The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 114 Uncle, I'm a fake saint!
Li Xianmu remained silent for a moment. Zhang Fu noticed his hesitation and, in a flash, asked in alarm, "Xianmu, you don't mean the court is planning to send a general to permanently garrison Annam, do you?"
This is absolutely unacceptable!

After saying that, he got up and paced around the room a few times, then whispered, "This idea must not be submitted to His Majesty, especially since the relocation of the capital is imminent, otherwise our two families will surely suffer disaster."

No wonder Zhang Fu reacted so strongly.

Why did the Ming court not consider emulating the Mu family mansion in Annam when Yunnan was able to establish a permanent stronghold with good results?
Feudalism is such a primitive system. If modern people can think of it, surely these brilliant minds in ancient times couldn't have thought of it?

The reason is actually quite simple: the Yongzheng Mansion in Yunnan is due to its unique geographical location.

Yunnan itself is very unstable. Guizhou in the northeast was only established as a provincial administration during the Yongle period. It was full of hereditary chieftains who rebelled from time to time. Because of the Hengduan Mountains, the court could not control it by force. Guangxi in the east is known as the Ten Thousand Mountains. The Han population only accounts for one-tenth of the population. The west and south are nominally Xuanwei Divisions, but in reality they are no different from foreign states. They are also full of mountains and difficult to govern.

For two hundred years, the Duke of Mu's mansion was constantly suppressing rebellions, and simply maintaining its rule was quite difficult.

Moreover, the maintenance of rule over Yunnan relied on two factors: first, the relocation of Han Chinese military households; and second, the presence of Sichuan to the north, a region with a large Han Chinese population that had been established for two thousand years. This ensured that the Central Plains dynasties could always maintain a superior position and control over Yunnan.

To put it bluntly, Yunnan had lost the conditions for Han Chinese regimes to establish their own independent regimes. Even so, the imperial court was still worried about Yunnan becoming a separatist region.

Annam is even more unstable than Yunnan. Neighboring Yunnan and Guangxi are completely incapable of controlling it, and it is no exaggeration to call it an isolated region.

If a Han Chinese general were stationed here, and he harbored any disloyalty, he might annex the Indochina Peninsula, which would create a separatist regime far more powerful than the Le Dynasty!

It has mountains and rivers as barriers against the north, fertile soil as a grain-producing area, and technology and people from the Central Plains.

This regime even has claims made by the Han Chinese.

With the imperial court currently relocating the capital to Beiping and shifting its power northward to suppress the south, any change in the situation could result in the loss of half the country!
Modern people often think that the meat should rot in the pot, but for a centralized and autocratic country, the most important thing is that there can only be one sun in the sky and one ruler on the ground. Therefore, the court would rather lose Annam than establish a royal palace or duke's residence here that is very likely to become a separatist regime.

Even if Zhu Di had ambitions to surpass the Han and Tang dynasties, his bottom line was inviolable. Even an emperor like Qianlong, who had a great desire for territory, never thought of establishing hereditary princely states in the Indochina Peninsula.

The safest option for the Central Plains dynasties was to keep the Indochina Peninsula in a state of barbarism, backwardness, division, and weakness.

Seeing Zhang Fu's reaction, Li Xianmu knew that the safest method his father had suggested was impossible to implement.

He immediately changed his mind and said softly, "Uncle, you misunderstand. How could I possibly report such treasonous words to His Majesty? That would be putting both our families to death."

Zhang Fu's expression softened; he had really been startled. He said irritably, "I knew you weren't the type to be so reckless. How could you make such an overstepping suggestion? Tell me what you were thinking."

Li Xianmu asked first, "Uncle, do you think it's feasible to slaughter as many of their people as possible?"

"No way!"

Zhang Fu said decisively, "Don't even mention slaughtering them all, it's impossible to kill even one or two out of ten."

Throughout history, those who were massacred in wars were always the people of Hebei, Shandong, Henan, the Yellow River and Huai River basins, and the Jiangnan region.

Why is this so? Because large cities are like prisons, and the area outside the city is vast, with crisscrossing paths and an endless expanse, so there is nowhere to escape or avoid, and one can only lay down one's neck to be slaughtered.

But when have you ever heard of anyone massacring people in places like Yunnan, Guizhou, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Baxian, Taihang Mountains, and Longxi? Mountains, rivers, grasslands, and deserts are not only military barriers, but also places where the imperial army would not stay for long.

"When the army arrives, the local people flee, and since the army cannot be divided, it won't be long before the army is exhausted. Then, when the miasma arrives, they will have no choice but to retreat, or they will all perish. I'm not exaggerating, but in the current Annam rebellion, the imperial court could probably only lead an army to quell it on one hand."

The prefectures and counties cannot be stabilized, feudalism is impossible, and the local people cannot be killed or exterminated. This is simply a dead end, blocking both ends. It seems that there is no other way but to give up. Zhang Fu frowned deeply. After Li Xianmu said this, even the joy of pacifying Annam was greatly diminished.

"Uncle, don't worry. I already have a plan in mind. What you just said can be used to write a treatise on Annam and present it to His Majesty. You are the greatest contributor to the pacification of Annam, and His Majesty will surely value it."

Li Xianmu pointed to a spot on the Annam map and asked, "Uncle, what if our Great Ming built a port here, then constructed a city and stationed troops there?"

The port that Li Xianmu was referring to is Haiphong Port in later Vietnam, located in the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin, northwest of Hainan Island. It is the largest deep-water port in northern Vietnam.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fu was immediately startled. As a general, he instinctively analyzed the situation, thinking, "If we build a city here and then establish a garrison, we can directly mobilize troops and receive supplies from the sea."

wrong! "

Zhang Fu suddenly realized what was happening and stared straight at Li Xianmu, "You're plotting to take over the fleets in the Western Ocean?"

Li Xianmu nodded without any attempt to hide his agreement, "It would be such a waste to have such a huge fleet, hundreds of treasure ships, and twenty or thirty thousand people just doing business at sea."

If it were used for garrisoning at sea and facilitating communication between the interior and exterior, then it would truly be making the best use of its resources.

Zhang Fu examined it carefully for a long time before slowly saying, "It seems you've been thinking about this for a long time. If I were to give you a chance to persuade His Majesty now, what are your chances of success?"

Li Xianmu pondered for a long time, then said, "Sixty percent!"

In reality, less than 60% are true. Some ideas that are taken for granted by modern people are deeply ingrained and difficult to change in this era.

Don't assume that the voyages to the Western Ocean signify that the Ming Dynasty had a maritime consciousness. "Sixty percent."

Zhang Fu paced anxiously in his study, muttering to himself, "Sixty percent is a bit low."

Li Xianmu suddenly interjected, "If Annam rebels a few more times, the chances of success will be even higher."

?

Zhang Fu suddenly turned to look at Li Xianmu, his expression quite interesting, because he didn't know how to react to those words.

The Annamite rebellion sounds easy, but it's deadly.

But Li Xianmu's expression remained calm.

"Uncle, nothing in this world is ever a given."

Without experiencing the pain of failure, one will be complacent with temporary success; until reaching the brink of despair, one will drift along aimlessly; only when about to lose something will one cling tightly to the last straw.

Li Xianmu said, word by word, "The worse the situation in Annam, the higher the likelihood that this policy will be approved. Isn't that an obvious reality?"

Zhang Fuzai scrutinized Li Xianmu closely, as if he were seeing him for the first time. After a long while, he said with lingering reluctance, "Xianmu, I originally thought you and Lord Li Zhongwen were the same kind of people, but now it seems that you are completely different people!"

“My father said he was a false saint, but I am the true saint.”

Li Xianmu smiled sincerely, “I think every word Father says makes sense, except for this one sentence, which Father is wrong about.”

And that's completely wrong.

I have never met anyone like my father, who truly took the world as his responsibility and treated all people equally, whether they were high-ranking officials or ordinary people. In my father's eyes, they were all the same.

As for me, I'd rather not mention it.

He is the true saint, and I am the false saint.

Li Xianmu was clearly smiling, but Zhang Fu could not sense a trace of a smile in his eyes. There was only darkness and a chilling aura, as if there were endless vortexes that would suck people into them.

"Hahaha."

Zhang Fu suddenly burst out laughing, "It's good to be a fake saint. If you were really a saint, I would be worried about your future. In this world, it's not easy for saints to survive. Lord Li Zhongwen is simply a miracle."

I understand what you mean. I will subtly and gradually instill this idea in His Majesty regarding the matter of Annam.

If another rebellion breaks out in Annam, I will request His Majesty to launch a combined sea and land offensive, so that the court can see the necessity of sea routes for controlling Annam.

Li Xianmu bowed and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "When this great undertaking is accomplished in the future, Uncle will surely be remembered in history and will have made a contribution that will benefit future generations. Thousands of years from now, 'Zhang Gong Temple' will be erected everywhere in Annam to commemorate Uncle's contributions to the development of Annam."

Even Zhang Fu was captivated by such a magnificent scene.

After calming down, he sighed and said, "This time you strongly advocated moving the capital and spoke eloquently in the Golden Palace. You were certainly full of pride and ambition, but you also offended quite a few people. I'm afraid there will be no shortage of criticism against you in the future."

Moreover, you've actually entered the Eastern Palace and become deeply involved in the struggle for the throne. The Prince of Han is not someone to be trifled with.

Even if he doesn't touch you for now, those around you, such as Chen Ying, Xie Jin, and Wang Gen, are likely to suffer.

Li Xianmu was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Entering the Eastern Palace was beyond my control. His Highness the Crown Prince asked me personally, so I can't refuse."

As for my friends, all I can do is my best and leave the rest to fate.

When it comes to the struggle for the throne, even Li Xianmu can only be pessimistic. Under such a powerful monarch as the current emperor, even the crown prince cannot protect his ministers in the Eastern Palace, let alone Li Xianmu.

As dusk approached, Li Xianmu left the Duke of Ying's residence.

"The matter of Annam cannot be rushed, but with the Duke of England, a high-ranking official, keeping it in mind at all times, there should be no major problems."

Li Xianmu sat in the carriage pondering, "The most important thing next is how to control the affairs in Jiangnan after we move to Beijing."

The economic issues raised by Li Shimian and others do indeed involve enormous interests, and a major power struggle is bound to brew within the court. A major case must be fabricated.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the spring of the sixth year of the Yongle reign, the long-delayed proposal to move the capital finally ended in a complete victory for the Yongle Emperor. This was followed by the "Capital Relocation Case," one of the seven major cases in Jiangnan. Nearly a thousand officials and scholars either died or lost their official titles in this major case. This was the second time since the "Yuan History Case" that the court had consciously targeted the Jiangnan gentry. The Jiangnan scholars lamented that "the court intentionally makes things difficult for powerful families to coerce the people of Jiangnan." A political posture of suppressing the south from the north began to take shape, and Beijing gradually became the sole political center of the Ming Dynasty. —From *A Record of the Major Cases in Jiangnan during the Yongle Reign*

(End of this chapter)