Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 96 Twelve Essays on the Fall of the Ming Dynasty 8
"Grandpa, I didn't say that. I just made a suggestion. As for how to choose, it is your business, or your uncle and elder brother's business!" Zhu Zhanhe spread his hands and threw the question back to Emperor Yongle and his successor.

Not giving them the opportunity they deserved, and not wanting to continue to dwell on this issue, Zhu Zhanhe once again started to discuss the main content of the vassal system.

"Grandpa, uncle, the most important issue regarding the vassal kings is the big one, and we're just beginning now. The staggering salaries of the vassal kings are the crux of the matter!"
Even if the salary is cut, it can only last for a while, not forever!

After all, the royal family's population is growing, and we can't stop them from having children!" Zhu Zhanhe suddenly pointed out the crux of the problem!
The salary is too high and the court can’t afford it!

The royal family is unwilling to reduce it too little! And it is just a temporary solution to the problem!

We can’t let the royal family not have children, otherwise there will be no descendants!

No solution! In the eyes of Emperor Yongle, this problem simply has no solution!
"Tell me a solution quickly!" Emperor Yongle rubbed his brows irritably. He felt chest tightness and shortness of breath. Without waiting for others to speak, he drank a bowl of medicine and applied ice to his face. When he felt a little better, he started asking again.

"My grandson's plan is to have all the nobles inherit lowered titles from generation to generation!

The prince's son inherits the title of prince!

The son of the prince inherited the title of general guarding the country!

And so on! Until there is no more title to be conferred and one becomes a poor commoner!

Their descendants can take part in imperial examinations and military camps!

Noble still!

No promotion without great merit! No title!
In short, his title is worthy of his reputation!

This law should be used in conjunction with land policies!" Zhu Zhanhe spoke openly about the Qing Dynasty's nobility system.

For the Ming Dynasty at this stage, the title system of the Qing Dynasty is definitely the most appropriate and practical, because the titles of modern Western countries are not suitable for use!
"In this case, you will be a prince! Your brothers and sisters will be generals or county ladies!" Emperor Yongle stared at his grandson intently. He was now very sure that this grandson in front of him was truly selfless and was truly speaking for the Ming Dynasty! Even if it meant damaging his own interests!
"There is no other way?!" Emperor Yongle looked at the second and third sons who didn't dare to speak at all, and spoke again to confirm for them.

"There is no other way! The only things that may need to be decided are the time they are allowed to take part in the imperial examinations and military camps, as well as the gold and silver subsidies for weddings and funerals for those without property!" Zhu Zhanhe said this in a firm tone.

"There will be compensation! Right, boss!" Emperor Yongle looked indifferently at Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi beside him, his eyes filled with unspeakable emotions.

"No exceptions, it must be distributed in place!" At this moment, Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi was also deeply shocked by Zhu Zhanhe.

This method can be said to be absolutely bad news for all the princes of the Ming Dynasty. It can also be said that this is the biggest bad news besides reducing the power of the princes!
This is simply a replica of the Enfeoffment Order!
Prince Han on the other side looked at his beloved son in astonishment, but didn't know what to say!

The eyes of Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji were filled with complex emotions. Even Monk Daoyan was shocked, and he kept sighing in his heart: Is this the heart of a true dragon?!

"Go on!" Emperor Yongle was silent for a moment, his eyes shifted back and forth many times, and finally he sighed secretly, then he continued to urge.

Zhu Zhanhe did not hesitate to start after hearing Emperor Yongle's urging.

"The seventh theory of the Ming Dynasty's fall: civil servant factionalism. To be frank, this issue was caused by the court officials forming factions for their own interests.

Moreover, we have analyzed before that the party struggles in our Ming Dynasty began since its founding. Although it was temporarily ended with the Hu Weiyong case, the roots of the disaster were still laid.

Ever since Emperor Taizu Gao abolished the power of the prime minister and established the system of three provinces and six ministries, more severe party struggles have emerged, because before they only fought for the position of prime minister, but now they have to split into small groups and fight for the responsibilities of the three provinces and six ministries!
Besides, now that Grandpa has established a cabinet, the power of the cabinet chief is not equal to that of the prime minister, but I'm afraid it's not much different. The party struggles will continue! ... "Zhu Zhanhe continued slowly.

"I've said all this, just tell me what to do!" Emperor Yongle was an impatient man and didn't want to listen to any nonsense, especially when he heard that the brat in front of him actually dared to tease his father, Emperor Hongwu. He became even more impatient and felt like beating him up!

So, the impatient Emperor Yongle interrupted Zhu Zhanhe and asked directly.

"Uh! Okay!" Zhu Zhanhe immediately agreed when he saw that his grandfather Emperor Yongle had a strange look in his eyes.

"There are two more reliable methods, and some not-so-reliable methods that may lead to civil unrest! Chaos or some scholars secretly writing things to incite rebellion!" Zhu Zhanhe thought for a moment and said casually.

"No, no, no! He'er. Our Zhu family is a respectable family!
We don't need those unreliable ones! " Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi immediately became anxious and took over the conversation. He was not worried about anything else, but was worried that in the future, if a tyrant emperor used unreliable methods and caused chaos, it would be a joke!
"Yes, yes, just say what is reliable!" Emperor Yongle looked at Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, immediately understood what the crown prince wanted to express, and followed suit.

"Okay! No problem! To put it bluntly, civil servants forming cliques is simply dividing the entire civil service group!

The first method: secretly write memorials to some ministers, directly to the inner court!" Zhu Zhanhe said the first method!
"Isn't this just secretly making a complaint to the emperor?!" Prince Zhao immediately understood what he meant and asked out loud, causing everyone to roll their eyes.

"Good idea! Keep going!" Emperor Yongle immediately understood the benefits of this method and approved of it very much. He immediately began to think about who could write the private memorial!
"The second method is to establish more personal advisory bodies for the emperor!
The cabinet, after all, was a governing body centered around ministers. Ministers privately negotiated and freely arranged their plans, ultimately coming up with a plan and presenting it to the emperor. The emperor only participated in the final decision. There was no oversight of the process!

In that case, then support an advisory team of the emperor himself! Get a few more! Those who deal with military affairs will discuss military matters, and those who deal with political affairs will discuss political affairs!
Let those with power be busy doing things, and let those without power be honored to help the emperor with political affairs!
In this way, the emperor can participate in the process of political affairs, supervise the discussion process of political affairs, and supervise the problem of forming factions for personal gain!

Allowing them to divide internally also makes management easier, killing two birds with one stone!" Zhu Zhanhe directly applied the practices of the Southern Study and Grand Council of the Qing Dynasty.

This left everyone present stunned. They had never thought of such a method!
Emperor Yongle was particularly impressed. He stared at Zhu Zhanhe in astonishment, feeling it was unbelievable: "You've never been an emperor, so how come you're more skilled in the art of balance than I am?"

(End of this chapter)