Chapter 67: What a great success
"What I'm worried about is that from now on, there will be troubles in various places. The border ministers all focus on border merits, and wars occur frequently in various places. The people have just enjoyed a peaceful life for a few years, but it no longer exists. Furthermore, now the ministers are already powerful . A few years ago, His Majesty sent He Xi to open the sea, and with the power of opening the sea, he divided some nobles. In the past few years, it has been so stable. But if the generals have repeatedly made achievements, how can the prince be content with himself? "
The prince was a little worried after hearing this.
Although the prince is much more heroic than the Confucian scholars. I don't think there is anything wrong with mobilizing troops. After all, the prince has experienced many wars over the years since he was a child. Already used to it. But the prince himself does not want to fight more wars, it is not that the prince is afraid of wars. Instead, the prince was in charge of the general affairs of the Ming Dynasty. He knew Daming's family background very well.
Baobao has not been issued once in recent years. Because of this, the price of treasure banknotes has increased somewhat. But it’s already more than one to a hundred. In other words, a treasure banknote with a consistent denomination is actually worth no more than a hundred copper coins.
This is certainly a good thing, but Ming Dynasty has always been under great financial pressure. Fortunately, there were customs duties, and the royal family also gained a lot from the sea. Although it is money from the internal treasury. However, Zhu Yuanzhang was a simple man, and the expenses in the palace were set and not much. The rest will naturally be used for important court affairs.
Even so, Ming Dynasty's finances rarely had a surplus.
From the prince's point of view, this situation was like walking on thin ice.
He didn't hate war, but anything that cost too much. Including fighting.
However, Fang Xiaoru's last words moved the prince's heart. The prince said, "What's so hard about being alone?"
Fang Xiaoru said, "Why did Prince Yin of the Tang Dynasty lose to Emperor Taizong? It was because his military achievements were not as good as those of Emperor Taizong. Of course, Prince Yin's military talent was not as good as that of Taizong. But the most important point is that the crown prince did not practice military discipline."
"Now the Ming Dynasty is already worried about arrogant soldiers and strong generals. Your Majesty is still here, and you can still control them. In addition, these arrogant soldiers and generals are veterans who followed your Majesty to conquer the world. When His Highness ascends the throne, he will either die or die. The old body is not something to worry about for the prince, but if the foreign war continues, how can your highness control these new nobles, such as blue jade and muying, how will they survive?"
The prince smiled slightly and said: "Sir, you are overly worried. These three people are determined not to go against Gu?"
Fang Xiaoru said: "Times have changed, and there is no problem now. But what will it be like in a few decades? Also, I risked my life to hear that since ancient times, the emperor's longevity has been rare, while the ministers' longevity has been more. Today, Arrogant soldiers and strong generals. Your Majesty suppresses them. In the future, the arrogant soldiers and strong generals will be suppressed by Your Highness. Your Majesty’s grandson will also suffer from His Highness’s worries today. Not to mention, His Highness does not command troops. Winning over such honorable ministers is nothing more than friendship. , bound by in-laws. Is this method really useful? "
The prince was stunned. Then there was silence.
He didn't want to say that his friendship with Mu Ying was fake. Mu Ying was the prince's eldest brother. When the prince was very young, Mu Ying was the one who took care of him. When the prince was born, Mu Ying was in her early ten years, and the older children played with the younger ones. Later, Mu Ying went out to fight, and she would visit the prince every time she came back.
The prince also liked to listen to Muying's stories about the war.
He also felt that his bond with the Chang family ended with the death of the former crown princess. The interests of the two are closely related. Lan Yu would not want to lose his backer. But when the prince thought of this, he suddenly felt that what Fang Xiaoru said was not unreasonable.
Because Lan Yu doesn’t have Mu Ying’s abilities. When it comes to major matters, Lan Yu doesn't dare to mess around, but he is arrogant and domineering towards the people below him. The word "arrogant soldier" is tailor-made for Lan Yu.
Will Lan Yu really be loyal in the future?
The prince was not sure either. But he was confident that he could suppress Lan Yu.
As for He Xi, the prince was even more uneasy.
It's not that He Xi is good or bad, but that he can't see through it. Every time he feels that he can see through He Xi. But in fact, he got it all wrong. Every time we look at He Xi, we can discover something new about He Xi.
Unknowingly, He Xi has changed a lot of things.
For example, he had a sample of the official newspaper in his hand.
In the final analysis, the fundamental contradiction between the prince and the nobles lies in one point, that is, the prince does not follow the rules of the army.
This does not mean that Zhu Yuanzhang did not let the prince get involved in military power. Rather, it means that the prince is not allowed to lead troops to fight.
Because when the prince goes to war, victory cannot be rewarded, but if he fails, the country will be shaken. Politically, the stakes are too high. But soldiers naturally obey generals who can lead them to victory. This kind of obedience is different from the loyalty that the prince uses various means to establish in the rear.
This made the prince very passive.
The prince under the Confucian patriarchal system is naturally a representative of Confucian civil servants.
We have to admire the exquisite intentions of the Confucian sages in system design. The prince came to power with this, and from then on he had to rely on these Confucian officials.
Now the prince thinks so too.
However, the prince is not a mediocre person. He shook his head and said: "Mr. Fang said that it is possible, but it is not to this point, and he can firmly hold this position. It always requires ability. Let the children and grandchildren discuss matters for themselves."
"Your Highness, I am not against the War of Goryeo. The War of Goryeo has now become a settlement. And it is estimated that as soon as I go out, several princes will come to see Your Highness. However, this sign is wrong. Even if the country is warlike, it will perish. Goryeo will fall. During the war, the court almost completely lost control. This is absolutely unacceptable," Fang Xiaoru said.
Fang Xiaoru seemed to have made a big circle, but it was not in vain. If there is no previous foreshadowing. The prince may not be able to hear what Fang Xiaoru said. But now, Fang Xiaoru has laid the foundation for this. The prince listened to these words.
The prince secretly thought: "Indeed, we need to strengthen the management of military officials. The battle of Goryeo cannot be a precedent."
The prince said: "Mr. Fang is right. I will tell His Majesty about this matter. Brother He is a meritorious minister, but that Ye Chen? Yes, it is Ye Chen."
Fang Xiaoru said: "This is Ye Chen. He is the son of Ye Wang, the commander of the Liaodong capital."
The prince said: "Although he belongs to Brother He, he cannot be spared according to the laws of the court. However, ministers with meritorious service must still have some grace. Mr. Fang made a plan. After the war in Goryeo is settled, we can't deal with it. Late."
The prince also knew that dealing with frontline generals now would affect the morale of the army. I used the trick of settling accounts after the fall.
Fang Xiaoru said: "I'll go now."
Fang Xiaoru left the East Palace and looked at the long palace wall. Frown slightly.
Fang Xiaoru took action like this, naturally not for Ye Chen. But to reverse the trend of the court. Reversing this trend of celebrating success. Nowadays, the honorable ministers already have the upper hand in the court. If the war continues, a large number of new nobles will emerge.
The fight was won. For civilian officials, it was a political defeat. Because there is a group of new nobles among the nobles. Honorable men who have fought and won battles have completely different rights to speak in officialdom than those who cannot.
Losing the battle would be detrimental to the Ming Dynasty, and it was hardly a good thing for the civil servants.
Not to mention the loss of Ming's national power. Harmful to the people. etc.
Therefore, almost all bureaucrats and civil servants hate fighting. The people also live in peace and contentment, and they are not willing to fight unless fighting can bring them benefits. Mostly this is impossible.
In fact, a few years ago, before He Xi left Beijing, Fang Xiaoru had already smelled Zhu Yuanzhang's change of national policy. In the third year of Hongwu's reign, he proposed a country without conquests for fifteen years, but it has almost never been mentioned in the past few years. It seems that he is forgetting intentionally.
Today, it is the war between Nanyang and Goryeo.
One by one, the vassal kings were outside the town.
The people rejoiced in this victory thousands of miles away and had great respect for generals who could win battles. Let this situation spread. From Fang Xiaoru's point of view, it is not a matter of Java and Korea. Now the fight against Mongolia is not over yet. A new battlefield has been established.
He vaguely saw that more than ten years later, the Ming Dynasty's army would attack in several directions, attacking the Western Regions, going to Southeast Asia, and attacking Burma. Attacking Japan, a massive expansion. Then, there is something going on in China, and anything is possible. Ming's armies abroad collapsed one after another. Or just give up.
It's like nothing happened.
There are only countless bones, whether they belong to soldiers or civilians. They witnessed everything with their lives.
Fang Xiaoru didn't think that this was his delusion.
Where is Qin? Where is Han? Where is Tang? Where was the Wanli City in those days?
"No, this kind of thing can never happen?" Fang Xiaoru's eyes were firm and he made up his mind.
He just didn't have a clue where to start.
Just as Fang Xiaoru was thinking about it, he saw the kings' ceremonial guards approaching. Fang Xiaoru turned sideways and saluted without mentioning it.
