Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 18 Old Zhu is numb again! [New book, please add to your collection]

"Alright, let's get back to the main topic!"

Seeing that Old Zhu was stunned on the spot, Zhang Biao quickly said:

"Your Majesty just mentioned your 'Law of Ten Thousand Generations'. I will not calculate ten thousand generations. Let's take twenty years as a generation. In the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu, the first generation of imperial relatives of the Ming Dynasty consisted of seventy-two people."

"In the forty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign, there were 360 ​​members of the second generation of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family."

"In the sixty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign, there were 1,800 members of the third generation of the Ming imperial family."

"In the eighty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign, there were nine thousand members of the fourth generation of the Ming imperial family."

"In the 105th year of the Hongwu reign, the fifth generation of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family numbered 45,000."

Upon hearing this, not only did Old Zhu feel a chill run down his spine, but even Jiang Huan, who was not far away, was filled with horror.

"In the 125th year of the Hongwu reign, the sixth generation of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family numbered 230,000."

"In the 145th year of the Hongwu reign, the seventh generation of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family numbered 1.13 million."

"In the 165th year of the Hongwu reign, the eighth generation of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family numbered 5.6 million."

Zhang Biao calmly calculated, while Old Zhu, who was on the Imperial Steps, was struck dumb, his head buzzing.

With his intelligence, how could he not understand what was going on?

People are sometimes like that; they're too close to the situation to see things clearly.

Zhu Yuanzhang believed that his eternal law would allow his princes and grandsons to live and die with the Ming Dynasty, but the reality was quite different.

According to statistics on the imperial clan at the end of the Ming Dynasty, there were nearly a thousand princes, not to mention the imperial clan members, who numbered approximately one million.

Such a large group of royal relatives received annual stipends of over eight million shi (a unit of dry measure).

The annual grain tax at the end of the Ming Dynasty was only a little over four million shi (a unit of dry measure).

It's not an exaggeration to say that the Ming Dynasty fell because of the imperial family.

"Your Majesty, according to my calculations, even by the eighth generation, I wonder if your imperial treasury is still sufficient? I'm afraid it won't even be enough to support your Zhu family."

Zhang Biao's voice was calm and indifferent: "You just said that you hold high office and receive generous salaries, and that you are in charge of the people? Then, I would like to ask you, where do you get these high positions and generous salaries? And what kind of master are you?"

"Do you expect the entire world's people to support your Zhu family, or do you treat the entire world's people as livestock for your Zhu family?"

"Bastard thing!"

Upon hearing this, Old Zhu instantly snapped back to reality, his tiger-like eyes widening: "How dare you!"

"What, Your Majesty?"

Zhang Biao coldly interrupted Zhu Yuanzhang: "Has I not calculated it clearly enough? If we follow your 'eternal law,' more than two hundred years from now, won't there be a commoner with the same ambition as Your Majesty, shouting the slogan of 'fighting for the people,' rising up in rebellion, wielding a butcher's knife, and slaughtering those millions of royal relatives and nobles like pigs and dogs?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Old Zhu roared in disbelief, "Our Great Ming! Our descendants! Our...you monster! Talking nonsense! Guards! Drag him out and behead him! Tear him to pieces!!"

"Hahaha!"

Zhang Biao threw his head back and laughed, as if his wish had been fulfilled. He slowly closed his eyes and let Jiang Huan and his men drag him away.

However, just when he thought he was about to return to the modern world, Old Zhu stopped Jiang Huan again: "Wait!"

"???"

Zhang Biao suddenly opened his eyes, his face full of question marks. Old Zhu, however, seemed to have regained his senses, his voice cold and unyielding: "Bring him here! We still have questions for him!"

Jiang Huan and the others complied and brought Zhang Biao to the foot of the imperial steps.

Old Zhu's eyes burned with determination as he said, "Now that you've found the problem, you must have a solution. Tell us, and we might spare your life!"

"What solution?" Zhang Biao was completely bewildered.

Old Zhu said with exasperation, "This is the way to ensure that my Ming Dynasty lasts for ten thousand generations!"

"no!"

"What did you say!?"

“Stop yelling!”

Zhang Biao said impatiently, "There is no dynasty in this world that lasts more than three hundred years, let alone a method that lasts for ten thousand generations! Besides, with the national policies that Your Majesty has come up with, it would be amazing if they could last for a hundred years!"

"What do you mean a hundred years? Didn't you just say that my Great Ming Dynasty has been around for more than two hundred years?!" Old Zhu was furious.

Zhang Biao said calmly, "That's just a matter of the royal family's stipends, not a matter of the country. You've implemented so many messy national policies, and while you were in power, they probably didn't come to light. But after you're gone, you'll see how many problems there are!"

"We're all gone, what's the point of watching anymore!"

Old Zhu was also pushed to his limit and blurted out a curse.

Zhang Biao's lips twitched, and he said, "That's true," before continuing in a deep voice, "Then let's talk about the two most pressing issues. First, you enfeoffed princes to protect the capital! But have you considered this? Each prince has three guards, tens of thousands of soldiers, and vast territories! Today, they are your sons, loyal ministers and generals!"

"But after you pass away, who will control them? If Crown Prince Yiwen were still alive, there would be no need to worry, but Crown Prince Yiwen is gone. Who can guarantee that they won't become the next Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms? The next Calamity of the Eight Princes? Your Majesty! Have you personally planted the foundation for the nation, or the seed of future fratricide and bloodshed?!"

"shut up!!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes widened in fury, and he roared out.

Zhang Biao's words directly addressed his deepest hidden worry.

It was a terrifying scene that he dared not even think about in the dead of night.

His sons, whom he personally appointed, turned against each other?

Zhang Biao did not back down. Facing the raging fire that could incinerate everything, he let out his final and sharpest shout: "There's one more question!"

He pointed outside the hall, as if pointing towards the Ming Eastern Tombs where the burial had just taken place: "Crown Prince Yiwen has been buried, but the position of heir apparent remains vacant. The officials and ministers are all harboring different thoughts, and the princes and nobles are eager to make their move!"

“Originally, I did not want to discuss this issue, but Lü Ping, Qi Tai, and others have already brought it to light. Your continued indecision will only lead to increasing unrest in the court, with various factions secretly vying for power. You are sowing the seeds of instability for the Ming Dynasty! You are creating opportunities for those ambitious individuals to exploit!”

At this point, Zhang Biao's voice seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight, each word striking Zhu's heart: "The innocence of a loyal minister may not be able to save the Ming Dynasty, but a clear-headed censor who dares to face these deep-seated problems and dares to raise these issues even at the cost of his life may be able to!"

He suddenly straightened his back, like a pine tree that refuses to break in the wind and snow, his gaze sharp as lightning, piercing deep into Old Zhu's eyes, and said, word by word:

"If his death can serve as a wake-up call! If it can prompt reflection on the official salary system! If it can restrain the power of the vassal kings! If it can lead to a pre-determined, legitimate crown prince! If it can reduce the risk of the Ming Dynasty's foundation being hollowed out!"

Zhang Biao's voice was like a torch that had burned out, carrying its last fervor and resolve: "Then! I fear not being ground to dust, but only to remain—awakened in this world!"

"emperor!"

Zhang Biao's voice suddenly rose: "Kill me! Use my blood to give this glorious Ming Dynasty a wake-up call!"

After he finished speaking, the Fengtian Hall fell into a deathly silence!
You can hear the needle drop!

Old Zhu was dumbfounded, and his whole body went numb.

(End of this chapter)