Faced with Zhu Di's inquiry, Xu Jingchang thought about it and said seriously: "Your Majesty, whether this will succeed or not depends on your Majesty's attitude towards this matter... It may succeed, it may not succeed, it may not succeed, it may be a success, it may succeed.
It will become impossible in the future... In short, success or failure..."
Snap!
Before Zhu Di could get angry, Empress Xu slapped the table first.
"Xu Jingchang, we are all close relatives, what are you talking about here?"
Xu Jingchang couldn't resist his aunt's anger, and said quickly: "Aunt, it's hard to tell if this is true... Xu Qin just mentioned the example of the three generations. The Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties continued to enfeoff, the clan branched out, and China was prosperous. This is naturally good.
Yes. But there is a bad example right now, and I have to talk about it!"
"Which example?"
"It's the Mongol Khanate." Xu Jingchang said: "Genghis Khan was a great hero. He conquered the south and the north and conquered a huge world. After Genghis Khan's death, he immediately fell into the war between his sons, Wokuotai, Guiyou, Mengge.
...In the hands of Kublai Khan, he could no longer order other countries and could only guard the Central Plains, more like the Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty."
Xu Jingchang does not need to explain this history of the Mongols that has swept the world. Everyone knows it well. Genghis Khan rose rapidly and conquered a huge territory. While he was still alive, he continued to entrust the land to his sons.
As the territory they conquered continued to expand, the Mongolian nobles successively established the Chagatai Khanate, the Golden Horde Khanate, the Ogedai Khanate, and the Ili Khanate. Together with the Yuan Dynasty, the territory ruled by the Mongols was unprecedentedly vast.
But this territory is just for viewing.
Even if Genghis Khan is alive, he can only rely on his super high prestige to barely unite the four parties, and the nobles will still occupy their own side.
As time went by, more and more princes were enfeoffed, and the Mongol Empire became more and more fragmented... It was a large empire in name, but in reality it refused to obey anyone, and many civil wars broke out.
Finally, during the period of Kublai Khan, it completely fell apart.
So you say enfeoffment was successful?
It was unsuccessful and did not achieve the purpose of consolidating the Mongolian world.
But, do you think it was unsuccessful?
It doesn't seem right either.
Even though the Yuan Dynasty was destroyed by Lao Zhu, the other khanates were still there, and the Golden Family still owned many countries, and their power was huge and no small matter.
From the perspective of continuing the family business, this is another success.
But how valuable is this success?
Actually not much.
Although the Mongols conquered a huge area, they had to compromise with local forces in order to achieve effective rule. The result was that the Golden Family continued to localize... On the Central Plains side, they began to accept Confucianism, change their past habits, and adapt to the Central Plains.
customs.
Other khanates were similar, compromising with local forces. For example, the newly emerged Timurid Empire, although they claim to be of Mongol descent, is even more different from the Tatars than the gap between the Tatars and the Ming Dynasty!
Although he is a Mongolian, he has also lost himself.
Is this considered a success?
It seems to be debatable as well.
Xu Jingchang's explanation made Zhu Di and Empress Xu silent... It was a good thing to enfeoff the princes. Even if the Ming Dynasty fell, there would still be people who could continue the Zhu family's bloodline.
But the question is if they abandon their ancestors, can they still be considered of Zhu family blood?
What’s even more terrifying is that the Zhu family turned their backs on their ancestors and turned against the Zhu family of the Ming Dynasty... Wouldn’t this be an even greater tragedy?
Empress Xu looked at Zhu Di bitterly, "Your Majesty, it's better not to bother with this."
Zhu Di frowned deeply, Emperor Yongle has nothing else but to be strong throughout his life.
"Xu Jingchang, please analyze it carefully for us and tell us what should we do?"
Xu Jingchang suppressed his smile and said seriously: "Your Majesty, the best way to develop outward is to establish a stable rule and change the style of various countries, allowing them to join China and become kings. Over time, they will become part of the Central Plains, and the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties will
, Qin Shihuang dug the Ling Canal and passed through Lingnan. The Han Dynasty led to the Western Regions and opened the Silk Road...these are the best examples."
"The next level is like North Korea, Annan and other places. Although they were not merged into the Ming Dynasty, they are still proud to speak Chinese and write Chinese characters, and consider themselves Little China."
"The next step is that there are many barbarian countries. Although they are not educated, they admire the scenery of the Ming Dynasty and travel thousands of miles to do business, purchase goods, and send gold and silver to the Ming Dynasty."
"The last category is those barbarians who have neither bathed in royal transformation nor have any real contact with the Ming Dynasty."
Xu Jingchang said: "Your Majesty, I have a rough summary, we need to entrust the outside world... First, we must control the place, which is the prerequisite for everything. Secondly, we must spread civilization, change the composition of the population, and make people
The local people have sincerely attached themselves to it, and over time, it will be no different from the Ming Dynasty... This is the best result."
"Secondly, we must control the local area, but we must also compromise with local customs and adapt to local conditions... However, we must still maintain the core of China and have a considerable number of forces close to the Ming Dynasty to cooperate with the Ming Dynasty on key matters."
"Going further, although we took control of the place, the Chinese education did not stand firm. Facing the constant counterattacks of the local forces, it ended miserably."
"Other situations, such as not establishing rule at all, or even establishing rule, quickly degenerated into barbarism, which in turn harmed the Ming Dynasty..." Xu Jingchang said: "If your Majesty wants to do this, you must consider all the issues properly.
, you must not be wishful thinking and only think about the good things.”
Zhu Di nodded seriously, "Of course, I know that the descendants of the Zhu family may not be free from bastards... But we must always take this step forward, and we cannot rest on our laurels, don't you think?"
Xu Jingchang is quite excited, and Zhu Di's ambition is always satisfying.
Having such a resolute emperor is indeed a blessing for those who work hard.
Although Xu Jingchang is not an official, Zhu Di thinks so and it is convenient for him to plan.
"Your Majesty, since you have fully considered these situations, I would like to tell you that the first thing to do is to strengthen contacts with all parties, be able to control the countries, and let these countries accept the protection of the Ming Dynasty. Then the Ming Dynasty will send the clan members to become
Lord of the country."
Zhu Di nodded, "Yes, you are right."
Xu Jingchang said: "In this case, I just have a proposal here, which is to ask the corresponding vassal state to accept the use of Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes to settle commercial goods... and allow the Ming Dynasty to set up banks in treaty ports to facilitate transactions."
"Let the vassal state accept the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes?"
Zhu Di paused, "Is this possible?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "It's easier than using troops directly, right? I named this plan the Chinese Settlement Alliance. Once this matter is launched, it will be a great help to the business exchanges between the Ming Dynasty and other places. Money and goods will be smooth, and it will be convenient.
Education. Use the same money, read the same books, and think the same things. Over time, we will naturally become a family."
After Zhu Di pondered for a while, he smiled and said: "Qin Shihuang's cars are on the same track, and his books are on the same page. You want to unify the money first!"
Xu Jingchang said with a smile: "I am just a person who lives a good life, so naturally I care about this."
Zhu Di smiled and said: "It's the same principle. No one will do the business that is losing money. You can handle it."
Xu Jingchang added: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing. Since we want to spread Chinese civilization and strengthen the education of the Central Plains, we cannot just send troops to fight abroad. We also need to spread civilization. This point has been strengthened for the vassal kings when the school was established in Peking.
Education. Now that we are here with the emperors and grandsons, shouldn’t we start as soon as possible?”
"Yes!" Zhu Di suddenly looked at the emperor's grandsons and hummed: "Do you understand? Duke Dingguo said that you must learn your skills well in the future, do you understand?"
All the emperors and grandsons seemed to understand, but they just agreed after what the emperor said.
But the little guy Xu Xianzhong shouted louder than anyone else.
"knew!"
Xu Jingchang couldn't help but glare at this kid.
"This is a matter for the descendants of the Tian family. Don't join in the fun."
Xu Xianzhong flat-mouthed, very unconvinced, "Why can the younger brother go, but the elder brother cannot go? This is unfair?"
The little guy was quite into the act, and Zhu Di said with a smile: "Okay, of course it's okay! There is no difference between our Zhu and Xu families. If you have the ability, when you grow up, you can seize a place and I will make you a king."
.”
"It's a deal!" Xu Xianzhong shouted excitedly.
Zhu Di smiled and said: "I am the king of a country, but I can still lie to your little child!"
Xu Xianzhong was so proud this time that he couldn't help but jump down from his chair and ran to Xu Jingchang, triumphantly saying, "Dad, my title will be higher than yours in the future, do you also want to listen to me?"
"I hear you are a big-headed idiot!" Xu Jingchang just wanted to beat this little fool. Why are you joining in the fun?
As a father, you really care about whether to enfeoff the Zhu family or not. What I want to do is to promote the treasure money. If nothing else, it is true that I want to increase some income first.
You don't know how expensive firewood and rice are, but I, as a general envoy, have the responsibility of all over the country, so I can't do it without money.
Xu Jingchang couldn't explain it, but Zhu Di was very satisfied, "Boss, what else do you guys have to say?"
Zhu Gaochi said: "Father, if I want to come, I will not only train royal children, but also arrange corresponding personnel to study with them and learn skills... In the future, to conquer various places and establish vassal states, we will not only send people and troops,
We also need to dispatch civil servants to govern the local area, and arrange talents to set up schools and carry out education. This number is not a small number!"
Zhu Gaoxu followed: "In that case, why not set up an imperial school specifically to do this. As for the expenses, if the household department is not enough, I am willing to pay for it."
We, the King of Han, have nothing but money.
Xu Jingchang hurriedly coughed and said, "If you don't bother His Highness the King of Han with this matter, you can just train technicians... I will personally train talents for overseas business, and the Ministry of Household Affairs will naturally be able to bear the cost."
Zhu Gaosui blinked, "What about me? What's wrong without me?"
Xu Jingchang glanced at him and said, "If you want to help, go and find out how many Yi people are willing to take the initiative to naturalize, and let me know as soon as possible!"
