Chapter 36 Zhu Yuanzhang’s murderous intention
No matter how painful it was, Lawrence Lu didn’t dare to move. It was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head, and my whole body was frozen.
What is written in this document?
It was Lu Zhongheng’s crime. No matter the details. Many things that Lu Zhongheng had forgotten were revealed one by one. Even some things that Lu Zhongheng felt only he knew were happening at this moment.
He didn't know that since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zhu Yuanzhang's intelligence network had already turned inward.
Zhu Yuanzhang's efforts to inquire about information about the remaining Yuan in the desert were far inferior to his efforts to carefully arrange the homes of the founding heroes. Zhu Yuanzhang knew what these people had done. It’s just that I don’t use it most of the time.
After all, against civilian officials, Zhu Yuanzhang had no problem killing heads. Because the civil service group is still very weak.
Zhu Yuanzhang could do whatever he wanted.
But the nobles are different.
The previous article also described in detail the hard power and soft power of the nobles. If one thing is not done well, it will be a small thing to start a rebellion. Although Zhu Yuanzhang didn't care about these people's rebellion, after all, he was a real first-class figure in troubled times. He, Chen Youliang, Zhang Shicheng and others were the protagonists. Otherwise it won’t stand out. Nowadays, the great Ming Dynasty nobles are not comparable to Chen and Zhang. And Zhu Yuanzhang is not what he used to be. It's easy to press.
But Zhu Yuanzhang just didn't want to start a big war.
So I waited for the opportunity.
Lu Zhongheng didn't know what Zhu Yuanzhang did, but at this moment, he just felt as if he had been stripped naked and thrown into the snow, feeling cold from the inside out. Does Lu Zhongheng know that Zhu Yuanzhang attaches great importance to the law, and once the incident comes out, no one will be punished.
Liao Yongzhong and Zhu Liangzu are his examples.
Lawrence Lu was beaten several times. Things have become much more restrained. But the total number of crimes was enough to kill Lu Zhongheng.
Lawrence Lu didn’t know what to do for a moment?
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "You are now a Marquis, what do you have? What do you want so much money for? What is the difference between your behavior and the corrupt officials who forced me to rebel?"
Lu Zhongheng wanted to make a few quibbles, but suddenly remembered Queen Ma's words. He sighed and said, "Your Majesty, I have been hungry and suffered. Now that everything is better, I just want to spend more money and enjoy it more."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Isn't the salary given to you by the imperial court not enough?"
Lu Zhongheng said: "It's really not enough. The annual salary of one thousand dan, equivalent to silver, is only a few hundred taels, plus other salaries, land grants, etc., it is only a few thousand taels on the surface. Now to take a concubine, you don't need a few hundred taels." Two taels of silver, and a suit of silk clothes costs several taels of silver. Not to mention a house and a good horse. Even if you go back to your hometown to worship your ancestors and build an ancestral temple, it will cost you several hundred taels."
“It’s simply not enough to find a way to make money.”
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and said: "According to your method, it is not enough to give you a mountain of gold and silver."
Lu Zhongheng said: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. But I can't help it. I would rather die than live in poverty."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "You really think I don't dare to kill you."
Lu Zhongheng said, "Your Majesty wants me to die. Just say a word. I will go home and kill my descendants first, then my wife and concubines, and then commit suicide. I will repay Your Majesty's kindness. This life of mine belongs to Your Majesty. I can do it anytime. But, I really can’t go back.”
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality.
Lawrence Lu was telling the truth.
Let’s not talk about anything else now. Just the few wives and concubines he has, they don't cost a few thousand taels a year to support. A little bit of pomp and circumstance. Hire more people. A few hundred taels and we went in.
It’s not that Lu Zhongheng is greedy for money. Now it was too costly to maintain a decent life in his eyes.
Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a long time and said: "Old brothers, do many people have this idea of yours?"
Lu Zhongheng said, "Quite a few. We all fought to the death in the battle, just for today. I think those old brothers who didn't survive in Hua Yun also had the same idea."
Of course, Lawrence Lu didn’t dare to say anything if he had any grievances.
That's Zhu Yuanzhang's kindness to the clan. Zhu Yuanzhang's sons did nothing, so they were granted kingdoms and rewards. Take charge. It can be said that the treatment of any of Zhu Yuanzhang's sons will be better than that of Xu Da in the future.
They are miserable here. The brats over there are much richer than them.
No one can balance.
It's just that Zhu Yuanzhang subconsciously ignored these. After all, it is deep in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart. There is a difference between our own people and outsiders. What is one's own. The one named Zhu is the one.
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed inwardly and said to himself: "It is indeed so."
He actually expected all of this.
It's just that in the originally balanced world, he didn't want such a privileged group. He spent a lot of effort to flatten the powerful landowners left by the previous dynasty. Could it be that he single-handedly cultivated the powerful landowners of the Ming Dynasty. The re-annexation of land plunged Ming Dynasty into a new cycle of chaos.
So what's the point of him doing everything?
Some of these ideas were originally possessed by Zhu Yuanzhang. There are some ideas that came to mind after He Xi’s enlightenment.
But he understands because of his deep understanding of human nature. This is inevitable. No matter what time or era, there will always be a group of so-called upper class people. Control most of the country's resources.
It doesn't matter if your surname is Zi or She. It can't be less.
Zhu Yuanzhang also understood.
This is why Zhu Yuanzhang felt uncomfortable, but still agreed to let the prince try it.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Your errands in Yunnan have been handed over. Don't go back to Yunnan. Since you want to make a fortune so much, you can go directly to He Xi. Under He Xi's account, I will give you what is due." But you go back and clean up right away. I don’t want to hear about the things above.”
"What are you doing at sea? I don't care. But in the Ming Dynasty, if you break my law again, I will never forgive you. Who is involved? Then let my daughter live and die. I won't hesitate."
"have you understood?"
Lu Zhongheng was overjoyed. Regardless of his injuries, he immediately stood up and kowtowed, saying, "I understand."
Lu Zhongheng came here from fighting on the battlefield. Today's injuries are only minor injuries. After all, the palace people did not dare to beat a marquis to death.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Don't tell anyone what happened today. Whenever I hear some rumors outside, I want your head."
Lu Zhongheng said: "I understand."
Sure enough, Lu Zhongheng was only suitable for that kind of clear instructions. If he is asked to attack a certain city, Lu Zhongheng can fight repeatedly. Till death. If he is asked to do something, as long as it is determined, Lawrence Lu will find ways to do it. But that kind of vague order. Lawrence Lu is not suitable for things that make people guess.
He was born with a missing string in his head.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Go away."
Although Lu Zhongheng was not the head coach in foreign battles, he was at least a lieutenant general. Now he was suddenly sent to work under He Xi. Downgraded several levels in a row. But when he thought about getting rich, he didn't think much about it, only twenty or thirty thousand taels a year. It was enough to get him excited.
I don't care much about official positions anymore.
After Zhu Yuanzhang let Lu Zhongheng go. His face suddenly darkened. It seems that Zhu Yuanzhang buried himself entirely in darkness. Zhu Yuanzhang thought to himself: "Brother Shan, since you refuse to eat after being toasted, then you will be punished by eating a bar."
Zhu Yuanzhang has made up his mind.
Since Li Shanchang is so stubborn. Will live that long again. Such a person doesn't know how long it will take to wait for his own death. Zhu Yuanzhang decided to help Li Shanchang and let him go to the Western Paradise in advance.
After all, if someone is going to be killed sooner or later, why not exercise my power in advance?
Moreover, for the sake of his reform plan, does he need to use more drastic means to destroy the enemy? And now it has been proved that Tang He's cunning opinions are useful to a large number of nobles.
After all, these honorable men are self-aware. Rebellion or something. Don't even dare. The remaining grievance is that the money was not paid in place. Life is uncomfortable. Sea trade can give them the former, and the sea can give them the latter. Go overseas and do your best. As long as you don't come to Ming Dynasty to cause trouble.
To put it bluntly, someone who has made it this far in troubled times. There are not many good people.
It’s just that Li Shanchang in this time and space is destined to live less than eighty years old. However, Li Shanchang is not an ordinary person after all. How to make Li Shanchang die obediently. But it is something that needs to be considered.
