Hongwu Survival Guide

Chapter 8
After digesting for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang finally suppressed the ups and downs of his mood, and spoke again, pointing to the place where Qin Mo fell on the picture scroll: "When I look at this picture these days, the most confusing thing is Qin. As you said, Qin is so So strong, why did the second generation suddenly die after Yingzheng?"

Zhu Yuan didn't expect Zhu Yuanzhang to ask this question, so he couldn't help but pause.

Zhu Yuanzhang had already turned his head around again. Seeing Zhu Yuan's hesitation, he predicted what this little scholar was going to say. He didn't want to hear those words again, so he deliberately suppressed his expression and pretended to be displeased: "Don't say anything to me for another three years. after!"

Zhu Yuan really intends to decline this, not because he has no clue, but because he does not want to discuss similar issues at this time, because this has already involved the other fundamental of economics he mentioned before-distribution.

In Zhu Yuan's previous plan, after talking about 'production', he excused that the follow-up has not been considered, so he will not talk about the issue of 'distribution' for the time being.

This is to avoid the butterfly effect.

Encouraging production is something that all dynasties have always done since the founding of the country. Discussions at this time will not have too much impact.However, the issue of 'distribution' is likely to affect the formulation of national policy, which may cause more variables.

However, seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's eye-catching appearance at this time, Zhu Yuan thought that if he refused, it was hard to say what would happen with this impatient person.

As we all know, Lao Zhu has a rough side, but he is also narrow-minded.

Liu Bowen reluctantly left the mountain after resigning many times in the past, but Zhu Yuanzhang has always remembered it in his heart, and occasionally talked about it publicly.In the three years of Hongwu's great feuding of heroes, he only gave Liu Bowen a sincere uncle.

The key is not the word 'Bo', but the word 'sincerity'.

In ancient times, there were certain conventions for conferring titles, and the prefixes of titles were usually either place names, such as Li Shanchang’s Han Gong, and Chang Yuchun’s Kaiping King.Either reflect a person's character or achievements, such as Wang Guangyang's Zhongqin Bo, who was knighted at the same time as Liu Ji, and the most classic champion of Huo Qubing in Han Dynasty.

But Liu Bowen got the word "sincerity" weirdly, as if Lao Zhu was joking: If you had been more sincere back then, you would have attached to me early, why did you only get one earl?
With a wry smile in his heart, Zhu Yuan pondered for a moment and had an idea. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, the rise and fall of a country is complex and difficult to sum up in a few words. Since Your Highness asked, the villain can only take the liberty to summarize it in combination with the study of economics." for analysis."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in satisfaction: "I know these things can't be finished in a few words, so I will write a book about what you said today, and remember to be more careful."

Subconsciously, Zhu Yuan wanted to take advantage of the trend to create another "three years later". After thinking about it, he turned back to the picture scroll on the wall, thought for a while, and said, "Qin's rapid demise first involves the "distribution" that the villain has not mentioned yet. Dao. However, with regard to the theory of "distribution", the villain has not fully clarified his thinking, so he can only speak in vain. After the reform of Shangyang in Qin Dynasty, the system of farming and warfare was used. "

Ascending channel, another weird new word.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang, who listened attentively, soon realized that this should be like the imperial examination, allowing poor scholars from all over the world to enter the temple and be granted the title of marquis and prime minister.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuan continued in his ear: "Military merit is like the imperial examination for scholars in later generations. From the perspective of petty economics, it is actually a redistribution of social resources. With this distribution system, soldiers Inspired by this, Qin Bing fought bravely and swept across the six kingdoms."

Zhu Yuanzhang failed to understand a certain new word this time, but felt it was very important, so he interrupted again: "What is 'social resources'?"

Zhu Yuan thought for a while, and said: "Society is similar to a community. Resources, similar to the means of production mentioned by the villain just now, but also include the production results of the people, such as land, grain, cattle and horses, mansions, etc., can be called Resources. Social resources are roughly the sum of all means of production and production results in a country.”

These explanations may not be comprehensive enough, but Zhu Yuan can only interpret and annotate with his own understanding, after all, he does not have a "Modern Chinese Dictionary" at hand.

Zhu Yuanzhang understood, opened his mouth, and wanted Zhu Yuan to use these new words less, but after thinking about it, he felt that since it was a brand-new knowledge, it might be difficult to interpret the "Zhihuzhe" in the traditional classics, so he didn't open his mouth.

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang no longer asked, Zhu Yuan continued: "Distribution is an important driving force for Qin to sweep the world. However, the day will be unified, and the war will no longer be. The harsh taxes and servitude made the people recuperate, and then explain it with economics, which formed a state of reverse distribution. The imperial court continued to squeeze the people. When the incident was raised, the whole world responded one after another. This is one of the reasons why the Qin Dynasty fell quickly."

After Zhu Yuan finished speaking, seeing Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand slightly, he paused temporarily.

After waiting patiently for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang recovered from his contemplation, and said: "Go ahead, and don't call yourself a 'little man' again. Since you have to wait for three years, I will give you one first, um...Zhengwu Don’t think it low, you are still young, and you will do your best for me in the future, and you will have a bright future.”

Zhu Yuan took a step back and said with a long bow, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Seeing Zhu Yuan's appearance, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly smiled, revealing a kind of ridicule from the elders to the younger generation: "He is arrogant, it seems that he is too low."

Zhu Yuan was stunned for a moment before he understood why Zhu Yuanzhang said this.

Even if Zhu Yuan didn't know much about the official system in the early Ming Dynasty, he didn't think it was too low. After all, the starting point of the official career of the two ranking Jinshi in the Ming Dynasty was only six or seven ranks.

The problem is, if Zhu Yuan was someone else in this era, and suddenly got an official position, he must immediately bow to Zhu Yuanzhang and bow down.

Zhu Yuan is not arrogant. He was a businessman in his previous life, begged others, bowed his head, experienced all kinds of beatings, and later beat others in various ways. His edges and corners have long been worn away. He just lacks some instincts that people in this era say kneel down.

Unexpectedly, Lao Zhu would misunderstand.

Zhu Yuan was not worried either.

Zhu Yuanzhang repeatedly mentioned the word "disliked low", which shows that in his heart, his positioning of himself is obviously higher than that of the fifth grade, and this is a talisman.

You must know that Zhu Yuanzhang, who was once exaggerated, is all kinds of fierce and evil, but he is actually a person who cherishes talents very much.

Just like Xie Jin, as one of the three great talents in the Ming Dynasty, because of his high talent, he was favored by Zhu Yuanzhang, and he even said the words "Father and Son of Enyou".

Xie Jin has no emotional intelligence, he dares to say anything, dares to offend anyone, but in the end he was sent back to his hometown by Zhu Yuanzhang, and told Xie Jin's father, "He is a great talent, and he will learn from it and use it for ten years."

Of course, there is a premise for Lao Zhu's cherishing talents, you can't endanger the imperial power.

Zhu Yuan had the talent to be recognized by Zhu Yuanzhang, but he didn't have any intention of endangering his chair.Even, if the next thing goes well, it can go further.At that time, in the face of all kinds of storms in the Hongwu Dynasty, at least Zhu Yuan will not have a big problem of saving his life.

Flashing through these thoughts quickly, Zhu Yuan stepped forward again, looked at the picture scroll in front of him, and continued the topic just now: "The second reason is that there is a saying in "A Fang Gong Fu": The soldiers call, Hangu Ju, Chu people burn , Poor scorched earth. Has Your Highness ever thought about why Xiang Yu from Chu was the one who burned Afang Palace?"

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a while and said, "The remnants of the six kingdoms?"

Zhu Yuan nodded: "Although the empire of Qin was eventually acquired by Liu Bang, at the beginning of the great chaos, most of the rebels were survivors of the Six Kingdoms. Think again, Your Highness, if you don't talk about the blood of the ancestors, but only in terms of economics, why is it the six kingdoms?" National survivors?"

Zhu Yuanzhang followed Zhu Yuan's train of thought: "The survivors of the Six Kingdoms have what you said before... social resources, which can be used to recruit soldiers and horses."

Zhu Yuan cupped his hands: "Your Highness is wise."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced sideways: "Don't flatter your horse, speak quickly."

Zhu Yuan: "..."

Just now when discussing Zheng Guoqu’s allusions, Zhu Yuanzhang’s mouth was full of words, Zhu Yuan held back, this time he spoke sincerely, unexpectedly…

really.

Actively ignoring this disharmonious episode, Zhu Yuan said: "Your Highness, when reading history, you should have a feeling that a century-old dynasty and a thousand-year-old family. Why do dynasties rotate, but the aristocratic family often lasts for thousands of years?"

At this point, Zhu Yuan was about to make a fuss again, when he saw Lao Zhu squinting over, he immediately took the initiative to continue: "In terms of economics, the reason is that compared with the dynasty, the aristocratic family directly controlled a large amount of land, minerals, mountains, rivers, etc. The "means of production" and even thousands of "producers" who are directly attached to the aristocratic family. This constitutes a complete production system that can be sustained by a large family. The complete production system directly controlled not only allows the aristocratic family to survive It has been carried on for a long time, and if it encounters troubled times, it is still expected to take advantage of the momentum and compete in the world. The Xiang family at the end of Qin Dynasty and the Li family in Tang Dynasty are both examples, but the two have different situations. "

Zhu Yuanzhang was a little puzzled when he heard this: "According to what you said, the second reason for Qin's rapid death is the aristocratic family?"

Lao Zhu's answer deviates from the subject of economics tonight, but it hits Zhu Yuan's heart.

Because of the train of thought that has just been quietly settled, the next step is to digress, try not to talk about my own economics as much as possible, but turn to history, politics, and other messes.

However, Zhu Yuan couldn't be too obvious, because the person next to him is not a fool after all, so he said: "Yes, it's not right. Your Highness, the second reason for Qin's rapid demise is the loss of control over the country's production system, and these It is often directly controlled by the family, and the result is one that ebbs and flows. I remember a common saying, "Being a soldier eats food." Whoever can provide food can naturally recruit soldiers. In troubled times, the government is often abolished and powerless. Collecting taxes and raising soldiers is out of the question. The local aristocrats directly control the complete production system, so they naturally have elite soldiers because of sufficient food."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he inexplicably thought of Guo Zixing and Zhang Shicheng who had just been wiped out by him this year. At the beginning, both of them were from local wealthy families, so they were able to raise troops.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang was still puzzled: "Qin is no better than Yuan Ting. At that time, the country was still at its peak, but why did it lose, um... control of the country's production system?"

Without thinking, Zhu Yuan blurted out, "The reason lies in the county system!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked over again: "The county system?"

Zhu Yuan pointed to the scroll on the wall again: "Look at this picture again, Your Highness. The development of society must be a gradual process, and it cannot be achieved overnight. Qin Huang destroyed the six kingdoms, abolished the enfeoffment, and established prefectures and counties. From now on, the world will be unified. It is a great achievement. However, any system change requires a slow adjustment and acceptance process from top to bottom. In Xianyang, however, this change lacked the cooperation of a mature bureaucratic system that would take decades or hundreds of years to form, and the Emperor Qin acted too hastily, and as a result, it seemed that he was taking power, but it was actually out of control."

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned again.

Zhu Yuan hesitated a little, and took the initiative to continue: "As a comparison, when the time came to the Han Dynasty, Gaozu Liu Bang returned to the enfeoffment system, but changed it to only the same surname as king, to avoid the division of the world, and the coexistence of counties and enfeoffments formed a buffer, so Let the Western Han Dynasty last for 200 years. Then in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu won the world, and the prefecture and county system was mature. In order to prevent the chaos of the Seven Kings of the Western Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty continued to implement the Hanwu’s Tweet Order, and completely suppressed the clan, so the Eastern Han Dynasty was able to continue. 200 years."

Regarding this paragraph, Zhu Yuan didn't want to mention it.

Because Zhu Yuan did not approve of Zhu Yuanzhang's enfeoffment of the princes in history.

However, the current issue will be discussed after tonight.Moreover, even if Zhu Yuan didn't mention it, he might not be able to change some things.

Zhu Yuan's words really made Zhu Yuanzhang fall into thinking for a long time again.After half a cup of tea, Zhu Yuan heard Lao Zhu speak again: "Let's go on."

(End of this chapter)