GBP Chapter 866 Old Deng is a bit rough around the edges
Chapter 866 Old Deng is a bit rough around the edges
Li Shanchang's voice grew softer and softer, while Yang Shaofeng's face grew increasingly dark.
This kind of extreme maneuvering is something only Old Deng could pull off.
Moreover, many things that were originally abnormal now make sense.
Just as Li Shanchang said, why do the garrisons in the capital so often catch fire and fire, yet Lao Deng rarely punishes the generals and soldiers of the many garrisons in the capital?
Because, in order to reunite the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, which had been lost for 455 years, and Gansu, which had been lost for 605 years, with the Central Plains and Jiangnan, Lao Deng not only sent his troops out as laborers to reclaim wasteland, but also enfeoffed his own sons to serve as the vanguard of development.
This top-notch maneuvering not only promoted the integration of the North and South, but also built several lines of defense for Nanjing, allowing his sons to stand guard on the outskirts of Nanjing as human shields, and to check and balance each other.
but!
Old Deng himself thought this operation was brilliant, and it really was brilliant.
He's so awesome that he can confidently say, "I can support a million soldiers without costing the people a single grain of rice."
However, he neglected the soldiers who had fought alongside him to conquer the world.
Or rather, Old Deng deliberately ignored human nature.
If we believe something is right, then we'll do it.
Doing a good job or a bad job is one thing.
Whether or not people will criticize us a thousand years from now is one thing.
However, it's a different story if you don't do it for some random reason.
As a result, a large number of soldiers who had followed Lao Deng in conquering the country were scattered and reassigned to local garrisons, where they took on the heavy responsibility of land reclamation.
These soldiers even bore the heavy responsibility of relocating people and promoting the integration of the North and South.
Because most of these soldiers had families to support.
Once they reach the place where they settle and reclaim land, their children will inevitably face various issues related to marriage, funerals, and other important matters.
Then the problem is coming.
The soldiers risked their lives to follow you, but you became emperor and sent your brothers to remote, desolate places to reclaim wasteland.
No, do you, Zhu Chongba, have some misunderstanding about the phrase "merit of following the emperor"?
Merit, merit! What everyone is seeking is the merit of following the dragon, not the crime of following the dragon, you bastards!
Of course, Old Deng knew that what he had done was not very ethical, and he felt somewhat guilty.
Therefore, even though fires and floods frequently broke out in the many garrisons in the capital, Lao Deng only directed his anger at the local gentry and gentry who colluded with the garrisons, while he would only scold the generals and soldiers of the garrisons more than punish them.
Thinking of this, Yang Shaofeng couldn't help but purse his lips.
"Old... Old Taishan's original intention was good."
Yang Shaofeng first characterized Lao Deng's actions, and then began to criticize him relentlessly.
"But, he handled this matter rather carelessly."
"To put it bluntly, his approach is like that of a patriarch in a traditional family. As long as he thinks something is right, he will instruct his children to do it, or even force them to do it, regardless of whether they are willing or not."
"He couldn't even be bothered to explain."
"The problem is that the children are obedient even when they are unable to resist."
"Once they have the ability to resist, or when their dissatisfaction has accumulated to the extreme, they will naturally think about resisting."
"Or to put it another way: if he were willing to explain things clearly to the soldiers, wouldn't there be no one among the million soldiers of the Ming Dynasty who would be willing to voluntarily come to the north to garrison and reclaim wasteland?"
"If he clearly explained the benefits and importance of migrating to the north to the people of the south, wouldn't there be no one among them willing to move voluntarily?"
Yang Shaofeng continued to complain, but Li Shanchang's face grew increasingly dark.
Are you criticizing those who rise to power, or are you criticizing me?
Why do I feel like I'm being indirectly insulted?
After venting his frustrations, Yang Shaofeng steered the conversation back to Zhu Xiaowu.
"As for the issue of the Fifth Prince's fiefdom..."
As Yang Shaofeng pondered, he said, "As the saying goes, times change, and things change."
"Originally, His Majesty intended to establish the capital in Nanjing, requiring many princes to be stationed in the north to cultivate the land and serve as a bulwark for the capital."
"But the situation has changed now."
"His Majesty intends to move the capital..."
Li Shanchang nodded thoughtfully.
Nanjing is indeed no longer suitable as the capital.
The gentry in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces wielded immense power, and their intertwined interests were incredibly complex.
Continuing to make Nanjing the capital is tantamount to presenting them with an opportunity to infiltrate the imperial court.
If the new emperor really does intend to move the capital, Beijing is currently the most suitable place to be the new capital.
Then the problem is coming.
If the capital were to be established in Beiping, it would mean placing the new capital within the fiefdom of the Prince of Yan, surrounded by a large number of vassal kings, both large and small.
The fiefdoms originally set up as a defensive line for the capital will then become like a shackle, firmly binding the capital's neck.
Another point is, as Yang Shaofeng just said, "He handled this matter too sloppily."
The emperor's plan was to send his sons to their fiefdoms when they were older.
However, in the eyes of those garrison soldiers, they didn't know when the vassal king would be enfeoffed, but they were the ones who were first sent here to reclaim wasteland and garrison.
Even if Zhu Chongba were to send his own sons to their fiefdoms, couldn't they just be there to reap the rewards?
Thinking of this, Li Shanchang couldn't help but scratch the back of his head.
Why do I keep feeling like I'm going to lose hair again?
Being the Grand Secretary is not easy, Li Shanchang sighed.
Yang Shaofeng glanced at Li Shanchang and said in a low voice, "What's the big deal? Why is Prime Minister Li so troubled by this?"
Li Shanchang's eyes lit up, and he looked at Yang Shaofeng, asking, "Does Your Highness have a good idea?"
Yang Shaofeng winked at Zhu Biao and Zhu Xiaowu and whispered, "The matter of the princes' fiefdoms should naturally be His Majesty's concern."
Li Shanchang nodded unconsciously.
That's right.
The princes were all your own biological sons who ascended to the throne.
As the saying goes, parents love their children and plan far ahead for them.
Your own son, you're the one who's giving him a headache.
Why should an old man like me, a mere servant of the Grand Secretary, concern myself with such trivial matters?
Yang Shaofeng continued, "As for the garrisons, or farms, and the relocation of people, aren't there still those officials from the Ministry of Rites involved?"
"If those local gentry and scholars can spout nonsense, can't the officials in the Ministry of Rites write a few more articles?"
"It's just a contest of who can shout the loudest."
"How could a few local tyrants possibly outshine the 'Da Ming Gazette,' which is overseen by the Ministry of Rites?"
Li Shanchang nodded unconsciously, but then frowned.
countryside?
A nouveau riche?