pdf-ebookys Chapter 208 Too many lice don't itch, too much debt doesn't worry.
Chapter 208 Too many lice don't itch, too much debt doesn't worry.
Compared to the powerful clans of the Han and Tang dynasties, the gentry of the Ming dynasty were undoubtedly more fortunate. This was because the core interest of the powerful clans of the Han and Tang dynasties was land, while the gentry of the Ming dynasty had maritime trade as their core interest in addition to land.
When Emperor Zhu Chongba announced the abolition of a series of preferential treatments for scholars some time ago, the gentry in the coastal areas of Jiangnan did not fight back fiercely because they had maritime trade as another core interest. The gentry in non-coastal areas were isolated and unable to resist. Qin, Jin, Yan, Yun and the southwest regions either had not yet submitted to the Ming Dynasty or had just submitted. The gentry did not dare to directly resist for the time being. Therefore, the policy of abolishing preferential treatment for scholars could be successfully implemented.
However, when Emperor Zhu Chongba touched upon the last core interest of the coastal gentry, they could no longer hold back.
In order to dissuade Emperor Zhu from launching a campaign against Japan, the gentry along the coast were able to cooperate tacitly with the gentry in non-coastal areas without prior communication or coordination. Both sides profited together, which eventually led to all the civil and military officials in the court standing up to oppose the campaign against Japan.
In this situation, Zhu Chongba and his supporting officials found themselves isolated and helpless.
After clarifying the intricacies of the matter, Magistrate Yang looked directly at Wang Qiong and asked, "What are Your Majesty's plans? Will you continue the campaign against the Japanese pirates, or will you postpone it for the time being?"
According to various records from later generations, Emperor Zhu Chongba (Zhu Hongwu) would likely have chosen to ban the seas.
However, to Yang Da, the magistrate, Wang Qiong sighed slightly and said, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty intends to continue the campaign against the Japanese pirates."
While mentally cursing "Damn it!" a dozen times, Magistrate Yang looked at Wang Qiong and asked, "Continue the campaign against the Japanese?"
This doesn't make sense. Doesn't Emperor Zhu Chongba fear that the gentry of the land will fight to the death and cause the newly stabilized Ming Dynasty to become unstable again?
Just as Yang Shaofeng was pondering this, Wang Qiong nodded and said, "His Majesty has already issued an edict to return Liao Tongzhi to the capital, instructing him to prepare for all matters concerning the navy and to prepare for the expedition against the Japanese pirates. The reason I came to Ningyang County is..."
Yang Shaofeng was startled and asked, "Does Your Majesty have any orders?"
Wang Qiong nodded again and said, "His Majesty sent me to ask Brother Yang if there is any way to get the officials to agree to the expedition against the Japanese pirates. If there is, that would be best. If not... His Majesty intends to have His Highness the Crown Prince inspect Dadu and to remove Brother Yang from his post as magistrate of Ningyang County and appoint him as the prefect of Beiping."
Yang Shaofeng stood up abruptly, looking at Wang Qiong with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty, and asked, "Really?"
It's a complete mess, utter chaos!
The historical Zhu Chongba Emperor would have compromised and wouldn't have been so eager to fight the Japanese in the second year of Hongwu's reign, much less send his crown prince Zhu Biao on a northern inspection tour of Dadu!
If we had to point out the difference between the current Hongwu Year 2 and the original Hongwu Year 2, it would be that the original Zhu Chongba Emperor was mostly unaware of the gold and silver mines in Japan, and he did not abolish the various preferential treatments given to scholars. Chang Yuchun would probably have died suddenly on his way back to the capital a few months later.
So, all of these things were caused by my own actions?
A butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon rainforest caused a tornado in Texas.
No, I've been honestly farming and raising silkworms in Ningyang County. My biggest dream every day is to marry Jin'er and Yu'er and have a warm bed with my wife and children. Occasionally, I'll come up with some crooked ideas to mess with people. How did things end up like this?
Seeing that Magistrate Yang's expression kept changing, Wang Qiong took a deep breath and said, "How many heads do I have to dare to joke about such an important matter with Brother Yang?"
Yang Shaofeng hummed in agreement, took a deep breath, sat back down in his chair, picked up his teacup, and drank the tea in one gulp. He then said solemnly, "If Your Majesty wishes to persuade the officials to agree to the expedition to Japan, I have a method that may be feasible. If Your Majesty wishes to have His Highness the Crown Prince tour Dadu, I will naturally accompany His Highness northward."
Although Magistrate Yang had always intended to live a carefree life and never expected things to turn out this way, since he himself had caused all this trouble, he had no intention of shirking responsibility.
At worst, we can just go north to Dadu with Zhu Biao first, and then we can sweep through Jiangnan. Anyway, we all have one head on our shoulders. If we're afraid of dying, aren't we afraid of becoming ghosts?
Having stated his position, Yang Shaofeng continued, "As the saying goes, 'The world is bustling, all for profit; every day is bustling, all for gain.' The officials in the court oppose the expedition against the Japanese pirates, firstly because they seek stability, and secondly because they see no benefit in it."
"Why doesn't Your Majesty..."
Just as he finished speaking, Wang Qiong raised his hand, interrupting Magistrate Yang, saying, "Brother Yang, if you have any ideas, you might as well write them down in a memorial and send a trustworthy person with you back to the capital to present them to His Highness."
After pondering for a moment, Yang Shaofeng grunted and said, "Brother, please wait a moment." Then he plunged into the study and began writing a memorial to Emperor Zhu Chongba.
"On the 20th day of the fourth month of the second year of Hongwu, Yang, the magistrate of Ningyang County, respectfully reports."
As the sun began to set, Magistrate Yang finally wrote a memorial of over two thousand characters. After carefully reviewing it, he noted the beginning and end of each character, the total number of pages and characters, and then sealed it in a special envelope for memorials. He then summoned Lame Five and instructed him, "Lame Five, I trouble you to accompany Wang Sheren back to the capital and deliver this memorial to His Highness the Crown Prince. Remember, you must deliver it to His Highness personally. Under no circumstances should anyone else see the contents of this memorial before His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince."
Now Magistrate Yang was also a little guilty, even worried that someone might intercept and kill Wang Qiong and Lame Wu on the way and then steal the memorial.
But after a moment's thought, Magistrate Yang gradually felt relieved.
After all, Chang Yuchun (also known as Chang Heitan) is still in the capital and has 5,000 iron cavalry under his command. Even if something unexpected happens, Chang Yuchun should be able to handle most of the problems.
Moreover, Zhu Chongba, that old man, had fought his way through fire and water, and had even rolled around in piles of corpses. Magistrate Yang didn't believe that he didn't have other backup plans.
Lame Wu bowed and agreed immediately: "Your Excellency, rest assured, as long as I have a breath left, this memorial will absolutely not go wrong."
Magistrate Yang then grunted in agreement and watched Wang Qiong and Lame Wu's figures disappear into the distance.
As the saying goes, "If you have too many lice, you won't feel itchy; if you have too many debts, you won't worry." And as the saying goes, "Whether you graze one sheep or two sheep, you'll still be herding them." Since things have already gotten to this mess, why not add fuel to the fire and make a bigger commotion? Let all the civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty be tied to Zhu Chongba's chariot and let them fight to the death with those gentry.