Chapter 82 To fight or not to fight?
He Xi said: "The top priority of the country is to survive. Although Java is powerful, it is far away and will not raise an army out of anger. It is the same now. We cannot challenge the Nanyang hegemon just because of this incident. We are not ready in all aspects." . If we send troops now, we are likely to be defeated in the southeast, which will only undermine the power of the imperial court. Therefore, I feel that in this matter, we must be cautious about haste and be patient."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Don't do anything?"
He Xi said: "Of course not. We should send envoys to announce Nanyang, tell them the court's intention, and buy time for the court. When the north is established and the ships are sufficient, the army can go south to avenge this blood revenge."
Zhu Yuanzhang said expressionlessly: "Who is the country?"
He Xi was stunned and didn't know how to answer Zhu Yuanzhang's question. This is an obvious thing. A country is a country. Who is the country? Does the country still belong to a certain person?
When He Xi thought of this, his heart suddenly trembled, and he said, "The country is your Majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said: "I don't dare to take the credit of God for myself. In fact, you have already said that the country is a tool for the ruling class to carry out class rule. So who is the country?"
He Xi said: "Is it the ruling class?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Who is the country in Ming Dynasty?"
He Xi said: "The nobles and gentry, as well as your majesty and princes?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Have you never thought about yourself?"
He Xi said: "Me?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "Aren't you a country?"
He Xi suddenly broke into a cold sweat and said, "I dare not have such greed for heaven."
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said: "This is where I am disappointed with you. You only think about the so-called country, but don't you think about what kind of situation you will be in?"
He Xi said: "Myself?"
"Yes." Zhu Yuanzhang said: "You were the leader of the expedition, and you were also involved in bringing nobles to the sea. But now, after you avoid Majapahit, what will be the attitude of Nanyang towards the ships of the Ming Dynasty? changes? Can those nobles make money? Can your series of policies continue to operate? "
He Xi suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
He never expected that this incident would have such serious consequences.
Zhu Yuanzhang still said slowly and calmly: "Sometimes, I can't go against the wishes of the ministers. Since you messed up this matter, you will naturally have to bear the consequences. Although you have my protection, it is inevitable that you will sit on the bench for several years. of."
"Tell me now, do you think in Nanyang, should we fight or not? With Majapahit, should we fight or not?"
He Xi looked a little dazed. He did not expect to encounter such a problem today. How to choose when his own interests conflict with the interests of the country.
He Xi was silent for a long time and said, "I believe that the overall situation should be given priority. Nanyang should not move troops rashly. If we do, we may suffer a big defeat."
Zhu Yuanzhang remained expressionless. Said: "The overall situation, what kind of overall situation?"
He Xi said: "Of course it is the Northern Expedition to the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, sealing the wolf to Xu, and destroying the overall situation of Chao Shi?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Have you ever thought about whether this thing is really important?"
He Xi was almost confused and said, "Isn't this the court's strategy all along? Why isn't it important?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "This is what I have decided, and I can change it."
He Xi didn't know how to face Zhu Yuanzhang for a while. From Jiangnan to Liaodong, from northwest to southeast, I don’t know how many people are striving for this goal, but this grand goal is just a light sentence in Zhu Yuanzhang’s mouth, can it be changed?
He Xi had an unparalleled sense of absurdity. He felt that the world seemed unreal.
"Have you just thought about, you know, those nobles who were guided by you on the sea? For example, Lu Zhongheng, he borrowed an unknown amount of money and spent money on the sea, just to make money. If he does not make money, but loses money, Lu Zhongheng probably even pawned his pants, and I know this guy best. For money, he was the first to intervene at sea. Also for money, he was determined to kill people and silence them. It can be said that he decided not to attack Java. Lu Zhongheng's His life is already counting down. I will not let him violate my laws."
"Such a thing cannot happen to one person. It could very well be a group of people."
"A great purge is about to begin. Are you ready?"
He Xi's nerves were very tense. Although he felt that there were some problems with Zhu Yuanzhang's derivation, he had to admit that this was a highly probable event. Fang Guan cannot hide this matter. The forces at sea have always bullied the weak and feared the strong. If Ming Dynasty did not respond, then these pirates would also treat Ming Dynasty merchant ships with contempt.
Of course, this kind of contempt will not fail to make money.
What prevented them from making money was the massive intervention of Huihui merchants. Under such circumstances, Ming merchants could only act as suppliers and transport goods from land to sea. Although there are profits, more profits are taken away by others.
Previous expectations were not met.
Many times if it fails to meet expectations, it means losing money.
This will also result in these nobles having to find compensation within the Ming Dynasty. How to make amends is naturally an illegal method, and Zhu Yuanzhang's strict laws are likely to cause a collision, and Zhu Yuanzhang's suspicious mind is that if he doesn't take action, he may not be able to hold back.
It is likely that the Great Purge will be brought forward in history.
This is what He Xi never wants to see. This hurts the vitality of the country.
He Xi said: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Many things are not optional or not, or even whether I am willing or unwilling. It is necessary to do it. Do you understand now? What is a country?"
He Xi did not expect that Zhu Yuanzhang would raise this issue again. He was completely confused at the moment and didn't know how to deal with it.
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said: "For the common people, the country is the country. But for us, the country is the place where a group of people formulate national policies. And when occupying the court, the orders decided are national decrees. This is also the most important thing in the country. Critical power. And power you have to fight for.”
"Is this where I'm disappointed in you?"
"If you want to reform, if you want to change the law, you don't want to fight for the power of the country, is that okay?"
"Now I ask you again? Regarding Java, to fight or not to fight, to attack or not to attack?"
He Xi said: "But attacking may not have a chance of winning?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly: "There is no need to have a chance of winning. Everyone who has interests in the sea will go. They are not good at fighting. If they win, Nanyang will be their home from now on. If they lose, even if they don't die, their prestige will be lost since the founding of the country." It's nothing to worry about if it's all gone."
He Xi was stunned by Zhu Yuanzhang's cold calculation.
You must know that in just one word, the lives of tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of sailors can be decided. When He Xi thought about so many lives and deaths, it was like a stone was pressing on his chest, making him unable to breathe. After all, he is not Zhu Yuanzhang.
It is impossible to treat so many people as numbers.
"Of course." Zhu Yuanzhang's tone was somewhat gentle and he said: "I still hope to win. And who does this hope of winning lie in? I thought it was in you. Of course, my old brothers are all on the battlefield. Good players. But national strategy, vertical and horizontal alliances, are not what they are good at."
"However, I will give you a choice. Will you participate in this battle or not?"
He Xi was silent for a while and said: "I am ignorant and willing to serve your majesty in Nanyang."
Although He Xi knew that if he refused, the dangers this time would have nothing to do with him. But he couldn't bear to see a huge defeat and tens of thousands of soldiers perished. He also admitted that if he did not participate, he would not necessarily lose. But he is confident that after participating, the probability of winning will be much higher.
And these are related to his passion, maritime trade. How he was willing to stand by and watch.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Okay, since you are willing to participate, go back and rest. Prepare well. This news cannot be kept secret for long. Then there will be another storm."
He Xi's debate here today is actually a preview of the future.
After all, in the eyes of many people, the war in Java was an extraneous incident, and the outcome was unknown. It should not be an unknown fire and an unprepared army. There must be opposition forces in the DPRK and China.
