Early Ming Dynasty: Turning Clouds and Rains into New Learning Saints

Chapter 184 Miracle
As soon as they met, without waiting for Zhu Yuanzhang to ask questions, Zhu Biao said to Zhu Yuanzhang with a joyful expression: "Father, it's a miracle. Xiangshan County is a miracle!"

As he spoke, he quickly instructed the chamberlain who was following behind him to bring up the stack of manuscripts he was holding.

At the same time, he explained to Zhu Yuanzhang: "This is what I saw and heard every day after I arrived in Xiangshan County. I asked my father to take a look!"

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he was very happy to see the thick pile. However, before he could speak, Zhu Biao continued: "Father, the achievements of Xiangshan County are better than what I heard in the capital before I went there." The rumors are really worse! It’s really eye-opening that Xiangshan County has become so prosperous!”

At this time, the large stack of manuscripts had been delivered to the imperial case in front of Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang was already smiling and said to Zhu Biao: "Okay, okay, let me take a look first. You are tired from the journey and it is really hard. Go back first." have a rest!"

Zhu Biao was stunned when he heard this. His father actually said that he should go to rest?How long has it been since I heard this?

He was surprised for a moment, and he immediately shook his head and said: "Father, I am not tired, I will just wait. Father must have many questions to ask you."

Seeing that his son was so excited and couldn't wait to share what he saw and heard in Xiangshan County with him, Zhu Yuanzhang finally couldn't bear it anymore and immediately ordered the eunuch on duty beside him: "Bring a comfortable chair for the prince to sit on." Yes, please prepare some pastries and tea."

Then, he picked up the manuscripts written by Zhu Biao and read them.

It was rare for Zhu Biao to not have to stand in front of his father but to sit and eat at the same time. He was very happy about this.

However, Zhu Biao did not eat, he just sat and looked at his father's face.

Sure enough, Zhu Biao found that his father's face showed surprise, surprise, disbelief and other expressions.

He knew that his father would definitely be shocked when he knew the true achievements of Xiangshan County.

In fact, Zhu Biao felt that no matter how shocked his father was, it would never be as shocking as him.

Especially when he compared what he saw on the way to Xiangshan County and what he saw after arriving in Xiangshan County, he could immediately feel the huge gap.

One in the sky and one on the earth, that's how it feels!
After Zhu Yuanzhang finished reading the first manuscript, he immediately reached out and picked up the second manuscript to read, without asking Zhu Biao anything.

After reading the second copy, he couldn't wait to pick up the third manuscript to read. In short, he read them one after another without any pause.

Occasionally, he would go back to the manuscripts he had read before, check something out, and then go back to continue reading.

That's it, I don't know how much time passed before Zhu Yuanzhang finally read all the manuscripts written by Zhu Biao.

After putting down the last manuscript, Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head, looked at Zhu Biao with an expression of great surprise, and confirmed: "These are not exaggerated, right?"

Zhu Biao laughed when he heard it, but his father still found it unbelievable!

So, he immediately stood up and replied to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, there is absolutely no exaggeration, everything is stated truthfully. Song, Fang and others accompanied him, and they also witnessed the miracle of Xiangshan County!"

Of course Zhu Yuanzhang believed in Zhu Biao, so after hearing this, he immediately said with a smile: "You used miracles again and again to describe it, which made me want to go and see the situation in Xiangshan County with my own eyes!"

According to Zhu Biao's description, the people in Xiangshan County have no worries about food and clothing, have a stable place to live, and are even literate. Everyone can know some words. What is this? This is the world of great harmony!If other places in the Ming Dynasty could be like Xiangshan County, then this Hongwu rule would be able to beat any prosperous era in history, right?
Of course, it sounds simple. As a founding emperor, he has experienced troubled times where people died of hunger everywhere. He knows how difficult it is just to make the people have enough food and clothing!
Zhu Yuanzhang knew the foundation of Xiangshan County.It was originally selected for Zhang Yifan to toss around because it was remote and poor enough, so it would be fine for him to do whatever he wanted.

As a result, Zhang Yifan just spent a little more than a year to change Xiangshan County to the human world.

Thinking about this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He originally thought that this boy had a hairless mouth and was probably unreliable in doing things. He was okay with his ideas, but if he really wanted to do things, he would definitely be blinded.

Unexpectedly, everything in Xiangshan County proved that I had underestimated him!
Thinking about this, Zhu Yuanzhang was not unhappy because he underestimated Zhang Yifan. Instead, he said with a smile: "The annual income of an ordinary low-level county government does not mean the 100 million yuan he said next year. It is just that he can earn 20 million yuan this year." The fact that there are 20 yuan is enough to prove that everything he did in Xiangshan County is right! Moreover, the population is so large that it is more than [-], which is unimaginable!"

According to historical records, during the Hongwu period, there were 18865 households in Fenghua County, Zhejiang, and only 17812 people in Xiangshan County, not the number of households.In comparison, a Xiangshan county can really beat a province in Zhejiang.

When Zhu Biao heard this, he immediately replied: "Father, the law of public distribution of grain fields in Yifan is really very good. Not only will there no longer be hidden fields, but there will no longer be hidden households in the county, and there will even be no hidden households in the county." Even the hermits who fled into the mountains and forests took the initiative to come back and register. I have visited among the people. This grain field is distributed to the public, which is very popular among the people."

After a pause, he said with a little excitement: "I have discussed this matter with Yifan, and Yifan believes that if this method of allocating grain fields to the public is to be implemented throughout the world, there will be no exceptions. The grain fields of meritorious service and so on must also be handled in this way, otherwise the land will be annexed, hidden fields and hidden households will inevitably reappear, and this method of allocating grain fields to the public will eventually become invalid with the passage of time."

"Grain fields are the cornerstone of a dynasty's stability. Problems and turmoil in every dynasty started when the people didn't have enough to eat. And the lack of enough food started with land annexation, and taxation would be unfair and further lead to land annexation. Therefore, it is necessary to To ensure that people have food to eat, we must implement the law of public distribution of grain fields."

Because before Zhu Yuanzhang, there were actually rewards for meritorious officials. Therefore, when Zhang Yifan talked about this matter with Zhu Biao, he specially emphasized this point, which attracted Zhu Biao's approval. At this time, Zhu Biao emphasized again. .

"Father, the law of allocating grain fields to the public will definitely make those who currently own a large number of private fields unhappy. However, it must be implemented fairly and no special exceptions can be made." Zhu Biao continued, "However, father The emperor can compensate those who have made meritorious deeds. For example, when setting up government merchants to do some profitable business like Xiangshan County, allowing meritorious deeds to invest money, or granting them shares, the advantage is..."

In those manuscripts, Zhu Biao mainly listed Xiangshan County's achievements and some ideas that could be put on the table.

There were some things that were definitely not easy to write down on paper, so it was up to him to communicate with his father in person.

At this time, he explained to Zhu Yuanzhang what Zhang Yifan said about common interests using practical and feasible operating methods.

Grain fields are used to pass on to children and grandchildren, and shares can also be passed on to children and grandchildren.As long as the benefits are great enough and Zhu Yuanzhang holds the butcher's knife in his hand, there is no fear that it will not be implemented.

While Zhu Biao was explaining, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression gradually became serious, and it could be seen that he was thinking seriously.

According to the conclusion his son drew from Xiangshan County, the foundation of the Ming Dynasty must be based on the distribution of grain fields to the public. This was a major matter and related to the long-term issues of the Ming Dynasty, so he took it very seriously.

Since Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, what he has thought about most is the stability of the Zhu family.

There are many short-lived dynasties in history, and it can even be said that dynasties lasting hundreds of years are rare.What he wants is a better dynasty than the one in history, and he is absolutely unwilling to end the Zhu Ming Dynasty after his death.

At this time, after Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Zhu Biao's explanation, he nodded with a serious expression and said: "When you go back, write down all the details of Xiangshan County's implementation of the public distribution of grain fields, and we will discuss it again!"

This matter is of great importance. Although Zhu Yuanzhang is already moved, he is still cautious.

After all, this has never happened before in all dynasties.

Zhu Biao agreed, and then thought of another very important thing that couldn't be written down, so he first scanned the lower hall to see who was there.

Seeing him like this, how could Zhu Yuanzhang not know it, and immediately said to him: "I just dealt with a eunuch who tried to discuss politics, and sent him back to his hometown, never to be used again. If you have anything to say, feel free to say it, don't worry about it. them!"

The eunuch who was dealt with had been with Zhu Yuanzhang for a long time, and he was severely punished. This surprised many people and really shocked the maids and eunuchs in the palace.

After hearing this, Zhu Biao looked at the eunuch on duty. As expected, his face was pale and he lowered his hands, as if he wished he were deaf.

So, he said to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Isn't my father worried that Yifan will be lazy in politics? In fact, the thing is like this..." Although this matter was the trigger for him to go to Xiangshan County to "visit relatives", as soon as he came At that time, we first laid out the achievements of Xiangshan County, and first emphasized the public distribution of grain fields, so this matter was not mentioned.

When he heard him say this, Zhu Yuanzhang really listened attentively.

Perhaps because there were so many achievements in Xiangshan County, Zhu Yuanzhang's face was obviously not as serious as when he sent Zhu Biao there.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang was a little surprised as he listened.In fact, it can be distinguished whether Zhang Yifan's method is considered as Lai Zheng or not.

An obvious difference between lazy and lazy politics is whether the decision-making power of Xiangshan County is still in the hands of the county magistrate.

Zhu Biao explained the situation in detail, including his random checks of various documents. They were all in order and there was nothing wrong with them.

But his purpose was not to focus on this, but for what he said next.

I just heard him say to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, my son thinks that Yifan's approach is actually suitable for the king of a country. This can reduce the emperor's energy and time in dealing with government affairs, and he can spare time..."

Zhu Yuanzhang was a little unhappy when he heard this.Forget it if Yifan does this, his son is the prince, and he actually has this idea. Although it sounds good, if the emperor does not strictly demand himself, if he has this excuse today, he will have a further excuse tomorrow!

Thinking of this, he wanted to reprimand his son for the idea.

As a result, Zhu Biao noticed what his father was saying and immediately knew what his father was thinking. He took the lead and said to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, there is a barrel theory. Have you ever heard of it? It goes like this... "

Sure enough, Zhu Biao found that when he told the barrel theory, his father's expression was obviously a little surprised, as if he had not thought of it before.So, after he hurriedly finished speaking, he said sincerely: "Father, throughout the dynasties and the inheritance of dynasties, there will be many accidents. It is simply unrealistic to ask emperors to comply with the requirement of the longest board; if at the founding of the country, If we set up a rule from the beginning so that the emperors of all dynasties can govern according to the requirement of the shortest plank, then everything else will be fine, and this will make the dynasty last longer."

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent after hearing this. According to his personality, he actually couldn't stand people who didn't try their best. However, he had to admit that what his son said made sense.

After all, history is there, and countless facts have happened, proving that what my son said is right.

If he can be diligent, his son can also be diligent, but he cannot guarantee that his descendants will be diligent in the future.Overly strict requirements will make those unworthy descendants even more self-defeating.They will be more willing to abide by rules that are easy for them to follow.

This is another serious topic related to the longevity of Zhu Ming's empire, and it is one of the foundations of Zhu Ming's empire.

After Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a long time, he looked up at his son and asked, "Then the shortest shortcoming can't be too short, right?"

When Zhu Biao heard this, he immediately replied: "Make rules according to human nature to ensure that it is not difficult to implement the rules, but it can also ensure the stability of the country and the country!"

"Human nature?" Zhu Yuanzhang frowned after hearing this. After thinking for a while, he suddenly asked: "What you said, is it Yifan's fault?"

When Zhu Biao heard this, he shook his head and said: "It was Yifan's revelation to Erchen. What he did in Xiangshan County was good to Erchen. After chatting with him, Erchen took history as a mirror." , thought of these.”

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled happily, nodded and said, "It's good that you can think about these issues by yourself!"

Not only thinking about the present, but also thinking about the future, in Zhu Yuanzhang's opinion, he felt that Zhu Biao was mature and steady.

Of course he was very pleased that his successor performed like this.

Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang's expression, Zhu Biao knew that his father was in a good mood, so he said to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, I am still thinking that the prime ministers of the Ming Dynasty can also refer to the ones in Xiangshan County, and there can be a few more. Prime Minister..."

He carefully told the contents of the conversation with Zhang Yifan alone when he withdrew from the Jin Yiwei commander and others.

In fact, this matter was not what Zhu Yuanzhang told him to do, it was just his own observation.Therefore, I feel a little uneasy when talking about this matter.

He didn't know if his father would think he was being too lenient if he said this!

As a result, after he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang did not get angry. He just leaned back on the dragon chair, closed his eyes, and gently rubbed his forehead with his hands.

Seeing him like this, Zhu Biao knew that his father was thinking about this matter.

So he kept silent, not to disturb Zhu Yuanzhang's thinking.

After a long while, Zhu Yuanzhang opened his eyes, and at the same time moved his back away from the dragon chair, and said to Zhu Biao: "Don't rush this matter now, we will discuss it later. No one else is allowed to be exposed except you."

"I understand!" Zhu Biao was overjoyed when he heard this, and quickly agreed.

He knew that his father was really considering this proposal.

So, Zhu Biao started to talk about the next important topic, mainly related to education for all.

Zhu Yuanzhang originally valued education and was worried about talents. When he heard this topic, he was naturally very concerned.

Universal education, talent doubling, innovation, national strength, etc., all of these are actually related.

Zhu Biao talked eloquently based on what he saw and heard in Xiangshan County, and even talked about what he saw and heard at the Qianhu Office in Xiangshan County. Finally, he said to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, although it is difficult for the whole people to be literate, our children and ministers can sum up what we have learned." I think it is still necessary to spend this manpower and material resources!"

Zhu Yuanzhang listened, nodded, then shook his head and said: "I also know the benefits of universal literacy, but you have also seen the results of the previous imperial examinations. There are no available talents among the people. If we want to implement universal literacy on this basis, , It’s really unrealistic. If nothing else, just getting them all literate is extremely difficult. How can there be so many gentlemen to teach?”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao quickly said: "Father, Yifan has a suggestion, which is to mark the pronunciation of Chinese characters and explain the meaning of Chinese characters. In this way, as long as the people master the pronunciation method, they will be able to read!"

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he immediately became interested and asked immediately: "Oh, please tell me in detail?"

In fact, he has paid attention to this aspect.In the eighth year of Hongwu's reign, he ordered Song Lian and others to standardize Mandarin pronunciation, which was the publication of "Hongwu Zhengyun".

This is a command compilation based on the Nanjing phonetic pronunciation, which removes many pronunciations of dialects, but the flat tone does not distinguish between yin and yang, and establishes 10 rhyme parts, with 31 initial consonants, and retains all voiced sounds, etc.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very dissatisfied with this first edition. In history, he ordered it to be revised several times. Until the 23rd year of Hongwu, he was still not satisfied and wanted to revise it. However, in the end, he may not have enough energy and finally gave up.The version of Hongwu 23 years ago became the final version.

Because he has always paid attention to pronunciation, when he heard Zhu Biao relaying Zhang Yifan's use of pinyin to read characters, he immediately became interested and felt that this was a very useful method.

As a result, after Zhu Biao finished talking about this, he said to him: "As for national literacy, Yifan also told Erchen an interesting story in Xiangshan County, and Erchen thought it was quite interesting."

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(End of this chapter)