Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 190 Training Plan for King of the Vassals

"Your Highness, there was the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms in the Han Dynasty and the Rebellion of the Eight Kings in the Jin Dynasty, and these were all turmoil caused by the enfeoffment of princes and kings. Emperor Taizu originally enfeoffed the kings, mainly to allow the kings to control the army in the north and resist the Mongols. The Yuan people's attack prevents the border generals from causing chaos."

Xie Jin said respectfully: "In his later years, Taizu changed the title of kings to establish Zongzhou feudal states overseas. As time went by, when the overseas princes became more powerful, they no longer wanted to accept the constraints of the imperial court and chose to stand on their own. They even counterattacked the imperial court. The turmoil caused by this was only It will be more serious than the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion in the Han Dynasty and the Eight Kings Rebellion in the Jin Dynasty."

"Of course, I also know that this idea is a bit unfounded. It will happen 300 or even 500 years later. However, if we teach the kings how to be kings now, they will develop their national power faster after they establish vassal states. , this is not good for the court."

Xie Jin's meaning is very straightforward.

If the kings are allowed to learn the ways of being kings and the art of emperors, then the vassal states established by the kings in the future will develop very rapidly.

It is very likely that within a few decades, the vassal state would grow into a behemoth.

This is extremely detrimental to the imperial court and will, after all, threaten the imperial court's dominance.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Fang Xiaoru and asked, "Sir, do you still remember how Tang Taizong evaluated the enfeoffment system in "Emperor Fan"?"

Fang Xiaoru did not dare to answer, so he could only accuse: "Go back to your highness, I can't remember clearly."

"The rise of the Zhou Dynasty in the past divided the mountains and rivers and divided the kings and clans. Inside there were the assistants of Jin and Zheng, and outside there were the worries of Lu and Wei. Therefore, Zuo Zuo had a long history, which lasted for hundreds of years. During the period of Qin, Chun Yu's policy was abandoned and Li Si's plan was adopted. Don't kiss him. My dear, you only have wisdom, don’t rely on subversion, and you will die in the second generation. If the branches and leaves are not sparse, the roots will be difficult to pull out; if the bones and limbs are dead, then the close ones will have no one to rely on!"

Zhu Gaoxu had recited "Emperor Fan" and immediately recited what Tang Taizong Li Shimin had said.

"In the early days of the Han Dynasty, Guanzhong was established. Cheng made a mistake in destroying the Qin Dynasty. He widely sealed Yi's relatives, which was too much like the ancient system. In large cases, the capital was dedicated to several countries, while in small cases, it spanned counties and connected states. At the end, it was dangerous, and at the end, it was difficult to lose. The six kings were rebellious. The seven kingdoms were punished by the axe. This was caused by the vast territory and the accumulated strength of the army."

"Wei Wu started his business, but it was hidden from his distant plans. His children had no family members, and the clan had no place to establish itself. There was no city outside to solidify itself, and there was no rock inside to build its foundation. So the great weapon was protected by others, and the country was destroyed by a different surname."

Zhu Gaoxu then expressed his understanding.

"Taizong of the Tang Dynasty believed that the Zhou Kingdom implemented the enfeoffment system and thus enjoyed 800 years of state power. Qin overcorrected by annexing the six kingdoms, abolishing the enfeoffment system and establishing prefectures and counties, which eventually led to the death of the second generation."

"Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty, learned lessons from the Qin Dynasty, and granted kinships widely. Even though he was divided into two Han Dynasties, he still enjoyed the country for 400 years. Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty who founded the Later Han Dynasty came from the Han Dynasty clan."

"Cao Pi established himself on behalf of the Han Dynasty. Like the Qin Dynasty, Cao Wei did not enfeoff kinship and lost the royal guards. As a result, the country's fortunes were short-lived and power was usurped by the Sima family."

"Therefore, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty supported the enfeoffment of clans to protect the central royal family, so that the kingdoms of Zhou and Han would be prosperous. Otherwise, they might repeat the short-lived mistakes of Qin and Wei that did not implement enfeoffment."

Zhu Gaoxu knew in his heart that just like the Ming Dynasty, at the beginning of the founding of the country, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang made the vassal king, which indeed played an important role in the stability of the border and the world.

Even if the Jingnan War broke out in history, and even in the end, King Yan Zhu Di captured the capital, there was no out-of-control situation where people rose up everywhere in the world.

This principle also applies to the Zhou Dynasty and the Han Dynasty.

"However, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty did not ignore the problems caused by the enfeoffment system. Because as time went by, the blood relationship between the princes who were enfeoffed to various places and the emperor of the dynasty became more and more distant, and the loyalty of each vassal state to the imperial court also decreased. Getting smaller and smaller."

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes swept over the faces of Xie Jin, Huang Huai, Fang Xiaoru and others in turn, and said slowly: "History has proved that if the vassal is not reduced, as time goes by, the vassal king will grow into a vassal that dominates one side. And finally got rid of the control of the imperial court, and even wanted to take over the imperial court and replace it."

"For example, since the beginning of the Warring States Period, the Emperor of Zhou has become the nominal ruler of the world, while the kings of the seven major kingdoms are the real rulers."

"Similarly, during the period of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty, the seven vassal states each occupying one side also wanted to overthrow the Han Dynasty, thus triggering the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms."

"Therefore, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty accurately pointed out the influence of the strength of the princes on the court in "Emperor Fan": "If the princes are too strong, they will suffer from navel-eating problems; if they are too weak, there will be no solid foundation. From this point of view, it is better to have many clans and relatives but less effort. Make the weights and weights restrain each other, and the joys and sorrows are the same. Then there will be no suspicion at the top, and no worries about injustice at the bottom. This is a lesson for feudalism. These two are the key to peace and stability of the country. base.'"

When Zhu Gaoxu said this, he was silent for a while.

He had expressed his views through the mouth of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.

Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty believed that if the princes entrusted to local areas were too strong, the court would be unable to control them and would eventually become a nuisance; conversely, if the princes were too weak, they would not be the foundation for the court to rule the place.

Therefore, the best way to enfeoff is multiple enfeoffments, which can not only weaken the strength of the princes, but also allow the princes to contain each other in the territory they occupy.

As a result, it will be difficult for the princes to have a dominant one in a short period of time. Coupled with the continued enfeoffment in the future, the gap in strength between the princely states and the imperial court will become wider and wider.

Since they cannot defeat the imperial court, the princes will no longer have any ill intentions. This will ensure that the top and bottom are of the same mind. The imperial court does not need to be suspicious of the princes, and the princes do not need to worry about the imperial court raising troops to attack.

"Everyone, building vassals together is not a method thought up by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. Long before the chaos of the Seven Kingdoms of the Han Dynasty, the vassal kings in those places had already become inexhaustible. Jia Yi proposed in the "Public Security Policy" that "building vassals together will lead to less power." ', although Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty did not adopt it at the time, during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the imperial court still issued the "Tweening Order". From then on, the strength of the vassal states could no longer compete with the imperial court."

Jia Yi's suggestion was to abolish the old system in which the eldest son inherited the throne of the vassal king, and to implement a new system in which the vassal king's fiefdoms were continued to be distributed to all his sons.

Even though this was unfriendly to the original eldest son, it allowed more sons of the vassal king to obtain fiefdoms and weakened the vassal state's strength. It could be said that it was a multi-purpose achievement.

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Di certainly considered the issue of whether the vassal king would be in trouble in the future.

Therefore, the fiefdoms designated by the father and son for the kings may seem good, but in fact they all have limitations of one kind or another.

No vassal state would grow into a behemoth after a hundred years of development on a given fiefdom.

The three places of Great Wilderness East Continent (North America), Tianzhu, and Overseas West Continent (Central Asia) can cultivate a huge empire.

Although the Great Wilderness East Continent is a good place, Zhu Di has no plans to entrust the kings there yet.

Even if the enfeoffed prince goes there, he will have to wait until Zhu Gaoxu succeeds to the throne to enfeoff his children.

In fact, according to Zhu Gaoxu's vision, he wanted to turn the Great Wilderness East Continent into a territory directly managed by the imperial court in the future, rather than a land of enfeoffment.

Zhu Di planned to enfeoff many kingdoms in Tianzhu and overseas Xizhou.

He knew very well that a hundred years from now, these kingdoms would probably be attacking each other.

But before that, those vassal states must first develop their own national strength. Otherwise, if their own countries are not stable, they will be unable to invade other countries' territories.

What's more, the "Regulations on Suspensions and Vassals" promulgated by the imperial court legally bound these vassal states.

Zhu Gaoxu estimated that it would take at least three to four hundred years before a huge country powerful enough to threaten the dominance of the Ming Dynasty would appear in Tianzhu or overseas Xizhou.

Before the emergence of that superpower, the rebellions of overseas vassal states were nothing more than local rebellions and could not shake the rule of the imperial court at all.

But hundreds of years later, how strong will the imperial court be?

However, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Di's plan could not be explained clearly to Xie Jin and everyone in the palace at this time.After being silent for a long time, he said to Xie Jin: "Even if the overseas vassals will break away from the control of the imperial court in the future, how many years of development will it take? 300 years or 400 years? How many years did it take for the Eastern Zhou countries to develop before they threatened the rule of the Zhou Kingdom?"

Xie Jin remained silent.

"And how many times more powerful is the imperial court today than the Zhou Kingdom back then? Therefore, although your objection is reasonable, it is unrealistic because we cannot stop eating because of choking."

Zhu Gaoxu continued: "What's more, the vassal kings who changed their titles and founded the country are all descendants of Taizu. Even if the vassal country becomes bigger in the future, His Majesty the Father doesn't care, so why should you worry in vain?"

Until this time, Fang Xiaoru, Xie Jin, Huang Huai and other ministers present finally understood what Zhu Gaoxu meant.

The emperor and I are not afraid, so what else do they, the ministers, have to fear?

If that day comes, it will be hundreds of years later. Why bother with that?
What they can do now is to set the rules so that the kings will not do evil after they become vassal, and can develop with peace of mind.

"My lords, who has any objections?"

Zhu Gaoxu asked, looking around at the more than 30 people in the hall.

All the ministers were silent.

Fang Xiaoru was about to speak but stopped.

When Zhu Gaoxu saw this, his eyes fell on Fang Xiaoru's face, and he said slowly: "Sir, you can say anything you want."

Fang Xiaoru finally couldn't help but said: "May I ask Your Majesty, is Your Majesty planning to build vassals in the future?"

He asked very implicitly, but his meaning was very clear. There were two points in total.

First, is Zhu Di going to inherit Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang's national policy of changing the title of kings to establish their country overseas? (Year-beginning enfeoffment) will also be enfeoffed overseas?

Second, will Zhu Gaoxu inherit this national policy in the future and continue to enfeoff princes and establish their country overseas?
"Sir, what Gu said just now is very clear. It is the intention of Emperor Taizu Gao to establish feudal lords together. His Majesty the Father and Gu are the descendants of Taizu. They should inherit Taizu's ambition and establish feudal lords overseas. , this is the ancestral system established by Taizu, who dares to disobey it?"

Zhu Gaoxu certainly understood what Fang Xiaoru meant, because the questions Fang Xiaoru asked also represented the opinions of most of the direct ministers present.

That's why he gave such a definite answer and used the "ancestral system" to add a sacred halo to "Guangjian Princes".

"Emperor Taizu is wise! Your Majesty is wise! Your Highness is wise!"

Fang Xiaoru stood up first and bowed excitedly.

Xie Jin, Huang Huai and others stood up one after another, bowed and saluted like Fang Xiaoru, saying: "Emperor Taizu is wise! Your Majesty is wise! Your Highness is wise!"

Thus, a small turmoil caused by Zhu Di's decision to teach the royal children the way to be kings came to an end.

Just when Zhu Gaoxu was debating with Fang Xiaoru and others in the Wenhua Hall.

In Wuying Palace.

Yongle Emperor Zhu Dizheng and Chu King Zhu Zhen were sitting on the left and right sides of a table respectively, drinking tea and talking about things.

Zhu Di said: "Sixth brother, since ancient times, kings have always needed manpower to implement their policies. However, due to the inconvenience of geographical roads, the king is destined to rely on others to govern the country."

Zhu Zhen said: "What the fourth brother means is that the monarch always has to borrow the hands of others to implement national policies and govern the country?"

"This is exactly the reason, and the choice of this 'other', after all, is nothing more than three, one is the royal family, the second is the lord and prince, and the third is the scholar-bureaucrat."

Zhu Di said slowly: "Emperors in the past dynasties have tried various methods and found that relying on scholar-bureaucrats to govern the country has many problems, but it is the best choice for stabilizing the monarchy."

"But when a country was first established, it had to rely on its own people to maintain the stability of the country. This was also the fundamental reason why my father divided the kings among them."

Zhu Zhen nodded and said, "That's the truth."

"However, 20 years after Hongwu, my father discovered that once the kings were divided, the descendants of each vassal king did not grow up together. Although the children of each vassal were named Zhu, they had no feelings for each other. They were completely like Two families. In this case, sooner or later the feudal king will have different intentions."

Zhu Di continued: "Therefore, since the 21st year of Hongwu, my father has successively brought the young children of each vassal to the capital and let the children study together in the main hall. The purpose is to let the children get familiar with each other and know that they are a family. .So, starting from tomorrow, your eight children will all go to the new main hall to study."

Up to now, King Zhu Zhen of Chu has nine sons.

His eldest son Zhu Mengcong was born in April of the 14th year of Hongwu. He was named King of Baling in the 30th year of Hongwu. He died in March of the same year at the age of seventeen.

The second son, Zhu Mengjiong, was born in March of the 15th year of Hongwu and was named King Yong'an in the first year of Yongle.

The third son, Zhu Mengran, was the eldest son of King Zhu Zhen of Chu. He was born in May of the 15th year of Hongwu and was named the crown prince of King Chu in the first year of Yongle.

The fourth son, Zhu Mengzhuo, was born in July of the 16th year of Hongwu and was granted the title of Prince of Shouchang in the first year of Yongle.

The fifth son, Zhu Mengwei, was born in March of the 19th year of Hongwu and was granted the title of Prince of Chongyang in the first year of Yongle.

The sixth son, Zhu Mengyao, was born in the first month of the 20th year of Hongwu and was granted the title of Prince of Tongshan County in the first year of Yongle.

The seventh son, Zhu Mengcan, was born in September of the 21st year of Hongwu and was granted the title of Tongcheng County Prince in the first year of Yongle.

The eighth son, Zhu Mengzhen, was born in the first month of the 26th year of Hongwu; the ninth son, Zhu Mengjuan, was born in the second month of the 27th year of Hongwu. Because these two children were young, they had not yet been named county kings.

"Fourth brother, my eighth son and ninth son are both young. I'm afraid they won't be able to go to school, right?"

Zhu Zhen looked embarrassed and said: "Especially Lao Jiu, sometimes wetting the bed."

Zhu Di smiled and said: "No problem, the newly built main hall is divided into three parts: primary school, middle school, and large school. Just let the eighth and ninth children of your family go to the primary school to study."

"As for children over ten years old, they go to the middle school, and those over 16 years old go to the university hall."

When he said this, he emphasized his tone and said: "The prince wishes to serve as a professor at the main hall concurrently, and I have agreed."

(End of this chapter)