Ming Dynasty: He was ordered to give lectures in prison, but Lao Zhu eavesdropped and made people nu

Chapter 413 The Limits of the Empire’s Dominion

In the apartment next door.

Lin Che slowly drank the warm daughter's red wine and asked Zhu Bai, who was frowning, "Have you figured out the answer to the question just now?"

After all, Zhu Bai was too young and had not even read a few history books.

Where can I come up with the answer to such a profound question?

After thinking for a long time and having no idea, he could only lower his head in shame and said: "The student is stupid and hasn't figured out the answer yet. Please give me some advice, sir."

Lin Che's answer to Zhu Bai's raising the white flag was also expected.

He nodded, then tilted his head and looked at Zhu Gui: "Do you know?"

Originally, Lin Che didn't have any hope for Zhu Gui, who was attending the class for the first time, and just asked him out of habit.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Gui nodded and replied: "Sir, students feel that many Han dynasties are orthodox and restricted to their homeland of the Han and Tang Dynasties. The biggest reason is food."

"Don't talk about the distance, let's just say that now all the grain and grass in Jiubian have to be sold in salt, so that salt merchants can transport the grain to the border areas."

"The biggest reason is that the bitter cold in Jiubian makes it impossible to grow food, which also blocks the pace of expanding territory."

After all, Zhu Gui is older than Zhu Bai.

It was actually based on the books I read in the past and the words about the war that I occasionally heard in the university hall.

After piecing together an answer that seemed correct.

"Okay, you have a very broad vision, you can actually think of this."

Lin Che glanced at Zhu Gui in surprise.

He originally thought that Zhu Gui, who was here for the first time to attend a class, was just here to make fun of himself.

I didn't expect this kid to be able to consider the issue of food and grass in such a short period of time.

Lin Che nodded: "Food and grass do determine how far the imperial army can attack the outside world. It also determines the size of our Ming Dynasty's territory in a certain way."

"However, the most fundamental reason is actually the roads. To be precise, it should be the traffic problem."

Zhu Gui did not expect that the answer he came up with would actually receive approval and praise from Lin Che.

He, who originally only came to play with Zhu Bai, suddenly became interested in listening to the class.

He quickly asked: "Sir, why is the empire's expansion related to transportation?"

In Zhu Gui's view, fighting a war requires strong soldiers and horses, excellent weapons and armor, and sufficient food and grass.

No matter how you calculate it, it has nothing to do with walking.

"There is such a theory called the limit of the empire's territory."

Lin Che dipped her hands into some wine and drew a map of the territory of the Ming Dynasty on the table.

Then he marked Yingtian's location: "Usually, you want to bring a place under the control of the imperial court."

“The imperial troops and horses must arrive here within a month.

As Lin Che spoke, she drew a horizontal line from Yingtian to the north on the simple map drawn with wine.

He smiled and said, "It's just like, starting from Yingtian and heading to Shanhaiguan, it has just been twenty-nine days."

"So the land within the pass can be firmly controlled by the imperial court."

"On the opposite side is the Mobei Grassland. I don't know how many times it has been defeated since ancient times."

"But even the elite troops of the imperial court can reach their hinterland within a month, so there are always situations where they surrender and then rebel again."

Zhu Bai, who had been thinking about it for a long time and couldn't figure it out, heard this novel theory.

His eyes suddenly lit up and he said: "Sir, I understand what you mean."

"You mean, as long as I'm an elite warrior, I can reach the place within a month."

"This place will abide by the laws of the imperial court, pay taxes on time and obey labor services."

"Places outside this one-month range are basically governed by local people."

"Not only will they not be able to pay taxes, but the court will also have to issue rewards regularly. Just ask them not to rebel and cause trouble?"

A very simple account. Today, it should be said that the world is the richest place in the world.

It is now the Ming Dynasty.

The nooks and crannies nearby are all poor and scumbag existences.

Otherwise, the expansion of territory has been a supreme achievement since ancient times.

I'm afraid there will never be an emperor who would fight such a money-losing battle.

But this kind of war was basically fought only once during the founding of the People's Republic of China.

If we fight again later, the court will not be able to afford the loss.

Therefore, they would rather give rewards and appeasement than rebel in places outside the military deterrence of the imperial court.

Because once the imperial army sets off, it will take more than a month.

Even if you lose, you won't lose. The main reason is that military spending will skyrocket.

Coupled with the grievances of the soldiers who have been traveling for a long time, the rebels on the border will definitely be strangled.

It is difficult not to hurt innocent people, and it will also make it more difficult for the court to control this place.

"You are right. Whether it is outside the customs or in southern Xinjiang, they are both bitter and cold places."

"If the imperial court spent the money to beat them once, if they were rewarded according to the reward, they would not be able to pay them back in a hundred years."

Lin Che praised Zhu Bai's ability to make connections.

Then on the simple map, some curves were drawn to replace the rivers: "When the army goes on an expedition, there are places where ships can pass. Even if the boat ride takes a longer time, the soldiers will not be very tired, and the consumption of food and grass will not be great. .”

"But if we simply take the land route, not only will the speed of the soldiers gradually decrease."

"If you transport ten stones of grain and grass to an area that exceeds one month, the civilians who transport it will have to eat 99% of it."

When the Central Plains Dynasty expanded beyond the Han Dynasty.

The biggest worry is never whether you can beat the enemy.

It’s about how far the military rations can be sent.

However, due to the extremely poor transportation conditions in ancient times, transporting grain was extremely expensive.

Many times, the territory outside the Great Wall was captured.

In the end, these lands will have to be spit out due to loss of grain and grass transportation.

Zhu Gui, who began to listen to the lecture seriously, enjoyed the feeling of talking on paper.

The problem of food and grass consumption that killed Lin Che made him dumbfounded.

I couldn't help but exclaimed: "Sir, according to your opinion, wouldn't it mean that the Ming Dynasty can only be restricted to the traditional Han Dynasty like many previous dynasties?"

If this is the case, why is Mobei so big now in Ming Dynasty?

What way to explore the Japanese country?

Just retreat to your homeland and engage in defensive counterattacks.

The military expenditure saved can also make people's lives easier.

"Hahaha, if you have seen the maps of past dynasties."

"You should be able to clearly understand that the so-called Han Dynasty is actually different in every era."

Lin Che was so amused by Zhu Bai's words that she couldn't stop laughing.

He took out a few pieces of paper, with dragons and phoenixes dancing on them, and sketched a map.

Then he laid it flat on the table and compared it and explained: "You can take a look. During the Han Dynasty, although the south was also ruled by the Han family,"

"But these places have not been developed, and the number of Han people is not very large. They can only be regarded as places of bondage."

"And after the Jin Dynasty's Yiguan crossing to the south, coupled with the development of the Tang Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty, it was impossible to escape."

"The south has been greatly developed and has become a real grain-producing and tax-paying area. It is completely controlled by the Central Plains Dynasty!"

(End of this chapter)