Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 220: Zhu Yunhuan, the New God of the Grassland, the article is signed by Zhu Yuanzhang!
Divide and conquer.

It seems like just four simple words.

But it is not easy to actually achieve this on the grassland.

It’s not that previous dynasties didn’t understand the principle of divide and rule, but they were unable to do it.

Because the prerequisite for achieving this is to make all the tribes on the grassland submit.

Historically, Emperor Wu of Han ordered Wei Qing and Huo Qubing to go on an expedition, which caused the grassland tribes to flee in panic and even led to the entire Hun moving northward.

But escaping and surrendering are different.

During the Tang Dynasty, after Li Jing went on an expedition and conquered the Eastern Turks, he adopted the strategy of winning over the grassland people and supporting the original grassland rule.

This can save a lot of trouble.

Dividing the grassland tribes into different territories and ruling them separately can almost perfectly solve the problem of grassland tribes invading the Central Plains.

But in fact, it is the most difficult solution.

If it weren't for the Ming Dynasty's new army's great reputation in several battles, the grassland tribes would not dare to be their enemy and would have all come to the alliance.

If they were to send cavalry armed with cold weapons to conquer each tribe one by one as they did in the past, even if the Ming Dynasty mobilized all its national strength, it would probably take more than ten years or even longer.

It is not certain whether the grassland tribes can be completely destroyed or all surrender, but the Ming Dynasty itself will definitely be half-crippled.

The cost of a long war is staggering.

Only the new Ming army equipped with hot weapons could rely on its terrifying combat power to make the grassland tribes realize that they could not be defeated and voluntarily surrender and form an alliance.

This laid the foundation for implementing divide and rule on the grassland.

Otherwise, it would just be like the Qing Dynasty in history, conquering and dividing each area piece by piece.

Subsequently, the tribal leaders started a "war of words" to define the territorial scope and boundaries of their respective tribes.

In this way, after several days and nights of fierce quarrels, some tribal leaders became angry and even started beating people.

But in the end, after repeated mediation, threats, oppression and inducements by Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng, the new grassland sphere of influence and territorial boundaries were finally demarcated!
In order to better divide the grassland, a secondary division was carried out within the large tribes with larger areas and larger populations.

Different spheres of influence were also designated for each small tribe under the big tribe.

This is one of the means to control large tribes.

When necessary, they can incite the small tribes below to rebel.

Using barbarians to control barbarians is always one of the best ways.

Moreover, this method is just like the Enfeoffment Order. The leaders of the big tribes knew that the food was poisonous, but they had to share it.

Because the people below will start fighting among themselves.

The arduous territorial negotiations are over.

Inside the big tent, Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng raised their wine glasses.

"Everyone, thanks to the blessing of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the tribes on the grassland have finally demarcated their respective territories and have clear borders. From now on, the grassland will be forever peaceful, with no more wars and disputes. Let us toast to this together."

All the tribal leaders raised their glasses and drank them all in one gulp.

Of course, it is impossible to satisfy everyone by dividing the territory.

Some are happy and some are sad.

But since it had already been demarcated under the witness of Zhu Neng and Zhang Fu, there would naturally be no more arguing at this time.

As for what to do after returning to the tribe, that is another matter.

at this time.

Then Zhang Fu laughed and said, "Everyone come in."

As the voice fell, dozens of people wearing Ming Dynasty official uniforms walked in from outside.

When the tribal leaders were puzzled, they heard Zhang Fu explain: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was worried that someone would not keep his promise, so he sent an envoy."

"They will come back to your tribes with you and help you determine the boundaries of each tribe, establish borders, and ensure that the contract we are about to sign today can be observed and implemented."

"The Ming court sent them here to maintain peace and stability on the grassland and to uphold justice for the weak and bullied tribes."

"From now on, anyone who fails to abide by the contract we signed today will be punished by the Ming Dynasty."

"Those who repeatedly commit crimes and destroy the peace of the grassland will have their clan and tribe exterminated!"

This was Zhu Yunhuan’s ultimate strategy to “divide and rule” the grassland.

Send out officials!

……

The tribal leaders opened their eyes wide in shock.

It was originally thought that after this incident, the Ming Dynasty's forces would withdraw from the grassland.

However, they did not expect that before Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng's new troops withdrew, the Ming court actually sent officials.

However, many tribal leaders were ecstatic.

Although the territories and borders have been demarcated before, it is not certain whether the other party will really recognize them.

The biggest rule on the grassland is that whoever has the bigger fist has the boss.

Especially those small tribes that were allocated more territory were even more uneasy at this time.

Once the Ming army withdraws, will the demarcated territory still be valid?

Now, the Ming Dynasty court sent officials to supervise, and they finally put their minds at ease.

"Welcome the envoys from the Ming Dynasty!" a tribal leader shouted excitedly.

The other tribal leaders, whether they were happy or sad, could only express their welcome at this moment.

"Welcome the Ming Dynasty's envoys!"

"Welcome the Ming Dynasty's envoys!"

……

Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng smiled faintly.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is still the most amazing.

Before this, the Central Plains dynasty had thought about sending officials to manage the grassland.

However, the customs and habits of the nomadic tribes made it impossible for the officials sent by the court to manage them.

They could not set up government offices here or recruit runners to work there, nor could they intervene to mediate, interrogate and judge cases on behalf of their leaders when conflicts arose between herders.

Even if conflicts occurred between tribes, they would find it difficult to deal with them, let alone judge right and wrong as officials, let alone collect taxes.

It seems redundant and meaningless to have itinerant officials manage the grassland. Instead, they will be ignored by the grassland tribes, which will undermine the majesty of the imperial court.

But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s method is that the officials should not interfere in the internal affairs of the grassland tribes at all.

Just act as a witness to monitor the territorial scope and boundary demarcation between tribes.

If anyone crosses the line, they will report to the Ming court.

Other than that, there's nothing else to worry about.

By staying out of it, you can maintain your detached status.

The imperial court also had strict surveillance over the grasslands.

If there is any change, send troops to attack immediately.

Afterwards, Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng ordered their men to behead horses, swear an oath of blood, and have the tribal leaders swear an oath to the Eternal Heaven.

At this point, the entire grassland was divided into forty-nine areas.

There are clear and definite boundaries between each area.

Each tribe can only graze within its own territory and is not allowed to cross the border.

The Central Plains dynasty's control over the grasslands also reached an unprecedented level.

Although the grassroots governance on the grassland is still controlled by the tribes themselves for the time being.

However, there were constant visits by officials sent by the imperial court to inspect, patrol and monitor the forty-nine regions.

There were no longer any particularly large tribes on the grassland, and naturally they were no longer able to invade the Central Plains.

Different from the "itinerant officials" sent from other places.

The officials who came to the grassland also had another responsibility.

That is to spread the new faith on the grassland.

The lives of the lower-class people in the grasslands were extremely difficult, much more miserable than those of the people in the Central Plains.

They need spiritual support to have the courage to continue living.

on the other hand.

With faith, they would pray at home all day long instead of thinking about going out to conquer and invade other countries.

This is also another important strategy formulated by Zhu Yunhuan to pacify the grassland - establishing a new god!
It’s just different from the smooth implementation of “divide and rule”.

The measures to spread the new faith went astray from the very beginning.

Although the people of the grassland quickly accepted the new beliefs, the gods they believed in most were not the gods and Buddhas in traditional religions.

Instead, he is “the Great Master of Jiuxiao Xuanxuan, who controls yin and yang, whose wisdom shines upon all spirits, whose benevolence is widespread, who subdues demons and defends the Way, and who is the most holy emperor”, that is, Zhu Yunhuan!

That's right.

Zhu Yunhuan, the grandson of the Ming Dynasty, gradually became the "god" most devoutly believed in by the people of the grassland.

The stories about him became more and more bizarre.

His life story was even more extraordinary.

The emperor's grandson could no longer satisfy their fantasies... He had to be the son of the Emperor of Heaven, the supreme celestial being, the son of the Eternal Heaven...

Gradually, every household on the grassland began to worship Zhu Yunhuan.

More and more titles were given to him.

As a result, Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng also became the left and right protectors of Zhu Yunhuan, the "Grand Master of Jiu Tian Xuan Xuan".

One of the important reasons for this is that after the grassland was pacified, exchanges between the grassland and the Central Plains became frequent.

The content published in the "Da Ming Daily" was more widely disseminated on the grassland.

The mentality of the grassland people also changed accordingly.

I went from not believing the stories in the newspapers to believing them completely, and I found them more and more magical.

They increasingly believed that Zhu Yunhuan must be the reincarnation of a true god, the emperor of the Nine Heavens, the biological son of Changshengtian...

Otherwise, how could he do so many incredible things?
If not, why did the Ming army trained by him have such terrifying combat power?
Those who went to preach also followed the people's ideas and praised Zhu Yunhuan as a god.

As a result, the people of the grassland believed it completely.

The only living god still walking on earth, the son of Changshengtian, is Zhu Yunhuan, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty!
Zhu Yunhuan, who later received the news, was also stunned by this.

But it was too late to stop it.

The grassland people's worship and faith in him had long been ingrained in their bones, and in the end they could only let it go.

Besides, it’s not such a bad thing.

After this, any word Zhu Yunhuan said would be regarded as "the order of the Eternal Heaven", and no one on the grassland dared to disobey it.

These are all things for later.

……

After everything was agreed upon, Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng ordered the soldiers to kill their horses as an oath and the tribal leaders to swear an oath of blood.

Then, they signed a blood contract to divide the territory and borders, and then swore an oath together under the witness of Changshengtian.

At this point, the territories of the forty-nine tribes on the grassland were officially demarcated.

Afterwards, Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng ordered each tribe on the grassland to send troops to build an altar to worship heaven and earth on the top of Langjuxu Mountain.

The next morning, as the morning light began to appear, a loud horn sounded.

All the soldiers of the new army lined up in neat rows.

Following Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng, they slowly walked up the Langjuxu Mountain step by step.

The red sun has not yet risen, and the morning glow is slightly gathered, lightly painting a few colors in the sky.

At the foot of Langjuxu Mountain, hundreds of thousands of cavalrymen from the grassland tribes also lined up according to the requirements that had been arranged long ago. On the top of the mountain, the leaders of each tribe had already been waiting on the side.

The atmosphere was solemn and dignified.

The soldiers of the new army presented slaughtered cattle, sheep, horses and other sacrifices.

Standing in front of the altar, Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng raised their wine glasses.

"The grassland tribes kneel down to pay tribute to the heroes of the Central Plains!"

Next to him, the temporary "ceremonial officer" shouted loudly.

In front of the altar on the top of the mountain, the generals of various tribes on the grassland knelt down.

"The grassland tribes kneel down to pay tribute to the heroes of the Central Plains!"

The new army soldiers shouted in unison.

Wow!
Wow!
At the foot of Langjuxu Mountain, hundreds of thousands of grassland soldiers who had been lined up in formation all knelt down.

Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng raised their glasses, glanced at the leaders of the grassland tribes, and then looked at the hundreds of thousands of grassland soldiers kneeling on the ground at the foot of the mountain.

Fenglangjuxu was a grand ceremony to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth and to commemorate the soldiers who died in the battle with the grassland tribes.

Being enshrined in the Wolf Mountain is the highest honor for a military general.

The army of the Central Plains Dynasty could offer sacrifices to the spirits of its soldiers in the heart of the grasslands, which was a sign of the Central Plains Dynasty's victory in the war.

This action is used to comfort the souls of the heroes who died in the battle.

Tell them that your death is valuable, your blood was not shed in vain, our army has won a great victory and reached the Wolf Mountain in the heart of the grassland.

But since ancient times, Fenglangjuxu was only a place where soldiers from the Central Plains dynasties performed sacrifices on their own.

But today, Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng made a unique arrangement for the leaders of the grassland tribes and hundreds of thousands of troops to kneel down and pay tribute to the heroes who died in the war.

Let them repent to the Central Plains men who died in the battle, and swear to the heroic spirits that they will never invade the Central Plains again!

This also means that from now on, the Central Plains dynasty has truly conquered the grassland.

Only in this way can the leaders of grassland tribes and hundreds of thousands of grassland soldiers kneel down and pay tribute to the heroic spirits of the Central Plains.

There is no doubt that this is a feat that has never been seen before in history.

The morning breeze blows.

Zhang Fu raised his glass high and murmured, "Did you see that? The iron cavalry of the Ming Dynasty has conquered the grasslands. They have forced all the grassland tribes to come and worship you. Your spirits in heaven can rest in peace now."

He slowly poured out the wine in the glass, and Zhu Neng followed suit.

Tears rolled out from the corners of their eyes.

How many years of killing each other, how many battles, how many soldiers were buried in foreign lands...

Among them, many were old friends and fellow soldiers of Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng.

However, he died on the battlefield in one war after another, and was never seen again.

They are not alone.

How many soldiers have died in battle over thousands of years?
Their heroic spirits are together in heaven.

The pitiful bones by the Wuding River are still the person in the boudoir’s dreams.

now.

It's all over at last.

This time's Fenglangjuxu is different from the previous ones.

In the past, sacrifices usually only meant victory in a great war.

But this time, they conquered the entire grassland!

From then on, the era of war turned a page and became history.

The grassland will usher in a new ruling order.

At this point, the blood shed by the soldiers has the greatest value.

All the soldiers of the Ming New Army raised their glasses at the same time.

Raise the glass to pay tribute to the heroes and pour wine to comfort the dead souls.

It was as if he could sense it.

Suddenly, there was a surge of wind and clouds on the Langjuxu Mountain.

The wind is blowing and the clouds are flying!
The wind howled.

The sharp clouds arrived from all directions.

The clouds swept across the sky quickly.

The celestial phenomena are ever-changing.

In the strong wind, Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng poured wine again and led all the soldiers of the new army to raise their glasses in sacrifice.

……

Until the end of the ceremony.

The strong wind finally stopped.

The floating clouds on all sides dissipated.

At this time, the red sun rose from the east.

The rays of light are everywhere.

……

Jinling City.

The war in the north had come to an end.

Zhu Yunhuan originally thought that after such a big thing happened, it was time for him to return to Nanjing City.

After all, after a lifetime of fighting with the Yuan court, there is finally a final result.

Old Zhu can also go home to offer sacrifices to heaven, ancestors and the country.

Unexpectedly, Old Zhu seemed to be really fighting with him and still refused to return to the court.

Fortunately, the news we received was that Lao Zhu and his group had settled down in Shanghai and were all safe and sound.

Zhu Yunhuan felt helpless and could only ignore him for the time being.

"The autumn harvest in various places this year is very good, but I am afraid that collecting taxes in the future will be difficult."

In the study of the Eastern Palace, Yang Shiqi told Zhu Yunhuan about his worries.

Now, all the business of the Ming Bank has been transferred to Xia Yuanji, and he is fully helping Zhu Yunhuan to handle various government affairs of the court.

"The government offices in various places are cleaning up the old clerks and reassigning new people."

"But those clerks are deeply connected with the local gentry."

"In the past, many wealthy people were dissatisfied with the imperial court because of the tax bureau's collection of commercial taxes."

"The clerks were also attacked by the government during the government reforms."

"But the influence of the local gentry and the old clerks is still significant."

"In previous years, local governments usually relied on them to collect taxes."

"I'm afraid they will interfere and cause trouble this time."

Zhu Yunhuan couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

This was the first time that taxes were levied after the clerk system was reformed. He didn't believe that the clerks who had been laid off after their power were taken away would not take the opportunity to cause trouble.

What was the most important job of local governments in the feudal era?
It's taxation!

Otherwise, the governor, who is in charge of the administration and financial revenue of a province, would not become the most important position among the Three Departments.

In contrast, the status of the Censor, who was in charge of criminal cases in a province and was responsible for correcting official corruption, suppressing violence, settling lawsuits, and redressing grievances, was usually far below that of the Governor.

"Is it possible to change the collection of grain in kind to the collection of money?" Zhu Yunhuan asked.

Collecting grain is definitely a very troublesome job.

It is necessary to identify the quality of grain, weigh grain, transport grain, etc.

Conflicts may break out in many of these links.

For example, the quality of grain is often determined by a word from the yamen runners.

It is common to say good things are bad and bad things are good.

There are also many incidents caused by this.

The same is true for other things, such as weighing grain.

There are always people playing tricks on the "scale"...

All of these are different.

This is different from the previous practice of spending money to go to the countryside to collect, store, and buy and sell grain.

The two parties involved in a normal grain transaction can bargain and negotiate on an equal footing.

But the collection of taxes is compulsory.

Even if they were bullied by clerks, the common people could only swallow their anger.

But when it reaches a certain level, it will erupt like a volcano.

Collecting money can avoid many problems.

After the previous financial war, there was plenty of food in the treasury.

Later, we signed early contracts to purchase autumn grain from many large grain growers in the countryside.

Not collecting physical grain and simply using commercial means to collect and store grain can basically meet the demand.

In that case, why not just collect the money?
Unexpectedly, Yang Shiqi shook his head and said, "I'm afraid not. The Ming Dynasty is now thriving under the governance of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, like a raging fire boiling oil and blooming flowers. But I am afraid that under this prosperous scene, there is still a crisis of food shortage."

Zhu Yunhuan was shocked when he heard this, and was about to ask further questions when he heard a servant come to report that Lai Wen'an, the editor-in-chief of Science journal, wanted to see him.

Zhu Yunhuan has always been personally in charge of the journal Science.

He made many instructions and also wrote and published many articles himself.

However, as the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yunhuan was in charge of all national affairs. He had a noble status and many tasks to deal with. It was impossible for him to do everything himself. If he did, he would be exhausted like Zhuge Liang.

Zhu Yunhuan was not so diligent.

Since Lai Wen'an was appointed editor-in-chief, he has never been summoned again.

The other party suddenly came to ask for a meeting today. Is there something big going on?
Zhu Yunhuan ordered him to come in.

Soon, Lai Wen'an walked into the study.

As soon as he came in, he knelt down, took out an envelope from his sleeve, held it in both hands and raised it above his head.

"Your humble servant Lai Wen'an pays respect to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Today, the editorial department of Science received a manuscript. The author's words are quite insightful, but the signature at the end is really treasonous."

"I believe this matter is of great importance, so I have come to report this to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"How to deal with this, please let your Highness the Crown Prince decide."

Zhu Yunhuan was slightly stunned and glanced at Yang Shiqi beside him.

It's just a signature, is it worth making such a fuss?

He even hurried here to report.

While thinking, he took the letter from Lai Wen'an.

He took out a piece of paper from the envelope and unfolded it.

Without even reading the content, he looked directly at the final signature, his pupils suddenly dilated.

There were three words written on it - Zhu Yuanzhang!

……

(End of this chapter)