Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 151 leniency
Hall of Spring Harmony.

In the prince's study.

Zhu Gaochi hurriedly bowed and responded: "The prince is wise, I am here indeed for Prince Wu's business."

Zhu Gaoxu stretched out his hand to press Zhu Gaochi's arm, motioned him to sit down, and said lightly: "Brother, this was not the case in the past."

Zhu Gaochi usually had a city that remained unchanged despite the collapse of Mount Tai, but this time he was shocked. How could he still have the aura of a dignified prince?

Hearing the implication of Zhu Gaoxu's words, Zhu Gaochi looked embarrassed and said, "I have lost my composure."

"There are no outsiders in this study at the moment. It's my turn to salute my eldest brother."

After Zhu Gaojiu said this, he immediately stood up and bowed to Zhu Gaochi respectfully: "Gaojiu has met my brother!"

Zhu Gaochi quickly helped Zhu Gaoxu up and said helplessly: "Second brother, it's not because I mean to embarrass you, it's because my father asked me to come!"

Zhu Gaoxu did not answer, but turned around, walked to the desk, and found three memorials from among the many memorials and copywriting piled on the table.

"Brother, please take a look at these three memorials. Two of them are confessions transcribed by Jinyiwei commander Qian Shisai Hazhi, one is Pang Wensheng's confession, the other is the confessions of Mu Su and Hu Xiaoliu, and one is This is Prince Wu’s confession."

Zhu Gaoxu handed these three memorials to Zhu Gaochi and said: "Based on the confessions of Pang Wensheng, Hu Xiaoliu, and Mu Su, as well as the apology letter from Prince Wu, I have every reason to believe that Prince Wu knew The crime of not retaliating is only superficial, and his real intention should be that he hopes that I will be killed by these three people, or that my face will be disfigured."

After hearing these words, Zhu Gaochi suddenly discovered that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was exactly the same as the current Emperor Yongle. They were both accustomed to treating others as imaginary enemies, especially those who threatened them, and they wanted to get rid of them quickly.

Even so, he still had the courage to say: "Second brother, you know that kid Yunzhen. Although he is a bit petty, he is pure in nature, timid and cautious. It is impossible for him to instruct Pang Wensheng to commit treason."

"With all the personal and material evidence, how can you make me believe that he was deceived by Pang Wensheng?" Zhu Gaoxu said expressionlessly.

Zhu Gaochi said with a bitter face: "Second brother, for the sake of my late uncle, will you spare Yunxun this time?"

"Did your father ask you to come to me to intercede for Prince Wu?" Zhu Gaoxu asked without answering.

Zhu Gaochi nodded and said, "Dad knows that you feel bad, but this kid Yun Zhen is also very pitiful and has been deceived by others. Fortunately, he has admitted his mistake and apologized, so dad asked me to persuade you."

"Ha ha."

Zhu Gaoxu sneered first, then pointed at the memorial in Zhu Gaochi's hand and said, "Brother, have you read it carefully?"

"You mean second brother?" Zhu Gaochi said softly.

"Then Pang Wensheng said that I flattered the emperor's grandfather back then, which made the emperor change his mind about appointing cousin Yunwen as his grandson, and chose dad as the heir to the throne. He also said that it was I who secretly instigated his master Zhang Yuan to poison him. Cousin Yunwen is dead."

Zhu Gaoxu said with a stern face: "After hearing this heinous lie, King Wu didn't report to his father immediately. Instead, he wrote a letter of apology only after Mu Su was arrested the next day. Tell me, what has he been doing all day? ?Are you thinking about how to write a confession?"

Facing Zhu Gaoxu's questioning, Zhu Gaochi could only respond silently.

"Cousin Yunwen passed away after a long illness. The servants, maids, and imperial doctors who served him at that time can all testify to this. As for my father succeeding to the throne according to the imperial edict of Grandpa Taizu, the theory that Grandpa changed the successor is purely false!"

Zhu Gaoxu added: "I have no enmity with Pang Wensheng, and I even think highly of him and his teacher Zhang Yuanxuan, but he used such vicious lies to slander me."

He deliberately showed an angry look, stared at Zhu Gaochi and said: "Brother, just imagine, once this vicious rumor spreads, it doesn't matter if my reputation is damaged, but it will definitely affect the reputation of my father!"

The reason why Zhu Gaoxu handed Pang Wensheng and others to Jinyiwei for interrogation was to prevent the lies fabricated by Pang Wensheng from spreading and becoming known to everyone.

Now Jin Yiwei has sent people to arrest people who have had contact with Pang Wensheng, and they are determined to intercept this powerful lie and not let it become a rumor.

"What does the second brother want to do with Yun Zhen?"

Zhu Gaochi felt deeply powerless and asked slowly.

"Although Prince Wu initially knew about it and did not report it, he eventually took the initiative to write a letter to plead guilty and explain the whole story. It cannot be regarded as a serious crime of harboring the conspirators."

Zhu Gaoxu put on a gentle tone and said: "Deposing him as a commoner is too harsh. I intend to give him a lighter punishment and order him to be banned for three years to see the effects."

"Second brother Renyi!"

Zhu Gaochi quickly complimented him, and then said: "As long as we don't depose Yunzhen's title, we'll be grounded for three years, which is considered lenient."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kang Ping's warning sounded outside the study.

"Your Majesty, Prince Shen, please see me."

Zhu Gaochi wisely stood up and bowed: "Second brother, I have to go back to my father, so I'll take my leave first."

"Kamping?"

Zhu Gaoxu helped Zhu Gaochi up and shouted to the door at the same time.

"The servant is here."

Kang Ping immediately pushed the door open and bowed.

Zhu Gaoxu ordered: "Send someone to use my chariot to take His Highness the King of Han off."

"Can't, can't!"

Zhu Gaochi waved his hands hurriedly.

"You are my eldest brother, so naturally!"

Zhu Gaoxu said in a tone that left no room for doubt.

Next, he looked at Kang Ping and asked sternly: "Did you hear that?"

"Slaves take orders!"

Kang Ping bowed.

Later, Zhu Gaoxu supported Zhu Gaochi's right arm and personally sent him out of Chunhe Hall, and met King Shen Zhu Mo at the entrance of the hall.

The three of them greeted each other and exchanged a few words.

After a while, Zhu Gaoxu helped Zhu Gaochi board the chariot, and then together with King Shen Zhu Mo, watched him slowly leave.

"His Royal Highness the King of Han looks sad, but is it because of the victims of the Shandong disaster?"

Zhu Mo followed Zhu Gaoxu to the study room in the palace and asked in a low voice as he walked.

Hearing this question, Zhu Gaoxu silently praised Jin Yiwei's confidentiality work in his heart. It was obvious that Zhu Mo did not know about "Pang Wensheng's murder of the prince".

Currently, the only people who know the details of the case and have seen the confessions of the three Pang Wensheng are Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaochi, except for the Jinyiwei captain who was responsible for recording the confessions and the Jinyiwei commander Qianshi Saihazhi who transcribed the confessions.

As for the people who knew all Pang Wensheng's lies against Zhu Gaoxu, they should also include Wu Commandery Prince Zhu Yunxu, Hu Xiaoliu, and Mu Su.

Zhu Yunzhen is a smart man. He is already behind bars and will not spread Pang Wensheng's story.It is even more impossible for Yongle Emperor Zhu Di and Han King Zhu Gaochi to take the initiative to go to the court and talk about the former imperial doctor Pang Wensheng's intention to assassinate the current prince Zhu Gaoxu.

Pang Wensheng, Hu Xiaoliu, and Mu Su, who were the only ones who might have leaked the core information, were imprisoned in imperial prison and were personally supervised by Jin Yiwei commanding Qian Shisai Hazhi.

"My eldest brother is here because of some personal matters."

Zhu Gaoxu first answered Zhu Mo's question, and then asked: "Uncle, is he here to change his title?"

Zhu Mo has restrained himself a lot since he was trained by Zhu Yuanzhang. Now, in the eyes of outsiders, he has become honest, cheerful, and respectful of the law.

However, Zhu Gaoxu knew that Zhu Mo just hid his competitive nature, and the so-called "honest, peaceful, respectful and respectful" was just an appearance.

"Sure enough, nothing can be hidden from His Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Mo smiled slightly.

Zhu Gaoxu turned sideways slightly, looked at Zhu Mo and said, "Father, I talked to my uncle last time. Could it be that my uncle felt that the "Regulations on the Vassals" were too harsh?"

"That's not true." Zhu Mo replied softly.

During the Hongwu period, Zhu Yuanzhang successively granted vassal status to his twelve sons in the north, establishing vassals to guard the border.

Among them, in the northeastern region, there are Zhu Zhi, King of Liao in Guangning, Zhu Quan, King of Ning in Daning, Zhu Song, King of Han in Kaiyuan, and Zhu Mo, King of Shen in Shenyang.

According to Zhu Yuanzhang's regulations, each palace has a prince's guard and command department, three guards, five thousand households in the left, right, front, and center, and two guards.

Prince Shen Zhu Mo was the 20th son of Zhu Yuanzhang. He was named Prince Shen in the 24th year of Hongwu. In the same year, Prince Shen's Palace was built in Shenyang.

But in August of the 19th year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang set up three guards in Shenyang City: center, left and right.

It can be seen that according to Zhu Yuanzhang's vision, the Ming Dynasty will definitely make further moves in the Northeast region after King Shen and King Han become vassal.

Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu discussed this matter. It was one of the stated goals of Emperor Taizu Gao to bring the areas farther north in Liaodong, that is, the Lingbei territory at the peak of the Yuan Dynasty, under the rule of the Ming Dynasty.

"Allowing the palace officials and three guards to accompany your uncles to found the country is already a great sign of sincerity from the father. Uncle Shen should not have any other ideas."

Zhu Gaoxu said meaningfully.

He deliberately omitted the fact that Zhu Di had specially granted permission to the princes, concubines and relatives of each vassal, and voluntarily accompanied the vassal in the founding of the country, in order to take into account the face of King Shen Zhu Mo.

Historically, Princess Shen's concubine Zhang's family background was not recorded in the "History of the Ming Dynasty" and "Records of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty". It was not until the epitaph of King Shen Zhu Mo was unearthed in later generations that people knew that the Zhang family was the daughter of Zhang Wenjie, the military commander.

And Zhang Wenjie is also unknown, far behind Feng Cheng, the father-in-law of King Zhu Song of Han and nephew of Duke Feng Sheng of Song Dynasty.

Other than that, the royal officials and the three guards of the kings are not much different. They are all large in number and complex in organization.

For example, Shenyang Zhongwei, one of the three guards of King Shen Zhu Mo, had many subordinate agencies and officials.

There are many institutions and subordinate institutions in Shenyang Zhongwei City, such as the Wei Zhi, the Experience Department, the Town and Fu Department, the Left and Right Central and Front Posts, the Ordnance Bureau, the Military Warehouse, the Preparatory Warehouse, the Social Science, the City Post, the Delivery Department, and the Procuratorate. Xingtai, Qianbo Library, Yangtze Yuan, grassland, teaching field, Luze Garden, etc.

At the entrance of Liangfang, southwest of Zhongweicheng in Shenyang, there is a salt farm for [-] households. Ninety miles east of the city, there is a mountain called Anping, and at the foot of the mountain is an iron farm for [-] households.

Moreover, eighty miles to the east of the city, there is a city named Fushun, which was founded in the 17th year of Hongwu's reign. It is surrounded by wonders for three miles, and the pool is one foot deep and two feet wide.

In Fushun City, there are Fushun Preparatory Office, Fushun Qianhu Office, Fushun Office Warehouse, Preparatory Warehouse and Teaching Ground.

The officials of Shenyang Zhongwei have one as a palm commander, one as a military commander, one as a bureau commander, one as an experienced officer, one as a town governor, one as a sociology professor, one as a trainer, one as a yin and yang practitioner, and one as a medical practitioner. Members, left, right, middle, front and back, and one member for each thousand households in Fushun, one for each thousand households in Guantun, one for each hundred households, one hundred households for the salt field, one hundred households for the iron field, one hundred households for the management post, and one hundred households for the delivery One member each for Baihu and Cang ambassadors, one deputy Cang envoy for Fushun, and one ambassador for Ku.

It can be seen from this that when Shen King Zhu Mo led his three guards and subordinate officers to the fiefdom, he would soon be able to build a decent Shen State capital there.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has misunderstood. Although the young king is here to reform the feudal system and found the country, he is not dissatisfied with the policy of reforming the feudal system, but has another reason."

Zhu Mo said respectfully.

Zhu Gaoxu said in surprise: "Oh?"

"Xiao Wang heard what His Highness the Crown Prince said about the 'Guoye system' before. After that, he went back to consult historical materials and carefully studied this system. He felt that he had gained something, so he came here to ask for advice from His Highness."

Zhu Mo bowed.

At this time, Zhu Gaoxu led Zhu Mo into his study.

"Come here, serve tea."

Zhu Gaoxu stretched out his hand to signal Zhu Mo to take a seat.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness."

Zhu Mo thanked him and sat down respectfully.

Zhu Gaoxu casually sat next to Zhu Mo and asked, "Have you thought about how to use the 'State and Wild System'?"

For a dynasty, whether it adopts the hereditary system of enfeoffment or the system of official transfer from counties to counties, the purpose is to maintain rule.

Enfeoffment and counties are two different means of governance. Strictly speaking, there is no superiority or inferiority.

Because the system needs to keep pace with the times. There is no best, only the most appropriate.

The enfeoffment system was not pioneered by the Zhou Dynasty. The reason why scholars will think of the Zhou Dynasty when they mention enfeoffment is because the Zhou Dynasty inherited and developed this system.

In fact, the "Guoye System" that laid the foundation of the Zhou Dynasty was an innovative system of great significance and far-reaching influence.

The country at that time was also called a township, which was a city or a larger residential area at that time.

Generally speaking, the state is the political center and military stronghold of the nobility. It was established by the Zhou royal family in the process of enfeoffing the princes or during the war. It is inhabited by nobles of all sizes and craftsmen and merchants who serve the nobility. People who live in the state are called Guoren. .

Wilderness, also known as Sui, refers to the vast area outside the country. Its area is larger than the country. People who live in the wilderness are called savages.

Therefore, the Guoye system is also called the Xiangsui system.

In this system, the status of Chinese people and savages is very different, and the political treatment of the two is very different. Specifically reflected in the fact that Chinese people need to bear military service, while savages only need to pay tribute, and only those who have the right to serve in the army have Qualifications to participate in the governance of the country.

In other words, the Chinese are the ruling and exploiting class, and the savages are the ruled and exploited class.

"Your Highness, after careful consideration, the young king plans to use the system of the country and the country in this way when establishing the Shen Kingdom in the fiefdom."

Zhu Mo told Zhu Gaoxu his idea.

PS: The Ming Dynasty version of Guoye Zhi will be online soon!
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(End of this chapter)