Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 191 Farming and Nation-building

evening.

Licheng Gongfu.

After having dinner with his youngest daughter Sheng Hongyu, Sheng Yong left the dining room with a sullen face and walked towards the Sheng family ancestral hall in the backyard of the mansion.

Sheng Hongyu was not stupid. Of course she could tell that Sheng Yong had something to say to her, so she followed her.

When she entered the ancestral hall, she saw Sheng Yong with his left hand behind his waist and his right hand stroking his beard. Under the light of the pale yellow candle, he stood there like a statue.

Behind Sheng Yong, on several high platforms, there are rows of thrones of gods.

"You came."

When Sheng Yong saw Sheng Hongyu stepping into the ancestral hall, he immediately spoke.

"Dad, do you have something important to say to your daughter?"

Sheng Hongyu asked softly.

"Kneel down."

Sheng Yong did not answer, but said solemnly.

If people are unfilial, how are they different from animals?

What's more, being unfilial is one of the most heinous crimes.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, loyalty and filial piety have been paramount. No one dares to ignore human ethics and be unfilial to their parents!

Sheng Hongyu was very filial, so she knelt down obediently.

Sheng Yong looked at Sheng Hongyu who was kneeling with deep eyes and asked, "Do you know why your father asked you to kneel down?"

Sheng Hongyu said confusedly: "Father, please make it clear."

"The key to a family's ability to survive for thousands of years is to adhere to the way of being a minister."

Sheng Yong sighed with emotion first, then changed the topic and suddenly asked: "Hongyu, what do you think of the current prince?"

Sheng Hongyu didn't know why, and instinctively replied: "A benevolent, filial, heroic and mighty king."

Sheng Yong asked: "If His Majesty calls you to choose an attendant for the prince, will you be willing?"

"what!?"

Sheng Hongyu reacted instantly, and two blushes quickly appeared on her beautiful face.

However, she quickly calmed down and said slowly: "Father, if my daughter becomes the prince's chosen servant, wouldn't our Sheng family become relatives?"

Sheng Yong remained silent.

Sheng Hongyu knew that Sheng Yong's favorite thing was to lead troops in battles. From the time she could remember, Sheng Yong lived in the military camp longer than at home.

After a slight hesitation, she said decisively: "If the father doesn't want to, the daughter will disfigure herself and decline this marriage for the sake of the Sheng family."

Sheng Yong remained silent.

Historically, Zhu Di launched his army on the sixth day of July in the first year of Jianwen. Within 20 days, he successively captured important military towns such as Tongzhou, Jizhou, Miyun, Zunhua and Huailai, and occupied the entire city of Beiping.

Soon after, he defeated the government troops led by Geng Bingwen and Li Jinglong.

In early September of the second year of Jianwen, Zhu Yunwen ordered Sheng Yong to replace Li Jinglong as the general, and the governors Ping An and Wu Jie as the left and right deputy generals to attack Yan again.

In the battle of Dongchang, King Zhu Di of Yan was defeated miserably at the hands of Sheng Yong. The elite Yan army he brought out, more than 3 soldiers, became lonely ghosts. Even his general Zhang Yu died in this battle.

This battle almost brought Zhu Di back to ten years ago. It was also the most disastrous defeat in his military career.

As the general who led the battle of Dongchang, is Sheng Yong's military ability far superior to Zhu Di's?

However, the first sentence when introducing Sheng Yong in "History of the Ming Dynasty" is: "I don't know who Sheng Yong is."

No one knows why the historical materials about Sheng Yong are incomplete, but the genealogy of his descendants and the unearthed tombstones have completed the information about Sheng Yong.

According to the genealogy record of Sheng Yong’s descendants in Gutian Village, Lingang Township, Leping County, Jiangxi: “Sheng Yong, courtesy name Shiyong, was born in the Jiawu year of the Yuan Dynasty. He had a strong character...excellent arm strength and was good at riding and shooting. In the Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ming Dynasty, …”

It can be seen from the genealogy of Sheng Yong's descendants and their tombstones that Sheng Yong was originally a subordinate of Deng Yu and was stationed in Jiangxi.

In the fourth year of Hongwu's reign, he went to Liaodong with the army.

In the eighth year of Hongwu's reign, he followed the governor-general Ye Wang and first conquered Jinzhou and then Gaizhou, achieving great success.

In other words, by the time Jianwen succeeded to the throne, Sheng Yong was already a battle-hardened veteran, otherwise Jianwen would not have appointed Sheng Yong as a general to lead the army to attack Yan.

Historically, after Sheng Yong learned that Zhu Di had proclaimed himself emperor, he chose to surrender.

In the early years of Yongle, Sheng Yong resigned from office and returned home, but was framed by his colleagues, claiming that he was disloyal.

Due to Sheng Yong's strong character, before Zhu Di could express his stance, he committed suicide to prove his innocence.

So, did Zhu Di in history really want Sheng Yong to die unjustly, just to avenge the Battle of Dongchang?
Judging from subsequent historical data, Zhu Di did not mean this at all.

Because in the second year after Sheng Yong's death, his grievances were discovered.

Moreover, Zhu Di issued an edict to bestow filial piety cloth, silver taels, set up an altar, and posthumously conferred the title of "General Xuanwu" to Sheng Yong... The four original sons were each awarded the title of general, doctor, etc., and the eldest son Sheng Zhen was granted the title of General Mingwei and the commander of the guards.

It wasn't over yet. Later, Zhu Di personally made the decision to let Sheng Yong's grandson Sheng Yu marry Princess Xinyang, the daughter of his fifth brother Zhou Wang Zhu Ju.That is what is recorded on the epitaph: "In the second year of Yongle, Jiashen attacked Princess Shang Xinyang with his ancestral shade."

His hometown, Gutianxiabao, once had a Prince Consort House, which was later destroyed, but was rebuilt many years later.

In other words, although Sheng Yong once defeated Zhu Di, after Zhu Di successfully ascended the throne, he treated Sheng Yong and his family quite favorably.

Just imagine, a great leader who has a global view and dares to send tens of thousands of officers and soldiers under his command to sail to the Western Ocean seven times, how can he be a small-minded person who is determined to retaliate?
With Zhu Gaoxu's time travel, the history of the Ming Dynasty was changed, Zhu Di successfully succeeded to the throne, and Sheng Yong was also named Licheng County Duke by Zhu Di for his merits.

It can be said that Sheng Yong was extremely loyal to Zhu Di.

Even though he really wanted to stay in the army, Zhu Di's intention was obvious, hoping that the relationship between the emperor and his ministers would start well and end well.

Sheng Yong thought for a long time, looked at Sheng Hongyu, and said with relief: "For this family, you can make such a determination, I am very happy as a father."

He paused and continued: "But as a father, it's time to retire and rest. Your eldest brother, second brother, and third brother are all leading troops outside. The fourth brother is now the guard of the East Palace Gate. If you become the prince If you choose a servant, then as long as our Sheng family doesn't make any big mistakes, we can live together with our country in the future."

"Now that the father has made up his mind, the daughter has no objection."

Sheng Hongyu said calmly.

Although there was no emotion on her face, she actually had a glimmer of expectation in her heart for meeting Prince Zhu Gaoxu in the future.The next day.

early morning.

Zhu Gaoxu did not participate in the early court, but was ordered by Zhu Di to teach the princes of Chu and the princes of Zhou the principles of "farming, fighting and building a country".

After a brief chat with the princes of Zhou and Chu in the newly built Great Hall section of the main hall, he led the princes to a large vegetable patch in the backyard of the school.

"The so-called 'farming and war to build a country' means plowing comes first and fighting comes later. Today, in the first lesson, I will tell you about 'ploughing'."

The first lesson Zhu Gaoxu gave to the Zhou and Chu scholars was actually farming.

He personally took the lead and led the princes to dig the ground for two hours.

During this period, someone complained that they were tired, and Zhu Gaoxu patiently introduced the skill required to use a shovel.

Afterwards, he set an example and had lunch with the princes in the vegetable field with a food box.

After lunch, Zhu Gaoxu returned to the lecture hall with the princes.

While the princes were looking for seats to sit down, Zhu Gaoxu quickly drew a rough map of Java on the blackboard with chalk.

This operation directly shocked the princes.

The princes felt that their prince brother was very scary, and their respect for Zhu Gaoxu doubled.

“The Regulations of the Sect and Domain stipulate that all subjects who move overseas with the vassal king must be given equal land.”

Zhu Gaoxu sat on the chair and asked loudly: "Who remembers the content of the "Farming War and Jianguo Equalization Policy" in the appendix of the "Zongfan Regulations"?

"Brother Prince, I remember the first six items, can you tell me?"

King Yongan Zhu Mengjiong raised his hand and asked.

"Let's talk about it." Zhu Gaoxu nodded.

Zhu Mengjiong stood up and said: "First, all men over 16 years old (16 years old) will be granted [-] acres of open fields for growing grains, and [-] acres for women. The open fields are all unclaimed wasteland. Due to consideration Fallow rotation is used, so when fields are allocated, the fallow period is generally increased by one or two times, also called doubling the fields.”

"Those who own domestic servants and cattle can obtain additional land. The domestic servants receive land like ordinary farmers. There is no limit to the number of people, and the land belongs to the employer. Each dingcai over four years old receives [-] acres of exposed land, and one household is limited to four Head. The land received is not allowed to be bought or sold. When old and dead, the land will be returned to the government."

Seeing that Zhu Mengjiong said something, Zhu Gaojiu chose to pause and seemed a little unsure, so he encouraged: "That's right, go on."

"Article [-]: For those who receive the land for the first time, each man will be granted twenty acres of mulberry fields, and they can plant the prescribed mulberry, jujube, elm, etc. trees within three years. The mulberry fields can be used as world industry fields (i.e., permanent industry fields) and will not be used for life. Also, it can be hereditary, but buying and selling is restricted.”

Zhu Mengjiong said: "In areas that are not suitable for growing mulberry, men are each given ten acres of hemp fields and women five acres. Household servants are also given fields according to the open field law. Newly settled households can also be allocated a small amount of house land. , one acre for every three people, and one acre for every five servants, and the land for the house also belongs to the world.”

"Article [-]: Mulberry fields are calculated based on the existing den. If there is a surplus, the surplus must be sold, and if there is a deficit, the surplus must be bought. You are not allowed to sell your share, and you are not allowed to buy more than you have. Mulberry fields are a world heritage, and part of them are allowed to be bought and sold."

"The original mulberry fields have exceeded the amount of land that should be granted, and if you don't receive it, you can't return it; if it reaches the amount of land that should be granted, you are not allowed to receive it anymore; if it exceeds the amount of land that should be granted, you can sell it; if it is less than the amount of land that should be granted, you can buy it."

At this point, he paused again.

Seeing Zhu Mengjiong frowning, Zhu Gaojiu reminded him, "What should I do if there is a disabled person in the family?"

"Article 12: If the whole family is composed of young and old and disabled, each of the [-]-year-olds and the disabled will receive half of the land of the male, and those over [-] will not be repaid. If there is a widow who keeps the will, even if she is exempted from classes, she will be given the land. field."

Zhu Mengjiong immediately thought about it and said: "Article [-]: In places with narrow land, residents can move to empty areas to receive farmland; in places with wide land, residents are not allowed to move without reason. They can apply to the government to borrow seeds according to their ability. Land other than received land. Land that has been displaced due to crime or no one maintains the property due to household registration shall be taken back to the government for the purpose of equalizing the land."

"Article [-]: Officials at all levels will be granted land according to their rank. Those with the first grade will be given five hectares of land, with fifty acres for each grade, and one hectare for the ninth grade. Internal and external government offices will also grant public land. It is for public use. The old and new official positions are handed over and are not allowed to be sold. The rent of official land is used as a supplement to the official salary, and the rent of public land is used for the expenses of the official office. The ownership of these two types of land belongs to the government."

"Although Meng Jiong did not recite the original text, he can tell six of them based on his personal understanding, which is already very good!"

Zhu Gaoxu encouraged: "Please sit down."

"Thank you, Brother Prince."

Zhu Mengjiong first bowed and said something, and then chose to sit down.

Zhu Gaoxu looked around at everyone in the lecture hall and asked: "There are four more, who can add them?"

The Crown Prince of Chu, Zhu Mengran, raised his hand and said, "Brother Prince, I remember the last four."

Zhu Gaoxu said with a smile: "Tell me, Meng Tan."

"Article [-]: The Yongye fields of the clan members who are entrusted outside are commensurate with their titles and grades, from the princes to the lieutenant of Fengguo. The amount can be as much as one hundred acres and as little as forty acres. The specific amount is determined by the king of the vassal state."

Zhu Mengnan said slowly: "Article 30, after the [-]th anniversary of the founding of the vassal state, under normal circumstances, women will no longer be granted land, and the servants and cattle who moved with the family owner will no longer be granted land. Because the land area is insufficient, if necessary, The small rural areas that rely on farming will no longer be given double land grants."

"Article [-]: People who move and cannot afford funerals are allowed to sell their Yongye fields. People who move to Kuanxiang, a less populated area with more land, and people who sell them as residences or shops are allowed to sell their land and divide their fields. The amount of land purchased must not exceed the amount that the person should occupy. the legal amount, otherwise all the money will be confiscated.”

"Article [-]: Each vassal state implements the same household registration system as the imperial court, and the national population is registered on a household basis every ten years."

When Zhu Mengtan said this, he hesitated a little and seemed to have forgotten the following content.

Zhu Gaoxu reminded: "Since registration is based on household, it is natural to need information about the head of the household and its related personnel."

"I remembered." Zhu Mengxuan said happily: "You need to register the head of the household, hometown, name, age, family size, relationship with the head of the household, land, property, assets, occupation, etc. The registration form is made in duplicate, and one copy is kept by the household. , and another copy is reported to the vassal state. The household registration list is compiled into a household register and sealed with yellow paper, which is called a yellow book."

"Meng Tan, you seem to have missed one point, which is also a crucial point for Juntian Ce."

Zhu Gaoxu once again reminded: "At the beginning of the founding of the vassal state, there were fewer people and more land, so the equal fields were naturally enough. However, as time went by and the number of people increased, the land that could be cultivated in the country may not be equal enough. So——"

Zhu Mengtan then continued: "So, overseas vassals re-equalize their land every 30 years."

"Therefore, you must remember this saying: 'Don't worry about scarcity but worry about inequality; don't worry about poverty but worry about insecurity'."

Zhu Gaoxu spoke eloquently: "At that time, Confucius learned that the Ji family was going to attack Zhuan Yu, and believed that this war should not be launched. He criticized his disciples Ran Qiu and Zi Lu for not fulfilling their responsibilities, and put forward his political opinions: 'Those who have a country and a family do not worry about being few but about inequality, and do not worry about poverty but about insecurity. There is no poverty in all the people, there is no widowhood, there is peace and no leaning. If this is the case, people from afar will not accept it, so they will cultivate civilization and virtue and come here. If it is, then it will be safe.'"

"If there is balance between politics and religion, there will be no need for poverty; if there is harmony between top and bottom, there will be no need for poverty; there will be peace between the great and the small, and there will be no danger. Being widowed does not refer to the lack of material wealth, but to the number of land and people; equity does not refer to property either. Equal distribution refers to the equality of politics and religion, adhering to the principles of fairness and justice. Otherwise, how can the people under the rule be convinced of the government's governance?"

"Brother Prince is absolutely right."

Zhu Mengnan, the crown prince of the King of Chu, couldn't help but sigh.

Afterwards, Zhu Gaoxu introduced to the princes the difference between the direct jurisdiction of the vassal king and the enfeoffed territory.

"The land directly managed by the king is the territory directly under the jurisdiction of the king. The territory entrusted to the princes and princes is the enfeoffed territory."

He then asked: "Who knows why there is a distinction between direct administration and enfeoffment?"

PS: Thanks to Long Zhen, book friend 151220214228036, book friend 20210330001704073, Hitchcock, Azusagawa brother and other veterans for their recommendation and monthly votes!Thank you brothers for your support!

(End of this chapter)