Chapter 145 Lets not play with Fief Trimming; Let’s Play with Open Plans

The advantage of being far from the capital is that with the mountains high, the emperor is far away, and the emperor can’t interfere, so you can do whatever you want. However, the downside is also that with the mountains high and the emperor far away, the emperor can’t interfere, and suspicions can be deadly.

In history, many famous ministers and generals have faced the harsh reality of “dying without committing any crimes.” “Suspicion” is like a sharp guillotine, extremely lethal.

Although Zhu Gui is a king, he is also afraid.

Being criticized once or twice is not a big deal, after all, in this era, there are too many critics. People will criticize you for wearing the wrong clothes, criticize you for being ugly, and when you navigate through the court, who doesn’t carry a few pounds of spit on them?

Those with poor mental resilience probably went back home early to farm.

Those who stayed behind are either thick-skinned, shameless, or a combination of both.

People with thin skin and a sense of shame can’t survive in the political arena of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Gui is a king and, to some extent, a member of the court, so he’s not afraid of criticism.

However, having someone continuously compile negative information about him over the years is dangerous.

While the materials for his defamation are sent to the capital, he’s still in Datong planting wheat.

While the emperor is angry, he’s still tending to his fields.

When the emperor sends someone, he’s still busy harvesting wheat.

Without being informed of the accusations and without the chance to defend himself, he can only end up in the prisoner’s carriage, enjoying a three-month tour.

Zhu Gui decided to withdraw early and return to the capital, becoming a peaceful king. Even if he faced criticism or accusations, at least he could hear the news and immediately explain himself in the palace, avoiding a life-threatening situation.

“Your Majesty, Marquis of Wuding, Guo Ying, is highly talented and can ensure the safety of Datong. I have no use in Datong. It would be better for the your majesty to reclaim my fief, allow me to engage in commerce, and seek a way out for my descendants.”

Zhu Gui said firmly.

Upon hearing Zhu Gui’s determination, Zhu Yunwen looked at the other kings and asked, “What do you think, should I agree or not?”

Zhu Di, Zhu Quan, and Zhu Zhi unanimously replied, “Everything is at the emperor’s discretion.”

Zhu Yunwen chuckled and said, “Since Uncle Dai is willing to come to the capital to accompany me, then I agree. As for the others, stay in your fiefs and guard the borders for Ming.”

Upon hearing this, the hesitant kings immediately made up their minds.

Being a merchant is too shameful. It’s better to enjoy wealth and prosperity at home.

Zhu Yunwen looked at the unmoved kings and just smiled faintly.

The early bird catches the worm. The earlier they engage in commerce, the greater the benefits. Once the internal affairs are stabilized and the foundation is solidified, it will be time to cut down on the generous treatment of these princes. Dreaming of enjoying the government’s resources without contributing is wishful thinking.

I even plan to earn money to support the imperial harem myself, why should you be an exception?

After the family banquet, Zhu Yunmu returned to the Kun Ning Palace.

Ma Enhui has not rested yet and is studying “Elementary Mathematics,” calculating on paper with a brush in hand.

Seeing this, Zhu Yunwen couldn’t help but walk up and say, “If you continue like this, I’ll call you the Accounting Empress in the future.”

Ma Enhui extended her small fist and threatened, “Dare you?”

Zhu Yunwen grabbed Ma Enhui’s fist, pulled her into his arms, and looked at the blushing Ma Enhui, saying with a smile, “Alright, you dare to threaten the emperor; let’s see how I’ll deal with you.”

“I don’t have…”

“Lying, adds another charge.”

“I…”

Ma Enhui couldn’t say anything more.

The night was quiet, a beautiful woman at his side, but Zhu Yunwen couldn’t fall asleep no matter what.

The King of Yan submitted while the King of Liao, Min, and Dai relinquished their fiefs and military power, yet still, numerous other kings held control over their territories.

King of Ning, Zhu Quan, controlled most of the areas north of Beiping. King of Qing, Zhu Zhan, control over Ningxia. King of Suzhuang, Zhu Yang, dominated the region of Ganzhou in Shaanxi. These were all crucial border defense areas that needed to be under his control.

Apart from the northern border regions, there were also King of Zhou, Zhu Su, in Kaifeng, King of Qi, Zhu Fu, in Qingzhou, Shandong, and King of Lu, Zhu Tan, in Yanzhou, Shandong. The territories controlled by these individuals were also strategically important.

Zhu Yunwen got up, donned a garment, and walked out of the Kunning Palace, gazing at the starry sky with a worried expression.

The issue of the princes was like a stumbling block on the road ahead. Until they were dealt with, there was no way to move forward confidently.

Zhu Yunwen understood that solving the problem of the other kings wasn’t a technical challenge. The real difficulty lay in how to make a move on the kings without causing significant consequences.

Having the kings engage in business seemed like a suitable approach.

However, this method might not be suitable for all the kings.

To make them relinquish their fiefs, it would be necessary to offer benefits greater than what they had in their territories.

Besides engaging in trade and selling goods, what other methods could ensure that the kings had no worries about their livelihoods and that the lives of their descendants were secure?

Zhu Yunwen contemplated as he walked, inadvertently reaching the Chengqian Palace, where the sound of weaving resonated from within.

“Go and check, has Lady Luo rested?” Zhu Yunwen said to Shuangxi.

Shuangxi agreed and entered the Chengqian Palace. After a short while, he came out and said, “Your Majesty, Lady Luo has already retired. Should I…”

“No need,” Zhu Yunwen interrupted. He entered the Chengqian Palace, gesturing for others to continue with the weaving. He then instructed Qiao Hui, a maid beside Lady Luo, “Fetch the weaving account book for me.”

Qiao Hui quickly retrieved the account book and cautiously said, “Your Majesty, it’s already late. Your health is a top priority.”

Zhu Yunwen waved his hand, saying, “It’s alright. There’s no need to disturb Lady Luo. You can wait on the side.”

As he perused the account book, Zhu Yunwen’s mind wasn’t focused on the ledger. His ears were filled with the sounds of weaving. Looking up at rows of looms, a gleam of insight flashed in his eyes.

He thought to himself that he was truly confused. There were 360 different trades, and with so many trades, isn’t it easy to raise dozens of vassal kings?

Once he reclaimed their fiefs, they would lose their land, or the land they had would be purchased with money, and the quantity would be limited.

From this perspective, the relationship between the primary industry and the kings wasn’t significant. Since the primary industry didn’t offer much, they could look to developing the secondary and tertiary industries.

The secondary industry included mining, manufacturing, electricity, gas supply, and construction. However, electricity and gas weren’t feasible in this era.

Construction?

That didn’t seem very promising either.

Land was precious in the capital; even a basic residence cost two hundred taels. Ordinary large estates were worth at least a thousand taels. With the officials’ meager salaries, not many could afford it.

Typical officials either rented houses in the city or went outside, spending two taels of silver to buy a small estate with half a mu of land.

And don’t even mention the Ming Dynasty; even during the highly praised Song Dynasty, it was the same.

Su Zhe, the younger brother of Su Dongpo, struggled his entire life and couldn’t afford a house. He ended up writing:

“I was born with half-white hair, and there’s no room for a house within the four seas. I’m old and still without a residence; my children use this as a complaint.”

In other words, he was saying, I’ve told you before, I’m old and still can’t afford a house. Why don’t you believe me?

However, Su Zhe wasn’t an exception; even his father, Su Xun, didn’t have a house.

Considering there was no real estate speculation or market potential, if the kings entered the real estate business, they would probably go bankrupt.

So, eliminating the real estate industry, the only options left were mining and manufacturing.

Zhu Yunwen planned to have Zhu Gui work on mining, perhaps coal mining.

Coal, this kind of thing, no matter how much is extracted, it can all be used. There’s no need to worry about market saturation at the moment.

Coal, in this era, was needed for various purposes. In addition to daily heating, it was required for smelting copper and iron, firing bricks, and making ceramics. Even in some places where salt was produced, coal was necessary as fuel.

What frustrated Zhu Yunwen the most was that, in the Ming Dynasty, there were only a few state-owned mines, and the majority were private coal mines. The so-called “allowing the people to mine themselves,” where the government only collected taxes.

Since that was the case, why not establish a state-owned enterprise? Let private and state-owned coexist. First, settle the kings’ future path.

Only when the kings engaged in business or industry, prospered, and led comfortable lives would they voluntarily surrender their fiefs and get involved in business and industry.

This was the true strategy for reducing the powers of the kings!

Let’s not play with the Fief Trimming, let’s play with open plans.

Follow me, and you get meat to eat. If you don’t follow me, you can only drink soup.

Though you won’t starve, don’t expect a comfortable life.

Having found a solution, Zhu Yunwen finally put down the burden on his mind. He contemplated whether Zhu Gui could recruit a few kings for mining. While thinking about this, he looked up to see Lady Luo. Zhu Yunwen laughed and said, “Lady Luo, staring at me like this, isn’t it too rude?”

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