Ancestors, please don't crawl out again.

Chapter 20 Manifest Destiny
Nanjing.

Chengtianmen.

Because one could not see what was happening outside from the deep palace, Emperor Gaozu of the Ming Dynasty lived on the Chengtian Gate Tower after he came to the mortal world.

Government affairs are also handled here.

"Monster, you monster, you are not the Taizu Gaohuangdi, you are not the Taizu Gaohuangdi..."

Xu Zhiqing, a former doctor of the Ministry of Works, who was being dragged towards the vat, howled in despair.

He was the first local representative to go to Nanjing to investigate the situation. He was entrusted by Ningguo prefect Zhu Xiyuan and elders and local celebrities in Xuancheng and other places to visit friends in Nanjing as a local official. He was not going to meet Emperor Taizu Gao, after all, the nature of the meeting was determined. He just came to visit friends in a private capacity, and then learned that Emperor Taizu Gao had descended to the mortal world, so he came to see whether it was true or not.

If it is true, then of course we should go back quickly and let Zhu Xiyuan and others prepare to come to the audience.

If it's fake, there's no need.

At this time, the Qing army had not occupied Xuancheng. Although Hongguang had been captured before, Ma Shiying and the empress dowager had already fled to Hangzhou, where they appointed Prince Lu as regent.

They originally fled with Hongguang, but after leaving the city, for unknown reasons, they separated, either intentionally or accidentally. Ma Shiying took Empress Dowager Zou to flee to Hangzhou, while Hongguang was escorted by Ma Shiying's son and the Yongwei Battalion to flee to Huang Degong's camp in Wuhu. He was also turned away by the prefect of Taiping Prefecture in Dangtu.

So if Xu Zhiqing went back and said that Emperor Taizu Gao was a fake, then the Ningguo Mansion would be loyal to the court of Prince Lu in Hangzhou.

then……

He was cooked.

Because he was dissatisfied with the imperial edict of Emperor Taizu Gao, and just like he had done to Chongzhen in the past, he put on the attitude of a loyal minister and tried to persuade him, which angered Emperor Taizu Gao, who ordered him to be thrown into the big vat.

Now Emperor Taizu Gao is willing to accept the advice and has adopted the King of Qi's suggestion.

Use as many of these large cylinders as possible.

"Is he stupid? I wouldn't be the Emperor Taizu Gao if I didn't cook him!"

Yang Feng said.

The ministers on both sides bowed their heads in silence.

This explanation is still very reasonable.

The eunuch gunmen below carried Hu Xianghuan and threw him directly into the copper vat with a pile of bones in it. He screamed as soon as he entered, but fortunately the temperature was right so he stopped screaming soon. It was estimated that it would not take long for him to become the same as the bone residue inside.

The ministers lowered their heads and exchanged glances cautiously, and then the Minister of Personnel Zhang Jie stepped forward and saluted.

"Your Majesty, I request to be sent as an imperial envoy to Hangzhou to inform all the prefectures that the Grand Master has descended upon the empire. The current situation is chaotic, and many are unaware of the situation. Even if they have heard rumors, they are still skeptical. An imperial envoy is absolutely necessary to send an envoy to inform them. Although I am in the Ministry of Personnel, the Jianlu are currently harassing us and I do not have much to do. I dare not sit idle and do nothing. I implore the Grand Master to grant me the order to proceed."

He said.

"Okay, since you, the Minister of Personnel, really don't have much to do, please go to Hangzhou for me.

Tell them by the way.

I know that those former idiots were so lenient that they couldn't even collect taxes. Back then, the annual tax revenue was over 30 million shi. Now, almost 300 years later, the population has increased several times, and the farmland has increased considerably. Yet, they're collecting 20 million shi a year. It's simply incomprehensible. Back then, I said 33 million shi would be enough for the court's expenses, but these idiots are only collecting 20 million shi a year. How can this not lead to the destruction of the nation?
I just want to restore order in the court.

They have been living comfortably for too long and may not be used to it for a while, but I am the king and they are the subjects. They have to accept it whether they are used to it or not, and get used to it in the process of acceptance.

I also know that those useless ministers in the past were somewhat ignorant of what was good for them because of their indulgence. But they also know very well who I am. These big vats of mine are right here. If they like to jump in, I can fulfill their wish at any time.

If you don't like these vats, I can go back to skinning and stuffing them with grass."

Yang Feng shouted.

"The minister obeys the order."

Zhang Jie said quickly.

This is what they are afraid of now!

Therefore, we need to go to various places quickly to make those officials and gentry face reality.

Wake up, everyone!
Just do what he wants, it's better than being thrown into these big vats!
As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Weiyuan, the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, came forward.

"Your Majesty, I dare not sit idle in this position. I beg Your Majesty to grant me the order. I am willing to travel to Shandong and then to Northern Zhili to convey Your Majesty's message of loyalty and righteousness to the people of the country. I will raise an army to drive out the Jiannu and welcome the royal army to reclaim the capital."

He said.

He was from Tongzhou, but his ancestral home was in Shandong. He was a member of the eunuch party. He was exiled to Huai'an by Chongzhen, but was re-employed after the establishment of the Hongguang Dynasty. Originally, he committed suicide in Nanjing, but the Donglin Party fabricated that he was killed after surrendering. However, this time he was about to jump into the well with his two concubines, but Emperor Taizu Gao flew over his head, and he quickly stopped jumping. Including Zhang Jie, he was about to commit suicide but did not complete it.

However, Zhang Jie was also a political enemy of the Donglin Party and a close confidant of Zhou Yanru.

"Is this necessary? I think all those northern officials who have surrendered to the Jiannu should just be thrown into a large vat."

Yang Feng said.

Yang Weiyuan was silent for a moment.

That's what he's afraid of!

Although he did not surrender, countless of his relatives, friends, classmates and classmates did!

Given Emperor Taizu Gao's ferocity, it was only a matter of time before he would recapture the capital. Coupled with his brutality, all these people would have been thrown into the jar by then. If he went back, perhaps he could persuade a few people to rise up against the Qing Dynasty, and by then the northern gentry would still have some roots left.

"Your Majesty, these people's deaths are indeed not a pity, but there are also many people among the people who are willing to serve the country loyally, but they suffer from no news from the court. I am from Tongzhou in the north, and my ancestral home is in Shandong. If I bring Your Majesty's imperial edict and make it known, loyal and righteous people will surely rise up. Although I am an imperial censor, Your Majesty governs with all officials in order and the people at peace. There is really no need for me. Rather than just sitting in office and eating and drinking, I would rather go north to Your Majesty and make the message of loyalty and righteousness known."

Yang Weiyuan said quickly.

The way people who used to be eunuchs speak is different.

"Okay, go ahead. Before you leave, ask Eunuch Han for some gold and silver."

Emperor Taizu Gao was very pleased.

Then Yang Weiyuan quickly took his leave like Zhang Jie.

Immediately afterwards, Huang Duanbo also asked for permission. He requested to carry the imperial edict south to Huizhou, and then go to Jiangxi and Huguang to inform his subjects.

So he ran away quickly.

……

These ministers were very anxious. After all, the style of this Emperor Taizu Gao was actually more terrifying than the original one!

The original emperor wasn't a master of tricks, so despite his brutality, he knew to appease the gentry when necessary and to employ Confucian scholars. Though he wouldn't spare anyone, he still shared a drink from the golden cup. But this emperor paid no attention to the Confucian scholars, and even the ministers were just figures in the government. He never consulted with them, instead making all decisions on his own accord with Han Xin. Furthermore, he didn't use the old tactics, dealing directly with the people. To this day, even Yingtian Prefecture, including Shangyuan and Jiangning counties, lacks a chief official, having appointed a few deputies from among the clerks.

The people were managed by the military officers he appointed, who were in charge of the army on horseback and the people on foot.

This also applies to the original nationality.

Whenever there was something to do, he would summon these officers and issue orders to them.

Whether it is the cabinet or the nine ministers, their only function is to issue imperial edicts to various places outside.

These ministers are just sitting there doing nothing.

No one asks them for help.

Given the current situation, if you can leave, leave now!
"The people selected through the imperial examination are worse than those selected through conscription."

After all the ministers left, Han Xin said.

"That's because the imperial examinations had been played out, but the recruitment system eventually became even worse. Even with the imperial examinations being so bad, at least 30% of the Jinshi candidates in the Ming Dynasty had no ancestors who had been Jinshi or Juren. Even in my Qing Dynasty, there were still more than 10%. Your recruitment system eventually became the Nine-Rank System, and the aristocratic families were completely dominated by the hereditary descendants who held high positions, while the talented were relegated to the lower ranks. The grass sways on the rocks, the pine trees grow thickly at the bottom of the stream. Their inch-long stems shade my hundred-foot branches.

Don't give the poor any chance at all.

The imperial examination is not the problem; the problem is that its content must be changed.

The appointments after the imperial examination must be changed.

It wasn't like that in Zhu Yuanzhang's time. In his time, even if a Jinshi didn't become a county magistrate, he had to serve as a county magistrate for a few years to learn for a while."

Yang Feng said.

Of course, there's no time for that now.

In fact, he had no time to take care of it in the future, and what Han Xin wanted to do was to play the role of a classical empire.

Or the Qin system.

Even if the imperial examination still existed under this system, it could only become a modern civil service examination, and then provide the government with clerks. The chief official would still be based on military merit. It would be difficult for someone who had not chopped off a head on the battlefield to be qualified to be a county magistrate.

Nanjing is already doing this now.

After these battles, a large number of officers who were previously appointed were replaced. After all, they were only temporary, and the real appointment still depended on their performance. Those who performed poorly on the battlefield were removed and replaced by those who performed well. Then these officers were also local managers, including the original civilians who were under the management of these officers. Originally, Nanjing City was divided into wards, and these officers were in charge of each ward. Young and strong men were soldiers when they left and civilians when they came back. This move certainly made the gentry very unhappy. After all, even if they were civilians, they had to be managed by these officers, and according to their land, they had to bear military service. One able-bodied man was required to serve as a soldier for every 100 mu of land.

No?

If not, take the land.

Then give the land to those who are willing to serve in the army.

Or you can sponsor the military expenses yourself, and pay a certain amount of silver to become one soldier.

Or he could adopt a son and have him replace his biological son, but basically no one chose this. After all, the adopted son would get a share of the family property. This was Zhu's rule. The adopted son would get a share of the family property, and the adopted daughters of the gentry could not enjoy the same treatment. That was the same treatment as their biological daughters, and anyone who dared to enjoy it would be hanged directly.

Even though they are harmonious, they are also traitors.

Even if the other party agrees, it is still forced.

This is not cost-effective.

So basically you have to pay extra money, and it’s not just once.

After all, it's not like they will only be conscripted once in their lifetime. They will have to be conscripted again when needed. Even if there are frequent wars, it is possible that they will only be conscripted once a year. Then, if they don't want to go to the battlefield, they will have to pay money again.

The water flows slowly.

In addition, Yang Feng also established a separate system for craftsmen...

Iron workshop in the city.

Yang Feng held a flintlock rifle and pulled the trigger. With the flame and thick smoke of black gunpowder spraying out from the muzzle, the bullet hit the target there.

This is a real dog-lock flintlock rifle.

"Not bad. Did the six of you do this together?"

He looked at the six craftsmen in front of him.

"Master, it's the six of us. After you gave us the sample, we made it accordingly. It's not that difficult, except for the reeds. However, I've made a chime clock before, so I know how to make reeds, so I finished it quickly."

The leader spoke quickly.

"Keep going. Engrave your names on all the flintlock muskets you make. From now on, every time one of them kills an enemy, it will count as one point of military merit. Ten points count as one point of merit, and rewards will be given according to your military achievements."

Yang Feng said.

The craftsman still didn't quite understand.

"If you make a flintlock musket, and it kills one enemy, you'll get one point of military merit. If you kill ten enemies, you'll get one merit, which is a reward of one hundred acres of land. If you make ten flintlock muskets, and each of these kills ten enemies, you'll get ten merits, and then you'll divide up one thousand acres of land. Of course, you can't make one like this alone. This was made by the six of you, so the land will be divided among you six. The cost of these muskets is separate, and this land is just a reward for your military merit."

Of course, you don't have to give up the land. Ten military merits can be exchanged for a title, so you can also exchange for a title and then designate someone to be an official.

Land was granted for military merit.

Awarded titles for military merit.

All must be achieved through military merit."

Yang Feng said.

The craftsmen were all dumbfounded, looking at him as if in a dream.

"Then, how much land do we need to divide it?"

One of them said in disbelief.

"All the nations in the world, combined, have only 500 million people. Even if we kill them all, we'll only have 500 million acres of land. Besides, this has nothing to do with you. This is my rule. As long as you have military merit, the court must give you land. If the court can't do that, I allow you to take the flintlock guns you made and go to the court to demand an explanation."

Yang Feng said.

"Then, isn't that a rebellion?"

The leading craftsman said in horror.

"I started my career by rebelling. If I can rebel, why can't you?"

Yang Feng said.

The craftsmen woke up instantly and all knelt down in fear.

"But you must also remember that you can only share military merit if the weapons you make are good. If the weapons you make are not good, or even cause casualties among the soldiers, you will also be subject to military law. I once said to Ru Taisu, 'I will drink from the golden cup with you, but I will not spare you from the sword.'

I give you what you want.

But you also have to give me what I want."

Yang Feng said.

That's it.

We must restore imperialism from top to bottom, from the military to the people.

what?
Is the land not enough for reward?

Isn’t there land all around?

The Ming Dynasty indeed had only a few hundred million mu of land. Even if further reclamation continued, it would only reach over a billion mu. But how many paddy fields does Southeast Asia have? Isn't the vast land of the Western Regions also land? If that's not enough, there are still the Great Plains of East Europe, the Fertile Crescent, and the Indian Plain. There is no shortage of land in the world.

Anyway, he said that the court did not have enough land to reward, so the people had the right to take up arms and ask the court for an explanation.

It’s up to you, the imperial court, to do what you want!

Either they take up arms and march forth to claim their Manifest Destiny, or they take up arms and march upon the imperial court to claim their Manifest Destiny...

It is the Manifest Destiny!
These are the rules promised and formulated by Emperor Taizu Gao himself. This is the Manifest Destiny. If you can't do it, you have to give us an explanation. There will be no suspense about what the court will choose in this situation.

(End of this chapter)