The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 359 Nanyang Clearance Plan
Just as Zhu Xiongying guessed, Zhu Chong had indeed completed the cleansing of Nanyang and was preparing to set off for Paradise Island.

Before leaving, he held a meeting to do a final inventory.

As the Prime Minister of Qin, Li Fang came forward to report: "...half of the Nanyang clans have been wiped out, and the established plan has been completed."

"4.25 million strings of cash were confiscated, and the gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings were initially estimated to be worth over 10 million strings of cash..."

"There are too many other items, and their value has not yet been estimated."

"Capture of slaves... more than 17,300 prisoners."

"In addition to these things, the most important thing is that more than 3,800 ships of various types were seized."

"However, only 540 of them can sail long distances, and the rest are small and medium-sized ships."

He was talking about the proper ships that could go out to sea. The sampans and small boats that could only fish near the coast were not included.

This harvest was so abundant that it could be called a wave of fat. Everyone present was a little excited.

He is indeed your Majesty’s brother, and the benefits he gives are really generous.

With these things, Qin's starting point will be higher and they will suffer less over there.

After listening to the report, Zhu Chong had a calm expression, as if he didn't care at all:
"We picked out valuable items from overseas and took them away, and then sold the rest to Temasek, and then exchanged them for various resources."

"We don't have the ability to build ships in the short term, so these ships will take as much as possible."

"These prisoners will be our first batch of people. They must not be abused. We must try our best to ensure they reach Paradise Island alive."

These people have lived in Southeast Asia for generations and have been dealing with the ocean since childhood. They are the best sailors.

Selecting young and strong people from among them to join the navy can also help it take shape more quickly.

Li Fang naturally understood this and said, "Yes, I have arranged for someone to take care of those prisoners."

"I have also told them that if they arrive at Paradise Island and work for Qin for three years, their sins will be pardoned and they will be included in Qin's nationality."

"Now these people's emotions have stabilized a lot."

Zhu Chong nodded and said, "Pick out a number of fine gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, distribute some to you, and keep some for decorating the Qin Palace."

Everyone couldn't help but frown. They haven't even arrived yet, but they're already preparing to enjoy themselves?
Zhu Chong explained: "We are a vassal state of the Celestial Empire and cannot bring disgrace to the reputation of the Ming Dynasty."

"These things are used to decorate the facade for the barbarians to see."

Everyone suddenly realized: "The king is wise."

When the Qin State was first established, it was impossible to build a luxurious palace in a short period of time.

If someone comes to visit you and sees that your house is shabby and then goes inside to find nothing there, what will they think?
It’s different with these artworks.

No matter what the house looks like from the outside, once you enter you’ll see it’s all works of art.

Any piece of it you take out is priceless, so it's natural to feel envious.

The simplicity of the house will also become a reflection of pragmatism in their minds.

Then, everyone else also reported on the things they were responsible for, and overall it was very good.

Zhu Chong finally showed a satisfied expression, but he still didn't speak. Instead, he looked at the last person.

A woman, Xinghong.

Others also looked over.

Under the gaze of everyone, Xinghong stood up without any fear and said:
"I have successfully spread the news. Many native forces are ready to make a move, but they dare not act rashly due to the power of the king."

"Once you leave, they will definitely take action."

The imperial court’s plan was not just to attack the Nanyang clans, although these clans did not obey the imperial court’s command.

But their existence itself is a kind of cultural expansion.

Moreover, although they cooperate with the indigenous people, they are also squeezing out the indigenous people's living space.

Defeating them would be equivalent to helping the indigenous people of Southeast Asia to grow their power.

The court would naturally not do such a stupid thing.

The court's real purpose is to fight both.

However, as a suzerain state, you need a reason to reach out and attack your vassal state.

No matter how ridiculous the reason is, it must be there.

Otherwise, the other vassal states would become disloyal and even collectively rebel against the Ming Dynasty.

If you want to implement any policy of national integration at that time, you will have to pay a thousand times more price.

Therefore, the imperial court took advantage of Temasek Island to severely damage the Nanyang clans.

Then spread the message.

The imperial court was very dissatisfied with the Nanyang clans, and the emperor openly said in court:

As citizens of a great country, we do not cherish our civilized country and even betray our ancestors, our king and our father. This is what is called disloyalty and unfilial piety.

To put it bluntly, the emperor no longer recognizes them as subjects of the Ming Dynasty.

Otherwise, how could the King of Qin dare to massacre the Nanyang clans so unscrupulously.

The indigenous forces in Southeast Asia have long coveted the wealth of those big families, but in the past they were intimidated by the power of the Ming Dynasty and did not dare to act rashly.

Now that they know that the Ming Dynasty does not recognize the identities of these big families, they naturally cannot resist the greed in their hearts.

Sooner or later, they will take action against the remaining Nanyang clans.

Once they took action, the Ming Dynasty could use this as an excuse to send troops and carry out a major purge of the entire Nanyang.

This serves two purposes:
Once some of the indigenous people here are cleared out, it will be more convenient to migrate Han people here to live.

The second is for the land here.

He promised great fiefdoms to the nobles in exchange for their support for the new policy.

Before, we had relied on Zhu Yuanzhang's reputation as a guarantee to make the nobles believe in this transaction.

Now that many years have passed and the emperor has been replaced by Zhu Biao, the nobles are bound to have doubts.

It's time to make good on your promise.

However, in Chen Jingke's plan, the first batch was just to gain people's trust, and he did not plan to distribute them on a large scale.

First, the land in Nanyang is limited, and large-scale enfeoffment is neither realistic nor necessary.

Secondly, Chen Jingke knew very well how big the world was, and America was the most suitable place for fiefdom.

Third, Nanyang was the Ming Dynasty’s back garden, and enfeoffing too many princes would be detrimental to its development.

It would be enough to enfeoff eight or ten princes here to let the nobles know that the imperial court is not fooling them.

This is all about this round of Nanyang Plan.

Zhu Chong was the executor of the plan, and he handed the plan of spreading rumors to Xinghong.

Firstly, she was familiar with the environment in Nanyang, and secondly, it was also a test.

Obviously, she completed the task brilliantly.

Zhu Chong did not hesitate to praise: "Very good, you did not disappoint me."

Xinghong smiled and said, "I would also like to thank all the brothers for their support, otherwise I would not be able to complete the plan so smoothly by myself."

Everyone was very pleased and their impression of her improved a lot.

Because of her previous experience, everyone actually looked down on her.

What can a prostitute do?
So what if she's a little clever? A prostitute is a prostitute.

Xinghong also understood this, but said nothing and proved her ability with practical actions.

Then, with just the right word "brother", she successfully changed everyone's opinion of her.

Zhu Chong witnessed all this and felt even more satisfied.

This woman lived up to his trust.

Afterwards, everyone sold the excess supplies according to his instructions.

They also purchased many daily necessities and filled all the ships.

After writing a memorial to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, he officially embarked on his journey to Asia Minor. Looking at the fleet going away, Xu Chai Lao said, "It's time for us to return to Beijing and apologize."

Watching the fleet disappear into the sky, Cen Xintong sighed: "Yes, the work has been handed over, and it's time to go back."

At this point, he turned to look at Xu Chai Lao and said, "Aren't you going to the State of Chu to pay your respects to your parents?"

Xu Chai Lao smiled bitterly and said, "I have been removed from the family tree, how can I have the face to go back and pay my respects."

Cen Xintong said seriously: "No matter what, the blood relationship cannot be severed. The person is gone, go and take a look."

Xu Chai Lao hesitated for a long time, but in the end, family affection prevailed and he said:

"That's fine, I'll just stop by and see if my old acquaintance is still around."

Cen Xintong shook his head and said, "It is said that the King of Chu's methods are very cruel..."

The methods used by King Zhu Zhen of Chu were indeed extremely cruel, as he confiscated all the powerful families in the country in one fell swoop.

They also wiped out all the large indigenous tribes on the island on the grounds that they were colluding with the big families to rebel.

After this incident, there were no more major clans or large indigenous tribes on Luzon Island.

Most of the natives were incorporated into the State of Chu and accepted the rule of the King of Chu.

A small number of them fled into the deep mountains and forests, and their living conditions completely returned to their primitive state.

Zhu Zhen ignored these natives and started drastic reforms.

He knew that his abilities were limited, so he did not mess around, but instead copied the laws of Temasek Island.

His subordinates were very confused as to why he did not imitate the Ming Dynasty but instead imitated Temasek Island?

Zhu Zhen said earnestly: "You have never seen Chen Bandu, so you don't understand how powerful he is."

His subordinates were even more puzzled: "The system of the Ming Dynasty was also designed by Chen Bandu."

Zhu Zhen explained: "How can we generalize big countries and small countries?"

"The Chu State has only a few hundred miles of territory and a population of only a hundred thousand. Forcibly imitating the Ming Dynasty's system is a recipe for disaster."

"Temasek is also an island. The system that Chen Bandu developed based on the characteristics of the island is more suitable for our Chu State."

Everyone suddenly realized and said with admiration: "Your Majesty, this is a great idea."

Then, another person raised a question: “But none of us understand the detailed system of Temasek.”

It will be troublesome if we imitate others with only half-knowledge and become the second Temasek.

The imperial court killed more than 90,000 people before it completed the reconstruction of the place.

If we run into problems, we can't ask the court for help and start a massacre, right?
Everyone shuddered at the thought of the consequences.

Zhu Zhen smiled and said, "I have considered this as well. I have already sent people to Temasek to recruit several experienced officials."

His subordinates were even more worried: "Those people can't even manage Temasek well, how can they manage Chu?"

“If we use them, won’t we be following in the footsteps of Temasek?”

Zhu Zhen comforted him, "Don't worry, how could I not have thought of this? Those who were invited are all talented and knowledgeable people."

"Besides, the experience of failure is also experience. It is precisely because they have failed that they know better than others how to do things well."

Although his subordinates were still somewhat uneasy, they had to admit that what he said made sense.

It is said that the rebuilt Temasek can be called a paradise in Nanyang, which shows that the previous failures did allow those people to accumulate a lot of experience.

Zhu Zhen suddenly sighed and said, "It would be great if we could invite Xu Chai Lao over. I would like to offer him the position of Prime Minister."

"Unfortunately, he is Chen's tutor, so I don't dare to do anything."

Everyone looked at each other in surprise, you really have a bold idea.

Not to mention that you wiped out the Xu family completely, both sides are just having a grudge against each other.

Just look at his status and position. Even though he made mistakes, he was still the Governor of Temasek.

Back then, they were on an equal footing with you, and you even had to rely on them in many cases.

Are you going to recruit now?

What's more, he has to go back to Beijing to apologize, and it's hard to say whether he can survive.

What, you want to protect him?

The question is, do you have such a big face?

Zhu Zhen didn't know what his subordinates were thinking, otherwise he would have been furious.

Just as the saying goes, if you keep thinking about it, there will be a response.

Half a month later, the subordinates reported that Xu Chailao wanted to pay tribute to his elders and hoped to get permission.

Zhu Zhen was overjoyed, this was the pillow he needed when he was sleepy.

He immediately went to the dock to greet him in person, and as soon as he saw him he said apologetically:

"Governor Xu, I'm really sorry at this moment... It's just that it's difficult to obey your orders, I hope you can understand."

Xu Chailao naturally didn't believe in any plans that were beyond God's control, but after going through so much, he had gradually matured politically.

Knowing that politics is so cruel, I understand better why Zhu Zhen did this.

What's more, even though he was a criminal, the other party did not look down on him at all. He came out to greet him personally and even apologized.

Instead of hating the other person, he was very moved:
"Your Majesty, you have wronged me. This is their own fault. They can only blame themselves."

"I heard that the king collected their bodies and buried them instead of leaving them exposed in the wilderness. I am very grateful to you."

Zhu Zhen was influenced by Confucianism since childhood and always maintained the minimum respect for the dead.

After cleaning out the large families, he ordered people to bury their bodies according to their family.

He didn't expect to have an unexpected gain today, which made him even happier.

After a few pleasantries, Xu Chailao went to the burial site to pay his respects to his clansmen.

Zhu Zhen was not so pedantic as to have his own grave for each person. He simply wrapped the bodies in straw mats and placed them in a pit for collective burial.

Xu Chailao’s parents were among them.

It's been so long since the incident happened that we naturally can't dig it out and sort it out one by one.

So he expressed his condolences to all.

Just as he was about to leave, Zhu Zhen sent someone to invite him to a banquet.

All the leading figures of the entire Chu State were present.

This courtesy made Xu Chailao even more touched.

But he also knew that when one shows courtesy to others, one must have something to ask for, and Zhu Zhen must have had his own purpose in doing so.

So after the banquet, I took the initiative to ask if there was anything I could do to help.

Zhu Zhen did not hide his intention and directly stated his purpose: "I want to implement the Temasek system in Chu, but I don't understand the new policy."

"I hope to get guidance from Governor Xu."

Xu Chai Lao smiled and said, "I wonder what the matter is. Why didn't Your Majesty tell me earlier?"

So he took out a thick book and said, "This is my understanding of the new policy, as well as the lessons learned over the years. I hope it can help you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Zhen took it solemnly and said: "Thank you for your help, Governor Xu. If Chu achieves anything, you will be rewarded handsomely."

Then the two of them started chatting again, and Zhu Zhen's words revealed his intention to recruit him.

Xu Chailao was very touched. He didn't expect that someone would value him so much.

But he had no intention of staying.

Chen Jingke was very kind to him. Now that such a big thing had happened in Temasek, he had to go back and apologize.

So he did not respond to Zhu Zhen's words.

The next day we set off and embarked on the road back to Luoyang.

(End of this chapter)