Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 217 Even the Emperor knows this? Is he... even human?!

Xue Xiang's thinking naturally had its own considerations.

If Your Majesty agrees to his proposal, then from the time Your Majesty issues an edict to summon wise men from all over the country to offer their opinions and suggestions, to the time it takes to find the best and most feasible suggestions from among the many proposals, it will take far too long.

Two months at least, or even a year and a half, is not considered long.

But how long has it been since His Majesty replied?

Judging by the timeline, it can be said that I sent the memorial myself, and after it reached His Majesty, His Majesty did not delay in responding.

There will be no other outcome except that His Majesty rejects his proposal.

His feelings were quite complicated. To be fair, he could understand the choice His Majesty made in this matter.

His Majesty made this choice to protect his reputation as Minister of Works and the face of the court.

However, while he understood the situation, he still felt somewhat distressed.

He genuinely wanted to do something practical and truly wanted to thoroughly manage the Yellow River.

After this treatment, the Yellow River will be completely free of future troubles. Only in this way can we live up to His Majesty's trust and the expectations of the many people who were overjoyed to learn that the court was going to manage the Yellow River and who voluntarily and enthusiastically participated in the project.

Managing the Yellow River is a major challenge. Even when His Majesty, a founding emperor with great talent and vision, was alive, the Yellow River problem was not completely solved.

Therefore, it is virtually impossible to solve the Yellow River problem in the future.

More than empty fame, he wanted to see the Yellow River be completely controlled.

Upon meeting the envoy sent by the imperial court, they learned that the messenger sent by His Majesty was not a formal imperial decree, but rather a private letter written by His Majesty himself.

His heart sank even further.

My guess was right. Even a man of His Majesty's great talent and ambition would find this matter troublesome and unable to come up with an effective solution, and would eventually have to bow down to it.

After receiving the private message and inquiring about His Majesty's well-being from the messenger, he quickly went to a side room, washed his hands, burned incense, and respectfully opened the letter to read it.

Since His Majesty sent a private message, he naturally had to read it secretly and not let others know its contents.

Filled with sorrow, Xue Xiang opened the letter and glanced at it. His expression froze for a moment, then he became shaken.

He held the private message in both hands and brought it close to his eyes, reading it carefully. The more he read, the more excited he became, as if he had been enlightened.

The more I felt something that had been stuck in my chest for so long, the more it suddenly cleared up!
He was excited, and all the previous heaviness had vanished.

The hands holding the letter trembled with overwhelming emotion.

My eyes, which had been bloodshot from days of exhaustion, excessive thinking, and severe lack of rest, suddenly brightened.

At this moment, Xue Xiang felt like a fish that was about to die of thirst finding water!
This feeling is just so wonderful!
"Great! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

He praised him repeatedly.

After a long while, having read it word by word and made some mental deductions, Xue Xiang suddenly slammed his hand on the table, stood up with the letter in his hands, and paced back and forth excitedly.

Your Majesty's suggestion is excellent, truly wonderful!
This is exactly what he wanted!
Use water to attack sand! Use water to attack sand! This is a great idea! Why didn't I think of this before?

There is simply too much silt in the Yellow River. Relying solely on manpower for cleaning is too slow and impossible to do continuously; it's simply not realistic.

If we want a permanent solution, the best thing would be to build something like the Dujiangyan Irrigation System.

This was also the direction Xue Xiang had been considering, but he hadn't been able to come up with a good solution.

But then, upon seeing the letter sent by His Majesty, which contained the idea of ​​using water to attack sand, everything suddenly became clear.

How could I not have thought of this!

Why is there no siltation in the upper reaches of the Yellow River?
Because the Yellow River flows so rapidly, there is simply no chance for the silt to settle.

If we want to remove the silt from the lower reaches of the Yellow River, can't we use the same principle?

Why not just make the water flow in the downstream area faster again?
When water flows fast, it not only prevents the silt and sand it carries from accumulating, but it can also wash away the silt and sand that was originally deposited on the riverbed, and carry it all the way to the sea.

As for what impact it will have on the sea after entering it, that's beyond his control.

That was not within his consideration either.

After all, there are no people living on the ocean, which is exactly where the silt should go.

Moreover, the Yellow River constantly carries silt into the sea, and over the years, it can fill in some coastal areas.

By creating more and more land, the territory of the Ming Dynasty will expand invisibly, which is only beneficial and has no drawbacks.

Your Majesty's strategy of using water to attack sand is time-saving and labor-saving. Once it is completed, we will not need to spend too much effort on it in the future.

Regular cleaning and maintenance are all that's needed.

Although it cannot compare to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, building such a project on the Yellow River can be considered a one-time solution to the problem.

As His Majesty mentioned in his letter, planting trees and afforestation in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River to conserve water and soil and reduce the amount of silt entering the riverbed due to rainwater erosion is a fundamental solution that addresses the problem at its source.

Combining this with the strategy of using water to attack sand is the true and lasting approach.

With less silt in the river, it's not impossible that the Yellow River will become clearer in the future.

There is a saying: When the Yellow River runs clear, a sage appears.

Xue Xiang felt that His Majesty was that sage.

If we follow His Majesty's advice and carry out afforestation and water diversion simultaneously, then it is very possible to make the Yellow River clear again.

Planting trees and converting farmland back to forest in upstream areas is very difficult and costly.

However, Xue Xiang believed that His Majesty had a way to do it well.

Because His Majesty truly wants to completely control the Yellow River and has expressed his determination to do so.

Many things are 80% successful if the emperor can make up his mind, provide strong support, and persevere without wavering.

After the war, the population of the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River also decreased significantly.

Furthermore, with His Majesty's own immigration policy in place, as long as the efforts continue, the vegetation in many areas of the upper reaches of the Yellow River will inevitably become lush.

Brilliant! Your Majesty's two strategies are absolutely brilliant! Simply ingenious!

How did Your Majesty come up with such a brilliant idea?

As soon as such a thought arose in his mind, Xue Xiang immediately rejected it.

Your Majesty is a divine and mighty ruler; it is only natural that you would think of such things.

Your Majesty is sent down by Heaven to govern the people and to revitalize China.

His Majesty is omniscient and omnipotent.

It's perfectly normal that he has such insight into river management, far surpassing my own experience in this field.

Now we don't have to worry anymore, and we can focus on managing the Yellow River.

And we are confident that we can completely manage the Yellow River.

As Your Majesty said, let this roaring dragon be restrained, and let it transform back into a gentle mother, bringing blessings to all living beings.

Suppressing his excitement, he sat down again, held the letter written by His Majesty in both hands, and carefully read it three times.

It's like savoring an unparalleled delicacy.

In the area where Xue Xiang lived, many people looked at his residence with worried expressions.

During this period, Xue Xiang's qualities and abilities in river management have won over many people and gathered a group of like-minded individuals by his side.

They also knew about the memorial submitted by Minister Xue Xiang.

His Majesty issued an edict so quickly, and even sent it via private message.

The fact that Minister Xue has not appeared for so long has led many people to have negative thoughts.

Anxiety, worry, and distress surged within them...

Time seemed to slow down at that moment, making it particularly agonizing.

After a while, the door to the room opened from the inside, and Xue Xiang came out...

"Minister!"

"Mr. Shangshu!"

The crowd immediately swarmed around, their excitement and concern evident in their expressions.

Many people already had tears in their eyes, bracing themselves for the bad news to come.

They felt that the most likely outcome was that someone as good as Minister Xue would be dismissed from his post.

This is already the lightest one.

It's not impossible that they could be prosecuted and imprisoned for this.

"Haha, don't worry, don't worry, it's nothing, it's nothing!"

Touched by the many concerned gazes, Xue Xiang spoke repeatedly to everyone.

"His Majesty is not accusing us, but has sent us a wonderful solution! The Yellow River can now be completely controlled! This time, we can accomplish this in one fell swoop! By completing this great feat, we and our descendants will no longer have to worry about the Yellow River flooding!"

Xue Xiang's voice choked with emotion, and his eyes welled up with tears.

Then, he publicly explained his strategy of planting trees and controlling water flow to attack sand dunes.

Many people were already incredibly excited when they heard Xue Xiang say that His Majesty had no intention of blaming them.

I think this is the best possible outcome.

Who would have thought that Minister Xue would give such wonderful news!

A way to completely control the Yellow River has actually been found!
After Xue Xiang explained what afforestation and water diversion were, these people became even more excited.

Many people knelt down excitedly and shouted "Holy and Wise Ruler!" to express their gratitude for the Emperor's grace.

Xue Xiang knew that the reason His Majesty used a private letter instead of an imperial edict to tell him about methods for controlling the Yellow River, such as planting trees and confining water to attack sand, was because His Majesty was using a private letter instead of an imperial edict.

A large part of the reason was to save face for himself as the Minister of Works.

They want to claim credit for the great work of controlling the Yellow River.

His Majesty didn't take on any of the roles here, stealing my thunder.

However, His Majesty has his own considerations, and Xue Xiang also has his own considerations.

The credit belongs to whoever deserves it.

His Majesty is thinking of him, but how could he not be thinking of his sovereign and father?

Xue Xiang wasn't the kind of person who valued fame and fortune too much.

Therefore, Xue Xiang made this decision.

Firstly, it was to reassure the people, and secondly, it was to let them know how much effort and worry His Majesty had put into controlling the Yellow River, so that they would remember His Majesty's kindness.

We must not misunderstand His Majesty!
As someone with extensive experience in river management, once I learned about the method of constricting water to attack sand, I no longer needed to trouble others with the rest.

He is certainly capable of doing it well.

If even under these circumstances, the Yellow River still cannot be controlled.

Then he should resign as Minister of Works and step down to a more capable person as soon as possible, lest he become a mere figurehead!

……

"From this day forward, this place will be renamed. It will no longer be called Tamna Island, but Yangma Island!"

"Here on Tamna Island," Mu Ying raised his voice and addressed the crowd gathered from Yangma Island.

The renaming of Tamna Island and the establishment of a garrison there were arrangements made by his adoptive father, and he was responsible for implementing them at this time.

Yangma Island has a special geographical location, being quite far from the mainland of the Ming Dynasty.

Simply establishing normal administrative agencies won't be enough to hold this place.

The best solution, of course, is to station troops here.

Thus, the Horse Breeding Guard was established.

Simply establishing a horse-breeding garrison is not enough; other corresponding measures are also needed.

Koreans are not the largest group of people on Yangma Island; they only make up about one-fifth of the total population.

More common were Semu people, Mongols, and some descendants of Han Chinese from long ago.

At this moment, all these people, including the surrendered Goryeo people, would pick up their knives and slash Choi Soo and the other Goryeo officials who had been killed.

At the same time, Mu Ying made various regulations, established a reward and punishment system, set rules, and divided levels.

Tell the people here that after completing the assessment and making contributions, they can receive corresponding rewards, the greatest of which is to obtain a Han surname and become a Han person.

Then they can enjoy the same rights that Han people enjoy here.

Those who made special contributions after becoming Han Chinese could even become officials in the Horse Breeding Guard...

After a series of measures were taken, order was quickly restored to the area.

Mu Ying did these things very skillfully and methodically.

If Ping An were to do these things, he wouldn't be able to do them.

Tamna Island, now known as Yangma Island, was inhabited by Mongols, Semu people, and others. They had no objection whatsoever to the killing of Choi Soo and others, and the Ming Dynasty replacing Goryeo as the ruling power.

Since the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Yuan court has been too busy to take care of itself, so naturally it couldn't attend to Yangma Island.

Goryeo would not let this opportunity pass, and soon took over the island through various means.

Nominally, this place still belongs to the Yuan Dynasty, but in reality, it has been taken over by them.

Those Mongols and Semu people who were originally superior to them were driven by them and trampled under their feet.

Choi Soo and his subordinates, like many other Goryeo people, share common traits, such as becoming arrogant when they gain power.

The smugness of those petty people was on full display on Yangma Island.

In addition, with a thousand Ming soldiers stationed here, these people naturally couldn't cause any trouble.

Zhu Yuanzhang had long been prepared to take Tamna Island, rename it Yangma Island, establish the Yangma Guard there, and bring it under the rule of the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, in addition to the regular delegation members, a thousand soldiers and some of their families also followed.
They're all going to settle down here.

Once the situation stabilizes, more family members will come.

Zhu Yuanzhang would also provide certain subsidies to those who came here.

Try to take care of everyone as much as possible and do things fairly.

After these matters were settled, three days later, Mu Ying and Ping An set sail again, their ship leaving Yangma Island and heading towards the Korean mainland.

Mu Ying and Ping An were already eagerly anticipating this trip to Goryeo.

Taking over Yangma Island was just a small test; the real opportunity for them to unleash their full potential is yet to come!

……

As Li Renren walked out of a luxurious mansion, a smile appeared on his face, and he seemed to be in a very good mood, feeling triumphant.

However, Cui Ying, who came out with him, had a lingering worry and sorrow between her brows.

"Is this really a good idea? Aren't you afraid of angering the Ming Dynasty and incurring their wrath?"
The emperors of the Ming Dynasty were not known for their good temper.

The two walked forward for a while. Cui Ying looked back at the residence and saw that it was far away. At his signal, the guards around it also distanced themselves. Only then did she look at Li Renren and speak.

"What's wrong with that? You're overthinking it and overestimating the pseudo-Ming emperor in the south."

The pseudo-Ming emperor in the south appears powerful, but in many matters, he is merely bluffing.

It's not like Ming Dynasty envoys haven't been killed before.

As early as the third year of the Hongwu reign, people from Japan killed Ming Dynasty envoys.

But so far, everything has been fine, and there has been no reaction from the Ming Dynasty.

"If the Japanese can kill Ming Dynasty envoys, why can't we, the Goryeo people, kill them?"

"But the situation in Japan is ultimately different from ours."

"What's the difference?" Li Renren asked rhetorically.

"Japan is separated by mountains and sea..."

"Our place and the Ming Dynasty are separated by mountains and sea."

Moreover, the Yuan emperor has personally sent an envoy to us for friendly talks.

With the Yuan emperor still alive, Zhu Yuanzhang was nothing to fear.

The Yuan emperor is now on the grasslands, and here comes Nahachu.

It is important to distinguish that the Yuan dynasty was adjacent to us, not the Ming dynasty.

As long as the Yuan emperor is not defeated, the emperor in the south will never dare to touch Goryeo!

Compared to Cui Ying, Li Renren was much more at ease about this matter.

They felt that Cui Ying was far too timid.

"Besides, the Ming Dynasty's envoys have all been killed, and the emperor is dead. People can't be brought back to life. Things have already come to this point, so what's the use of worrying?"

Don't worry, nothing will happen. I don't think the Ming Dynasty will dare to send any more envoys to our side anytime soon.

After listening to what Li Renren said, Cui Ying thought for a moment, then sighed and decided not to say anything more about the matter.

They implicitly accepted Li Renren's statement...

(End of this chapter)