Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 285 Planning Annan

"Dang...dang...dang..."

In September, when the morning bell rang, Zhu Gaoxu had already put on his regular clothes under the service of Guo Yan and the maids.

Feeling the soreness of his eyelids, he couldn't help but say: "Sometimes I find it very difficult to sleep in."

"That's because His Highness handles official duties too late every day." Guo Yan tidied up the corners for Zhu Gaoxu and looked up at him with a smile.

"I have no choice." Zhu Gaoxu sighed: "My father and I still don't have the energy of my grandfather, and there are too many things to take care of, which are much more complicated than the national affairs of my grandfather's time."

"You have some snacks about the National Defense University matters, and occasionally go home to urge your grandfather-in-law to get things done as soon as possible."

Zhu Gaoxu told Guo Yan, and now Guo Yan is the bridge between Zhu Gaoxu and Huaixi Wuxun.

Fortunately, Guo Yan also did a good job. At least in the two months since she arrived, the relationship between Dong Palace and Yan Mansion has improved a lot.

"Let's do it tomorrow. I have invited my aunt and several royal ladies today. If the wind blows by my pillow, the people below will not be so resentful."

Guo Yan has her own things to do, and Zhu Gaoxu is away handling state affairs, so she must communicate well with the nobles and the rear government to prevent conflicts from intensifying.

"Thank you for your hard work." Zhu Gaoxu hugged Guo Yan and squeezed her shoulders, then walked out of Chunhe Hall with a smile.

Watching him leave, the maid next to him who had served him for many years, the current maid of Chunhe Palace, could not help but say: "Your Highness seems to be more confident than before."

"This is not a good thing..." Guo Yan's eyes were a little worried. She just felt that Zhu Gaoxu was a little too confident and arrogant now.

He used to be prepared for danger in times of peace, and he would examine himself three times a day, but now...

"Please invite Governor Fu Rang's wife here later."

Guo Yan told the female officer and stopped looking at Zhu Gaoxu's back.

At the same time, Zhu Gaoxu also attended the morning court at three o'clock and then followed Zhu Di back to Wuying Hall.

After the father and son sat down, Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaoxu, not knowing what to say to him.

Not long after, a memorial was delivered to him. It was a memorial to the Governor's Office of the Sixth Army that had been processed by Zhu Gaoxu. The content was about the abolition of the Shandong Guard Station.

Zhu Di glanced at the contents of the memorial, and then said: "It is easy to abolish the guard offices in Shandong, but how will this be viewed by other governors?"

"As long as enough farmland is provided and the grassroots military households do not get into trouble, it will be enough." Zhu Gaoxu spoke confidently, but in Zhu Di's view, he was a little overconfident.

"If grassroots military households want to get information, they still have to get it through local military attaches. These military attaches have led troops to fight in the local area all year round and have already had their own people."

"You would be a little too confident if you send a troop of soldiers and horses over just to deal with them."

Compared to Guo Yan, Zhu Di was much more direct. After all, he and Zhu Gaoxu had said that it was best not to hide things between them.

As for Zhu Gaoxu's self-confidence, Zhu Di can understand it.

Who has never had this kind of moment? When he raided Naierbuhua, he was even older than Zhu Gaoxu now, and he wished he could raise his chin to the sky.

Fortunately, with Xu's explanation, he gradually regained his composure.

Now it seems that although Zhu Gaoxu is mature in doing things, his character is not good after all.

Zhu Di persuaded him earnestly, but when Zhu Gaoxu heard it, he couldn't tell for a while whether Zhu Di wanted to beat himself up or whether he was really confident.

"Don't be too arrogant as a king." Zhu Di tried to persuade him again, but Zhu Gaoxu heard it clearly now. Zhu Di really felt that he was a little confident.

"Are you confident?" Zhu Gaoxu doubted himself for a moment.

In other words, it's the same as when he replaced his confidence with pride.

"You don't have to deal with government affairs for the time being today. You can visit your old friends when you have nothing to do."

Zhu Di opened his mouth to persuade Zhu Gaoxu, but he did not forget to mention a serious matter: "I want to give your fourth uncle and Fu Rang titles, but I have never had the chance. You just go to Fu Rang to talk about this matter, which can be considered to appease him."

"Yes..." Zhu Gaoxu was still immersed in what Zhu Di said about his overconfidence. After standing up and bowing in return, he walked out of Wuying Palace and took a chariot to the outside of the palace.

Sitting on the chariot, Zhu Gaoxu didn't speak for a long time. It wasn't until he was about to leave the palace that he asked Yishiha who was driving: "Yishiha, do you think I have changed in any way?"

His question came out of the blue, and Yishiha pondered for a moment after hearing it, without answering in a hurry.

It wasn't until the carriage stopped and Zhu Gaoxu was about to transfer to the carriage that he took advantage of the opportunity of support, and then Yi Shiha said:

"Your Highness, it is true that you are not as gentle as before. You are a bit more harsh."

"..." Seeing what Yishuhadu said, Zhu Gaoxu frowned and recalled what he had done in the past few months since he arrived in the capital.

Indeed, since Zhu Yunwen's death, his vigilance in times of peace has become much less intense.

The success of the Battle of Jingnan gave him sufficient confidence, and the position of prince and Zhu Gaochi's retreat to Yunnan also gave him no worries.

Because he grasped Zhu Di's shortcoming that he would not kill his own son, he began to feel confident.

But as Zhu Di said, he might actually be a little more confident.

"Let's go to Jiming Temple."

Zhu Gaoxu changed his whereabouts, and Yishiha did not ask after hearing this, but drove him to Jiming Temple.

As the carriage walks in the capital, especially after leaving the palace, one can see the living conditions of the people.

Their living conditions were the same as before the Battle of Jingnan, with neither improvement nor decline. But for Zhu Gaoxu, this lack of change was the loudest slap in the face.

Doesn't he think that when he is in power, he will achieve much better political achievements than Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunwen, so that the people can live and work in peace and contentment?

But the lives of the people in the capital just under his nose have not changed much. Does he still expect to go further?

What is the difference between him now and Zhu Di who is trapped in the palace city? His eyes are only limited to the capital.

Can he really distinguish and see things far away from the capital?

"Summon Hu Lun to Jiming Temple."

Zhu Gaoxu took a deep breath, and at the same time gave the instructions, he also arrived at Jiming Temple under the escort of chariots and cavalry.

This is where Zhu Di first settled in the capital, and now he lives alone.

Lifting his legs and walking up to Jiming Temple, Zhu Gaoxu successfully saw the familiar figure from behind under the guidance of the little novice monk in the temple.

He was sitting on the futon with his back to himself, counting Buddhist beads in his hands and mumbling something, as if he was reciting scriptures.

Walking up to him, Zhu Gaoxu sat cross-legged on the futon.

The sound sounded, causing Yao Guangxiao to slowly open his eyes.

Seeing that the person coming was Zhu Gaoxu, he was surprised and regained his composure for a moment.

"Your Highness, do you want to see this poor monk for something?"

Yao Guangxiao spoke calmly, and Zhu Gaoxu nodded when he heard the words, and then slowly said: "I became famous when I was young, and now that I have become the prince, I have forgotten it a little bit."

"This is not surprising." Yao Guangxiao understood the reason why Zhu Gaoxu came to Jiming Temple, so he enlightened:

"When King Qin Li Shimin first ascended to the throne, why didn't he forget about himself?"

"It was just an alliance on the Weishui River that made him understand everything, but even in his later years, he still became arrogant and complacent."

As Yao Guangxiao said, Yi Shiha also moved a low table and placed it between the two of them, put on the tea set, and made tea for the two of them.

"Young Master compares me with Tang Taizong, but he thinks highly of me."

Zhu Gaoxu is indeed proud and complacent, but if Li Shimin, Zhu Yuanzhang, and Zhu Di are removed, he thinks he is still incompetent.

What he has more than this group of people is the historical lessons and experiences he brings from later generations.

"What the poor monk wants to say is that throughout the ages, many emperors have been good at pretending. The difference is that some people pretend to be all the way to the end, while some people can't suppress their greed when they get older."

"Some of them pursue immortality, while others pursue carnal desires..."

"What does His Highness's pride and complacency mean in comparison?"

"What you should really be wary of is these things..."

Yao Guangxiao's thoughts were very dark. He felt that all emperors were pretending, but some pretended to the end and some failed.

"I don't seek immortality. As for lust, even if I am greedy for it, it will not affect the world."

Zhu Gaoxu is still confident in himself. He doesn't believe in immortality at all. At most, he is greedy for some beauty, but he will never do anything sinful to the world for a woman.

When necessary, he could even give up Guo Yan, let alone other women.

"If so, that is the most terrifying thing."

Yao Guangxiao spoke calmly, and Zhu Gaoxu frowned slightly: "If you don't harm the world with a woman for the sake of longevity, what's the horror?"

"If you don't seek longevity and beauty, you will pursue power and merit." Yao Guangxiao spoke slowly, eliciting his views on Zhu Gaoxu.

After saying these words, even Yi Shiha, who was pouring tea, paused his hand movements.

This movement was very small, but it was noticed by Zhu Gaoxu.

It is true that his steps are indeed a bit big now. He is dredging the Yellow River and canals, sailing to the West, dismantling guard posts, immigrating millions, and inspecting taxation...

Just one of these things could keep a mediocre king busy for several years, but he arranged all of them in less than four months after taking the throne.

Isn't his behavior a sign of great joy?

"Young Master, do you think these things shouldn't be done?"

Zhu Gaoxu picked up the tea cup, took a sip after thinking deeply.

"Actually, Your Highness has a scale in his mind. Whether these things should be done, how they should be done, and when they should be done, you know better than the poor monk."

After all, Yao Guangxiao met Zhu Gaoxu for the second time. It was impossible for him to tell everything sincerely. He could only guide.

"Your Highness's current situation is not very good..."

Yao Guangxiao looked at Zhu Gaoxu, who lowered his eyes and was thinking, and slowly said:

"It is a good thing to dredge the Yellow River, but the voyages to the West, millions of immigrants, and tax pickets all offended people, not to mention the abolition of guard posts and the reduction of troops."

"Since you entered the capital, except for wooing Huaixi Wuxun, you have been making enemies all the time, and there are enough enemies right now."

"Two months ago, His Majesty helped you to ease the relationship between the officials of the six Jiangdong prefectures, but now it seems that you have offended others again."

At this point, Yao Guangxiao stopped talking because he knew that if Zhu Gaoxu didn't know what mistake he had made, then there would be no need for them to continue talking.

"Which thing should I stop first?" Zhu Gaoxu knew very well that he should stop some things, but the things he was doing were very important. If he stopped now, it would be difficult to do it later.

"Things have priorities. Even Emperor Gao couldn't accomplish some things. Your Highness is still young, so why bother?"

Yao Guangxiao's words blurted out, and Zhu Gaoxu understood what he was talking about.

The Zhili tax inspection did uncover a lot of things and people, but it also offended a lot of people.

Zhu Di did help ease the relationship between Zhu Gaoxu and the officials of the Sixth Jiangdong Prefecture, but this does not mean that the officials of the Sixth Jiangdong Prefecture do not hold grudges.

Zhu Gaoxu thought that he could win the hearts of Jiangnan people by deducting 7 million yuan in banknotes from taxes. Little did he know that this group of people did not appreciate it at all. Fighting for favor and rising for revenge was their portrayal.

"I understand, is there anything else?"

He nodded in agreement and looked at Yao Guangxiao's face, but saw Yao Guangxiao shaking his head lightly: "For the rest, even if the poor monk said it, Your Highness will not stop."

"Your Highness just needs to remember that you are still young and can take your time. Haste makes waste."

"I have learned a lesson." Hearing Yao Guangxiao say this, Zhu Gaoxu knew that he wanted to talk about Western affairs, but Zhu Gaoxu could not stop Western affairs at any time, so Yao Guangxiao said that even if he did, he would not Stop.

Standing up slowly, Zhu Gaoxu bowed to Yao Guangxiao and then walked out of Jiming Temple.

Beside the carriage outside the temple, Hu Lun, who had been summoned, had been waiting for a long time. When he saw Zhu Gaoxu appear, he immediately greeted him.

"Your Highness, things in Shandong have already taken shape."

"Tell me in the car."

Zhu Gaoxu interrupted Hu Lun's words, pulled him into the carriage, and said to Yi Shiha: "Go to Fu Mansion."

"Yes..." Yishiha responded and started to drive.

Not long after, when the carriage started moving, Zhu Gaoxu turned his attention to Hu Lun.

When Hu Lun saw this, he bowed and said: "Based on our visual inspection of the situation in various places, the Confucius Mansion and his relatives own millions of acres of land."

The Kong Mansion, this "political correctness" that Zhu Gaoxu disliked at the beginning, has now become the biggest obstacle to Qingzhang Tianmu in Shandong.

In the first year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang gave the Confucius Mansion two thousand hectares of sacrificial land, and the income was used to commemorate Confucius and the salaries of the four clan officials.

In addition, the imperial court also added the Confucius School Land, which is the land to which the Kong Family School belongs, on the basis of the previous generation.

Neither the Confucian sacrificial fields nor the academic fields paid taxes to the court, and the descendants of the Confucius family were also exempted from corvee service. Only private fields were required to pay taxes according to regulations.

But in fact, even if the land was privately owned, the court often granted exemptions and paid only a small amount of taxes and grain.

In addition, the Confucius Mansion also has a tax privilege, which is the market set up by Confucius's temples, academies and sacrificial farms. The Confucius Mansion has the right to collect taxes.

The power of the Confucius Mansion not only stayed in Shandong, but also owned a large number of fields in Henan, Zhili, and Peiping.

The measurement of land in the Ming Dynasty was confusing, so on paper the Confucian government owned millions of acres of land, but in fact it owned more than the amount on paper.

If the evidence of the crime can be seized and the Confucius family and other wealthy gentry families close to him can be brought down in one fell swoop, then the situation in Shandong can be improved.

Originally, Zhu Gaoxu was planning to use Jianwen and his ministers to bring down the Confucian government in the north and south, but he searched carefully and found that whether they were officials from the north or south, their crimes were not enough to implicate the entire Confucian government.

So two months ago, he asked Hu Lun to visit the site and investigate the situation in the Kong Mansion.

"Is there anything fatal?"

"No……"

Zhu Gaoxu asked, but Hu Lun shook his head in embarrassment.

"It's not your fault. It was Emperor Gao and the common people who gave Confucius too much land."

"But you don't need to be discouraged. As long as you stop granting land, they will always show their flaws if they want to annex the land."

Zhu Gaoxu comforted Hu Lun and said to him at the same time: "How many people are there in your Xichang now?"

"Including the minister himself, there are a total of 3,672 people." Hu Lun answered without thinking. After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu thought of what Yao Guangxiao said just now.

"Just leave some people in the Kong Mansion to investigate. The others will change direction and mainly investigate the smuggling along the coast for me to see how many people are involved in the smuggling."

Yao Guangxiao said that the voyage to the West was something that needed to be stopped, but Zhu Gaoxu could not stop it.

In this case, he had to understand why the voyage to the West needed to be stopped.

Smuggling happens in both north and south.

Salt and iron are smuggled in the north, and all kinds of materials are smuggled in the south. From brown sugar alone, the profit from going to Japan can reach 100,000 guan every year, not to mention other silks, satin, and iron materials.

The best iron material used in forging swords in Japan is the iron material produced in Qilu, Fujian and Guangdong and other places in the Ming Dynasty.

The smuggling of these goods is very profitable, enough to support a profit chain.

Take this opportunity to take advantage of a group of people.

"I'm going to give Yi Shi Ha Tiao 200,000 guan to you, and you can use it yourself, but you can find a way to deliver what I want."

"Your Highness, don't worry!"

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu say this, Hu Lun also bowed in agreement.

However, after he agreed, Zhu Gaoxu still reminded him: "If you check these things, someone will definitely hinder the bribery. As long as you keep your heart, I will give you what I should give you."

"I'm scared. Your Highness has given me everything today, and I will never give up a great future for petty gains!"

Zhu Gaoxu's words made Hu Lun bow quickly to show his loyalty. He knew very well that Zhu Gaoxu could not deal with all the officials in the world, but Zhu Gaoxu could deal with him, and that was enough.

What's more, Zhu Gaoxu is only twenty-one years old now and is very strong.

Not to mention getting rid of those civil servants, even getting rid of Hu Lun was not a problem. Why should he be greedy for those petty profits?

"As long as you understand."

Zhu Gaoxu said lightly, and at the same time the carriage arrived at the door of Fu's mansion.

After getting off the carriage, Zhu Gaoxu took a look at the place where the plaque "Ying Guogong's Mansion" was hung. Now there was "Fu Zuo Governor's Mansion" hanging there.

"Your Majesty Fu Rang, I sincerely welcome His Highness to your presence. Your Highness is a thousand years old..."

Fu Rang had long waited for Zhu Gaoxu's arrival with his wife and daughter. His wife was the daughter of the chieftain of Si'en Mansion whom he married during the Guangxi campaign, and had already given birth to a daughter for him, who was still in her infancy and not yet a year old.

"Go in, I have something to tell you."

Zhu Gaoxu motioned for Fu Rang to follow him and led the way into Fu's mansion.

Coming here made Zhu Gaoxu think of the past and Fu Youde.

As he sat at the main seat in the main hall, he had not yet come out of his memories. It was not until Fu Rang sat down and asked someone to prepare the meal that he came back to his senses and looked at Fu Rang.

"I said that Duke Ying's position is reserved for you."

"How am I qualified now..."

Zhu Gaoxu spoke, but Fu Rang smiled bitterly. He did not think that after the Battle of Jingnan, he would get the title of a duke without making any achievements.

Facing his wry smile, Zhu Gaoxu suddenly asked: "When you returned to Guangxi, didn't you find that the chieftains in southwest Guangxi and southeast Yunnan were acting against the imperial court?"

"Of course." When it came to business, Fu Rang also returned to his normal demeanor, frowning and said: "These chieftains are disrespectful to the imperial court all the time because they are supported by Lord Hu of Annan."

Fu Rang pointed out the main reason for the unrest among the Annan chieftains in the southwest. This sounds a bit fanciful, but it is something that has existed since the end of the Tang Dynasty to the present.

Annan had long manipulated the chieftains to be disrespectful to the court, and even the Chief Envoy of Guangxi sometimes had to consider his relationship with Annan.

The original rebellion of Ningyuan Chieftain Dao Bailan and Guangnan Chieftain Nong Zhenyou lasted so long because of Annan's support.

Regarding Annan, Zhu Gaoxu always had the idea of ​​​​recovering it. After all, if he mastered Annan, he would master the bridgehead into Nanyang.

Starting from Qingyuan in the south of Annan, you can directly reach Wanli Shitang, go to Luzon and Bani, and even go to Siam and Palembang in the south along the coast.

In Zhu Gaoxu's opinion, such an evil neighbor who was restless but of great value should have been killed.

The reason why he wanted to sail to the East first and then to the West was to obtain long-term benefits from the East first, and then take the opportunity to kill Annan and build a bridgehead to South Asia.

I came to Fu Rang just to give Fu Rang a chance to make a difference.

Not only him, but also Wang Xuan, Yang Zhan, Zhang Chun and others.

"You want to take action against Annan?"

Fu Rang was not stupid. When he was guided by Zhu Gaoxu to tell Annan, he knew what Zhu Gaoxu was thinking.

"When we go to the West, we must capture Annan." Zhu Gaoxu said, "I am going to let you do it for Annan."

"The climate in the south is different from that in the north. The Shenji Camp and the Eight Jurchen Guards can't stand it." Fu Rang has been in Beijing for a month and a half, so he naturally knows how powerful the Shenji Camp and the Eight Jurchen Guards are.

But the problem is that Shenjiying and the Jurchen Eight Guards have never been to Guangxi, and they will definitely not be able to adapt to the climate in Guangxi.

"So I am going to transfer a batch of firearms to you, and you will take them to Guangxi for military training."

Zhu Gaoxu answered without thinking and asked Fu Rang: "How many soldiers and horses do you need to ensure that you can regain Annan and secure the territory?"

After he asked, Fu Rang did not answer immediately, but gave the answer after thinking for a while.

"If there are enough field artillery and siege artillery, and the navy can cooperate, at least 50,000 people will be needed on the ground, and there will also be 100,000 civilians and enough horse boats to transport food and grass."

"I can give you all these!" Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said: "It will take a year to sail to the East, so I estimate that the time to attack Annan will be in the winter of the second year of Yongle."

"You can decide exactly how to send troops, which route to take, and what slogans to use."

Looking at Zhu Gaoxu's eyes, Fu Rang knew that this was his best opportunity to restore his family to the nobility, and he would not let go of this opportunity.

He stood up slowly and saluted Zhu Gaoxu in a neither humble nor overbearing manner:

"My lord, I will fulfill my mission!"

　"Records of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty": "In the ninth month of the ninth month, Governor Fu Rang went to Shu Annan to instigate local officials and disrupt our country's affairs. He sent the Ministry of Rites to rebuke Annan."

　　"Records of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty": "On Bingzi in the ninth month, the emperor said to the prince: "Don't be arrogant." The prince then reflected on himself and was very happy to hear it."

　　

　

(End of this chapter)