Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 52 The prelude to the change of feudal domains
"Dad, to make money, you don't necessarily have to rush to occupy Japanese islands. China is a vast land with rich products, while Japanese islands are small and have limited products. You can trade money with Japanese people."

Zhu Di explained.

After a pause, he saw that Zhu Yuanzhang was silent, and added: "In order to prevent pirates from disturbing the coast, my father once ordered a ban on merchants going to sea to trade, and foreign merchants were not allowed to trade in the Ming Dynasty. Only foreign merchants were allowed to pay tribute."

"But it is better to block it than to open it up. There are still people smuggling overseas for profit. Ha'er thinks it may be possible to set up fixed foreign port towns, and the imperial court can unified management and lead civil, commercial and maritime trade."

Of course Zhu Yuanzhang understood that private overseas trade was highly profitable, otherwise how could anyone take the risk and commit smuggling?

If private trade was brought under the control of the imperial court and a special yamen were set up for unified management, even if the imperial court did not participate in trade and only collected taxes, the annual tax revenue would be estimated to be a huge sum of money, such as the Shipping Department of the Song Dynasty.

"Haha! Cough cough!"

Zhu Yuanzhang grinned first, and then coughed against the inside of the couch for a while.

Then, he turned his head, looked at Zhu Di with admiration, nodded and said: "Di'er, your 'blocking is worse than sparing' method is wonderful!"

"The implementation of integrated management of officials and local staff will have a huge impact. We need to think about it again. As for the unified management of maritime trade by the imperial court, we think it is feasible. After the reform of the imperial examination and the issuance of new currency, you will take charge of this matter."

"My child accepts the order." Zhu Di said respectfully.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly vomited and spit out a mouthful of blood.

He instinctively stretched out his hands to cover his mouth, but blood flowed through his fingers and was everywhere on the back of his hands, which was shocking.

"father!"

Zhu Di quickly stepped forward to hold Zhu Yuanzhang's back.

"Don't call me doctor, just listen to me."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his bloody hand and signaled Zhu Di not to call anyone, and then said weakly: "We have run out of gas and the end is approaching. We estimate that we can survive for another three to five days. We plan to use these last few days. , to solve the matter of reducing the vassal status for you."

"Dad, I have never thought about reducing the vassal status."

Zhu Di denied it calmly, and at the same time quickly took out a light yellow brocade silk handkerchief from his sleeve pocket to help Zhu Yuanzhang wipe the blood on his hands.

Zhu Yuanzhang allowed Zhu Di to take care of his hands and said slowly: "In the past few years, we have figured out one thing. Although the vassals are national barriers and barriers, they are also the source of civil strife and must be cut. Even if you don't cut them , If Gao Xu wants to secure his position in the future, he will also have to cut it."

"So, for the sake of future generations, we plan to transfer the vassals outside of China."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused, looked at Zhu Di and said, "What do you think?"

"father!"

Zhu Di put away the bloody handkerchief, stood up and took two steps back, then immediately knelt down and shouted loudly.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not want to embarrass Zhu Di, and was afraid that Zhu Di would get a reputation as a fratricide in order to reduce the feudal vassal, so he came up with this plan.

Regarding this, Zhu Di felt like a mirror and was moved to tears.

Two days later.

The sun is rising, Fengtian Gate, early morning.

"Today's court meeting, I want to announce three things."

Zhu Yuanzhang was sitting on the dragon chair, looking down at the civil and military officials.

Although he is old and no longer as majestic as before, the majesty of the founding emperor is still there. All the ministers listened carefully and did not dare to show any slightness.

"First, I have read the draft of the imperial examination reform regulations and can implement them on a trial basis. The relevant personnel transfers and the establishment of new yamen and other matters are all the sole responsibility of King Yan."

"Second, from now on, the imperial court will launch a new version of Ming Dynasty banknotes and coins. As for the exchange and implementation of the new version of banknotes and coins, King Yan will take the lead in handling it. All officials must cooperate and must not violate it."

Having said this, Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath.

After a pause, he gathered enough strength and suddenly said sternly: "Third, I order all the vassal kings to come to Beijing quickly. I want to change the vassals to establish a country outside China and implement the enfeoffment of Zong Zhou. This is my edict. , no one is allowed to violate it!”

Zhu Yuanzhang's words set the tone for the third matter.

In other words, even if the vassal kings did not have time to see him for the last time, so that he failed to establish the vassal kings' new fiefdoms outside the territory, with this edict, Zhu Di can legally change the kings' fiefdoms in the future. Carry on.

"I'm exhausted. Next, King Yan will preside over the court meeting."

Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly.

Later, with the support of two attendant eunuchs, he left Fengtianmen and took a chariot back to Qianqing Palace.

Under Zhu Di's instructions, Zhu Gaoxu accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang all the way to Qianqing Palace.

"Gao Xu, if you don't attend the court meeting, what are you doing here?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said a little dissatisfied.Zhu Gaoxu said with red eyes: "My grandson wants to guard grandpa."

"Forget it, it's nothing important anyway, and we can't sleep, so just talk to us."

Zhu Yuanzhang changed his mood and said.

"We told you last time that we planned to find you a wife, and we have really found a good girl these past two days."

Zhu Gaoxu listened quietly.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued: "This woman's surname is Li and her given name is Yao. She comes from a clean family and is the daughter of a loyal minister. She is beautiful and virtuous. We think she is a good match for you."

Of course, Zhu Gaoxu knew who "Li Yao" was. Her grandfather was Li Zhongyue, the old book clerk who was loyal to the court and was later killed by the Jin King's personal guards who directed the people of Jin to produce the blood letters of all people.

With such a life experience, she can naturally be regarded as innocent, and she is a truly loyal minister.

Zhu Gaoxu vaguely remembered that Li Yao had just turned nine when she was adopted by Yang Bangji five years ago. She was only 14 years old now.

"Look, this is her portrait."

Zhu Yuanzhang actually pulled out a scroll of paintings from the inside of the bed and slowly handed it out.

Zhu Gaoxu quickly took it and opened the scroll gently.

But I saw the person in the painting, holding an oil-paper umbrella, standing at the end of an ancient bridge. He was tall and slim, with an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and cloud-like hair on the temples, but he was a little thin, and his chest and buttocks were not obvious.

"This girl is indeed beautiful."

Although he had never seen Li Yao's real face, Zhu Gaoxu felt that Zhu Yuanzhang would not let anyone draw a fake painting to trick him, so he had to make a remark against his will.

"Do you know Guo Xingzong, a Liaodong native who works at the Peking Guard?"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked.

"Recognized." Zhu Gaoxu said respectfully: "Four years ago, when my grandson went to Peking, this person was just the leader of the miscellaneous services in Prince Yan's palace. Later he was transferred to the army, and now he has been promoted to the chief flag officer."

"Li Yao's grandfather Li Zhongyue was originally from Liaodong. His daughter-in-law Guo, Li Yao's biological mother, had a nephew named Guo Xingzong, who was exactly this person."

Zhu Yuanzhang continued: "In other words, Li Yao and Guo Xingzong are cousins."

Zhu Gaoxu understood the implication of Zhu Yuanzhang's detailed remarks.

For him, the cleaner and simpler the wife's background, the better. After all, he will be the emperor in the future.

"If you don't want to marry her, we won't force you." Zhu Yuanzhang said softly.

Zhu Gaoxu said without hesitation: "My grandson is willing."

Zhu Yuanzhang was pleased with Zhu Gaoxu's performance.

After pausing for a moment, he said with a smile on his lips: "You have been away from the capital in recent months. We ordered people to secretly keep an eye on the shopkeeper Wang of Hongmei Cloth Factory. Her belly is getting bigger and bigger."

"Grandpa, my grandson didn't mean to hide it."

Zhu Gaoxu immediately explained: "She was born from a foreign race, and she was born with a birthmark on her forehead. Her appearance is ugly, and she really can't stand on the stage."

"But she is a good hand in business. With the current scale of Hongmeibufang, looking at the entire Yingtian Mansion, it can be regarded as second to none."

Zhu Yuanzhang said playfully: "We sent people to check her origins, and there is nothing abnormal. For the sake of the child in her belly, how about we allow her to be your concubine?"

"My grandson thanks Grandpa Huang for his kindness!"

What else could Zhu Gaoxu say? Naturally, he knelt down to thank the emperor for his kindness.

He originally thought that the Wang daughter was hidden deeply by him, but he never expected that she would be found out by Zhu Yuanzhang's spies.

"You have been back in Beijing for a few days and haven't seen her yet. You can go out and see her tomorrow."

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, gathered some strength, and then said slowly: "By the way, bring her into the palace. We want to see what is so unique about her that you will like her."

Seeing that Zhu Gaoxu was still kneeling on the ground with his head down and not getting up, he specifically explained: "Don't be afraid, child. We sent people to keep an eye on her to prevent her from having an accident, not to monitor her."

Zhu Gaoxu now doesn't know what Zhu Yuanzhang has found, so he doesn't dare to say anything for fear of spilling the beans.

"Get up, our deadline is approaching and we don't have many days left to live. There are some inheritances that your father can't use, so I still have to give them to you."

Zhu Yuanzhang said weakly: "Come here, tell Zhao Junchen, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, and Mei Yin, the prince-in-law's commander."

PS: Today’s first update, it’s currently ranked fifth on the new book list. Thank you very much for your help!I can only work hard to write words and thank everyone with actions!
(End of this chapter)