Regarding the arrangement of the vassal king, Zhu Ying had already made up his mind.
The speed of information dissemination determined the territory that the Ming court could directly control.
For example, the Western Regions were nominally under the rule of the Ming Dynasty, but in fact it was difficult for the Ming Dynasty to achieve direct control.
Just talking about the back-and-forth dissemination of information, even if it is done at a high speed, it will take nearly a month to go back and forth.
This time difference resulted in many policies of the Ming Dynasty being unable to be implemented in the Western Regions.
Zhu Ying did not want to launch a large-scale war. Any nationwide effort would easily shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty.
In this regard, the only people who suffer are the common people. Although in the early Ming Dynasty, more than 70% of the areas in the Ming Dynasty are still in good weather, but once the war starts, all the reserves accumulated over the years will be consumed.
From this point of view, only small-scale local wars are most in line with the current interests of the Ming Dynasty.
This is also the biggest purpose of Zhu Ying's invention of the matchlock gun and the professional soldier.
Adding the two together, the effect will be obvious for some small areas.
And the feudal king is the best vanguard.
Regardless of whether it is a vassal king who has become a vassal or a vassal king who has not yet become a vassal, Zhu Ying plans to move their vassal territory outside the Ming Dynasty.
If you want a vassal territory, you can give you a matchlock gun and professional soldiers, and you can fight for it yourself.
Of course, even the conquered vassal territories, economy, culture, and local government affairs were subject to Ming Dynasty control.
Zhu Ying currently has twenty-six imperial uncles, two who were born early, and several who died early.
There seemed to be many princes, and perhaps Zhu Yuanzhang was a little worried about these vassal kings.
But in Zhu Ying's opinion, it's really not enough. If there are several times more, there will be no problem. Not to mention other places, the sharecropping of Korea alone is enough to canonize dozens of princes.
That's right.
What Zhu Ying wanted to do was to enfeoff the princes similarly to the Zhou Dynasty.
For example, Goryeo was divided into more than a dozen regions and granted to vassal kings.
Under the influence of Chinese culture, it was only a matter of time before the entire Goryeo was completely Chineseized.
And there are so many tributary countries, all of which were nominally suzerain states under the Ming Dynasty, developed into vassal states, and then became vassal states under the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Ying thinks the problem is not big.
Anyway, there is no other meaning. If the vassal country is poor, it should be poorer. The Chinese culture should be spread first, and all the local people should be Chineseized first.
In the Huagai Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was listening to Liu He reporting on the conversation between his eldest grandson and the princes.
After listening, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't express much, and was just a little bit sad.
"This eldest grandson, eh, but this is not bad. Our eldest grandson is right. We are all one family and should help. We sons can't just look forward to their eldest nephew."
"It's worthwhile to put in some effort for our Ming Dynasty. Just try hard. There's nothing bad out there. It's all developing slowly."
"And when the time comes, we can also plant the sweet potatoes and other crops that Dasun sent us. We will all have enough to eat, so there will be no hardship."
He knew very well that it seemed that the Great Sun was going to hand over the military power to these vassal kings, so that they could lead the troops to fight the war.
Just thinking about sharp weapons such as matchlock guns, Zhu Yuanzhang personally thought it was good.
And this can also reduce the conflicts between the emperor and the vassal princes to a great extent.
·.···
The princes were young and could not hide things in their hearts. Soon, the news that Zhu Ying supported the vassal king and intended to let the vassal king take over the military power spread in the palace.
"Mom, why do you think my eldest brother is doing this? If the vassal kings all control the military power, wouldn't it lead to a situation of separatism among the heroes?"
In the back hall of Chunhe Palace, Zhu Yunwen told Mrs. Lu about the incident.
Then he asked doubtfully.
Although he had only been a grandson for a period of time and had not been canonized, he had thought about it in the same way as the emperor.
After hearing this, Mrs. Lu was silent for a long time, her beautiful eyebrows slightly wrinkled.
For a moment, she didn't think about the key to this. Although Lu was smart, the information available was limited. Without enough information to analyze and guess, it was difficult to make an accurate judgment.
After thinking for a moment, Mrs. Lu said: "This matter is not as simple as it seems. Although I haven't figured it out yet."
"But your eldest brother is by no means such a simple person. Even if your eldest brother doesn't know clearly, His Majesty will intervene."
"And from the current situation, His Majesty obviously supports your elder brother's approach, which means there must be something we know about it."
"Not only do we not know, but perhaps no one else knows your brother's purpose except His Majesty.
Lu said after analysis.
Although she didn't know why His Highness Changsun did this, there was no doubt that Lu was very good at guessing people's minds.
Putting this matter aside and going to see His Highness Changsun and His Majesty, I found something was wrong.
Zhu Yundeng nodded, acknowledging his mother's words.
Huang Zicheng was the gentleman assigned to him by Grandfather Huang. Above Huang Zicheng, there were more knowledgeable gentlemen, who all gave advice to Grandfather Huang.
It is impossible for Grandpa Huang to be unclear. It means that what mother said makes sense.
"It's just mother. No matter what eldest brother and grandpa Huang think, this is military power. Once the vassal king has military power, it will be completely different."
Zhu Yundeng said slightly excitedly.
Whether there is military power or not, in today's early Ming Dynasty, it is completely clear-cut.
For example, the vassal kings who guarded the borders and the vassal kings within the Ming Dynasty were not on the same level.
It seems that when he becomes a vassal, he can also control the military power.
At this moment, Zhu Yunzhuo suddenly thought of the soldiers training in the palace martial arts field.
Those scenes of neat military appearance and powerful intimidation made my heart feel hot.
"Don't think too much for the time being, and don't get too involved in this matter. Maybe controlling military power is not a good thing. My mother always feels that there is something fishy about it." It's not that easy, and it won't be that simple.
Lu said in warning.
She comes from a low background, and although she is not at the bottom, she understands it in other ways.
Some things seem easy to get, but when you get them, you may lose even more.
Before she became the crown prince and second concubine, her family also ran a business, and Mrs. Lu helped manage it behind the scenes, and learned a lot from it.
Although the status of women in the Ming Dynasty was low, it was not obvious in the palace. Lu would study every day.
Hearing what his mother said, Zhu Yunchui said unhappily: "Mother, you told me two days ago that you wanted to declare vassal status as soon as possible. Why do you have to wait now?"
"I have been thinking of ways recently to see if I can go to Grandpa Huang to beg him to be crowned king first. Perhaps the best time is to consecrate my eldest brother."
"I think that when the matter of my canonization was revealed, the emperor would have given me a good domain.
When Mrs. Lu heard this, she had no intention of blaming her. She followed the instructions and said, "If it was favor from other aspects, my mother would naturally not say much."
"But you also know very well what military power means. In Wei Niang's opinion, there are only two situations for opening up Qiu power."
"One is to replace the military generals and put most of the military power in the hands of the royal family."
"Secondly, it can only mean that there is a war. Now the Ming Dynasty is generally stable. Although there are some places where the king is not convinced, it is not to the extent that the princes go to war."
"It seems like it is your eldest brother who intends to launch a conquest."
Speaking of this, Lu's eyes suddenly lit up. She suddenly thought of the possibility of Zhu Ying doing this. Especially letting the princes and grandsons directly participate in the training of soldiers, and even relaxing the restrictions on military power, which naturally means expanding to the outside world.
After trying to figure out some of Zhu Ying's past events, Lu felt more and more that her guess was very accurate.
After giving Zhu Yunzhuo a complicated look, Lu said in a warm voice, "I'm sorry for you, please don't talk to His Majesty or your eldest brother about the vassal status anymore.
"Let's leave it alone for now. According to the rules, your vassal territory will be arranged only after your eldest brother ascends the throne.
There is no doubt that Zhu Yunzhi is Lu's most beloved son.
When it was speculated that Zhu Ying might expand the territory and let the royal family members lead troops to fight, how could Lu, as a mother, be willing to let her son live such a miserable life? In Lu's thoughts, Yun
Cuiju Fan is definitely a prosperous place. Being a wealthy prince and being safe and secure is the best thing.
It's just that Zhu Yuntao obviously didn't understand Lu's good intentions.
He said a little irritably, "Mom, I don't want to stay in the palace anymore. Uncle Seventeen is the same age as me, but only a few months older."
"Uncles like the Eighteenth Emperor and others are younger than me, and I am already old enough to become a vassal. Why should I wait until my eldest brother ascends the throne?"
"The emperor is so majestic. I don't know how many years it will be before my eldest brother takes the throne. Could it be that I have been waiting in the palace?"
"Besides, September is my chance. If I miss it, I will have to wait for too many years.
‘
"And after my eldest brother ascends the throne, he will be the grandson of the East Palace. If your grandpa allows my eldest brother to live in the East Palace, then the place where I live will have to be given to my eldest brother."
"Mom, I don't want to, I want that. If I want it, just be fan."
After Zhu Yunzhi said this, his voice became sharper.
Thinking that the place where he lives now might have to be vacated for them, this made him feel very irritable.
All of this should originally belong to him. The more he thought about it, a hint of cruelty began to appear in Zhu Yunchui's eyes.
It's the hatred towards my elder brother for taking away everything he has now. "Yes!" Lu shouted sharply.
Zhu Yunfen, who was immersed in resentment, was woken up by Mrs. Lu.
"Mom, what's wrong?"
At this moment, Zhu Yunfen asked with some confusion.
"Do you know that the reason why your eldest brother gave up the military power is to let the princes lead troops to fight and fight to the death with those barbarians who drink Maoru's blood."
"If my mother's guess is correct, it may even be the case that by then, your vassal will need to lead your own troops to fight and fight to the death with those barbarians before you can take control of your vassal."
"And those vassal lands are all poor and remote places, and everything has to be managed from scratch."
"This kind of vassal is what you want." Lu said in a deep voice.
Originally, she didn't want to tell her son too clearly about the speculations above. First of all, these were all her own guesses, and there was no evidence to prove them.
Secondly, he was afraid that his son would be loud and expose this speculation, which would cause a rift between the princes and His Royal Highness. By then, Yuntao might be responsible for all this.
"This, this is impossible, how is this possible?" Zhu Yunzhai said tremblingly.
Although after training this month, Zhu Yunchui is now less frail and more heroic.
But he was still a little afraid of things like fighting, having received Confucian education and guidance from civil servants since he was a child.
Because he was the grandson of the emperor, he was not trained by Zhu Yuanzhang like other princes.
War is not a child's play. Zhu Yuntao, who has been exposed to government affairs, knows that it can really kill people.
Besides, not everyone can bear the pain of marching. "Otherwise, your brother, why would you let the princes have military power and know the military affairs? There are not so many vassal lands to seal in the Ming Dynasty's borders."
"But now, your eldest brother is not just a vassal for one or two princes, but a vassal for all the vassals. He has relaxed the restrictions on military power." Lu explained.
Zhu Yunzhuo hesitated for a moment and asked, "Mom, but Grandpa Huang has sealed off all the vassal lands."
Lu said: "So what? Where the vassal is is just a matter of your Majesty's words. Your Majesty must support your elder brother now."
"At that time, all the vassal territories of the vassal kings will probably have to be adjusted."
Lu said firmly that at present, this is the only possibility.
"Well, then I'll listen to my mother."
Zhu Yuntao's lips wriggled, and he finally said helplessly. He really didn't want to go to war.
News from the palace quickly reached Li Jinglong's ears.
After all, his popularity in the palace, especially among the princes and grandsons, is quite good.
In addition, he is also a member of the royal family, so he has relatively free access to some areas of the palace.
After getting the news, the first thing he thought of was Zhu Di, who he had grown up with.
So I immediately sent someone to pass on this matter." My cousin should be very happy when he gets this news.
righteous
In Kunning Palace, Zhu Ying frowned deeply as she looked at the accounts reported by Ye Yueqing.
He did not expect that the profits his Qunying Chamber of Commerce had made in Ming Dynasty this month would be so low.
Compared with Frontier's profit, it did not even reach 30%.
"Is there something wrong with the statistics somewhere? This number is obviously inconsistent with the current situation.
Zhu Ying asked Ye Yueqing.
Although the profits from smuggling in the frontiers are indeed much higher, the Qunying Chamber of Commerce can be said to have unhindered access in the Ming Dynasty. In nature, they are already imperial merchants. No matter what business they do, they can easily get support from the government.
The territory of the Ming Dynasty was so vast that it could not be compared to the Western Regions, grasslands and other places.
But both in terms of trade volume and profits, it is very pessimistic.
The Qunying Chamber of Commerce has begun to shift its focus towards the Ming Dynasty, but the actual situation has begun to shrink significantly compared with before.
There are more people and the industrial chain has expanded, but the money is mostly less.
Ye Yueqing replied: "Your Highness, there are no errors in the accounts. They were calculated after checking them ten times.
When Ye Yueqing saw the accounts, he thought there was something wrong. After counting for several days, he found no errors at all, so he presented them to Zhu Ying.
Zhu Ying frowned deeply.
Through this account, he seemed to have discovered a very serious problem.
After thinking for a while, Zhu Ying called Guo Zhong in, who was waiting outside, and ordered: "Go to the Hanlin Academy and get all the classics related to the Ministry of Household Affairs of the Song Dynasty."