Zhu Yuanzhang in the cellar

Chapter 197 Hongwu's Sky is Different

At the end of the eighteenth year of Hongwu, the Ming Dynasty was full of vitality and everything was flourishing.

All kidding aside, things are really full of life right now.

While Zhu Yuanzhang was wandering around in other dynasties, Zhu Biao began to truly take power in this vast empire.

A drastic reform was initiated.

To a certain extent, Zhu Biao was governing the country, while Zhu Di was centralizing power.

Therefore, during the twenty years that Zhu Yuanzhang let Zhu Biao serve as regent, they often had conflicts.

If Zhu Biao had not died and had achieved a high degree of centralization, Zhu Biao's governance of the country would have been a natural process and would have been more effective.

But things did not go as planned. Zhu Biao died early, which led to Zhu Yunwen's rise to power, allowing Zhu Di to lead 800 people in a successful rebellion.

But now there are big changes.

With the emergence of Zhu Yunfeng and Ji He, later political concepts and advanced science and technology were brought to the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Biao's ideas on governing the country also kept pace with the times and opened up a new dynasty.

First was the agricultural revolution.

New rice seeds, pesticides and fertilizers have increased grain production exponentially.

However, the population did not grow as fast as the grain production, resulting in low grain prices in the Ming Dynasty and the emergence of a large number of laborers in society.

The second was the Industrial Revolution.

The imperial court established steel mills in Wu'an and Qian'an, built thermal power plants, and used electricity to produce steel through electric arc furnaces, greatly increasing steel output.

In just a few years, social productivity has increased by countless times, and steel products have become widely used among the people.

Zhu Biao immediately began to carry out large-scale infrastructure projects, making full use of the excess labor force to build cement roads, water dams, lay railroad tracks, etc.

From Zhu Yunfeng's perspective.

The current Ming Dynasty is actually a bit like the United States in the 20s.

At that time, the Americans took advantage of the First and Second World Wars, when they were isolated overseas, to make a fortune from the wars and then carry out nationwide construction.

The result was that the Americans in the 50s and 60s reaped the benefits, became the most developed country in the world, and enjoyed a brilliant and glorious era.

Today's Ming Dynasty has also reaped the benefits of being the first-mover. Through the accumulation of powerful modern productivity, it is completing the transformation from an agricultural country to an industrial country and even a modern country.

It is foreseeable that in thirty to fifty years, within the world of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Empire will become a true cradle of world civilization and a sun worshipped by the world.

The only difference is that it is different from the Americans.

The international order had been established after World War II, and the US-Soviet rivalry briefly balanced the existing colonial system.

Therefore, the previous form of imperialist colonial robbery was transformed into capitalist cannibalism.

The robbers from Western countries put on a cloak of civilization and seemed to be well-dressed.

There are occasional cases of banditry, but they are much less common than the plundering that took place all over the world before World War I and World War II.

The current Ming Dynasty is different.

The world is like a piece of uncultivated land, but the national strength of the Ming Dynasty, infused with modern civilization, has already crushed this land.

The guns and artillery that the Ming Dynasty possessed alone were enough to sweep across all the countries in the world today.

Therefore, after completing its early industrial accumulation, whether the Ming Dynasty would take the path of colonial expansion or an unimagined path is another matter.

However, Zhu Yunfeng didn't want to interfere, as this was not something he could decide.

Anyway, since Lao Zhu has already planned to cooperate with the country in his later years, he must have his own ideas, and the country will also help, so why should he worry about it?
Therefore, Zhu Yunfeng’s current goal is to see the situation of the Ming Dynasty in other worlds. He must gain some experience after all.

As for Zhu Biao.

This period of time is indeed very tiring.

Although it is tiring, it is very fulfilling.

At this moment, Zhu Biao was meeting with the cabinet, six ministries and three departments in the Fengtian Hall.

After the political reforms of the Ming Dynasty, it can also be regarded as a group prime minister system, or a cabinet responsibility system.

The power of the cabinet was increased, but only in administrative power; financial and military power were all divided, similar to the Song Dynasty, avoiding the struggle between prime ministerial power and imperial power that had always existed in the Ming Dynasty.

After hearing that Zhu had returned, Zhu Biao said to the ministers and cabinet scholars, "Father suddenly summoned me, so I'm going back first. Did you remember what we discussed today? The key is to implement it as soon as possible. Once the money is allocated, construction must begin immediately. Also, the Censorate must make a clear calculation to see if there is any trickery. We've had some peace in the past two years. You know how many people were killed when father set up the Jinyiwei a few years ago. If things are not done well, who knows how many people will die."

"I obey your orders."

Many cabinet scholars, ministers of various ministries, and heads of the three departments responded one after another.

This group of people was actually appointed in the 13th year of Hongwu, namely Qian Tang, Xue Xiang, Shao Zhi, Song Ne, Wu Chen, Wu Bozong, Liu Song, Han Yike, Qie Si, Zheng Jiuchen, Xu Duo, Zeng Bingzheng and others.

It has been stable for five years now, which is very different from the historical situation where the six ministers and cabinet scholars were replaced every year or two, or even every few months or days.

Throughout history, Zhu Yuanzhang changed positions many times, and what he wanted was simply to prevent the power of prime minister from affecting his imperial power.

But it would undoubtedly also cause political turmoil.

In addition, the cabinet and the six ministries also took charge of the financial and administrative power. After the Battle of Tumu, they were even able to interfere in military power, so that the Ming Dynasty fell into a vicious circle in the middle and late periods.

That is, the struggle between the power of the prime minister and the power of the emperor represented by the civil service group. This was the root cause of the chaos of the Wanli and Tianqi groups.

Now the political system has changed, separating the power of the prime minister. This has resulted in civil servants only being able to fight among themselves, making it difficult for them to influence imperial power, yet they have to rely on it, which in turn makes the relationship very solid.

But this also requires the emperor to be wise.

At least for now, under the leadership of Zhu Biao, there is no sign of division in the Ming Dynasty's upper decision-making power center.

Although each cabinet minister and the six ministers may have different opinions, most of them are critical of the matter rather than the person, and they do not form cliques. Factions are often determined by whether the issue is right or wrong.

Sometimes a few people might come together to express their opinions on something in the morning, but in the afternoon they might stand on opposing sides because of something else.

Whenever there was a lot of debate about something, Zhu Biao would step forward and make the final decision.

Judging from the current political ecology at the top of the Ming Dynasty, this atmosphere is still good and efficient. There are people who can give opinions, people who can make decisions, and people who can make the final decision.

In addition, the decentralization of the Jinyiwei and the Censorate has accelerated the efficiency of grassroots government offices, resulting in the steady progress of national decision-making in the Ming Dynasty.

What we are discussing today is the issue of building canals in some drought-stricken areas. The Ming Dynasty is not short of food now, but construction should be carried out when there is money and food, so as not to forget that the canals have not been built when disaster strikes.

Policy implementation is the key, and Zhu Biao still has to take control of it personally.

After discussing the matter, Zhu Biao dismissed the court officials and went to the Qianqing Palace.

When he arrived at the Qianqing Palace, he found that there were quite a lot of people in the hall.

They were all wearing Ming Dynasty official uniforms and sitting upright on the sofas on both sides, but he didn't recognize any of them.

The official uniform regulations of the Ming Dynasty were very strict, except for one change in the eighth year of Jiajing, which was quickly changed back.

Therefore, the rule established during the Zhu Yuanzhang period that officials from the first to fourth ranks wore scarlet robes; officials from the fifth to seventh ranks wore blue robes; and officials from the eighth to ninth ranks wore green robes, and the specific clothing patterns continued until the end of the Ming Dynasty.

I only recognized the official uniform, but not the person.

Zhu Biao quickly realized that he was just like the previous official brought back from the late Ming Dynasty, so he bowed to the old Zhu who was sitting on the upper floor and said, "Eldest son Biao pays respect to the emperor."

"Ah."

Zhu had just sat down and had his loyal ministers served tea. He then asked, "Are you talking about state affairs today?"

“It’s a problem of drought in some remote areas such as Jiangxi and Zhejiang.”

Zhu Biao said: "We need to build some canals. Another issue is the issue of immigration to the Northeast. We need the Han nationality as a base to stabilize people's hearts, otherwise the Manchus in the Northeast will not obey orders."

"Well"

Lao Zhu nodded with satisfaction: "Well done."

Chen Shiqi and others below were completely confused.

The Ming Dynasty in the early years of Hongwu seemed to be different from what they knew.

What's more, I can't understand a lot of what they say.

But they came very cautiously and did not dare to ask too many questions.

Old Zhu then said, "Sit down. You should have guessed that these people are some loyal ministers in the late Ming Dynasty. This time I brought them to my Hongwu Ming Dynasty to take a look and learn more about them."

Zhu Biao sat on the empty sofa seat below and to the right of Old Zhu. The sofa opposite him was occupied by Zhu Yunfeng and Ji He. Basically, only Zhu Biao, Zhu Yunfeng, Ji He and Zhu Di were qualified to sit on these two sofas.

As for Queen Ma.

Sit on it with Lao Zhu.

After Zhu Biao sat down, he smiled and said to them, "I have also heard about the events at the end of the dynasty. At the beginning, I was as sad as my father. But in fact, if you think about it carefully, throughout history, no dynasty has really been able to prosper for thousands of years. The fact that the Ming Dynasty has a national life of more than 270 years is not a short period. Although we are in different time periods, it is difficult for us to take care of each other. Therefore, we were powerless at most in the past, and we could not change it. But now that my father has become an immortal and can interfere with time, everything is possible. I welcome your arrival and will also contribute to the end of the Ming Dynasty. Since you can come here, it proves that you are loyal ministers of the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty will not be stingy in treating loyal ministers. I hope that after you go back, you can help your father stabilize the country and allow the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty to continue."

Everyone stood up in a hurry, and Chen Shiqi said excitedly: "Please rest assured, Your Highness. We are willing to die for Your Majesty and rebuild the country for Him." "Please rest assured, Your Highness."

The others also hurriedly said: "We are willing to die for His Majesty Taizu and rebuild the country."

Ministers from the late Ming Dynasty came to the early Ming Dynasty to serve Taizu.

Who wouldn’t feel uncomfortable seeing this picture?

But when you think about the fact that these were all loyal ministers of the Ming Dynasty, it makes sense.

After all, the Ming Dynasty has been enjoying the emperor's grace for more than two hundred years, and Zhu Yuanzhang's favor has been continuous, so it is normal that there are so many loyal ministers.

Old Zhu said, "Yunfeng, Xiaoji."

"His Majesty."

Zhu Yunfeng and Ji He hurriedly stood up and said, "I am here."

"Qin Liangyu stays here, and as for the rest, Yunfeng and Xiaoji, you take them around the city to see how the Ming Dynasty is doing now."

"Yes."

"Biao'er."

"Father."

"Take Qin Liangyu to the harem to meet your mother. Your mother will definitely like such a wonderful woman."

"Yes."

Zhu Biao looked at the old lady standing there in surprise.

I didn’t expect that this was the famous Qin Liangyu?

But when I think about it carefully, I seem to be very famous, but I don’t have any celebrity effect.

"Let's go."

Zhu Yunfeng and Ji He stood up and waved to Chen Shiqi and the others, saying, "Let's take you out of the palace to have a look."

"I'm waiting to retire."

Everyone bowed politely and backed out of the hall.

When they arrived at the square, Zhu Yunfeng and Ji He got into two Mercedes-Benz G-Class cars, one for each of them, and asked everyone to get in.

Chen Shiqi and others looked at each other. Where had they seen this before?
However, the car door was opened, and everyone got in carefully and sat obediently in the back seat.

The car driven by Zhu Yunfeng was carrying Chen Shiqi, Liu Zhibo, and Lu Anshi.

In addition, Wang Yangji, Du Yinxi and Ma Qian sat in Ji He's car.

Seeing that they didn't dare to get into the passenger seat, Zhu Yunfeng smiled and said, "Hold on tight, we're leaving."

After saying that, he stepped on the accelerator.

"boom!"

The G-Class turned directly and headed towards Yuehua Gate.

The three were caught off guard and were startled.

Chen Shiqi shouted, "What is this? What is this? Why is it moving?"

"Don't be surprised, this is a fairy weapon."

Zhu Yunfeng said: "This is much faster than a horse running, equivalent to the power of more than 500 horses."

Horsepower certainly does not refer to the strength of a horse, but a physical quantity that measures how much work an object does per unit time.

But Zhu Yunfeng, a student of arts, didn't understand this, so he just boasted: "Its power can pull the city wall, and anyone who stands in front of it will be killed directly."

"Too powerful, Your Highness King Wu, please retract your magical powers."

Liu Zhibo was terrified.

Zhu Yunfeng steered the car as he left Yuehua Gate and headed north along the palace corridor towards Shunzhen Gate. He said happily, "What are you afraid of? I control it. Look at the palace maids, eunuchs and guards. They are not afraid."

There were guards standing guard on both sides of the corridor in the palace, and occasionally palace maids and eunuchs would pass by. When they saw the Mercedes-Benz coming, they would calmly make way to the sides. The eunuchs bowed and bent over, and the palace maids squatted slightly, and they all saluted.

Everyone in the palace knew that these two G-Class cars were the mounts of His Royal Highness the King of Wu and the Duke of Chu.

In the past, one of them rode a motorcycle and the other rode an electric bike, and they wandered around the palace like two scoundrels.

At first everyone thought they were being overbearing, but as time went by everyone realized that they were just driving normally and never rushed recklessly, so everyone would give way to them when they saw them traveling.

The two cars passed the Jiaotai Hall, the Qianqing Palace and the back garden and arrived at the Shunzhen gate.

This is the north gate of the imperial palace. After exiting Shunzhen Gate, you will reach Xuanwu Gate. Zhu Yunfeng and Ji He walked out familiarly, and the road outside was already paved with cement.

Compared to the desolation of the past, the area outside the North Gate has become prosperous. New buildings are crisscrossed, and they are concrete buildings, like the six- or seven-story old buildings built in the 1960s and 1970s.

However, the architectural style of ancient times is different. The old buildings of later generations are square, while the ancient buildings are quite artistic. Although they are made of reinforced concrete, there are reliefs, wood carvings, eaves, brackets, etc. on the outside, which is equivalent to the combination of cement and wood, and looks very beautiful.

The streets were bustling with people, electric poles had been erected in many places, every household had electricity, and there were street lights on the streets. It was afternoon, and although it was a snowy winter season, it was very lively, and the shouts of the vendors were endless.

Zhu Yunfeng slowed down his car. Seeing him coming out, many vendors crowded around and shouted, "Your Highness, where have you been all this time? Why don't you come to our shop to have a look? Would you like a bowl of fresh wontons?"

"No, no, I have to go back to the palace to eat later."

"Your Highness, take a look at what I told you last time. This virgin girl is guaranteed to be very pretty and lively."

A matchmaker came over and pulled the window and shouted.

Zhu Yunfeng rolled his eyes and said, "A virgin girl? Is that reasonable? His Majesty is going to arrange a marriage for me. If I make His Majesty unhappy, I'll chop off your head first."

The matchmaker shrank her neck and walked away.

There were also familiar vendors around who were shouting towards the car with a smile, and Zhu Yunfeng and Ji He also greeted them with a smile.

Their palaces and duke's palaces were just outside Xihua Gate, not far from the North Gate. Sometimes they would come here to stroll through the streets. They had been hanging out on the streets for seven or eight years, so naturally they were familiar with everything they should be familiar with.

There were also some ignorant children who wanted to come over, but were held back by the adults.

joke.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu and the Duke of Chu are indeed approachable, but no matter how different their status are, children may not be sensible, but adults must be sensible. Otherwise, are the Jinyiwei who are riding horses following the vehicle not far away just decorations?

Seeing that the two men were of noble status but mingled among the common people, Chen Shiqi could not help but say, "Your Highness, I want to ask you a question."

"You said."

Zhu Yunfeng drove slowly and carefully through the crowded streets.

"Your Highness seems to have a good reputation in the market, but there is a difference between the high and the low. With your status, why would you want to mingle with those people?"

"What are you saying? The old man Taizu still needs to eat. What's the difference between the high and the low? You are a bit like a pedantic scholar."

"Your Highness"

Chen Shiqi was speechless.

"I remember now. After reading your information, you are indeed a corrupt scholar."

Zhu Yunfeng was concentrating on driving. He turned his head and glanced at Chen Shiqi. Then, he remembered the information he had read and suddenly realized, "Don't be so stubborn. Come from the people and go to the people. Chongzhen was of such a noble status, but he was still forced to hang himself on Coal Hill by the peasant Li Zicheng. We should understand what the people think and need, do things for the people, and make sure that the people are well fed and well clothed. Only then will the people not rebel and the country will be stable. Officials should understand this principle. Why are you so stupid?"

"I know I was wrong."

Chen Shiqi was scolded so much that he dared not say a word.

He naturally knew these principles, but knowing is one thing and everyone can talk about the big principles.

But in real life, which official doesn't act bossy when facing the people? He has been accustomed to this for many years. Suddenly meeting a prince who is so noble and yet so friendly, he really feels unfamiliar.

"If you are an official, you have to serve the people. Your mentality is not good. You have to change it. If you hadn't died for your country, if you had met me during the Hongwu Dynasty, you would have scolded me to death, and you wouldn't even be able to hold an official position."

Zhu Yunfeng pointed at the tall buildings in the distance and said, "See? These tall buildings, every brick and stone, were built by the common people. The great ancestor loved the common people the most. Take a good look at them and learn from them. When you go back there and change the customs, who knows, the Ming Dynasty can last for hundreds of years."

Chen Shiqi and the other two looked at the outside world curiously.

It's a completely different world.

It was completely different from the Hongwu Dynasty recorded in history books, but it was full of vitality and bright smiles everywhere.

The people here are completely different from the people in the Chongzhen period where they lived.

Even in winter.

The sky during the Hongwu reign seemed blue and full of sunshine, which was very different from the often gloomy winter sky during the Chongzhen reign.

It turns out that light can really dispel darkness.

(End of this chapter)