Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 368: Reduction of vassal states and public opinion

Zhu Cilang paused for a moment, a look of determination flashing in his eyes:

"However, the deadline for the land inventory cannot be delayed. Three months is indeed a tight deadline, but only in this way can we see who is truly loyal to me and who is most supportive of the new policies. Aside from those counties in southern Guangxi where the inventory is difficult to conduct, I will favor all officials and gentry who actively cooperate with the work and grant them more resources and power. Those who are passive and procrastinate will not be tolerated and must be severely punished."

Zhang Mingzhen knew very well that the subsequent inventory work was not only to collect land data, but also a political test for local officials and gentry.

This process involved not only the distribution of land but also the reshaping of power, and even affected the structure of local power. Whoever could pass this round of tests would gain greater power and more land, which was undoubtedly a huge temptation for all local officials and gentry.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will supervise closely and ensure that all the investigations are thorough." Zhang Mingzhen agreed in a low and firm voice.

Zhu Cilang nodded, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He continued, "Regarding the distribution of oxen, seeds, and land to farmers in Liaodong, as well as the establishment of camps, Hou Fu will be in charge for the time being. However, I intend to assign some capable people to assist. If there are any new administrative matters that need to be adjusted in the future, I will make timely arrangements."

Zhang Mingzhen replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty is wise, and I will certainly live up to your trust."

Zhu Cilang's gaze grew more serious. This mission wasn't just about replenishing food supplies; it was also about giving hope to the farmers of Liaodong amidst their plight, preventing them from becoming homeless. Only by firmly controlling the rights to land distribution and cultivation could they avoid new instability and consolidate the foundation of their regime.

"In addition, although the three-month land inventory is urgent, we need to proceed steadily and not rush for quick success. We must ensure that every inch of land is clearly understood and that every policy can be effectively implemented." Zhu Cilang took a deep breath.

Zhang Mingzhen bowed his head and replied, "Your Majesty's teachings, I will remember them."

At this point, Zhu Cilang was no longer in a hurry to discuss these matters. He glanced around and slowly said, "Shixian, continue to push forward the work. If there are any changes, report them in a timely manner."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhou Shixian responded.

At the same time, in Fujian, as the imperial court looked north, Zheng Zhilong became restless again.

Furthermore, despite Zheng Zhilong's iron-fisted approach to establishing a powerful military and political system amidst the rise of the Zheng army, his pirate roots remained unchanged. This was especially true when it came to collecting grain and salaries, as the gentry, landlords, and clan tycoons still insisted on paying according to previous regulations.

But when Zheng Zhilong wanted to seek other things, his methods were more than that.

In other words, during this process, the gentry in Fujian cannot relax in the slightest, whether in cooperation or collection of taxes.

Despite this, Zheng Zhilong was not short of means. He knew very well how to incorporate these local gentry and landlords into his own political system, maximize the use of their resources, and at the same time strengthen his control over the local areas.

However, as Zheng Zhilong's health gradually declined, the burden of power gradually passed to Zheng Sen.

Zheng Sen did not rely on traditional banditry like Zheng Zhilong did. He realized that as the Zheng army grew stronger, simply relying on the old collection model could no longer meet the needs of the huge army.

Following the reforms at the imperial court, he also launched a thorough reform of local governance. Through a series of measures, he successfully implemented local centralization, strengthened control over various regions, further optimized the collection of food and salary, and reformed the tax system, making the Zheng army's economic system increasingly stable.

According to Zheng Sen's plan, the three field armies of Zheng's army were expanded to nearly 80,000 troops, and there were as many as 20,000 garrison troops stationed in various places.

In order to maintain such a huge military force, Zheng Sen also began to learn from Zhu Cilang and upgraded his armaments on a large scale, planning to use more advanced weapons and equipment to enhance the combat effectiveness of the army.

He also began adjusting the military structure in anticipation of the upcoming challenge from the imperial court. According to Zheng Sen's vision, the future Zheng army must not only have an advantage in manpower, but also the improvement of equipment and the stability of supply will also be the key to victory.

He was not satisfied with relying solely on collecting food and wages to maintain the operation of the army, and he also planned to further squeeze silver and food from the people to support the operation of the entire regime. This was precisely one of the reasons why he gradually took over the internal affairs of the Zheng army.

Zheng Zhilong knew very well that only by ensuring sufficient food, wages and taxes could he cultivate a strong army capable of fighting against the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, he is fully promoting a top-down political and military reform, aiming to give the Zheng army not only an advantage on the battlefield, but also to build an orderly management system in domestic affairs.

At the same time, Zhu Cilang's thoughts gradually began to deepen. Zheng Zhilong's health condition had an increasingly greater impact on the overall situation, and this also made him see an opportunity to reduce the power of the vassal states.

Although all aspects of the Zheng army were still under Zheng Sen's control, with Zheng Zhilong's serious illness and Zheng Sen's gradual rise, Zhu Cilang began to plan how to strengthen central power by reducing power to ensure that he could control the overall situation. After all, if there is no appropriate excuse, reducing the power of the vassal states can easily cause resentment and conflict.

Therefore, Zhu Cilang's strategy was to create a legitimate reason at the right time so that he could strip his power in a fair and just manner in front of everyone.

Only when the cause is legitimate can one truly gain support in the court, and this requires the support and legitimacy of external public opinion. Regardless of the socioeconomic conditions at the time, at any time, in the court, the rule of law must be upheld, words must be reasonable, and actions must be legitimate and reasonable.

In other words, Emperor Zhu Cilang was also bound by these things and had to abide by those rules, whether explicit or implicit. Otherwise, he would have difficulty gaining the support of the people. This is an obvious truth.

But now, what Zhu Cilang wants is not only to reduce the power of the princes, but more importantly to make the move of reducing the power of the princes become legitimate and necessary, so that it can be recognized by the scholars.

During this process, Zhu Cilang was not in a hurry to act, but instead paid more attention to careful planning and preparation.

He has turned his attention to the future of Zheng Sen and his army. Zheng Sen's health will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the situation, but more crucially, whether Zheng Sen's illness can serve as a suitable excuse to help him advance a more complex regime restructuring. The current situation has reached a critical juncture, and we must seize the opportunity to assess the situation and take decisive action.

But before this, Zhu Cilang's focus was actually on a larger area. Fujian was not a threat to the entire Ming Dynasty. This was Zhu Cilang's confidence; he had this confidence.

"Regarding public opinion, continue to post notices and open up channels for discussion, allowing knowledgeable people to offer suggestions for the new dynasty." Zhu Cilang continued, his words revealing an unquestionable authority: "I will personally examine and select the best candidates."

His eyes flickered, and he had already decided to push himself to a higher position of power. This step was precisely to gradually win over the civil officials and scholars in the court with a "thirsty attitude" to seek talents. Recruiting talented people was not only to fill vacancies in the court, but also to shape his image as a wise monarch.

"Two of my students have written excellent articles on 'The Difference Between Chinese and Foreigners' these past few days. I'll have the Minister of Personnel find them positions in the Imperial Academy. I'll have a good chat with them in a few days." Zhu Cilang added, his tone tinged with admiration, "This should be announced publicly. Let everyone know that I value talent and am eager to recruit talented individuals."

Through this series of political moves, Zhu Cilang not only wanted to enhance his prestige in the court, but also to consolidate power and ensure the stability of his position. All of this was precisely to prepare for a more complex situation in the future.

Zhu Cilang sat beside a large desk, with densely packed memorials and reports spread out in front of him. At this moment, he was at the most critical moment.

In the court, the situation was turbulent, with internal and external troubles coexisting. How to consolidate his rule became the most urgent issue facing him.

"Open up the channels for speech, let knowledgeable people offer suggestions and discuss politics, and then select the best ones." This is the political slogan proposed by Zhu Cilang. On the surface, it seems to be an initiative to attract talents to the court and enhance governance capabilities; but in fact, this is undoubtedly a well-thought-out strategy. He is trying to win over enlightened intellectuals in order to find a theoretical basis for establishing a stable regime, while also attracting more supporters and strength for himself.

This is not only a political layout, but also a precise public opinion operation - with the support of scholars and intellectuals, it can not only inject legitimacy into its own rule, but also suppress those hostile forces that still have different intentions while gaining support.

However, Zhu Cilang knew that while this approach was effective, it was also fraught with risks. The current social structure was still deeply controlled by the landlord class, especially in remote areas, where the power of the gentry was deeply entrenched. If these local forces were to be weakened too ostentatiously at this time, it would inevitably trigger a significant backlash and even a local power crisis.

Therefore, Zhu Cilang did not intend to immediately challenge the status of these vested interest groups at this time. Instead, he chose to win them over and gradually bring them under his control, paving the way for more thorough reforms in the future. More importantly, he had to rely on the power of these local forces to stabilize his regime.

In his view, the most urgent task at hand was to gather more support to consolidate his position within the court. After all, Zhu Cilang did not want to engage in a head-on conflict with the landlord class too soon. He needed time, opportunities, and especially military victory to provide him with greater bargaining chips.

Therefore, Zhu Cilang did not rush to carry out the reforms to the end, but chose to first win their support by means of granting official titles and appeasing local tyrants. Once he achieved sufficient military victories, he could use these supporters to further promote his reform plan.

But how could he remain undefeated in the current complex political environment? Zhu Cilang had considered this. He decided to adopt a more flexible strategy—letting others speak. By allowing more scholars and intellectuals to express their opinions freely, he could not only superficially demonstrate his "enlightened" political stance.

More importantly, through this discussion process, one can screen out speeches and voices that are beneficial to oneself, then publicize them, and ultimately achieve control over public opinion.

"Through the war of public opinion, I can seize the initiative in the court." Zhu Cilang thought to himself, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

This is not only a political necessity, but also a way to combat potential threats, allow those who are willing to speak for themselves to stand up, and further strengthen their power base by rewarding and promoting them.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go down and arrange it right away." Zhang Mingzhen accepted the order and bowed his head.

Zhu Cilang nodded. Zhang Mingzhen was very experienced in handling government affairs and coordinating various forces, and was a trustworthy and capable assistant. However, just as Zhu Cilang was about to turn around to inspect the newly built firearms workshop in Nanjing, he suddenly noticed Zhou Shixian, who had been standing nearby all morning.

"Shixian, what exactly did you want to tell me just now?" Zhu Cilang asked with a smile in a gentle voice.

Seeing this, Zhou Shixian hurriedly bowed and saluted, saying earnestly: "Your Majesty, I have a request and am willing to serve the country."

"Oh? What's the matter?" Zhu Cilang raised his eyebrows slightly, but he already had a premonition in his heart.

"I am willing to go to Fujian and strive to make contributions to the country and eliminate the threat of bandits!" Zhou Shixian said word by word, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.

"Fujian? Where is Zheng Sen?" Zhu Cilang frowned, and a trace of solemnity flashed in his eyes.

The Zheng family has always been a thorn in the side of the government, deeply rooted in Fujian. Not only has it repeatedly threatened the authority of the imperial court militarily, it also has great influence among local forces.

Zhu Cilang looked at Zhang Mingzhen beside him, who immediately understood and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Zheng family's influence has been rampant in Fujian. If we don't completely eliminate them, it will be difficult to stabilize the south!"

Zhu Cilang pondered for a moment, weighing the pros and cons of Zhou Shixian's proposal against the current situation. Zhou Shixian's willingness to go would, on the one hand, weaken Zheng Sen's power; on the other, it would allow him to personally train and achieve greater achievements, greatly benefiting the future stability of his regime.

"In that case, you will be allowed to go to Fujian." Zhu Cilang finally made a decision, his voice firm and resolute. "But you must remember, this is not only for merit, but also for the safety of the country. No matter what, Zheng Sen's faction must be completely wiped out!"

Zhou Shixian was immediately overjoyed and respectfully promised, "I will definitely live up to your Majesty's trust!"

Zhu Cilang watched Zhou Shixian leave. The war in Fujian was about to break out, and it would even directly affect the success or failure of his subsequent series of political arrangements.

(End of this chapter)