In the Xianling Mausoleum, in the Qian'en Hall, the memorial tablets of Zhu Houcong's parents are located here.
The festival is over, and the emperor wants to stay here alone for a while.
Zhu Houcong looked at the words on the tablet of the god, and after a long time he sighed.
"It's time for my son to worry about the children..."
At the beginning, that position belonged to him.
Now, it is clear that he has repeatedly asked the prince to supervise the country, but if the dust has not settled for a day, the prince will still want to do everything possible to eliminate the threat.
I have to say that at least I already have a "qualified" imperial mindset.
What makes Zhu Houcong feel a little sad is that during this period of time when he was asked to supervise the country, his attention was focused on these things, which meant that he still could not be like his father.
If it can win over the people of Ming Dynasty, any other possible threats will have no foundation.
It may become a problem, but it won't shake his future position.
Did he think his father had finished the work?
After witnessing the slow pace of change in ordinary places and receiving news from the capital, Zhu Houcong sighed and knelt down to worship his late father and mother.
"Now that my son is gone, I'm afraid he will never come back to pay homage in person."
There are still a lot of worries about national and family affairs.
At nearly forty years old, he will not be able to enjoy the rest of his life freely.
After a thousand years of hard work, now I just cleaned the yard and laid the foundation.
Zhu Houcong stood up and left the Hall of En'en.
In the past half of his life, there were three important points in time that caused him to change three times.
The first step was naturally to succeed to the throne as emperor. At that time, everything was done to stabilize authority. Although he wanted to try out new laws, it was also part of maintaining authority.
The second point in time was during the Huguang Rebellion and the Southern Patrol. After that, whether he was conquering the border areas from the north or promoting new laws and learning, Zhu Houcong always defended and counterattacked, appointed talented people, and cultivated strength.
The third point in time was when Tang Shunzhi returned to Beijing from Hetao. Zhu Houcong believed that the time had come, and some things that should be done should be done while he was young and energetic. After that, Korea, Ryukyu, Japan, Beibei... The Ming Dynasty's war machine had not yet
stop.
Tang Shunzhi did not stop him, and Yan Song pushed the boat along with the current.
Yang Shen and Huang Zuo have already keenly realized that the time after this day may not be very peaceful.
The relationship between the emperor and the prince, the relationship between the prince and the princes, and the heads of the vassal states...
So now, Zhu Houcong has returned to Huguang, and there are new changes.
Strong empires often collapse from within.
In history, the Ming Dynasty plowed the Jurchens seven times, but what happened in the end? When the Ming Dynasty fell, was it really that its opponent was too strong?
It's nothing more than tormenting yourself to death.
"Get off and go back to Beijing!"
…
This year was supposed to be the 26th year of the Jiajing reign, and under the new calendar, it was called 2388 AD.
Zhang Juzheng, Li Chunfang, Wang Shizhen... many people still waited until this year to take part in the examination.
In later generations, this subject was known as the first in the Ming Dynasty. Although it is not as bright as the stars on the first list of the Millennium Imperial Examination in the second year of Jiayou's reign, it is still no small matter.
Historically, it was during Zhang Cong's auxiliary period that he raised the admission threshold for government schools, strictly assessed teachers, and upheld pragmatism, which allowed Ming Dynasty's cultural education to blossom and bear fruit a generation later.
And this time, it is a generation after the new academic viewpoints such as the Three Principles of Nature, Things, and Human Beings, Practical Studies, and Dialectics were fully implemented, and it is time for the new academic system and the new examination syllabus to come to fruition.
Therefore, among the candidates who took the exam, there was also an "unknown" Li Shizhen who was only thirty years old.
Li Shizhen, who was born into a medical family, has a talent for learning that is higher than that of ordinary people, but is not outstanding.
At the age of fourteen, he passed the examination to become a scholar, but it was not easy to pass the imperial examination. What's more, he himself also loved medicine and was devoted to studying it.
But now that the examinations had begun to be conducted in different subjects, Zhu Houcong also thought of him when he returned to Huguang, and casually asked Lu Bing to go and check it out.
The impression is that it belongs to this era. Since he has this talent, why let him study on his own? Isn't it bad to be an official who specializes in this direction?
Lu Bing had stayed with Zhu Houcong for so long, and he was not surprised that a stranger's name would appear on the emperor's lips.
Maybe it was mentioned in some official's memorials and letters, maybe it was for other reasons.
But anyway, the people under the emperor's personal care are not bad.
Lu Bing has never been a strict person. Since he is such a person, he will naturally not hesitate to form a good relationship.
So Li Shizhen really won the exam and came to take the examination.
Zhu Houcong no longer cares about these little things.
Returning to the Forbidden City, Zhu Zaiyi's brief period of supervising the country ended.
Now, the examination is in progress, and Zhu Houcong is walking and chatting with his son in the imperial garden.
"Have you considered the pros and cons of just setting Cochin as solid soil?"
Zhu Zaiyi answered cautiously: "I have consulted with all the advisers and discussed it. I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages."
"Where is North Korea?" Zhu Houcong did not look back and walked forward slowly, looking at the plum blossoms blooming in the imperial garden. "The King of Liao is still young. When he gets old, North Korea will face the problem of whether to turn into a solid state.
At that time, it's probably your turn to take action. So, at the same time, you have to do the work of substantiating the soil in North Korea and Jiaozhi. Which one is more important?"
Zhu Zaiyi was slightly frightened, and followed closely: "It is convenient for officials and people to aid Korea, and I think it is enough to proceed step by step. On the other hand, Jiaozhi is a major strategic area in Nanyang, and it is also a granary. If managed carefully, it will be of great use to Nanyang in the future.
.”
"With the destruction of the Khanate and the plowing of the Jurchens, the grasslands, the northeast, and the new Khanate may no longer be a threat. There are many things to do to divide, appease, and accept the people's goodwill towards the Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Zaicheng pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment and asked frankly: "Did the father say... is it better to just set Jiaozhi as a vassal state first? The eldest brother will naturally manage the business carefully, but according to the strategy agreed upon by the father before,
In the future, Cochin and Burma will still be accepted as real territory. When the time comes, I will seize the country of my eldest brother’s descendants..."
Zhu Houcong stopped and raised his hand.
Zhu Zaiyi felt a chill in his heart and stood still behind him.
Zhu Houcong just raised his hand to twist a bunch of plum branches, and then said: "I enfeoffed the clan to the vassal state, not to let them enjoy the wealth and prestige of the king, but to let them work hard for the great achievements of the Ming Dynasty. When the time comes, accept them.
Whether it is necessary for the sake of peace, and whether your brothers, nephews, and nephews are willing to do it, all depends on what you think."
Zhu Zaiyi gritted his teeth and thought about it carefully, thinking that there was no need to hide too much in front of his father, and he couldn't hide it.
So he said: "My son is worried about hidden dangers in the future. One more thing to worry about is naturally better than one less thing to worry about."
"Look at the problem from the perspective of development. Now, I can win new territory for you. Why can't you continue to fight for them in the future? The world is so big that only one out of ten fertile lands occupied by the Ming Dynasty." Zhu Houcong let go of his hand.
, turned around and looked at him, "It is easy to establish a province in Jiaozhi, but it is difficult to become a part of the Ming Dynasty. From father to you, and then to your son, how can the strength of the Ming Dynasty continue to become stronger, always the strongest, and even more difficult
.”
"...My son has learned a lesson."
"My father has left you a larger territory and more people, so you must have a broader mind than my father." Zhu Houcong sighed lightly, "I haven't reached forty yet, you still have to wait.
This time, Burma, Jiaozhi, North Korea, Jurchen, and Nan'ao are all over, and then father and son, brothers, and clan members will still be able to meet each other. I need you and your children to continue to do the things I can't finish."
"...Father?"
Zhu Houcong stared at him: "It is absolutely impossible to eradicate all the alien races in the world, and they should not be eradicated. The more long-term and effective way than force is to treat them as ordinary people in the future and let them live a better life.
Integrate into one. This cause is greater than who will sit on the throne of the Ming Dynasty. Of course, as long as the Ming Dynasty is the strongest, before the Ming Dynasty cannot ascend to heaven and enter the earth, the actual land of the Ming Dynasty cannot be much larger than it is today."
The words were so straightforward that Zhu Zaiyi didn't know how to answer for a moment.
He could only tell what he thought was the answer: "My son understands. As my father said, I should concentrate on accepting North Korea as a solid land first. The capital is in the north, on the grassland, in the northeast. North Korea is safe and sound, and the capital is stable."
Since the capital city is stable, there will be no major turmoil in the Ming Dynasty. As for Burma, Jiaozhi, and Nanyang, it is a century-old plan that can be planned slowly."
"No."
Zhu Houcong's answer made him stunned.
Zhu Zaiyi raised his head in astonishment and listened to his father say: "Your idea makes me think of another approach. Treating the people of the foreign vassal as your own people and operating with heart, you also need to set an example. The most important thing is,
This ambition must be rooted in your heart. And if you want to govern the Ming Dynasty in the future, it is better to start with one province."
"...What does Father mean?"
"When the affairs of Cochin are over, North Vietnam will be established in North Cochin, and your eldest brother will gain a foothold in South Cochin. You take Yang Shen, Huang Zuo, and Zhang Juzheng to educate the people of Vietnam. Your eldest brother's future is in Siam."
Zhu Zaiyi was shocked and looked at his father in disbelief.
Zhu Houcong's expression was very calm: "In the future, we will always have to deal with these relationships, so let's deal with them closer. In the future, we will always have to govern the country, and we must first govern a province. If you show kindness to the people of North Vietnam, in the end, North Vietnam will not be the same.
I will rebel again; if you can help your elder brother win Siam, you won't have to worry about the problems of South Cochin in the future."
Zhu Zaiyi lowered his head, looking very depressed: "I understand..."
Zhu Houcong turned around and continued to move forward: "Even if we have to guard against it, we must guard against it in the open. North Vietnam is both a province and a border area. We have to put down possible rebellions in the future, and there will be no shortage of generals. There is no other place better than there.
, and can train you into a truly powerful imperial monarch! Once you go there, it is called a province, but it is actually a country. Whatever you want, I will not lack you. For a period of twenty years, if you succeed in Vietnam, you
I feel relieved to be back!"
Zhu Zaiyi stayed where he was. After a long time, he slowly knelt down and saluted.
When he raised his head, his eyes were firm.
Compared with the "ruthlessness" and "coldness" of his father's decision, he preferred the frankness and trust in the communication between father and son this time.
When I went to Jiaozhi, it was an absolutely dangerous place.
The prince will stay in a very clear place for a long time. Will anyone among his eldest brother, other princes, and their confidants take risks?
All is lost when people die. No matter how angry the emperor is, the future Ming Dynasty will always need a successor.
But indeed, his father left him a different Ming Dynasty.
After going to Jiaozhi, there is no shortage of talents in Jiaozhi.
After going to Jiaozhi, he had to face the vassal-vassal relationship that he would have to deal with in the future. He first tried to have a good relationship with the leader of the vassal country next door, his eldest brother.
I went to Jiaozhi, internal affairs, border defense, culture and education... these are all things that you need to be familiar with as the king of a country in the future.
Went to Jiaozhi... Twenty years later, there was another legitimate son in the palace?
What is most closely related to his future status is, after all, the relationship between father and son.
In the second half of his father's reign, whether he can trust his father, and whether his father still regards him as the prince who will succeed him in the future, there are really many things that can be speculated in this decision.
…
Li Shizhen won the imperial examination, and King Rui was still studying bacteria.
Zhu Houcong was in his prime, and his sons were gradually growing up.
Under the current situation, a mediocre successor would be a disaster for the governance of the empire.
Once you become more dependent on the ministers of the National Policy Council and the State Palace, once you become an emperor, you will inevitably have to compete with them for monarchical power in the future.
In Zhu Houcong's private heart, he still hopes to cultivate a successor above the standard and not to enter the state of virtual king too early.
I have trained this prince for many years, but now the results are not great.
After all, what you can learn on paper is shallow. Let him face the problem head on, and he may be able to remember what he taught in the past.
Then when he came back, he would pay more attention to technology, education, people's livelihood, and know how to control the officials.
Zhu Zaiyi is the heir to his position, and Zhang Juzheng is his ideal heir.
The emperor's decision shocked Yan Song and others, thinking that the emperor was dissatisfied with their previous discussions.
No, the prince is going to be "exiled to the border", which seems to be a bit of a "competition to choose the best".
Although the war in Cochin is not over yet, everything is kept secret.
Therefore, Zhang Juzheng did not win the first prize, but it seemed that the ministers were not so eager to join the crown prince's team.
Zhu Houcong summoned Zhang Juzheng alone again.
Zhu Houcong looked at him, "Uncle, do you still remember what I said on Jingshan Mountain?"
"I remember that your Majesty is so angry that he wants to achieve great unity in the world."
"What I say more importantly is that the true foundation of the world's great unity began with me and will be accomplished by you."
The young Jinshi raised his head and looked at the emperor.
"Half of those who walk a hundred miles are ninety. If we really want to achieve such great things, you are more crucial than the current monarchs and ministers." Zhu Houcong said with sincerity, "But you are still too young, and there are many things that you do not understand deeply.
Only those who have been through it will know the difficulty. This time, I will carefully lay a good foundation for the prince in Jiaozhi, protect him, and help him understand the gist."
"...Your Majesty, I am young and have such a big responsibility..."
"I will naturally explain to others. I will also explain to the prince." Zhu Houcong only looked at him, "I value you. I cannot realize all the true aspirations in my heart. Therefore, the future monarchs and ministers of the Ming Dynasty cannot
I forgot my original intention and went astray."
"I pray and listen to the holy instructions!"
"Development is the greatest truth. Wherever the sun and moon shine, there are people of the Ming Dynasty. All nations in the world are united in the culture of the Ming Dynasty. Before the standards of the Ming Dynasty, those who forget about development and progress but indulge in power and position and fight among themselves are the sinners of China.
!”
Zhang Juzheng, who had just turned twenty, finally became a Jinshi and put on the official robe of the Ming Dynasty.
Now, as a new official, he bowed before the emperor.
This is both his king and his teacher.
"I will remember your Majesty's teachings!"
Wherever the sun and moon shine, there are people of the Ming Dynasty. Do all nations in the world admire the culture of the Ming Dynasty and implement the standards of the Ming Dynasty?
It is indeed a long road, so much so that the emperor has to instruct the next generation and even the next generation.
No one dares to bet on the emperor’s true thoughts.
Before this goal, the princes each exerted their strength in the original vassal state. Do they really have no intention of competing for choices?
This is not the first time that he has broken through the ancestral system.