Chapter 20 Zhu Yuanzhang’s Thoughts
Zhu Yuanzhang was not too concerned about what Princess Anqing would do with these people. He is concerned about Princess Anqing acting beyond her authority. Zhu Yuanzhang did not want the princesses of the Ming Dynasty to become a political force in the court like the princesses of the Han and Tang Dynasties.
What if He Xi did this?
Zhu Yuanzhang would not say anything.
Although for these government officials, it was a devastating disaster. But for Zhu Yuanzhang, it was just a small matter.
Not worthy of much attention.
But Princess Anqing intervened. It is necessary to correct one or two.
Although Zhu Yuanzhang knew that later generations would advocate equality between men and women. But in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, this itself is irrelevant. Even if future generations advocate gender equality, few women participate in top political games.
Therefore, in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, it is better for women not to get involved in politics.
Zhu Yuanzhang read this and then opened He Xi's secret letter.
He Xi's secret letter was very long. Not only did he talk about the Fang family's affairs, but he also made a summary of what he and his party had seen. He summarized the idea of developing the cotton textile industry as a light industry. I just want to take it slow. Rather, it is an economic analysis of the causes of Japanese pirates and pirates at sea. Put forward the idea of relaxing maritime restrictions.
Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a long time. Still don’t think it’s possible.
Because Zhu Yuanzhang had no way to judge, if restrictions on maritime trade were relaxed, the coastal areas would be even more chaotic. Still more stable.
There are still differences in the ideas of He Xi and Zhu Yuanzhang.
He Xi wanted to get the first pot of gold from the sea and use foreign trade as an external force to start the Ming Dynasty's economy. After all, He Xi discovered after some investigation. When it comes to growing the pie, even a small amount of power outside the system can do things better than within the system.
Because the internal distribution of interests in Ming Dynasty has almost been completed. If He Xi takes action, for example, he will encounter backlash. Without seeing the effect, meet the enemy first. But foreign trade is different.
After the melee at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Due to Zhu Yuanzhang's economic reforms and Zhu Yuanzhang's own ideas about small-scale peasant economy, maritime trade, which was extremely prosperous in the Yuan Dynasty, was actually in decline in the early Ming Dynasty. As long as sea trade is restored, the profits from this sea trade will be in He Xi's hands.
Even hundreds of thousands. One or two million. It is enough for He Xi to leverage larger industries.
But Zhu Yuanzhang didn't think so.
Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking about the overall situation of Ming Dynasty. The fighting in the north continued intermittently. The counterinsurgency in the southwest has its ups and downs. There are many things going on within the imperial court. Regarding the southeastern coast, Zhu Yuanzhang's first thought was that there should be no chaos.
And then there's the rest.
Zhu Yuanzhang understood what He Xi said. It was refreshing for Zhu Yuanzhang to use economic factors to analyze political phenomena. These types of analyses, in the eyes of later generations, are very common ideas. But for Zhu Yuanzhang, it is rare.
However, after he relaxes restrictions on He Xi, can he completely eliminate the threat of pirates, or will he let the pirates grow bigger?
Zhu Yuanzhang could not judge.
Finally, Zhu Yuanzhang saw the meaning of proposing to use Fang Guozhen's old department.
Zhu Yuanzhang was silent, and for a moment he seemed to have returned to the prosperous years of that year. He called Xu Zheng over and said, "Where is Zhan Ding?"
Xu Zheng was stunned and said, "Who is Zhan Ding?"
Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly remembered that he had already executed Zong Liang. Zong Liang has been with him for more than ten years. He was by his side when he was dealing with Fang Guozhen. If he were still around, this question wouldn't be asked. Zhu Yuanzhang did not explain, but said: "Go and check."
Zhan Ding is Fang Guozhen's mastermind.
As far as Zhu Yuanzhang is concerned, he looks down on Fang Guozhen's entire group. Perhaps Fang Guozhen is very good at naval battles. But I'm sorry, Fang Guozhen and Daming fought on land. In Zhu Yuanzhang's view, every one of Fang Guozhen's generals, including Fang Guozhen himself, were idiots.
But it doesn't mean that there are no talents in Fang Guozhen's group.
Zhan Ding is a talent that impressed Zhu Yuanzhang. Let Zhu Yuanzhang evaluate Zhan Ding as a prime minister.
Fang Guozhen was a capricious man. He said several times that he would surrender to the Ming Dynasty. But missed appointments several times. Finally, they were attacked by Tang He and others. Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang was tired of Fang Guozhen's capricious temper and decided to solve it by force. Fang Guozhen sent Zhan Ding to come to court. With his sharp tongue, he obtained surrender conditions for Fang Guozhen. Only then did Fang Guozhen have a stable career.
Otherwise, due to Fang Guozhen's behavior of breaking appointments several times. How could Fang Guozhen have a good death?
It’s just that it’s been a long time. Zhu Yuanzhang could not remember what official position Zhan Ding held now.
Xu Zheng was very efficient and said: "Your Majesty, Zhan Ding is currently in the Jinyi Guard Prison."
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned and said, "Why is he in prison?"
Xu Zheng said: "After Zhan Ding defected to our court, he first served in the Ministry of Justice, but was slandered by Yang Xian. He moved to Shaanxi Province as chief envoy. Later he was appointed as Henan. Because Hu Weiyong was in the court, he was not allowed to enter the court. Later, Hu Weiyong fell. A full-time doctor in the Ministry of Punishment. Because he was implicated in a counter-case, he was exempted from office and sent to prison."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "What counter-case?"
Xu Zheng said: "It's the Guo Huan case."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Why aren't you dead yet?"
Zhu Yuanzhang did not curse Zhan Ding. Instead, the Guo Huan case has been dealt with. If Zhan Ding deserved to die, he would have been executed long ago. If Zhan Ding didn't deserve to die, he should be let out now. Why are you still in jail?
Xu Zheng said: "I don't know this."
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and said, "I probably know."
The Ming Dynasty’s judiciary is definitely not completely innocent. Even in later generations, some cases may not be clearly investigated. Not to mention this era. Zhan Ding is probably like this. There are many things that cannot be explained clearly. It’s okay to say he was involved in the case, and it’s okay to say he was not involved.
In this case, if Zhan Ding has connections in the court. Maybe it was just released.
But how could Zhan Ding have connections?
Yang Xian is the leader of the Western Zhejiang faction. Although it ended badly. And Hu Weiyong was also a leader of the Huaixi faction, although his end was not good either. But western Zhejiang and Huaixi are already the vast majority of the Ming Dynasty’s political territory. Zhan Ding didn't rely on either side, but he still thought well.
Don't even think about it.
In this case, it was Zhan Ding's luck that he was not involved in Guo Huan's case and killed.
Perhaps, it was not Zhan Ding's luck, but He Xi's influence.
Under He Xi's influence, the Guo Huan case was re-opened. But the prince presided over it. Even if it is a redo. The re-examination under the auspices of Zhu Yuanzhang and the re-examination under the auspices of the prince are not the same concept.
This is also the reason why handling big cases has a very bad impact.
That’s not to say that many people shouldn’t pay for what they do. But how can the Ming Dynasty's Criminal Department, Jin Yiwei, and the entire judicial system ensure fairness without any deviation? After all, in a major case like this, the slightest deviation could mean a human life.
Out of ten criminals, one is unjustly convicted. The impact of this man's unjust death was greater than that of the other nine criminals who were brought to justice.
Fang Xiaoru's father, Fang Keqin, an upright official, died in the Kongyin case. Just a typical example. It is unfair to say that Fang Keqin was wronged. After all, time has passed and many things cannot be explained clearly. But it is true that Fang Keqin's crime will not lead to death.
Without He Xi, Zhu Yuanzhang would never have thought of this.
Zhu Yuanzhang was not unaware of these things. It’s just that he feels that overcorrection must be overcorrected, and that in troubled times, we should use heavy standards. To change the corruption and other bad practices of the previous administration, we must take heavy measures.
But things are different now.
Zhu Yuanzhang still hated evil as much as hatred. But I have more ideas about methods. For example, through the official newspaper channel. Several corruption offenders have been brought to justice. Someone actually sent a real-name report letter to the official newspaper.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Xu Zheng, go and bring Zhan Ding out. I want to see him."
"Yes." Xu Zheng said.
Only this time, Xu Zheng was even more efficient. It's also two days later. It's not that Xu Zheng doesn't want to improve. But Zhan Ding's condition really made Xu Zheng unable to get up. What's going on with Jin Yiwei's imprisonment? Zhan Ding is old. He stayed in Jinyiwei's prison for several months.
A healthy person who enters Jinyiwei's prison will be in disgrace after a few months. Not to mention, Zhan Ding is an old man. Being able to survive now is already a blessing, how can I ask for anything else. Xu Zheng could only ask Zhan Ding to take a bath, change clothes, and wash himself thoroughly before meeting Zhu Yuanzhang.
