Chapter 73 Zhu Yuanzhang’s Exam Questions
The family dinner is not a formal banquet. The family was enjoying themselves, talking and laughing, and did not say anything important. The real important things were not discussed until the two kings of Qin and Jin arrived.
However, as the kings were socializing in the palace these days, they all figured out that if it wasn't a major event, they wouldn't call all the princes back at once.
None of the princes thought that Zhu Yuanzhang called them back because of his fifty-fifth birthday. First of all, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't like to be extravagant. Secondly, they actually take on a lot of political affairs outside the country. If they all go home at once, major events in the court will be more or less affected.
Don't talk about anything else, just talk about King Qin. The reason why he came last has little to do with the distance. It's because he is responsible for the entire military affairs in the northwest. He couldn't give it all at once. It's a little late to explain the incident.
However, Zhu Yuanzhang did not let them stay for long.
I don't know if I'm worried about their random thoughts. Or for other reasons. Anyway, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned them at Wuying Palace.
All the older princes from King Shu to over ten years old arrived. He Xi was also recruited by Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't waste any time and said: "I'll call you all here this time. It's one thing. I thought wrongly and did wrongly. But this matter is not only my matter, the major event of the court is also Zhu Yuanzhang's. The important matters of the family will be handed over to you sooner or later. Therefore, you also need to know this matter."
"He Xi, tell me."
He Xi understood what Zhu Yuanzhang wanted him to say. In the past two days, I have figured out Zhu Yuanzhang's intentions.
What Zhu Yuanzhang asked him to say was naturally the adjustment of clan policy. But He Xi also understood that this kind of adjustment was very offending.
It is true that there are big problems with the Ming clan policy. It's so generous.
The reason why Zhu Yuanzhang made such generous arrangements was that he loved his children, had the same nature as a farmer, and trusted his own people. In this regard, he was more or less petty. But at the same time, Zhu Yuanzhang felt that the civil and military forces in the court were not trustworthy enough. Use the clan as a check and balance.
But the problem is that it is too generous, which directly threatens the imperial power.
No matter how you adjust it, you will still have to cut the flesh.
And according to Zhu Yuanzhang's intention, after this adjustment, although there have been adjustments and arrangements for the relationship between the kings and the center, it is still impossible to change the nature of the kings' power. In other words, the kings will still have great power from now on.
And today I offended them. For He Xi, this is not a good thing.
But He Xi understood one thing better. This was arranged by Zhu Yuanzhang long ago.
Politicians only see interests.
Zhu Yuanzhang put all his efforts into cultivating He Xi, almost teaching him step by step. What should He Xi do? How to get involved in official circles and fight for power? When to advance and when to retreat. But at this moment Zhu Yuanzhang also showed another side to He Xi.
That is, He Xi is in the center, anything is fine. There must be no connection between him and the vassal king. Because he may have a good personal relationship with many vassal kings. But on the whole they must be mutually reinforcing.
This made He Xi not sure whether to feel happy or sad.
Why?
From the perspective of the original intention of the establishment of the feudal king, it can be said that the original intention of the establishment of the feudal king since ancient times has been to protect the royal family. This guard has two aspects. On the one hand, it is to fight against barbarians, like many feudal states in the Zhou Dynasty, although not in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. It seemed that these princes kept bullying the Emperor of Zhou. But I don’t know how many princes named Ji on the banks of the Han River sacrificed themselves to fight against Chu during the Western Zhou Dynasty.
On the other hand, defending the royal family means expelling powerful officials from the interior.
He Xi understood very well. Zhu Yuanzhang has already arranged this role for He Xi from here.
That is the future powerful minister.
Zhu Yuanzhang's political wisdom is difficult to fathom.
He didn't know whether Zhu Yuanzhang's arrangement was good or bad for him, or even whether Zhu Yuanzhang let him know about it.
There is only one thing, that is, as long as Zhu Yuanzhang wants to change the law, he will not harm He Xi. Even if he follows Zhu Yuanzhang's arrangement, there will be no problem. The only question is whether Zhu Yuanzhang will kill the donkey in the future.
But it's not something He Xi can think about now.
He Xi coughed twice and said, "Actually, what Your Majesty asked me to explain today is a very simple mathematical problem. It is the growth rate of population."
"Your Majesty has given birth to twenty sons, and King Zhao is no longer here. Even if all the princes and princes are not as good as your Majesty, each of them should have five sons. After ten generations, how many princes and princes will there be in the Ming Dynasty, and how much salary will they need? .”
As soon as these words came out, all the princes frowned.
First, they found that this question was difficult to calculate. Even if we don't count the princes, just the princes, the Ming Dynasty will be nineteen plus four times nine princes. Nineteen princes are the sons of Zhu Yuanzhang today. Four, if the prince has five sons, one will inherit the throne and four will be crowned kings. There are fifty-five princes in total.
This number is not much different from the number of princes in the late Ming Dynasty.
But even so, this is already a financial expenditure of 550,000 shi per year.
Not to mention that the prince's son is granted the title of king. The salary of the prince is also a large expense, plus the royal family salary.
Although, it is impossible to calculate how many of these princes there are at one time. But everyone knows it must be an astronomical number.
Secondly, although there are a few idiots among Zhu Yuanzhang's sons. For example, King Lu, most of them are outstanding people. They are not very good at solving math problems. But he knew how to settle political scores, almost the moment He Xi said it. King Qin, King Jin, and King Yan exchanged glances. I already have some confidence in my heart.
I know where Zhu Yuanzhang is going to start.
Of course, among the kings, only the King of Shu is the youngest, his political sensitivity is a bit low, and he is immersed in calculations.
The King of Shu is actually very smart. He can be regarded as He Xi's disciple. It will come out soon.
He kept fussing for a long time.
Zhu Yuanzhang also noticed it and said, "King Shu, have you figured it out?"
The King of Shu said: "No? The number is too big, it must be more than 100 million."
Zhu Yuanzhang brought the draft of the King of Shu, took a look at it, and felt a headache, and said: "Okay, don't forget it. You all know my intention."
The King of Qin said, "My son, I understand. With the current clan policy, within a few generations, the imperial court will be unable to make ends meet."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Exactly. Since this is a problem, don't wait for future generations to solve it. Let future generations change the ancestral system, it is better to set the rules now. This is good for everyone."
The reason why Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to solve it at this time is because the sooner this matter is done, the better. Now even the King of Qin who has been a vassal for the longest time has not been in Qin for many years and cannot be said to be deeply rooted. It’s far from unshakable.
Even King Qin himself may not feel that he cannot change his place.
Except for the older princes. Other vassals were short-lived, such as the King of Chu. It has not been a year, and if the King of Chu is asked to return to the capital, the King of Chu will most likely support it with both hands.
But there is little resistance, but that doesn’t mean there is no resistance.
The princes who have been sealed off have independent institutions on the ground, and local officials cannot have jurisdiction. Even the local military power is in the hands of the vassal king, who himself has three guards. It is basically a country within a country. Even if the reality is placed in front of them, these princes may not feel comfortable in their hearts.
After all, good money is hard to part with.
This meeting, at first glance, was for them, the feudal kings, to cut their flesh.
It would be fine if they never had it. They have been in the local area for several years. They all have this kind of power and have tried it. They all feel that they can have it forever. Suddenly, I want to take it back.
Anyone can feel comfortable.
It's just that Zhu Yuanzhang has accumulated so much power that none of his sons dare to oppose him. But facing the problem of Zhu Yuanzhang. None of them spoke, they all wanted to wait for someone else to speak. Think about how to deal with it yourself.
All this was noticed by Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed softly in his heart and said to himself: "I was wrong."
Zhu Yuanzhang was tough on outsiders and tough on his own people. He still has a warm side towards his wife, son and daughter. He never regarded his son as a hidden danger. Historically, Zhu Yuanzhang actually realized something at the last moment of his life, otherwise there would be so many people in Taisun's team who advocated reducing the vassal state. Zhu Yuanzhang would not know this.
However, I couldn't give up.
