Chapter 521: Enlightenment starts from the myth system
Since ancient times, princes of all dynasties have been eager to become emperors.
For example, Zhu Ying can now be said to be fully qualified to force a woman to have a baby.
At present, almost all the military power in the palace is under Zhu Ying's contact. Not to mention complete control, but he has to fake an imperial edict, send away the imperial guards, and then recruit some close friends and so on.
Simply don't make it too easy.
It's just that Zhu Ying has never thought about it like this in her heart.
He sincerely hopes that the old man can live as long as possible.
Putting aside the busyness of government affairs, it doesn't mean that he should be lazy or anything, but that after such a long time, the old man has been kind to him, even if he usually doesn't express much.
But the human heart is fleshy. Although he has the memory of later generations and does not seem to belong to this era, no one would say that he has a heart of stone even if the old man treats him like this.
Therefore, on many policy issues, even if the old man disagrees or is shelving them, Zhu Ying will not say that he has to deal with them in a hurry, but will just take his time.
Up to now, the Ming Dynasty has undergone earth-shaking changes in the more than two years since Zhu Ying entered the palace.
The Japanese country, which had not been conquered in the past, was now conquered.
The once lowly status of businessmen is slowly rising.
Civil servants were once poor, but now their salaries have been increased. At least truly upright officials can live comfortably without corruption.
There is also the development of firearms, the promotion of high-yielding crops, and planting acres into acres to encourage fertility.
A series of measures such as education, law popularization, and maritime bans are constantly adding foundation to the Ming Dynasty, strengthening national strength, and extending the country.
Nowadays, no matter whether it is in the palace, in the army, among ministers, or among the people, no one can speak favorably of His Highness Taisun.
With his reputation reaching its current level, Zhu Ying is already very successful. As long as he continues the process step by step, the Ming Dynasty will become more prosperous and prosperous, and its territory can also be expanded further.
After two years of recuperation, Ming Dynasty now has sufficient food reserves and sufficient wealth.
It's time to really expand the territory.
The first step now is not to conquer the grasslands, nor to invade Nanyang and occupy the Japanese country.
Rather, it turned those lands that had been indirectly controlled by the Ming Dynasty into actual Ming Dynasty territory.
There are two big pieces here.
One is the Western Region, and the other is Liaodong.
These two places nominally belong to the Ming Dynasty, but in fact the local indigenous people make their own decisions. Whether it is legal or other aspects, they do not say they will follow the Ming Dynasty's direction.
It was just to make a name for himself with the Ming Dynasty when the new lord was ruling the roost, that's all.
Between the Western Regions and Liaodong, Zhu Ying still felt that Liaodong was the most important.
There is fertile black soil there, and it can resist the threat from the border. If we capture all of Liaodong first, it means we can plant with peace of mind, and we can also accumulate troops.
From the upper reaches of Liaodong, there are many Jurchen tribes.
The current Jurchens are not dangerous to the Ming Dynasty at all. The level difference is too big.
Nowadays, the Jurchen tribes are divided into three tribes: Jianzhou, Haixi and Yeren.
But its main body is the Jin, the Jurchens in the broad sense of the Yuan Dynasty, that is, the tribal alliance that submitted to the Jin Dynasty's regime.
It is not a distinction based on race, but on a geographical basis.
Nowadays, most Jurchens need to rely on Ming Dynasty food, iron tools, seeds and other supplies to survive.
For example, most of the tribes that mainly focus on fishing and hunting can only be small tribes. Without farming, it is impossible to develop into a majority.
A simple issue of food rations can stump all the small tribes.
"There is a shortage of soldiers on the grassland. It is better to go directly to the Jurchen tribe to recruit troops. As long as the rations and military pay are enough, there is no possibility for those Jurchen tribes to refuse."
With this in mind, Zhu Ying decided to write a letter as an edict.
After the grassland military base is established, strengthen the absorption of the Jurchen tribe.
At this point, even Uncle Zhang once belonged to the savage Jurchens.
With this in mind, he summoned Zhang Wen to the palace.
"Greetings to His Highness Taisun." Zhang Wen saluted respectfully.
Zhu Ying waved her hand and asked her to sit down and talk.
"I heard that you have been living a very comfortable life recently. The girl traveled thousands of miles to come find you. Now it has been discussed?"
"If there are no problems, I will help you get married. Youdao wants to start a family and start a career. You are already quite old. For someone as old as you, your children are already running around. It's time to finalize the marriage."
Zhu Ying said with a smile, very concerned about Zhang Wen.
Zhang Wen was of Jurchen origin and had been illiterate since he was a child. Although he studied later, his literary level was actually limited to the stage of literacy.
But for Zhu Ying, lack of ability actually doesn't matter much. What he wants is his own people.
Zhang Wen's loyalty is beyond doubt.
As a grandson or an emperor, if you want to extend your power, should you rely on capable ministers?
No, on the contrary, it relies on ministers who are loyal to themselves.
Many emperors in history liked corrupt officials, villains, and traitorous ministers. Is it because these emperors were stupid?
Not so.
Because these corrupt officials, villains, and treacherous ministers, to a large extent, although they have their own shortcomings, they will help the emperor seriously.
What people fear most is having no shortcomings.
If it is too perfect, it will hinder the emperor's power.
After all, the emperor is also a human being, and he will also have his own selfish motives. Some things that are not easy to put on the surface always need people to do it.
This principle is true whether it is in the past, now, or in distant future generations.
Talented people are often very high-ranking. On the contrary, they are carefree people, but they are always rising step by step.
It sounds uncomfortable, but it's just the reality and it doesn't add anything.
Even Zhu Ying must have enough cronies who trust him in order to firmly control the entire Ming Dynasty.
Zhang Wen felt warm in his heart when he heard His Highness Taisun's caring words.
Sure enough, the boss still hasn't forgotten him.
During this period, since Zhang Wen was expelled from Jin Yiwei because of Zhang San, he followed Uncle Zhang in the Chamber of Commerce just like before.
Most of them deal with intelligence matters, which is what he is good at.
But from a sensory point of view, it seems that he is no longer being used seriously by his employer. Even Uncle Zhang is quite anxious at this point, but there is nothing he can do about it.
Now the wait is finally over.
"My lord, thank you very much, Your Highness."
Zhang Wenna bowed his head and bowed.
Although he is not a royal guard, he is still an official and is considered a candidate, so he can also call himself a minister.
Zhu Ying smiled and said: "It should have been like this a long time ago."
Then he said with some emotion: "It has been seven years since I brought you out from the grassland."
Zhang Wen replied seriously: "Your Highness, seven years and three months, I will always remember that it was Your Highness who gave our tribe rations, which saved our people from starving to death. It was His Highness who gave us clothes so that we could
Survive the cold winter."
"Zhang Wen has already sworn to Changshengtian that he will always be loyal to His Highness in this life."
Zhu Ying nodded: "Time flies so fast, it's been so long in a flash."
"Ever since I came out from there, you have been running around with me, and you have never gone back."
Hearing this, Zhang Wen also had some memories.
After all, he grew up there, and people always have an inexplicable longing for their hometown.
But then, Zhang Wen replied firmly: "The place where His Highness is and where the clan members are is our hometown."
Zhu Ying laughed and said, "I'm not here to test your loyalty today. There's no need to speak like this."
"You should have heard about the recent establishment of a military base on the grassland. The current base is not far from your home. Now the Ming Dynasty is becoming more and more prosperous, and its food reserves are relatively large.
enough."
"I just want you to take some people there after you get married to gather some Jurchen tribes and let them join our Ming Dynasty family, so that we can avoid the suffering of hunger and cold in the future."
When Zhang Wen heard this, he immediately kowtowed and prostrated: "Zhang Wen, on behalf of the Jurchen clan, thanks Your Highness for your kindness."
After all, there are some friendly tribes who are still trying to make a living among the black waters and white mountains.
Zhang Wen could see the wealth of the Ming Dynasty. If nothing else, at least he would have no problem eating enough.
But at this point, it is impossible for Zhang Wen to communicate with Zhu Yinglai. Now that the Ming Dynasty has such a policy, Zhang Wen is really happy for the Jurchen clan.
Zhu Yingdao: "Since you don't have any objections, I will send an order to Qin Tianjian to set an auspicious day for you to get married."
"After you get married, you can take your wife with you to the Liaodong grassland. I will appoint you as the inspector of the grassland military base, and you can easily recruit some tribes to join me in the name of the Ming Dynasty."
"I will also grant you the position of chief instructor of the grassland military base. Those tribesmen who have been summoned, or the various tribes in the grassland who have joined, can be trained by you."
"There are fewer doctors over the grassland. I will send some imperial doctors to accompany you. Firstly, they can better treat some diseases. Secondly, if your wife is pregnant, she can also be better taken care of."
Hearing that his boss was taking such careful care of him, Zhang Wen was very excited: "I... I will definitely serve your Highness with all my heart, even to the point of death!"
Zhu Ying waved her hand and said with a smile: "Okay, you are not someone else. We have supported each other all the way. I just said it, there is no need to say these words of loyalty, just keep it in your heart."
"I'm afraid we won't be able to see each other for more than ten years now. But the young eagle will always grow up, and you can't always stay by Uncle Zhang's side."
"I'm counting on you to build this grassland military base for me. Work hard and don't let me down."
"I will be here in the capital, waiting for your good news."
Zhu Ying's words could not help but contain some sighs.
In the past seven years or so, Zhang Wen and others have been by his side since he was young. He has traveled to many places in the grasslands, deserts, and the Western Regions, and has experienced countless dangers, and has always been by his side to protect him.
Emotionally, Zhu Ying was naturally very reluctant to let go of Zhang Wen and others.
However, the grassland border is a big deal, especially the grassland base.
Lan Yu and Zhu Di are quite capable of fighting, but they are not their confidants.
Liu Buyi graduated from the Beijing Military Academy and can be considered a member of his own line, but compared to Zhang Wen, he is definitely still a little behind.
Therefore, sending Zhang Wen there is an inevitable key.
In Zhu Ying's vision, the grassland military base, based on rations and other supplies, would recruit at least hundreds of thousands of grassland cavalry, especially the Jurchen tribe, who were the top priority.
In order to conquer the huge grassland, even the Northern Yuan Dynasty, the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, the Oara Tribe, the Golden Horde Khanate and other places must be brought under the command of the Ming Dynasty.
It can only be based on the cavalry of the grassland.
Once this possibility is realized, the Ming Dynasty will not only completely solve the grassland border problems, but will even follow the example of Genghis Khan and fight all the way to Oubaluo, spanning the entire Eurasian plate.
Especially the impact on Timur was not a problem.
This was a big move, and Zhu Ying was worried in his heart whether a new force would be created.
So now at the Capital Military Academy, Zhu Ying is committed to cultivating a large number of mid-level officers, and then continuously transporting them to grassland military bases.
And the training of correctional personnel is also a top priority.
There is also a separate dedicated research staff on grassland faith and worship.
Almost all prairie people are illiterate. For Zhu Ying, except for some inherent customs that are difficult to change, others are just like a blank slate.
The first thing Zhu Ying had to do was to connect the grassland beliefs with the mythological system of the Central Plains, strengthen the connection between the two parties, and even compile a lot of short stories to fully integrate them.
For example, the filial piety dog of Erlang Shen is actually from the prairie Sirius, such as the poignant love story, The Daughter of the Prairie and the God of the Central Plains.
There are also a series of correlations, even if they are a little outrageous, they have to be forced into it.
It may sound a bit outrageous, but Zhu Ying deeply understands that once something is believed, it will be passed down forever, and the common myth system is not only the recognition of the grassland to the Central Plains, but also the recognition of the Central Plains to the grassland.
It's mutual.
The better part is that the grassland beliefs are totems, which are messy and have their own legends, and they are not specific.
At this point, Zhu Ying is still very easy to operate.
The so-called enlightenment, the first step is naturally faith.
As for whether those on the grassland would believe this rhetoric, Zhu Ying was not worried at all in this regard.
The grassland itself does not have much cultural inheritance. It only needs to be continuously spread, and there will always be people who believe it.
Even if it is a lie, if more people tell it, it will gradually become the truth.
I have told them since I was a baby.
If the first generation doesn’t believe it, it’s okay.
The second and third generations will gradually believe in the statement compiled by Zhu Ying. When more people believe it, this common myth system will gradually become more and more popular.
At that time, there would be no distinction between grassland and central plains and nomadic farming.
We all have the same ancestor, and we are all people of the same Ming Dynasty.