Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 260 The secret revealed by Zhu Yunhuan!
The Ming Dynasty was going to go on an overseas expedition, and the warships, guns, cannons, and even other supplies needed for the expedition were all ready.

Even public opinion has been mobilized.

Nowadays, the Ming government and the people generally support overseas expeditions.

After all, they made too much money from the previous war against Japan.

Coupled with Zhu Yunhuan's vigorous publicity, both the court and the public had high expectations for the overseas expedition.

Since it can make money and no one will die, the officials can't find any reason to oppose it.

But in Zhu Yunhuan's plan, the greater significance of the overseas expedition was to clear obstacles and pave the way for launching large-scale reforms in the Ming Dynasty.

We must take advantage of this favorable situation to cultivate a group of vested interests.

Completed the transformation of Ming Dynasty from an agricultural society to an industrial society.

From the feudal era to the capitalist era.

In fact, it doesn’t matter who these vested interests are.

What is important is that this group of people must exist.

Interests are the most stable alliance.

Only as long as there is a binding interest in each other can this group become a solid backing for his reforms.

The emperor cannot really be alone, he must have his own supporters.

Since he has decided to stand against the feudal landlords, local tyrants and evil gentry, he must cultivate a new interest group - the bourgeoisie.

After all, the peasants were too scattered, and at least for the time being, it was difficult for them to unite around him as the emperor.

As the son of a noble family, it is enough to have a good relationship with him.

It also has a great influence in the Ming Dynasty.

Letting these people take the lead makes publicity simpler and easier.

Besides, they are indeed loyal to themselves.

The history of the Age of Exploration has proven that conquering overseas and opening up wild lands does not require a large-scale regular army.

Otherwise, the small Western countries would not have been able to start the Age of Discovery and become the "Empire on which the Sun Never Sets".

Western history has proven that groups centered around merchants, pirates, missionaries, and other social groups are the best choice for expanding overseas.

Of course, in the East, these groups include princes, nobles, etc.

As for the regular army, they only need to provide support and go into battle when necessary.

After all, there are still a series of follow-up issues such as management, trade, and development.

If it is left to the army, it will become corrupt and lose its combat effectiveness.

On the contrary, entrusting these noble families with the development, management, and trade, letting them run them as their own businesses, while the court just sits back and collects the money, wouldn't that be great?

Overseas development was developed, a new bourgeoisie was cultivated, the court made a fortune, and resistance to reform was eliminated... why not kill two birds with one stone?

However, Zhu Yunhuan will never forget.

His purpose was only to encourage the sons of nobles to go to sea, but not to really let them lead regular troops to fight.

Putting the Ming Navy under their command - this is obviously impossible!
They can go to sea, but they cannot be used to lead troops to fight wars overseas.

Seeing that the atmosphere was almost heated up, Zhu Yunhuan raised his hand to signal them to quiet down, and said with a smile: "Of course I know that everyone here is not a coward. On the contrary, you are all heroes who are not afraid of death. You are all great."

"But your fathers have already sacrificed so much for the court. How can I bear to send you overseas again?"

"If anything happens to you, I won't be able to explain to your parents!"

Zhu Yunhuan knew very well that even though these people were so positive now, once they sobered up, they would become worried and afraid to go out to sea.

After all, the Chinese people have not had a profound maritime culture for thousands of years of history.

The sea is a symbol of the unknown.

Going overseas is a terrifying thing.

This is the understanding of the people of the Ming Dynasty.

After Zhu Yunhuan led the navy to the expedition, it only alleviated the anxiety of going to Japan.

For more distant overseas places, the change of thinking cannot be accomplished in a day or two.

Besides, even if they were willing, their parents would not agree.

Although he was very displeased with his son who was uneducated, idle and causing trouble everywhere, he would beat him with a stick at any time.

But if they really had to let their precious son go overseas, they would definitely not be willing to let him go.

He must find him or directly find Zhu Yuanzhang and ask the court not to send his son overseas.

Many of these people are relatives of the emperor and are closely related to the Zhu family. It would be difficult to deal with them if they start to make trouble.

Besides, the impact is not good.

He let the sons of nobles take the lead in going to sea in order to promote the trend of Ming Dynasty going to sea. If their family members were unwilling and made trouble, and the news spread outside, it would have a counterproductive effect.

People outside would say that even noble families are unwilling to go overseas, so it is definitely true that they cannot go overseas.

After hearing Zhu Yunhuan's words, all the sons of nobles were unhappy.

Who do you look down on?
Can we be afraid of death?
"Your Highness, there is no need to say more. As men, how can we be the kind of people who are afraid of death?"

"To die on the battlefield wrapped in horsehide is to show one's true manliness. I must go to sea!"

"How can I fall behind in expanding the territory for the Ming Dynasty?"

"Even the princes and royal family members are not afraid, so why should I be afraid?"

"Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are determined by heaven. If I die in the sea, it is because of my bad luck, and I cannot blame others. If I am lucky enough to make contributions to the Ming Dynasty, I will not be worthy of the country's kindness to my family."

"Yes, if we, the noble families, cannot fight for the battle, should we let the common people get ahead?"

"We, the sons of noble families, are deeply blessed by the emperor. It is our duty to fight for the country. How can we retreat?"

……

Zhu Yunhuan waited until their voices gradually died down, then he smiled and said, "If the court wants to conquer overseas, it will definitely rely on you."

"But, as the saying goes, 'A son of a wealthy family should not sit in a hall,' and 'A gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall.'"

"Today I will reveal to you a top secret, a secret that has not yet been announced in the court."

Zhu Yunhuan lowered his voice and pretended to be mysterious: "The court is preparing to open a registration system for mercenary groups."

"As long as you submit an application to the court and pass its review, you can form a mercenary corps of no more than 500 people."

"The warships, artillery, and guns we need can all be purchased from the court, and they are all the most advanced."

"You should know that our Ming Dynasty's new army, with only 3,000 people, can defeat the entire Northern Yuan army."

"With five hundred men and the latest muskets and cannons, we will definitely be able to defeat those small overseas countries and wild tribes."

"However, these can only be used to fight overseas. Guns, cannons, and gunpowder cannot leave the ship and be brought to the territory of the Ming Dynasty."

"As long as each of you raises funds on your own and pays a sufficient deposit to the court, you can recruit troops and form a mercenary group."

"When you go to sea to fight, the court will provide you with maps."

"You go to war, do overseas trade, and rescue the people of those wild tribes."

"The imperial court will divide an area for you on the map. Once you conquer it, it will become your family's territory and will remain unchanged for fifty years!"

"You make money from trade, pay taxes to the court, and the rest belongs to your family."

"Wealth, territory, and a lot of silver are all at your disposal."

"You don't have to go out to sea yourself. Just let the mercenaries do it."

"If you encounter a powerful enemy overseas and are bullied by other countries, the Ming Navy will be your strongest backing."

"If you can't win, the court will send the Ming navy to help you fight!"

"You just occupy the land, seize the territory, and defend it for the country. What do you think?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the noble children below went completely crazy.

Form your own mercenary group, go overseas to rob people and land, and once you rob them, it becomes your own territory?
There is the Ming Navy as a back-up. If you can't win, just call for support and let the Ming Navy fight?

This is definitely a reward from the imperial court to their family! It is equivalent to being crowned king!
What else would you not want to do?
Are you afraid of going out to sea?
Of course I'm still a little scared.

However, if you hire someone to go out to sea, you won’t be afraid at all!

"Good! Good! Good!"

"Thank you, Your Highness Taisun!"

"Go to sea, go to sea!"

"Your Highness is so kind to us. I swear to be loyal to you till death for the rest of my life!"

"Swear to be loyal to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince until death!"

"Go out to sea and pledge allegiance to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince until death."

……

The sons of nobles screamed, and the sound was deafening.

At this moment, everyone went crazy.

The guns and cannons of the Ming Dynasty's new army were treasures that the sons of nobles talked about with great relish, but could never obtain.

Zhu Yunhuan had very strict control over guns and artillery.

Except for the time when they touched guns and cannons during training at the Ming Military Academy, these children of nobles were not able to get guns and cannons at all.

However, they are very clear about the power of those things.

The Ming Dynasty has won several recent battles, including the conquest of Japan and the pacification of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, all thanks to the power of guns and artillery.

Now, Zhu Yunhuan actually allowed them to form a mercenary group on their own and go overseas, and provided them with guns and artillery, so they no longer had any last bit of worry.

As for not being able to take it off the ship, that is of course no problem at all.

They don't want to rebel, so why would they bring guns and cannons to the Ming territory?
When Zhu Yunhuan saw the reactions of these people, he knew that his agitation was successful.

Sending mercenaries overseas was a plan he decided on after much consideration.

To manage and rule an overseas territory, the imperial court could only provide gunpowder, but the army had to solve all other problems on its own.

It is very inconvenient to give commands and issue orders.

What regular armies are suited to doing is fighting wars.

Defeat the local tribes and the local country's army.

and then?
If the subsequent management, governance, trade, taxation, development... are left to the court's army, the army will quickly become alienated and no longer be like an army.

They may even become local tyrants or warlords who rule a certain area.

Draw a circle on the map and tell the noble families that this piece of land will be granted to their family from now on, with a validity period of 50 years. Your family will rule and manage this place by themselves, and all the money earned will be theirs. Then the nobles will be able to do very well.

At the very least, they could help the Ming court earn money from trade and taxation.

This is the same logic as the vassal kings going out to sea.

The only difference is that the "pie" drawn by the vassal kings is bigger.

The nobles ruled over a small area, so they could manage more deeply and meticulously.

Moreover, although guns, artillery and warships were provided by the imperial court, the nobles had to pay for them!

This is no small sum.

The Ming Manufacturing Bureau also needs to make money and profit.

In order to form mercenaries, a huge deposit had to be paid to the imperial court to ensure that there were no problems with the management of guns and artillery.

Since the nobles cannot afford so much money, they can just sell the land to the imperial court.

Or it could be handed over to the land leasing agency and pledged to the court.

This is Zhu Yunhuan’s “hidden chess move”.

If we directly tell the children of the nobles that the court wants to reform the land system, they should hand over their own land.

They will definitely not do it and will take the lead in opposing it.

But in order to raise funds for going overseas, seize wider territory and gain greater benefits, then there is no problem.

Not only them, but also the princes.

The abolition of the feudal system affected the interests of many vassal kings, and the imperial court must compensate those vassal kings.

It is not realistic to take the money directly.

If the amount is too large, it will trigger an economic chain reaction.

After all, the vassal kings had too much land.

The original vassal kings' army is also a problem.

By using the name of mercenaries and letting the princes pay for the purchase, everything went smoothly.

Although the mercenary group was formed by the princes and nobles themselves and they purchased equipment with their own money, the imperial court must have strict supervision.

Each mercenary group must send a dedicated person to manage guns and ammunition, and regulate the number of personnel to prevent it from exceeding the limit.

Before this, princes had their own soldiers and nobles had their own servants.

When Zhu Yunhuan led people to capture Lan Yu, several thousand people gathered at once just from a group of nobles who supported Lan Yu.

Most of those servants were former subordinates of the nobles.

If we form a mercenary group now, those people will definitely be its backbone.

It is just right to bring them all under the supervision of the court.

If they encounter trouble, the Ming army will definitely help them fight.

But this will not and cannot be in vain.

They have to pay for the military expenses out of their own pockets.

But these are all details, there is no need to talk about them now.

……

Afterwards, Zhu Yunhuan revealed the land reform to them.

The children of noble families naturally had no objection to limiting land rent and the like.

In fact, as Yang Shiqi said, the rent collected from the fields of high-ranking officials in the court would not be too high.

The tenant farmers paid high taxes, but they were mainly exploited by those who were in charge of the farms.

After so many additional charges, the rent became ridiculously high when it reached the tenant farmers.

The court's restriction on land rent would not affect nobles and high-ranking officials, and it would also earn them a good reputation for free, so of course they would not object.

As for reforms such as purchasing land and handing it over to leasing agencies for management, Zhu Yunhuan told them that this would help them raise the money needed to form an army and purchase warships, guns and ammunition.

……

Soon, the imperial court promulgated the "Ming Dynasty Farmland Rent Reduction Regulations", and the vigorous land reform began.

As soon as the regulations were announced, they immediately caused a strong response.

The people spread the news.

Those who used to specialize in subletting and exploiting the property to make profits are now in dire straits.

After all, the regulations stipulate that collecting excessive rent will result in a three-year prison sentence.

There are also strict restrictions on not cultivating the land after leasing and subletting it to a third party.

What Zhu Yunhuan did not expect was that after the regulations were promulgated, the production and farming enthusiasm of the people of the Ming Dynasty reached an unprecedented high.

This in turn led to a significant increase in grain production. Coupled with the construction of water conservancy facilities and the improvement of science and technology, the Ming Dynasty was freed from the crisis of insufficient grain production forever. But that is a story for later.

For the powerful people in Jinling City, compared with the rent reduction of cultivated land, they were more concerned about the court's decision to allow princes and nobles to go to sea.

……

(End of this chapter)