Chapter 68 The Emperor and the Prince
As Fang Xiaoru said, the prince soon met several brothers.
Several years passed. The princes who stayed in Nanjing also grew up a bit. They are also worried about their future. After all, they are still worried about overseas. Although several princes have been sealed outside now. Moreover, the development of Nanyang also allowed overseas news to flow into the Ming Dynasty.
The people of Ming Dynasty's fear of overseas gradually dissipated. But overseas is really not a good place. Undeveloped areas, swamps, wetlands, overflowing rivers, hot weather. The letters written by the King of Zhou were full of information on flood control.
King Zhou did not expect that the rainfall in the tropics was completely different from that in the Central Plains. Many methods were not applicable and he suffered a lot.
But Korea is different, although it is a little further north. But I heard that the weather in Goryeo is similar to that in the north. Not to mention that Goryeo had people, cities, officials, and could even grow rice. They go there and don't have to do anything.
There is a ready-made country.
Naturally, everyone wants this ready-made bargain.
However, what can the prince say. I just promised to mention a few words in front of Zhu Yuanzhang. Beyond that, nothing can be promised. What's more, I can't promise.
So, when the prince came to Qianqing Palace. Have been playing a little bit.
Zhu Yuanzhang saw the prince coming. Said: "What? Your brothers are looking for you?"
The prince said, "My father is wise, but my sons don't know what to do about this matter. It's better to ask my father to decide on the candidate. It will calm their minds and prevent the brothers from getting into trouble." "
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "That's right." Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and said, "Then let's go to King Lu."
The prince didn't think too much and just settled on it.
In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang had a profound meaning in choosing King Lu.
After Zhu Yuanzhang learned about King Lu's historical virtues, he strengthened his education and disciplined King Lu in recent years. Now it seems that he has changed. However, Zhu Yuanzhang also knew that with King Lu's ability, many things were impossible for ordinary people.
When it comes to overseas expansion, other princes may be able to rely on one or two capable ministers to build their country. But King Lu is already good at figuring out his own affairs.
To send King Lu overseas was to send him to death.
As for King Lu, has he really changed? Zhu Yuanzhang was still observing.
If King Lu really changed. In the future, if Goryeo is divided, Pyongyang and Seoul will also be included in the management of the Ming Dynasty. It would be enough for King Lu to find a large city at the southern end of the Korean Peninsula to serve as a feudal state. It will not threaten the imperial court. And separated from Ming Dynasty and Japan.
Of course, there are other reasons. King Lu is only fifteen or sixteen years old now, which is a bit young. Just in line with He Xi's idea. You can stay for a few more years, and after two or three years, it will not be too late to become a vassal.
It was in line with He Xi's plan.
But Zhu Yuanzhang did not tell the prince these things.
On the one hand, Zhu Yuanzhang could not explain clearly to the prince. It was concealed back then just to keep it a secret. But over the past few years, the secret of the past seems to have become a secret. Without him, tell others now. He Xi is a person from the future. Who believes it?
The prince probably wouldn't believe it either.
Don't even know how to speak.
In addition, from the perspective of governing the country, Zhu Yuanzhang knew after a little testing that the prince was Song Lian's student. In terms of learning, Confucianism is also the mainstay. The prince is certainly not a corrupt scholar. But the prince also felt that it was the right and proper way to govern the country with Confucian academics as the mainstay.
I feel that although He Xi is a capable minister, He Xi's method is a contingency technique. It can only be used temporarily, and only He Xi knows how to use it. It is not as good as the Confucian classics and Dharma, which can be spread all over the world and spread on bamboo and silk.
Of course, because of the prince's attitude, the prince was the biggest supporter of He Xi's plan to spread Confucianism to the south and enter Southeast Asia. Countless Confucian scholars have spread all over Southeast Asia. It's just that these Confucian scholars are really willing to spread the Tao to the world, or they are pretending to be so, it doesn't matter anymore.
Confucianism has rushed to the center stage of the world, competing with Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and various other thoughts on the same stage and at close quarters.
He Xi didn't know how big the impact was.
But come to think of it, it will definitely be an important part of the world's cultural history in the future.
Such a prince made Zhu Yuanzhang a little embarrassed.
Zhu Yuanzhang never thought that King Yan was his qualified heir. He has never thought of deposing the prince. It’s just that Zhu Yuanzhang has been brewing for nearly six years. After six years of preparation, he began to think about how to change the Ming Dynasty after meeting He Xi in the 14th year of Hongwu.
Then study the history of later generations and determine the direction.
In recent years, although there have been such and such things. He Xi did many great things. It seems that the court has been running smoothly. But in fact, many things are going on secretly.
At this stage, there were differences between him and the prince. It can't be exposed yet. But Zhu Yuanzhang will soon move to the next stage.
Because it will be the 20th year of Hongwu soon.
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that historically he died in the 31st year of Hongwu. Seventy-one years old is actually considered old enough. Zhu Yuanzhang certainly strengthened his health regimen. But except for the first few months, I was worried. Now I have accepted this fact. Even many plans are made with his own death as the end point.
He couldn't wait any longer. A vigorous and great change is about to rush from the underground to the ground.
This is also what he will do in the last ten years.
But for the prince, for the future heir. Zhu Yuanzhang really hesitated.
However, Zhu Yuanzhang's hesitation was not known to anyone, not even the person next to him. Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang really had a deep father-son affection for the prince. It is not just a matter between the king and his ministers. Therefore, this matter is extremely difficult to handle.
Zhu Yuanzhang still hopes that the prince can change his mind.
Seeing that the prince seemed to have something on his mind, Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "Tell me. What do you want to say?"
The prince was stunned and said, "Father noticed it."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I raised you, is there anything I can't see?"
So the prince told Fang Xiaoru what he had said. Said: "My son thinks what Mr. Fang said makes sense. But I don't know how to change it."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "There are some things you don't know about this matter. Fighting Goryeo is actually not what He Xi means, nor is it Lan Yu's matter. It's what I mean."
The prince was shocked and said: "Father? Why?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "There are many, the most fundamental thing is to give He Xi a stage. I want to see the plan for governing the country that He Xi talks about."
The prince said: "A plan for governing the country? What plan for governing the country? Why don't I know?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "You have heard of He Xi's theory. He has a term called productivity."
The prince thought for a moment and said, "I remember. If I remember correctly, productivity is the ability to produce various items that people need, that is, the ability to make a living."
"The ability to make a living?" After hearing the prince's explanation, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly and said, "That's not bad. If productivity increases, more people can be fed. Feeding more people can make the people live better, Canglin If you know enough about etiquette, the rule of Ming Dynasty will be more stable."
"And He Xi's solution is to improve productivity."
The prince asked curiously: "How to improve?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "What He Xi said is called industrialization. You should know that it is the practice of Taiping Iron Mine. It's just that Taiping Iron Mine is just a small experimental product. It's too small. I can't see many things clearly. So, I want him to do a good job in Liaodong. Let me see. But people are needed to do things. The few people in Liaodong can't do anything. So, I am interested in the people of Goryeo."
The prince was shocked again and again today. He could not have imagined that all of this was just an experiment. If Zhu Yuanzhang didn't tell him this personally. He was determined not to believe it. The truth behind this is too cruel. Just to test an idea, start a war and let thousands of people die. Not to mention, there will be a great migration later.
I don’t even know how many people died.
At this moment, the fundamental gap between the prince and Zhu Yuanzhang became apparent.
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't care about this at all. But the prince couldn't help but said: "Father, I think this matter is unacceptable."
