Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Chapter 613 I have a solution, it depends on whether you use it or not (Please subscribe!!)

After all, the meat is rotten in his own pot, and Zhu Yuanzhang can accept it!
But that will take a hundred years!

What's the point of making a fuss now?
The son rebelled against his father? This is really outrageous!

If this were the case, it would be easy for Zhu Yuanzhang to deal with it by arresting his sons and giving them a severe lesson. But the key point was that he was the one who personally agreed to the new feudal system. It would be unreasonable for him to deny it now.

This gave Zhu Yuanzhang a headache.

After much thought, I think what Ouyang Lun said makes more sense. It's just a province's territory. I should give it away first and appease these nine sons. As for what to do after that?
Zhu Yuanzhang naturally looked at Ouyang Lun.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang’s meaning was very clear. Since you were the one who caused this matter, you must be responsible for settling it for us.

Now, we have agreed to what you, Ouyang Lun, said. If you don't solve this matter for us, then it's time for us to pick a fight with you.

When Ouyang Lun noticed Zhu Yuanzhang's look, he immediately felt overwhelmed.

As expected, according to Zhu Yuanzhang's bandit logic, he couldn't escape!

"Please ask my brother-in-law for help!"

Zhu Biao also knew that this matter was not simple, and he also knew that his father, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, was embarrassed to ask Ouyang Lun for help, so he quickly added a sentence.

"Ugh--"

"You and your son are really squeezing us to death!"

"You guys really want this and that, you're really selfish!"

At this time, Ouyang Lun was too lazy to give a good face to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, father and son.

Now they are the father and son asking me for help, do I have to help them with a flattering look on my face?
I am not that shameless.

kindness! ?

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes almost popped out when he heard Ouyang Lun's blunt words.

Although I have abdicated, I am still the emperor emeritus and in control of the entire Ming Dynasty. How dare you talk to me like this!

Sometimes, Zhu Yuanzhang really wanted to hack Ouyang Lun to death with a sword, but then again, it was indeed they, father and son, who needed help from Ouyang Lun, and they were currently in the wrong.

"Bastard!"

"You, Ouyang Lun, were responsible for this matter from the beginning. Now that something has gone wrong, we have shown mercy by not causing you any trouble. But you are now looking for faults with me!"

"I'm going to say this today. Either you find a proper solution for us and the emperor, or if something goes wrong or the matter gets out of hand, I'll take the blame on you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice.

Apologize, ask for help?

It doesn't exist at all. We are the emperor!

Ah!
Ouyang Lun rolled his eyes and said, "Aren't there enough things that you, Old Zhu, want me to take the blame for?"

I have lived for most of my life. I was shameless when I was begging for food, but now I have to be ashamed.

To be honest, Ouyang Lun was not afraid to say this, he was just afraid that saying this would directly send Zhu Yuanzhang away.

"Don't be impatient, Your Majesty!"

"Since the Emperor and the Retired Emperor are willing to follow the new feudal system, this matter will not be difficult to resolve!"

Ouyang Lun said lightly.

"It's not difficult to solve!?" Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment. He felt that Ouyang Lunshi was bragging.

"This time, the nine vassal kings sent troops to occupy the territory. It is indeed simple to give it to them. The biggest problem is the management problem afterwards. This is the territory occupied by the vassal kings after the first expansion of the territory. So, does this territory belong to the Ming Dynasty?"

Ouyang Lun said slowly.

"Of course it's the territory of my Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said with great determination.

"Yeah, I think so too." Ouyang Lun nodded, "It seems that we still have a lot of things in common! In this case, I have a solution!"

Upon hearing that Ouyang Lun had a solution, Zhu Yuanzhang and his son Zhu Biao immediately looked at Ouyang Lun eagerly.

At this moment, they all wanted to know what Ouyang Lun’s solution was!
Then Ouyang Lun said, "My method is very simple. First of all, the laws of the Ming Dynasty should clearly stipulate that no matter whether it is allocated to them by the imperial court or they occupy and develop it themselves, it is the territory of the Ming Dynasty. Of course, under the framework of the entire Ming Dynasty, those fiefs belong to the management of the vassal kings!"

"This does need to be clarified." Zhu Yuanzhang naturally understood what Ouyang Lun meant. It was equivalent to defining the legal nature of the matter. The territory of the Ming Dynasty was unified, and the princes only had the right to manage the fiefdoms, not the ownership!

"What else?" Zhu Yuanzhang continued to ask.

"Also, there is a high possibility that the princes of the Ming Dynasty will expand outward in the future. The territories they expand on their own will also belong to the Ming Dynasty! They can never be divided! Of course, there is one exception." Ouyang Lun said slowly.

"Which point?!" Zhu Yuanzhang asked hurriedly.

"If this prince's power far exceeds that of the Ming Dynasty and he is a descendant of the Zhu family, then he can rule the Central Plains and become the new emperor." Ouyang Lun said.

"Nonsense! When you say this, aren't you condoning and instigating the princes to rebel?" Zhu Yuanzhang said unhappily, subconsciously opposing this.

Ouyang Lun smiled faintly, "It's as if you don't allow it, there will really be no rebellion by the princes. Besides, didn't you set the rules yourself? If the emperor is incompetent and stupid, all the bloodlines of the Zhu family can be conquered and replaced! Why are you changing your mind now?"

"Can it be the same? What if the vassal kings continue to expand and become stronger than the imperial court?" Zhu Yuanzhang worriedly said.

Zhu Yuanzhang did establish a family precept, which meant that if the future emperor of the Ming Dynasty did nothing, only knew how to enjoy himself and harm the people, making the people of the Ming Dynasty live in misery, then let other descendants of the Zhu family overthrow this emperor.

The main reason for establishing such a rule was to warn emperors of all generations to be cautious. It was equivalent to telling these emperors in disguise that as long as they did not become incompetent rulers, no one would overthrow them!

This means that the initiative is in the hands of the emperor. Of course, if the emperor is really a tyrant, in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, such an emperor is no longer needed in the Zhu family and he should be deposed!
But Ouyang Lun’s point was different. He told the princes that as long as their strength was stronger than that of the orthodox Ming Dynasty, they would have the opportunity to become emperor. This gave the princes an excuse, and the initiative lay with the princes, not the emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang naturally didn't want to!
Hearing what Zhu Yuanzhang said, Ouyang Lun shook his head and said, "My father-in-law, the emperor, do you have no confidence in the emperor's brother-in-law or the future emperors of the Ming Dynasty? According to the new vassal king management system, the Ming emperor is the owner of the land. Under such circumstances, as long as the emperor is not incompetent, how could the vassal king's power exceed the orthodox court?"

"If that day really came, you can imagine how weak the Ming emperor would be at that time. What's wrong with replacing the emperor with a better descendant of the Zhu family?"

"Maybe he is a leader of a prosperous revival! You won't lose out anyway!"

"The larger the fiefdoms develop, the more dividends you get, and the richer the imperial court will be. How great is that!" After listening to Ouyang Lun's explanation, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao fell into deep thought, and their expressions became more and more relaxed, no longer with the bitter and resentful look they had at the beginning.

If we do as Ouyang Lun said, it seems that adding new fiefs to the nine princes is not a big deal. It is the same as letting a capable official be in charge of more areas.

The lands conquered by the princes belong to the Ming Dynasty, and the princes only have the right to manage them!

This point must be made clear. The Ming Dynasty was still a whole, and all the actions of the vassal kings were carried out within the framework of the entire Ming Dynasty.

"Your method is fine, but if the power of the vassal king really surpasses the orthodoxy of the Ming Dynasty, does that mean the Ming emperor at that time will abdicate?"

This question was raised by Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao was naturally not too worried about this matter. He had the confidence that as long as he was still in power, there would never be a vassal king whose power would surpass that of the orthodox imperial court. But if he could do it, then could his son, grandson, and the emperors of his lineage, Zhu Biao, really do it?
Obviously there is a big question mark here.

Zhu Biao had no objection to this strategy, but he just wanted to find a way for his descendants to see if such a thing could be avoided.

"Ouyang Lun, we know you have thought of many of your problems and have solutions. Please tell us now!"

Zhu Yuanzhang urged.

He now feels that Ouyang Lun is like a sponge. If you squeeze it, some water will come out. If you don't squeeze it, it will absorb water back into you.

Zhu Yuanzhang was always a little worried about the method proposed by Ouyang Lun, mainly because he was worried that he would be cheated by Ouyang Lun.

"Your Majesty, the question Your Majesty just raised is not a big deal in my opinion!"

"I have said before that we live on a huge sphere. Although this sphere is very large and the territory is vast, the territory occupied by our Ming Dynasty is among the top in the world!"

"Next, our Ming Dynasty will go abroad by sea and land. In front of other countries, our Ming Dynasty is a behemoth, a giant!"

"Even if the vassal kings can continue to expand their territory, it is difficult for them to develop more vastly than the Ming Dynasty. If the vassal kings become stronger, the Ming Dynasty will also become stronger, and the speed of strengthening will be faster than that of the vassal kings!"

"If it is inconvenient for the main body of the Ming Dynasty to do it, we can let the vassal kings do it!"

"What is there to worry about?"

"To be an emperor, you must have the confidence and ability. If you don't have it, then you shouldn't be an emperor at all."

Ouyang Lun's words silenced Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao.

For Zhu Yuanzhang, he should indeed give his sons and grandsons more opportunities for development. For Zhu Biao, he should have more confidence in his children and grandchildren. Even if problems really arise, it doesn't matter. After all, the throne still belongs to the Zhu family.

Zhu Biao had already made the decision: to let a capable descendant of the Zhu family inherit the throne, or to let a foolish and incompetent direct descendant become emperor.

"Father, I think Brother-in-law Ouyang is right. If the emperor after me is incompetent, I would rather not let him be the emperor!"

"The most important thing is that our Ming Dynasty finally has a wise ruler!"

Zhu Biao bowed and said seriously.

"Since you, the emperor, have no objection, we have no objection either."

"But Ouyang Lun, the emperor and I have agreed to this request, but can our sons agree to it? We only give them the management rights of the fiefdoms, not the ownership rights, and make them the equivalent of officials. This is somewhat different from the fiefdoms of kings in previous dynasties!"

"We know our sons well. They probably won't agree to this easily. Even if they agree, they'll probably be very angry!"

Zhu Yuanzhang is no longer averse to Ouyang Lun's advice, but now he is more worried about his sons!
If the three of them had discussed it and the princes disagreed, it would have caused even greater trouble!
"Father is right. My brothers are not easy to deal with. They are also local lords now. If they really start to make trouble, the harm will be greater than the invasion of the Northern Yuan Dynasty!"

Zhu Biao was also quite worried.

Ouyang Lun smiled and shook his head, "Father-in-law of the Emperor, Brother-in-law of the Emperor, you are totally overthinking this matter."

"What are the normal needs of the princes? Of course, to show their talents and ambitions! To prove to the world that they are not princes who just eat and wait for death!"

"In this case, the imperial court not only agreed to give them the management rights of the fiefdom, but also agreed that they could expand confidently and open up new territories. With such good conditions, the ownership of the fiefdom is not that important. After all, even if the ownership of the fiefdom is recognized as theirs, what substantial benefits can they get? It sounds good when it is said out loud?"

"The princes are also human beings, they also care about their own interests."

"Besides, the larger the territory, the more difficult it is to manage, and the greater the dependence on the Ming Dynasty court!"

"As long as your Majesty agrees with my plan, you should have summoned the nine princes back to the capital. I will then tell them about this."

After hearing Ouyang Lun's previous words, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao had actually already planned to follow Ouyang Lun's method. After hearing Ouyang Lun's last sentence, they immediately made up their minds.

What can be done by letting Ouyang Lun do it personally?

"Okay, I'll do as you say!"

"As long as this country belongs to my Zhu family, then we will have no problem!" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

"So do I!"

Zhu Biao nodded.

"If Your Majesty has nothing else to say, I will take my leave!"

Ouyang Lun spoke quickly.

"It's gone!" Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head.

"Goodbye, brother-in-law!" Zhu Biao said with a smile.

"I'll take my leave!" Ouyang Lun said, and left quickly.

After Ouyang Lun left, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to think of something, "Hey, where is Ouyang Lun?"

"Father, my brother-in-law Ouyang has just left." Zhu Biao said hurriedly.

"Leaving now? This guy runs really fast! I just wanted to ask him if he moved the wine cellar recently. I went to the clan residence these days and wanted to get a few jars of wine, but I couldn't find any!! I'm so greedy!"

Zhu Yuanzhang muttered, "The same goes for the kitchen. They haven't been cooking anything lately. We haven't had any good food for a long time. Could it be that Ouyang Lun discovered something?"

"Uh" Zhu Biao's face was full of black lines.

(End of this chapter)