The clan issue has always been a headache for all dynasties. Especially issues related to the clan's money, power and influence, if not handled well, will be a huge trouble.
Take this dynasty as an example. Chengzu was the vassal king who rose up and conquered the world. This was caused by Emperor Jianwen's failure to handle the clan issue well.
Based on his own example, Chengzu imposed many restrictions on the clan. Although it was a bit cold-blooded, it also prevented the vassal king from having the opportunity to rebel, which can be said to be of great benefit to the court.
But as a father, whether he is an ordinary citizen or an emperor, he hopes that his son, grandson, etc. can enjoy glory and wealth.
But if you do this, it's okay for one or two generations, but after more, no one can afford it. Even the emperor who owns the world cannot afford to support so many people.
Therefore, a succession system based on the throne emerged. Only one prince and heir apparent would be hereditary, and the rest would be demoted one level and deferred successively. If there were no sons, the vassal state would be abolished.
This system was considered the best in feudal society.
But just like that, as time went by, especially the vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty, who had no other rights, kept creating people, resulting in more and more clans. The amount of salary given by the court to the clan became larger and larger, and in the end it was difficult to
To continue.
No one had a way to solve this problem, so the court became shameless and began to cheat and use various methods to default on the debt. However, this approach was really not on the table and made it difficult for the court to talk about it.
This clan problem troubled every ruler, especially the rulers in the late dynasty, who suffered deeply from it. These rulers, of course, included Emperor Chongzhen.
Zhong Jinwei saw that Emperor Chongzhen was very concerned about this issue and knew that he had also considered it, so he acted like this.
So, he smiled and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, the simplest and most crude way is to cancel the hereditary inheritance of vassal kings and greatly reduce their treatment. In this way, these problems will be solved."
He did not say his final solution immediately, just to let Emperor Chongzhen know that there was no other way to go, so the suggestions he provided were the inevitable choice.
As soon as Emperor Chongzhen saw Master Zhong's smile, he knew that this was not the solution he was talking about, he was just testing himself.
"Master Zhong, there is no need to say this. If he could do this, the emperors before me would have done it." Emperor Chongzhen was infected by Zhong Jinwei's smile. He relaxed a little and waved his hand to Zhong Jinwei.
"Your Majesty, if you don't do this, there will always be no solution for the feudal princes and clans to stay in the Ming Dynasty. At most, it can only be alleviated, but it cannot be fundamentally solved."
Zhong Jinwei knew that Emperor Chongzhen would say this, so he immediately said it as soon as he finished speaking.
"Master Zhong, if you have any suggestions, please tell me immediately. I know you have ideas." Emperor Chongzhen got to know Zhong Jinwei better and better and said to him directly.
When he heard Zhong Jinwei's words, he understood that Zhong Jinwei had a way to fundamentally solve the clan problem.
After hearing what Emperor Chongzhen said, Zhong Jinwei laughed and said, "Your Majesty, do you still remember the world map I brought from my hometown?"
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he said doubtfully: "Master Zhong, what do you mean..."
"Your Majesty, don't worry. Is there a map? Let's talk about it." Zhong Jinwei chuckled, and then gave suggestions to Emperor Chongzhen.
There was one on Emperor Chongzhen's imperial desk, and he took it out immediately. Wang Chengen quickly stepped forward, took the map, hung it on a screen, and then pushed it in front of Zhong Jinwei.
Emperor Chongzhen also walked closer, ready to listen to Zhong Jinwei's explanation. He vaguely knew what Zhong Jinwei's suggestion was. He was very surprised and waited for Zhong Jinwei to confirm his guess.
Zhong Jinwei looked at the imitation world map in front of him, pointed at North America with his hand and said: "Your Majesty, look here. I have told you about the situation here before."
Emperor Chongzhen certainly remembered that Zhong Jinwei told him about the situation in North America. He couldn't help but ask: "Master Zhong, do you mean to exile all the clan members to North America?"
When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he was speechless. How could Emperor Chongzhen understand it as being exiled?
But he couldn't blame Emperor Chongzhen. In ancient times, transportation was inconvenient, and exile to far away places was a method of punishing criminals.
Wang Chengen, like Emperor Chongzhen, looked at Zhong Jinwei in surprise. He wondered if the Marquis of Zhongxing was crazy. If the news spread, saying that the imperial court wanted to exile the clan to a place thousands of times farther than Hainan, they would still have to cross the ocean.
In the far reaches of the sea, I'm afraid they will rebel immediately, and at any rate they will die on the land of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhong Jinwei didn't see the weird look Wang Chengen looked at him. He looked at Emperor Chongzhen and said, "Your Majesty, it's not exile. According to current theory, it's feudalism. Yes, feudalism is just overseas."
Emperor Chongzhen frowned, wondering why Master Zhong's idea this time was so unreliable.
When he was about to talk about Zhong Jinwei, Zhong Jinwei had already spoken first: "Your Majesty, feudal overseas, specifically, feudal North America, has many benefits. Of course, feudal Oceania is not impossible, but there is no strong navy yet. For the time being,
Unrealistic."
As Zhong Jinwei spoke, he pointed at North America and Oceania respectively.
Emperor Chongzhen followed Zhong Jinwei's finger and looked at North America and Oceania on the world map. He thought about Zhong Jinwei's words that there were many benefits, and he couldn't help but feel a little confused.
Not to mention that this is not far away, but it is still in the wilderness. Can Master Zhong still find any benefits from it?
"Master Zhong, you said there are many benefits?" Emperor Chongzhen asked doubtfully with his brows furrowed and his nose slightly flared.
"Yes, there are many benefits. I will tell you in detail to Your Majesty." Zhong Jinwei nodded and replied.
"Master Zhong, please speak."
"Your Majesty, for the imperial court, there are two benefits. One is that it solves the clan problem in the country. Not only does it no longer have to bear the moral injustice to the same clan and clan, but it can also recover a lot of fertile land and shops that did not have to pay taxes.
There is no need to provide huge sums of money to the royal family from the small annual taxes. Your Majesty, think about it, just by entering and exiting like this, how much more revenue can the imperial government bring in than before, and how much expenditure can be saved?"
Emperor Chongzhen was thinking about the benefit mentioned by Zhong Jinwei in his mind. If this could really be realized, he would laugh out loud in his dreams.
Zhong Jinwei stretched out the index finger of his right hand, then extended his middle finger and said: "Secondly, enfeoffing the clan overseas, that is, North America, is equivalent to expanding the territory for Your Majesty. In the future, the territory of the Ming Dynasty will be more than doubled.
At that time, the dragon flag of the Ming Dynasty will be planted all over the world and it will become the only empire on which the sun never sets, and it will not be a problem."
The Empire on which the Sun Never Sets was also a goal that Emperor Chongzhen secretly envied and longed to achieve after listening to Zhong Jinwei's introduction. If he could achieve his goal so simply, his great achievements would surpass those of King Qin, Hanwu, Tang Zong and Song Zu.
Taizu of this dynasty became the greatest emperor.
Emperor Chongzhen thought beautifully for a while, and then immediately showed a disappointed expression and said: "Master Zhong, this is just talk on paper, not realistic! Can the clan agree? Do they have the ability?"