Zhu Yuanzhang in the cellar

Chapter 203 The Red Turban Rebels Came to Nanjing

With a hundred thousand guan tied around his waist, he rode a crane down to Yangzhou.

The city of Jinling has been a prosperous place in the south of the Yangtze River since ancient times.

In the early Ming Dynasty, when Zhu Yuanzhang founded the country here, the city of Nanjing had a population of less than 200,000, most of whom were soldiers, officials and their families.

The common people in the city either died or fled in the war, or were later exiled by Zhu Yuanzhang, so that in the early years of the Hongwu reign, Nanjing was not prosperous.

However, more than two hundred years later, thanks to the southern region being a major grain-producing area, the economy began to rapidly become active.

More food means more labor force will no longer be engaged in food production, but will instead engage in cash crops or handicraft manufacturing.

Under such circumstances, industries such as mulberry planting, silkworm breeding, cotton and ramie developed rapidly, and the development of commodities such as porcelain, tea, pens, ink, and paper was accelerated.

By the middle and late Ming Dynasty, although the imperial court imposed a maritime ban, Ming Dynasty products were still exported overseas, so much so that later history textbooks recorded that the economic prosperity of the late Ming Dynasty reached the point where capitalism was in its infancy.

However, the development of the private economy has nothing to do with the imperial court.

For more than 200 years in the Ming Dynasty, the main tax revenue was agricultural tax, which was fundamentally different from the Song Dynasty when commercial tax began to account for the majority in the middle and late stages.

This led to a situation where a large number of princes and landlords encroached on land resources, occupied countless fields, and continuously transferred taxes to self-cultivating farmers who had less and less land. The self-cultivating farmers went bankrupt one after another, and uprisings continued.

Among them, the Jiangnan region is the hardest hit area.

The TV series "The Ming Dynasty 1566" depicting rice being replaced by mulberry trees is just a fictional story and it did not happen in history.

However, it is an indisputable fact that many large landlords in the Jiangnan region converted the rice fields under their names into mulberry trees or other cash crops in order to gain greater economic benefits. This reduced grain production and caused the market price of grain to continue to rise. The people could not afford food.

Therefore, it can be said that the Jiangnan region, whether in terms of economy or agriculture, truly determined the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty. Even though the political center of the Ming Dynasty was in Beijing, it was constantly influenced by the former capital Nanjing and its surrounding areas.

At the end of the dynasty, when the Ming Dynasty was in turmoil, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang rushed back from the early years of the dynasty and marched towards Nanjing City like a king.

In fact, the fleet did not carry too many people, just two thousand soldiers and officials from Sichuan, Huguang and other places.

Including the entourage, the total number was less than four thousand.

After Zhu Yuanzhang met with Huguang officials including Lu Daqi, Li Qiande, Wang Yangji, Gao Doushu, and Xu Qiyuan in Wuchang, he went down the Yangtze River and arrived in Jiujiang.

Jiujiang was garrisoned by Ming troops.

However, the number of people was very small, and they were stationed here by Yuan Jixian, the governor of Jiangxi, Huguang, Anqing and Yingtian.

His position was actually the same as Lu Daqi's, both of them were senior officials who came to the south to deal with Zhang Xianzhong.

However, Yuan Jixian was sent here in the 15th year of Chongzhen, but he was unable to do anything about Zhang Xianzhong and lost Wuchang. Therefore, the court sent Lu Daqi to replace him in May of the 16th year of Chongzhen.

However, Yuan Jixian was not dismissed from his post, but continued to stay in Jiujiang to recruit soldiers.

Later, Lü Daqi was unable to do anything with Zhang Xianzhong, so the court removed Lü Daqi in the first month of the 17th year of Chongzhen and let Yuan Jixian continue to serve.

History has changed dramatically now.

Because the official documents submitted by Lu Daqi stated that Zhang Xianzhong had been dealt with, the court planned to remove Yuan Jixian and send him to Nanjing to serve as the right vice minister of the Ministry of War.

However, due to the long journey, the appointment letter had just been delivered and Yuan Jixian was about to set off. When he heard that Lu Daqi had arrived in Jiujiang, he went to greet him.

The one who gave him the wake-up call was Taizu.

Like many officials, Yuan Jixian couldn't believe it at first.

It was not until so many senior officials on the ship said it in unison and showed him the video of the Hongwu Dynasty that he was shocked and believed it. He then immediately knelt down and expressed his willingness to support Taizu.

The fleet continued to move eastward in a mighty manner.

By early February, the team arrived in Nanjing and slowly sailed to the banks of the Qinhuai River.

Old Zhu stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the city of Nanjing more than 200 years later.

A familiar yet unfamiliar feeling came over me.

The sense of familiarity is the city wall.

The city walls of Jinling City have existed since ancient times, especially during the Sun Wu period, when Sun Quan established his capital in Jianye and quickly built high walls here, making it a place where dragons and tigers reigned.

But over the past thousands of years, during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, and especially at the end of the Song Dynasty and the end of the Yuan Dynasty, countless wars had left the original city walls of Jinling in ruins.

After Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty and made Nanjing his capital, he carried out large-scale repairs on Jinling. Many of the remaining city walls of Nanjing in later generations were built in the early years of Hongwu, and inscribed with the names of the supervisors, officials, and craftsmen who built them at that time.

It is not yet the end of the Qing Dynasty, and the current city walls of Jinling City were basically built during the Hongwu period. They look exactly the same as the city at that time, so when Old Zhu took a look, he only saw a sense of familiarity.

But it's also very strange.

What’s strange is that during the Hongwu period, there weren’t as many people in the Ming Dynasty’s Nanjing City as there are now.

In fact, after seven or eight years of development, Zhu Biao had planned the city of Nanjing and expanded its population, and its prosperity was increasing day by day.

However, this rapid growth in a short period of time is naturally inferior to the foundation of more than 200 years.

It is said that in the late Ming Dynasty, the population of Nanjing city had reached more than three million, and both sides of the Qinhuai River were filled with pleasure boats.

It was the time of February when the spring breeze was as scissors-like. Willows on both sides of the river were swaying in the wind, and countless pleasure boats were coming and going. Even though Zhu Yuanzhang and his fleet were flying the flag of official court ships, they could only sail slowly among the countless ships.

“Is this the city of Nanjing in the late Ming Dynasty?”

Zhu Yunfeng looked at it curiously.

He saw pavilions and towers lined up on the shore outside Dinghuai Gate, with white walls, gray tiles, and red gates and courtyards. He also saw temples and brothels built together, and the towering pagoda in the distance sparkling in the sun.

The flow of people coming and going on the shore formed streets and markets on both sides of the Qinhuai River outside the city.

There were countless vendors dragging goods in and out of the city at the foot of the city wall, dock workers constantly unloading and moving goods, waiters attentively greeting customers at teahouses and restaurants, and scholars in gorgeous clothes leisurely and unrestrainedly shuttling through the downtown area.

There were also colorful ribbons hanging on the attic three or four stories high. A young and beautiful woman was standing on it, showing her arms as white as jade, and waving at them with a charming smile.

In contrast are the banks of the Qinhuai River during the Hongwu period.

It can’t be said to be a flourishing scene.

It can be said to be a wasteland, a pure grassland.

no way.

During the Hongwu period, Nanjing had few people and its development took only a few years.

At present, Zhu Biao has only planned the streets within the city, built some concrete buildings, and completed some infrastructure such as electricity and roads, and has no time to take care of the areas outside the city.

In contrast, the banks of the Qinhuai River in the late Ming Dynasty had already undergone many years of development. Not only were there many streets and markets in the city, but also many markets outside the city walls were built on both sides of the Qinhuai River. The rammed earth ground was paved with bluestone slabs, just like a small city in the south of the Yangtze River. The criss-crossing waterway network built many arch bridges, and brothels were built on the banks. The city also continued to extend to the southwest, and there were markets and streets outside the city of Nanjing, such as Jiangdong Gate, Jiangdong Bridge, Ande Gate, and Yuhuatai.

Nanjing was also an economic and secondary political center, gathering all kinds of people, as well as a large number of local officials and retired, resigned, and demoted officials. It was even one of the bases of the Donglin Party.

The famous Donglin Academy is located in Wuxi, not far from Nanjing, and the Donglin Party emphasizes openness and freedom of speech.

This brings together various theories.

Here you can see prostitutes discussing Buddhist scriptures with monks and talking about Taoism with Taoists.

You can see people on the street criticizing the government, you can see Confucian scholars putting on white powder and wearing women's clothes, you can see women walking openly on the street, as well as foreigners of other skin colors and even Western missionaries.

Many great scholars lived in seclusion in Nanjing, accepting students and giving lectures, such as Liu Zongzhou, Qian Qianyi, and Lü Weiqi.

If you were not told that this is an ancient feudal society, one would probably think it was an ancient scenic spot from later times. The degree of openness is far beyond people's imagination.

“No wonder Hong Yingming could write ‘Cai Gen Tan’.”

Seeing old men playing chess and prostitutes worshipping Buddha on the river bank in the distance, Ji He couldn't help but say, "If you live in a place like this for a long time, you may really understand a lot of philosophy."

Zhu Yunfeng was surprised and said, "Oh, Chichi, you're really good. With your level, you actually know "Cai Gen Tan"?"

"That is required."

Ji He patted his chest and said, "I am an educated person after all. I have a bachelor's degree! A second-tier university is also a university. Unlike some people, if they don't study art, they can only teach in a technical school!"

"."

Zhu Yunfeng was choked and was speechless.

Educational background is a major flaw. Ji Hezaila was admitted to a second-tier university by his own ability, and he scored more than 500 points.

Although I was also admitted to a second-tier university, I relied on my status as an art student and lowered my score by more than 100 points to be barely admitted to a second-tier B-type independent art college.

Otherwise, you really can only go for a specialist.

TM's.

Although he was the King of Wu of the Ming Dynasty and Ji He was just a Duke, he would be suppressed for the rest of his life on this matter.

So angry!
While the two were bickering, the fleet had already slowly passed through Dinghuai Gate, Qingliang Gate, Shicheng Gate, and arrived outside Sanshan Gate.

The most prosperous place in Nanjing City in the late Ming Dynasty was actually near Jubao Gate, which is the area inside Nanjing Zhonghuai Gate in later generations, consisting of the Outer Qinhuai River and the Inner Qinhuai River.

There are a large number of market streets and small rivers in the inner city. Not only are the streets well planned, but many arch bridges have also been built. If you look down from the city wall, you will see a quiet and beautiful scene like a southern town.

However, although the area around Jubao Gate was prosperous, the official residences and political center of the city were still inside Zhengyang Gate, which was outside the south gate of the Nanjing Imperial Palace.

The Sanshan Gate allows you to go along the Inner Qinhuai River, through half of Nanjing city, and reach the locations of Nanjing's five prefectures and six ministries.

The six ministries of Nanjing had no real power. The real power was mainly held by the eunuchs guarding Nanjing, as well as officials such as the Nanjing governor, Nanjing military affairs nobles, the assistant minister of machinery, and the left and right censors.

These people either hold military power in Nanjing or have direct access to the imperial court and can report to the emperor.

For example, the eunuchs guarding Nanjing were the means by which the emperor in Beijing placed them in Nanjing to control Nanjing. The Nanjing censors could impeach Nanjing officials, and the Nanjing nobles controlled the military.

In comparison, the six ministries in Nanjing were in name only and basically served as a place for officials who were demoted or retired to the second line to live in their retirement.

Therefore, the area around the Nanjing Imperial Palace, the residences and official residences of the garrison eunuchs and many Nanjing military nobles naturally became the political center of the South.

At this moment, outside the Sanshan Gate, there were Han Zanzhou, the eunuch who was in charge of the garrison of Nanjing, Zhao Zhilong, the Nanjing governor and the nobleman who served as the military governor of Nanjing, as well as Shi Kefa, the assistant minister of machinery, the right assistant censor-in-chief and the minister of war, and Jin Guangchen, the left assistant censor-in-chief of Nanjing, and other powerful officials.

More than 30 officials, including the honorary officials Minister of Works Xiong Mingyu, Minister of Revenue Gao Hongtu, Minister of Personnel Zhang Shenyan, Censor Guo Weijing, and Nanjing Hanlin Academy official Jiang Yueguang, were waiting outside the door.

Sun Chuanting did not come this time, and the highest-ranking person to come to Nanjing was Lu Daqi. Although Li Qiande, Chen Shiqi and others were governors and were high-ranking officials in the local area, in terms of status, they were not worthy of Han Zanzhou coming to greet them.

Because Han Zanzhou was the emperor's man and represented the supreme imperial power.

Except for Sun Chuanting, who has a special status and is currently highly appreciated by Chongzhen, he has the right to ignore the rest, including Lu Daqi.

Even though he was only a fourth-rank official, and many officials present had higher ranks than him, just one sentence that could reach the ears of the emperor was enough to make all the officials present feel awe.

But he still came to greet him in person today.

First of all, Han Zanzhou was not actually an arrogant and domineering person. Instead, he was quite low-key. In history, he also committed suicide and died for his country.

Secondly, Lu Daqi and his men came this time, saying that they had already eliminated Zhang Xianzhong. They came to Nanjing in accordance with the order of His Majesty to cooperate with Sun Chuanting to eliminate Li Zicheng's troops who were roaming around in Xuhuai and other places.

In fact, this was naturally a forged imperial edict.

However, the post stations were shut down in the late Ming Dynasty, and coupled with the constant wars and epidemics, not to mention official documents, even the emperor's edicts could be affected by various factors and it was common for them to take several months to reach the corresponding officials.

So although Nanjing had not received any news that Beijing had sent Lu Daqi and others to assist in the defense of Nanjing, Han Zanzhou and others did not become suspicious due to the imminent threat from Li Zicheng.

At this moment, the fleet slowly arrived outside the Sanshan Gate, but the number of ships was not large, only five ships in total.

Han Zanzhou, Zhao Zhilong, Shi Kefa, Jin Guangchen and others standing in the first echelon were quite surprised to see this. Shi Kefa wondered, "Didn't they say they would send troops to Nanjing to encircle and suppress Li Zicheng? Why are there only five ships?"

"They probably haven't entered the city. Their troops are somewhere else. Maybe they have been settled in Jiangpu."

Zhao Zhilong said casually.

"Yeah, that's true, but I don't know how much food and fodder I need to prepare."

Shi Kefa nodded.

Han Zanzhou bowed his hands to the north and said, "We, the ministers, are all under the command of Your Majesty, so we naturally have to share your worries. Now that Zhang Xianzhong has been destroyed and the remnants of Li Zicheng are fighting like trapped beasts, we should work together to help Governor Lu and restore the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty."

"That's what the father-in-law said."

"Now that all the bandits have been wiped out, the Ming Dynasty will soon be able to restore stability."

"Yes, as long as we can stabilize the situation, the Jian Nu will not be a problem."

Everyone responded happily, and everyone had a relaxed expression on their face.

There is really too much good news during this period.

The two great evils that roamed around the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng, one was wiped out and the other was crippled.

As long as these two major problems are solved, even if there are small uprisings in other places, they will not pose a threat to the Ming Dynasty as a whole.

By that time, we will slowly restore governance. With the national strength of the Ming Dynasty, the Jiannu outside the Great Wall will sooner or later suffer the same fate.

Therefore, everyone is still relatively optimistic and in a very happy mood.

Soon the fleet docked at the pier.

The Nanjing garrison troops had already cleared the area near the dock, and many officials slowly came to the dock, waiting for Lu Daqi and others to get off the ship.

The boat stopped and a group of people soon appeared on the side of the boat.

A large wooden staircase was lowered from the boat. The leader stepped onto the staircase and walked down slowly.

Behind him were many senior officials in official uniforms surrounding him.

However, the Nanjing officials who were originally preparing to hold a welcoming ceremony for Lu Daqi and his group at the dock and invite them to enter the city for a banquet were stunned.

Because the first person to walk down from the boat was not Lu Daqi, but an old man wearing a dragon robe.

He has a dignified face, extraordinary aura, and his eyes are as sharp as swords.

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what was going on.

After a while, high-ranking officials from Huguang and Sichuan, represented by Lu Daqi, Li Qiande, Chen Shiqi and others, followed Zhu to the dock, only ten feet away from Han Zanzhou and others.

After hesitating for a moment, Han Zanzhou frowned and looked at Old Zhu up and down, then couldn't help but ask Lu Daqi: "Lu Duxian, which prince is this?"

It was not uncommon for princes to flee to Nanjing from other places. Prince of Fu Zhu Yousong, Prince of Lu Zhu Changxun, Prince of Ji Zhu Youdong, and Prince of Hui Zhu Changrun all came to Nanjing, and there were also many other princes from various places.

Basically, the various princes from Henan, Huguang and other places who were harassed by Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng were forced to flee here.

Therefore, it is not surprising to see someone wearing a dragon robe.

The only strange thing is that the style of this dragon robe is very different from that of the Ming Dynasty princes.

The officials were very puzzled.

Only Han Zanzhou got goosebumps all over his body.

Because he was born a eunuch in the palace, he had seen portraits of previous emperors before.

For some reason, he felt that this dragon robe was very similar to the dragon robes in the portraits of the founding emperors.
Lu Daqi immediately said: "This is His Majesty Taizu!"

"Your Majesty?"

Everyone, like every official who had heard this before, was stunned where they were.

"listen."

Seeing their silly looks, Zhu Yunfeng stood up, cleared his throat, put his hands on his hips and shouted: "The one standing in front of you now is brave and wise, handsome, graceful, and a symbol of the sun and the sun. He started from the lowest point in thousands of years of Chinese history, won the country in the most righteous way, swept away the Mongols, drove out the Tartars, restored China, recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, was the first to successfully fight in the Northern Expedition, and restored the blood of the Han people. He is the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the great saint, the most divine, the benevolent, the righteous, the martial, the talented, the successful, and the great emperor! Your Majesty Zhu! Yuan! Zhang!"

"."

When the speech ended, there was no applause, only dead silence.

Everyone present had a dull expression, a frown, or some anger.

and so.

Are you treating us like fools?

(End of this chapter)