"Citizens' protest?"
Another term appeared that Zhu Biao didn't understand, but he was trying hard to understand it.
“What are the citizens’ explanations?”
Zhu Biao asked Su Jing.
Zhu Biao enjoyed this feeling that it was very difficult to even understand.
This was a feeling he had never had before when he was studying in the main hall.
This is learning!
Su Jing patiently explained: "The class composed of businessmen, craftsmen and other urban civilians as the main body is the citizen class."
"Compared to ordinary farmers, they are richer."
“But apart from money, they have low political power.”
"It's like Fang La. As the owner of the lacquer garden, he must have a lot of property, but because he couldn't stand the unreasonable taxes and the exploitation by officials, he had nowhere to appeal, so he could only express his demands through uprising."
Zhu Biao bowed to Su Jing and said, "Master Su explained it thoroughly, and the students understood it."
Su Jing said lightly: "It's nothing, they are all things of little use, at least not of much use to the current Ming Dynasty."
The history is clear and accurate. During Zhu Yuanzhang's reign, commercial development was greatly restricted and even regressed compared to the Song and Yuan Dynasties.
The commodity economy and the citizen class were all things that Zhu Yuanzhang strictly guarded against.
"No."
Zhu Biao retorted: "Master Su, the students have benefited a lot from your words today. It is a great blessing that the Ming Dynasty is in your hands!"
As a prince, he was still the prince whom Zhu Yuanzhang had designated as his heir long ago.
Zhu Biao is different from many princes in history.
He didn't need to worry about his father, and his father didn't need to be wary of him.
In addition to blood, the relationship between the emperor and the prince also has an inseparable family affection.
Zhu Yuanzhang took Zhu Biao with him early and asked him to learn to handle national government affairs.
Even many decisions were directly made by Zhu Biao.
When Zhu Biao was the prince, he could directly intervene in the affairs of the Ming Dynasty, and he was fair and aboveboard.
Therefore, Zhu Biao believed that what he learned from Su Jing could soon be applied to Daming.
He was very confident in himself and believed that Su Jing could bring great vitality to Ming Dynasty.
"Niu Yi, I advise you to calm down."
Su Jing looked at the excited Zhu Biao and poured a basin of cold water on it:
"I know your status is unusual, but you'd better not mention what I'm telling you. It's important to save your life, you know?"
Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment, and then asked doubtfully: "Why? Master Su, these things you teach are all unique skills in managing the world, why can't you mention them?"
Su Jing sighed slightly and said, "Niu Yi, you are still too naive."
"Some things are good, but who knows if they are right?"
"Let me ask you, why do you think today's society favors agriculture over business? Why do you look down on businessmen?"
Zhu Biao replied: "Of course there are too many profiteers, exploiting the people, and the source of trouble."
This is exactly what Zhu Yuanzhang taught Zhu Biao.
Su Jing asked back: "Aren't there any bad officials among the gentry? There are too many corrupt officials, and the status of an official is not as high as before. Why does the country still encourage reading and participate in the imperial examination to become an official, instead of directly suppressing scholars?"
Zhu Biao immediately replied: "Officials are used to govern the country. Without them, the country would be in chaos."
"good!"
Su Jing said: "Look, didn't you say that officials are used to govern the country, and for whom do they govern the country?"
Zhu Biao said without hesitation: "Of course he is the emperor."
At this point, Zhu Biao also understood the meaning of Su Jing's words.
"Master Su, you are saying that today's Ming Dynasty emphasizes agriculture and neglects commerce, suppressing the development of commerce. In fact, it is..."
Zhu Biao did not say anything because this was the general direction set by his father.
Su Jing nodded and said: "Yes, in the final analysis, everything is just for the emperor to maintain his own rule."
"This is true for any emperor in the feudal dynasty."
"When merchants do business, there will be a flow of population and an accumulation of wealth. These are good things for the people, but for the rulers, they represent instability."
"Only by stability can rule be long-lasting and stable, and only by ensuring that power is always concentrated in one's own hands."
"This is the same no matter who it is."
"So, what I teach you, you should regard it as a book of idle words. Just listen to it, but don't do anything stupid."
Zhu Biao was shocked, but immediately asked: "What about the Song Dynasty? Master Su said that the business in the Song Dynasty was very developed."
Su Jing smiled and said: "You also know how Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin became emperor, so after he came to power, he immediately had a drink to release his military power and firmly control the army in his own hands."
"At the same time, we emphasize the use of civil servants and restrict military generals. Those military generals can only use their fields to do business."
"And because the army was firmly in his hands, the emperor of the Song Dynasty was not so worried about the people below him."
"It's just that the generals were too wary, and the army became weaker and weaker, which ultimately led to foreign invasion and the fall of the Song Dynasty."
After Su Jing finished speaking, she stood up and left directly.
Zhu Biao's study with him doesn't mean that he needs to stay close to him every day. He still needs to have private space.
His magnifying glass was ready, but what he really wanted was a telescope.
Zhu Biao, who was stunned on the spot, became confused for a moment.
Su Jing's words were like thunder on the ground, showing the most essential things in front of him.
He had always thought that his father was a good emperor who loved his people like a son.
As early as when he was still king of Wu, Zhu Yuanzhang had a high reputation among the people.
But now, he had some doubts.
In other words, when Su Jing mentioned opening the sea last time, some seeds had been planted in his heart.
To rule!
In order for the Zhu family's world to be stable.
Whether it is focusing on agriculture and suppressing commerce, or banning maritime trade, they are all aimed at making the rule more stable.
Are the people important?
Of course it is important. During the uprising, without the support of the people, Zhu Yuanzhang would not be able to win the world.
Is it important that people's lives be better? It doesn't matter, because stability is the most important if the rule is to last for a long time.
Change means instability, and instability leads to chaos.
"That's it! That's it!"
Zhu Biao couldn't help shouting.
He understood Su Jing's teachings and understood that Su Jing's warnings were for his own good.
But the impact on him was still a bit too violent for a fifteen-year-old boy.
Zhu Biao's goal was to be a wise king, govern the Ming Dynasty well, and let the people of the Ming Dynasty live and work in peace and contentment, and live a better life.
And Su Jing exposed all this.
As a superior, all the seemingly wise policies he does are to continue his rule.
Do you want to become such an emperor?
Maybe, do you still have a choice?
(End of chapter)
