King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

Chapter 144 King Lu is furious! Explosive killing!

After receiving a positive reply from Yin Shao, Zhu Tan couldn't help feeling dizzy.

According to the historical books he had read, the combat effectiveness of the Ming Guard troops was pretty good in the early days.

At least in the dozens or hundreds of major battles in the Hongwu Dynasty, the guardsmen maintained quite good combat effectiveness.

Could it be that they relied on these people to fight?

Look at their clothes, they are in tatters.

He was completely dirty.

The mental state is naturally very numb.

The most important thing is their physical condition!
They were obviously a group of middle-aged men in their prime.

Now he looks haggard, his arms and legs are as thin as hemp stalks, and there is only a thin layer of skin on his belly!

These guard posts were still playing a role in consolidating border rule even during the Qing Dynasty.

Zhao Nian was stunned for a moment, then he laughed dryly and said: "Your Highness! It is the busy farming season now, and everywhere is very busy! Can you call less people?"

These all depend on the good functioning of the health center system.

How can we fight in such a state?

Among them, there are more guards in Yanzhou, with a total of five thousand.

There are more than 9,000 people in the Yanzhou Guard.

In fact.

Many large health centers are not just military organizations.

Only when the father or brother dies in battle will he be replaced.

When Zhao Nian heard this, he suddenly sweated more on his forehead.

Zhao Nian from Qianhu, the left guard of Yanzhou, rushed over sweating profusely.

soon.

Zhu Tan couldn't help frowning and said: "Find the Qianhu of Yanzhou Left Guard for me!"

Zhu Tan looked at Zhao Nian with a frown and said, "I am here to inspect the situation of the guard station! You go and call for deployment!"

The other extra children are the most ordinary people.

Without any choice.

Relying on such a system, the Ming Dynasty consolidated and expanded its rule over the border areas by establishing individual posts. These military households continued to thrive locally, and eventually, these border areas were truly in the hands of the court.

This leads to another problem.

At the same time, the military households in the guardhouse generally only have one child per household.

By the Yongle period, the number had expanded to more than 280 million people.

The army at the garrison will be undermanned.

The highest local official is only Qianhu.

Several other health clinics are Qianhu clinics.

The main corruption method of these guards officers is to seize the property of military households!
The land originally distributed to military households by the imperial court was a guarantee for their survival.

Of course, through privately increasing taxes, privately assigning corvee services, etc., the oppressed military households quickly went bankrupt and eventually lost their land and became tenant farmers of the military officers.

Then, other military households are no different from ordinary farmers, they all make a living by farming.

These guardhouses are no different from small government offices.

If father and brother are always safe and sound.

For example, directly using power to take advantage of others by force.

After all, all the military households who could be in the army have fled!
Zhu Tan looked at Zhao Nian and said calmly: "If a little food is destroyed, it will be destroyed. What is the loss? I will report it to the king later, and I will compensate for everything! Now I just want to see the full Yanzhou Zuowei !”

Zhu Tan sneered.

What's even worse is that they don't even have to do anything as sharecroppers and just run away.

However, there is such a problem in feudal society. Any good system needs someone to implement it. Once the national situation changes, or even people's thoughts change, then many good systems will go out of shape when implemented!
This was true of Wang Anshi's reform in history, and so was the guard system of the Ming Dynasty.

Or in years of famine, they would lend money to military households at high interest rates. Once they repaid the loan, their fields would be taken away.

A considerable number of large-scale health centers have judicial and fiscal powers.

Emperor Hongwu once proudly said, "I can raise a million soldiers without consuming a grain of rice from the country."

But the guards officers would always use various means to take these lands as their own.

This system, which is similar to farming, also allowed the Ming Dynasty to have an army that was beyond the reach of previous dynasties. During the Hongwu period alone, there were more than 180 million troops!

The military households in these guard stations were ordinary people who made a living by farming. When wartime came, they transformed into soldiers and went out to fight, saving the country a lot of expenses.

To be honest, the Ming Dynasty's guard system itself was well designed.

Zhu Tan had read history books and knew the tricks of these guards officers very well.

Zhao Nian could only smile bitterly and said: "Since His Highness cares so much about our Yanzhou left guard! General Mo will summon the sergeants of the guard station and come as soon as possible!"

Zhu Tan nodded, put his hands behind his hands and said, "Go! I am waiting here!"

however.

I waited for three hours until the afternoon.

Zhu Tan even suspected that this bastard had absconded out of fear of crime.

The Yanzhou Zuowei people had finally assembled and arrived in front of Zhu Tan.

Zhao Nian rushed to Zhu Tan, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said: "Your Highness, the Yanzhou left guard, a total of a thousand sergeants, are here!"

Zhu Tan nodded.

He said to Chen Huwei beside him: "Chen Huwei, take down Zhao Nian and hit him with 10 military sticks first!"

Zhao Nian was stunned on the spot and couldn't help shouting: "Your Highness! What crime is the general guilty of?"

Zhu Tan sneered.

“It actually took three hours to assemble a mere thousand people!

It shows how neglected the training in your health center is on weekdays!

For this alone, I will beat you for being incompetent! "

Zhao Nian was speechless when he heard this.

Yin Shao, standing next to Zhu Tan, was full of admiration!
This is the prince worthy of following him!

Although he would hand himself over to take the blame at every turn.

But when you are wise, you are really wise!

Next to Zhu Tan, Princess Lu Tang couldn't bear it.

She couldn't help but persuade: "Your Highness, are 10 military sticks a bit too much?"

Zhu Tan looked at Mrs. Tang and asked with a smile: "Princess, can't you bear it?"

Mrs. Tang shook her head and said, "I just don't want Your Highness to have a bad reputation."

Zhu Tan's heart softened and she gently pinched Tang's catkin.

Tang's jade hands trembled, but she didn't dare to dodge.

She knows His Highness's temper.

If he is not allowed to do what he wants because of his own shyness, he will only go further and push himself further.
Zhu Tan felt the amazing tenderness of Tang's jade hands.

It wasn't until Tang's Jade Noodles started to become popular that I couldn't put it down.

He smiled and said: "Don't worry! My reputation will only get better and better!"

talking.

Zhu Tan smiled at Zhao Nian and said, "The princess is kind and intercedes for you. I will reduce your punishment!"

Zhao Nian showed a happy expression when he heard this.

10. If the military stick is beaten firmly.

He will also have to suffer a lot.

The princess is so kind
Fortunately, His Highness Prince Lu is a soft-eared person!
Zhu Tan put his hands behind his back and said, "Then give the fifth army stick to the left buttock and the fifth army stick to the right butt!"

Tang was stunned.

Zhu Tan smiled and said: "Princess, look how kind I am to you! As soon as you plead for mercy, the punishment will be halved!"

Tang couldn't help but shake his head and muttered.

Your Highness still likes to joke.

Zhao Nian looked bitter, isn't this the same?

Moreover, originally both buttocks were under pressure together, and the injuries may have been minor, but now each buttock has to receive five military sticks, and I'm afraid the pain will be even greater by then!
Zhao Nian was about to hesitate to plead guilty when he looked up and saw the face of His Royal Highness King Lu that seemed to be smiling but not smiling, but his eyes were clearly filled with anger!
This gave him a chill in his heart!
I had no choice but to lead the military stick honestly.

soon.

After beating him with 10 military sticks, Chen Nian limped up to Zhu Tan.

His face became a little pale.

Zhu Tan smiled.

Looking at the somewhat messy formation in front of him.

Look at the sergeant in front of him again.

Although he didn't see any problems, he still felt that the whole team gave him a very strange feeling!
There seems to be a lot less murderous intent!
After all, Zhu Tan had met many sergeants in Rizhao and Anton Guard.

The temperament given to him by these people in front of him is completely unlike that of a soldier!

Except for some of the sergeants in front, they still have a bit of military spirit.

The simplicity and honesty in the eyes of the others do not look like soldiers who have experienced training and war!
Are these people really soldiers?
Why does it always give people a feeling of sluggishness?

Zhu Tan couldn't help but frown when he thought of those malnourished old farmers!
You know, this is the Hongwu period!

Junhu's life was pretty good.

According to the regulations of the court, the court seized a lot of land from ordinary people at that time and distributed it to military households.

On average, a military household can be allocated 50 acres of land, and will also be given cattle, seeds, and someone to teach planting techniques!
Of course, the taxes borne by military households are still higher. After all, they have to provide food reserves for the garrison.

Unlike ordinary farmers in the Ming Dynasty who were taxed 10% per 20%, military households owned roughly half of their harvests and half of their harvests were handed over to the guards.

Although the tax is a bit heavy, after all, each military household has a full 50 acres of land!

This is Yanzhou, assuming millet is grown.

One acre of land can produce two to three shi, and 50 acres of land equals at least 120 shi of grain!
After deducting half of what was given to the guard, the military household still had 60 shi left in his hands, which would be 30 taels in silver.

It’s more comfortable than ordinary people live!

In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, military households were forced to flee or return to poverty after being repeatedly exploited by powerful powerful men.

But at this time, no matter what, they should not live in such poverty!

Zhu Tan frowned and looked at Zhao Nian.

suddenly.

He thought of a way.

Maybe we can test out the problem with these soldiers!
He smiled at Zhao Nian beside him and said: "Zhao Qianhu, go and summon the general banner under your rule!"

The general banner is the officers under Qianhu.

Each general banner commands 50 people.

Zhao Nian was not ambiguous when he heard this.

Soon the names of 20 people were called out. These people were the general banner of Yanzhou Zuowei.

Zhu Tan nodded and ordered them to line up in front of him.

Then he smiled and said: "Zhao Qianhu gives the order! Let the sergeants in your station stand behind their respective flags!"

The reason is very simple.

If these sergeants have no problems, they can naturally find their general flag easily!

If there's a problem!
Then, just this one order is enough for them to reveal their secrets!
Yin Shao looked at Zhu Tan, his eyes full of admiration!
I almost didn't say the words "His Royal Highness is wise" out loud!

the other side.

Zhao Nianze was stunned.

Zhu Tan looked at Zhao Nian coldly.

"Do I need to say what I said a second time?"

Zhao Nian was startled by Zhu Tan's threatening words! Regardless of whether Zhao Nian is a remarkable figure among these thousands of households, it's true.

But compared to Zhu Tan, he is just an ant!
After all, Zhu Tan is a dignified vassal king!

In the vassal territory, there is the power of life and death.

Not to mention a mere Qianhu, even Qianhu's immediate boss, the commander of the Yanzhou Guard, a third-grade figure, Zhu Tan can kill with just one sentence!

The King of Qin, Zhu Xi, and the King of Qi, Zhu Shu, both killed commanders!

The most he could do was to be scolded by the emperor.

Hearing the murderous intent in Zhu Tan's tone.

Zhao Nian hurriedly ordered: "Attention, all armies! Come and stand behind your general flag!"

Finish this sentence.

Zhao Nian resignedly closed his eyes.

next second.

Everyone is at a loss!

In the sound of scolding one after another.

The team quickly became confused.

In some cases, there were hundreds of people standing behind the general flag. And some general flags have only a dozen people behind them!

There were many people standing motionless and at a loss.

Zhu Tan sneered when he saw the scene in front of him.

really!

There's something wrong with these guardsmen!

Zhu Tan looked at Zhao Nian with a faint smile.

"Zhao Qianhu! Please explain, what's going on?"

Zhao Nian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said bitterly: "Your Highness, the last general will be guilty!

During this period of time, the training and management of these sergeants were neglected!
As a result, they didn’t even recognize their own flag! "

Zhu Tan sneered and said, "Zhao Nian, you are so brave!

At this time, you still dare to lie to me?
February of the eighteenth year of Hongwu!
I have gathered all the sergeants of the Yanzhou Guard and ordered you to lead the army to rescue Rizhao County!
In the first half of this year, the imperial court also ordered Yanzhou Guards to conduct drills!

Don’t talk about the past, just talk about this year!
At this moment, the Yanzhou Guard has already carried out at least two mobilizations!
How could these soldiers not recognize their own flag?

If you don't recognize the general flag, how can you command and dispatch on the battlefield and during drills?

Or, are these people fools?

After such a short period of time, I don’t even recognize my own flag! If you want to make up a reason, make up a better one! "

When Zhao Nian heard this, he was immediately speechless. He just murmured: "Your Highness. This. This."

Zhu Tan looked at Zhao Nian and said with a faint smile: "Zhao Nian, what else do you want to say? Or are you planning to treat me as a fool?"

The words fell.

Zhu Tan's tone already contained murderous intent.

Zhao Nian was almost unable to resist!
He swallowed hard and said, "Your Highness, this happened because the general was incompetent in leading the troops. Your Highness, please forgive me."

Zhu Tan sneered.

"You still dare to speak harshly? I like to punish people like you who are sharp-tongued and sharp-tongued!"

talking.

Zhu Tan smiled and said: "Chen Guards, I have always known your ability to kill a goose to retrieve the egg! Now comes the work!"

The words fell.

Chen Huwei's eyes shone.

He took out a small hammer from his waist, looked at Zhao Nian, and replied: "Don't worry, Your Highness! This small hammer is sure to be firm and strong, and I'm sure I can solve the problem with one strike!"

Zhao Nian was stunned and couldn't help but ask: "Your Highness, I wonder what is the meaning of killing the chicken to obtain the eggs?"

Zhu Tan ignored him.

Guard Chen started yelling.

"How long has it been since you entered the city? There are no people in Yanzhou City who don't know what it means to kill the goose and get the eggs!"

With that said, Zhao Nian was dragged away on the spot!
Next to Zhu Tan, Yin Shao showed a look of intolerance.

Your Highness, this is too cruel.

Yin Shao felt a little sick when he thought about what he did to those rogues last time.

soon.

A dungeon in Senhusuo.

Zhao Nian was tied up and fixed to the wooden board.

The whole person was stripped of his clothes.

With his white body fat exposed, he doesn't look like a soldier at all.

Zhu Tan looked at Zhao Nian and couldn't help but shake his head.

"Thankfully you are still a Qianhu, why do you have this fat on your body, it makes you look so disgusting!"

Zhao Nian was unable to argue.

He just struggled desperately and said: "Your Highness, what is the crime of the general? Why do you abuse the general so!"

Zhu Tan said calmly: "Based on the performance of your subordinates just now, I guess there is something wrong with you! How can any soldier not know the general flag!"

Zhao Nian's face turned pale and he said, "If Your Highness doesn't believe your subordinates, you can go investigate!"

Zhu Tan shook his head and sneered: "What does it matter if you just kill a thousand households? I don't have time to investigate! Since I suspect you, I'll kill you first and then investigate!"
By the time you are dead, if you just post a few notices and have people report your wrongdoing, the truth will surely come to light, so why bother to investigate? "

After the words fell, Zhao Nian was stunned!
Isn't this a disregard for human life? Is there such an unreasonable thing happening in the world?

Beside him, Yin Shao nodded.

Fully agree!

That’s right, this is the Prince Lu in my mind!

What kind of feudal king would you be if you didn't take human lives?
Is there any vassal king in the Ming Dynasty who doesn't kill innocent people indiscriminately?

Soon, Guard Chen walked up to Zhao Nian with a small hammer.

Zhu Tan said calmly: "Either confess, or kill the goose and take the eggs! I will only say this once!"

The words fell.

boom--!
Guard Chen's hammer landed hard between Zhao Nian's legs!

The small hammer is extremely sharp, and when it hits, it brings with it a blast of cool breeze!

Chen Nian couldn't help but feel a chill between his legs.

Clamping involuntarily.

Unfortunately, he was tied so tightly at this time that it was impossible to clamp him.

Subsequently.

Zhao Nian suddenly screamed!
Guard Chen frowned and said, "What are you shouting for? I'm just warming up! I haven't made a move yet!"

Zhao Nian was a little panicked and said, "Why do I seem to have already felt the loss?"

Chen Huwei smiled and said: "Feeling it is different from experiencing it! If you don't believe me, let me try it!"

As he said this, Guard Chen raised his hammer high.

Zhao Nian was lying on the hard board and saw the hammer, and he was so frightened that the veins on his forehead popped out.

It was not until this time that he had a clearer understanding of killing the goose to obtain the egg!

This is not killing a chicken, it is clearly killing me!

If this reckless man were to strike down with a hammer, he would not be killing the goose to seize the eggs, he would clearly be beating the goose!
Zhu Tan couldn't help but smile.

This guard Chen's record is not very good, but his ability to intimidate people is indeed top-notch!
Seeing that Zhao Nian was going crazy with fear.

Zhu Tan knew that the time was almost up.

Taking advantage of the situation, he asked: "Tell me the truth! What is going on in this guardhouse?

How come those soldiers didn't even recognize their own flag in just half a year? "

Zhao Nian looked at Zhu Tan bitterly and said, "Your Highness, can you spare my life?"

Zhu Tan shook his head and said: "If the guardsmen look like this, your thousands of families will be dead!"
Don't count on living. I can only guarantee that you will die in a painless manner. "

As he spoke, Zhu Tan added seriously: "You should know that if an official embezzles sixty taels of silver, he will be skinned and stripped of the grass!
The problem with your health center is probably much more than just sixty taels of silver!

Just ask for pleasure! "

Zhao Nian laughed sadly.

"In that case, please do what you say, Your Highness! Don't delay the villain!"

Zhu Tan nodded and said, "Of course not."

In his eyes, when a person dies, he is dead, and the greatest punishment for a person is to let him die.

It doesn't make much difference whether he died or not. What's the point of making him suffer so much?

Zhao Nian smiled bitterly and said: "General, I can only tell the truth. There are only more than 400 soldiers in these thousand households who are still registered!"

Beside Zhu Tan, Yin Shao and Chen Huwei trembled when they heard this.

In fact, if today in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, 100 people from a thousand households in a place would be considered good, and a guard with people would be considered very powerful.

At that time, everyone was accustomed to the decline of Wei Suo.

Even if the entire guardhouse is abandoned, there is nothing strange about it.

However, at this time, Yin Shao and Chen Huwei were still in disbelief when they heard that there were only 500 left guards in Yanzhou!

After all, this was the Hongwu period!

In the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China, why did such a big event happen in the Wei Institute!

Zhu Tan's expression did not change and he said calmly: "Go on!"

Zhao Nian smiled bitterly and said: "The last general came here in the seventh year of Hongwu and served as the left guard of Yanzhou, Ren Qianhu.

For so many years, I have never been promoted, and I went to Mobei twice with the army!

It can be regarded as life and death for the imperial court!
Many of the brothers who went with me died. It was just a fluke that I came back alive!

At this age, the general only wants to keep more money!

Whether it’s for yourself to enjoy life or for future generations.”

Speaking of it.

Zhao Nian's voice became lower and lower.

In fact.

He is also polite and honest.

It's just that when you are greedy, you put money in a more important position.

Zhu Tan snorted coldly.

In fact, many corrupt officials are like this!

When he was young, he was still able to contribute to the country and even made considerable contributions.

But once you get older, you will think about seeking more benefits for yourself!
And this was also the beginning of their corruption.

Zhu Tan said calmly: "Then tell me why there are only more than 400 people left in your Thousand Household Institute!"

Zhao Nian smiled bitterly and said, "In this small house of thousands of households, I have no other way to make money.

The only way out may be to attack those military households! "

Zhu Tan looked at Zhao Nian with a cold expression on his face.

Zhao Nian, you deserve to die!

These military households work hard on weekdays, and they have to hand over half of their harvest to the guards to share the country's worries!

When the war comes, he will be ready to go into battle, and he may not be able to come back alive by then!

How dare you put your ideas on their heads!

brute!

Zhao Nian was scolded by Zhu Tan and trembled all over.

in front of him.

Chen Huwei and Yin Shao also had murderous intent on their faces!
Zhu Tan said coldly: "Tell me, how did you trap these military households?"

Zhao Nian said in a seductive voice: "The general just lent money to some military households at first! But the interest rate was higher! If they don't pay back the money when it is due, they will take over their land!"

Zhu Tan frowned and said, "How much?"

Zhao Nian said: "Twenty percent interest per year!"

hiss--!
Is this called a loan?

You might as well grab it!
Isn’t this an anti-aircraft gun?

This means that those military households who borrowed 10 shi of grain from Zhao Nian will have to pay back 30 shi in the coming year!
Those military households even had a golden mountain destroyed by borrowing it like this!
What's more, they only have 50 acres of land.

No matter how hard you farm, it will be difficult to repay such a high amount of interest in just one year.

Zhao Nian smiled bitterly and said, "The villain took this opportunity to acquire 5000 acres of land!

Some of these military households escaped. They fled to the homes of nearby dignitaries and became tenants for them!
For these people, the villain has no choice but to give up.

Others have become tenants of villains.”

When Zhu Tan heard this, he was extremely angry.

"What a bastard! How dare you bully military households like this!"

Although Zhu Tan was extremely angry, he still said coldly: "Keep talking!"

Zhao Nian was startled.

But after hearing Zhu Tan's words, he still had no choice but to obey the order and said: "The villain discovered that later on, many people stopped coming to borrow money from the villain! But there are thousands of military households among these thousands of households! The villain temporarily Blinded by greed, I wanted to do more land, so I secretly assigned tasks to these military households, such as building water conservancy projects and even participating in border guarding!

They will beg in front of the villain and give him bribes!
Some people even simply transferred 50 acres of land in their name to me in order to survive."

Zhu Tan couldn't help but close her eyes as she listened to Zhao Nian's story.

He could completely imagine the despair and helplessness of those military households at that time, as well as Zhao Nian's ferocity and greed!
Although Zhao Nian was like an ant in front of him, he could crush him to death at any time!
But in front of these honest military households, he is an out-and-out scourge!

If he had any bad intentions, half of the sky above these military households would collapse!
But this Zhao Nian had bad intentions!
Because of this, all the military households who shed their blood and died for the Ming Dynasty were trapped!
Zhu Tan took a deep breath, looked at Zhao Nian, and said coldly: "Today, how many acres of those military households' fields have you swallowed?"

Zhao Nian said honestly: "Now 43,000 acres are in the hands of villains!"

Zhu Tan sneered.

It really deserves to die!
Zhu Tan continued to ask: "Out of a total of 50,000 acres of land, you have swallowed up 43,000 acres!
Are all the more than 800 military households on the run now?
Or have I become your tenant and your slave Zhao Nian!

Also, why didn’t you take over the remaining 7000 acres of land? "

Zhao Nian said in a serene voice: "The wives and daughters of those military families are all quite beautiful, and they were all bribed to the villain. That's why the villain let them go."

Zhu Tan:! ! !
He couldn't help but sigh!
"Zhao Nian! I have always been a man of my word, but for you, I had to break my promise."

(End of this chapter)