Chapter 248: I promise you the first king of Annan
On Annan's side, Zhu Ying shouldn't use too many tricks.
Soon, Liu Sheng and Li Xiucai were summoned to Kunning Palace.
"Meet the teacher!"
"Meet my boss!"
The two of them bowed and bowed.
In this regard, both of them have their own little thoughts. In fact, as far as the title is concerned, in the palace, they should be called Your Highness.
It's just that the titles of boss and teacher are obviously closer.
Zhu Ying couldn't hide their little thoughts from Zhu Ying. He smiled and didn't care about it, and said: "Everyone, let's get up. How is the situation at Sweet Potato lately?"
Liu Sheng bowed and said, "Report to the teacher."
"Ahem." Guo Zhong next to him coughed twice as a reminder.
Before entering the palace, Guo Zhong taught them some simple rules.
"Reporting to Your Highness, sweet potatoes and other crops are growing well in the suburbs of the city. There are no problems at the moment. They should be mature in more than a month."
Liu Sheng replied, in fact, there is not much to say about sweet potatoes. They are drought-resistant and do not need much attention.
Even if the leaves are a little wilted, they will recover on their own at night.
So Liu Sheng and Liu Sheng sat there doing nothing every day.
Zhu Ying nodded when he heard this. Although he cared about high-yielding crops such as sweet potatoes, these things were not made with precision. It was just a matter of planting the seeds and waiting for the harvest.
"I called you here this time because I have something new to do for you. Princess Anxiu of Annan recently arrived in the Ming Dynasty and begged me to send troops to the Ming Dynasty to help Annan suppress the current crisis and support the Annan royal family."
"After discussing with my grandfather, I decided to dispatch 50,000 elite soldiers to help Annan."
"Of course, the soldiers have maintained the stability of Annan in the past. As a vassal state of our Ming Dynasty, after discussion and decision, we, our Ming Dynasty, will support it not only in terms of stability, but also in all aspects."
"It involves farming techniques, textiles, and construction."
Hearing this, Liu Sheng felt slightly excited. He roughly understood what Zhu Ying was thinking.
Li Xiucai was a little worried. The things his boss was talking about didn't seem to have much to do with him.
However, what he said next cheered him up.
"The local situation in Annan is extremely complicated. It is not only the mixing of multi-ethnic indigenous people, but also language and cultural conflicts. Therefore, enlightenment is imperative."
"Fortunately, in Annan, the mainstream is also Chinese, so it is relatively easy to educate people. It's just that it comes easy, but education has always been extremely difficult."
"Li Xingyan."
When Li Xiucai heard his boss calling his name, he immediately stood up and bowed: "The common people are here."
Zhu Ying looked at Li Xiucai and said: "You have many years of teaching experience in Qunying City. I have always known these things. This time I go to Annan, I will lead many Confucian students there with you as the main one."
"Tell me, the king, what's the problem?"
Li Xiucai heard this and said hurriedly: "The common people should do their best to spread our Han culture to all parts of Annan, so that the people of Annan will know our grace."
Li Xiucai's tone of voice was trembling.
He originally thought that he would be a minor official at most, but he never expected that such a heavy burden of educating Annan would fall on his head.
If this spreads out, many scholars in the world will go crazy with envy.
Anyone who has anything to do with education can at least leave a mark in history.
As for how much or how little, it depends on the situation.
Li Xiucai was also a scholar. This kind of supreme pursuit was something he could only dream about in his mind. In other words, it was something that most scholars could only dream about.
Now, this opportunity is placed in front of Li Xiucai, how can he not be excited.
Zhu Ying nodded slightly to express his recognition of Li Xiucai, and then seemed to sigh and said: "Looking back, I was struggling in the Western Regions. It was not until everyone continued to join me that I slowly got better."
"Looking at it now, although the achievements in the Western Region are not worth mentioning compared to my current status, the brothers of the Qunying Chamber of Commerce can always follow me, and their education is still very effective."
"You should keep in mind your past in Qunying City. I think you have enough experience in education. Annan is a vassal state of my Ming Dynasty, and the people there are the people of my Ming Dynasty."
"Remember that after the past, everyone must be treated equally. Just as you were taught in the Western Regions, you will be taught in Annan. But you understand what I mean."
When Li Xiucai heard this, he immediately remembered the teaching methods in Qunying City, and he felt much relieved.
This is probably similar to what he did before.
Of course, Li Xiucai understood what happened next.
When I was teaching in the Western Region, those lesson plans were mixed with a lot of private goods from the Qunying Chamber of Commerce, and it was not just about teaching.
The boss has already mentioned this, and if he still can't hear it, he can just find a piece of tofu and kill him.
"Your Highness's explanation, the grassroots understand in their hearts that after the grassroots arrive in Annan, they will definitely treat the people of Annan as the people of my people. Please rest assured, Your Highness."
When Zhu Ying heard this, he knew that Li Xiucai understood.
So he said with a smile: "Don't be a common man. I will inform the Ministry of Rites and arrange a suitable official position for you. Don't worry, it won't be a small one. It will allow you to have some face when you get to Annan."
Li Xiucai knelt down and kowtowed, saying thanks: "Your Highness Li Xingyan, thank you for your grace."
"Okay, get up. All I need is that you don't let me down." Zhu Ying said with a smile.
"I will never disappoint His Highness. If I disappoint His Highness, I will never return to the Ming Dynasty or my hometown." Liu Xiucai swore.
For Ming Dynasty who pays attention to returning fallen leaves to their roots, this can be regarded as a serious oath.
Zhu Ying nodded, and then asked Li Xiucai to step back and wait, and even called the surrounding guards, maids, and eunuchs to all step back.
There were only three people in the room: him, Ye Yueqing, and Liu Sheng.
"Teacher." Liu Sheng bowed.
Zhu Ying nodded and said, "I left you alone, so naturally I have important things to talk about. Regarding Annan's actions this time, can you still walk with your body?"
"If you don't want to travel a long distance, I will arrange an official position for you in the Ming Dynasty to ensure that you will be rich and have no worries about food and clothing in the future."
Hearing this, Liu Sheng was extremely moved, and he replied politely: "Teacher, my situation is clear to me. I don't seem to have any problems, but what's the difference between me and the eunuchs in the palace now?"
"Glory and wealth are meaningless to me. Compared with the capital of the Ming Dynasty, the City of Heroes is naturally as prosperous as fireflies and the bright moon."
"But it was built by the teacher himself. There is never a shortage of anything, and food is even more worry-free."
"What I want to do now is to make the rest of my life meaningful. At least I can dedicate myself more to my teacher. This is my last thought in this life."
When Zhu Ying heard this, she felt a little moved in her heart.
Liu Sheng is already over sixty years old, and he is still in good health, but given his age, his hair has already turned gray.
There is no doubt that Liu Sheng is the most suitable person to go to Annan after having been in charge of Qunying City for so many years.
In terms of political means, it can be said that Liu Sheng already has very rich experience, and it is not fair to say that he is the first minister under Zhu Ying.
"On the Annan side, if you can succeed, I will allow you to be the first King of Annan."
After pondering for a moment, Zhu Ying promised directly.
With these words, Zhu Ying's intention towards An Nan became very obvious.
When Liu Sheng heard this, he trembled all over, and the next moment he bowed and paid homage.
This is the highest glory.
It is conceivable that Liu Sheng will definitely have a strong mark in future history books.
Liu Sheng is mentioned in the history books as the first King Annan. What a noble honor this is.
Although for him now, he can't enjoy it too much.
It could take five years or ten years to return to Annan. By that time, he was already over seventy years old.
Liu Sheng, who suffered a hidden injury when he was young, could not have any heirs. When he was seventy years old, King Annan would not be able to be king for more than a few years.
But just a name is already a huge surprise for Liu Sheng.
"Let's talk about Annan's affairs next. I will let Zhao Fei take command of the 50,000 elite troops when the time comes. You are familiar with Zhao Fei, so I won't say more about this aspect."
"The situation on Annan's side will be clear to you when you get there. My side is also a bit vague. You are familiar with the general direction. Controlling Annan's troops with 50,000 troops is the key point."
"Don't get involved in their complicated fights. Build high walls, accumulate food, and slowly become king. That is your main goal. In this regard, I believe you will have no problem."
Zhu Ying said.
The 50,000 soldiers he sent over were not just soldiers, but more like officers.
The population of Annan is close to four million, and its national army is now about half a million.
In terms of population and military strength, the more developed a country is, the smaller this ratio is.
The current chaotic situation in Xiang Annan is at least ten percent.
It sounds strange that the Ming Dynasty had 1.2 million soldiers and Annan had 500,000.
But in fact, there are so many chieftains in Annan, and among many chieftains, almost all the people are soldiers. The concept is completely different.
Twelve-year-old boys and women who have given birth to children all have to charge into battle.
These soldiers nominally belong to the Annan royal family, but in fact they are secretly controlled by powerful and warlords from all over the world.
Even the officers and soldiers on Annan's side were controlled by many generals and did not listen to propaganda.
This is why the Annan royal family asked for help from the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Ying just wanted to use these 50,000 troops to directly recruit troops from Annan, and then continue to grow until he completely controlled Annan.
After Liu Sheng listened, he nodded seriously.
These strategies were often used as early as the initial development of the Western Regions.
At that time, the Qunying Chamber of Commerce was still just a small chamber of commerce. It was through continuous annexation of other forces and gradually strengthening itself that it reached the scale it has today.
Liu Sheng knew very well that going to Annan this time was to walk the same path as the Qunying Chamber of Commerce.
"Teacher, please rest assured. These Dharma disciples are quite familiar with them. And this time, with so many junior disciples assisting us, we will definitely not disappoint the teacher."
Liu Sheng replied.
Zhu Ying summoned his disciples to prepare for Annan's affairs. He had made arrangements a month ago. Now these disciples are waiting for Zhu Ying's instructions.
Zhu Yingdao: "I saw the situation in Annan. Many chieftains are still living a life of exchanging things for things. The coins are also very confusing. There are more than ten kinds of large and small ones. It is very troublesome for the people to use them."
"So this time when you go over, I will grant you the right to coin, and I will provide you with enough Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes."
"This is the key point. You have to find a way to make the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes replace all Annan's coins and become the only currency. To do this, you will not hesitate to use some means."
Zhu Ying's voice was a little low.
The Ming Dynasty banknotes are the only banknotes in the world today, but their purchasing power has been declining, and no one recognizes the Ming Dynasty currency.
Annan is a very good place. What Zhu Ying wants to do is to export Annan from three aspects: military, economic and cultural aspects.
This time for Annan, it was also the first time that Zhu Ying formally carried out such planning.
"Disciple understands." Liu Sheng said in a deep voice.
Regarding means, the Western Regions Heroes Chamber of Commerce doesn't need too many.
In fact, in the final analysis, what Zhu Ying played is nothing more than the method of capitalism in later generations.
Nowadays, for Annan, we directly ignore the current complex situation and start from the most basic military, cultural and economic aspects.
This set of combined punches should not be too easy to pacify Annan. The most important thing is not to hurt the people of Annan.
On the contrary, it can improve the living standards of local people to a large extent.
Let it transition from barbarism to civilization and capture the hearts and minds of the people.
If we go directly to fight with strong troops, the gains will not be worth the losses. Instead, the excessive external force will force all the Annan warlords to unite to resist.
Later, when Zhu Di attacked Annan, it was just like this. He spent too many troops and gained little benefit in the end.
This does not mean that it is good to include Annan in the Ming Dynasty, but it will increase the burden on the Ming Dynasty.
This is also the reason why the Central Plains culture has very few foreign invasions.
Including the tributary countries of the Ming Dynasty, they are really too poor.
"When the supplies here are almost ready, let's set off. Take care of yourself. I hope that one day I can personally crown you the king in the Fengtian Hall of the palace."
Zhu Ying took a deep look at Liu Sheng and then said.
In fact, among Zhu Ying's disciples, there are more young ones with good abilities.
Zhu Ying knew very well what he wanted for this eldest disciple who had always been with him.
Even when Liu Sheng didn't come when he was transporting sweet potatoes and other crops, Zhu Ying would call him.
Perhaps for Liu Sheng now, leaving a name in history is his biggest pursuit.
Upon hearing this, Liu Sheng raised his head to look at Zhu Ying, then lowered his head slightly to cover the tears in his eyes, then slowly knelt down, saluted and said:
"In the first half of my life, I was homeless and had no income. Until I met my teacher, my life became even more different."
"I am not the smartest, nor the youngest and most powerful under the teacher, but the teacher does not abandon me and makes me his disciple."
"I can't repay the teacher's kindness. I can only work hard to protect the family business for the teacher."
"Even now, the teacher can still think about me, half of my body buried in the ground. I can only repay you for your great kindness in the next life."
After Liu Sheng finished speaking, he kowtowed three times.
Zhu Ying looked at him with complicated eyes, but didn't stop him.
Because both he and Liu Sheng knew that this meeting might be the last time.
From the beginning to the present, the relationship between the two of them has been more than just a teacher-student relationship.
In Liu Sheng's eyes, he treated Zhu Ying as his own grandson and son.
The reason why Zhu Ying was able to leave the Western Regions and walk through the desert to the grasslands.
It's all because Liu Sheng is helping him guard the foundation of the Western Region.