The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 525 The Drawbacks of Clan Relations

The group exchanged glances and nodded.

Just then, Zhu Xiong Ying spoke.

"We don't need to take those powerful families seriously. They're unlikely to succeed in rebelling!"

"However, if these families trigger a chain reaction, it would indeed be a disadvantage for us!"

"Therefore, this trend must be curbed, especially the clan relations among them, which must be changed!"

Upon hearing Zhu Xiong Ying's words, everyone was in an uproar. Since ancient times, clan relations have been extremely important. In many places, family laws are more effective than national laws.

This also gave them a huge headache. Some powerful clans possessed terrifying resources and connections, and it would be truly frightening if they were to take action against these clan relationships.

Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Zhu Biao immediately objected.

"How can this be? Clan relations are of utmost importance to our Great Ming Dynasty. Are we to make these people disown even their money and their ancestors?"

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and said after hearing this.

"Father is joking. It's not that we don't want them to acknowledge their ancestral ties, but rather that we don't want them to form a powerful family system!"

"A powerful family system, with its members interconnected, often leads them to prioritize family interests over national interests!"

"Moreover, this is a large family structure, which is not conducive to the state's control over them!"

"Therefore, I think we should abandon this large family structure. The best way is to divide them into many small families, and then we can completely control them through these small families!"

Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but frown. It was indeed a solution, but if they were to be divided into smaller families, it might not be a good thing. Currently, most families are in this large clan structure.

For an individual, not having a clan or even having their name not recorded in the family genealogy is an extremely terrifying thing.

Therefore, Zhu Xiong Ying's idea may not succeed.

"But how should we handle this? We can't use force. If we do, we might push them to the brink, and then there will be a lot of people opposing us, and we might not be able to handle the situation!"

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and said after hearing this.

"Of course we're not forcing them!"

"We should let them change things on their own initiative. The first thing we need to do is to differentiate their descendants, just like the 'Decree of Grace,' so that each of them can have their own share of the property!"

"Once they own their own property and are worried about others seizing it by force, they naturally won't rely on clan relationships!"

"Furthermore, we will abolish the laws between their clans in various regions, disregard their clan laws, and treat all crimes according to national law. If anyone uses the laws between themselves and their clans as the standard for judgment, they will be punished!"

"It won't be long before one small family after another emerges within my Great Ming!"

"And it will not form a powerful and terrifying clan!"

Upon hearing this, everyone frowned and, after careful consideration, realized that there were indeed quite a few possibilities.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Xiong Ying and said, "Have you forgotten something? If we're talking about families, it won't be long before our Zhu family is considered the largest family in the world. Are we really going to split up our family?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and shook her head.

"It's not about separating our family, but rather dividing it into different branches, each with its own jurisdiction. Of course, everything will be based on the law of the land, so that no trouble will arise!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's face immediately turned extremely ugly; he did not agree with this point.

Regardless of the circumstances, they are still royalty even after becoming monks. Don't they have any privileges at all? Thinking of this, he felt extremely displeased, seemingly dissatisfied with the outcome.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao frantically tried to signal to him, but Zhu Xiong Ying acted as if he didn't see it.

"Nowadays, the laws of our Great Ming Dynasty don't really care about many people, and in many aspects, they aren't even clearly recorded. This is a very fatal problem!"

"For a country, especially a powerful one, the most important and correct thing to do is to rely on the law for everything, so that no one abuses power!"

Since hearing this is somewhat unbelievable, because these words are indeed difficult for them to understand, everyone will think of letting others have their way after they become successful.

To make one's own home more prosperous, and secondly, to make one's own clan more prosperous.

There weren't many people who truly thought like Zhu Xiong Ying, which meant that if any princes of the Ming Dynasty broke the law, they would also be severely punished.

Zhu Yuanzhang found it somewhat incomprehensible.

"Let me consider these matters you have mentioned. As for those who dare to rebel, we will suppress them directly. Nowadays, there are quite a few students in our various regions. Before long, our Great Ming will no longer need these scholars who have inherited the tradition to serve as officials."

When there are more truly suitable people for official positions, their importance will be less significant, and we won't need to worry about these things!

Everyone nodded after hearing this, and Zhu Yuanzhang then turned and left the place, seemingly somewhat forlorn.

At this moment, he felt that he was falling behind Zhu Xiong Ying's thoughts.

In his view, he was just a farmer who, by chance, had risen to this position. Therefore, besides governing the country well, his greatest wish was for his descendants to have enough to eat.

The idea that many children bring many blessings made him hesitate.

After seeing Zhu Yuanzhang leave, Crown Prince Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Xiong Ying with some dissatisfaction.

“U.A., you’ve said a bit too much this time, regardless of whether what you’re saying is true or not.”

"You can't say it so bluntly no matter what. You should at least consider your grandfather's opinion!"

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled after hearing this. Clearly, if he really hesitated, he probably wouldn't have been able to say these things. But if he didn't say what needed to be said, it would always be a problem.

Zhu Biao began to reprimand Zhu Xiong Ying, even though he knew that Zhu Xiong Ying might not be wrong, but he had to do it anyway.

At this moment, inside the mansion of a family in Jiangnan.

Several families of storytellers gathered together.

(End of this chapter)