The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 187 The Heart of a King

"The outcome of a war is clear, but the success of a political undertaking cannot be answered definitively."

"But can't we clearly see whether the world is getting better or worse?"

"Then how do you know that this so-called improvement is not a case of draining the pond to catch all the fish?" Li Xianmu retorted. "And how do you know that this so-called improvement is not due to some unrepeatable accident, or because the legacy of our predecessors is too abundant, but is truly due to the current policies?"

How do you know that the world is going bad because of policies that harm the people?
Look at Wang Anshi's reforms in the Song Dynasty. Each and every policy sounded like a good policy that would benefit the country and its people, yet it ultimately led to the downfall of the Song Dynasty.

Listening to Li Xianmu's words, Zhu Zhanji began to understand why his grandfather, father, mother, and many others held his uncle in such high esteem, saying that Li Xianmu had the ability to shoulder the responsibility of the world.

Zhu Zhanji's teachers were all learned scholars, some of whom were devoted to learning, others to learning philosophy, and he also received instruction from Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi. Yet, at this moment, he still felt that Li Xianmu was different; his words, actions, and thinking surpassed those of many others.

His little face tensed up, filled with a deep thirst for knowledge. "Uncle, if that's the case, how can the world become a better place?"

Li Xianmu knew that Zhu Zhanji had taken it to heart, and secretly admired him, thinking that he was indeed a highly talented and promising ruler.

"Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. First of all, you must lower your expectations and not think about how you will succeed. Instead, you should implement it slowly and observe it in time. Once you find something wrong, you can remedy it in time."

It's normal for problems to arise once or twice. Whether a policy can be truly implemented usually takes five to ten years to see results, and by the end, it may be completely different from the initial plan.

Over the next five to ten years, you will suffer countless failures and setbacks before you finally see the results, but it's still not over.

Just hearing Li Xianmu say that, Zhu Zhanji already frowned and looked distressed.

"If the results are good, you should be even more cautious, as if walking on a single-plank bridge, trembling with fear, for fear that a single misstep will destroy the hard-won results. This is the problem of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang - pride and complacency!"
The fatal problem for a monarch is resting on his laurels. As I have said, there is never an end to governing a country.

A policy that you spend five to ten years figuring out may become unsuitable after only five to ten years of operation and need to be readjusted.

The bureaucracy you painstakingly rectified and the atmosphere improved, but once you relax, it will resurface in just one or two years, or even become worse.

This is governance—a path that, once embarked upon, has no end, no victory, and no conclusion!

Li Xianmu remarked with emotion: "Without an ambition forged of steel, it is difficult to become an eternal sage ruler."

Zhu Zhanji felt despair just listening to it, "Did my grandfather govern the country like this too?"

In Zhu Zhanji's mind, his grandfather was the most powerful person in the world.

"Your Majesty and the late Emperor, who emerged from the flames of war, have faced the most difficult and dangerous situations and the most cruel life-and-death situations. Therefore, they have never lacked unwavering courage. Thus, throughout history, no monarch who founded a dynasty has ever given up halfway."

Li Xianmu met Zhu Zhanji's gaze for the first time, and then said, word by word, "A true sage ruler not only has the title of emperor, but more importantly, he must have the heart of a king!"

The last four words reached Zhu Zhanji's ears like a resounding bell and drum, leaving his young mind blank, with only the four words "the heart of a king" remaining.

Before this, many people, including his grandfather and father, had taught him how to be a good emperor. He learned a great deal, including political maneuvering and the ability to handle state affairs. But no one ever told him that beyond ability, the most important thing for a monarch is his heart. Yet, he seemed to have a sudden epiphany. He was very intelligent and realized almost instantly that the heart of a king was the ultimate key to controlling everything!

When he came to his senses, he almost involuntarily bowed to Li Xianmu, "Uncle, please teach me how to possess the heart of a king!"

Li Xianmu laughed and said, "This is a very long process. If the Crown Prince is willing, I can teach you slowly, starting with this war against the Mongols."

Getting too close to the crown prince would arouse the emperor's suspicion, but getting close to the grandson of the crown prince would be fine, and it would be a good opportunity to nurture the grandson.

Although the two were from different generations, Li Xianmu was actually only seven years older than Zhu Zhanji.

Li Xianmu suddenly realized that Zhu Zhanji might not outlive him, since emperors with three palaces and six courtyards generally did not live long.

Zhu Zhanji solemnly cupped his hands in a bow, saying, "This nephew has troubled his uncle."

The bugle call to break camp sounded in the camp, its mournful whistle like the most desolate wind on the grassland.

……

From the Xiongnu onwards, northern nomadic tribes have always been a major threat to the Central Plains, impossible to eradicate completely. This is naturally because the grasslands from Liaodong to Europe are connected, and nomadic peoples will always find fertile grasslands.

The neighbors to the north have changed frequently, but in reality, apart from the Hetao region south of the Gobi Desert, there are only three areas: the east, the west, and the central region. The eastern part is the famous Hulunbuir Grassland, which is now in the hands of the Doyan people who have submitted to the Ming Dynasty.

After the Northern Yuan split, the Tatars, ruled by the Golden Family, occupied the central grasslands, while the Oirats occupied the western grasslands. After the first Northern Expedition defeated the Tatars, the Oirats took advantage of the situation to rise and invaded the central grasslands that originally belonged to the Tatars. This naturally aroused the vigilance of the Ming Dynasty. In the tenth year of Yongle, the Ming Dynasty sent envoys to demand that Mahmud, the Shunyi King of the Oirats, withdraw from the central grasslands.

But there's no reason to spit out the fat meat that's already in your mouth. Mahmud ignored the Ming Dynasty's demands, which led to this northern expedition.

Li Xianmu described Mahmud's behavior as that of a clown, someone who, despite not being literate, insisted on taking the imperial examinations. If Mahmud had read even a few books, he would know that when the Central Plains dynasties had just been established and their treasuries were full, their military strength was extremely formidable.

At this time, if a nomadic tribe provoked the Central Plains dynasty, it would be severely beaten.

Zhu Di had only established the second Ming Dynasty for ten years, and the three major camps that had followed him through the Jingnan Campaign were at their peak, with the national treasury now full.

The current Ming Dynasty is stronger and more terrifying than Zhu Yuanzhang's First Ming Empire.

Mahmud has absolutely no chance of winning!
As Li Xianmu had predicted, in just one skirmish, Mahmud's most prized Mongol cavalry was routed by Zhu Di's Shenji Battalion.

The eagle on the Mongolian steppe felt that its wings were not yet fully developed, and soon sent an envoy to surrender.

Zhu Di was so angry at Mahmud's shameless behavior that he laughed.

"You call it war and it ends just as easily? Your master is a joke. Does he think my Great Ming is a joke too? Go tell Mahmud to kneel before me and beg for surrender. I might forgive him then!"

(End of this chapter)