Daming: Mixed in Dangzhi County, Beiping

"When have I ever deceived you?"

Zhu Di looked solemn, "You and I are the descendants of the emperor, our brothers and nephews. We can give year-end bonuses to those officials, why can't we give year-end bonuses to our own family members?

Moreover, the amount of year-end bonus is not fixed every year.As long as the Ming Dynasty's treasury is sufficient, the year-end bonuses we give to the kings will be more and more! "

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

"Your Majesty is truly the Holy King of Yao and Shun..."

All the vassal kings praised him again and again.

Zhu Di added: "However, if all officials in the Ming Dynasty want to receive year-end bonuses, they must eventually pass an assessment to determine their rank.

Although you are the Ming Dynasty vassal kings, you still need to pass the assessment and rating before you can share this year-end bonus! "

"Assessment rating?"

All the feudal kings couldn't help but be startled, subconsciously feeling that something was wrong.

Zhu Di smiled slowly and explained: "One million taels of silver, plus one million taels of treasure banknotes, are just rewards, so they cannot be divided equally. Wouldn't this be unfair to you?

Just like the acting king Zhu Gui, who bullies the soldiers and civilians in his fief all day long, how can he be given a bonus? "

"As it is!"

All the vassal kings thought for a while and then nodded.

If they could be given more money, they would be very willing.

Only the acting king Zhu Gui hid among the kings and did not dare to speak.

"Therefore, we have decided to evaluate the kings based on their contributions to the Ming Dynasty, such as civil and military skills, heirs..."

When Zhu Di finished speaking, all the feudal kings couldn't help but look at each other.

The king of Zhou, Zhu Ji, asked anxiously: "Your Majesty, why do you still want to restrict your heirs?"

“Why restrictions?”

Zhu Di couldn't help but sigh slightly and asked: "Lao Wu, how many heirs do you have now?"

Zhou Wang Zhu Ju said proudly: "Your Majesty, I now have eight sons and seven daughters!"

"Eight sons and seven daughters!"

Zhu Di sighed softly again, "Lao Wu, just you, eight sons and seven daughters, how much salary do you need from the court every year?"

Zhu Xi was startled.

Zhu Di added: "This is just your Zhou Wang family. We have many brothers, and there are dozens more!

If every family had children like yours without any restrictions, how many children would each family have?
Naturally, nowadays, the court can still support all clan members.

But what if after all your children have grown up, they have children again?
Each one will give birth to a dozen or even dozens of people. By then, how many will there be in my Ming Dynasty clan?
......"

The expressions of all the feudal kings slowly became serious again.

Zhou Wang Zhu Ju had a sneer on his face.

Zhu Di added: "Furthermore, how big the land is in our Ming Dynasty, even if we look at your current descendants, if you want to reward them, you have already started to run out of land!
Therefore, let me tell you again, if anyone wants to conquer overseas, just lead troops to attack.

Whoever conquers the barbarian country will rule it, just like the Goryeo and Japanese countries..."

"Wo country?"

Upon hearing this, the eyes of all the feudal kings suddenly lit up.

"Your Majesty, do those overseas vassal states have silver mines like the Japanese?"

"Of course there are!"

Zhu Di nodded slightly.

King Ning couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty, does he know where there are silver and gold mines in barbarian countries?"

"We don't know!"

Zhu Di shook his head slowly.

The expressions of all the vassal kings became darker again.

There are barbarian countries overseas. They have to go all the way to fight with those barbarians, and there may even be dangers.

What if in the end, no silver or gold mine is found, how can one stay in the Ming Dynasty and enjoy the glory and wealth?

Zhu Di added: "But now that sea trade has opened up, if you can seize a feudal country and trade with the Ming Dynasty, just like Goryeo..."

it sounds like...

Ning Wang Zhu Quan couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, I wonder how many armies my brother and others can lead?"

Zhu Di said: "You can only lead your three guards!"

At this time, the expressions of the feudal kings became darker again.

Let them fight with those barbarians with so few soldiers?

However, Zhu Quan's eyes lit up, "Your Majesty, are we really allowed to attack at will?"

"naturally!"

Zhu Di nodded slightly and then said: "However, the nine fortress kings, including King Qin, King Jin, King Yan, King Dai, and King Ning, will be stationed at the frontier fortress. Unless the border troubles in the north have been eliminated, you are not allowed to go to sea at will!"

Zhu Quan: "..."

Zhu Di added: "Of course, when the sea trade fleet returns from the West, we can also allow you and other vassal kings to form fleets and go out to sea for trade!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Majesty is wise!"

All the vassal kings were overjoyed again.Zhu Di said solemnly: "We allow you and others to engage in maritime trade, but you cannot oppress the people, or even rob my Ming Dynasty merchants! If we find out, we will directly take back the three guards of you, and in serious cases, we will directly depose you as common people." !”

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, my brother and others will never oppress the people again!"

"..."

Later, Zhu Di chatted with Zhu Quan, Zhu Ru and other vassal kings for more than an hour.

These feudal kings all resigned with satisfaction on their faces.

……

Less than two days.

What Zhu Di and a group of vassal kings said in the main hall began to spread in the capital.

In this regard, the ministers of the DPRK and China each have their own opinions.

However, there were not many officials who bothered Zhu Di Yaxing without knowing what he was doing.

Similarly, it may also be because the Chinese New Year is coming soon.

In the court hall, all the officials were waiting eagerly.

They also have year-end bonuses.

At this time, the Ministry of Personnel, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Household Affairs were the busiest.

Before the New Year holiday, the assessment of all officials in the world was reported.

In this regard.

Zhu Di just handed it over to the cabinet ministers and asked them to go through it one by one, and then directly distributed the year-end bonuses to the ministers.

New Year's Eve!

The capital of the Ming Dynasty was filled with joy.

After the New Year's Eve.

Zhu Di then summoned the two tigers. There was also a bald monk in the hall.

"How is the interrogation going on regarding the Huang family?"

Erhu respectfully replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have ordered all the brothers in Jinyiwei to use all the criminal methods in Jinyiwei, but everyone in the Huang family has the same excuse!"

"A rhetoric?"

Zhu Di was stunned and couldn't help but look at Erhu, "Did they bite out any other thieves?"

Erhu shook his head slowly, "Report to your majesty, those people from the Huang family did not bite anyone randomly!"

Zhu Di thought thoughtfully and said: "So, how are the affairs of the Huang family similar to that of the household clerk in Jiangning County?"

Hearing this, Erhu's pupils shrank, with a look of surprise on his face, "Your Majesty, is it true that there are hidden people behind the Huang family? There are even some members of the Huang family who are not included in the genealogy and are hiding outside?"

"Your Majesty, the monk would venture to guess that the Huang family may have another genealogy!"

Master Daoyan on the side said.

"And a family tree?"

Zhu Di and Erhu were both startled again.

Immediately, Zhu Di looked at Erhu and said, "Go to the interrogation again and use the method of interrogating Dai Jiu, the clerk in that household!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

The two tigers responded quickly.

Zhu Di added: "In addition, send us the Jinyi Guards and ask them to investigate carefully for us. Are there any lies among those officials who were rated as A and B in the assessment years ago?"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Erhu responded again.

When Erhu went out, Zhu Di said, "We are going to make Chi'er the crown prince. What does the Master think?"

Master Dao Yan was startled, and then he quickly praised: "Your Majesty is a wise man. Your Highness has a kind personality, but he is very decisive in doing things. He will definitely be a benevolent king in the future!"

Zhu Di smiled with satisfaction and said, "I wonder if Master is willing to enter the East Palace, serve as the Crown Prince's guest, and assist the Crown Prince?"

"Amitabha!"

Master Daoyan couldn't help but recite a Buddha's name.

"Your Majesty is so kind and loving, and the monk dare not disobey."

Zhu Di was overjoyed and said cheerfully: "Hahaha, from now on the prince will be handed over to the care of the mage!"

……

Soon, a piece of news reached Guo An's ears.

"Your Majesty wants to make His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Xu Yong said with a happy face: "Master Hou, the news has spread throughout the capital!"

"That's good!"

Guo An also looked happy, but still said cautiously: "Your Majesty has not yet issued an edict, so you are not allowed to discuss this matter at will!"

"Yes, Lord Hou!"

... (end of this chapter)