Whenever the vassal kings came to the capital, Zhu Biao would talk to them one by one with enthusiasm.
After all the vassal kings arrived, Zhu Biao held a grand banquet to welcome them.
The reception banquet was coming to an end, and everyone, including Zhu Biao, stopped eating.
Dozens of eunuchs, at Wang Yue's signal, hurried forward and cleared away the banquet in front of them in an instant.
At the same time, a burst of music came, and two teams of singers came out from both sides to the music and began to dance.
It is a great enjoyment to have enough wine and food, listen to music and enjoy dancing.
Taking advantage of this moment, Chu King Zhu Zhen glanced around, smiled at Zhu Biao and asked: "Your Majesty, you are so eager to issue an edict to recall your brothers to the capital. There must be something important, right? You can't, you are calling brothers. Come back and listen to music with the Emperor, right?"
Zhu Di sat on the left hand side of Zhu Biao. When he heard Zhu Zhen's words, he immediately turned to the teacup and said angrily: "What are you talking about? The emperor summoned us back to the capital, so of course he has his reasons. The emperor wants to tell you, so just be honest. Listen to me honestly. If I don’t want to tell you, just sit still and be honest! If you act arrogantly, believe it or not, I’ll beat you up!”
Among Zhu Biao's younger brothers, King Zhu Ping of Qin was in Annan. This time he had nothing to do with him, and Zhu Biao did not call him back. The King of Jin, Zhu Fan, passed away last year, even earlier than Lao Zhu.
As the fourth child, Zhu Di is now the oldest vassal king under Zhu Biao. He will not be polite to Zhu Zhen because he is not his compatriot Zhu Di.
Zhu Di is not only handsome and cheerful, but he is also a strong man who can stand on his fists and run horses on his arms.
Zhu Zhen was still afraid of Zhu Di. After being warned, he immediately shrank his neck and did not dare to speak any more.
When Zhu Biao saw it, he immediately waved his hand and said with a smile: "Fourth brother doesn't need to be so angry. Sixth brother is just curious."
"Ah, yes, yes, what the emperor said is true. I am just curious." Seeing that the emperor had spoken to defend him, Zhu Zhen thanked him quickly.
When Zhu Di saw it, he withdrew his gaze and said nothing more.
When Zhu Biao saw all the brothers looking at him with doubtful eyes, he smiled and said: "The reason why I called all my brothers back to the capital is that after my father's great trip, I felt even more lonely and wanted to Let’s catch up with your brothers and catch up on old times.”
"My dear brother, I also miss the emperor." Zhu Zhen first handed over his hand and bowed down.
When he bowed, others had no choice but to follow suit.
Zhu Biao stretched out his hand to signal everyone to excuse themselves, and then continued: "Secondly, your brothers are guarding the four directions for me. It is very hard, so I am going to give you all five thousand shi of princely salary."
It was obviously a great thing to increase the salaries of the kings, but after Zhu Biao finished speaking, everyone fell silent.
Some of them have been in the capital for many days, such as Zhu Zhen. There is no airtight wall in the world. Zhu Zhen also heard some news about why the emperor summoned them to Beijing.
It was precisely because of this that he took the initiative to ask Zhu Biao's purpose just now. He just wanted to block Zhu Biao's words and didn't want to be taxed by Zhu Biao.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Biao calculated in advance that they would object and increased their salaries in advance. This made them want to cry about poverty, but they were choked down in their throats.
All the vassal kings looked at each other, looked left and right, and finally looked at Zhu Ru. Zhu Ji is not only the king of Zhou, but also the judge of the imperial hospital. He stays with the emperor every day, so he should be the most able to speak.
But Zhu Rui was holding a book of medical skills in his hand, frowning and thinking hard, completely unaware of the eyes of other brothers.
Well, this is an idiot who specializes in medical skills, and there is absolutely no hope!
Everyone turned their attention to another person who had lived in the capital for a long time.
Zhu Zi suddenly felt a tingling pain in his body and looked up at everyone in confusion. He immediately laughed and said, "Why are you all looking at me?"
"Lao Ba, although you are in the capital, don't forget that you also have a feudal state." Zhu Zhen's face suddenly darkened, and he almost pointed at Zhu Zi's nose and taught him a lesson.
But who is Zhu Zi? In the academy's battle of wits and courage with those proud men of heaven, he was never at a disadvantage. How could he be taught a lesson by Zhu Zhen now? Although Zhu Zhen was nominally his imperial brother, the two were not siblings, and their relationship was not that close.
Moreover, Zhu Zi has a character that is determined to retaliate. He would find a way to avenge himself on the spot. How could he wait ten years?
"Yes, thanks to Sixth Brother's reminder, we remembered that we also have a feudal country." Zhu Zi suddenly laughed mischievously.
Zhu Zhen had a cowardly expression on his face, and was about to signal Zhu Zi to take the lead.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Zi changed the topic and bowed to Zhu Biao: "My brother, I would like to express my gratitude to the emperor for your kindness. I am willing to pay taxes on all the land in the palace to repay the emperor's kindness."
After saying that, Zhu Zi turned back and gave Zhu Zhen a provocative look.
"You! You..." Zhu Zhen was so angry that he couldn't speak.
Naturally, Zhu Biao would not let go of such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Without waiting for Zhu Zhen to speak, he laughed loudly and said: "Okay, Lao Ba still understands the righteousness. But we are brothers after all, so there is no need to mention repaying kindness. I have no other wish. I only hope that you, the emperor's brothers, can enjoy wealth and honor in peace. No matter how hard I work, I still feel happy."
After Zhu Biao's words came to this point, Zhu Chun, the king of Shu among the kings, bowed down and said: "My brother is also willing to pay taxes to repay the emperor's kindness."
Even if all taxes were paid on the land of the Prince of Shu, there would still be only 5,000 shi per year. After all, Zhu Chun still made a profit. Therefore, he did not have any burden in his heart. The reason why he did not stand up immediately was just because he wanted to find a suitable time.
"My brother and I are also willing..." Other vassal kings who did not have much land like Zhu Chun also expressed their submission. Even if there are one or two who suffer a loss, they are too lazy to care about that point.
But more than ten breaths passed, Zhu Di didn't speak, and Zhu Zhen didn't speak either, and the scene suddenly became a little solemn.
Zhu Zhen suddenly smiled and said: "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to pay taxes, but my father has decided that the prince's land does not need to pay taxes."
Hearing this, Zhu Biao nodded with a smile: "Yes, this is indeed the will of my father. But I still remember that the land my father gave you, the sixth brother, is 10,000 acres, right? If the sixth brother now only has one land given by the father, If you have ten thousand acres of land, then Sixth Brother, you don’t have to pay taxes.”
When Zhu Zhen heard this, his expression suddenly changed, and he couldn't say any more.
However, the King of Qi, Zhu Su, spoke up and said with a sense of grievance: "Your Majesty, I have indeed acquired some land in recent years, but these lands were bought from others with real money and silver. Ah. And I didn’t take advantage of it by any means, even the price is the market price. How come in the end, even I have to pay tax?”
Zhu Biao smiled and waved his hand, signaling Zhu Shu to be calm and calm, and said: "I also want you brothers to enjoy wealth and wealth in peace. If you have any difficulties, you can tell me. Even if you are short of money, I can give you some belongings. But for land, I hope you brothers will stop buying land from the people, even if it is a fair sale."
"Your Majesty, why is this?" Zhu Zhen was very puzzled.
If they were saying that they were plundering and harming the people, and the emperor did not allow them to buy land, then Zhu Zhen would understand. But even fair sales were not allowed, which made him very confused.
Zhu Biao stood up and spoke earnestly to all the younger brothers: "Do you know, younger brothers, that there is a common reason for the demise of all dynasties?"
Seeing no one answered, Zhu Biao had to continue: "That is land. There is only so much land in the world. If you have more, then naturally the people will have less. And once the people lose their land, they will become refugees. . And once refugees appear, it means that the world has begun to become unstable. As fewer and fewer people own land, and there are more and more refugees without land, the country and the country will be overturned."
"For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, I will not pursue the land you purchased before. But in the future, you will never be able to enclosure the land wantonly. If I find out, I will definitely punish you severely!"
Facing Zhu Biao's strong gaze, no vassal king dared to look at him.
When Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Di, Zhu Di suddenly sighed and said: "Your Majesty, to guard one side of the vassal state, it costs a lot of money every year just for the royal guards. If even the prince's land needs to pay taxes, then we still have to pay taxes." How to raise troops and how to defend one side?"
Zhu Biao nodded towards Zhu Di with a smile on his face and said with a smile: "Fourth brother is right, raising troops is indeed very expensive. Especially for border vassal states, they not only have to guard one side, but also need to be prepared to deal with the grassland tribes at all times. However, except for the border vassal states, the other vassal states have no intrusion from the grassland tribes, and there are no areas that need to be suppressed internally. In this way, except for the border vassal states, the internal vassal states only retain one guard and horse, which can greatly save costs. Expenses on raising troops. Lao Liu and Lao Qi, one of you is in Huguang and the other is in Shandong. You don’t have to worry about foreign invasion, and there are no bandits in the country. You each have three guards and horses. Is it difficult to support them? Then Each of them left one guard behind, and the other two guards were transferred to the tents of Liang Guogong and Ying Guogong."
"Your Majesty!" Zhu Zhen and Zhu Shu both changed their expressions and spoke quickly.
These are two soldiers and horses. How can they be willing to hand over the two soldiers and horses that they have worked hard for for many years for nothing? But facing Zhu Biao with a smile on his face, they did not dare to refute boldly.
Just when the two of them were extremely anxious and didn't know what to say. Suddenly he caught a glimpse of Zhu Chun standing aside, and immediately pointed at him and said, "Your Majesty, what about Old Eleven? He has four guards in Shu, more than us. Can he only keep one guard?" "
Zhu Chun was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that the two royal brothers wanted to use him as a shield. After pondering for a moment, Zhu Chun bowed down and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to cut off the three guards."
