King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

Zhu Di couldn't help but ask, "Tenth Master! How did you trick father into agreeing?
Lift the trade ban with these Mongols?

Doesn’t that mean that they can buy whatever they want from our Ming Dynasty?
By then, those wolf cubs will give birth to more and grow faster!
Aren’t you afraid of raising a tiger and causing trouble?”

talking.

Zhu Di couldn't help but worry and said: "Just take the Yuan Dynasty as an example! At that time, the Mongols were all military households!
They were obliged to go to the battlefield. Although some taxes were exempted, when the war really broke out, these people had to bring their own weapons, horses, and food!
At that time, the Yuan Dynasty's exploitation of military households was extremely harsh.

Many people go to war and don't even have enough money to take with them, so the leading generals will exploit them by lending them money at high interest rates!

As a result, the lives of the Mongolian people were very difficult.”

Zhu Tan heard Zhu Di's words, nodded, and said, "Fourth brother, why are you saying this?"

Zhu Di said angrily: "Because I am anxious! Those Mongols did not live well in the Yuan Dynasty, but they still developed an army of millions!

Today's Mongols don't have so many shackles and oppression!
If we inland continue to supply them with supplies, I am afraid that by then there will be millions of Mongolian cavalry on the Mongolian grasslands!

Doesn’t that picture make your scalp tingle?

You are going to raise a group of terrible enemies for our Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Tan laughed dryly and said, "Fourth brother, you are too polite. If these Mongols live a good life in the future, not everyone will become a soldier."

Zhu Di frowned and said, "How is it possible! It is the natural instinct of the grassland people to plunder us Central Plains people!

Because there are too few resources on the grassland! Not enough for them to eat and drink!

Even if they trade with us and exchange things at will, they can't feed so many people!
What to do if you can’t support it?
Then they will go south and rob!

To put it bluntly, they are trying to survive!"

talking.

Zhu Di sighed and said, "Old Ten, who in this world doesn't want to live a good life?
Who doesn’t know that war will result in death?
But why do we have to fight every year?

Because there is no other way!
For the grassland people, if they don’t fight, they will die themselves! ”

Zhu Tan was slightly surprised when he heard Zhu Di's words.

Emperor Yongle is worthy of being Emperor Yongle.

I really understand the grassland.

Zhu Di frowned and said, "Unless we in the Ming Dynasty are willing to provide money and materials for generations to support these grassland people! Otherwise, after they develop, the first thing they will do is to move south!

Only by robbing us can they continue to have children and continue to develop! This is irreversible!"

Zhu Tan smiled and said, "Fourth brother, my father and I both understand what you are saying! However, we have already thought of a solution!

In fact, why do you always feel that there must be a conflict between us and Mongolia?
We and they belong to the same country!
If you see the Mongols as the people of our Ming Dynasty, wouldn't you feel much better?"

Zhu Di shook his head and said, "I won't look! I can't see it either!"

Zhu Tan smiled and said:

"We plan to let the Mongols provide wool to our Ming Dynasty! Lots of wool! So much wool that even if they work hard for decades, they still can't produce enough!
Of course, we will give the Mongols a fair price.

In this way, they don't need to go south to rob, and can get the tea, salt, ironware and even food they need! "

Zhu Di frowned and said: "The result of this is nothing more than more and more Mongols on the grassland, but sheep and grassland are limited after all!
By then, we won’t be able to support so many Mongols, and they will still go south to rob us!”

Zhu Tan smiled bitterly.

"Fourth brother, why must their target be us?"

Zhu Di was stunned when he heard this.

"Besides us, where else can we rob?"

Zhu Tan said calmly: "Genghis Khan didn't attack the Jin Dynasty at the beginning!
Instead, they headed westward and seized the territory of the Semites!

With such a vast land, so many people and resources, why do the Mongols have to fight to the death with us?"

talking.

Zhu Tan smiled again and said, "What's more, we in the Ming Dynasty have guns and cannons! No matter how strong the Mongols are, they still have first-class weapons like swords and knives!

The Ming Dynasty only needs hundreds of thousands of border troops to quell the trouble caused by the Mongols!
Why should Fourth Brother be so nervous? "

Zhu Di frowned and asked, "You mean, if the Mongols really develop, you will also seduce them to fight westwards?"

Zhu Tan coughed lightly and said, "Ahem. It's guidance!"

Zhu Di waved his hand and said, "It's all the same!"

talking.

Zhu Di asked again: "What about the north? Should we fight?"

Zhu Tan frowned and said, "The north? That's originally the territory of our Ming Dynasty! Why fight there? We just need to occupy it!"

Zhu Di nodded.

He couldn't help but ask, "What exactly does the emperor think of you?

Do you really intend to incorporate the Mongols into our Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Tan said with a smile: "Fourth brother, don't we have enough Mongols in the Ming Dynasty?
How much has my father used?

From generals to ministers, we have them all!
They’re doing pretty good, aren’t they?”

Zhu Di sighed and said, "Convincing a few people to surrender is different from convincing an entire clan to surrender!"

talking.

Zhu Di was suddenly stunned.

"Yes! If Father does this, won't he rule the entire grassland?

Our Ming Dynasty is the first Han dynasty in history that can rule the grasslands and the Central Plains!"

Zhu Tan smiled.

"The people of the grassland are originally Chinese people! We should be one family!"

Zhu Di frowned and said, "I don't understand! I just hope you can do it!"

Zhu Tan smiled.

It wasn't just Zhu Di who couldn't understand!

Even the civil servants couldn't understand it!

Ever since the court bulletin came out.

These people have no idea how many memorials they have submitted.

All of them were against the Ming Dynasty letting Toghon Temur return to the grassland and against the termination of trade between the Ming Dynasty and Mongolia!
But it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand.

Just be obedient.

It doesn't matter if you don't listen.

Kill a few and they will obey.
soon.

A large group of people returned to Peking.

Zhu Di invited Zhu Tan into the Prince of Yan's Mansion.

Zhu Tan did not refuse either.

Anyway, this fourth brother will be the most important figure in the entire northern Ming Dynasty in the future.

There will definitely be many things that we will have to rely on him to do in the future.

It would be bad if I avoided him.

Princess Xu was all smiles when she saw everyone coming back.

Standing beside her were officials from the palace, such as Jin Zhong and Monk Daoyan.

Although Zhu Tan saw Xu Miaoyun's smiling face, he always felt that there was a fire in her eyes.
The atmosphere in this palace is also a bit cold.
Zhu Di coughed lightly and said, "Old Ten, come on, you haven't seen what our palace looks like yet, right? I'll walk with you!"

Zhu Tan was stunned when he heard this: "Fourth brother, didn't I see it last time I came to Peking?"

Zhu Di said loudly, "How can it be the same? It was still spring then, and now it's midsummer! This palace is different in every season! Come on, come on, I'll show you around again!"

Xu Miaoyun smiled and said to Zhu Tan, "Don't blame me, Your Highness Prince Lu. I was just joking! How could this palace be any different? You must be tired after all this journey, right?"

talking.

Xu Miaoyun looked at Jin Zhong and said, "Jin Zhong! Go and take Prince Lu to the guest room to rest!"

Zhu Di looked unnatural and said, "You have to treat me to a drink, Tenth Brother?"

Xu Miaoyun said calmly: "All these Jin Zhong have been arranged! Your Highness Prince Yan, let's go and rest!"

between words.

There was even a hint of horror in it. Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but say, "It's over. I saw murderous intent in my mother's eyes."

next second.

Xu Miaoyun pulled Zhu Gaoxu away.

"You should also go and have a rest with your mother!"

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Tan with a look of despair on his face.

"Tenth brother, take a good rest! If you hear any strange noises, don't be surprised!"

Zhu Tan looked at Xu taking Zhu Di away, his face full of confusion.

Empress Xu is a famous virtuous queen in history.
How come today's performance seems to have Zhu Laosi under severe control?
Later, Zhu Tan thought about it again.

It seems that Zhu Di had a total of nine children in history, four sons and five daughters.

Seven of the children, namely three sons and four daughters, were born to Empress Xu.
Such a high proportion is very high, whether for an emperor or a prince.

Isn't this all normal?
Of course, what is even more bizarre is that Empress Xu never left behind any reputation for jealousy.
Tsk!
Looking at it today, it makes sense!
The meat is in the buns, not in the folds!

Empress Xu has taken control of the entire family!

Beiping.

Prince Yan's Mansion.

at this time.

A distinguished guest who came from afar made everyone in Prince Yan's mansion nervous.

Even the current Prince of Yan Zhu Di and Prince of Lu Zhu Tan stood at the gate of the palace to welcome them.

Not long after.

A group of monks arrived at the gate of the palace.

Their attire is completely different from that of monks in the mainland.

The elderly people in Peking may still recognize him.

After all, these people were once powerful for decades during the Yuan Dynasty.

It has been regarded as the state religion since the time of Kublai Khan.

But since the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, these monks disappeared along with the Mongols.

Therefore, the younger generation of Beijingers don’t know these monks very well.

They were wearing striking red monk robes, the hems of which fluttered gently in the wind like bright flames.

Various mysterious Buddhist patterns are embroidered on the monks' robes with gold thread, which not only highlights the solemnity of religion, but also reveals a sense of exotic mystery.

Their heads are shaved bald, leaving only a small patch of hair on the top of the head, which is braided into a small bun, which is their unique symbol.

Everyone has a long string of prayer beads hanging around their necks, and each bead is polished to be round and smooth, revealing a quiet beauty.

Their faces looked calm and peaceful, with wisdom shining in their eyes.

Although their skin is a little rough from wind and sun, it cannot conceal the tranquility and tenacity that radiates from within.

These monks hold a long staff in their hands, with exquisite Buddhist patterns carved on the top, making them look both mysterious and solemn.

As they walked, their staffs tapped the ground lightly, making a steady and rhythmic sound.
They are from U-Tsang.

Another name is Lama.

The leading lama was named Zongwang.

When Zhu Tan saw the monk, his face immediately broke into smiles.

"Master, you have come all the way here, thank you for your hard work!"

Zong Wang clasped his hands together and chanted Buddhist mantras.

He smiled and said, "I came here for the Dharma, for the sake of spreading Buddhism! How can it be hard?"

Zhu Tan smiled.

Zhu Di also smiled.

Then he whispered to Zhu Tan, "Isn't the old monk too pretentious?"

Zhu Tan coughed dryly and said, "If we don't say that, how can we make him look smarter?"

Zhu Di curled his lips and said, "No matter how wise you are, I don't believe it!"

Zhu Tan couldn't help but rolled his eyes.

"I didn't expect you to believe it!"

Zhu Di frowned and asked, "Do you believe it?"

"I don't believe it either!"

Zhu Di:.
soon.

The main hall of Prince Yan's Mansion.

Monk Daoyan met Zong Wang.

Both sides greeted each other.

Monk Daoyan looked at Zongwang and said with a smile: "His Royal Highness Prince Lu has high hopes for you! I hope you can illuminate the grassland with the Dharma!"

Zong Wang looked at Monk Daoyan and said with a smile: "If you don't mind, I can also save the Ming Dynasty with my Buddhist teachings! The Buddha is everywhere."

Monk Daoyan smiled.

I played a trick on the old monk, and it seemed that he was not a smart guy. He fought back immediately.

This person is a distinguished guest invited by His Royal Highness Prince Lu, so it is not appropriate for me to confront him anymore, so I have to give him this face.

soon.

In the main room.

Zhu Tan smiled and said, "Anyway, I still want to thank you for accepting the invitation!

Wusi Zang is thousands of miles away from here. The Master came so quickly, which really touched me!"

Zong Wang smiled and said, "Your Highness Prince Lu, why are you being so polite? This Mongolian land is where the Buddha's light shines upon us! In recent years, Buddhism has not flourished, and the local people have suffered instead! Now that there is an opportunity to spread Buddhism on the grassland, I am happy to do it, and I am naturally anxious, but it is not entirely because of your Highness's kindness."

Zhu Di coughed dryly.

What you, old monk, mean is simply that being able to increase your influence on the grassland is something you have been longing for.

That's why I ran here in such a hurry.

And what's more, I have to add the relationship with Old Ten...

People are not old!
Even monks who never tell lies have become such good people.

Hypocrisy to the extreme!

Zhu Tan smiled when he heard this.

The situation on the grassland is complicated, including the Ming Dynasty, the Golden Family, various tribes, and even ordinary Mongolian people.

Everyone has different needs and different ideas.

It really takes such a versatile and thoughtful person to be able to keep the situation under control.

Zhu Tan smiled and said, "The Han and Mongolian peoples have a century-long feud! After so many years of hatred, the people on the border of the Ming Dynasty and the grasslands south of the desert are all living in misery!

I only hope that the Master can use Buddhist teachings to resolve these hatred and hostility!

Let us make peace between Han and Mongolia and have peace in the world.

From now on, there will be no more suffering from war between the two sides, and the people will no longer suffer from disasters!"

Zong Wang clasped his hands together and said, "Your Highness can think this way, it is a blessing for the Mongolian and Han people! Our Buddhists value compassion the most. I believe that the Mongolian people will definitely listen to the advice of Buddhism, and from now on they will be kind-hearted and have friendly exchanges with the Ming Dynasty!"

After hearing this, Zhu Di could no longer bear it.

The old monk is bragging!
Even I don’t believe in your Buddhist teachings, so why would the Mongolian people believe in it?

not to mention.

If people believe in it, can they do good deeds?
How many Buddhists throughout history have been unable to do this? How can you, an old monk, do it by going to the grassland?

He couldn't help but ask, "Master, is Buddhism really so miraculous? Why are you so confident?"

Zong Wang smiled, looked at Zhu Tan, and said, "Then you have to ask His Royal Highness Prince Lu about all this." (End of this chapter)