"The Ming Dynasty is dead... The Ming Dynasty is dead!"
Lao Zhu murmured to himself.
His expression was still hanging.
He couldn't accept such consequences.
Although he talks about the Ming Dynasty's eternal lineage, Lao Zhu actually knows it very well in his heart.
How can there be a single dynasty in this world for all eternity?
The fate of a country must rise and fall, and life must come and go.
Lao Zhu could face his own death calmly, unlike Emperor Qin and Han Wu who pursued the elusive elixir of immortality.
Similarly, we can also accept that the Ming Dynasty will be destroyed thousands of years later.
However, as the founder of the country, he could not say such words.
Lao Zhu only designated twenty generations in total for his descendants.
Because Lao Zhu himself feels that twenty generations is almost enough.
He was very pleased that the Ming Dynasty could be passed down to twenty generations.
but.
It is one thing to be able to accept death, but it is another thing to know how it must be destroyed.
Lao Zhu never imagined that this "thunder of destruction" was actually planted by himself.
"There are so many ministers, and there are many outstanding talents among them. Didn't anyone think of it? Why has no minister ever come forward to advise on this matter?"
After knowing this result, Lao Zhu was surprisingly angry.
Yes.
This was formulated by him.
but.
Where is the minister?
Being a loyal minister means pointing out what the emperor is doing wrong.
But the royal family system has left such a big loophole, and not a single official has come to remonstrate with it?
Did they really not see it?
Zhu Yunxuan sighed: "Did the emperor forget that a minister had remonstrated before, and the treatment given to the vassal king by this dynasty was too generous, but before the emperor could hear what the minister had said, he thought he was trying to alienate the Tian family's brothers and sisters. Due to family affection, he ordered him to be tied up and shot him personally.”
"Uh..." Lao Zhu suddenly stood blankly on the spot again.
He did.
"They... they should die to remonstrate!" Lao Zhu was still indignant.
If there is an important minister who remonstrates for this, he will definitely listen to what he has to say.
This led to the discovery of major loopholes in the system, but there were none.
"The emperor doesn't allow others to give advice, and the ministers are very afraid."
“Furthermore, they all believe that although there are problems with this system, it will only happen a hundred years later and has nothing to do with them.
"Future generations will have the wisdom and ability of future generations to solve problems."
Zhu Yunxuan said leisurely: "Besides, they are not from the Zhu family after all. Even if they are loyal to us now, it is only because we have taken over the country and conquered the world."
"But the fate of the country has its ups and downs, and it is normal for a country to change hands in the long course of history."
"In the future, Ming Dynasty will either solve this problem or the country will change hands. This is also destiny. What does it have to do with them?"
“Why should we compete with the present day on the future?”
Lao Zhu was immediately speechless.
After a while, he said: "Zhen'er, how do you think the descendants of the Zhu family will solve this problem?"
Zhu Yunxuan shook his head and said: "No one can solve it, and no one will solve it."
"This is a rule set by the Emperor. Changing it would be unfilial."
"If you don't treat people well in the clan and give them poor treatment, that would be unkindness and unrighteousness."
"No emperor would be willing to bear the reputation of being unfilial and unkind."
"I have to find a way, which is probably not to change the system, but in the name of the court having no money, holding back part of the clan's salary and not disbursing it, because it really can't afford it."
"But as long as there is a penny in the national treasury, it must be distributed."
"The national treasury will not be able to have any balance. If there is a famine, mutiny, or invasion by foreign invaders, we can only temporarily increase taxes, which will be unbearable for the people, the whole world will rebel, and the dynasty will perish!"
His tone became more and more firm and decisive.
Lao Zhu was silent for a long time.
He is a beggar and becomes an emperor, so he is afraid of poverty.
I just want to let my descendants live a good life.
But I never expected that there would be such a big pit hidden in the simple clan system.
"Fortunately, Fu'er discovered it in time." Lao Zhu sighed: "We will issue an order to reduce the prince's salary to 10,000 dan a year and the money to 2,000."
Although he couldn't bear it in his heart, he quickly made up his mind for the sake of the future of Ming Dynasty.
Ten thousand dan a year can make the prince live well.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Yunzhen shook his head and said: "Grandpa Huang, this matter cannot be solved by reducing the salary of the prince of the clan."
"Reducing the prince's salary from 50,000 dan to 10,000 dan will only extend the time when the problem occurs for another thirty to fifty years. It will not fundamentally solve the problem."
Zhu Yunxuan smiled lightly.
The scary thing about exponential growth is the subsequent growth rate. As for the initial value, it is not important.
Starting with one grain of rice, it becomes two grains on the second day, four grains on the third day, and so on. Before long, there will not be enough rice in the world.
Lao Zhu was stunned immediately.
He picked up the pen and calculated carefully, and it turned out to be true.
Lao Zhu was immediately dumbfounded.
"Then in your opinion, how should this matter be resolved?"
He looked at Zhu Yunzhen.
My grandson is smart and talented, and he will definitely be able to think of a solution.
"The beauty of a gentleman will be cut down in five lifetimes."
Zhu Yunzhen said: "There are famous families among the people, and families with thousands of years of history. Although they have many people, they cannot take care of them all. They can only keep one line prosperous and benefit others."
"The solution is very simple, that is, except for the emperor, all other princes, unless they have made extraordinary achievements and obtained the special permission of the imperial court, their descendants can only be reduced to hereditary status."
"The prince's descendants will all be reduced to county kings."
"The descendants of the county king will all be reduced to dukes."
"The descendants of the duke will all be reduced to marquis."
"By analogy, after the Five Dynasties, the court will give them a sum of money and let them fend for themselves from then on."
"In this way, no matter how many generations it is passed down, the court will not have to worry about being unable to afford it."
After listening to what he said, Lao Zhu picked up paper and pen again and calculated it carefully by himself.
He was a little scared.
For fear of leaving any loopholes.
If you don’t calculate carefully, you will feel uneasy.
After a long time, Lao Zhu finished the calculation and wrote: "Yes, this method can indeed solve the problem of supporting the royal family members."
"Good idea, let's do it."
He sighed in admiration.
But then he added: "It's just that this will make our grandchildren suffer and be demoted. I'm afraid your uncles will be unhappy in their hearts."
After Lao Zhu finished speaking, he waved his hand and said: "You don't have to worry, we are still here and can control them. They must listen to the rules we set."
Zhu Yunxuan smiled and said: "Grandpa Huang, my grandson just said that he would recall all his uncles to the capital. It is just for this matter to satisfy everyone."
"Let my grandson's cousins, and even their descendants, have the opportunity to become princes without having to be demoted!"
(End of chapter)
