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

The white beard of Right Censor-in-Chief Yuan Tai trembled slightly.

This old official, who was known for his uprightness, was secretly shocked: "I have been impeaching this and that all day long, but I have never thought of making such a far-reaching plan for the country."

"Although Prince Consort Ouyang seems to be idle, he actually has such strategies in his mind." He suddenly remembered the gift list in the secret compartment of his study, and his face felt hot, as if he was slapped in public.

The Minister of Revenue, who was standing in the corner of the hall, pinched himself secretly.

He looked at Ouyang Lun's calm figure, feeling mixed emotions in his heart: "I work on my abacus until three o'clock every day, thinking I am good at calculations. But the account of the prince consort is about the fate of the Ming Dynasty for a hundred years!"

He suddenly felt that the abacus in his hand was as light as a feather.

Several generals who were on good terms with Prince Yan's Palace exchanged glances.

One of them touched the secret letter in his arms and thought to himself, "His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan is a man of great talent and vision, much more far-sighted than the prince consort." He did not dare to think further, but quietly stuffed the secret letter deep into his lapel.

Among the civil servants, the Minister of Rites Lu Chang, who was over 60 years old, suddenly burst into tears.

He and Ouyang Lun are old acquaintances.

In the past, he just thought that Ouyang Lun was smart enough and could always come up with many things that others could not think of. But now, after hearing what Ouyang Lun said, he suddenly felt that his understanding of Ouyang Lun was probably less than one thousandth, or even one ten-thousandth.

He recalled what he had seen and heard during the war at the end of the Yuan Dynasty when he was young, and muttered to himself: "If I had planned this earlier, why would it have happened?"

He choked up before he could finish his words. His colleagues beside him also had tears in their eyes.

Even the eunuchs standing at the foot of the imperial steps were stunned.

The whisk in the hand of eunuch Wang Zhong slipped to the ground unconsciously, but he was unaware of it. He just stared at Ouyang Lun's profile, with a thought in his mind: "This is a true national hero!"

The sun was shining brightly outside the palace, shining on Ouyang Lun's scarlet robe and jade belt, casting a faint halo.

The officials of the Prince Consort's Party already regarded Ouyang Lun as an idol, and at this moment they admired him even more.

For a moment, the ministers looked at the light and seemed to see the glorious future of the Ming Dynasty.

I don't know who knelt first, but then all the civil and military officials in the court knelt down in unison. They did not kneel down because of the emperor's majesty, but out of respect from the bottom of their hearts.

Zhu Yuanzhang saw it all.

The old emperor narrowed his eyes and looked back and forth between Ouyang Lun and Zhu Biao.

His skinny fingers tapped lightly on the armrests of the dragon chair, the rhythm slow and deep, as if he was weighing some important decision.

Zhu Biao did not notice his father's gaze.

The young emperor was filled with emotion at this moment. He looked at the ministers kneeling in the hall, and then looked at Ouyang Lun who was standing proudly. Suddenly, an unprecedented sense of pride surged in his heart: "With such a pillar of the country, why worry about the Ming Dynasty not prospering!"

As soon as the morning meeting ended.

A number of cabinet ministers, six ministers and other important court officials, including Ouyang Lun, were privately summoned to the Fengtian Hall by Emperor Zhu Biao.

Emperor Zhu Biao was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and sitting firmly on the dragon throne. The dragon patterns embroidered with gold thread shone with a majestic luster under the candlelight.

Zhu Biao glanced around and finally landed on Ouyang Lun. A smile appeared on the corner of his mouth and he said in a friendly tone: "Brother-in-law, since the emperor is not here, we can talk more freely! Brother-in-law, please tell everyone what we should do next to realize the national strategy you mentioned!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers who were originally whispering to each other suddenly became quiet, and their eyes were focused on Ouyang Lun like searchlights.

There was curiosity, expectation, and almost blind trust in that look.

Even if there were one or two questioning glances, they were quickly covered up by other gazes.

Ouyang Lun stood in the hall, feeling uncomfortable all over.

He secretly groaned in his heart, but tried his best to remain calm on the surface.

Then he lightly touched the roof of his mouth with the tip of his tongue. He sighed silently and complained to himself: It seems like you guys don't want to use your brains at all and just eat the ready-made food.

Sometimes, the truth will just roll its eyes at you guys and then turn away.

However, looking at the sincere eyes of Emperor Zhu Biao, Ouyang Lun was not ruthless after all. Besides, it was he who proposed the five words "national grand strategy", and in order to realize it in the end it would require the concerted efforts of the emperor and all civil and military officials.

Forget it, just give these people a bite right now!

Immediately, he took a deep breath and looked up with a clear and firm gaze.

Zhu Biao's earnest words were still echoing in his ears. The fiery gazes of the ministers in the hall seemed to be real, weighing heavily on his shoulders.

Ouyang Lun subconsciously straightened his back and slightly stretched his shoulders back, trying to create a space for thinking that belonged to him.

He raised his hand and gently stroked his chin, stroking it with his slender fingers from time to time, "Your Majesty and the others have placed so much trust in me, I will do my best."

Ouyang Lun finally spoke, his voice was steady and powerful, like the ringing of a huge bell, with an unquestionable demeanor, instantly breaking the tense and almost suffocating silence in the hall.

He took a step forward, the corners of his robe swaying slightly with his movement.

After standing still, he elegantly clasped his hands in front of him, leaned forward slightly, and performed a standard subject's salute.

Then, his eyes were as sharp as torches, like the brightest cold star in the night sky, and he slowly scanned everyone.

From the expectant faces of the cabinet ministers, to the eager and almost incompetent eyes of the six ministers, nothing was missed. "However, the implementation of this national grand strategy is by no means the work of one person, but a common responsibility of us, the monarch and his subjects."

Ouyang Lun frowned slightly, a few shallow lines appeared between his eyebrows, and there was a hint of solemnity in his tone.

His eyes swept across everyone's faces again.

The ministers' eyes were still glued to him, fervent and persistent, as if they were shouting in unison: "Prince Consort, we are waiting for your wise advice."

Ouyang Lun felt even more helpless, but he still maintained a calm expression.

"Your Majesty and the other lords have placed such trust in me, so I will tell you everything I know. However, the implementation of this strategy cannot be accomplished by one person alone. It requires the concerted efforts of all the lords."

Minister of Finance Guo Zi nodded quickly, with an anxious look on his face: "Don't worry, Prince Consort, as long as it is beneficial to the Ming Dynasty, we will do our best. Please tell me the specific measures quickly."

Other officials also echoed.

Ouyang Lun nodded slightly, cleared his throat, and continued: "My Lords, the grassland is vast and boundless. After taking it, if we want to truly use it for the Ming Dynasty, the management method is crucial. The first thing to do is to incorporate the grassland into the Ming Dynasty's territorial system. Even if it is temporarily managed by the vassal state, we must ensure that the government orders are smooth and gradually infiltrate the governance philosophy of the Ming Dynasty. In this way, a hundred years later, the grassland can completely become an inseparable part of the Ming Dynasty."

“This is the core of the national grand strategy!”

His eyes were determined and his expression was solemn, as if he had already seen the future of the complete unification of the vast territory of the Ming Dynasty.

"It is of utmost importance to develop the grassland and enable the people to live and work in peace and contentment. Only when the people of the grassland live a good life will they sincerely submit to the Ming Dynasty and integrate into it. As for how to develop, building roads is the first step, and it is an extremely critical step."

Ouyang Lun raised his arm slightly and tapped in the air a few times, as if outlining the direction of the road.

"A flat and wide road can not only open up trade between the grassland and the interior, but also spread the culture and technology of our Ming Dynasty. For example, we can start from the garrison near the grassland, build a main road, and then use this as a vein to extend many branches and go deep into the tribes of the grassland."

Ouyang Lun gestured as he spoke, "After the road is built, caravans will be able to come and go freely, bringing tea, silk, and ironware from the inland areas in exchange for horses, furs, and livestock products from the grasslands. Both sides will exchange what they have and what they need, and the economy will flourish."

Minister of Revenue Guo Zi's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but interrupt, "Your Highness, that's a good idea! This way, the tax revenue of the Ministry of Revenue can also be greatly increased, the people will be prosperous, and the treasury will be full. It's a win-win situation!"

Other ministers also nodded and whispered, expressing their approval of this move.

Ouyang Lun waved his hand slightly, signaling everyone to be quiet, and then continued: "The road is only the foundation, and the supporting facilities must also keep up. Post stations need to be set up along the way to provide rest and supply places for traveling caravans. They can also serve as nodes for transmitting messages to strengthen the control of the grassland."

"Furthermore, we should encourage people from the mainland to go to the grasslands to reclaim wasteland, teach them advanced farming techniques, and help them develop a diversified economy instead of relying solely on nomadic pastoralism."

Minister of Rites Lü Chang stroked his beard and said slowly, "Your Majesty is right. Cultural exchanges cannot be ignored. We can set up schools in the grasslands to spread the etiquette, morality, poetry and books of our Ming Dynasty, so that the people of the grasslands can identify with our Ming culture from the bottom of their hearts. This is the way to long-term peace and stability."

Ouyang Lun smiled and looked at Lu Chang, nodding his head in approval: "Master Lu's words are exactly what I want. Cultural identity is the foundation, and education comes first, so that we can cultivate generations of grassland people who are loyal to the Ming Dynasty. In addition, we must also pay attention to the protection of the grassland ecology and must not destroy the vitality of this land due to over-exploitation."

Several generals looked at each other, and one of them clasped his fists and said, "My Lord, the situation on the grassland is complicated. I'm afraid we will encounter obstacles when we build roads and implement various measures. If you need us to help, just tell us!"

Ouyang Lun looked at them firmly and said, "Generals, you have a heavy responsibility. During the road construction, you need to send troops to escort along the way to ensure the safety of the construction. After the various facilities are completed, you must also maintain the law and order of the grassland to ensure the stability of trade and the lives of the people."

Zhu Biao sat on the dragon chair, listening with great interest, nodding his head continuously: "Brother-in-law's plan is very detailed and interconnected. The first step is so impressive, what about the second step?"

Zhu Biao's question directly focused everyone's attention on Ouyang Lun.

Facing the ardent gazes of the crowd, Ouyang Lun took a deep breath and continued to speak in an orderly manner: "Your Majesty, gentlemen, this second step is about the long-term layout of the vassal states. There will be many vassal kings in the future of our Ming Dynasty, and the strength of each vassal king will be uneven. For example, the King of Qin, the King of Yan, and the King of Ning are now all in power, located in a strategic location close to the grassland, and their strength is ranked first."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he was outlining in his mind the complex situation of the distribution of vassal states on the vast territory of the Ming Dynasty.

"Therefore, when dividing the territories, we must not act simply, but should uphold the principle of 'you are in me, I am in you' so that they can check and balance each other. Only in this way can we avoid the excessive expansion of the power of a certain vassal king and threaten the rule of the court."

As Ouyang Lun spoke, he stretched out his hands, interlaced his fingers, and vividly demonstrated this check and balance relationship.

"For example, when dividing the borders of the fiefdoms, the spheres of influence of different vassal kings can be intertwined. A pasture with abundant grass and water can allow the territories of two or even more vassal kings to intersect here, and their interests are intertwined, so it is naturally difficult for chaos to easily arise."

Ouyang Lun glanced at the crowd, observing their reactions. He saw some ministers nodding slightly, lost in thought; others whispered to each other, discussing this novel and bold idea.

"At the same time, the imperial court must establish military bases in various vassal states. On weekdays, they can provide tactical guidance and military training to the vassal kings' armies to improve their overall combat effectiveness in preparation for the needs of the border areas. When necessary, these military bases can also play a role in deterring the vassal kings and ensuring the stability of the vassal states."

Ouyang Lun looked serious, and his tone was filled with unquestionable firmness.

"This move will not only stabilize the situation in the vassal states, but in the long run, only when the political and geopolitical situation is stable can the economy develop better. The trade between the vassal states will be smooth, the people will live and work in peace and contentment, and the court's tax revenue will also grow steadily." Ouyang Lun stood with his hands behind his back and his head held high, confidently expounding the far-reaching significance of this strategic layout.

Upon hearing this, the Minister of War frowned and looked worried: "My Lord, establishing a military base in the vassal state is certainly a good idea, but in doing so, the court will need to invest a lot of manpower, material resources, and financial resources, and will also need to properly handle the relationship with the vassal kings. If we are not careful, there may be rifts. This is fraught with difficulties."

Ouyang Lun nodded slightly, his eyes full of understanding: "Your Excellency is right. However, although this matter is difficult, it is worth a try for the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty. We can advance step by step, starting with the vassal states that are stronger and more loyal to the court, setting an example, and then gradually extending it to other vassal states. At the same time, when communicating with the vassal kings, we must explain the righteousness and let them know that this move will benefit both the country and the family."

The Minister of Personnel also raised a question: "Sir, the division of the fiefdom is so complicated, how should the selection and management of officials be arranged?"

Ouyang Lun's eyes were firm, and he said without hesitation: "When the Ministry of Personnel selects officials to serve in the vassal states, they must select those who are honest, have governance skills, and are loyal to the court."

"These officials must not only assist the princes in governing their territories, but also pay close attention to the dynamics of the territories to ensure that the imperial court's orders are implemented smoothly. At the same time, a strict assessment system should be established to regularly assess officials, with clear rewards and punishments to encourage them to work hard for the development of the territories."

"We already have mature rules for these, so there's no need to elaborate on them here."

Zhu Biao sat on the dragon chair and nodded frequently, his eyes full of praise: "Brother-in-law's plan is far-sighted and well thought out. With such a good plan, our Ming Dynasty will be stable and prosperous!"

The ministers in the hall clasped their fists and said in unison: "Your Excellency, your idea is brilliant. We are willing to cooperate with you to implement this strategy!"

"Your Majesty, I actually have a third point" (End of this chapter)