Li Shanchang was stunned and frightened. He seemed to have really gone to hell. There was also a King of Hell of Bao Zheng's level. The fighting power of a gentleman was indeed much stronger than him.
Think about it, you can't fight in the human world, let alone underground.
Therefore, for Lao Li, it is better to live peacefully for a few more years and enjoy the last time. This is the only way to consider this life to be worthwhile.
While they were chatting casually, Zhu Yuanzhang came back unexpectedly, in a hurry, with joy on his face.
"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Li, you two really should go out and take a look! Just take that rail carriage... From Peking to Dagokou, it's fast, comfortable and smooth... We have traveled all over the country in our lives, but we have never encountered such a comfortable carriage!
Refreshing and exciting!"
Lao Zhu said excitedly. He was a little thirsty and picked up the teapot and poured a cup. As soon as he drank it, he felt it was unbearably bitter. He frowned and got another pot. It turned out to be milk tea, so sweet.
Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry, "You two can't get something that people can drink?"
Zhang Ximeng smiled helplessly. He had written too many books and needed tea to refresh himself, so the more he drank, the more bitter it became. As for Li Shanchang, it was simply because he was old and his taste buds had degenerated, so he needed to increase the dose of stimulation.
If you take the time to get him some cream puffs or something, Lao Li will love him forever and ever.
Zhang Ximeng could only hand Lao Zhu a pot of hot water and some Longjing tea, asking him to make it himself.
Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to brew it properly, wait for the tea to cool down, and talk to Zhang Ximeng and Li Shanchang over there. He really realized the benefits of the rail carriage.
Smooth, fast, and large transportation capacity.
"Let's read the history books and say that the Qin Dynasty built straight roads in order to make it easier to mobilize troops, which cost a lot of money... I would like to ask you two, can you build rail carriages everywhere to facilitate the transportation of goods? Is it like the Qin Dynasty, which wasted national power?
, will a short-lived country be subjugated, or can the Ming Dynasty be brought to a higher level?"
After Lao Zhu finished speaking, he looked at these two people. As the two most powerful civil servants in the world, what insights could they have?
Zhang Ximeng smiled and said, "My lord, I actually mentioned the fall of the Qin Dynasty. There is only one reason for this. It is that Qin Shihuang miscalculated the national power. He mistook the figures on paper for the national power that could be used... The same mistake happened again.
In the Sui Dynasty."
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, as if he didn't understand what he meant.
At this time, Li Shanchang smiled and said: "Your Majesty, what the Grand Master said, I will give you a footnote... The problem with the Qin Dynasty he said was that before unifying the world, the Qin Dynasty was not a big country. After Shang Yang's reform, the government decrees were smooth and people, horses, money and food were mobilized.
, all went smoothly. That's why Qin had strong national power. By the time the First Emperor unified the world, the territory of Qin had increased six times, and its population had increased five times... Qin Shihuang thought that these newly merged territories could be like the original ones.
The same as Old Qin. He mobilized soldiers and horses to do corvee work, built the Great Wall, built the Lishan Mausoleum, built straight roads, and toured the world... The First Emperor thought that his national power could fully bear the burden. Little did he know that after the unification, the six kingdoms' old land, both the people and the officials,
, are far inferior to the homeland of Qin. It is not surprising that he tried his best to do it, and the world was in chaos."
Zhu Yuanzhang was startled and quickly grasped the key, "National power on paper cannot be regarded as actual national power. Mr. Li is really amazing!"
Li Shanchang smiled and said, "In the upper position, this is also the experience accumulated by veterans who have been managing the common government for decades. In fact, this principle is universal in all dynasties. Why is it so difficult for the prince to successfully take over after the death of the hero in the past dynasties?
This situation? This is the secret. Because the heroes in the past dynasties have enforced orders and prohibitions, and the subordinates dare not relax in any way. But when the prince succeeds to the throne, everything is confusing, and I still don’t understand what is going on. And he lacks enough prestige.
If Shao Guo is suspicious, something will definitely happen... Take Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty as an example. He made this mistake and regarded the national power on paper of the Sui Dynasty as a force that could be used. That's why he sent a million-strong army to conquer Goguryeo.
, we only have one year to build the canal.”
Zhu Yuanzhang hesitated for a while, and then whispered: "Mr. Li, why do we think there is something in your words? Please explain it clearly. We don't need to hide it."
Li Shanchang paused for a moment and then said: "I heard from the Grand Master that the superior intends to abdicate and hand over the country to His Highness the Crown Prince. Only then did the veteran have the courage to explain this truth. It is indeed a blessing for the Ming Dynasty that the superior can do this.
, the blessing of common people!"
Lao Zhu nodded slightly. Lao Li's words were indeed true insights.
"Mr. Li, let me ask you, what should the new king do when he takes the throne to be considered wise and wise?"
Li Shanchang thought for a while and said: "I want you to tell me that the new king must recuperate, calm down, and take care of things slowly, so that he can continue the prosperous age smoothly, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous."
Zhu Yuanzhang was silent, thinking silently.
Zhang Ximeng was also thinking about Li Shanchang's words... Why is Lao Li a talent? Even today, his words can still inspire Zhang Ximeng greatly.
Li Shanchang said a very helpless fact. It's not that future generations don't want to continue the policies of their predecessors, it's because they really can't do it... The nobles of the six countries will be afraid of Qin Shihuang, but they will not be afraid of Qin II. Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty can order the Guanlong Group
, Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty did not have this prestige.
Historically, the Ming Dynasty, Hongwu and Yongle were all able to rule the country with an iron fist, but in the Ren and Xuan Dynasties, what could they do if they did not shrink?
Do you want to follow the example of your grandfather and father, who fights everywhere and makes bold moves?
Sorry, they are really bad. This is not only a matter of ability, but also due to fate and conditions... Zhu Yuanzhang conquered the world by himself, so he naturally did whatever he wanted. Emperor Yongle in history also conquered about half of the world, but his successors did not have this condition.
.
So what would be the consequences if the Ren and Xuan dynasties continued to use troops abroad, or even imitated Zhu Di and conquered Mongolia five times?
I'm afraid he won't be any better than Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty!
This truth is difficult for ordinary people to figure out, and historical records may not explain it clearly.
Therefore, generally speaking, after a saintly king and a heroic ruler, there will be people who advocate recuperation, rule the country with mercy, and even rehabilitate officials who were wronged by the previous dynasty, win over people's hearts, and maintain the stability of the country.
Being able to achieve this step is already considered a wise person. If you want to continue the great achievements of your predecessors, it is really difficult for them. If you can't do it, you can't do it.
This is the reality of the Ren and Xuan dynasties in history.
"Your superiors, since you have spoken to this person, I will dig deep and say something a bit too much... If your superiors want to overhaul the track and connect the country, you must go to war... Only your superiors can do this. If you come to power halfway,
Abdicate and hand over the responsibilities to His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness has no other choice but to stop work, recuperate and let the people take a breather. Because the national power on paper is not equal to the actual national power. The power that the superior can mobilize is not equal to the Crown Prince
It can also be mobilized.”
After Li Shanchang finished speaking, he secretly glanced at Zhang Ximeng. He had a pleasant smile and looked like an old god was present.
How about it? How powerful does you, Grand Master Zhang, really think you are?
Do you have what it takes to solve this situation?
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes also fell on Zhang Ximeng.
If the difficulties mentioned by Lao Li cannot be solved, Zhu Yuanzhang really cannot abdicate easily.
Moreover, the rules revealed by Lao Li are really frustrating!
"Sir, do you think Biao'er can do it? He won't need us to wipe his butt, right?"
Zhang Ximeng laughed, "My lord, Brother Li's lofty views are really powerful, and I can't do anything about it... But I would like to ask my lord, this time when I arrived in Peiping, apart from seeing the rail carriages, did you have any other feelings, such as about agriculture?"
?”
Zhu Yuanzhang pondered slightly, "What aspect are you asking about, sir?"
"It's the difference between the Central Plains and Peiping. What is the difference?"
"Lord, in the Central Plains, people are more worried about disasters, especially failed harvests. Although there is a saying that low grain prices hurt farmers, they are just injuries. But in Peiping, people are worried about a good harvest, because once there is a good harvest, prices will plummet.
They can no longer survive. They even need the court to take the initiative to purchase and maintain price stability. This is the biggest difference between the large farm model and ordinary small farmers!"
"From this, we can see more problems clearly. What Brother Li said is that under the conditions of small farmers, the mobilization efficiency is extremely low, and large-scale construction projects will inevitably waste people and money, and it cannot be done without a saintly king... I can't refute this.
, there is no way to refute it, what he said is right! Over the past thousands of years, it has been very rare to have Brother Li’s insights.”
"But let me tell you, is there a way... there is. That is to enter a new era. In this new era, the mobilization of the people is not based on the lord's will, but on real wages. The court
Paying for free people to come and work does not involve wasting people or damaging money. Even the new king can handle it calmly as long as he manages it properly. Secondly, the current large-scale construction projects are no longer to defend the border and resist invading invaders, but
It’s not just for the emperor’s parade to facilitate travel. It’s really profitable, and all the businessmen and people in the world can benefit from it. There are enough benefits to follow the rules of heaven and people. As long as they can see this, even if there is no imperial decree, they will
I will work hard to do it."
Zhu Yuanzhang's frown suddenly relaxed, and then he couldn't help but laugh happily.
He couldn't help but grab Zhang Ximeng's arm and said with a smile: "Sir, your vision is unparalleled!"
Zhang Ximeng smiled implicitly, and Li Shanchang lowered his head, looking slightly embarrassed.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Yuanzhang also used his other hand to hold Lao Li.
"Mr. Li, you are also the leader of civil servants in the past dynasties. It is because of you that Mr. Zhang can show his brilliance."
Lao Li was moved to tears. I have become a foil, right?
Zhu Yuanzhang added: "In short, with the two of you, we can see more clearly and feel more confident. I will go back and pass the order to Zhongshu Province to discuss the matter of building tracks across the country."
At this time, someone else sent news that the leaders of the Jurchen tribes had arrived outside Shanhaiguan and were waiting for His Majesty's summons...