"There are more and more talks about reducing vassal status in the DPRK."
On July 12, in the city of Kaifeng, Henan, when the Zhou king Zhu Ji and the crown prince Zhu Youdou in the palace of the Zhou Dynasty were discussing the endless talk of reducing vassalage in the temple, Zhu Youdou, who was holding the playbook, pretended to continue reading as if nothing had happened. Reading the script while comforting his father.
"Young man, I have seen it. There are only three voices in the temple advocating for the reduction of vassal states. One is the "On Removing the Domain" as suggested by Gao Wei, and the other is Zhuo Jing's proposal of "relocating to the local area to extend favor." These two Regarding the policy of reducing vassal states, the former comes from Gao Xu’s article, while the latter should be the mainstream in temples.”
Zhu Youdun summarized two routes to reduce vassalage based on the remarks that emerged in temples during this period.
The first is Zhu Gaoxu's "Ming Dynasty version of the order of grace", which continuously distributes the palace guards according to the heirs. In this way, it only takes forty or fifty years to disintegrate the military power in the hands of the feudal king.
The second is to take back the military power of the vassals, and then re-confer the frontier vassal kings to the interior. For example, the king of Yan was sent to Nanchang, and the kings of Zhou, Chu, Xiang, Qin and Jin were sent to wealthy areas such as Zhili, Fujian, and Zhejiang. place.
From the perspective of the vassal king, they were actually more willing to hand over military power directly and be enfeoffed by Zhu Yunwen to the wealthy lands in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
However, this suggestion met with resistance from officials in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Apparently they did not want their hometowns to become a place where vassal kings traveled everywhere.
After all, the vassal king can also play a certain role in monitoring local officials, and even if the vassal king hands over the military power of the palace, he still has to retain a certain amount of security.
These guards can undoubtedly serve as a deterrent to Jiangnan for the imperial power.
Therefore, it was fundamentally impossible for the vassals to move inland, because Zhu Yunwen had to rely on officials from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces to govern the country.
Therefore, from this point of view, it seems that only Zhu Gaoxu's "On the Cutting of Fans" can be implemented.
The vassals had already accepted the "On Cutting Down the Domain", so even a powerful vassal like Zhu Xi had been waiting for the court to send someone to take over the military power.
It's not that he has no ambition, it's just that his military power has collapsed since Feng Sheng's death, and he can only control the three guards of the palace.
It is obviously unrealistic to want to go against the imperial court with this small number of troops.
"It's a pity that the eldest brother gave up the military power of Sandusi, otherwise we can talk to the court."
Zhu Di complained about Zhu Di. Although he and Zhu Di had a good relationship, Zhu Di felt a little uncomfortable when he thought that because Zhu Di gave up the military power of the Sandu Division, they became fish on the chopping board.
The chiefs of all the vassals had surrendered their military power and only retained the palace guards, so they had no reason to talk to Zhu Yunwen about cutting down the vassal.
"No wonder the fourth uncle." Zhu Youdou had an open mind: "Everyone has seen the matter of reducing the vassalage a few years ago. If the fourth uncle does not hand over military power, it will undoubtedly be a slap in the face of the elder brother. Such a move Come on, how can his throne be secure?"
"You guy..." Zhu You looked at Zhu Youdou with toothache: "Your grandfather did not love you in vain. Yun Wen is about to cut off his feudal clan, and you still speak for him."
"No matter how much I peel, I can't peel off your fine clothes and food, so don't worry." Zhu Youdou rolled his eyes at his troublesome father, and at the same time looked at the thick books beside Zhu Rui.
"Besides, if the feudal clan is really eliminated, you will be able to write books well. This is a good thing."
"That's true..." Hearing Zhu Youdou mention his hobbies, Zhu Ru happily looked at the pile of books on the table beside him.
These books are famine relief books compiled by Zhu Rui after so many years of hard work after returning to Kaifeng from Yunnan, in order to make the people live more comfortably.
It has to be said that after "moving the town to Yunnan", Zhu Yu finally became somewhat humane and could accommodate the common people in his heart, otherwise Zhu Yuanzhang would not have easily let him return to Kaifeng from Yunnan.
It's just that he did something that benefited the country and the people here, but in that night, some people were ready to be cruel to him.
Kaifeng City was silent after the curfew, except for the occasional sound of the clock.
In such an environment, a flash of fire appeared in an alley in Kaifeng City.
There were hundreds of people squatting or standing in the alley. Some of them had already put on armor, and some were still wearing armor.
A quarter of an hour later, a courtyard door slowly opened, and Li Jinglong, wearing armor, walked out, but his face did not look good.
Behind him, two generals took the lead and spoke: "My lord, two thousand people are ready, just waiting for your order."
"It's easy to do it, but will King Zhou really be able to capture him without mercy? There should be no less than a thousand guards in King Zhou's palace."
The two of them spoke one after another, but Li Jinglong was already ready to fire.
During the Hongwu years, he never thought that the military skills he learned would one day be used against one of his own people, and moreover, it would be his cousin.
In terms of seniority, although King Zhou Zhu was only one or two years older than him, he was still a figure of his father's generation.
I want to take action against Zhu Ru, which makes me feel guilty.
But he had no choice. Zhu Yunwen issued an order, and it was impossible for him to disobey it.
"Do it!"
With heavy and complicated emotions, Li Jinglong spoke in a deep voice, and the generals on the left and right began to notify the other soldiers who were ready.
At seven o'clock in the morning, at a time when many people were still asleep, the sound of rustling armor rang out in Kaifeng City.
Their actions quickly attracted the attention of the three guards of the Zhou Palace and the Kaifeng City defenders.
However, when they saw the troop deployment card in this team, they all stopped and looked at each other in disbelief.
It's just that Zhu Tong and Zhu Youdun, father and son, have been in charge of the three guards for so many years, and they still have some die-hard loyalists.
Not long after Li Jinglong took action, an official from a hundred households hurriedly ran into Prince Zhou's Mansion and broke into the Chengyun Hall.
"What's wrong? I'm so panicked..."
Zhu Tong and Zhu Youdun were still discussing medical books and drama scripts. When they saw the panicked Baihu official, they both felt nervous.
"Your Highness! Soldiers from other guards suddenly appeared in the city. There are also troop deployment signs from the commander-in-chief. They are currently surrounding the palace!"
"Let's go!" When he heard that the palace was surrounded, Zhu Youdou changed his usual laziness, grabbed Zhu Zhu's hand and wanted to go to the wall of the palace with him to check.
The father and son hurriedly and slowly climbed up the palace wall in a matter of seconds. They also saw thousands of soldiers lighting torches outside the city and guarding the palace tightly.
"Ask them where they came from!"
Zhu Youdou spoke to Qianhu, the guard of the palace on duty, who also put down the basket and asked one person to go to negotiate.
Not long after, the man returned to the city and told Zhu Youdun and his son: "The person who came here is Cao Guogong. He said that someone in the court presented evidence that your highness intended to rebel. Therefore, he accepted your majesty's order and came to invite you and your son to the capital. …”
"Fart!!" Hearing someone saying that he was treason, Zhu Xi cursed loudly. Zhu Youdou next to him also frowned slightly and asked the flag officer: "Did you ever say who impeached my father and son for treason?"
"This..." The little flag officer hesitated for a moment, and then said anxiously: "Cao Guogong said it was the second palace."
"Your Highness? Which Second Highness?" Zhu Rui was stunned and could not react.
"Dad, it's the second child." Zhu Youdou's face was gloomy, while Zhu Ru couldn't believe it: "You mean the second child?"
Like Zhu Gaoxu and others, Zhu Youyi, the second son of Zhu Ji, was sent to the capital after he was fifteen years old to study in the main hall.
Now Zhu Youyi actually falsely accused his father of treason. Not to mention Zhu You didn't believe it, Zhu Youdun didn't believe it either.
"Dad, ignore Li Jinglong, just summon troops to defend the palace, and then send people to the capital to confront him!"
Zhu Youdun knew that rebellion was an unfounded crime, so he wanted to rely on the palace to defend, wait for the matter to ferment, and then use the clan to put pressure on Zhu Yunwen.
However, Zhu Youdou had a good idea, but before he could take action, he suddenly heard the sound of the city gate opening under his feet.
"Who opened the city gate!!" Zhu Youdou's scalp went numb, but a voice came from below the city: "It's Baihuguanwuxun!"
"Secure the city gate!" Zhu Youdun ordered sternly, but at this time, the Ming troops outside the city swarmed towards the palace gate.
Before Zhu Youdou could lead his troops down the horse path, Li Jinglong led his troops into the palace of Prince Zhou.
By the time Zhu Youdou got off the horse track, Li Jinglong had already led people on horseback into the Chengyundian Square of Prince Zhou's Mansion, and met the sullen Zhu Ju and his son.
"Mr. Cao Guo, you are really good at buying people's hearts."
Zhu Youdou looked at a Baihu official behind Li Jinglong. The Baihu official also lowered his head. It was obvious that he had opened the city gate just now.
In response to Zhu Youdou's slightly sarcastic words, Li Jinglong did not directly respond to his methods, but only bowed to the two of them: "King Zhou and the Crown Prince, I am also acting according to the order. Please don't embarrass me."
"A carriage has been prepared outside the house. Please come with me."
"Dad, let's go!" Zhu Youdou walked out of the palace with a gloomy face, and Zhu Ru also looked ugly.
When he came to Li Jinglong's side, Zhu Xi taunted Li Jinglong in a murderous manner: "I wonder what my father would think of you and my nephew if he knew better."
Li Jinglong frowned slightly, but did not refute Zhu Ju's words.
After they left, Li Jinglong looked at Wu Xun, the official of Baihu who opened the city gate, and said to his left and right, "Let's find him a job in a remote place."
"Yes!" The two generals on the left and right bowed in response, and Li Jinglong also rode out of Prince Zhou's palace.
Soon, the news that King Zhou was captured by Li Jinglong in a surprise attack spread back to the capital.
When the news reached Zhu Yunwen's ears, he couldn't believe it at first. After all, Zhu Rui had also been his opponent in his political career in recent years.
The two had been fighting for so many years outside the temple, but they didn't expect that he, who had three guards, would be captured so easily by Li Jinglong.
"From the time when Cao Guogong set out to the time when King Zhou was captured, it only took twelve days. Taizu chose Cao Guogong to entrust him with the task, and he made the right choice."
In the Wuying Hall, Huang Zicheng was bragging about Li Jinglong's magical weapons descending from the sky, and he was also bragging about himself.
After all, Qi Tai originally wanted to attack King Yan, but he chose King Zhou.
Now that the King of Zhou was captured in less than half a month, doesn't this mean that the path he chose to reduce the vassalage is extremely correct?
Huang Zicheng's boasting was disliked by Qi Tai, Bao Zhao and Fang Xiaoru in Wuying Hall, but Zhu Yunwen was very happy.
"What you said is indeed true. The feudal vassals are nothing like chickens and dogs facing the imperial court. You just asked someone to release some news in the temple, but they actually relaxed. It seems that I think highly of them."
Zhu Yunwen felt relieved for a while, but Qi Tai poured cold water on him at the critical moment: "Your Majesty, King Zhou has been captured. What are you going to do now?"
"Gentlemen, what do you think?" Zhu Yunwen did not answer, but pushed the question to them.
Hearing this, Qi Tai responded without thinking: "We should be confined to the capital, temporarily reward him, and wait until the reduction of vassalage is completed before discussing the crime."
"Your Majesty, I think this is not allowed!" Huang Zicheng immediately objected when he heard Qitai's policy:
"The purpose of the imperial court's attack on the King of Zhou was to scare the monkeys and test the reactions of the vassals. If they are so kind to a guilty person like Zhou vassal, what about cutting down the vassals of Yan, Chu, Shu, etc.?"
The two argued, and Zhu Yunwen turned his attention to Fang Xiaoru, and Fang Xiaoru agreed with Huang Zicheng's words: "Your Majesty should think deeply, punish the evil ones, and reward the good ones."
"King Zhou is guilty, but he is a blood relative of His Majesty after all." Bao Zhao was vague when he spoke, obviously not wanting to take sides.
"So..." Zhu Yunwen thought for a moment, and then he remembered what Zhu Yuanzhang said before his death that he wanted to move the vassal king to Yunnan, so he said:
"According to my decree, King Zhou and Prince Youdou of Zhou are deposed as common people and exiled to Yunnan. They are ordered to be well looked after by the Yamen of the Three Divisions of Yunnan, but they must not be treated harshly."
"Your Majesty the Holy Might!!"
Faced with Zhu Yunwen's arrangement, Huang Zicheng and Fang Xiaoru hurriedly sang the ceremony, and Bao Zhao followed closely. Only Qi Tai's face was not very good-looking, and he was very worried.
"Okay, now that the King of Zhou has been solved, which vassal king should be killed next?"
Everyone did not expect that Zhu Yunwen had just beheaded the King of Zhou, and he was anxious to start cutting off the next vassal king.
Such a move made Huang Zicheng speechless for a moment, and then he slowly said: "The King of Zhou is under attack. We should first wait and see the attitude of King Yan, Qin, Jin and other vassals. Your Majesty, there is no need to rush."
"What Huang Taichang Temple said makes sense." Qi Tai breathed a sigh of relief. He was most afraid that Huang Zicheng would be as eager for success as Zhu Yunzhen, but fortunately Huang Zicheng could still keep his composure.
"Okay..." Zhu Yun nodded with a smile on his face: "In this case, let's take a look at the attitude of the feudal lords. If no one from the feudal lords expresses their stance, I will ask you gentlemen to choose a bad feudal lord at that time."
He called his uncles evil vassals. If Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, I don't know what he would think.
"I'll take my leave..."
Seeing that Zhu Yunwen had nothing else to explain, the four ministers withdrew one after another, and Zhu Yunwen sent them out of the Wuying Palace gate like a student.
After the four people left, Zhu Yunwen took away the smile on his face and said with a cold face: "Is there anything strange happening in Bohai and Yan Mansion?"
Behind him, Li Quan shook his head: "Nothing happened. The three of Liu and Wu on the Bohai Sea are making good progress and have already won over many people."
"But this time, after the news of King Zhou being cut off from his vassal reaches the north, I don't know what arrangements they will make."
"Keep an eye on them closely, and ask the people sent to the four vassals of Qin, Jin, Shu and Chu to send back useful news as soon as possible." Zhu Yunwen turned around and walked towards the palace, leaving only one sentence at the end:
"I don't have time to spend on these uncles. I have more important things to do."
Zhu Yunwen said this, and the news that King Zhou was deposed began to spread.
The story that "his son falsely accused his father and was exiled thousands of miles away" happened in the Zhou Mansion and spread quickly. Many feudal kings heard the news and knew that Zhu Xi was framed, but no one dared to stand up.
Zhu Di, who was in Peiping, had been somewhat indifferent to worldly affairs since he returned to Prince Yan's Mansion. It was not until the news came back that King Zhou had been removed from his vassal on July 20th that he ran back to Chengyun Hall from the rear mansion.
Zhu Di's hands were trembling as he held the court's "Di Bao". He did not expect that Zhu Yunzhen was so ruthless in cutting down the feudal vassal, and even directly deposed his own uncle into a commoner.
"It seems that what His Highness the Second Highness said was right!"
"It's too late to say anything now. Let's think about who the imperial court will cut next."
The impulsive Qiu Fu spoke first, while Zhang Yu was more mature.
After listening to what the two of them said, Zhu Di closed the "Di Bao" and looked at Zhu Neng and Yao Guangxiao: "Brothers from the south, do you have any comments?"
"No, I'm waiting for Your Highness to express your opinion." Zhu Neng shook his head, and as soon as he said his words, Yao Guangxiao reminded Zhu Di in advance:
"Your Highness, please don't forget that the Crown Prince and the Third Highness are still in the capital..."
"Yes... the boss and the third child are still in the capital..." Zhu Di was reminded by Yao Guangxiao, and his heart that was about to explode calmed down.
He was able to tolerate what Zhu Gaoxu did in Wulianghatu City because of family affection, and his family affection for Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui was not bad either.
Asking him to leave Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui alone was something he couldn't do.
"Old monk, is there any way to bring the eldest and third eldest brother back?"
Zhu Di looked at Yao Guangxiao, and he knew that this old monk in black robe must have a solution.
Sure enough, after hearing Zhu Di's words, Yao Guangxiao nodded slowly: "There is a way, it depends on whether your highness can be humiliated. In addition, you have to tell the second highness in advance."
"Tell the second child?" Zhu Di was stunned and suddenly remembered what Zhu Gaoxu said outside Wulianghatu City.
Obviously, Yao Guangxiao wanted to do something that was not good for his reputation, and he knew the second son's temper. If he was really humiliated, or something else happened, he might really start an army.
"You can find someone to take care of this matter. Once the second brother is notified, I will listen to you whatever you want me to do."
Zhu Di didn't know what Yao Guangxiao wanted him to do, so he simply nodded and agreed.
Seeing how decisive he was, Yao Guangxiao sighed in his heart even though he didn't express anything on his face.
Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Di, one is indecisive on big things, the other is indecisive on small things.
Fortunately, the two of them can complement each other, otherwise Zhu Di's temperament would have been forced by the court.
Yao Guangxiao can be sure that if Zhu Gaoxu hadn't said in advance that he would rebel, Zhu Di might not want to save Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui now.
Unless he was forced to do so as a last resort, he would probably have to endure it forever.
From this point of view, what Zhu Gaoxu did and said in Wulianghatu City was indeed of certain benefit to Zhu Di.
However, it was precisely because of what Zhu Gaoxu did and said that made Yao Guangxiao a little worried about what he would do after learning that King Zhou was removed from the vassal.
"I hope I can make it in time..."
Yao Guangxiao thought about the Buddhist beads, and he got up and asked people to go to Jilin City to discuss with Zhu Gaoxu in advance.
Not only Yao Guangxiao, many people who know Zhu Gaoxu well are worried about Zhu Gaoxu, including his former team.
"Wow... Wow..."
Amidst the sound of the waves in early August, Lushun Port in Jinzhou, southern Liaoning can be said to be the most developed place for northern maritime trade during the Hongwu period.
There was an endless stream of boats arriving here from Deng and Lai in Shandong, including batches of grain transported by the imperial court.
On the dock, the soldiers escorting the grain were talking and laughing, working while talking and laughing.
As the army went northward, there was an endless stream of merchants transporting grain in exchange for salt.
In such a lively situation, there were shouts from the top of Lushun City.
"My Highness didn't treat you harshly!"
"What? Now that things have changed, you bosses have started to add insult to injury?"
In an arrow tower on Lushun City, Fu Rang looked at Xing Shang with a dark face, who kept bowing his head and apologizing. It was obvious that he had encountered something extremely unhappy.
Opposite him, Xing Shang, who kept apologizing, was helpless: "General, you really misunderstood, and we in charge are also helpless."
"Since he returned to Huai'an, he has sold many houses to raise money and food for His Highness. However, this move has been targeted by the local government, and many people in the clan are against him."
"In order to prevent him from supporting His Royal Highness King Bohai, many tribesmen have chosen independent sects. He has no choice but to do so."
"The 76,000 guan of money and more than 124,000 shi of food that can be escorted this time are already all the money and food that my family can afford."
The merchant was obviously Yang Bin's subordinate, and he was currently explaining to Fu Rang the difficulties Yang Bin encountered.
In fact, although Yang Bin did not move his family north to the Bohai Sea, he still did his best to comply with Zhu Gaoxu's instructions.
However, it is not easy to get things done in the family, not to mention that Yang Bin is also targeted by the Huai'an government office.
Hearing Xing Shang's explanation, Fu Rang calmed down a little: "I know it's difficult for you to run errands. I will send someone to send the money and food to Bohai this time. Thank you for your hard work, master. When the crisis is over, I will help you in front of His Highness." He spoke kindly.”
"Thank you, general, thank you so much, general..." The merchant nodded and bowed, bowing and thanking him repeatedly.
"Okay, back off!" Fu Rang felt irritated and waved his hand to let him leave.
Seeing this, the merchant didn't dare to stay. After thanking him several times, he left the arrow tower.
After he left, a familiar figure also walked outside the arrow tower.
"Now it's really true that the trees have fallen and the hozens have scattered..."
Yang Zhan's figure appeared in the arrow tower, and Fu Rang lost his temper when he saw him. He touched the short beard he had grown this year and said: "The momentum of reducing the vassalage in the south is getting louder and louder. I don't know when it will happen." Really cut down the feudal clan.”
"It's been cut." Yang Zhan said, handing the "Di Bao" in his hand to Fu Rang.
"The Zhou vassal was eliminated, and the King of Zhou and the Crown Prince were demoted to common people and exiled to Menghua Prefecture in Yunnan."
"Exiled to Yunnan?" After hearing Yang Zhan's words, Fu Rang hurriedly flipped through the Di Bao, his expression gradually becoming serious.
"If this news is seen by him, I'm afraid it will irritate him..."
In front of outsiders, Fu Rang called Zhu Gaoxu his highness, but in front of his own people, he basically didn't have that many titles of honor and inferiority.
Yang Zhan had long been used to it. He sat next to Fu Rang and looked at the "Di Bao", feeling a little uneasy.
"You said...if the imperial court wants to cut down the Yan vassal, and also wants to cut down His Highness, what should we do..."
"..." Listening to Yang Zhan's words, Fu Rang had a complicated expression on his face. After a while, he said: "I hope that day won't come to me."
He looked at the blue sky, white clouds and sea outside the arrow tower, looking at the scene of vast sea and sky, and added another sentence.
"If that day comes, it will probably be the people all over the world who suffer..."
"Bohai Chronicles": "Not long before the seventh month of the thirty-first year of Hongwu, Yun Wenban ordered the kings to discuss his crimes, so he sent Li Jinglong to attack Kaifeng, deposed the king of Zhou as a commoner, and transformed Yunnan into a Mongolian."
"Records of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty": "Not long into the seventh month, there were rumors in the capital that the king of Zhou was a lawless person. Lord Jianwen then sent Cao Guogong Li Jinglong to lead his troops to Henan, surrounded the royal city, took control of the royal family, and forced the king and his son to come to the capital. I reduced the king's title to a commoner and moved him to Menghua, Yunnan Province. I heard that he was mourned."
(End of chapter)
