Ming Dynasty: Pick up attributes from the battlefield to create the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 310 Zhu Ying's attitude towards the vassal kings: Future reforms will inevitably result in bloodshed!

In response to Zhu Ying's words.

Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless.

after all.

What Zhu said is true, and there is no way to refute it.

Indeed, there were far too many despicable people among his many sons.

Among them, the second and third sons, being the legitimate heirs, were the most brutal.

However, the second son was imprisoned by Zhu Biao for leading troops to attack Zhu Ying, and this matter only spread to some extent among the common people.

"emperor."

“You keep saying that the law comes first and that corrupt officials should be severely punished, which can be described as cruel treatment.”

"But you've been too lenient with your sons."

“Since you also said that you came from the days of suffering, you should know how powerless you were when facing those powerful people and bureaucrats.”

"And now, your sons have become those powerful and bureaucratic figures you once feared."

"Furthermore, those victims have nowhere to appeal, because the person they want to appeal to is the current emperor's son," Zhu Ying said slowly, his voice tinged with disappointment.

It is true that there can be no true fairness and justice in any era or under any circumstances.

However, if a founding emperor was like this, then he would certainly do the same for the future of his descendants.

in this way.

The law is not law.

The law is no longer a law.

And listening to Zhu Ying's words.

Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry, and Zhu Biao, who was standing to the side, did not speak either.

After a while.

"They are, after all, our sons."

"We've suffered too much; we don't want them to suffer too," Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.

"Therefore."

"The Emperor has suffered, but the common people of the world have suffered as well."

"Now the emperor spoils his son, but has he ever thought about the sons of innocent commoners?"

"They were also born of parents and raised by parents."

"If the Yuan court could produce a Zhu Chongba in the past, it's hard to guarantee that it won't produce a Li Chongba or Liu Chongba in the future."

"A thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant hole. Does Your Majesty not understand this?" Zhu Ying said seriously.

I'm saying this today.

Zhu Ying was not afraid of Zhu Yuanzhang's wrath. Zhu Ying had just pointed out that if he came to power in the future, he would never tolerate members of the imperial family.

"Yongying."

"If your children and grandchildren were to live like this in the future, how would you handle it?" Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head and looked at Zhu Ying expectantly as he asked.

“If they kill and harm people without cause, if they disregard the law and oppress the people.”

"In severe cases, they will be demoted to commoners and made to experience that kind of life."

"At the very least, they will be placed in confinement, depriving them of their freedom."

"As for his life, perhaps it will be spared," Zhu Ying said slowly.

Hear this.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded as if he understood.

"Biao'er."

"Do you think we've really spoiled them too much?" Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at Zhu Biao.

"indeed."

Zhu Biao nodded.

"Ugh."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, his voice filled with helplessness: "Xiong Ying, you're right. We've spoiled them too much."

"Always."

"No one dares to speak ill of them in front of us, so over time, we've come to turn a blind eye."

"We have indeed spoiled them too much for the sins they have committed," Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly.

His words even carried an attitude of admitting his mistake.

This.

If it were in the imperial court...

Before the eyes of the world.

That's simply impossible.

"Biao'er."

"Yongying."

Zhu Yuanzhang became extremely serious at this moment: "I am old now. The future of the Ming Dynasty belongs to you and your son. Today, I ask you for a favor."

Hearing "please" a single word.

Both Zhu Biao and Zhu Ying showed surprise.

"Please speak, Father [Emperor]."

Zhu Biao and Zhu Ying immediately replied.

"later."

"Under the law, we will no longer indulge the prince. He may be punished or dismissed, but he may not be killed."

"Can you two agree to this?"

"anyway."

“Your brothers,” Zhu Yuanzhang said, looking at Zhu Biao.

“Your uncles,” Zhu Yuanzhang said, looking at Zhu Ying.

"No matter how you punish them in the future, spare their lives." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a hint of earnestness.

now.

He did not forcefully issue an imperial decree to do anything.

Having lived to such an age, Zhu Yuanzhang deeply understood that a new emperor brings a new court.

Even if I issue an imperial edict today, it will still be overthrown in the future by Zhu Biao and his son.

If his sons were to break the ban in the future, even if he were no longer alive, at least he could protect their lives.

"Your son agrees, Father," Zhu Biao said slowly.

"If I were to become emperor in the future, I would agree, but only on the condition that they do not commit any acts that would anger both heaven and man," Zhu Ying said slowly.

After all.

Facing Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Ying naturally had his own reasons for his confidence.

This is also the fundamental reason for facing him.

They are not weak.

If one is not in the Ming Dynasty, one can go to other places to establish a new country.

Now that he has become the eldest grandson of the Ming emperor, he has simply taken a shortcut.

"well."

With his children and grandchildren nodding in approval, Zhu Yuanzhang was relieved: "Sparing their lives is enough."

"We will summon them to Yingtian this time and have a good talk with them. If they really break the rules in the future, we will not let them off."

He said this today.

Clearly, Zhu Yuanzhang took this matter seriously.

As Zhu Ying said.

He rebelled because he couldn't survive under the tyranny of the Yuan Dynasty, and he didn't want his descendants to become part of that tyranny in the future.

In that case, the Zhu family's fate would definitely not be good either.

"Yongying."

"Now that we've come up with the topic of your uncles..."

"Do you think it's good or bad to enfeoff princes to guard the country?" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked.

Unlike Zhu Biao, who spent many years in Yingtian but never truly immersed himself in the lives of ordinary people, Zhu Yingke grew up among the common folk and saw only what he saw with his own eyes, not what others made him see.

Hear this.

Zhu Ying looked slightly thoughtful.

I thought about it.

Finally, he said one sentence.

“The practice of enfeoffing princes is the root of chaos,” Zhu Ying said.

These words were spoken.

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression changed drastically.

Zhu Biao, standing to the side, also looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with concern.

But Zhu Ying was not afraid at all, and stood calmly watching.

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang calmed down and was about to ask a question...

"Let's start playing, Your Majesty."

"Minister of Justice Shen Jin requests an audience outside the palace."

Yun Qi's voice came from outside the hall.

Hear the sound.

Zhu Yuanzhang ultimately did not ask the question.

Shen Jin's request for an audience must mean that the execution of the Lü family and the matter concerning the Shen family have been definitively settled.

"Announce it," Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice.

echoed.

Shen Jin, dressed in official robes and holding two memorials, slowly walked into the main hall of Wenyuan Pavilion.

"My lord, please see your Majesty."

"See the prince."

"Greetings to King Yu Huai."

Upon entering the hall, Shen Jin immediately bowed in greeting.

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang and his two grandsons were all there, he was naturally not surprised at all.

"No need for formalities," Zhu Yuanzhang said, raising his hand. "Your Majesty."

"After several months, the entire Shen family has been captured and imprisoned."

"Now that the imperial examinations are over, I have come to request Your Majesty to set a date for the execution of the Shen family."

"Except."

"The entire Lü family has been apprehended. After a joint screening by the Ministry of Revenue, no one escaped. They can now be dealt with."

"Therefore."

"Your Majesty, I beseech you to make a decision," Shen Jin respectfully addressed Zhu Yuanzhang.

Hear this!

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, but still looked at Zhu Ying: "Xiong Ying, you decide on this date."

"The Shen family's crime lies in plotting to harm you."

"The crime of the Lü family is not only to murder you, but also to attempt to overthrow the imperial power."

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was tinged with coldness.

"It's better to choose a day than to hit it."

"Tomorrow then," Zhu Ying said without hesitation.

"Did you hear what our grandson said?" Zhu Yuanzhang immediately looked at Shen Jin.

"I accept the decree."

Shen Jin respectfully responded, and then presented the two memorials: "Please affix your seal, Your Majesty."

between words.

Yun Qi immediately stepped forward and respectfully presented the two official documents from the Ministry of Justice to the Emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't think much of it. He immediately picked up the official seal, stamped it on the document, and wrote a sentence: "Tomorrow, they will all be executed!"

In the present-day Ming Dynasty.

Matters concerning death row inmates had to be submitted to Zhu Yuanzhang through the Ministry of Justice, let alone crimes as serious as the extermination of an entire family, even nine generations.

This must have been approved by Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Execution will be carried out tomorrow."

"We still need the Governor's Office to dispatch troops to protect us, otherwise the Ministry of Justice's yamen runners will not be able to maintain order," Shen Jin said respectfully.

"We will issue an order to the Ministry of War to cooperate."

"Except."

"The execution will be overseen by Prince Yu Huai and Yun Tong," Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly.

"Your subject accepts the decree," Shen Jin said respectfully.

"Alright, go and make the arrangements." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, waved his hand, and said no more.

Shen Jin naturally withdrew respectfully as well.

"Biao'er."

"Do you want to go to the execution ground tomorrow?" Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at Zhu Biao.

“It’s enough that Xiong Ying is going,” Zhu Biao said.

"That's true." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

……

Prince Yu Huai's Mansion!

After returning from the palace, Zhu Ying was also deep in thought.

Each thought led to another idea.

He then wrote a sentence on a piece of white paper on the table.

Unknowingly.

This blank sheet of paper has already been filled with Zhu Ying's writing.

If you look closely at the white paper...

can be seen.

The first was the disaster caused by the enfeoffment of princes.

The policy was to reduce the power of the princes, strip them of their privileges, military power, political power, the right to legally buy and sell land, and the right not to levy taxes.

And the second one.

Land was rented out, and land was not allowed to be bought or sold; the poll tax was incorporated into the land tax.

The third.

Build highways so that they can be found all over the world.

the fourth.

With the addition of new categories to the imperial examinations, those with special talents could be selected through these examinations, thus attracting talent from all over the country.

the fifth.

They deprived Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) of their right to legally buy and sell land, and of their right to be exempt from taxes.

And the sixth one.

This refers to the imperial court providing funds for the princes and the imperial family.

Seventh, the maritime ban...

The eighth method was the eight-legged essay system for selecting officials...

The ninth is household registration...

This piece of paper contained Zhu Ying's thoughts on the many problems facing the Ming Empire.

Any one of these things, once spoken, will inevitably have a far-reaching impact and cause a nationwide shock. However, now that Zhu Ying has written it down, it means that he intends to rewrite all of these things in the future.

As the saying goes.

We aspire to become a truly world-leading technological superpower, rather than remaining confined to a corner of the globe.

These all require genuine reform.

only if.

Only then can Zhu Ying obtain a true empire, an empire that unifies the world.

"Compared to establishing a country directly abroad, although inheriting the Ming Dynasty can avoid this step, it doesn't seem to be a very good option."

"My good grandfather has caused many problems for the Ming Dynasty. If we really take action, it will surely cause a nationwide upheaval."

"It seems we still need to take it one step at a time."

"Let's start with those uncles. While Old Zhu is still around and his influence is still there, we must rely on his power to truly complete the reforms," ​​Zhu Ying thought to himself.

My uncles.

A regional king who ruled over a territory.

Second son, third son.

Cruel and tyrannical.

The fourth brother, though outwardly well-behaved, actually harbors ambitions deep down.

As for the rest.

There are also many drawbacks, but they are not so obvious. After all, Zhu Ying did not really study these vassal kings in history. In short, there are good and bad aspects.

but.

If this continues unabated and they are not restrained, it will inevitably lead to a major disaster.

Looking at the drawbacks written on this paper, even Zhu Ying himself felt a chill run down his spine.

This was only his initial thought; there were many drawbacks he hadn't considered in detail.

"Let's take it one step at a time."

"Anyway, judging from Lao Zhu and the others' attitude, if they don't change, then let them fester for now. When I take over later, it will be a bloodbath," Zhu Ying thought to himself.

Anyway.

Find an opportunity to talk to Lao Zhu and Zhu Biao.

We'll see what happens next.

After all, Zhu Yingyou was skilled in using any means necessary.

In terms of ability, Zhu Ying also has it.

With Zhu Rongji here, the matter can be resolved with his power, which can reduce a lot of bloodshed. But if Zhu Rongji disagrees, then Zhu Rongji will have to do it himself in the future, which will inevitably result in countless bloodshed.

However, in order to build a powerful Ming Empire that Zhu Ying could expand into the world, reforms and these measures were necessary.

At this moment.

"Your Majesty."

"good news."

Liu Lei's voice came over before he even arrived.

Zhu Ying put the papers on the table into his storage space, then looked towards the entrance of the hall.

Liu Lei and Xiao Han walked quickly towards them, each carrying a box.

What's all the fuss about?

Seeing the two of them like this, Zhu Ying scolded them in annoyance.

"Your Majesty."

"The craftsmen have produced something."

"Look quickly."

Liu Lei, holding the box, came to Zhu Ying, as did Xiao Han.

After placing the two boxes on the table, the two of them opened them directly.

The first box.

Comes into view.

These are several completely transparent glass cups and bowls.

Glass did not exist in the Ming Dynasty at that time, but it had appeared overseas.

only.

Perhaps even overseas, there isn't a glass as clear and bright as the one in front of Zhu Ying right now.

After seeing it.

Zhu Ying's eyes lit up: "Finally finished?"

"Go back to your lord."

"We have fully mastered the craft of making this glass, and the artisans can work together seamlessly."

"It's completely formed now," Liu Lei said excitedly.

Zhu Ying's gaze shifted to the second box, and his eyes lit up.

……

(End of this chapter)