Chapter 166: Nothing is impossible in the world
He Xi felt her mouth dry and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Zhu Yuanzhang's plan for He Xi was actually very simple.
It's ridiculously simple, but it's actually similar to Yao Guangxiao's idea. Now that the reform has advanced to a critical moment, generally speaking, He Xi's actions have been successful.
But this kind of success can only be limited to Liaodong and Beijing.
After all, these two places were on the fringes of the Ming Dynasty, not to mention Liaodong. When the Ming Dynasty entered Liaodong, there were only tens of thousands of people in Liaodong. After another betrayal, it can be said that the so-called local forces and powerful families in Liaodong no longer existed at all.
And Beijing is not much different.
The Beijing area was the core area ruled by the Yuan Dynasty. The truly powerful nobles were all related to the Mongols. When Emperor Yuan Shun retreated to the grassland, he did not go alone, but took hundreds of thousands of people with him. It can be said that all the powerful people in most areas have been taken away. Moreover, the Beijing area, as the core area of the Ming Dynasty's northern defense line, has been deeply digging for the remnants of the Mongols.
There were actually many common people's lands in the Monan area at that time, but Xu Da moved them all into the pass. The reason is very simple. Hu and Han people have lived together in these areas outside the pass for a long time, and they identified more with the Mongols than with the Ming Dynasty. As the area outside the customs is a place where the two sides are fighting, it may not be Ming's advantage to keep these people where they are.
Therefore, all these people moved into the pass and were resettled.
It's like this outside the customs, and it's impossible for Beijing's local tycoons to pass the customs without having a few layers of skin peeled off. Or simply immigrate to other places.
Therefore, He Xi can get twice the result with half the effort when doing things in Beijing and Liaodong. As long as he takes care of these distinguished people, he will not encounter any obstacles.
The Ming Dynasty was still an agricultural country. Although the gentry and landlords were severely suppressed, they were still the main body of the country's rulers. Even if the Ming Dynasty had a strong army, it still needed the support of these people.
Wang Shizhen estimated the troops and horses needed to found the Ming Dynasty, and Zhu Yuanzhang raised his troops until the Northern Expedition was successful. The total number of soldiers and horses is about 800,000 to 1 million. After the founding of the country, there were hundreds of guard posts, with a total of more than one million soldiers and horses, or even more.
Among them, many were recruited to surrender and accept rebels. Due to military needs, the local people were integrated into military households, known as Duo Gathering Army. A typical example of this was Liaodong, which had hundreds of thousands of troops. However, the two generals Ma and Ye When he led his troops into Liaodong, there were only ten or twenty thousand. The other armies were formed by local people.
In other words, even Zhu Yuanzhang's biggest pillar, the army, may not be reliable.
Not to mention the own interests of those military leaders, many generals in the army also aspire to become landlords. I hope to pass on the family business through the landlord method.
In short, without Zhu Yuanzhang's strong support, He Xi would be besieged on all sides. There are only a few people around He Xi who can be said to have strong beliefs, and most of them are gathered together because of interests. Because things gather together because of benefits, and they disperse when benefits are exhausted.
This contrast between strengths and weaknesses may not be able to be reversed given He Xi a few years.
It's not that He Xi isn't strong enough, but that He Xi's current enemy is a rather abstract existence. He Xi doesn’t even know who it is? Fang Xiaoru is just a person on the surface, but an enemy in private? Duke Xu Da of Wei, Duke Feng Sheng of Song, and Duke Fu Youde of Ying, what do they think? Lan Yu, Mu Ying, Deng Zhen, and Li Jinglong, do they really think the new law is good?
Except for He Xi himself, he couldn't even find an important minister-level helper that he could truly trust.
The only one who can make him believe is probably Lu Zhongheng. But Lu Zhongheng was no longer in the center, and he couldn't help at all with the matter of reform.
But this contradiction always needs to be resolved?
Yao Guangxiao believes that He Xi's advantage lies in the military, from ordnance production to military revolution, as well as the heavy troops in the north. These are He Xi's advantages.
But He Xi didn't expect that Zhu Yuanzhang thought so too.
War is the ultimate way to resolve all conflicts. If there are no complex problems, there is no need to use a sharp sword.
In fact, as far as political skills are concerned
It is said that Zhu Yuanzhang was not the top among all kings. Historically, Zhu Yuanzhang was very rough in killing heroes. But there is one thing about Zhu Yuanzhang that is unmatched by almost all emperors.
That's cruel enough.
For your own goals, do whatever it takes.
Being cruel to others is not cruel, only being cruel to yourself is cruel.
Today, He Xi truly understands the ruthlessness of Zhu Yuanzhang.
He Xi couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, if you do this, the world will be in chaos?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly: "So what? The world is in chaos and the world is in great order. It is just a common thing. To be honest, I have never been very good at governing the world. I have been constrained in doing things these years. I only conquer the world, but it is It's very insightful. However, even if I have this intention, I still want to see if you have this determination. If you can't understand this section yourself, I can only take you away before I die to save you. In the future, not even a single heir will be left.”
"Remember, there is nothing that a person who achieves great things cannot do."
He Xi said: "The Ming Dynasty is in this situation because of your hard work. Can you bear it?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "What is the difference between being patient and unbearable? I am the emperor, do you really think that I can control the situation of the world? It is not what I want? It is the situation of the world, these are the directions. I am just doing multiple-choice questions . Of course, you can still refuse now. I have Hedinghong here, take it by the way. From now on, you don’t need to see me. Don’t worry, I will take care of the funeral affairs in Beijing and Liaodong."
What else could He Xi say.
His biggest worry has been solved.
When Yao Guangxiao proposed this idea, He Xi was worried about Zhu Yuanzhang. Because he rebelled under Zhu Yuanzhang's nose, He Xi didn't think he could do it. Now with the support of Zhu Yuanzhang.
Of course it's no longer a problem.
But He Xi suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
That is, can he really do this?
For nothing else.
He Xi knew very well that in terms of scale and cruelty, this war was determined to far exceed the peace wars in history. To some extent, it can be compared to the American Civil War.
Not just a war, but an industrial revolution.
It can be said that the huge demands of war are enough to promote the update and iteration of all the latest technologies. The huge dividends brought by the war were enough for He Xi to complete the industrial revolution and even build the Ming Dynasty's internal market system.
Transform the Ming Dynasty from a self-sufficient small-scale peasant economic structure into an industrialized country.
Although, this war will be quite long. There will be more casualties. He Xi herself didn't know whether it was worth paying such a high price. But in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, it was probably worth it.
Moreover, the political situation formed based on the reform is easy to repeat. For example, Wang Anshi's reforms and Zhang Juzheng's reforms resulted in the death of people and the elimination of political power. However, the new political pattern is based on the victory of a war, which is difficult to change.
This may be the best way.
But He Xi didn't want to use the method the least.
At this moment, he had no choice.
He Xi said: "Since your Majesty has made up his mind, what can I say? He Xi can only fight to the death. But, Your Majesty, aren't you worried that after this battle, the Ming Dynasty will not be owned by the Zhu family."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "You are being honest and sincere in what you said, so I will also speak my mind. The queen left, and I thought a lot. I think that I do my best to the prince. In the world, since ancient times, all princes, I don’t care about Biao’er so much, but what’s the result?”
"At first, I was confused and hated him for not living up to expectations. But as time went by, I figured it out. As you said, people are independent individuals. Even my children have their own lives. You have your own choices, you have your own ideas, I can't control them. People are born free."
"Then why do I have to live for my descendants? I only have a few years left in my life. After I die and lie in the Xiaoling Tomb, you will be the emperor. Do you dare to do anything to me? Besides, you will be the emperor. What kind of person is he?
Don't I know? If this position is given to you, you won’t want it. "
