The Great Ming Demon Pill: Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince!

Chapter 42 These are my uncles and cousins! I need to pay more!

The hall fell into a deathly silence, so quiet that one could almost hear their own heartbeat.

Zhu Di stared at Zhu Zhanjun in disbelief, feeling a chill run down his spine and a cold shiver run straight to the top of his head.

His grandson's question echoed in his mind.

His mind went blank.

Zhu Di had never actually considered this issue.

The key point is that he never expected that a hundred years later, this group of Ming Dynasty imperial family members would be so prolific.

According to Zhu Zhanjun's calculations, a hundred years later, it is indeed possible that there would be hundreds of thousands or even millions of members of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family.

The lowest rank was a fourth-grade lieutenant in the Fengguo Army.

These people are unable to engage in production and can only be supported by the Ming Dynasty.

This will surely bring down the Ming Dynasty!

Zhu Di's expression shifted between anger and rage; he almost cursed himself for being a complete idiot.

He really screwed over the Ming Dynasty.

The joke I just made—that the Ming Dynasty would fall because of Zhu Di—could actually come true.

After all, reducing the power of the feudal lords and moving the capital to Beiping would only increase the risk of the country's demise.

But if this fosters a million parasites, it could truly be the death knell for the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Di took a deep breath, glanced at his innocent-looking grandson beside him, and was filled with shock.

The problem that neither he nor the court officials had noticed, and even Yao Guangxiao, who was known as the so-called demonic monk back then, had never paid attention to when he discussed it with him, was actually discovered by a six-year-old child.

This child is truly a prodigy!

Zhu Di took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

He said slowly.

"Zhanjun, according to what you're saying, it is indeed somewhat inappropriate to treat the vassal kings too well."

"But Grandfather has already made the promise, so it's not good to go back on our word."

"Are there any other ways to remedy this?"

Zhu Zhanjun pursed his lips.

"Grandpa, it's just going back on your word. Don't you do this all the time?"

[Ding! You have obtained a golden treasure chest!]

Zhu Di: "..."

You little brat, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?

Zhu Di stroked his beard, stared with wide eyes, and looked quite imposing.

"You brat, stop talking nonsense."

"Grandpa has always been a man of his word."

Zhu Zhanjun pursed his lips.

I don't believe you for a second.

Zhu Di was also somewhat embarrassed.

I never imagined that his credibility would be so low that even a child couldn't be fooled.

He coughed lightly.

"Zhanjun, do you have any ideas at all?"

Zhu Zhanjun shook his head and said.

"Of course there is a way."

Zhu Di's eyes lit up.

I didn't expect this kid to actually have some talent.

He said with a smile.

"What method?"

Zhu Zhanjun glanced at him and stretched out his small hand.

"Grandpa Emperor, you must give me some reward, right?"

"I can't just offer you advice for nothing, can I?"

Zhu Di stroked his beard and suddenly glared at him.

"You little brat, pretending to be the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty in the Imperial Ancestral Temple to scare your imperial grandfather."

"Your grandfather hasn't even settled accounts with you about this yet."

Zhu Zhanjun's lips twitched, and he looked embarrassed.

"One thing at a time, Grandpa!"

"Grandpa Emperor, these members of the imperial family are all my uncles and brothers... even my father!"

"If I reveal the solution and it jeopardizes their interests, wouldn't that damage our family relationship?"

"So what?" Zhu Di's eyes widened.

"We need to pay more!" Zhu Zhanjun declared confidently.

[Ding! You have obtained a silver treasure chest!]

Zhu Di: "..."

Zhu Di said irritably.

"Then tell me, what else do you want?"

Zhu Zhanjun's dark eyes darted around, a sly look appearing on his face: "Grandpa, your grandson wants to... open a literary museum. I've even thought of a name: Bowen Museum!"

"The Imperial Academy?" Zhu Di was taken aback, his brows furrowing slightly. "What do you need an academy for at such a young age? Do you intend to become like those pedantic scholars, spending your days reciting poems and composing verses?"

"Of course not!" Zhu Zhanjun puffed out his little chest and said seriously, "Grandpa, think about it, I made the telescope by figuring it out on my own."

"One person's wisdom is limited, but the wisdom of many is greater."

"If my grandson had a library, and could recruit scholars skilled in physics, mathematics, craftsmanship, and even exotic techniques from overseas, they could work together and perhaps even create something more useful than a telescope!"

Seeing that Zhu Di seemed to be deep in thought, he continued to spout nonsense with a straight face.

"Look, the military has binoculars, so could we also get some 'ears' so that messages can be relayed from a great distance?"

"Could we improve the musket so that it can fire farther and more accurately? Could we build vehicles and ships that are less strenuous and faster?"

"How long would it take for my grandson to figure these things out by himself? But if there were a talented person in the restaurant to help him think about it and try it out, that would be a different story!"

As Zhu Di listened, his eyes gradually brightened.

He was a pragmatic emperor who did not reject "miracle techniques" that could strengthen the army and enrich the country.

Zhu Zhanjun's words struck a chord with him.

The Northern Expedition required more sophisticated weaponry, and governing the country required more efficient tools.

If this kid can make a telescope, who knows, he might be able to research other gadgets?

Besides, it's just a museum that recruits extraordinary people.

For him, one more imperial edict would suffice.

It costs nothing and you might even gain more.

For him, it was still a good deal.

Zhu Di, with his hands behind his back, paced a few steps in the incense-filled hall, then smiled at Zhu Zhanjun.

"Alright, Grandpa Emperor promises you!"

"You are permitted to build a museum and recruit talent on your own, without the need for imperial approval."

Zhu Zhanjun's eyes lit up instantly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Di stroked his beard.

"Now, can you talk about it?"

"How can we resolve the financial difficulties in supporting the royal family?"

Zhu Zhanjun snapped his fingers and blinked.

"Grandpa, can we establish a new rule?"

"From this day forward, the succession of titles for members of the imperial clan will be downgraded."

"For example, among the sons of a prince, only the eldest son can inherit the title of Prince of the County, while the other sons can only be granted the title of General Who Guards the State."

"The sons of a prince, except for the eldest son who inherits the title of General of the State, the other sons are granted the title of General of the Auxiliary State... This continues down the ranks generation by generation until the title of Lieutenant of the State is given."

"The son of the Lieutenant of Fengguo will no longer be granted a title, but will retain his status as a member of the imperial clan and will be able to make a living on his own."

Zhu Di frowned slightly: "Demoted to Lieutenant of Fengguo and no longer granted titles? How will these young men make a living? Are they supposed to farm or do business?"

"Exactly!" Zhu Zhanjun chuckled. "Grandfather, when our great-grandfather enfeoffed the princes, it was to have them guard the borders and protect the imperial family."

"Now that the northern frontier is guarded by border troops, the vassal kings no longer have the responsibility to defend their territory. If we continue to let them live off their stipends generation after generation, wouldn't that be like raising a million parasites?"

"Why not loosen the restrictions and allow members of the imperial family to participate in the imperial examinations, enter officialdom, serve in the military, and even engage in farming and commerce?"

"Those who are capable will naturally rise to the top, and those who are not... well, they can have fewer children and save some money."

Zhu Di listened thoughtfully, tapping his fingers lightly on the table: "This is completely different from the imperial clan policy since the Song and Yuan dynasties... The old officials in the court, especially the Ministry of Rites, will probably vehemently oppose it on the grounds that it violates ancestral rules."

"Ancestral rules aren't unchangeable," Zhu Zhanjun tilted his head, smiling like a little fox. "Grandpa, haven't you changed enough already? Establishing the Grand Secretariat, sending Zheng He on voyages to the Western Ocean... which of those is an ancestral rule?"

"Besides, if a member of the imperial family is truly talented, wouldn't it be better to pass the imperial examinations, become a Jinshi, and be appointed as an official in a remote area, than to spend one's entire life locked up in the palace, wasting time and energy?"

Zhu Di seemed to be deep in thought.

"Zhan Jun is right."

"However, even if the title is downgraded and inherited, there are still quite a few people with titles, and the supply of rice is still a burden for the court."

"Therefore, we need to add an 'examination and conferment' system," Zhu Zhanjun said lazily. "If members of the imperial clan want to inherit a title, they must pass the court's examination."

"For the literary examination, we will study classics, history, and policy essays; for the military examination, we will study horsemanship,

"Those with excellent grades may inherit a title according to regulations."

"Those with mediocre performance will inherit their titles at a lower rank."

"Those who fail... will have their titles stripped and be demoted to commoners, left to fend for themselves."

"This doesn't mean I'm breaking my grandfather's promise."

"It's just that they don't work hard enough."

[Ding! You have obtained a golden treasure chest!]

Zhu Di's eyes widened instantly, he gasped, and stared at Zhu Zhanjun in shock.

"That's really damn sneaky... Uh, Grandpa means it's a good idea."

Is this kid really six years old?

That's a brilliant plan!

The "Decree of Grace" back then forced Liu Bei to sell straw sandals.

Today, even his own grandson's plan was flawless.

It completely resolved the issues of the imperial court's finances and the kinship ties among the imperial family.

Zhu Di was deeply shocked.

He excitedly touched his chin.

"In this way, the diligent and talented will be granted titles, while the mediocre and incompetent will be eliminated, saving the court from paying salaries and preventing members of the imperial family from becoming useless."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Zhu Zhanjun said with a smile. "A hundred years later, although the population of the imperial clan will increase, the number of high-ranking noble titles will be limited. Looking at the Ming Dynasty, they will be just a drop in the ocean."

"Most of the young men either passed the imperial examinations or engaged in various professions, which naturally greatly reduced the burden on the imperial court."

"The Ming Dynasty's treasury wouldn't have been emptied by its own relatives!"

Zhu Di smiled and nodded repeatedly.

The heavy weight that had been pressing on his heart was lifted by his good grandson, and he felt incredibly relieved.

Zhu Di couldn't help but pat Zhu Zhanjun on the shoulder.

"Zhanjun, thank goodness you're here."

"Your imperial grandfather almost made a grave mistake and is ashamed to face your great-great-grandfather."

Zhu Zhanjun's dark, bright eyes widened.

"Grandpa, if you use this plan, please don't say it was my idea."

Zhu Di was secretly pleased.

"What's wrong?"

"Are you afraid that your uncles and brothers will come after you?"

Zhu Zhanjun stood with his hands behind his back, looking on with a sigh.