Jingming

Chapter 450 Do all the bad things

Zhu Houcong was mentally prepared: in his hands, "all the bad things" would be done.

After Tang Shunzhi's "provocation", he found that his quality was still too high.

Before the official start of the major national policy meeting, Zhu Houcong came to Fengxian Hall.

Standing in front of Zhu Yuanzhang's portrait and the divine master, Zhu Houcong looked at them quietly.

What do I want?
It is the future of China.

It is the mountains and rivers that are forever solid and protected from external invasion.It is for the people to live in peace and enjoy prosperity.

"Your Majesty, Taizu, will probably laugh at my indecisiveness, right?"

Zhu Houcong smiled.

Even in modern times hundreds of years later, when faced with superpowers, other small countries can only bow their heads and lower their eyebrows.When you say that we all want to develop together, people feel that you are not practical and that you are just talking.

Classes have always existed, and hierarchy has never disappeared. The secret ideal in Zhu Houcong's heart is only on the road of difficult exploration hundreds of years later.

Now, he is just the largest agricultural capitalist and the monarch of the most powerful empire on the planet.

"Forefathers and clans are above us, and I have left you here. I will let future generations comment on my merits and demerits."

Zhu Houcong saluted and turned to go to the National Policy Hall.

Naturally, things could not go as smoothly as Tang Shunzhi said.

In the Ming Dynasty, people were oppressed by their own people, so how could there be no oppression in foreign vassals?
If we really wanted to eradicate the most powerful group of people over there, wouldn't they hide in the mountains and forests to carry out guerrilla resistance?
Once this step is started, the investment in war and security will be a long-term blood pump.

But Tang Shunzhi was right about one thing.

If Zhu Houcong does not do some things himself, he cannot expect his descendants to have the ambition and ability to do them in the future.

He is kind and moral to his surroundings, and Western powers will probably develop in the future.They come from the west and from the east, but they are not kind to the neighbors around the Ming Dynasty.

Times are changing, and the so-called Great Wall on land and sea is nothing more than a mere fiction if it is not heavily guarded and well mobilized.

It's just that the territory is too vast, and it can't be taken seriously as just drawing the blood of Ming Dynasty.

To allow them to make their own blood, and to truly become brothers and allies of the Ming Dynasty, in an era like today, top-level design must be done.

Outside the National Policy Hall, there were many ministers.

Naturally, some etiquette is required for major national policy meetings. The emperor ascends to his seat, is met by all ministers, and then enters the palace, takes his seat, and discusses matters.

Zhang Bi is still in charge today, and he will step down next month.

"91 members should be present at the major national policy meeting, except Prime Minister Hedao Yamen..."

Zhang Bi reported to the emperor some people who were absent.

In a normal national policy meeting, the number of people is only less than half.However, the total number of people in the major national policy conferences, provincial governors, Zuobu envoys, and other newly established key departments was much larger.

Sitting in the National Policy Hall at this moment is the absolute core of power of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Bi only presided over the process, and the one who really led the meeting was naturally the emperor.

"This year's major national policy meeting is different from the past." Zhu Houcong stood high on the throne and looked around at the ministers. "Tai Shigong compiled the annals of history. Since the first year of the Republic of China, China has had a history every year. This year is the 380th year. It has been 170 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and I have been in power for more than [-] years. The Ming Dynasty has a completely new look. At this time, I have a great cause that has been carried out for decades in my heart, and it is time for the monarch and my ministers to discuss it."

Everyone knows in their hearts that His Majesty wants to say "the world is unified".

"Previously, the longest-reigning emperor was Liu Che of the Han Dynasty, who lived for 54 years. Today, foreigners call our Chinese people Han people, which is due to the great power of the Han Dynasty. Since the Han and Tang Dynasties, China's territory has changed from generation to generation, and our national power has continued to rise and fall. . However, if we look through the annals of history, there is no dynasty that lasts for thousands of generations, so why? We don’t know what a country is, we only know whose family it is.”

Before Kangxi and Qianlong, the longest reigning emperor was Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.He was emperor for 54 years, but he did not fully take power until the death of Empress Dowager Dou, who had been on the throne for more than six years.

Based on this calculation, Zhu Houcong's "remaining time" does not count.

Yang Shen was very serious and didn't know why the emperor mentioned Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.The emperor, who was famous for his martial arts skills, beat the treasury of the Han Dynasty to the point of suffocation, which made Yang Shen feel bad.

Although they are already discussing how to attack Japan, isn't the overall purpose of foreign vassals not to use diplomatic relations at the same time?
Zhu Houcong continued to elaborate on his main theme: "Whoever has a kingdom has only the monarch and his ministers. When it comes to all the people, they are also accustomed to looking at the people's strength. Recuperating and recuperating is to build up the people's strength. If there are no internal and external troubles, the people's strength will be used to support the emperor and his ministers. If there are internal troubles and foreign troubles, Then we use the power of the people to quell the chaos and defend the enemy. I believe that because of this, there has never been a stable dynasty, the country has been overturned repeatedly, and the country has been destroyed several times. But if we really want to talk about the country, it is different."

The two accompanying bachelors from the imperial study room were also present, and Hu Zongxian and Shen Lian each took notes.

This is not only a daily note, but also the minutes of a major national policy meeting.

"A country refers to its territory, its people, and its political power. The people living on a territory support and trust the political power to protect their peace and stability. This is a stable country. The aspirations of the people of a country are the political power. A solid foundation. The monarch wins the hearts of the people, delegates authority and appoints hundreds of officials to assist. This political power is only a corner of the country. It is only one corner, top-heavy, how can it not worry about overthrowing?"

Zhu Houcong paused for a moment, and then said solemnly: "Now, the country is called Ming. What is the name of the country? I think that the main purpose should be stated so that future generations of the Ming Dynasty, monarchs, ministers and people all know what the country is. Where did this country come from and why? And established? China comes from ancient times, so it should have the name of China, and this is the surname. The purpose of establishing a country is to protect the land and stabilize the people, so it should have the word "people". I carry the Tianxian in my mouth. This Tianxian is given by the way of heaven. The end of the avenue of heaven is also the end of the avenue of human reason. , The civil constitution is the natural constitution! I am in charge of the political power, and only by aiming at the unity of the world can the country be prosperous and long-lasting."

"Just like people have surnames, names, characters, and titles. Today, the imperial edict is issued to the ministers, and next year the imperial edict is issued to the world. The Chinese surname is Zhonghua, and the name is People. The full name of the Imperial Constitution is the Ming Dynasty, which is referred to as China. If you know the people, you will know where the authority of the monarch and his ministers comes from, who they govern for, and what their goals are. What do you think?"

"……good."

"promise!"

"Your Majesty Shengming..."

It was noisy for a while, with different people responding in different moods and tones, expressing their attitudes.

Some people find it awkward, but some people can figure out the meaning behind it.

All dynasties have had country names, but now the country is officially named, and the surname, first name, and epithet are also emphasized. This may seem like child's play, but it puts some shackles on the emperor and officials, emphasizing historical responsibilities and ambitious goals. , build a country for the people.

Zhu Houcong nodded: "As you all know, at this major national policy meeting, I want to gather the wisdom of your colleagues and formulate the constitution of the country, and the monarch, ministers and people will abide by it. The name I decided on is my opinion. The emperor will abide by the constitution. Articles can stabilize the political power, gain support, and maintain long-term aspirations. Ministers who abide by the Articles of Constitution can protect their wealth, develop their ambitions, and enjoy respect. All people can understand the law and discipline, know what to do, and live in peace by observing the Articles of the Constitution. This Article of the Constitution allows the monarch and his subjects to know Where did China come from and where will it go?”

"The old will die, the strong will be useful, the young will grow, and the widowed, widowed, lonely, disabled, and sick will all be supported. How many years has it been said that the world will be harmonious through the ages? How to get there? If you can get there, you can just let all the people in the world know that the emperor and his ministers are upright. If we lead them there, the people's hearts will be stable and their political power will not be lost. In the constitution, the monarch and his ministers must negotiate something real. In the future, the path of justice for the common good and the efforts to improve people's livelihood will not be damaged because of the foolish monarch and traitorous ministers. , unite the people’s hearts and stabilize the country’s long-term policies.”

After listening to the emperor's plain words about the evil emperor and traitorous ministers, everyone finally felt that the emperor was serious.

It is no joke that the monarch, his subjects, and all the people should obey.

The emperor has really been like this for 20 years, taking the emperor, his ministers and future emperors and ministers together... Zhu Houcong pointed at them: "It has been [-] years since the establishment of the National Policy Conference. It has been Prime Minister and Minister of State for five terms. My determination is known to everyone. The monarch and his ministers should not disappoint the expectations of the people, and prove each other's gains and losses when they are in power. This constitution stipulates the Chinese government system. One of the things that must not be overturned is the national policy conference where all ministers discuss national policies. A good minister is in his position. It is a blessing for the country. It’s a blessing.”

"I have established a national treasury, and the royal family's expenditures have also been fixed. I have established a prime minister and a minister of state to let all the states take charge of state affairs. Although I am the official judge of important matters, I rarely act arbitrarily on matters that are discussed by ministers and recommended by the public. I have delegated power because the process of joint deliberation helps to build consensus and the results of joint discussion are mostly stable. The process of joint recommendation helps to eliminate traitors and the candidates recommended by joint committee are generally in line with public expectations. But when I delegated power, I naturally hope that this power will be used appropriately and in line with the needs of the public. national interest."

He paused and then slowly said: "Struggles for power and gain are naturally inevitable, and it is not impossible. Everyone has selfish motives, and there is no need to avoid them. But everything has pros and cons, gains and losses. Struggles, with vitality, help to select better ones. Result. If you only fight, you will go back to the old way. Therefore, I want to create a unified party in the world. Fight for power, fight within the party, and abide by party discipline; in the process of fighting, you desecrate state duties and harm state affairs, which is a matter of right and wrong. clear."

The State Palace was quiet. Some people who were only eligible to attend the major national policy meeting this year felt the emperor's straightforwardness.

But even for some veterans, the emperor's straightforwardness today was very powerful.

After listening to so much, they finally understood the emperor's overall framework.

"The purpose of the Datong Party must be higher than the Constitution! Within the Datong Party, we should talk about ambition, morality, discipline, and ability. If these things are discussed well within the party, we will all be able to work together on the road of serving the world for the common good. People. Whether you work in the government, work in enterprises, or develop education and culture, you are all making contributions to the country."

Zhu Houcong talked about something that he was familiar with but might be unfamiliar to them, and finally said: "In the past, the emperor relied on the wisdom of the gentry to select hundreds of officials to govern the world. From now on, the emperor will lead the world's comrades who are aspiring to great harmony as his comrades. Party members are all over the government and all walks of life, and we will continue to walk this path together."

At this point, it is clear what constitution he wants to establish, what party he wants to create, and what purpose he wants to establish.

The emperor must have millions or tens of millions of comrades, and the officials in the government system are only part of his vision.

The Constitution will bind the monarch, his subjects, and the people, and that is a lower limit that cannot be exceeded.

The party platform must unite common aspirations, and that is the upper limit of what we hope to achieve.

But there is no doubt that if you cannot become a "companion" recognized by the emperor, then don't think about what position you can hold in the government or how high you can climb.

At the same time, in the subsequent discussions, Zhu Houcong also conveyed another layer of his intention: The constitution and laws cannot be violated, but who can do no wrong?If there are some extenuating mistakes and omissions that still have room for tolerance and correction, they will be punished within the party.But if the problem is huge and goes against the purpose of the party's program, then there really is nothing anyone can do to save it.

It not only gives more leeway, but also draws some clear lines.

In the end, the emperor himself did not shy away from selfishness, so he naturally wanted to do good things for them.In addition to the benefits of fame and status, there are also some material benefits. How can you satisfy them?

Salaries, benefits, and the realization of connections are all needless to say.

Zhu Houcong looked at Tang Shunzhi, and then spoke: "Now there is no need to argue: wealth can be created. A wider territory and more people mean more wealth. We, the Great China, have accumulated culture and education , science and technology for thousands of years, in addition to benefiting the people of the Ming Dynasty and stabilizing the political power, it should also benefit more people in foreign vassals. As long as you get the method, the world is vast, why worry about not being able to enjoy the wealth of the world? "

"The establishment of the constitution, clarifying the purpose of the party program, and establishing the future systems and conventions of the various countries are the three most important things in this major national policy meeting." Zhu Houcong said without doubt, "Since the Ming Dynasty has a new system, the vassal states are still changing orders day by day. How can we protect China’s stable interests when people are dead and government is dead?”

The standards that Ming Dynasty will introduce are not only objective and technological standards, but also humanistic and institutional standards.

It can be said that this is an output of the system, but no one can deny that it is a way to protect one's own interests.

As for whether there will be backlash... Zhu Houcong has put aside these worries.

This is a controversy that he has not seen the final result in his memory. This is beyond his ability. This is a difficult problem that really needs to be solved by future generations.

But in the 24th century that he has redefined, all this is not a problem for the time being.

In this era when most places are still stuck in the real feudal system, even slavery, and primitive society, after Zhu Houcong spent [-] years in the imperial court and paid attention to the improvement of science and technology and productivity and achieved initial results, he set out to identify more advanced and more beneficial A system that further liberates productivity.

Isn’t it a kind of progress to promote more advanced systems?
However, in order to promote it now and protect the interests of Ming Dynasty, some appropriate transformations must be made to have a relatively smooth transition.

That is, there still needs to be a monarch in every place that the people there are familiar with and a monarch that the Ming Dynasty can trust.

The meeting of major national policies will continue to be held in secret for the time being, but the national strength accumulated by the Ming Dynasty for many years and many people of different identities will eventually be stirred up.

Not only Zhu Houcong's own children, but the various vassals in the clan may also have opportunities - there are too many external vassals around the Ming Dynasty that can be enfeoffed.

And how will the merchants and gentry who have first tasted the benefits of the relaxation of business restrictions become restless?

Xia Yan and Tang Shunzhi chatted privately for a long time, and they became more aware of the benefits this would bring to the generals of the Ming Dynasty - although it was not in the Ming Dynasty, how could every foreign vassal country lack a system of Lords?
There are many places to design and many places to prepare in advance.

The people of Ming Dynasty still don’t understand how different the world will be.

The first thing they know is just the simplest thing.

During the Spring Festival of the 20th year of Jiajing, the first issue of this year's "Ming Pao" was published nationwide, and the emperor published his New Year's message in it as usual.

People only know that the country they live in has an official name: the Emperor's Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the Ming Dynasty.

And His Majesty issued an edict to the world: Starting from this year, the year name will be abandoned and it will be called AD [-].

Some people suddenly feel that they are not good at learning.

At the same time, during this Spring Festival, many well-informed people began to talk about something.

It is necessary to find qualified recommenders as soon as possible, write letters of recommendation, and prepare to join the party.

This is His Majesty's ally!

Although the beginning of spring has arrived, the spring cold is still severe.

Next month is the general examination, and candidates who were agitated by last year's continuous bustle finally have to calm down and prepare for the exam.

In the palace, Zhu Houcong hosted a banquet for all the vassals, and the princes were also there.

Looking at the vassal kings, he said calmly: "Taizu has laid down the country, and now I have to prepare for a bigger foundation. Starting this year, I will take the test to compare with the princes of the vassal. Having said that, I have all the virtues, talents, and understanding. Those who are righteous will have the opportunity to entrust various countries as masters in the future."

The words were shocking, and the feudal kings were immediately stunned.

How could such a good thing happen to branches like them?

After Zhu Houcong made up his mind, he felt that his son was still a little smaller and a little younger.

Since it is not enough, then we have to live.

It's still not enough. There are also kings with different surnames in the clan who have made great contributions. What's wrong with that?

The feudal princes were extremely excited, and although it was only the beginning of spring, the harem was filled with spring.

(End of this chapter)