Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 358 The sword is the most important weapon of the country!

Three days later.

The weather was freezing cold.

It was as warm as spring inside the Wuying Palace, even making people feel a little hot.

The charcoal fire in the furnace made bursts of sizzling sounds, illuminating the entire hall with red.

Inside the palace.

At this moment, there were only Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao.

After several days of repeated thinking and planning, Zhu Biao followed Xia Zhibai's advice and combined it with his own understanding of the court. He integrated and refined the idea of ​​setting up another organization in the court and wrote a memorial.

Zhu Biao's brows were raised and he was full of confidence.

Zhu Biao said with great enthusiasm: "Father, I have figured out how to separate myself from the current state of being torn and divided."

As he spoke, Zhu Biao stepped forward and handed over a memorial.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and looked at his eldest son in front of him. He could tell at a glance that Zhu Biao today was a little different from the past. In the past, Zhu Biao could hardly straighten his back completely in front of him. He was always a little hunched and his eyes were a little unconfident. But today, Zhu Biao's words were full of confidence and composure.

"Okay, let's take a good look today to see what kind of memorial made our boss so confident."

Zhu Yuanzhang reached out and took it.

Zhu Biao smiled and waited for Zhu Yuanzhang to finish reading.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly and became even more curious about the memorial in his hand.

He knew his son too well. Unless he was extremely confident, he would never be so calm and composed. At least, the last time Zhu Biao was so confident was more than ten years ago, when Ma Xiuying was still alive.

Zhu Yuanzhang opened the memorial and scanned it carefully with his cloudy eyes.

When Zhu Yuanzhang saw that Zhu Biao wanted to set up another "organization" in the court, he frowned, but Zhu Biao also gave a detailed explanation of this new "organization", which was like a clan. Some rules only applied to one's own family and not to outsiders. The officials of the Ming Dynasty were in their posts, seeking their positions, eating their salaries, and being loyal to their work.

But local people did not enjoy so many benefits.

Every day, local people look up and down, and all they face are the fields.

Now they are being made to bear the same punishment, which is obviously inappropriate, and two things should be done, one for the public and the other for internal regulation. At the same time, it can also strengthen the sense of identity and cohesion with the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Biao also took a shortcut.

If other words were used, Zhu Yuanzhang might not be able to listen, but if the word "clan" was used, Zhu Yuanzhang would definitely understand and see through it, because his father had experienced it from childhood to adulthood, and what he saw the most were those wealthy families.

He knew all about those nobles.

This is true.

After reading Zhu Biao's memorial for a few times, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately realized the subtlety of it and suddenly had a corresponding idea. He even felt suddenly enlightened. In the end, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but smile.

a long time.

Zhu Yuanzhang put down the memorial.

He looked at Zhu Biao and said calmly, "If I'm not mistaken, this might be Xia Zhibai's idea again, right?"

Zhu Biao nodded and said indifferently: "Father, you don't need to be so cautious. It doesn't matter to me whether it's Xia Zhibai or not. What matters is whether he can be used by Ming Dynasty and make Ming Dynasty better. As long as he can, let alone Xia Zhibai, even if it's other ministers or Yuan people who proposed it, I will use him."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said with satisfaction: "That makes sense."

"No matter who said it, as long as it can be used for our benefit, it's a good idea."

“This is still our short-sightedness.”

"Haha." Zhu Biao smiled helplessly after hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's joke, and said, "Father, please stop teasing me. I really think this method is good. First, it can more reasonably restrain officials without affecting the people. Second, it can also strengthen the recognition and loyalty of officials to the court."

“It can be said that it accomplishes multiple things with one stone.”

Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "How do you know that these officials will still be loyal to our Ming Dynasty after they go in?"

Zhu Biao shook his head: "Of course I cannot guarantee that, but since he has come in, it means that in the hearts of the vast majority of the people in the world, he is loyal to our Ming Dynasty. What they think is not important. What is important is what the people will think and how they see it."

"As long as the people approve, that's enough."

"Besides."

“This is another shackle on officials.”

“Let them be subject to discipline besides the law.”

"Moreover, the strictness of this discipline is far greater than the law. It is designed to let officials set an example, at least to prevent these people from committing evil deeds blatantly. Moreover, even if they are caught by the court, the court can impose more severe punishments, which not only appeases the people, but also greatly pleases the people."

"I approve of Xia Zhibai's approach."

"Strengthen supervision of local officials while loosening restrictions on ordinary people."

“People’s livelihood is difficult, so we need to slow down.”

Hearing Zhu Biao's insightful words, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction. He also had to admit that under Xia Zhibai's deliberate guidance, Zhu Biao was indeed very different from the past. At least he was more independent-minded and had more ideas of his own, but he still seemed too immature.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "We know what you are thinking."

"But you underestimate people and underestimate human nature."

Zhu Yuanzhang reached out and pulled Zhu Biao to his side, and tore off part of the blanket that was covering his legs to cover Zhu Biao.

He said calmly: "Governing the world, do you know why it is so difficult?"

"Everyone knows about those stories. We need to recuperate and rest with the people. Many officials of our Ming Dynasty have actually cited the Han Dynasty's 'rule by doing nothing'. But do you know why we have never believed it?"

Zhu Biao shook his head.

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said, "Because in many cases, if you control it, it will die, and if you let it go, it will be in chaos."

"All the officials in the world are very smart. They can still behave themselves when they are oppressed by the imperial court. If the imperial court really gives them a little power, I'm afraid they will do countless evil things in their local areas. Such things have never been rare in all dynasties."

"With the officials of our Ming Dynasty, do you dare to give them power?"

"Do you believe that the next day, they will dare to be the kings of the place?"

"We are still using the Jinyiwei to monitor, but the locals are always causing trouble. If we are a little more relaxed, who knows what kind of chaos the world will be in. These scholars are talking about the Han Dynasty's policy of inaction, but why don't they explain why the Han Dynasty wanted to rule by inaction? It was because the imperial court was not strong enough to suppress the local lords. If they could suppress them, they would immediately lead troops to suppress them."

"The world needs to be managed!"

"The more people there are, the more we need to manage. Otherwise, how can there be any clans in the place?"

"Officials need to be in charge, and the people need to be in charge even more."

"If we don't care about the people, these people will dare to poke holes in the sky. However, how to manage them is a test of skills. The emperors of different dynasties are different, and so are we. We won't use empty words, we just want them to be obedient."

"If you don't obey, we will kill you!"

"If killing one doesn't work, we'll kill his whole family. If killing one family doesn't work, we'll exterminate all three or all nine clans!!!"

"The sword is the best weapon for ruling a country!"

(End of this chapter)