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Chapter 398: The Rise and Fall of the Dynasty

Zhong Jinwei started thinking about the clan issue in the Ming Dynasty after hearing about it in Kaifeng Mansion.

He had already had a preliminary idea while on the road, but he didn't know if it would be inappropriate to propose it in the Ming Dynasty's environment. After all, his solution was something they had never seen before.

This Prince of Tang had indeed violated a taboo. But it was just an introduction so that he could express his thoughts to the Emperor.

As for this King of Tang, he was not familiar with it, so Zhong Jinwei did not want to discuss him alone. If Emperor Chongzhen listened to his advice, he would naturally deal with the King of Tang.

If someone told Zhong Jinwei that this Tang king was Emperor Longwu in later history, he would definitely have heard of it.

In the history of the Southern Ming Dynasty, only Emperor Longwu's deeds were of some significance. He lived a tidy life and did not have any favored concubines in the palace, only the Queen Zeng. He used the anti-war faction to collect the remaining peasant army of Li Zicheng, and once regained Jingde, Anhui.

Ning Guo and others lost ground, but were finally tricked by Zheng Zhilong. This was also the reason why he did not have a direct army of his own.

But in this dimension, due to the butterfly effect, Tang King Zhu Yujian took over the vassal state in advance and sent troops to serve the king in advance, which is why Zhong Jinwei saw what he saw as soon as he returned to the capital.

"Your Majesty, I saw and heard some things with my own eyes on the road. Regarding this, I would like to ask you to speak solo." Zhong Jinwei stood up from his stool and bowed to ask for instructions.

When the ministers in the cabinet heard this, they realized that there was something wrong with some clan. If you were to act alone, wouldn't it be a big deal?

Although these people are a bit gossipy, they have been in the officialdom for many years and are in their 70s and 80s. They understand the truth that it is better to know what you should know and not know what you should not know.

Therefore, no one among the cabinet ministers stood up and asked Zhong Jinwei why he did not confront them.

Emperor Chongzhen didn't think much about it. Since Master Zhong made this request, he naturally had his reasons.

So, he said to Wen Tiren, the chief minister of the cabinet: "I haven't seen Master Zhong for a long time, so I just want to take the opportunity to talk. Wen Qing, you go back first to discuss the reward for the dismounted commander."

Wen Tiren stood up and bowed to Emperor Chongzhen: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhong Jinwei watched the cabinet ministers exit the Wenhua Palace one by one under the leadership of Wen Tiren. Seeing that there were still maids in the palace, he said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, some matters may involve my hometown."

Emperor Chongzhen understood this and asked all the maids to withdraw, leaving only Wang Chengen to serve him.

He was a little curious, wondering what Master Zhong would say related to the clan when he acted like this.

When Zhong Jinwei saw that there were only three of them in the palace, he did not let Emperor Chongzhen wait for long, and immediately said: "Your Majesty, I saw the beggar-like clan in the Great Asphalt Castle in northern Shaanxi, and learned about the Ming Dynasty clan in Kaifeng Mansion.

The specific situation. Therefore, I thought of something and told it to Your Majesty."

"Master Zhong, please speak." Emperor Chongzhen nodded and listened carefully to Zhong Jinwei's words.

Naturally, he also knew the current situation of the Ming Dynasty clan, but he didn't know what Master Zhong wanted to say.

"Your Majesty, it is said that the general trend of the world is that if we divide for a long time, we will unite, and if we unite for a long time, we will divide. This dynasty is one of the longest dynasties among all the dynasties?" Zhong Jinwei said, looking at Emperor Chongzhen.

Emperor Chongzhen was startled when he heard this. Why did Master Zhong talk to him about this?

"Master Zhong, what do you mean by this?" Emperor Chongzhen remembered that when he first met Zhong Jinwei, he told him that the Ming Dynasty was about to perish.

Could it be that no matter how hard I try, or how much you, Master Zhong, help me, I can't escape the fate of this dynasty?

When Emperor Chongzhen thought of this, his face showed a heavy look.

"Your Majesty, I would like to discuss with you the reasons for the rise and fall of this dynasty, so that Ming Dynasty can avoid or slow down this cycle of cause and effect. I have some superficial insights that I would like to share with your majesty."

Zhong Jinwei naturally saw the change in Emperor Chongzhen's expression, but he was not worried because although the matter was sensitive, what he said was beneficial to the Zhu Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Chengen lowered his head and glanced at Zhong Jinwei, thinking that only Marquis Zhongxing could speak unscrupulously in front of the emperor.

"Oh, please tell me, Master Zhong."

"Your Majesty, at the end of every dynasty, most people are in a situation where people are in dire straits. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty once said that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. If most of the people have no fixed place to live and no food to eat, then turmoil will occur.

Then some people take the opportunity to cause rebellion, or foreign tribes invade, and the imperial court will be unable to fight back, and a change of dynasty is the inevitable outcome."

Although Zhong Jinwei's words are not comprehensive, what he describes is also a phenomenon of the last dynasty.

Emperor Chongzhen frowned and nodded, feeling a little uncomfortable. These words seemed to be talking about the current Ming Dynasty, because the drought in the northwest and Central Plains, and the Jianlu in Liaodong were more in line with these two points.

"So why did such a situation occur at the end of the dynasty, or why did previous dynasties experience such a situation after a period of time?"

Zhong Jinwei's voice was not loud, and he asked questions that every thoughtful emperor would think about.

Emperor Chongzhen heard Master Zhong's unique question-and-answer discussion again. He knew that Master Zhong might have an answer or a solution in his heart, so he felt happy and asked in cooperation: "Why?"

"In the final analysis, it is the issue of land annexation and the distribution of social wealth. If a dynasty solves this problem well, then its continuation will be longer, but if it does not take this seriously, it is likely to become a short-lived dynasty.

Dynasty. As far as this dynasty is concerned, it has now reached a very critical period."

When Zhong Jinwei said this, his expression was also serious, because this itself is a serious topic.

Emperor Chongzhen did not speak, but the expression on his face told Zhong Jinwei that he was very concerned about this.

"I started from the capital, went west to Yulin in northern Shaanxi, and then circled from Henan to Hebei. I found that the current land annexation in the Ming Dynasty was very serious. Basically, it was concentrated in the hands of bureaucrats, squires and clans. As far as Kaifeng is concerned, there is a local saying

It is said that half of the land in Zhongzhou is included in the feudal government, which shows that it is ordinary. Ordinary people do not have much land, but they bear heavy taxes. This problem must be solved. "

"Master Zhong, how should we solve this problem?" Emperor Chongzhen stretched his neck a little, stared at Zhong Jinwei, and asked eagerly.

Emperor Chongzhen also vaguely knew what Zhong Jinwei said before, but he had no solution. So when Zhong Jinwei said this, he quickly asked because he knew that Master Zhong had a solution.

"Your Majesty, the court still needs bureaucrats and gentry to manage the Ming Dynasty. Your Majesty cannot do without them now. Therefore, it is not feasible to solve the land annexation problem in their hands."

"Which..." Emperor Chongzhen was confused. After saying so much, he said it was not feasible for the time being. What did this mean?

"Your Majesty, the land in the hands of the vassal princes and the numerous official villages and shops do not pay taxes, and the court also pays them a huge amount of annual salary every year. These are a huge burden on the Ming Dynasty, and they also affect the dynasty.

The rise and fall of a clan is a problem. Regarding this problem, I have a solution for your Majesty's reference."

When Zhong Jinwei said this, he glanced at Wang Chengen and said: "I suggest that your Majesty, you might as well consider my suggestion."

Emperor Chongzhen knew that he could not drink hot tofu in a hurry. Now that Master Zhong could solve one problem after another, he quickly asked: "Master Zhong, please tell me, what is your suggestion?"


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