The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 210 Is your family a wholesaler?

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "Korea has been a vassal for thousands of years. The locals have become accustomed to this state. A sudden change will cause turmoil in people's hearts."

"And this place is too far away from the Ming Dynasty, and it is difficult to rule. If we don't seal the vassal state, we may soon follow in the footsteps of the Tang Dynasty."

Chen Jingke nodded and shook his head, and said: "I agree with the first half of your Majesty's inference, but the second half is subject to discussion."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyebrows and thought, "I really like hearing what you say."

Every time you say this, there must be a better solution.

"Oh? Tell us what you think."

Chen Jingke said: "Goryeo has been a vassal for thousands of years, and the locals have become accustomed to being loyal to the king."

"To suddenly ask them to pay allegiance to the emperor who is thousands of miles away will indeed be uncomfortable."

"The Qin Dynasty unified the world and also faced this situation when implementing the prefecture and county system."

"The Han Dynasty learned the lessons of the Qin Dynasty and adopted the parallel system of prefectures and states."

"Slowly let the people get used to the system of counties and counties, and finally cut down the vassal vassals and successfully implemented the system of counties and counties."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "That's what we mean too. Let's establish a vassal state here first."

"As for whether we should reduce the vassal status, we'll decide later based on the situation."

Chen Jingke directly objected: "No, Your Majesty must be prepared to reduce the vassal status from the beginning."

"Korea must be under the direct control of the imperial court and cannot be enfeoffed."

Zhu Yuanzhang said doubtfully: "Oh, why?"

Chen Jingke took out a map he drew, which showed the outline of the eastern coast of the Ming Dynasty, Liaodong, Goguryeo and Japan.

It is different from the way maps are drawn in the current era, and more similar to the way they were drawn in the previous life.

This was not the first time he had drawn a map. Zhu Yuanzhang had long been used to it, so he didn't say anything.

Pointing to Japan, Kuye Island, Ezo Island, Vladivostok and other places on the map, Chen Jingke said:

"Your Majesty, let's see, the Ming Dynasty wants to conquer these places, and Goryeo is a strategic point that cannot be bypassed."

"We can even say that whoever owns this place controls the throat of the entire Northeast Sea."

"Such a strategic location must be in the hands of the imperial court."

Zhu Yuanzhang's strategic vision was naturally not bad, and he woke up after hearing Chen Jingke's reminder.

Indeed.

Although places like Ezo Island, Kuba Island, and Vladivostok are bitterly cold, they can still survive.

In the future, you can also canonize one or two descendants as kings.

The key is Japan, this land is the most important.

Goryeo is the key to these places, and it is naturally most appropriate to hold it in the hands of the imperial court.

Here comes the problem.

"This place is too far away from the Ming Dynasty. Even if it is finally returned to the imperial court with your method, it will still be inconvenient to manage. This is a huge hidden danger."

Chen Jingke said: "Your Majesty is talking about going from land to Goryeo, which is naturally a long way."

"But by sea, Dengzhou, Shandong Province, is less than 400 miles away from Goryeo."

"The Yellow River returned to its old course, and the capital was later moved to Luoyang. The government decreed that it would go directly from Luoyang Palace to the Bohai Sea via the Yellow River, and then transfer to a sea ship to go to Goryeo."

“It’s only five hundred miles from the mouth of the Yellow River to the mouth of Lushun, and it’s also five hundred miles from the mouth of Lushun to Gaoli.”

"It's all waterway. It's very convenient to travel. It's more convenient than traveling to Guangdong, Guangdong, Yunnan, and Sichuan. Why is it so far away?"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said: "The sea is very stormy and dangerous."

Chen Jingke retorted: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten the new type of sea-going ship? The safety is greatly improved."

"This time when escorting the Ming Dynasty envoy, the Shandong Navy fought a battle with the Northern Yuan Liaodong Navy."

"Our army took the initiative to sail into the deep sea and used the wind and waves to defeat the Beiyuan Navy with the weak defeating the strong."

"New warships have only appeared for more than half a year, and most of them are small and medium-sized ships."

"It is said that a large ship with 5,000 materials is being built now. Once it is successfully built, the waves in the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea will no longer be a threat."

"Moreover, Qingzhou is already the largest salt-drying base in the north. With a little development, it will become an extremely prosperous city."

"With Qingzhou as the support point and gripping point, Goryeo can be easily controlled."

Zhu Yuanzhang said thoughtfully: "You originally planned to divert the Yellow River and set up a salt farm in Qingzhou."

"As well as inciting us to open the sea, form a navy, and build a new type of sea-going ship, is that enough for today?"

Chen Jingke did not hide anything and said: "Your Majesty is wise, but it's not that he is specifically trying to plot against Goryeo. It's just a matter of hunting down rabbits."

"After all, Henan, Shandong, southern Peiping and the entire Huaibei region will benefit most from the diversion of the Yellow River."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said: "You are a wise fart, and I was fooled by your kid."

"Those who take one step and see two steps are talents, those who take three steps are geniuses, and you kid can see five or six steps after one step."

"How do you plan to arrange this land? Let's talk about it together. Don't squeeze it out bit by bit."

Chen Jingke said with a 'hehe' smile: "Your Majesty arranged it, I just made some small suggestions."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and said: "Okay, stop flattering us and tell us quickly."

Chen Jingke then said seriously: "Your Majesty is worried about the rebellion of Goryeo. I think it is unlikely."

"During the Tang Dynasty, the exchanges between Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje and the Central Plains were not frequent, and the locals did not yearn for the Central Plains."

"Especially Goguryeo and Baekje were hostile to the Central Plains."

"Even Silla had to surrender to the Tang Dynasty only because of pressure from Goguryeo."

"That's why there was a subsequent surrender and rebellion, which gave Silla an advantage."

"But it is precisely because the Tang Dynasty once completely conquered them that they have awe of the Central Plains."

"Even if Silla seizes the fruits of victory, it still doesn't dare to really have a rebellious heart."

"They always bow to the Central Plains and take the initiative to learn the culture and customs of the Central Plains."

"After hundreds of years of assimilation, especially the introduction of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, most people in Korea have their hearts set on the Ming Dynasty."

"The dissemination of "A Brief History of China" has eliminated the last barrier between the two sides."

"This is why I suggested that your Majesty send an envoy."

"It can be said that Goryeo at this time is a ripe fruit, waiting for the Ming Dynasty to pick it."

Zhu Yuanzhang could not help but nod his head as he spoke:

"It makes sense. If you think about it carefully, it is true. Then how do you think we should implement the rule?"

Chen Jingke said: "According to your Majesty's previous plan, King Tan will be sealed here."

"But his king is just a puppet, of a transitional nature."

"Therefore, we need to make changes in the system. We cannot turn it into a feudal state like the pre-Qin period. It is best to imitate the Han Dynasty."

"Although the vassal king has great power, officials such as the prime minister need to be dispatched by the court."

"Then the Goryeo people migrated to settle in the Central Plains. Now the combined population of Henan and Shandong provinces is less than 10 million."

“It’s entirely possible to house a million people here.”

"Then move some people from the densely populated areas in the south to Goryeo." "This population census will definitely find many hidden households."

"These hermits are landless people. If we go to Goryeo and give them fields and cattle, and a wife, they will definitely be willing to go."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded again. When he was begging for food, he would be willing to go anywhere if anyone gave him land and a wife.

"There are also slaves from wealthy families. The Ming Dynasty inherited too much dross from the Liao, Jin, Song and Yuan dynasties."

"During the Han and Tang dynasties, the imperial court worked hard to reduce the number of low-class slaves. In the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty openly robbed the nobles of the population and did not allow the nobles to keep slaves."

"It is said that when Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was young, because there were too few servants in the family, no one cultivated the land. His mother, Queen Taimu Dou, led them to farm the land themselves."

"It's just that the Liao, Jin and Yuan Dynasties founded the country as barbarians and still retained this system."

"As for the Song Dynasty, I don't even bother to despise them anymore. They were the first dynasty to take the initiative to increase the number of lowly people."

"At one point, he even lowered the status of common people to the same level as untouchables, so he still had the nerve to say that he was governing the country with culture."

"After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, you, the old man, had many things to deal with, and there were too many things to deal with, so you couldn't take care of this."

"These rotten systems have been preserved."

"Although these slaves live on the land of the Ming Dynasty, they are not considered His Majesty's subjects, but are their master's private property."

"What is this called? This is called robbing the people from you. They robbed the population that belongs to you."

The more Zhu Yuanzhang listened, the more he felt something was wrong. When he heard a black line on his forehead behind him, he interrupted:

"Okay, okay, okay, we know you love your people like your own children and want to abolish slavery."

"No need to beat around the bush, this matter won't affect the national system, so I promise you."

"Just tell me, how are you going to change it?"

Chen Jingke was overjoyed and said: "Abolish the slave status and change the slave system to a contract system."

"The contract period ranges from five, ten, or fifteen years, during which the slave's salary and basic rights and interests must be guaranteed."

"After the time is up, if both parties agree, you can go to the Yamen to renew the contract."

"If either party disagrees, the contract cannot be renewed."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly became silent, which made Chen Jingke very worried. Could it be that he disagreed?

Unexpectedly, Zhu Yuanzhang asked a question quietly:

"Have you ever heard of the saying that taking concubines saves lives?"

Chen Jingke shook his head. Is there any necessary connection between taking concubines and saving people?

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed: "When a person can't survive, someone handing him a straw is the hope of survival."

"Especially in troubled times, when people have no place to stand, men can't survive, and women are even more miserable."

"If a wealthy family is willing to take in concubines and slaves, no matter how mean they are, they will be regarded as a good person."

Chen Jingke understood what he meant, that he was afraid that some poor people would not even have the opportunity to be slaves.

He could only say that this idea was naive.

"Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty is now vast and sparsely populated, and it is far from time to consider this matter."

"In the previous dynasty, there was a tax of ding, and the Ming Dynasty planned to divide the ding into acres."

"There is no need to pay the Ding tax or perform corvee labor. Even if they lose their land, the people can still make a living by working."

"Besides, in the future, the Ming Dynasty will need a large population to establish a country for the princes and grandsons."

"Take King Jin as an example. He wants to establish a country in Suiyechuan, but even if he is given five million people, it will not be enough."

"You have more than twenty sons. The prince now has three sons, and there will be more in the future."

"The great-grandson will also have many sons, and the great-grandson's son will also have many sons..."

"With the Ming Dynasty's population, even if it were increased tenfold, it wouldn't be enough."

"If we save one more person now, we will be able to reproduce ten people in the future, alleviating the population pressure on the Ming Dynasty."

"What we are facing now is a situation that is different from any previous dynasty. We can no longer use the old ideas to measure problems."

"Your Majesty, this is a major change that has not happened in a thousand years. It requires you to show your courage and do things that no one before you even dared to think of."

Zhu Yuanzhang was so excited by the words "Great changes unseen in a thousand years" that he could not wait to implement reforms and canonize kings immediately.

However, Lao Zhu is Lao Zhu after all, and he quickly calmed down:

"Hehe, I was almost fooled by your kid again by accident. How could I do something that no one before me would dare to think of?"

"As long as Ming Dynasty Guo Zuo can continue for a few more years, we will be satisfied."

"But your proposal does make some sense. After the people were divided into acres, the burden on the people of the Ming Dynasty was reduced a lot."

"Even if we really lose our land, we can still survive..."

"Well, we remembered. We also need to open up the sea, promote handicrafts among the people, and produce many goods..."

"If you can make money, someone will definitely expand the scale and hire people to do the work."

"In this way, landless people can survive by relying on work."

"Hey... your kid's calculations are really deep, and they are all intertwined..."

"Can you tell us about the links you designed to increase our knowledge..."

Chen Jingke smiled naively and said: "Your Majesty really thinks too highly of me. Some of them are really not planned in advance."

"The rules of the world are like a large interlocking net, and one move affects the whole body."

"The changes before the Ming Dynasty have fundamentally changed the political situation and people's livelihood."

"Every subsequent reform is actually an extension of the previous changes."

Zhu Yuanzhang understood the reason after a moment's thought and showed relief.

If Chen Jingke could really calculate that far, he would have trouble sleeping and eating.

It’s just that he didn’t know that Chen Jingke was a time traveler and made the layout from a historical perspective.

It is no longer about taking one step at a time and looking at five steps, but looking at the overall situation, looking at hundreds of years from now.

However, Chen Jingke had convinced him that abolition of slavery would indeed arouse opposition from the powerful and wealthy.

But compared to the time when Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty snatched the population from the nobles, nobles, and powerful men, it was countless times easier.

And the time is indeed ripe for the abolition of slavery.

There used to be head taxes, corvees, and various other restrictions.

If we really free the slaves comprehensively, it will actually harm people.

Now that all these have been cancelled, people's life pressure has been reduced.

Moreover, the Ming Dynasty is indeed vast and sparsely populated, with enough land for the people.

The abolition of slavery would help restore production and lay the foundation for the subsequent enfeoffment of kings.

The last one is the key. The population will naturally be given priority to future generations of the feudal country. How dare you compete with our descendants for population.

Is your family tree wholesale?

"Okay, we will discuss this matter with the prince and ask him to come up with the reform charter."

"After the population and land census is completed, it will be promulgated together with the new tax law."

Chen Jingke said happily: "Your Majesty is wise."

Zhu Yuanzhang ignored his flattery and said, "Do you have anything else to add about the Korean affairs?"

(End of this chapter)