Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 296: Old Zhu: Why fear death? The Emperor has passed away!

Lao Zhu's voice was very flat, as if he was just chatting casually.

But to Yang Rong's ears, it sounded like a loud thunderclap.

He knelt down in panic: "Your Majesty is in your prime, why do you say that? I beg Your Majesty to take back your words!"

After saying this, he kowtowed heavily.

Old Zhu smiled faintly and shook his head: "Why are you panicking?"

"We know our own business."

"My body is really not doing well."

"But we said we wanted to make arrangements for our funeral, but it's not because of this."

Yang Rong was puzzled and looked up at the Emperor.

Old Zhu's face lit up with a smile: "My old bones can still hold on for a few more years."

"But that's not important."

"Didn't I just say that the people are the most important, the country is second, and the emperor is the least important."

"It doesn't matter whether we are alive or how long we live. What really matters is that all the people in the world have enough food to eat."

As soon as these words came out, Yang Rong's eyes suddenly filled with tears, and he murmured, "Your Majesty!"

Among the scholars of the world, Zhu Yuanzhang's reputation is not very good.

On the contrary, many people believe that His Majesty the Emperor committed too many crimes of killing for the sake of Zhu's regime, and that he lacked "benevolence" by ruling the world with severe punishments.

In addition, because of his peasant background, many scholars thought he was vulgar and despised him in their hearts.

It’s just that the Zhu family has now taken over the world, so they don’t dare to say it openly.

As a scholar, Yang Rong had heard some rumors before.

But after entering the court and truly understanding Zhu's life, he knew that the emperor was completely different from the rumors outside.

His Majesty the Emperor is very diligent in his work.

They really work day and night, getting up early and going to bed late, with almost no rest time.

Throughout history, there have been many emperors who worked diligently.

But it is almost impossible to find someone like His Majesty today.

Moreover, many famous emperors in history who were known for their diligence, almost without exception, embarked on a life of luxury and enjoyment in their later years.

This was true from Duke Huan of Qi, who employed Guan Zhong to govern the country, to Emperor Taizong of Tang, who initiated the "Zhenguan Era" and was highly praised by later generations.

The reason is nothing more than that in the early years, the empire was in a state of disrepair and the emperor was determined to govern the country with all his efforts.

Later, when there were results, they began to pursue enjoyment.

This is human nature.

What are you working so hard for?
If you don't enjoy yourself throughout your life, what's the point of conquering and ruling the world?

But Lao Zhu is different from them.

Conquering the world took untold hardships, but ruling the world never involves any slackness.

Even when he was old and his energy declined, as long as he had a breath left, Zhu Yuanzhang would review memorials and handle political affairs.

It can be said that although he conquered the world and became an emperor, he was still working like a slave.

As Zhu Yuanzhang himself said in his reading, "I get up before all my officials do, and I am still awake after all my officials have gone to bed. I am not as good as the rich man in Jiangnan who still wraps himself in quilt when the sun is 15 feet high."

This poem is a portrayal of Lao Zhu's real life.

It was only after Zhu Yunhuan came to power that Zhu Yuanzhang took a short break.

My health is really not good.

Before this, although Zhu Biao helped with government affairs, Zhu never slacked off.

Zhu Biao was forced by him to be "busy with all kinds of affairs every day".

To a large extent, it can even be said that Zhu Biao was overwhelmed and died of exhaustion.

It’s because Zhu Yuanzhang had been forcing Zhu Biao to be as “diligent” as himself!
From this perspective, the current Zhu Yunhuan actually has to thank the death of his cheap father Zhu Biao.

It was precisely because of Zhu Biao's death that Zhu Yuanzhang felt remorseful, which made him turn a blind eye to Zhu Yunhuan's "laziness" and ignore it.

Otherwise, no matter how well Zhu Yunhuan governed the Ming Dynasty, he would never allow him to sleep in.

Nor will we allow him to be lazy and slack off according to his own ideas.

The smarter and more capable Zhu Yunhuan is, the stricter Zhu will be on him.

He has to endure it even if it's not bitter.

Never let him slack off or be lazy.

But Zhu Biao's death made Zhu Yuanzhang begin to reflect, learn lessons, and dare not force his children and grandchildren again.

As long as Zhu Yunhuan can govern the world well, Old Zhu will be happy to see him rest.

As for Zhu Yuanzhang himself, he was really too diligent and never coveted any enjoyment.

It can be said that he truly dedicated himself to the Ming Dynasty!
Yang Rong couldn't convince himself that such a person was selfish.

He conquered the world, but he never enjoyed a single day of his life, just working like a slave. What was he trying to achieve?
Old Zhu said slowly: "When we went on patrol, we went to Shencheng."

"You should know where it is."

"That is also the big seaside city that our grandson is planning to build."

"We will study the economy of the Ming Dynasty and talk with the people there."

“I asked a lot and learned a lot.”

"These things were all mentioned in the previous letter."

"You know it too, so I won't say more."

"These past few days, I was visiting the Daming Manufacturing Bureau, and I was thinking as I watched."

"The world is really going to change drastically."

"Back then, we wandered around and survived by eating at other people's houses."

"At that time, I swore that if one day I conquered the world, I would never let the people live in such hardship."

Hearing this, Yang Rong's pupils shrank slightly involuntarily.

It returned to normal immediately.

It turned out that when the emperor was in poverty and wandering, he already had the ambition to conquer the world.

But soon, he accepted it calmly.

If not, how could Your Majesty, as a commoner, have been able to rule the Ming Dynasty and rule over vast territories?

Old Zhu did not notice Yang Rong's subtle changes, but was lost in memories of the past.

We were young and full of vigor and vitality at that time.

But time is unforgiving. Even if you have won the world, you still have to lose to time.

The once handsome young man is now old.

There were storms in Old Zhu's eyes, and the past was like a passing cloud.

After a while, he regained his composure and said, "But I have been on the throne for 25 years, and the world is still in trouble, and the people are still poor."

His voice suddenly became excited.

“I always thought that it wasn’t my fault.”

"Compared to the chaotic times at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the people of the Ming Dynasty can now live a stable and peaceful life and fill their stomachs."

"As for saying that life is still hard, it has been like this since ancient times."

"For thousands of years, ordinary people have been able to barely fill their stomachs."

“Even in the time of Yao and Shun, or when a saint came to the world, it would be no different.”

"But our grandson has been governing the country for less than two years."

“The world has changed drastically.”

"Externally, we put down the Japanese pirates and the Northern Yuan Dynasty. A thousand years of chaos became a thing of the past."

"Internally, the lives of the people have improved a lot."

"It was difficult to fill my stomach before, but now I can even have two ounces of wine and one ounce of meat."

"Taxes from the Ming court are growing rapidly."

"The grain in the granary is piled up like a mountain."

"The manufacturing bureau has so much ironware that we can't use it all up."

"Looking at the status of the Manufacturing Bureau and listening to their reports, future developments will be accelerated."

"It won't be many years before everyone in the world can wear good clothes, live in good houses, eat meat one meal and fish the next, instead of just having to eat coarse grains to fill their stomachs."

"This is an achievement that even Yao and Shun did not have."

"Yang Rong, tell me, if our grandson achieves such an achievement, wouldn't he be more remarkable than the saints that you scholars admire the most?"

Yang Rong bowed deeply and said, "Your Highness's talent is unprecedented. Your Highness's benevolence is unmatched throughout the ages. Even if Confucius were to be reborn, he would be willing to bow down before Your Highness and assist him."

"It is a blessing for me to be able to work under His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Old Zhu looked at him and suddenly changed his tone: "Then what do you think of Fang Xiaoru's great theory about the world?"

This transition was too sudden.

Yang Rong was stunned for a moment.

The debate between Fang Xiaoru and other scholars had been openly discussed in the Da Ming Daily for many days.

It’s just that so many things happened during this period that attracted people’s attention, so much so that many people subconsciously ignored this matter.

But among the officials in the court, the debate over this matter was already raging. Old Zhu stared at him and asked, "The court and the public are arguing about this, don't you have any opinion at all?"

Yang Rong’s mind was racing with thoughts.

Just at that moment, he almost wanted to blurt out words like "Your Highness the Crown Prince and I will always advance and retreat together."

This is to show his loyalty to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

But at the last moment, Yang Rong took back his words and did not say them out loud.

This statement may sound like flattery and may be disliked by His Majesty the Emperor.

Taking a deep breath, Yang Rong said respectfully, "Your Majesty asked, I dare not hide anything."

"Your Majesty, I know that Your Majesty has always believed that the world should be divided into high and low, noble and humble."

"To govern the world, one must make sure that everyone knows and observes propriety. The sage said, 'The ruler is the ruler, the minister is the minister; the father is the father, the son is the son.' This is exactly the principle."

"If there is no hierarchy, how can the court keep the people in order and govern the country?"

"Personally, Fang Xiaoru is arrogant and conceited. He has been disrespectful to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince before."

"I have been blessed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and have been highly valued by him."

"If your Highness is worried, then I will be humiliated."

"If you disrespect your Highness, you are my enemy."

"Your Highness tolerated him in every way, but he still did not think of repaying you. He even gave up his official position and refused to be used by the court."

“This is a great sin.”

"Your Highness is still magnanimous and does not pursue his crime, showing his benevolence and righteousness."

"He started a new school of thought, which caused disputes between the government and the public, and failed to live up to your highness's expectations."

"I and this boy will never coexist."

He spoke passionately and eloquently, but suddenly changed the subject at the end.

"However, what this man said about 'the great public good of the world' is the principle of a saint, and I fully agree with it."

"It's just that the court and the public are constantly in dispute. As a close attendant to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, it is not convenient for me to express my views publicly."

"Your Majesty asked, I dare not not speak, I hope your Majesty will listen."

Old Zhu looked at him deeply.

He took a long detour and scolded Fang Xiaoru harshly.

In the end, he supported Fang Xiaoru's theory.

This Yang Rong is really interesting.

That's fine, though.

There was no evasion, no circumvention with words.

Lao Zhu was very satisfied with this.

Previously, Zhu had summoned Yang Shiqi and Yao Guangxiao, and their intelligence left a deep impression on him.

But while being smart, both of them undoubtedly spent most of their energy on "power struggles."

Even when they met Lao Zhu, they were still using it without showing any emotion.

Old Zhu sees this very clearly.

Zhu Yunhuan needed such a person around him who could help him stabilize the government.

However, the factional struggles within the court were not an end in themselves, but were only for the purpose of balancing power and ensuring that those in power would always hold power firmly in their hands.

What happens after taking power?
The goal is to govern the country.

Yang Rong's talk about the national economy just now made Old Zhu very satisfied.

For a prime minister, political tactics are secondary and governing the country is the primary.

He directly expressed his opinion at this time and did not shrink back from speaking because of the likes and dislikes of his superiors. His moral character is commendable.

"Hahaha!" Old Zhu laughed loudly towards the sky.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"You are indeed ambitious!"

"As expected of the grandson of our Zhu family."

Yang Rong was slightly startled.

Your Majesty had just asked me this question, so why did he suddenly praise His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?
Is your majesty confused?

He couldn't help but exclaimed: "Your Majesty?"

Old Zhu's laughter stopped abruptly, and he snorted coldly: "Do you think we can't see what he wants to do with Fang Xiaoru?"

"Factional strife in the imperial court? Splitting the Confucian scholars?"

"Let them become two factions and fight each other, so that he can take power more easily."

"That's indeed a reason, and a good method! But it's more of an excuse on the surface."

"That grandson of ours wants to take action against the thousands of wealthy gentry and landlords in the world."

"This is ten thousand times more serious than banning Mencius's books and moving his tablets out of the Confucian Temple."

Yang Rong's pupils suddenly dilated.

As a close associate of Zhu Yunhuan and having obeyed his orders for so long, even though Zhu Yunhuan had never mentioned this matter to him, with Yang Rong's intelligence and knowing the "inside story" well, he was able to guess the thoughts and arrangements of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince from the attitude he revealed intentionally or unintentionally.

Led by Fang Xiaoru and based on new learning, it gradually sparked reflection on the distribution of land and wealth throughout the world.

The final step is to distribute the land and wealth to millions of poor people.

But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince knew very well that this matter was of great importance, so he did not tell anyone about it.

However, the previous land rent reform and the court's large-scale land acquisition were already laying the groundwork for what was to come.

He had just said a lot of bad things about Fang Xiaoru, but in the end he expressed his support for Fang Xiaoru's ideas, which showed that he firmly stood with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Given Your Majesty's intelligence, it is not surprising that you can see some attitude tendencies in Zhu Sun's letter.

But Yang Rong was still shocked by how sure he was.

"Your Majesty!" He kowtowed and opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, but in the end, nothing came out.

"You are putting the Ming Dynasty on fire!" Old Zhu sighed softly.

Yang Rong was surprised.

Does His Majesty the Emperor intend to object?

Without the support of His Majesty the Emperor, this would be impossible to accomplish.

This fundamental ideological dispute might even cause the Crown Prince's previously stable power and position to become precarious overnight.

After all, Zhu Yuanzhang was the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Unexpectedly, Lao Zhu suddenly changed the subject: "I have the courage and the resolution. Even if there are tens of thousands of people, I will go!"

"Our Zhu family has such descendants, who can benefit millions of people all over the world. This is something that makes our ancestors happy."

Old Zhu looked at Yang Rong, his tone solemn and slow: "What he is going to do is a great event that has never happened since Pangu created the world."

"Don't think that he can gain much support just because he has fed the poor and made everyone's life better."

"That's because the wealthy landlords in the world have not yet figured out his purpose and don't know where his sword is pointing."

“Once his reforms really touch the interests of these people, there will be a real wave of opposition.”

"If you want to achieve great things, you have to pay the price."

"We are old now, we can only see him off this way."

"We won't pass the throne to him!"

Yang Rong was stunned on the spot.

For a moment, I was almost in despair and my whole body was shaking.

Old Zhu suddenly smiled again: "Let him get it himself."

Yang Rong was stunned again for a moment.

"Only by taking the throne himself can his power be truly consolidated, and only then can he carry out the reforms he wants."

“To accomplish unprecedented things, one must have unprecedented power.”

“It can clear all obstacles.”

"If he does a good job, there will be no more Zhu Yuanzhang in the world."

Yang Rong stared at Lao Zhu in amazement, somewhat doubting his own ears.

"We left Beijing in the first place to lure the snake out of its hole and see if anyone would jump out to oppose him."

"While we are still alive, let's help him clean up all the evil spirits."

“But in the end, no fish was caught.”

"With his current prestige, if he just wants to be an emperor for a lifetime, perhaps no one in the court will object."

"Even if there is opposition, it won't cause any waves."

"But if you want to achieve great things and want to be enemies with the thousands of wealthy landlords in the world, you can't have any flukes."

Lao Zhu's voice gradually lowered.

The sound of the rolling carriage outside was getting louder.

He leaned forward slightly and whispered in Yang Rong's ear.

"After today, I will announce to the world that the emperor has passed away!"

……

(End of this chapter)