Zhu Yuanzhang in the cellar

Chapter 247 Hongwu, Your Emperor Has Returned

It's already late October, with less than a month and a half left until the end of the year.

From the time Zhu Di and Zhu Yunfeng entered Beijing in late May until now.

Zhu Yunfeng has been the nominal regent, but in reality, the emperor for about half a year now.

During this period, we can't say that we accomplished many great things.

But what was done in just the past six months was enough to benefit the late Ming Dynasty for at least fifty years.

Why do you say that?
Since last September, Zhu Rongji has executed a large number of corrupt officials, landlords, and gentry, and has exiled as many as a million people.

According to the Pareto principle, these people are actually the very few who hold 80% of the wealth in the Ming Dynasty.

If we consider the population of over 100 million at the end of the Ming Dynasty, this means that approximately 1% of the population controlled more than 80% of the wealth, and a large amount of social resources were occupied by them.

Then Lao Zhu ate their bean shark.

This doesn't mean that 80% of the wealth has been liberated. Even if only 50% is liberated, the vast majority of the remaining people will still benefit.

This is not the industrial age.

Doing this in the industrial age was not easy, because production in the industrial age was not so simple and involved many aspects; otherwise, there would not have been a wave of worker layoffs.

But the agricultural era was much simpler and more straightforward. As long as there was land, there was food to eat and clothes to wear, which solved the basic problem of food and clothing.

Moreover, during famines, planting large quantities of sweet potatoes and potatoes, which later became highly productive, could save lives.

With the land and food issues resolved, most of the existing problems of the Ming Dynasty have been solved, essentially saving its life. The rest will require slow recuperation.

of course.

If no further treatment is given and the Ming Dynasty continues to operate in the same way as before,

Therefore, it is foreseeable that fifty years from now, the Ming Dynasty will still have to follow the same old path.

Corrupt officials run rampant, landlords and merchants do not pay taxes, and the people's land is once again seized in large quantities, thus forming a new cycle.

Therefore, after using simple and crude methods, it is very important to find the right direction.

This is why Old Zhu hoped that Zhu Yunfeng could help him teach Zhu Cilang.

In the past six months, Zhu Yunfeng has indeed taught Zhu Cilang a lot, including methods of governing the country, philosophy of life, and understanding of the world.

Militarily, we should establish two enemies: the Mongols and the Jurchens. We should abolish the garrison system, adopt a recruitment system, station troops on the border, and continuously penetrate deep into the grasslands and northeastern regions to strike at the Mongols and the Jurchens, thereby ensuring our military strength.

Politically, we must combat corruption, increase officials' salaries and benefits, extend their terms of office, and strengthen central authority while also giving local governments more autonomy.

This seemingly contradictory approach of strengthening central authority and granting local autonomy is actually not contradictory.

Because what's being strengthened is regulatory oversight and taxation.

For example, the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot.

What is opened up is the governance power of local officials, requiring local governments to learn how to develop their localities.

If there are mines, mine them; if there is a suitable place to grow tea, grow tea; if there is a suitable place for foreign trade, develop handicraft manufacturing, etc.

The imperial court can provide guidance on these matters in the future. The court's main responsibility is to control local officials and prevent them from abusing their power or colluding with local powerful families.

The most important thing is the economy. With sufficient food, we should cultivate cash crops, develop handicraft manufacturing, and provide them with steam engine technology so that they can quickly become a primary industrial country.

It doesn't need to be incredibly powerful; reaching the level of late 18th-century England would be practically invincible in the 17th century. At that point, a single nation could seize all the world's resources, enough to extend the Ming Dynasty's lifespan by not only three hundred years, but even five hundred.

In Zhu Yunfeng's view, the Ming Dynasty was like Guan Yu who had been hit by a poisoned arrow, and Zhu Yuanzhang was like Hua Tuo who had scraped the bone to remove the poison. The most troublesome thing had been done, and all that was left was to apply ointment, bandage the wound, and wait for it to heal.

Zhu Cilang has already been taught almost everything he needed to know. If he can still ruin the Ming Dynasty under these circumstances, then the Ming Dynasty is doomed.

The next day.

Old Zhu announced that he had finished what he needed to do and was going back to the Immortal Realm.

After these words were spoken, all the civil and military officials were as if they had lost their parents, and they all knelt on the ground, begging His Majesty the Emperor not to abandon them and to stay in the mortal world for a long time.

His words were so moving, they truly touched heaven and earth.

If an official from the Hongwu era were to say this, it would likely be insincere; they would be hoping for Zhu Yuanzhang's demise.

But the officials during the Chongzhen era were truly sincere.

Because those who needed to be cut down have already been cut down, what remains are all those who died heroically for their country, with illustrious resumes. Even if their talents are mediocre, with the blessing of dying for their country, they can sit comfortably on the sidelines.

Basically, as long as you don't do anything that violates principles, such as embezzlement, corruption, dereliction of duty, or abuse of power, you can get by with this resume and retire with honor.

So they genuinely hoped that Lao Zhu would stay.

After all, working under Zhu Yuanzhang meant they wouldn't have to take the blame for many things like they did during the Chongzhen era. They would do whatever Zhu Yuanzhang said, and wouldn't end up like Chen Xinjia.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang was determined to leave the country and ordered his son, Zhu Cilang, to succeed him. The new emperor ascended the throne and changed the reign title of the following year to Xingshi, meaning the beginning of a revival.

Originally, Zhu Yuanzhang had hesitated about whether to change the era name to Xinshi.

It means a new beginning.

The Ming Dynasty was almost on the verge of collapse, but he saved it. The reign title "Xinshi" is very fitting.

But this would be tantamount to separating the Ming Dynasty from the reign of Zhu Youjian to Zhu Cilang, just like the Eastern Han and Western Han dynasties, and creating a separate Ming Dynasty for the period before and after.

Therefore, the final reign title was Xingshi, meaning "restoration," which signifies the continuation of the Ming Dynasty and serves as a bridge between the past and the future.

Although Zhu Cilang did nothing, the old Zhu still placed high hopes on him, hoping that he could revitalize the Ming Dynasty, or at least firmly follow Zhu Yunfeng's instructions and lay a new foundation for the Ming Dynasty.

"Remember how to use these medicines. Do not take too many. Even if you are sick, cut one pill in half and save the powder for the next day. If you experience any discomfort, stop taking the medicine immediately."

It was midday, and Beijing was still covered in ice and snow. A howling north wind was blowing, and light snow was falling in the city, making a crunching sound underfoot.

In the morning, the group attended Zhu Cilang's enthronement ceremony. After having a light lunch, Zhu had to set off.

Time is running out; it's already late October, and the Lunar New Year is just over a month away.

Changsha to Beijing is about 1,500 kilometers away. In later times, it would only take two hours by plane and about six or seven hours by high-speed rail, which is very fast.

However, in ancient times, carriages, horses, and boats were slow, and traveling fifty kilometers a day was considered fast.

If leading a large supply train, the speed is comparable to that of a tortoise crawling, and the marching speed can often only be maintained at 20 kilometers per hour.

Therefore, they had to set off early. Fortunately, the large amount of supplies that Lao Zhu brought from the south was almost exhausted. The shells were almost used up, and the bullets were not as heavy as the shells. The rapid-fire cannons were a bit troublesome, as they had to be loaded onto ships and transported back, but they could be transported slowly. The rest of the group set off first to go back home for the New Year.

The remaining grain, gold and silver jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and silk fabrics confiscated were left in Beijing, as a fund left by Zhu Yuanzhang for Zhu Cilang to govern the country, and also to prevent him from having a disastrous start.

Amidst the wind and snow, Zhu Yunfeng handed a small bag of medicine to Zhu Cilang.

It contains more than 20 kinds of commonly used household medicines, including amoxicillin, 999 Cold Relief, Gan Kang, cephalosporins, aspirin, loratadine, dermatitis cream, mupirocin, ranitidine, and Niuhuang Jiedu tablets.

He had previously taught Zhu Cilang about the symptoms and how to use these medications. Although he hadn't done a skin test on Zhu Cilang and didn't know if he was allergic to penicillin, there was nothing he could do about it. After all, these were life-saving drugs, so he naturally had to leave them for him.

Zhu Yunfeng continued to instruct, "Do not use these medicines indiscriminately unless absolutely necessary. Also, stay away from water, and care for the physical and mental development of your offspring. The textbooks I left behind can bring prosperity to the country; just remember them well."

Zhu Cilang has grown rapidly in the past six months. Whether it is governing the country, reviewing memorials, or exchanging views with civil officials, he is quite capable and has learned a great deal. He has also mastered many skills and techniques.

But he was just a teenager after all.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunfeng were his greatest support during this period, allowing him to devote himself wholeheartedly to his studies. Now that he has suddenly lost his pillars and has to take charge of his own affairs, he suddenly feels as if the sky has fallen.

It's like a child who used to have parents to take care of them, but one day both parents suddenly pass away. Although they leave behind a large inheritance, their hearts are still filled with fear and confusion about the future.

Therefore, Zhu Cilang felt empty inside and asked listlessly, "Brother Yunfeng, will you come back to see me again?"

"Will do."

Zhu Yunfeng smiled and said, "It's very convenient for me to come over. I can come anytime in the future. I also need to check on you from time to time to see if you've followed in the footsteps of your great-grandfather, Emperor Wanli."

Zhu Cilang was already used to Zhu Yunfeng's lack of respect for his ancestors, so he didn't mind too much. Instead, he assured him, "Brother Yunfeng, don't worry, I will definitely follow the teachings of my great-great-grandfather, my great-great-grandfather, and you."

"Ah."

Zhu Yuanzhang patted his head and looked at his youthful face, sighing, "It is really difficult to entrust the affairs of the country to a child like you, but there is no other way. Your father is ignorant. Entrusting the country to him is not a blessing for the country, but a disaster."

"Great-grandfather, when can I bring my father back?"

Zhu Cilang asked with a wronged expression.

"Three years from now. I'll come over in three years to see how you've done. If you've done well, I'll take that kid back."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yujian, the Prince of Tang, who was not far away, and beckoned to him, saying, "Come here."

"Great-grandfather".

Zhu Yujian hurriedly walked over.

Zhu Yuanzhang then said to Zhu Cilang, "He is a pillar of the Tang Kingdom, loyal to the country, and hardworking. You should treat him as a regent minister."

"Yes."

Zhu Cilang then bowed to the Tang Emperor and said, "Then I'll leave it to my great-uncle."

Zhu Yujian was a tenth-generation descendant of Zhu Yuanzhang, and Zhu Cilang was a thirteenth-generation descendant of Zhu Yuanzhang. Therefore, in terms of generation, Zhu Yujian was actually of the same generation as Zhu Cilang's great-grandfather, the Wanli Emperor.

"To share the nation's burdens was originally the grand plan of Emperor Taizu when he established the vassal kings. From now on, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to Your Majesty and the court, and do my utmost until my dying breath."

Zhu Yujian hurriedly returned the greeting.

He naturally knew that he later became emperor in history.

But he was naturally very clear about the relationship between the minor and major branches of the Ming dynasty, as well as between the Southern Ming separatist regime and the unified regime.

Moreover, Zhu Yunfeng had already told him about this matter. After the Ming Dynasty was re-established, the position would still have to return to Zhu Cilang's hands, since the fact that the Tang Prince's lineage was not a descendant of Empress Ma was a major flaw.

"Ah."

Seeing that Zhu Cilang had been wise and virtuous during this period, and that many officials had been killed down to only loyal and virtuous ones, the old Zhu was very satisfied. He nodded and said, "When I came to this country, it was in ruins, and when I left, everything was in need of rebuilding. Yunfeng and I have already done the hardest part for you. If you can't build a prosperous era within three years, then you will disappoint me. Do a good job."

"Yes."

Everyone bowed their hands.

Old Zhu said, "Let's go, the Empress is still waiting for me at home."

The group boarded the ship.

When the fleet arrived, it carried a great deal of supplies; the transport fleet alone stretched for dozens of miles.

Going back wasn't too troublesome. It saved us a lot of food, gold and silver jewelry, and shells. We just brought bullets, rapid-fire cannons, and mortars.

More than two thousand soldiers from the Hongwu Dynasty were lightly equipped, with only about twenty boats in total. This was a significant reduction compared to the nearly one thousand transport ships that had brought them on the way, which had almost clogged the entire canal.

Below were Zhu Cilang, Zhu Yujian, Sun Chuanting, and many civil and military officials in Beijing, as well as many ordinary people in more distant places.

Everyone was waving goodbye to Old Zhu, and many people even cried, as if they had lost their parents, feeling as if the sun above them was slowly moving away.

They truly regarded Zhu Yuanzhang as their savior, and Zhu Yuanzhang did indeed act as a savior, saving the lives of millions of Han people from the Manchu Qing dynasty's massacre, and also saving more than 20 million people who were indirectly killed.

Although this was a continuous period of turmoil, from the rampant looting by bandits during the Chongzhen era to the Manchu conquest of China after the fall of the Ming Dynasty, and then to the demise of the Southern Ming, the total number of deaths exceeded 30 million over several decades.

What Old Zhu could save were the people after the Manchus entered the pass.

Even so, it was a great deed, as more than 20 million people no longer had to die from war, plague, and famine as they had in history, and land was distributed to them, which was no less than a re-establishment of the country.

Watching the cheering crowd in the distance, Old Zhu stood at the bow of the boat, his left hand behind his back and his right hand gently waving goodbye to his people who revered him.

soon.

With the boatmen pulling with all their might and the sailors rowing with all their might, the fleet sailed at a speed of seven or eight kilometers per hour and arrived in Wuqing by evening.

After that, they headed south, passing through Hebei, Shandong, and Anhui, and then traveled along the Yangtze River, speeding towards Hubei.

Before returning, Zhu had already instructed the generals stationed in various places to come back.

At this time, Xu Da, Tang He, Feng Sheng and others had been stationed in various parts of the Ming Dynasty for more than a year, and Fu Youde had also been in Shaanxi for half a year since he went there in May of this year.

With their help, stability was quickly restored throughout the Ming Dynasty, and now it was time for them to retire gracefully.

At the end of December, after more than a month of sailing, they finally returned to Changsha.

Looking out over Changsha.

Old Zhu was already filled with excitement.

My Hongwu Ming Dynasty, your emperor has returned.

(End of this chapter)