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

Chapter 317 Zhu Yuanzhang: The reduction of the power of the princes begins today! You brat, can you relax now?
As the four characters "Zhu Ying" fell to the ground.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao looked on in astonishment.

Do you not understand the meaning of these four words?
"What do you mean by that?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Zhu Biao stared at Zhu Ying, waiting for a reply.

"simply put."

"Even if the royal family is to be supported in the future, this money cannot be drawn from the national treasury."

“The nation is the nation, and the clan is the clan.”

“They cannot be confused.”

"If this is confused, even if the support for the royal family is interrupted for the time being, there will inevitably be other expenditures in the future."

"The only way is to sever it completely," Zhu Ying said in a deep voice.

"Then tell me how to change it?"

"I understand less and less of what you're saying," Zhu Yuanzhang said, puzzled.

Although in this era.

Zhu Yuanzhang was undoubtedly the first person to rule, the supreme ruler, but he truly did not understand the ideas and policies proposed by Zhu Ying.

"first."

"Distinguish between national industries and royal industries."

"The nation's assets are taxes, land, and revenue, all of which belong to the state."

"Taken from the people, used for the people."

"This is the foundation for the continuation of the nation's destiny and must not be used for private purposes, not even by the emperor or the crown prince."

"The funds in the national treasury can only be used for the benefit of the country," Zhu Ying said in a deep voice.

"Then where does the royal family get its expenses from?" Zhu Biao asked.

"This is the royal property I was referring to."

"For example, the properties acquired from the Shen family can be integrated into royal properties, and the income will not go into the national treasury, but will belong to the royal finances."

“And by utilizing these royal assets, we can continue to expand among the common people and make money. At the same time, we can also provide more jobs for the people and let them earn money,” Zhu Ying said slowly.

That's all for now.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao seemed to understand as well.

"I understand."

"According to you, the national treasury revenue has nothing to do with my royal family, and the national treasury should not be used to support my royal family. Instead, it should be taken from the people and used for the people."

"And the income from these royal properties is the very foundation of our imperial family's enjoyment," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a hint of realization.

"That's exactly right." Zhu Ying nodded.

"and many more."

Zhu Yuanzhang came to his senses and realized a crucial point: "After saying so much, you still haven't said how to support the imperial family?"

"Currently, the national treasury spends two million taels of silver annually just to support the imperial family. Even with these royal assets, it's still impossible to afford it."

Obviously.

This was what Zhu Yuanzhang was most concerned about.

"I just mentioned the separation of financial and administrative powers."

"National finances and royal finances should not be confused."

"Then there are the royal properties."

"Didn't you enfeoff various princes? From now on, each prince will be responsible for the royal properties of his fiefdom. Fifty percent of the profits from these properties can be used for his own support, and the remaining fifty percent can be handed over to the emperor."

"As for how they distribute the 50% of the profits, that's none of our business. They can divide it among their descendants however they want; it's none of our concern," Zhu Ying said slowly.

Listen to this.

Both Zhu Yuanzhang and his son were immediately impressed.

seem.

This clan support was not a problem at all for Zhu Ying.

"The Shen family's businesses are now directly managed by the Ministry of Revenue. Although they have earned a considerable amount, it seems that the Shen family's businesses are not enough to support the imperial family, since the Shen family's original businesses were not truly spread throughout the country." Zhu Yuanzhang said thoughtfully.

"liquor."

“My distillery can provide it.”

"In the future, I can also promote other products for the general public, which will definitely make the royal industry a powerful tool for making money."

"But salt, charcoal, and many other national products that are crucial to the foundation of the nation must absolutely not be included in this industry," Zhu Ying said solemnly.

"Come on."

"I don't understand any of what you're saying."

"This time, you mentioned the policy of supporting vassal kings and the drawbacks of supporting the imperial family. In short, you can do whatever you want."

"Since you proposed this royal property, then we will hand it over to you entirely." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, directly taking control of Zhu Ying.

Hear this.

Zhu Ying smiled and said, "Your Majesty, if you entrust this business to me, I will take the lion's share. I can provide wine brewing and other best-selling products. These are not businesses without capital."

"You brat."

"The entire Ming Dynasty will be yours in the future, and this royal property will naturally be yours as well," Zhu Yuanzhang said irritably.

"You said it yourself." Zhu Ying nodded and smiled.

Then, without any hesitation, he walked to the table and took out a blank imperial edict.

Then he dipped the brush in ink and handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Write."

"From now on, all royal properties will be under my control, and no one will be allowed to interfere with the transfer of funds," Zhu Ying stated directly.

In short, words are no proof.

"You kid."

See this.

Zhu Yuanzhang could only smile helplessly.

But he still took the pen and wrote it down directly on the imperial edict.

Zhu Ying took a look.

The sentence above.

"All royal properties are under the control of the eldest grandson of the emperor, Zhu Xiong Ying. The allocation and use of funds and manpower are all based on the eldest grandson of the emperor."

then.

Zhu Yuanzhang affixed the imperial seal.

See this.

Zhu Ying smiled with satisfaction: "That's more like it."

Then he simply picked up the imperial edict from the table.

"Received an imperial edict and a common treasure chest as a reward," the panel message read.

Listen to this.

Zhu Ying's eyes lit up: "This works too? Then let Old Zhu write more imperial edicts in the future, one edict for one treasure chest."

"Tell me everything else you've mentioned about other medications."

"I've had enough of you making me angry today," Zhu Yuanzhang said irritably.

Zhu Ying smiled and called out to the outside of the hall, "Bring it in."

"Yes."

From outside the palace.

Liu Lei carried two boxes and strode into the main hall.

When Liu Lei arrived in front of Zhu Ying, he didn't know where to put the box.

"Just put it up there."

Zhu Ying pointed to the imperial desk and said.

Liu Lei dared not delay and immediately placed the two boxes on the imperial desk.

"Go down."

Zhu Ying said.

Liu Lei bowed deeply and immediately withdrew.

"what is this?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the two boxes and asked, puzzled.

“The future pillar of the royal industry.” Zhu Ying smiled and reached out to open the box.

into the eye.

A set of glass products.

The two glass jars contained refined salt and cane sugar.

It came into the view of Zhu Yuanzhang and his son.

Just a glance.

It immediately captivated the father and son's attention.

"what is this?"

"A glass bowl?" Zhu Yuanzhang picked up a glass bowl and asked in surprise.

Zhu Biao, who was standing nearby, also picked one up and exclaimed in surprise, "It's so clear and transparent, without any impurities?"

"Take a look at these two too." Zhu Ying smiled and pointed to the refined salt and cane sugar in the glass jar.

The two looked back and each picked up a can.

"Is this salt?"

Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the refined salt and exclaimed in surprise, "How can there be such fine salt? It's much finer than the salt supplied by my court!"

talking.

Zhu Yuanzhang opened the jar, reached out and pinched a little salt, then put it in his mouth.

Suddenly!

shocked.

"This...this is much more flavorful than the refined salt specially supplied to our imperial court, without any off-flavors."

"How did they do that?" Zhu Yuanzhang was even more astonished.

Even he, the emperor, was unable to remain calm at this moment.

If Zhu Ying's pointing out the drawbacks of the feudal prince system and the problems of supporting the imperial clan was out of lingering fear, then Zhu Yuanzhang's current mood is one of delight and surprise.

"This is not refined salt."

"What is this? Is it sweet?"

Zhu Biao was even more surprised after trying the cane sugar.

This was a sweetness he had never tasted before; it was pure and unadulterated.

Let's take a look.

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately took the sugar jar from Zhu Biao's hand, then reached out, pinched a little, and put it in his mouth to try it. His eyes lit up.

"What is this?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked, even more surprised.

Judging from their performance.

Zhu Ying smiled calmly.

These three things.

Especially glass.

It is definitely a shock of modernization.

The same applies to sucrose.

"One by one."

"These transparent containers are called glass. They can be used to make all kinds of containers and have a wide range of uses. They can even be used to preserve gunpowder by sealing it completely, allowing the gunpowder to be preserved for a longer time."

"And this is indeed refined salt, which my craftsmen have refined again using the method I gave them."

"This is called cane sugar, and I also gave the artisans the method to refine it."

"What changes do you think these three items would bring to the Ming Dynasty if they were to be made public?" Zhu Ying smiled and asked the two men in return.

"Putting aside everything else, this refined salt alone exceeds the special supply granted to our imperial court. However, salt is subject to national taxes and cannot be sold lightly," Zhu Biao said in a deep voice.

"Salt belongs to the national treasury, so it should not be sold lightly."

"But I want all the people of my great Ming Dynasty to eat this refined salt, real salt."

“And the value of the salt they buy won’t be more than the coarse salt they’re buying now,” Zhu Ying said in a deep voice, with a firm tone.

Listen to this.

Both Zhu Yuanzhang and his son could clearly sense the firmness in Zhu Ying's words, and even more so, his genuine concern for the people.

"I want all the people in the world to eat this refined salt, and the price is no more expensive than coarse salt."

"This is too difficult," Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head.

"emperor."

"The refining techniques I possess far surpass those of the Imperial Salt Administration."

"So you don't need to worry about manufacturing costs," Zhu Ying said with a confident smile.

"Is that really true?" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes widened, somewhat incredulous.

"Salt is the foundation of the nation and should not be sold lightly. It is also the foundation of the people's livelihood. In the future, no matter what, salt will still be directly controlled by the imperial court."

“And this glass and sugar are the pillars of my royal industry today, as are wine, of course,” Zhu Ying said in a deep voice.

Is it difficult to extract this sugar?

"And this thing called glass, is it difficult to make?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked with concern.

With his perspective.

They were well aware that once these two items were released, they would inevitably cause a stir throughout the entire Ming Dynasty.

This glass, once exposed, would be nothing short of a rare treasure.

And this sugar will also be a bestseller in the future.

As for wine.

Needless to say, it's an essential winter drink in this era, driven by the times, where drinking helps keep warm.

"We have mastered all the techniques."

"They are not difficult to manufacture."

"As long as I recruit people, we can start mass production within two or three months," Zhu Ying said with a smile.

"Good, good." Zhu Yuanzhang exclaimed repeatedly, "Xiong Ying, you are truly a lucky star bestowed upon my Zhu family by Heaven."

"have to."

"Don't flatter me, old man."

Zhu Ying glanced at it and said quietly, "You should think about how to deal with your sons."

"Once we get back, I will begin planning for the royal estate, but it would be best if your sons' military and political power were all taken back."

"I'm too lazy to get involved in these things."

"You should also make it clear about the support provided by the imperial family."

Listen to this.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked distressed again.

"When we first established this system of vassal kings, Liu Bowen, Li Shanchang, and even Tang He all tried to stop us."

"We refuted them all."

"He even declared that he would not regret it."

"But now we're really making a fool of ourselves," Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.

"After all, your perspective is still stuck in the old ways of thinking."

"Real truth."

"There has never been an eternal dynasty throughout history."

"Even if you grant fiefdoms to them, regardless of whether the Crown Prince or I will reduce their power in the future, are you sure Wenxi won't?"

"Given time, they will inevitably grow big. It's much better for you, the older generation, to handle things than for us, the younger generation, to solve them. At least it won't create too many obstacles."

“If we send the Crown Prince or me, not only will there be great resistance, but with our methods, do you think they are a match for me, Your Majesty? Besides, I have always been one to seek revenge. I know who is good to me, and I will not let go of who is bad to me.” Zhu Ying said calmly, but his words still carried a cold meaning.

all in all.

Again.

Zhu Yuanzhang should handle these matters better; don't leave them to them, or they will inevitably shed blood.

"Do not worry."

"Since we promised, we won't go back on our word."

"And what you said isn't wrong either. We were too impulsive. Liu Bowen and the others were right. The policy of enfeoffment was wrong from the start." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and stopped arguing about it.

"Biao'er."

"You personally select some generals who are absolutely loyal to you, as well as civil officials."

"He traveled to his fiefdom along with the imperial decree summoning the vassal kings to the capital."

"Let the cessation of hostilities begin today," Zhu Yuanzhang said, looking at Zhu Biao and issuing a decree.

Obviously.

Seizing the military power of the vassal kings and checking the government was now imperative.

Perhaps Zhu Yuanzhang was still somewhat unwilling, but his two closest relatives did have objections to the power of the princes. After weighing the options, Zhu Yuanzhang had no other choice.

After all, in his heart, Zhu Biao and Zhu Xiong Ying were the most important.

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Zhu Biao immediately bowed and gladly accepted the order.

After the decree was issued, Zhu Yuanzhang was completely relieved and looked at Zhu Ying: "You brat, are you at ease now?"

"Don't just ask me, ask the Crown Prince too."

"After all, this is a family matter," Zhu Ying smiled.

And heard this.

A hint of unspeakable joy appeared on Zhu Biao's face.

The words "family" truly touched Zhu Biao's heart.

……

(End of this chapter)