The Ming Dynasty did not revolutionize

Chapter 227 Duke of Shu
On June 15th, the 43rd year of Xianning in the Ming Dynasty, the Mansion of the Duke of Shu in Chengdu Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

The Prince of Shu, Zhang Weijun, hurried back home and immediately went to see his father, Duke of Shu, Zhang Chuanxun.

Zhang Chuanxun took his son into his study, sent away all the outsiders, and then the two began to discuss major issues concerning the survival of the family.

Duke of Shu Zhang Chuanxun and his son are descendants of Zhang Xianzhong.

In the original history, the "Shu Disaster" refers to the large-scale population loss in Sichuan, which mainly occurred in the melee when the Qing army entered Sichuan and Zhang Xianzhong was defeated.

Zhang Xianzhong in this world was directly canonized by Emperor Chongzhen shortly after he entered Sichuan for the second time in the early 17th year of Chongzhen. He did not directly proclaim himself emperor in Sichuan.

More importantly, with the enthronement and authorization from Emperor Chongzhen, Zhang Xianzhong took control of the situation in Sichuan faster than ever before in history.

The Qing army was blocked by Li Dingguo and Sun Kewang and had no chance to enter Sichuan to fight.

Zhang Xianzhong gained a firm foothold in Sichuan, and Sichuan soon stabilized. There was no large-scale fighting, and naturally no large-scale massacre.

After the situation in Sichuan stabilized, Zhang Xianzhong also left behind a group of descendants who have been passed down to the present day.

Duke of Shu, Zhang Chuanxun, asked his son nervously:
"What did Duke Yu say? Are they planning to go to Beijing?"

Zhang Weijun, the prince of Shu, immediately said:

“Duke Yu said he would go, and now he is going to Beijing to wait for the Crown Prince’s arrangements, so that he can survive normally, and there may even be good arrangements.

"But if we don't go, we will be crushed by the Crown Prince's new army just like the Earl of Huai'an and the Qing Kingdom..."

Duke of Shu, Zhang Chuanxun, was somewhat surprised and delighted, and immediately asked his son about the details:

"What arrangement? What do you mean by a good arrangement?"

The prince Zhang Weijun immediately explained to his father:

"The Yugong Office heard from the Duke of Min that when the current Crown Prince was the King of Wu in Australia, he discussed the issue of withdrawing the feudal fiefdom with the Duke of Min's son.

“At the time, the Crown Prince meant that vassal states should exist and have their uses, but they should not remain in the homeland but should be placed overseas.

"At that time, the crown prince said that there was no need to remove the fiefdoms, and that they could just be moved overseas."

The Duke of Shu seemed relieved, but still did not dare to be completely assured:
"Is this true? Can you believe what Duke Min said?

"Besides, from the Prince of Min, the Duke of Min, and the Duke of Yu, this has been passed down several times from you to me.

“Who knows if the news itself has changed?”

Prince Zhang Weijun immediately said:

“Duke Yu also said that when the current crown prince was young, he said something similar in the capital.

“It is said that enfeoffment overseas is the true compliance with Zhou Li and is conducive to the outward expansion of the imperial court.

"To divide the country into different territories is the way to cause chaos.

“These things are not just rumors, there are also newspapers at the time to prove it.

"What the Crown Prince said to the Prince of Min in Europe was also published in the newspaper. It's not a rumor."

Prince Zhang Weijun actually took out a stack of old newspapers that he brought back from Duke Yu, which contained dates of relevant events, and unfolded them for his father to read.

After reading it, Duke of Shu Zhang Chuanxun finally let out a long sigh:
"Your Highness the Crown Prince is indeed kind and righteous, but what good places are there overseas? How can they be compared with our Sichuan paradise?"

After hearing these words, Prince Zhang Junwei immediately asked:

"So when will father come to Beijing? Should we prepare a little more, think about it a little more, and see which way the wind blows?
“Because the Crown Prince punished southern merchants and forcibly cut off official orders from the court, it is not an exaggeration to say that the south is now in chaos.

"The Crown Prince's Southern Investment Company is acquiring the businesses of Southern merchants at almost free prices...

"If someone makes a call, there will surely be a large number of businessmen who will support and follow."

Duke of Shu, Zhang Chuanxun, stood up and walked around the room twice:

"It's useless to have chaos in the world. The key is to have the knife in hand. The crown prince's knife is strong enough. Those merchants in the south can only wait to be slaughtered.

"As for raising a call from a high place, that means being the first to take action. Aren't the workers and merchants who rebelled in Yingtian Prefecture typical examples?
"The Crown Prince, after enduring humiliation, escorted His Majesty to Shuntian Prefecture, and immediately resorted to knifework and murder.

"It's just that it's an invisible knife, killing people without leaving any blood...

"Those merchants are just as Duke Yu said. If they accept the arrangements obediently, they can still survive. But resistance is pure suicide.

"Persistence and hesitation are useless. The Qing Dynasty would have been destroyed in less than a year." Who else can compare with it?

"Everyone wants to wait for someone else to take the lead, but in the end no one comes to take the lead?"

After hearing this, Prince Zhang Weijun was confused:

"So...what did father decide to do?"

Zhang Chuanxun suddenly stopped and said:
“Instead of waiting and watching at this time, it is better to be more proactive.

“Go to the capital ahead of time to deal with the Crown Prince and see if we can discuss the transfer plan in private. Ask for the best possible place.

"If the Crown Prince wants to implement this transfer plan, he should also need the cooperation of the vassal state, right?
"So the Crown Prince actually needs us..."

As I said, being useful and needed is the best medicine for reassurance.

Duke of Shu Zhang Chuanxun made up his mind and quickly reorganized and arranged affairs in Sichuan. He set off for Shuntian Prefecture in early July.

The imperial court issued a notice requiring all vassal monarchs to go to Shuntian Prefecture in the autumn, with the specific time being between August 1st and August 15th.

Without notification from the imperial court, the vassal states could not leave their fiefdoms on their own unless they discovered an opportunity to launch a northern expedition.

Now that we have the notice, it is reasonable to depart a month in advance.

Duke Shu thought he was fast enough, but in fact there were people who were faster.

Before the Northern Expedition began, Zheng Jia, the Duke of Min, directly regarded himself as a member of the King of Wu's system.

Zheng Ruian, the prince of the Duke of Min, directly led his troops to participate in the Northern Expedition.

Before Zhu Jianxuan officially began to arrange the affairs of the ordinary vassal state, he sent people to Jeju Island in early June to ask Zheng Ruian to go home and summon his father to the capital in advance.

Duke of Min, Zheng Haikang, had already made up his mind to stand on the side of King Wu. Upon receiving the notice from his son, he immediately boarded a boat and set off north.

When other vassal monarchs received the notice to come to Beijing, most of them were filled with anxiety and uneasiness.

But the Duke of Min was completely different. He was quite relaxed, sitting on his family's luxury cruise ship, drinking and chatting with his son on the ship:

“Our decision was indeed correct, this is the only right path.

“Although there were some minor accidents during the process, it also allowed the court situation to be settled ahead of time.

“His Royal Highness the King of Wu has become His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and the Wu court will go directly to Beijing to establish a new court. The overall situation has been determined.

“Now we just have to hope that our goal can be achieved…

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants us to come to the capital ahead of time so that he can discuss our family's fiefdom with us in advance.

"Then let us cooperate well with other vassal towns..."

Zheng Ruian's idea was different from his father's because he got some other information:

"Father...there are some minor problems in North America right now. I'm worried that we won't be able to get the place you want."

Zheng Ankang was shocked:
"what happened?"

Zheng Ruian explained:

“You know that I have been stationed on Jeju Island. Jeju Island is the gateway to the Whale Sea, and I have also established a coal supply station.

“Most of the steamships entering and leaving the Yellow Sea pass through here.

"Some time ago, a steam-powered ship of the imperial court returned from North America, bringing back the royal family and officials left behind by the Qing invaders.

“The key is that we also brought back a batch of California fir trees, all of which were cleared and were over 60 meters tall.

"According to the crew, the trees were cut directly from the west coast of California at the emperor's special request.

"We also know that these fir trees are probably the tallest trees in the world.

“Even if the imperial court had not discovered the local gold mines, it might have brought the area under its direct jurisdiction because of these trees.

"We may have to move to a different location..."

Zheng Ankang's originally pleasant mood suddenly dissipated. After a long silence, he sighed leisurely:
"Hey……"

(End of this chapter)