

At that time, the economy of the Ming Dynasty will surely soar like an eagle in the sky, and that will be the real "great benefit".

Compared to this, the small amount of gold and silver that these nobles are chasing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean, insignificant.

Upon hearing this, Lan Yu abruptly stood up and bowed deeply: "Your Majesty values ​​me so highly, I can only repay Your Majesty's great kindness by serving you with my utmost loyalty and dedication!" Zhu Yunwen quickly rose to help him up, and said with a gentle smile: "Uncle, please rise. There is no need for such formalities between us."

He personally helped Lan Yu sit down, his eyes full of kindness and tolerance, like a gentle spring breeze.

The two sat down again.

Lan Yu sighed softly, a complex expression appearing on his face: "My good-for-nothing nephew Chang Sheng, the mercenary legion he formed set sail, but unexpectedly encountered a raging storm. All four ships, carrying more than two hundred brave and skilled mercenaries, as well as more than three hundred accompanying crew members and craftsmen, perished in the sea, with only three surviving by sheer luck."

A hint of regret flashed in his eyes: "Those four ships carrying priceless goods were all destroyed in an instant."

"The Chang family had accumulated a considerable fortune through overseas trade, but this trip resulted in them losing everything."

“Making a living overseas is like dancing on a knife’s edge; a slight misstep can lead to financial ruin.”

"I have purchased some stocks, and the returns are quite considerable. Moreover, I do not need to take any risks myself, which saves me a lot of trouble."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen was taken aback at first, then laughed and said, "My maternal great-uncle is a renowned and ever-victorious general of the Ming Dynasty. He gallops across the battlefield, chatting and laughing amidst the flashing swords. He risked his life to achieve great deeds, but he never showed the slightest fear."

"Why have you become so hesitant and timid when faced with the slightest storm at sea?"

Although his words were joking, a sense of understanding flashed through his mind.

Although battles on the battlefield are extremely dangerous, Lan Yu has spent half his life on the battlefield and has long regarded weapons as commonplace.

People tend to take things for granted and don't perceive them as particularly dangerous.

But they always have a natural wariness of the unknown and dare not easily venture into it.

If they hear of more painful lessons, they will become even more wary and would rather keep their distance.

This is human nature.

Although Lan Yu was an invincible general on the battlefield, he was still subject to the dictates of human nature.

In his view, there was nothing to worry about in the battles on the battlefield.

But it's different at sea.

This may be the reason why he is unwilling to form a mercenary army to go to sea.

"A journey at sea is fraught with danger and peril."

"However, as the old saying goes, 'Fortune favors the bold.' Without the courage to face difficulties, how can one seize such immense wealth?"

Zhu Yunwen's tone revealed a boldness and decisiveness, full of the young emperor's domineering spirit.

He paused, then softened his tone: "However, Uncle, there is no need to worry too much about the Chang family's affairs."

"Although their fleet encountered storms and lost many men, there is no need to worry about the financial losses."

He picked up a cup of tea from the table, took a sip, and said, "When the Great Ming Insurance Company was first established, I purchased an insurance policy for the Chang family's fleet."

"All property losses suffered by its fleet at sea due to storms will be fully compensated by the insurance company."

"Even the families of the mercenaries and their companions who unfortunately perished will receive a substantial death compensation to ensure their well-being."

A look of surprise flashed in Lan Yu's eyes, as if he could not believe his ears, and he asked in confusion, "Is this really true? That brat Chang Sheng didn't mention a word to me!"

Zhu Yunwen smiled and said, "The insurance company needs time to verify the authenticity of the accident, so it cannot pay out immediately."

"I have calculated the days, and if there are no errors, the compensation should have been delivered to the Chang family today."

In real history, the insurance system arose because of the voyages of Western exploration fleets.

The sea is unpredictable and fraught with danger. Only by sharing losses through insurance can adventurers be free from worries.

After the Ming Dynasty established its national policy of going global, Zhu Yunwen knew very well that it was imperative to establish an insurance company belonging to the Ming Dynasty.

However, at the beginning, there was no precedent to follow and no risk data to rely on, so determining the premium and compensation amount was a difficult problem.

Therefore, the insurance company has been slow to be established.

As the number of ships going to sea increased and maritime trade gradually took shape, the patterns of risk and reward became clearer, and this matter was put on the agenda and steadily promoted.

At the same time that the Jinling Stock Exchange was established, Daming Insurance Group was also founded and successfully listed.

To encourage the public to purchase insurance, Zhu Yunwen generously used his own money from the emperor's private treasury to buy insurance for several close relatives of the emperor.

This move not only demonstrates the emperor's boundless grace, but also aims to set an example and promote insurance.

He had already begun to devise an even grander plan.

Insurance should be purchased for all soldiers who go to the battlefield to ensure that they or their families receive appropriate compensation after being wounded or killed, so as to put their minds at ease and encourage their will.

In addition, Zhu Yuntong also envisioned providing insurance for court officials to ensure that they could still receive a salary after leaving office or retiring in old age, thus relieving honest officials of any worries about their future.

This initiative can be gradually promoted and even popularized among the general public, benefiting countless people.

Such plans, though already conceived in his mind, are still in the planning stages and have not yet been implemented.

There's no need to mention it to Lan Yu at this moment.

"Is this really true?" Lan Yu's brows still held a hint of doubt.

Just yesterday, Chang Sheng, who had suffered a severe blow, had recounted to him the damage to his family business, his words filled with sorrow and deeply moving.

Zhu Yunwen laughed and said, "How could I speak so jokingly and deceive my maternal uncle?"

"Uncle, you might as well go to the Chang residence immediately and see for yourself. You'll surely be pleasantly surprised."

At this point, Zhu Yunwen remembered something else: "By the way, I previously ordered the emperor's relatives, nobles and meritorious officials to form a fleet and establish a mercenary army. In the future, I also plan to allow private companies to go public and issue stocks to raise funds publicly."

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

A glint of light flashed in Lan Yu's eyes. Without saying much, he got up to take his leave.

He left the imperial study, boarded a carriage, and headed straight for the Chang family's residence.

Before the carriage even approached the Chang residence, the streets and alleys were already bustling with noise and bustle.

In front of the Chang residence, crowds of onlookers thronged, discussing the matter animatedly.

Lan Yu's guards quickly dispersed the crowd and drove the carriage into the Chang residence.

Upon entering, Lan Yu immediately noticed a brand-new, state-of-the-art carriage parked in the center of the courtyard, with the words "Da Ming Insurance Group" gleaming in gold on its body.

Upon seeing Lan Yu, Chang Sheng's face was no longer clouded with the gloom of yesterday; instead, it was filled with uncontrollable elation.

He hurried over, waving his hands excitedly, his voice trembling slightly with emotion: "Uncle, this is great!"

"Daming Insurance Group fully compensated for the losses of my capsized fleet, and even the families of the fallen crew members received a generous death compensation!"

"Our Chang family has finally escaped death and survived again!"

……

(End of this chapter)