Zhu Yuanzhang in the cellar

Chapter 62 Hand-Rubbing Technology (Subscription Request)

"Wang Wang Wang."

Just when Zhu Yunfeng was downloading information to Lao Zhu, Pipi, who was lying there, suddenly started barking like a dog.

"Yunfeng, are you there?"

A voice came from downstairs. It was Zhu Biao's voice.

When Pippi heard the familiar voice, he stopped and went downstairs happily, jumping and skipping.

Zhu Yunfeng also followed, and before he went downstairs, he saw Zhu Biao coming up the stairs between the first and second floors.

"Grandpa, why are you here?"

Zhu Yunfeng was puzzled.

I have already told them everything I need to say. I have to go down the mountain tomorrow for something. How can I sleep so late at night?

Zhu Biao touched Pippi's head and then walked up.

Zhu Di also stood up from the sofa and said, "Brother."

"Ah."

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "I came here because I have something to tell Yunfeng."

"Why are you coming here in person so late at night? I'll tell you tomorrow when I go over to report my work to my ancestor, or you can tell me when you come over to surf the Internet."

Zhu Yunfeng said casually as he went to get some water from the refrigerator.

He doesn't like beverages, he prefers to drink purified water, and the purified water at home is bought in cartons.

Zhu Biao took a bottle of water, then sat down with a very serious expression and said, "This matter is very important. My father has asked me to take over the supervision of the Hu Weiyong case."

"Oh?"

Zhu Yunfeng also sat on the other side of the sofa, unscrewed the bottle of mineral water and said with a smile: "Congratulations."

There are rumors online that among the four major cases on the Lunar New Year, the first three were handled by Zhu Biao.

There is no such record in official history, but if Zhu Biao really took charge of it, his prestige would greatly increase.

Because Zhu Biao's base actually had nothing to do with Hu Weiyong and others, but rather the literati group in the early Ming Dynasty headed by Song Lian, and the second-generation military generals group headed by Lan Yu and Mu Ying.

Therefore, the Hu Weiyong case could not actually shake his foundation.

Zhu Biao said calmly: "And I've told my father that I hope you can help me."

"puff!"

Zhu Yunfeng had just taken a sip of water and nearly choked to death. He coughed a few times before looking up at him in disbelief and said, "Ah? Me? I'm here to investigate Hu Weiyong? Is that true?"

joke.

Among the four major cases in the early Ming Dynasty, Hu Weiyong was not only the initiator, but also had a profound impact.

The Hu Weiyong case alone implicated tens of thousands of people at the beginning.

Later, in the 18th year of Hongwu and the 23rd year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang used the Hu Weiyong case as an excuse several times to punish some officials and nobles.

If we take into account the family members of the implicated officials and the Nanjing residents who were related to them, by the time the Hu Weiyong case was barely over in the 24th year of Hongwu, the number of people killed because of this incident was as high as 30,000 to 40,000.

Moreover, the Hu Weiyong case is also closely related to the Lan Yu case.

According to the "Records of Traitors" written by Zhu Yuanzhang himself, he believed that many of the meritorious generals who died in the Lan Yu case were involved in Hu Weiyong's rebellion, but they were lucky enough not to be found last time.

This time he personally investigated the matter and indeed uncovered many of Hu Weiyong's remnants.

Therefore, the Hu Weiyong case and the Lan Yu case are closely linked. Including the Lan Yu case, it is conservatively estimated that Zhu Yuanzhang killed more than 50,000 people in these two cases.

For such a big case, there's nothing wrong with just speaking up and making some suggestions.

After all, Zhu Yuanzhang killed more people in history. He gave a suggestion that with Zhu Biao's personality, the number of people involved would probably not be so wide and the impact could be minimized.

But asking him to do it himself would really put him in a difficult position.

As a modern keyboard expert and a master of talking, I strike out with force, make eloquent speeches and give advice online, but I only sigh that all heroes in the world are good-for-nothings.

In reality, I am timid and if he really comes up, I will definitely remain silent no matter what you ask me.

"good."

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Since you brought this up, you naturally have to help me."

"It's not that I don't want to help. First, you know the old ancestor. He can share the power with you, but if I want to get involved, I can't stand it."

Zhu Yunfeng stammered, "Secondly, I have a lot of things to do right now. My business here will soon be on the right track, and we have to start our agricultural business next spring. If you want to develop industry in the future, how can you ensure that there is enough food for the whole society without an agricultural revolution? So I really can't leave now."

"I believe you have guessed it."

Zhu Biao glanced at Zhu Di who was confused beside him and said, "This is my chance. In the past, my father always rejected any opinions I put forward. He only believed that he was right. I want to prove that my father can also be wrong."

Zhu Di shrank his neck, as if he had heard something extraordinary.

But he kept his mouth shut.

Because Zhu Biao had the qualifications to say this, not to mention behind his back, even in front of Zhu, Zhu Biao had the qualifications, so he did not dare to refute.

"You want to exercise power?"

Zhu Yunfeng looked at Zhu Biao in surprise.

"good."

Zhu Biao nodded: "I have always felt that the systems my father has set up are not good, but I am powerless to fight against them. I can only turn to you, Yunfeng."

He said to Zhu Yunfeng very seriously and solemnly: "You are also a descendant of the old Zhu family. It would be fine if we had no intersection, but now we have an intersection. I hope you can help me for the sake of so many suffering people in the Ming Dynasty."

"Help you? How can I help you?"

Zhu Yunfeng spread his hands and said with a wry smile: "You can't even control your own brothers, and you still want to handle such a big case as Hu Weiyong? The ancestors and you already know how your brothers did evil things, but do you have any measures?"

Prince of Qin Zhu Chong went to Xi'an to be enfeoffed in May last year. It has been a short time so no major misdeeds have occurred.

However, from last year to this year and a half, he was busy with construction of the Qin Palace, which was a waste of money and manpower. He also favored his second concubine Deng and often enjoyed torturing the palace maids. For this, he was scolded by Zhu Yuanzhang in July last year.

In a few years, he will have committed countless evil deeds.

Although they knew that Zhu Chong would cause very serious consequences in the future, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao remained indifferent until now. How could Zhu Yunfeng believe that he could change the system of the Ming Dynasty?

"I have discussed this matter with my father, and he was helpless and could only issue an imperial decree to reprimand me."

Zhu Biao smiled bitterly and said, "It is the national policy to have the princes guard the border. Besides, you yourself said that the princes guarding the borders were more beneficial than harmful to the early Ming Dynasty. If they are transferred back now, I am afraid it will not work."

"Right, you all know the situation but you don't take any measures. We can think of a solution, but you and the ancestors just don't want to."

Zhu Yunfeng rolled his eyes.

After all, Zhu Biao, like Zhu Yuanzhang, agreed with the strategy of using vassal kings to guard the border.

In fact, this strategy is not wrong. Under normal circumstances, the princes "guard the borders outside and provide support from within", which can play the role of "resisting foreign aggression and maintaining internal stability".

But if the chosen vassal king is not virtuous, the final result will only bring harm to the local area and make the local people suffer.

Zhu Biao asked, "What do you have in mind?"

"Kill one to warn the rest. First depose Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang to deter other kings. Then move the virtuous kings out and imprison the bad ones until they die."

Zhu Yunfeng said without hesitation.

"Now only my second and third brothers have been enfeoffed, and the other princes have not been enfeoffed. If we abolish them, then won't the system of the Sai King come to an end?"

Zhu Biao said in astonishment.

"That's wrong. We can't stop it. Let's abolish these two first. If we can't enthronize the Second Ancestor, then we can enthronize Zhu Su first."

"Fifth brother?"

"Yes." Zhu Yunfeng said, "I checked online. He was sent to Fengyang by his ancestors to command the army when he was fifteen. He ruled for three years and his military ability was quite outstanding. However, his fiefdom was later in Kaifeng in the Central Plains, and his military talent was not put to good use and was buried. He has been known as a wise king in history. The only bad thing he did was to shoot and kill the captain of the Yiwei Division of this prefecture. With the lessons of Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang, he should be much more honest. If he goes to the north, he will not only be able to fight, but also to govern and save the local people from danger. This is a good thing to have the best of both worlds."

"This"

Zhu Biao hesitated and said, "My fifth brother is still young, only eighteen, and has not yet come of age."

"Stop making excuses."

Zhu Yunfeng sneered, "I think you are also a hypocrite. You only know how to protect your younger brother, but you have never thought about how miserable the local people who were killed by them were. Your third brother was the most to have the people torn to pieces by chariots. The history books said that he tied people up with running horses and tore them to pieces by chariots several times, which means that not many people were killed. But your second brother killed thousands of people. Not only did he harm people, but he also robbed people by trickery. Thousands of families were broken up because of him. Just because your second brother is precious, these people deserve to die?"

"I"

Zhu Biao was speechless and could only smile bitterly: "My third brother has not done anything evil yet. I will write a letter to persuade him personally. As for my second brother, I will go back and discuss it with my father."

At present, Zhu Gang has indeed not done anything too bad.

When Zhu Yuanzhang was enfeoffing his sons, he was also worried that his sons would act lawless in their fiefdoms, so all the accompanying personnel were spies.

Basically, everything Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang did during this period would be reported to Zhu Yuanzhang promptly.

Zhu Chong was now busy with large-scale construction projects and favored his second concubine, Deng, who tortured the palace maids.

The worst thing Zhu Gang had done was to whip the cook for some reason and asked Zhu Yuanzhang to write a letter telling him not to offend the cook.

Seeing that his attitude had softened, Zhu Yunfeng also said: "If you can abolish Zhu Chong and replace him with Zhu Su, then I will believe in your courage."

Zhu Biao looked embarrassed.

Zhu Yunfeng shook his head secretly.

In fact, he was not targeting Zhu Chong.

No matter how evil Zhu Chong did, he was not harmed.

If you have not seen with your own eyes or experienced personally what you see in history books, you will not stand up for the tragedies you have not witnessed.

But now that Zhu Biao wants him to help him, he has to think deeply about it.

Because in real history, Zhu Biao was too suppressed by Zhu Yuanzhang, he never governed and had no experience in formulating policies.

In terms of his personality, it is only said that he is kind and generous, and very friendly to his brothers. Whether he has the courage and ability to change the world remains to be discussed.

Although the Zhu family in the early Ming Dynasty should not be as bad as Chongzhen in the late Ming Dynasty, where ministers took the blame and died for their crimes, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty will not take the blame. The fall of the country is all caused by the ministers.

But in the final analysis, Zhu Yunfeng was at most a military strategist, giving advice and suggestions from behind, and it was impossible for him to personally help Zhu Biao kill people in the Hu Weiyong case.

He doesn't have that ability.

The most taboo thing for a military advisor is to meet a leader who is hesitant and indecisive.

Just like Ju Shou and Tian Feng met Yuan Shao.

Therefore, if he wanted Zhu Yunfeng to help him, he had to first let Zhu Yunfeng see what Zhu Biao's abilities were.

If he couldn't even handle such a small matter as Zhu Chong's, how could he be capable of handling a shocking case like Hu Weiyong's that involved the lives and deaths of tens of thousands of people?

Yes.

In Zhu Yunfeng's eyes, Zhu Chong's affairs were really a trivial matter.

Because Zhu Yuanzhang himself disliked Zhu Chong because of what he did, and even called him worse than a beast, all of them, including Zhu Gang, were originally going to be deposed.

It was Zhu Biao who helped persuade and spoke well of his younger brothers, thus saving Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang.

Therefore, it is not difficult to accomplish this matter. As long as Zhu Biao changes his position and stops speaking well of Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang, but instead makes some slanderous remarks, Zhu Yuanzhang will guarantee that he will depose the two of them.

"it is good."

Zhu Biao gritted his teeth and said, "I promise you, I will explain this matter to father tomorrow, and then I will let my fifth brother replace the second brother."

Zhu Di couldn't help himself at this time, and said, "Brother, my fifth brother went to Fengyang when he was fifteen years old. He spent less time with us brothers and less time together. Now he is about to come back. Why is he leaving right away instead of staying in the capital for two years until he reaches adulthood?"

"Fourth Brother, what you said is true. Huo Qubing went out of the grasslands at the age of 19 and chased the Xiongnu for thousands of miles. And according to history, you left the next year too, and you didn't see your fifth brother very often."

Zhu Yunfeng waved his hand and said, "When Daming is built up and a train is built, we can visit them anytime we want. It only takes a few hours for us to get here by plane, which is thousands of miles away. It's hard for Daming to get a plane, but it's easy to get a train."

"train?"

Zhu Biao and Zhu Di naturally already knew what this thing was.

Zhu Biao was surprised and asked, "Can we also develop trains?"

"Yes, and it's very simple. I estimate that it will take three to five years to start making progress, and within twenty years we will be able to run trains everywhere."

Zhu Yunfeng laughed.

He was not like other time travelers who had to work very hard to develop the steam engine and then spend several decades to transition from the steam engine to the internal combustion engine era of the Second Industrial Revolution.

Because he has a portal, he can rely on modern resources and technology.

If Zhu Yunfeng builds a factory in Lansha Town in the future and makes his own lathes, and brings some lathes to Daming, and gets some diesel generators and the like, he can directly make electric power machinery in Daming.

That's right.

Just rub the electric powered machine directly with your hands!
Many people have a misunderstanding, that is, they always think that the steam engine is inevitable when clicking on the technology tree, and if they build from scratch, they will definitely need a steam engine.

Not really—this refers to modern developments, not ancient ones.

There was no steam era at all in the early stages of my country's industrial construction. We directly skipped the steam engine and used electric equipment to make steel through electric furnaces, which enabled my country's industry to develop rapidly and steel production to grow explosively.

of course.

Our country is a special case. We directly quoted the equipment from big brother Russia and then introduced their technology.

After using their equipment to make steel, they used the steel to make other equipment, and this cycle continued, gradually allowing our country to acquire industrial technology and development conditions.

Even in train technology, steam power was still needed in the early days.

It was not until the 1970s and 1980s that steam locomotives began to be gradually phased out and replaced by diesel-powered internal combustion locomotives and electricity-powered electric locomotives.

It is impossible to travel back to ancient times. Without equipment and technology, we can only start from the most basic steam engine.

Because the steam engine process is the simplest.

Electric power is not "more advanced" than steam power, but electric motors are more complex than steam engines. They include power generation, electric motor units, and various electrical equipment to operate in combination.

Therefore, in the absence of equipment and technology, making a steam engine is the only option for time travelers.

However, Zhu Yunfeng did not need to go through so much trouble. He had ready-made equipment and technology and could completely build electric motors in Daming.

Compared with the steam engine's reciprocating motion that needs to be converted into circular motion or linear motion, as well as the complexity of the steam engine's work and exhaust process coordination, the electric motor is much easier and the principle is very clear.

The small electric motor used in four-wheel drive cars when we were young would become an extra-large electric motor unit if it was enlarged dozens of times.

Generating electricity is simpler.

You can buy hydroelectric generators online, and they are not expensive. The cheapest ones are RMB 150,000, and the more expensive ones are over RMB 400,000. With the wealth of the Ming Dynasty, it is possible to buy a few to use first.

In the future, when we can manufacture electric motors in large quantities, it will not be difficult to learn from my country and skip the steam era and switch to electric furnaces for steelmaking.

So how about technology changing our lives?

If I were to travel back to ancient times, where would I get generators and motors?

All I can say is that Lao Zhu came at the right time.

In the world of 2024, my country will be the only major industrial country in the world with all industries, and everything can be bought in all aspects.

With a few generators and lathes, you can create technology directly.

Perhaps the only trouble is the lack of raw materials. Without rubber, we cannot make electrical wires, and modern transportation alone may not be enough to transport much.

Therefore, in the future we will need to obtain some rubber tree species from modern times and transplant them to the south as quickly as possible.

(End of this chapter)