Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 124: The eldest son takes the safe path as a shield, while the second son takes the risk as a spear! (Second update)

Watched Zhao Mao and other officials leave.

Zhu Yuanzhang threw the memorial in his hand aside.

He had been hesitant before, wondering whether to do this or not, and even had some resistance in his heart.

But from the reactions of Zhao Mao and others, he understood in his heart that Xia Zhibai's idea was correct and the court must strengthen its control over the local areas, otherwise cases of embezzlement and corruption like Guo Huan would continue to occur in an endless stream and would not be stopped despite repeated bans.

The existence of the Jinyiwei can only make officials afraid.

However, the presence of the imperial court's "eyes and ears" in local areas can even frighten local officials.

Zhu Yuanzhang leaned on the cushion, scratched his back with the jade ruyi, and kept thinking in his mind.

Gradually, a relatively complete picture of the world under surveillance was formed in his mind, one inside and one outside, one up and one down.

It is not enough to rely solely on the Jinyiwei to monitor court ministers. These local enterprises must also be used to collect local data, and the statistics must be made openly, in order to deter and warn local officials not to do evil things. The court is not unaware of the actual situation in the local areas. If you dare to say one thing in front of your face and another behind your back, the court will definitely know and will definitely bring you to justice.

Only in this way can the Ming Dynasty be stable.

immediately.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned.

He had just made it clear that he would not listen to Xia Zhibai, but then he changed his mind. Wouldn't that be inappropriate?

Zhu Yuanzhang then sneered. He was an emperor, and it was reasonable for him to accept the advice of his subjects. Moreover, he had always let Zhu Biao be in charge.

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Pu Gou'er, go tell the prince that we have agreed to Xia Zhibai's proposal for the iron mine and the opening of the salt factory in the north."

"I am just delivering your order." Pu Gou'er said respectfully.

East Palace.

Zhu Biao frowned and looked at a memorial.

This was sent to the palace by Fang Mo and others, and it records Xia Zhibai's recent actions.

Looking at these daring things, Zhu Biao also showed some displeasure on his face, and said angrily: "This Xia Zhibai is really lawless."

"I did allow for some special circumstances, but I didn't allow him to do this."

"What does he think of the officials of the Ministry of Industry? Does he really think of them as engineers of his salt works? He even asked Zhou Ning and others to train apprentices and even write teaching materials for him. Xia Zhibai could make such an impolite request? And Zhou Ning actually agreed to it?"

"The Ming Dynasty's household registration system is very strict. How could he be allowed to tamper with it so easily?"

“There is also the system of abandoned stove households.”

"The salt production in the world has always been based on the stove household system."

"He, on the other hand, came up with his own system of 'employment' and completely abolished the factory's stove-household system."

"Does he still care about the household registration system of the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Biao had a stern look on his face.

He was really shocked by Xia Zhibai's actions.

He had previously turned a blind eye to the conversion of some refugees into cooks in the name of sheltering them.

Now Xia Zhibai still wants these children of the common people to learn to read and write?

How can this be done?
Isn’t this against the principles of heaven and earth?
He didn't believe that Xia Zhibai couldn't find any other solution and insisted on using this most costly method.

Xia Zhibai did it on purpose.

He was taking advantage of the expansion of the enterprise and the shortage of skilled workers to operate the machines to achieve his goal of raising the status of "workers and peasants". Xia Zhibai's plan was almost in front of his eyes, how could he not see it?

And he noticed one more thing.

Xia Zhibai does not approve of the "small government" model created by his father.

Xia Zhibai recommends a big government.

But this clash of ideologies is fatal.

It is impossible for the emperor to change it for Xia Zhibai. Besides, the system construction of the Ming Dynasty has been basically completed, so how can it be easily changed? Everything Xia Zhibai did now was to challenge the authority of the emperor and challenge his patience.

Does Xia Zhibai really think that his father won’t notice?

My father’s mind is as clear as a mirror.

It was just that some of Xia Zhibai's statements did have their merits and indeed pointed out the shortcomings of the Ming Dynasty's system, so the emperor restrained his intention to kill him.

But Xia Zhibai couldn't always be immune.

Once Xia Zhibai loses his value in improving the existing system, he will no longer be of any use to his father and the Ming Dynasty.

He could then die.

But this is on the premise that Xia Zhibai does not act recklessly.

If Xia Zhibai continues to be so lawless, sooner or later his father will not tolerate him.

The emperor's temper was fierce and violent, how could he allow Xia Zhibai to get angry again and again? Even if Xia Zhibai was right.

That's not OK.

The emperor cannot be humiliated, let alone insulted.

Zhu Biao put the memorial in his hand aside and picked up another one.

This was a memorial that had been drafted long ago, and even had the seal on it, but it had not yet been issued.

This is about the iron ore arrangement.

He originally wanted to directly take a part from Linjiang Prefecture.

But thinking of Xia Zhibai's eccentricity and unconventionality, he was worried that it would disrupt the normal iron smelting in Linjiang Prefecture. After thinking for a long time, he did not dare to let Xia Zhibai go to any of the thirteen iron smelting areas. Instead, he directly gave the iron mine that Prince of Yan Zhu Di wanted to mine some time ago to Xia Zhibai to manage.

That is Zunhua Iron Smelting Plant in Shuntian Prefecture.

Zhu Biao also had his own reasons for this move.

He knew his brothers very well. On the surface, they were respectful, but secretly they complained about their father, thinking that his father favored them too much. In the past few years, the King of Qin and the King of Jin even built a dragon bed and dragon chair in their palaces, and even privately made the emperor's crown and robes. His fourth brother was no less than them.

Although he is not as blatant as the second and third brothers, he has been expanding his team privately.

He knew it very well in Yingtian Prefecture.

However, Zhu Biao did not take it too seriously and just regarded these actions as children throwing tantrums. But as the crown prince with real power, Zhu Biao had to make some proper arrangements, at least to suppress Zhu Di's domineering attitude.

Zhu Di wanted to open an iron mine in Shuntian Prefecture.

He could agree to it, but he wanted to use the smelted iron to privately make equipment.

This is absolutely impossible.

Right now Xia Zhibai just wants to open a mine, so he puts the mine in Shuntian and lets these two troublemakers deal with it.

Zhu Di is now 25 years old, full of vigor and vitality. He wants to compete with everyone he meets. Now the iron ore that Zhu Di had worked so hard for for a long time has fallen into Xia Zhibai's hands, which is enough to make Zhu Di unhappy for a long time.

Let the two of them kill each other.

With Zhu Di watching from the side, Xia Zhibai didn't dare to act rashly.

Think about it.

Zhu Biao put the memorial aside.

Now, everything is arranged, just waiting for father's approval.

at this time.

Park Gou'er came to convey the order.

Zhu Biao smiled and handed the memorial to Pu Gou'er, saying, "I was just thinking about it, but I didn't expect my father to send an order. Eunuch Pu, can you help me deliver this memorial?"

Park Gou'er was stunned for a moment, then quickly reached out to take it: "Your Highness is too polite, this is what a servant should do."

Zhu Biao did not stop there. He picked up another memorial from the table, with a strange look on his face, and said, "Here is a memorial from the Prince of Yan. I have already approved it. I will also let you pass on this memorial, but..."

"This memorial is different from the previous one."

"We have to wait until Xia Zhibai sets off for Shuntian Prefecture before sending it over."

Park Gou'er was stunned.

But he didn't dare to ask more questions and took it quickly.

Zhu Biao waved his hand, indicating that Pu Gou'er could go and pass on the message.

Pu Gou'er bowed respectfully and walked out.

Looking at Pu Gou'er's departing figure, Zhu Biao smiled and said, "I wonder what the scene will be like when Xia Zhibai arrives at Shuntian Prefecture and the fourth brother comes to visit him angrily. I think it should be quite exciting."

"Haha."

Zhu Biao thought about it with evil humor and continued to deal with the memorial.

Beiping, Shuntian Prefecture.

It was drizzling in northern Xinjiang.

At the top of the nine-story pagoda of Heping Temple, Zhu Di leaned on the railing and looked out.

All the scenes of Peking and the outside world are in full view.

At this moment, Zhu Di's eyes were full of aggression and aggressiveness.

Slowly, he turned his gaze to the south, staring at the picturesque scenery of Jiangnan, with a hint of confusion and uneasiness in his eyes, as well as a bit of ambition.

The rain was getting heavier and heavier, like a kite with a broken string, gradually blocking Zhu Di's vision.

Behind Zhu Di sat a bald man in a black robe. He had a gentle expression and said slowly, "Your Majesty, the rain is getting heavier. Let's go into the temple to take shelter from the rain."

Zhu Di glanced at Yao Guangxiao, nodded, walked into the temple eaves, and said, "Do you think my father will agree to open a mine in Beiping?"

Yao Guangxiao smiled and said, "I don't know."

Zhu Di snorted coldly and said unhappily: "It was your suggestion to get the court to agree to open a mine in Beiping. Now you come to tell me that I don't know?"

Yao Guangxiao said: "Your Majesty is very concerned about the military, and a large amount of fine iron produced in the world is also used to forge weapons. With your majesty's great talent and wisdom, you must understand that you cannot allow others to snore beside your bed."

"The imperial court will definitely launch another northern expedition."

"And your highness's Shuntian Prefecture will be the front line."

Zhu Di sneered and said dissatisfiedly: "What's the use? My father will not agree to let me be the chief general. If I want to gain military merit, I can only rely on my strength. General Chang Yuchun was a soldier in the past, and my father-in-law fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. What they can do, I, Zhu Di, can do as well."

"But I just don't understand. You clearly knew that the court had already made up its mind. There are only thirteen iron smelting areas in the world, and there is no Shuntian Prefecture. Why did you insist on asking me to submit a petition?"

"What's the point of this?"

"Just to let my father scold me again?"

"Let someone send me a shoe upper to beat me?"

Zhu Di looked at Yao Guangxiao with unfriendly eyes. He had always been suspicious of this bald man and felt that he was a bad guy.

Not a good thing.

Yao Guangxiao pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness is a man who has the whole world in his heart. Because of this, Your Highness must always remember one thing. For a man like Your Highness, the greatest pain is not being beaten or losing a battle, but being ignored."

"Your Highness is His Majesty's fourth son."

"And in your majesty's plan, you seek 'both offense and defense'."

"The eldest son walks steadily as a shield to protect the family, while the second son takes risks as a spear to pave the way for the family to prosper."

"Prince Jin and Prince Yan have followed His Royal Highness the Crown Prince since they were young, and their relationship is closer than that of other princes. Therefore, if Your Highness does not often seek a sense of 'presence', then His Majesty will often ignore Your Highness."

"The more eager Your Highness is to achieve success, the more he will be appreciated by His Majesty."

"Because what your majesty wants is 'the second son takes risks as a spear'!"

(End of this chapter)