Reborn Ming Dynasty as Emperor

Chapter 12

Just when Zhu Youxiao was thinking to himself, as the emperor of Ming Dynasty, how to save the Ming Dynasty that was about to collapse 17 years later.

The small yellow gate outside the hall suddenly came to report that Sun Chengzong, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion and Minister of the Ministry of war, asked to see him.

Zhu Youxiao couldn't help being a little happy. He now knew that Sun Chengzong, Xiong Tingbi and Wang Zaijin could be regarded as able ministers to deal with the Liaodong War.

Yuan Dapao naturally doesn't count, Zhu Youxiao doesn't think that a person with great ambition and talent can do much.

Although the strategic thinking of Yuan Dapao and Sun Chengzong is somewhat similar, they both pay attention to building castles, expanding troops, and building the Guanning line of defense, but Yuan Dapao is much more conceited than Sun Chengzong, and his mind is much smaller. Mao Wenlong still died in his hands.

Sun Chengzong did not complain to Zhu Youxiao because Zhu Youxiao obeyed the opinion of the eunuch party and dismissed him. He had the legacy of Fan Wenzheng, and he rushed to the capital without stopping after receiving the imperial decree. If you don't have time to meet your friends in the court, you come to the palace first to ask for a meeting.

In Daming, Zhu Youxiao was not the only one who was worried about the future of Daming, and he, Sun Chengzong, was also one of them.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Sun Chengzong bowed and saluted: "The old minister has seen His Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao hurriedly supported Sun Chengzong: "Mr. Sun, don't stick to it. Speaking of which, you are my teacher, and I should bow to you."

"Heaven and earth are kings, relatives and teachers, kings and ministers are in front, teachers and students are behind, your majesty is a body of gold, and veterans dare not be." Seeing that Zhu Youxiao was about to salute, Sun Chengzong also hurriedly supported Zhu Youxiao.

"When I was young, I dismissed Mr. Sun because of a sudden anger. Now that I think about it, I really shouldn't. Now that I have just recovered from a serious illness, I can't wait to return Mr. Sun to the cabinet. I didn't expect Mr. Sun to come to the capital so soon after the decree. , I am very pleased, but it’s also just in time, and I just want to ask Mr., what is the real big trouble for Ming Dynasty?"

Sun Chengzong also thought through many problems during the period when he was dismissed and lived idle. In addition, he has gone through wars, which is different from other Donglin Party officials who are used to talking about internal struggles.

As soon as Zhu Youxiao asked, Sun Chengzong immediately bowed his hand: "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that my Ming Dynasty has three major problems at present, one is the dispute between the party, the other is the Jurchen outside the customs, and the third is the refugees."

Zhu Youxiao didn't expect that Sun Chengzong's thoughts coincided with his own, so he was very happy, and asked Sun Chengzong what solution he had.

"Your Majesty, in fact, all three of these are the same problem, that is, money, food and taxes!
No money, no food, no soldiers, no cities to build, no guns to add, the Hulu soldiers can plunder at will, and poison our Ming people;

If there is no money and food, there will be no scholars to support, and there will be more people who sell officials and nobles, and those who follow the power will gradually fill up inside and outside the court;

If there is no money and food, there will be no disaster to relieve, and the people will go into exile without enough food to eat, and they will turn into thieves, so the fields will become more and more deserted, and the country's money, food and taxes will be even more embarrassing. "

After Sun Chengzong's speech, Zhu Youxiao answered: "Dare to ask, sir, where does my Ming Dynasty's money, food, taxes and taxes come from?"

"Naturally, it comes from the people of the world, but now the people are displaced, and there are not one out of ten who have land. Your Majesty can encourage the refugees to reclaim wasteland for themselves, and the frontier army to support themselves, so that the world can be safe and secure."

After all, Sun Chengzong is a bureaucrat belonging to the gentry class. No matter how far-sighted he is, he will never realize that it is a mistake for Daming to collect money, food, taxes and taxes from the people.

The butt determines the head. If Sun Chengzong's suggestion was in the early or mid-Ming Dynasty, it would be fine. In the absence of external crises, it is indeed possible to ease class conflicts by increasing cultivated land.

However, due to the impact of the small glacier climate and the large amount of land concentrated in the hands of the gentry, it is impossible for Daming to get out of financial difficulties in a short period of time simply by reclamation and farming.

People in this era didn't know it, but Zhu Youxiao knew that in less than a year, the whole north, especially Shaanxi, would be hit by a severe drought. In addition, the appalling plague in history would also sweep the north.

The success of Li Zicheng's uprising is largely due to this. In addition, there is also the mutiny of soldiers caused by the lack of silver. surgery.

And this interest group is the Jiangnan gentry represented by the Donglin Party, who occupy the vast majority of the empire's wealth.

The Ming Dynasty died because it was too strict with the people and too lenient with the scholar-officials. The later Manchus were able to rule China for so long, which was not unrelated to their strict control over the gentry.

The literary prison of copying families and destroying clans at every turn made social wealth only in the hands of the Manchu emperors. Even Heshen, who was once incomparably beautiful, was just a fat pig raised by Qianlong for Jiaqing.

Zhu Youxiao didn't care about Sun Chengzong's last point of view. He sighed secretly and said, "There is some truth in what you said, but far away water can't save near fire. If Daming wants to survive now, it can only increase the intensity of commercial taxation. And rectify the administration of officials, and take back the people's land that those corrupt officials have embezzled! Sir, please help me!"

At this time, Sun Chengzong seemed to have a thunderbolt on his head. He didn't expect that the emperor wanted to directly attack the bureaucratic gentry. He admitted that this was more effective than what he just said, but it also faced greater resistance. Shang Yang of the Han Dynasty, Wang Mang of the Han Dynasty, Anshi the King of the Song Dynasty, and Zhang Jiangling of the early Wanli period all revitalized the country, but they all failed in the end.

But Sun Chengzong saw Zhu Youxiao staring at him seriously, and he also knew that he had to make a choice now, either stand on His Majesty's side and attack his former colleagues and friends, or choose to refuse, and then dismissed and returned home again.

Thinking of the countless refugees and rich officials and gentry he saw on the way to the capital, coupled with his ambition, Sun Chengzong resolutely knelt down and made a big gift to Zhu Youxiao:
"The old minister is willing to do his best for His Majesty, and he will go through fire and water!"

Regardless of whether Sun Chengzong is greedy for power or position, or really wants to do something for Daming, Zhu Youxiao saw that he finally chose to stand on his side resolutely, and his favor with him has increased a lot, so he hurriedly helped Sun Chengzong up:

"Mr. Why do you have to give such a big ceremony? It really breaks my heart. In the future, I have to rely on you for everything." Then, Zhu Youxiao ordered the eunuch Bingbi, who was on duty, to pass the decree and give Mr. Sun a bullfight. Conquer, and be named a Grand Master."

Since Sun Chengzong chose to stand on his side, Zhu Youxiao naturally did not hesitate to promote him.

Sun Chengzong was not surprised by flattery or humiliation. After thanking you, he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing that I have to tell Your Majesty."

"Sir, please tell me," Zhu Youxiao is in a good mood now, and now at least there is a capable minister standing on this side, as excited as a swordsman who has won a sword.

"Although the Jiangnan gentry represented by the Donglin Party is the biggest obstacle to Ming Dynasty, after all, Your Majesty is the king of the world, and the hearts of the Jiangnan gentry and people cannot be completely chilled. In addition, there are many loyal ministers in the Donglin Party. Although there are good ministers, most of them are villains. Your Majesty needs to be meritocratic and impartial. In addition, Wei Zhongxian, the eunuch who is in charge of ceremonies and holds a pen, is already powerful and has offended too many people. Your Majesty should give everyone in the world a explain."

(End of this chapter)