Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 497
The suzerainty regulations were discussed in the cabinet, and some details were added, such as the division of family property and inheritance.

Since he is reluctant to part with money, he is much more generous in some favors that don't cost benefits.

For example, the sons of county kings and princes were allowed to study in the Imperial College, and other middle- and lower-level clans such as generals and clans would also allow their sons to study in Zongxue for free.

In addition, the privileges of exempting from corvee and not worshiping officials were extended again.

However, there are gains and losses. Judicially, for the clan below the county king, the imperial court transferred the judicial power to the local yamen.

That is to say, local officials can try these low-level clans, as long as it is not the death penalty, they can impose it, and then submit it to the clan government for report.

Politically, they were allowed to engage in scholars, agriculture, industry and commerce, just like the regulations promulgated during the Wanli period, but they still retained their clan status.

Economically, if the clans do business, farming, etc., they will pay taxes like ordinary people and will no longer be exempted.

Obviously, for the court, only county kings and princes are the real clan, and the rest of the middle and lower classes are just ordinary people with clan titles.

For the emperor, if there is really an extinct heir in the future, then it is enough to choose an heir from a vote of princes and county kings.

As for those who want to rejuvenate, or survive like Liu Bei, the wealthy princes must not be, only those low-level clans who have been tempered.

Prince Street.

It is densely packed here, and since Nanjing was recovered, a large number of vassal kings have lived here.

Except for the princes who had a decent mansion at the beginning, the rest of the princes could only live in small courtyards.

Three or five servants serve, three dishes and one soup for each meal, and the greatest joy of life every day is just gathering together and chatting.

For the princes headed by King Rui, today is extremely difficult.

As early as a few days ago, rumors spread from the imperial court that the suzerainty regulations would be amended; and the emperor also hinted a few words in advance, which caused great shock in Fanwang Street.

"Rui Fan, are you out?"

Several princes gathered together. King Rui, King Chu, King Lu, King Tang, King Qin, King Jing, King Xiang, King Yi, King Ji, King Hui, King Gui, King Rong, and King Min looked at each other in dismay.

more than Zhu Huabi, the 70-year-old old king of Chu, dozed off, woke up suddenly, and asked.

"Not yet!" King Rui sighed, and said, "Although the wind has already blown, if it doesn't fall, I don't have the confidence in my heart."

"I am also from the clan today, so I don't want to be too stingy with us, don't worry."

To say that the most worry-free of these people is Zhu Cunji, King of Qin. Although he is young, his seat is only next to King Chu and King Rui, and his status is extraordinary.

The rest of the kings smiled wryly and shook their heads when they saw it.

The current emperor was born as King Heyang of the Qin Fan, and later came out of the Yu Fan lineage alone, but if the bones are broken and the tendons are connected, he will not treat the King of Qin badly.

But they are different!

King Lu, King Yi, and King Tang were even more terrified. They had been supported before.

King Rui, as the official of the clan's family, feels like an ant scratching his heart at this moment, walking with anxiety and eagerness.

This is not only about his title, but also about the future of future generations, who can hold back?

At noon, the news about the suzerain finally came.

However, there are exceptions after all.

"Princes are bestowed by the emperors of past dynasties, and it is inevitable. Therefore, after the prince's title is passed on to the Fengguo Lieutenant, it can be hereditary and remains unchanged, and it is enshrined in his family temple..."

The royal titles of the Ming Dynasty are all super-grade, prince, county king, general of Zhenguo, general of Fuguo, general of Fengguo, lieutenant of Zhenguo, lieutenant of Fuguo, lieutenant of Fengguo, a total of eight ranks.

As a gift, the emperor allowed the heirs of these princes, Jiang, etc., to inherit, and when they reached the bottom of the Fengguo Lieutenant, they would no longer be Jiang, and they could receive two hundred shi of grain every year to live without starving to death.

The rest of the county kings were not so happy. The eldest son could continue to descend from the general of the town, and the rest of the sons could only become common people.

After Jiang reached Fengguo Lieutenant, he became a real civilian.

This is no different from Liu Xiu's method of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, but the emperor still kept some face and preserved their princes, instead of learning Liu Xiu's uniform as a marquis.

"impossible--"

Zhu Cun, the King of Qin, was stunned, grasping him like crazy, shaking: "What about me? I'm the King of Qin, how can I be like them?"

The little eunuch who came to report the news was not annoyed, and it took a while to react: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has said something. Except for those who are listed as princes, the rest of the county kings and other clans will all act in accordance with the "Regulations of Suzerain and Vassals."

At this moment, King Qin couldn't hold back at all, and he sat on the ground directly, his eyes glazed over, and his spirit was lax.

The Duke of Qin, which has been passed down from the great grandfather, will completely dissipate within two or three generations. How can he accept this?
The old king of Chu cheered up, and after listening to the narration, he sighed slowly: "The children and grandchildren have their own blessings, just take care of yourself."

"Besides, imperial examinations, military service, and business are all feasible. They are much better than the previous confinement, and they still don't lose their status and title. What else is there to be dissatisfied with?"

This is true, but people always have a lot of desires, and the rules of hundreds of years are gone, who can accept this?
"By the way, when can we go back to our hometown?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the rules, you will live in the capital in the future, and the palace will be repaired again, and you will not live here."

Seeing the faces of these princes changed drastically, the eunuch seemed to be watching the excitement, and said with a smile:

"However, Your Majesty is benevolent. Considering the frailty of the great kings, the prince gave a thousand hectares of land and the county king gave two hundred hectares of land to support their families..."

As soon as these words fell, the courtyard immediately fell into silence.

For a prince like them, which one doesn't have tens of thousands of hectares of private land in the local area?

For them, these two thousand hectares of land can only be said to be comfort.

The resplendent palace, the private fields that have been acquired for hundreds of years, and the wealth accumulated over the years are all gone.

Gone……

Qin Wang Zhu Cunji shouted in shock: "Can't you go back?"

What about the few 100,000 taels of silver I buried outside Xi'an?
"The Minister of the Household Department, Jiang Yueguang, has built a palace for the great kings in Beijing. Of course, the scale is not as good as the original palace. After all, the country was restored soon, and gold and silver are scarce, so we can only save a little..."

This time, the kings were even more uncomfortable.

The expected palace has also shrunk.

"I want to enter the palace and ask to see His Majesty—"

Zhu Cunji felt that he was dreaming, and the reality was too disappointing.

"Sorry, Your Highness King Qin, Your Majesty doesn't want to see anyone right now."

The eunuch shook his head and said, "It's done. Even if His Majesty repents, the cabinet and the ministers of the six ministries will not change it again."

"Besides, His Royal Highness Qin Wang, don't think that just because of the status of Qin Wang, you can mess around—"

The meaning of a warning was obvious, which made Zhu Cunji's face turn pale immediately and his legs go weak.

The rest of the kings were also full of fear.

(End of this chapter)