Chapter 76 New Charter
The kings discussed behind closed doors in Wuying Hall for a whole day.
In fact, it’s not even a full day.
We have just been discussing for about an hour, but many princes have already withdrawn from the discussion. Because the King of Shu is only thirteen or fourteen years old. Although he is smart, he cannot understand many things. For example, King Lu is not young. However, it is ridiculous to follow the rules, and the King of Shu can still be a good listener. But King Lu couldn't do it. He couldn't sit still at all.
The ones who really stayed were the crown prince, King of Qin, King of Jin, King of Yan, King of Qi, King of Tan, and King of Chu.
Although the several adult princes are young, they are all talented in governing the country, and it is related to their own interests, so they have to spend money and money. Fortunately, as the eldest brother, the prince can control the situation. At the same time, the prince is also good to his brothers and does not ask for anything. He meant to take advantage of his younger brother, but instead made a lot of promises.
Even so, it took almost a whole day of deliberation before a plan was given.
The prince came to Zhu Yuanzhang with this plan.
Zhu Yuanzhang took a closer look.
The first is to ensure the interests of the prince, that is, the areas within the Ming Dynasty's traditional customs are not allowed to be enfeoffed. As well as the enfeoffed princes, they will either be transferred to fiefdoms outside the customs in the future. Or he may return to the capital and receive only a salary but no real power.
This actually ensured the interests of the prince while avoiding conflicts between the court and the vassal king.
In fact, today's Ming literati and officials are short-sighted. After all these vassal kings were enfeoffed. It is estimated that they have no intention to care about these feudal kings.
The second article is the autonomy of the vassal state.
If the first article is to ensure the power of the prince, then this article is to ensure the power of the feudal king. The feudal lords take care of their own affairs, and the court is not allowed to interfere. Generally speaking, unless there is chaos in the country, the court cannot interfere.
As for what constitutes chaos in the country, there are detailed rules below. The country was destroyed by foreign enemies. Powerful ministers usurp the throne, or heirs kill each other, etc.
Article 3: The relationship between the imperial court and the vassal state.
This one is more complicated. The vassal state had the obligation to pay tribute. Moreover, all relations between the imperial court and the vassal state must be recognized. For example, a person is a scholar in the Ming Dynasty and has the reputation of being a scholar. Then if he goes to the vassal state, his reputation as a scholar will be recognized by the vassal state. But if the talents of the vassal state want to have the reputation of being a scholar, they must come to the Ming Dynasty to take the exam. etc.
And in terms of war, diplomacy, etc. The vassal state also accepted the guidance of the imperial court and obeyed the overall situation of the imperial court.
Article 4. The creation of the vassal state.
This is also the most important. Therefore, all princes must join the army. After they have the ability to take charge of their own affairs in the army, the court will use manpower and material resources to support the prince in his expedition. After a certain place is conquered, the feudal king will be left to guard it. After guarding it for several years, if the feudal king can become self-sufficient, the place will be classified as a feudal state. If you can't be self-sufficient. Then the imperial court will build a military town here. The territory of the vassal king will be restricted, and once the court wants to annex it, it must be paid.
Of course, if the court requisitions the feudal king's troops in some emergency, it cannot be free of charge.
Article 5 is the current disposition of each vassal. It is the detailed rules for the estimation and transfer of the property of Qin, Jin, Yan, Qi and other vassal kings in various places.
All in all, very detailed.
Zhu Yuanzhang read it patiently and said: "Prince, tomorrow will be yours sooner or later. What do you think of this charter?" The prince was about to speak, but was interrupted by Zhu Yuanzhang, saying, "To be honest. Now there are I'm here, so it's easy to change it, but once it's finalized, if you want to change it in the future, you'll have to use force."
The prince was silent for a long time. He said: "Father, this was agreed upon by the boy and his younger brother. The boy himself has no objections."
This is the prince's true words.
The prince's thoughts on governing the country are mainly based on Confucianism. Although He Xi talked about expansion so nakedly. But the prince still didn't realize that the Ming Dynasty needed so much land. Although the country is great and prone to war, it will inevitably perish. The prince has always adhered to what Song Lian taught. Zhu Yuanzhang is the founding king, and he, Zhu Biao, should be the king who maintains it.
Who is the Shouchengzhijun template? Emperor Wen of Han.
Zhu Yuanzhang did a lot of things to establish the country, but he did it too quickly and too hastily. There are many hidden dangers. What he has to do is to calm down and let time eliminate these hidden dangers.
Instead of going on about waging war.
If possible, the prince would be satisfied if he felt that he could bring decades of peace to the people of the world after he ascended the throne.
He was dissatisfied with this charter. If this charter is finalized, it is estimated that every generation of the Ming Dynasty will inevitably have to fight. However, he could not refuse his brother's request. The vassal king is a hidden danger to the court, and he is unwilling to fight with his brothers. Spend some energy to keep your brother outside.
It’s not impossible.
Furthermore, the prince had also thought about Ding Xian's original policy. Although he didn't like Ding Xian's personality too much, the prince agreed with Ding Xian's judgment. On the grasslands, herders obeyed their leaders for quite some time. The imperial court could not govern the herdsmen, but could only govern the leaders of the herdsmen. In essence, they were small princes.
In this case, it is not necessarily impossible to let the descendants of the Zhu family serve as these princes.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "What do your brothers think?"
The prince said: "Most of the brothers agree, otherwise this charter would not have been sent to my father. However, there are also some who disagree."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Who?"
The prince said: "King Lu. In the details, the sons and ministers also said that for those younger brothers who do not want to declare vassal status to the founding of the country, they will set up a royal palace in the capital. The country will support it. The king's title is inherited by descendants. Later generations will wait for it. , after you cannot inherit the royal title, you will be the same as ordinary people except for the clan title. You can take part in the imperial examination." At this point, the prince paused slightly and said: "To be honest, I really want to see a few clan ministers. .After all, we are different from outsiders.”
This is actually the system that the prince longs for. He feels that his descendants will all follow this path in the future. After all, the path to founding a country is too difficult. It requires the right time, right place and right people. A bad court suffered heavy losses, and the vassal king himself was killed on the battlefield.
Why bother.
It's just that Zhu Yuanzhang didn't fully understand what the prince meant.
Zhu Yuanzhang even wanted a son who could be independent outside. Rather than being a minister at home. When he saw this charter, he thought to himself: "In this way, there will be no battle for peace. Others don't know, but the fourth child must be building a country abroad."
After all, the palms and backs of your hands are all meat. When he learned about the Battle of Jingnan, he was very dissatisfied with Zhu Di. But no matter how dissatisfied he is, he is still a son, and the poison of a tiger will not eat its son. You can't kill the fourth child just because of something unreasonable.
With this charter, even if Zhu Di wanted to stay in the country, Zhu Yuanzhang would not allow him. I must send the fourth child far away and go and torment his country of Yan myself.
However, when Zhu Yuanzhang heard the prince talking about King Lu, he raised his eyebrows and said, "What does King Lu want to do?"
The prince said: "He doesn't want to establish a vassal state abroad, nor does he want to establish a vassal state in the capital. It is not safe to establish a vassal state abroad. In the capital, you are strict, and he wants everything to remain as before."
The prince also had objections to King Lu. And it’s not just two days.
The prince is also good-tempered. But King Lu was really shameless and extremely cruel to his servants. He is not polite to anyone, not even to these brothers. Just because he was the prince, he offended many ministers.
What He Xi did back then was just one of King Lu's small evil deeds.
If King Lu was not Zhu Yuanzhang's son, he would have died countless times. Fortunately for He Xi, I really thought that those generals who had experienced hundreds of battles were vegetarians. King Lu was not Zhu Yuanzhang's son, so there was no possibility of him being with these elites.
Zhu Yuanzhang was also extremely troubled by King Lu. He snorted coldly and said, "Prince, this is your fault. As the eldest brother, you cannot let him go like this. You must discipline him well. Otherwise, throw him into the clan's mansion." .Let him reflect on it."
There is naturally a prison in the clan's mansion to punish the clan, but it has been in name only for so many years. After all, all members of the Ming Dynasty clan are close relatives of Zhu Yuanzhang, so who is going to take care of it?
This is also what worries the prince. He even complained in front of Zhu Yuanzhang. This hot potato also fell into his own hands. It's just that the younger brother is not a son, and a son can beat him any way he wants. If the younger brother is treated lightly, it won't work. If he really wants to beat him to death, it won't sound good if word spreads.
