Chapter 23 The answer is right, but the answer is wrong
Clan?
Zhu Laosi's heart tightened again when he heard this. In fact, he had already started thinking about this issue before he invaded Yingtian.
That is, how to deal with his clans after he dominates the world.
After all, the feudal vassal always needs to be whittled down.
"Especially you, listen carefully."
Ji Boying glanced at Zhu Laosi who was slightly wandering.
According to historical records, when Emperor Yongle first came to the throne, in order to appease the people of the clan and win the support of the kings, he forcibly changed the ancestral system and gave the clan's children higher-level salaries. For example, the general who was originally only a third-level general was directly promoted to five levels.
From the first rank, the lowest eighth-rank Lieutenant Fengguo was promoted to the sixth rank.
After doing this, the frontier kings were transferred to the interior one by one, and then the military power of the kings was gradually relieved. At the same time, the number of guards of the vassal kings was reduced, which fundamentally changed the balance of military power between the central government and the vassals.
Relying on the great strategic talent of Emperor Yongle, Yongle was very successful in reducing the vassalage. However, the contradiction between the clan and the central government still existed, but it gradually changed from a military threat to the regime to a massive increase in salary and pressure on the central government's finances.
Moreover, Zhu Di made a bad start. To put it bluntly, he just spent money to calm things down.
Since Zhu Di, successive kings have continued to grant rewards to the clan, and in the end there was even a nonsense situation where a province could not provide enough for one prince.
"Yes, Zhu Di would like to listen!"
Zhu Laosi was stunned for a moment, and his heart was beating.
‘Why did the Immortal Master remind me specifically? Is there any intention behind his words?’
Just when Zhu Laosi was confused.
Gu...
My stomach made a sound.
Not only him, this was like a chain reaction. Zhu Biao, Lao Zhu, and Xiao Zhu Si also had their stomachs growling.
Hungry.
This is normal.
Ji Boying glanced at the moon hanging high outside the window, and calculated the time, it should already be eight or nine o'clock in the evening.
In this era where there is basically no other nightlife besides playing games with women, unless you are doing Goulan exercise, you would have been fast asleep by this point.
"One box per person, pick whatever you want."
Ji Boying held a thin cigarette in his mouth and waved his hand. The mahjong cake on the table disappeared, and what appeared instead were five barrels of instant noodles of unknown brands, with different flavors.
Of course, I avoided the one with sauerkraut.
"Brother, what is this?"
Lao Zhu took a jar of braised beef noodles, his eyes showed confusion and eagerness to try.
In Lao Zhu's eyes, everything in Ji Boying's hands is a gift from God.
"Love the fragrance and cherish the jade."
Ji Boying shouted.
In just a moment, sisters Lianxiang and Xiyu quickly entered the house. The two girls put on other dresses at this time. Sister Lianxiang was wearing a white dress, and sister Xiyu was wearing a blue dress with white edges. Both of them had melodious skirts and a refreshing fragrance.
Wearing hairpin flowers, blue silk flowing.
"Master."
The two girls bowed respectfully.
"Go and send for a kettle of water to boil."
"Yes~"
After the second daughter left, the three Zhu Biao brothers also chose their faces.
Zhu Laosi chose spicy beef noodles, Xiao Zhu chose pickled peppers, and Abiao's one was designated by Ji Boying for him, mushroom stewed chicken noodles, which is more nutritious.
As for himself, what he ate was a bucket of spicy food. A real man must have spicy food.
Lao Zhu picked a bucket of hot peppers.
Not long after, Lao Zhu, A Biao and the two Zhu Di imitated Ji Boying's instant noodles operation and soaked all the instant noodles. When the first sound of slurping noodles sounded in the pavilion, these people
Your Majesty, your eyes are all bright.
Everyone who has eaten countless delicacies from mountains and seas will be shocked by this small bucket of noodles.
After all, no matter how good the cooking skills of this era are, they can't compete with the seasoning packages processed by Hex Technology in later generations.
"It's so delicious! Immortals eat food that cannot be found in the world!"
Zhu Biao, as the most educated among them all, couldn't help but sigh after finishing a mouthful of noodle soup.
Ji Boying frowned, took a sip of the mint double pop beads in his hand, and the cool air rushed straight to his forehead. Then he pointed his finger at the table, and a can of red beer appeared in front of everyone. He opened the ring of the can and raised his head.
The first thing I drank was a strong gulp.
Gulu, Gulu, so cool!
Lao Zhu was sweating profusely. The spicy taste of his hot pepper was absolutely sensational. He also imitated Ji Boying, opened the red can in front of him, raised his head and drank it. He took a sip and burped loudly. It was so satisfying.
No need for verbal expression.
Then Ji Boying looked at Zhu Biao.
"Abiao, let me ask you."
"Excuse me, Immortal Master."
Zhu Biao was a little nervous. His father was watching from the side and could not fail to answer. After all, he was different from Xiao Zhu Si. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Biao had been following Zhu Yuanzhang in handling political affairs.
"What are the core drawbacks of the clan feudal system?"
As Ji Boying spoke, he threw a pack of thin cigarettes and a matchbox to Lao Zhu. Lao Zhu skillfully took out a cigarette from the cigarette case and held it in the corner of his mouth, biting into pieces the two explosive beads in the cigarette butt, and ignited it with a swipe.
Xiao Zhu next to him had sharp eyes and secretly stretched out his hand to smooth one out.
"Huh?"
Lao Zhu glanced at Xiao Zhu Si. The boy suddenly became frightened. He lowered his head and did not dare to say anything. He could only watch Lao Zhu put away the entire box of cigarettes.
"The core is people! There are too many people!"
Zhu Biao pondered for a moment and gave his answer.
Many people?
Zhu Laosi, who was sitting on the right, frowned in confusion. Apparently, the quasi-Yongle Emperor of the Jianwen Dynasty had not yet realized the disadvantages brought by the clan title system to the dynasty.
"What Biao'er said is very reasonable. According to what brother said during the day, there will be millions of clan members in the Ming Dynasty in a few hundred years. This is millions of mouths reaching out for food."
Lao Zhu took a deep breath of the thin cigarette in his mouth, looking slightly melancholy.
He wanted his descendants to live a prosperous life, but not at the expense of shaking the foundation of the Ming Dynasty.
‘Millions???’
When he heard this number, Zhu Laosi was startled. Millions of clan members, how could they empty the national treasury?!
He finally understood why the Immortal Master specifically told him to listen carefully just now, because Zhu Laosi had already decided to do one thing, which was to improve the treatment of the feudal lords in order to gain their support.
And if you do this, it will inevitably increase the financial pressure on the court to support the clan.
‘The Immortal Master is really a heavenly being, and he can actually predict the future!’
Zhu Laosi's eyes changed when he looked at Ji Boying, from respect to reverence.
After Lao Zhu recognized A Biao's answer, A Biao's face clearly relaxed and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Correct answer."
"But, I also got the wrong answer."
Ji Boying took the cigarette off his lips, threw it into the instant noodle bucket and annihilated it, looking at Zhu Biao calmly.
At this moment, Abiao's heart, which had just been relaxed, suddenly became tense again.