Li Qing mentally prepared the line "Suffer with the small stick, leave with the big stick". At the same time, his body tensed up, preparing to escape at any time.
As time passed, Zhu Yuanzhang's depression gradually worsened, and for a long time, he sighed heavily.
Li Qingqiang resisted the urge to run away and said tentatively, "My words were inappropriate. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Lao Zhu ignored him, turned to Zhu Yunwen and said meaningfully:
"Yunwen, you have to be ruthless to be an emperor, you know?"
Li Qing was stunned, a little confused, and Zhu Yunwen was also a little confused. After a while, he solemnly said:
"My grandson will remember it."
"Well." Zhu Yuanzhang showed a happy smile on his face, "That's it for today. You go and take a rest. It's the time when you are growing. Don't be too tired."
"My grandson obeys the order." Zhu Yunwen stood up and bowed, then nodded to Li Qing.
Li Qing bowed his hand in return, and when he saw him leaving, he cautiously said, "Your Majesty, you're not going to hit me again, are you?"
"Look at your virtue." Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes, stood up and said, "Come for a walk with us."
"okay."
Li Qing relaxed and followed Lao Zhu.
The two walked in tandem, and after walking for a long time, Lao Zhu suddenly stopped. Li Qing was too preoccupied to pay attention, and almost knocked him off his butt.
"Oh, Your Majesty, are you okay?"
"You...you don't have eyes!" Zhu Yuanzhang was in a bad mood, but he really couldn't get angry with Li Qing. He pondered for a while and said: "You, Li Jinglong and Lan Yu, will move around more in the future;
If you want to make a difference, you must have a few powerful allies in the court, otherwise you will have difficulty in implementing the new policy in the future. "
"I obey the decree." Li Qing's heart moved and he said in surprise, "Your Majesty, do you mean... that you agree with this national policy proposed by me?"
"We didn't say that." Lao Zhu said firmly, "Your theory has some merit, but it is not entirely correct."
Li Qing scratched his head and said, "Please correct me, Your Majesty."
"We stipulate this because we deeply felt that the late Yuan Dynasty was chaotic and disorderly, so we divided the people into different household registrations, such as civilian households, military households, craftsmen households, Le households, etc. Each person has his own exclusive work household registration;
Li Qing, there are some things you have never experienced and cannot understand. "
Lao Zhu sighed: "The fundamental reason why the Yuan Dynasty collapsed was caused by refugees. Most people were wandering around. The court lost its management and the country could not function at all.
No one is working in all walks of life, and the national power has plummeted. This is how the rebel army became popular. Otherwise, neither we, nor Chen Youliang, nor Zhang Shicheng would be able to grow big;
If the Ming Dynasty is compared to a huge machine, then the people of the Ming Dynasty are all part of the machine;
Or a gear, or a rivet... If everyone has their own division of labor, there won't be too many refugees, which will cause chaos in the late Yuan Dynasty. "
Li Qing cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty's words make sense."
To be honest, with Lao Zhu's background, it is extremely rare to be able to do this.
Lao Zhu is also a human being, and he has been a beggar, a monk, and begging for food for a long time.
You can't use the advanced ideas of later generations to ask someone who for a long time even lived was a luxury.
But the system is the foundation of a country. If you know your mistakes and do not correct them, the consequences will be extremely serious.
"Your Majesty, minister..."
"Say it, say it safely and boldly." Zhu Yuanzhang said, "We forgive your innocence."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Qing cupped his hand and said seriously, "The founding of the Ming Dynasty has not been completed for thirty years, and all walks of life are booming. In the short term, the Emperor's system will not have much impact;
But as time goes by, the development speed will slowly slow down. This is a rule and has been true in all dynasties;
It is impossible for all industries to thrive all the time. Every industry has its ups and downs. One industry is in recession, while another industry is doing well, but people cannot engage in it because of the household registration system;
What a pity!
People's livelihood is difficult, and the national finances are reduced, even more seriously... When people have difficulty making a living, they will still leave their household registration and choose to become refugees;
This is contrary to the emperor's wish! "Li Qing said it sincerely.
Zhu Yuanzhang was deeply touched. He pondered for a long time and nodded gently: "You are right, but... we no longer have the energy."
"There are already so many vested interests. This needs to be done slowly. Without more than ten years of operation, changes can be made at any time."
Lao Zhu said regretfully, “Take the most important farmers and military households as examples;
Once restrictions are fully lifted, people from all walks of life will give priority to farmers. After all, the dream of most people is to own farmland;
With land, you will never go hungry;
There is only so much land, and no matter how many people work it, it will not produce more food;
But joining the army means death. Without restrictions, who would be a soldier? "
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled bitterly, "The emperor is also a human being, and he can't just do whatever he wants. Why have reforms failed so often throughout the ages?
Even the emperors of the current dynasty knew the benefits of many reforms, but they still urgently stopped them, and even killed those who proposed policies that benefited the country and the people;
Later generations only think that the emperor is fatuous, but this is not the case. It is the turmoil caused by the reform that will seriously threaten the imperial power. This is the fundamental reason. "
After a pause, "Fortunately, he is still young and the shortcomings have not yet taken root. There is still a chance."
"Li Qing, remember, don't think of a good national policy and implement it immediately. You must first think about what changes it will bring once it is implemented;
There are many examples of good intentions leading to bad deeds;
If you cannot solve the bad problems that arise after implementing a good national policy, then it is better not to implement it. Secondly..."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were soft: "You also need to consider yourself."
Somehow, Li Qing was moved, "I remember it."
The two of them stood in front of the garden, silent for a long time. Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Li Qing, after we die, you...become a powerful minister!"
"Ah?" Li Qing was startled, "Your Majesty, I didn't think so!"
"We are not testing you, we are exhorting you." Zhu Yuanzhang said, "If you don't become a powerful minister, the national policies you propose will not be implemented at all."
Seeing that Lao Zhu was sincere, Li Qing smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, since ancient times, being a powerful minister has never ended well."
"Don't worry, we will give you a ticket to avoid death."
Li Qing was speechless: The iron ticket that exempts you from death seems to make you die faster. Didn't you point out the things you, Old Zhu, did?
Lao Zhu seemed to understand what he was thinking, and said with a smile: "We can deny the iron coupon that we rewarded, but the kings of future generations dare not deny it. Otherwise, they will be unfaithful and unfilial, and they will abandon the ancestral temple. They have no intention of denying it." That courage.”
"I obey." Li Qing relaxed slightly and said yes.
"Also, when it comes to national governance, you must not rush it. You need to take your time and moisturize things silently..."
Lao Zhu's understanding of politics and mediation of power are unparalleled, and he really taught Li Qing a good lesson.
The two chatted for a long time, until the palace door was about to be locked, before Li Qing resigned and left.
…
Life returned to normal, and Li Qing lived the slow-paced life he liked.
I sleep until midnight every day. After getting up, I sit under the fruit tree, read a book and listen to the piano;
In the afternoon, the palace helped Lao Zhu and Xiao Zhu handle memorials;
In the evening, I went to the residences of Liang Guogong and Cao Guogong to have a drink and brag to kill the boredom. At the same time, I became closer to the two of them. Sometimes I would also go to Wei Guogong's mansion to sit there;
After coming back, I would talk to Wan Ling and the others and share their feelings, sometimes the four of them would be together;
Plain, but not boring.
Half a year later, his subordinates who went to Mobei to map the map came back. After receiving the map, Li Qing got them the benefits they deserved and then said goodbye.
The days go on, year after year...
The situation outside the customs became increasingly tense. Although no big fights were made, small fights were often made.
It is worth mentioning that the Ming Dynasty produced another general who was very good at fighting.
It was none other than Zhu Yuanzhang's son, Xiao Qi, who was teased by Zhu Di.
The king of Ning in Daning was Zhu Quan.
The ferocity of his fighting was truly astonishing, and he once overshadowed the king of Yan, Zhu Di.
For a time, everyone knew about Prince Ning's power and power, and it could be said that he stole the show.
Even Lan Yu, who has a high self-esteem, also admires him very much, saying that he is somewhat like a brother-in-law.
Zhu Yuanzhang always doted on and trusted his son, and he was extremely generous with his rewards, even giving him the Yuan people's prisoners of war.
And Zhu Quan did not live up to Lao Zhu's expectations. He took these Yuan people under his command and organized them into the Duoyan Three Guards, who fought more fiercely.
So much so that Lao Zhu no longer said that Zhu Di looked like him, but instead said: Xiao Qi really looks like us!
