Xu Zhijue raised his hand and said, "But please give me some advice."
Fan Guangwen stood up.
"Throughout thousands of years of Chinese history, who among the rulers has not openly advocated the way of enlightenment, but in fact practiced the art of fooling the people? And they have tried to imprison billions of people within the rules of etiquette, making them like cattle and sheep in captivity. But there is no wild nature and can be slaughtered at will! This is the way of the saintly king!"
"To avoid the situation where people who are called meat eaters are actually servants of the world;"
"But Zhu Youxiao really spent billions of dollars on the establishment of civilian education, even promoted Mohist techniques, and even tilted the distribution of national wealth towards producers!"
"Even if you are a literati, you can only have a high income by writing more articles, poems and stories. Otherwise, even if you are famous all over the world and travel among the rich and powerful, you will not get a penny or be awarded an official!"
"It is also because of this civilian education that wealth is tilted towards producers, which has led to the emergence of a large number of middle classes today. They are called free people among the Han people. They despise the bureaucrats and powerful people at the top, do not talk about the superiority of elders and juniors, and do not even have three taboos. Even the sage Confucius dared to criticize it, it is so outrageous and rebellious!"
"As a result, the banner of the nation is held high, and every word must talk about rights, oppression and exploitation, and innovation. They are really a group of people who are not afraid of changes in nature, their ancestors are not law-abiding, and people's words are not compassionate!"
"In the Northern Song Dynasty, there was only one Wang Anshi, but now in the Ming Dynasty, there are billions of Wang Anshi!"
Xu Zhijue was deeply touched after hearing this. He immediately stood up and walked on the sidewalk: "You are right, you are right. Aren't the ancients wise? How could the saints be ignorant? He is the only one who has to be like this! How many people are because of this He died an untimely death. As long as he does not die, the world will be restless!"
Fan Guangwen sighed: "But now it's useless even if we really get rid of him!"
Xu Zhijue nodded, then turned to look at Fan Guangwen, and said seriously: "So, the vassal state we serve now can no longer implement the policy of educating civilians, and can only respect Confucianism and science and technology. All must be regarded as miraculous tricks! The central court has increasingly stronger control over local areas. Even people like us who are thousands of miles away can be controlled. This is all due to technological progress. Without radio, how could the imperial power have reached this place? "
"That's right! The industry of the four people must be determined! Career choices cannot be too free. At least the status of craftsmen cannot be elevated to the same level as Confucian scholars. Once the common people are allowed to be free, then we rentiers will not be free!"
"We need to be based on agriculture. Trapping most of the people on the land is like trapping sheep in pastures with grass. They cannot be allowed to explore the ability to obtain wealth without relying on the land. Otherwise, How about herdsmen?”
Fan Guangwen echoed.
"The imperial court has no objection to our doing this. It is just dissatisfied that we, the lords and ministers, do not pay attention to the interests of the Han people and do not respect the Han people enough. As I just said, these are a large number of local middle-class people who are knowledgeable and capable. The existence of the Han people caused the court to do this, there is no other way!"
Xu Zhijue replied.
"I got you!"
“From a certain perspective, we are no longer the same country as the Ming Dynasty, and their main national subjects are Han people;
But our national subjects are not Han people, but Bai Yi;
Therefore, their interests and needs are to protect the status of the Han people, and our interests and needs are to protect the freedom and rights of us rulers in this vassal country! The needs are no longer the same, so independence and self-governance are naturally necessary! "
Fan Guangwen replied.
"From the needs of rentiers, we vassal states do not need to protect the status of the Han people, but what we can do is that we cannot resist the emperor's will. How can a small vassal state be the opponent of the central country! Even in the Tang Dynasty, No matter how strong the vassal town was, it would only lead to the demise of the Tang Dynasty after more than a hundred years. What's more, our Ming Dynasty is still different from the Tang Dynasty. The central country holds the strongest technology in one hand and the most wealth in the other. The vassal state is in the center In front of the country, it is really like sand dunes compared to mountains."
Xu Zhijue replied.
"But it's not impossible."
Fan Guangwen laughed at this time and said: "You have to know that there are conflicts between the central court and the middle class Han people you mentioned, and they can completely use this contradiction to achieve the autonomy of the vassal state."
"But please advise."
Xu Zhijue replied.
"the reason is simple!"
"These Chinese Han people in China, who claim to be free people, also ask the court not to be too lenient because of their own desires and desires, and to give them more rights to make them more free. Especially those local Han people with considerable assets. They hope that they can For capital liberalization, we don’t want the court to use the money earned from all over the world only on infrastructure and technological research and development. Instead, we should lend it to them so that they can make more money and control more resources! Even the Han people who don’t have much assets hope that the imperial court can set higher welfare, consume more, and even eat the same amount of food!”
Fan Guangwen said.
"This is true. It is conceivable that once these Han people in China continue to advocate freedom, they will resent the imperial court just like rebellious children resent their parents. They will hope for local autonomy, especially since the imperial court cannot obtain enough from the outside. When the interests come to satisfy them, at that time, they will force the court to recognize the autonomy of our vassal state."
Xu Zhijue said.
"This time will not be too far away. Once the world is unified and the new emperor is not keen on ensuring centralized control, especially if he cares about whether ordinary Han people are enslaved, he will start to be tolerant when liberalism is rampant. punishment, even abolishing the death penalty for so-called human rights, shrinking power, and allowing the vassal state to become independent and self-governing."
Fan Guangwen said.
"So, even though the example of Ningxi King Zhu Changcheng is clear, you have been instigating His Highness to support the bandits to respect themselves, secretly funded the formation of the Western Yi bandits for freedom and independence, and even helped them contact people in the imperial army to let them get The advanced weapons of the imperial army, and then forcing the imperial court to agree to strengthen the guard army of my Gaotang Kingdom?"
Xu Zhijue asked.
Fan Guangwen nodded and replied: "As long as they can resist centralization, everyone can cooperate!"
Then, Fan Guangwen sighed again: "It's a pity that the imperial army is coming, so we have to stay dormant for a while, but there will always be opportunities in the future."
…
"You don't know if you don't send people from the imperial court to take a look. Looking at it, I didn't expect that these places that I didn't pay much attention to in the past could actually let the evil of human nature spread to such an extent! Just reading between the lines is outrageous. Even the emperor like me has lived such a chaotic life!"
Zhu Youxiao was sitting on the special train to Suzhou, watching the reports on the situation of various vassal states sent by radio from all over the world, and for a while he couldn't help but complain to Du Yinxi, who was accompanying him.
Du Yinxi said: "From the time when the emperor's eldest son led the imperial army to rectify the various vassal states, to now he is directly stationed in the official school of the central government office of the imperial court. The consequences of the proliferation of freedom under the feudal system have become more and more serious. If this continues, the imperial court will We really need to gradually tighten the autonomy of each vassal state."
"That's for sure, otherwise it will also affect the Han people in the country!"
"Nowadays, many people in the local area have begun to speak for merchants and advocate freedom of consumption. Relying on the support of the court, they will not let them starve to death. They are all working hard to live a life that will become more and more exquisite. We must pursue Personality, pursuit of trends, if this continues, if the custom of enslaving Han people as slaves and respecting Han people is really spread from the outside vassal states, I am afraid that the wealthy locals will also start to want to use their compatriots as slaves!"
Zhu Youxiao replied.
"Your Majesty is right! However, this is only what the people in the central government office of the imperial court can see so far. If the imperial court wants to know more, it will have to wait until Li Dingguo's army of 500,000 troops arrives in Saxony and arrange their arrangements there. We must have enough troops to prevent any Baiyi bandits from appearing and attacking the imperial official school, so that we can successfully see them, and when the time comes, I'm afraid we will see even more unimaginable crimes."
Du Yinxi continued.
"Yes, I'm afraid it will be something I don't want to see! But I want to see it!"
Zhu Youxiao said as he put the telegram back on the coffee table and squinted his eyes in thought.
When the emperor reaches his age, sometimes he really gets used to it, so that his emotions don't have much ups and downs, his mentality is much better, and he can fall asleep quickly even if he falls asleep.
When he woke up, he soon heard the roar of gongs and drums outside, and the ear-splitting suona.
Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but ask Du Yinxi, who was still beside him: "How long have I been sleeping? What's going on outside?"
"Your Majesty, you have been asleep for half an hour. Outside, the people of Suzhou are welcoming the Holy Emperor."
Du Yinxi replied with a smile.
Zhu Youxiao laughed after hearing this: "It sounds very lively! Go and have a look."
Zhu Youxiao said and got out of the carriage. Sure enough, he saw a row of guards outside, filled with Suzhou soldiers and civilians, most of whom were full of enthusiasm. Suzhou officials were also standing in front, waiting to see him.
For a moment, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but smile, and walked towards these Suzhou officials first.
After these Suzhou officials saluted him, he first said: "You have governed Suzhou well. These people seem to be in good spirits."
"Thanks to your majesty's great blessing and the hard work of the people, your majesty has the enthusiasm you see today. I dare not take credit."
Min Xuancheng, the prefect of Suzhou, replied.
"As long as it's not your own respective relatives."
Zhu Youxiao said something coldly.
Min Xuancheng hurriedly replied: "I don't dare. Your Majesty's status in the hearts of people in the world is comparable to the sun. No one dares to respect you. Today's grand scene cannot be achieved by gathering relatives and friends."
"Well, it's indeed a huge crowd."
Zhu Youxiao said, "Let's go to the palace first."
Zhu Youxiao's palace was in the Humble Administrator's Garden.
This private garden built during the Zhengde period was confiscated as government property because the original owner's home was confiscated, and it was transformed into a palace under the order of Zhu Youxiao.
Soon after arriving at the palace, Zhu Youxiao once again summoned Jiangsu officials.
"I know that Suzhou has always been prosperous, and now it has become a world-famous manufacturing metropolis. There are many people who are as rich as the country. Those who serve as officials here also feel that they are much more impressive than elsewhere. They have always been I like to give advice on the imperial government's decrees. Even when I asked you, Min Xuancheng, to come to Jiangsu, people from Suzhou came to Beijing to petition, saying that you should not be sent as a Beijing official, but that local officials should be selected to benefit the people of Wu."
"But I didn't believe this, so I sent you anyway. The reason is very simple. This Wuzhong is the Wuzhong of the Ming Dynasty, not just the Wuzhong of the Wuzhong people. I have to prevent the Wuzhong people from turning Suzhou City into only usury and trade. cities, driving most of the manufacturing industry out.”
When Zhu Youxiao arrived here, he asked Min Xuancheng: "Min Xuancheng, how are you now? Do the people of Suzhou accept you?"
"Thanks to your Majesty's trust and the common people's understanding, the scholars and people of Suzhou have now accepted me, and they don't have much resistance to my decrees."
Min Xuancheng replied.
"That's good. Please tell me what experience you have gained in governing Suzhou over the years."
Zhu Youxiao said.
Min Xuancheng smiled and said: "I dare not hide it from Your Majesty. I have indeed benefited a lot from being in charge of Suzhou over the years. I have gradually come to understand how the reality of Suzhou is different from the Suzhou imagined by the court. If Suzhou develops freely, It can definitely help the entire Ming Dynasty move towards a more prosperous situation! Because Suzhou has its unique potential."
"Yeah?"
Zhu Youxiao's expression gradually became serious and he said, "Tell me about it."
"What I have learned is rudimentary, and although I have some understanding, I do not understand the underlying structure. However, Your Majesty knows that Suzhou has a large collection of humanities, including many scholars who are good at economics. Therefore, I would like to suggest that you can summon them to the imperial court, and let them explain to Your Majesty what Suzhou and even the Ming Dynasty should do." money for legal matters."
Min Xuancheng replied.
"You have begun to learn to let scholars speak, and you yourself are hiding behind the scenes."
Zhu Youxiao said with a smile.
Min Xuancheng replied with some embarrassment: "I know that I am shallow, so I dare not be different."
"Okay, you will be in charge of this matter. Choose a day and invite some scholars from Suzhou to come to my palace to hold a symposium and let them talk to me."
Zhu Youxiao replied accordingly.
"I obey the decree!"
Min Xuancheng was extremely happy. He did not expect the emperor to agree so readily, so he thought to himself: "Sure enough, His Majesty attaches great importance to the economy and money, and he will not slack off in this regard."
…
"Your Majesty agrees?"
Zuo Jingzu and other wealthy businessmen in Suzhou soon received the news from Min Xuancheng.
Min Xuancheng nodded.
"This is great!"
Zuo Jingzu slammed the table on the spot, stood up, looked at other Suzhou wealthy businessmen and said: "Everyone, this is an opportunity for the imperial court to relax financial controls! And it can prevent the imperial court from spending the large sums of wealth obtained from the outside world only on basic In terms of construction, technological research and development, and even external martial arts, it can give us private businessmen more opportunities to expand our business scale!"
"In this case, scholars who hold liberal economic theories and advocate financial control and focus on R&D and production cannot be invited to the imperial court to cause trouble for us. Let them stay in school honestly."
Hu Dan, another wealthy businessman from Suzhou, replied.
"Very true!"
Other wealthy businessmen in Suzhou nodded.
Zuo Jingzu therefore bowed his hands to Min Xuancheng and said, "Please also ask Fu Yin Xiang for help. In the future, we will thank you again according to the old rules."
"Easy to say!"
Min Xuancheng smiled and nodded.
On this day, Zhu Youxiaozhen met with several scholars studying economics and money law from various universities in Suzhou who were met by Min Xuancheng, and listened to the suggestions of these scholars.
"The imperial court should not spend a large amount of national money on unprofitable infrastructure, such as the southwest railway and northwest highway, which is a waste of national money. Instead, it should be used to promote the development of commerce, so that our Ming Dynasty's commerce will develop further, and then increase national income."
"Military expansion is actually no longer necessary. It is better to allow each vassal state to achieve absolute autonomy to avoid excessive military expenditures, which may lead to economic imbalance. The saved military expenditures can be used as conditions for tax cuts to promote business and create more jobs."
"In fact, financial supervision can be relaxed to give some high-quality private factories the opportunity to grow bigger, so that they can earn more profits for the court and the entire society by borrowing from the court."
Therefore, these scholars started talking about it in detail.
After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao only looked at Min Xuancheng, his eyes showing displeasure.
