Volume 2: Soaring! The Overlord of the Region Chapter 356: Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pigs
"Dear elders, please know that the population is growing faster and faster. During the Hongwu reign, there were 58 male members of the royal family. During the Yongle reign, there were 127. A hundred years later, in the first year of the Zhengde reign, there were 2,980. And just over 20 years later, in the eighth year of the Jiajing reign, the number skyrocketed to 8,203. Then in the forty-fourth year of the Jiajing reign, there were 28,840! Forty-six years after the Wanli reign, the number of male members of the royal family listed in the genealogy had reached 153,000!
In the recent years of population census and reconstruction of the Yellow Book, the living conditions of the lower-ranking royal family members reported by officials and garrisons in various places really worried me. It is said that some royal family members are already in their seventies or eighties, but they still have no names. Without names, they naturally cannot be recorded in the family tree, and naturally have no corresponding salary. However, due to the rules of my Zhu family, they cannot engage in any of the positions of scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans... In this way, they can only be poor and destitute and become beggars.
I checked the data from the clan government a few days ago. There are 153,000 males in my Zhu family recorded in the family tree, but the national census found that there are 253,000 male descendants of Taizu... Most of those who are registered live in extreme poverty. But after all, they have titles, so they don't have to bear various taxes, and corvée labor has nothing to do with them. And those who are not registered are really living a miserable life!
"Thanks to Grandpa Huang's kindness, he has abdicated to me. Since I have become the emperor, I am naturally the head of my Zhu family. As the head of the family, I must consider the well-being of the family. If I cannot even guarantee the well-being of my family, how can raise the people?"
"Your Majesty cares about our people, and we are grateful to you."
"Hey." Shaking his sleeves, Zhu Youdong simply stood up and walked to the center of the venue: "The issue of royal family has always been a difficult problem for all dynasties. In the Han and Jin dynasties, the royal family divided the land and ruled the people, just like an independent country. As a result, there was the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms in the Han Dynasty and the Rebellion of the Eight Kings in the Jin Dynasty. The royal family of the Tang and Song dynasties did not give up the land, and their virtuous and capable people all entered the officialdom and achieved their own achievements, and the country also relied on them. Later, they were mixed with other subjects and were equal to the poor, and their official careers were also endless. However, the royal family has many talents, which poses a threat to the throne. And like our dynasty, all the royal family members are raised and no other power is given..." He spread his hands helplessly: "As you can see, the court can no longer be maintained."
Among the 28 princes in the venue. Although Fufan is a new vassal, it is the closest to Zhu Youdong in terms of blood relationship. So, when it comes to the time when he needs to support the role, Zhu Changxun, who has grown from slightly fat to extremely fat, uses both hands to support the armrests of the chair and tries to stand up: "The emperor is the reincarnation of the blue dragon, and the emperor of heaven has given him authority. I think he can find a way out for our people, right?"
"I can't quite accept what Third Uncle said." Zhu Youdong bowed to Zhu Changxun, put his hands behind his back, then slowly turned around and glanced at everyone in the room.
"I think that the policy on the royal family of our dynasty must be changed. Although every time when we talk about reform, there are always people who bring up the laws of our ancestors and the customs of our great ancestors. But in fact, from Hongzhi to Wanli, the imperial court has revised the policy on the royal family many times. And this time, I have decided to change it more thoroughly."
"Your Majesty, please give your instructions."
"My meaning is very simple. Starting from the generals guarding the country to the lieutenants serving the country, starting from the first year of the Tianqi reign next year, all of them will be transferred to civilian status. From now on, scholars, farmers, merchants, and even imperial examinations and military service will be allowed to choose their own careers!"
"ah?!"
"Your Majesty, this is absolutely not allowed!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, isn't it a bit too harsh to treat the royal family like this?"
As soon as Zhu Youdong said this, most of the princes present jumped up from their seats.
Except for the crown prince, all the other sons of the princes are county princes. Except for the heir, all the sons of the county princes are generals. Zhu Youdong's policy means that most of the grandsons of the princes present will become commoners.
"Why not? Hmm!"
After all, he had been famous for more than ten years, and there had just been a strange phenomenon yesterday. So this "hmm" that was intimidating without being angry really scared the group of princes.
However, no matter how frightened we are, the new emperor wants to make his descendants into civilians right from the start, and this cannot be easily agreed to.
"In the past, Chu Long said to the Queen Mother of Zhao: 'Three generations ago, when Zhao was still Zhao, were there any descendants of the King of Zhao who could succeed him?' This is the grace of a gentleman, which will be cut off after three generations! Taizu was a commoner who conquered the world with a three-foot sword. He has been benevolent to his descendants for 250 years. This is enough! In fact, for more than a hundred years, the court has been unable to support the royal family, and the royal family's life has been getting worse and worse! This royal family policy could not be maintained a long time ago. It's just that the previous emperors were embarrassed to be the bad guy."
After saying this, Zhu Youdong said firmly: "There will always be someone to be the villain. I will do the job !"
"Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible. This will completely destroy Taizu's method."
"Humph! My Great Ming has been established for 250 years. I don't know how many rules have been changed since the time of Taizu. If it is true as you say, that I must abide by all the rules of Taizu and implement them unswervingly, then the first thing I have to do now is to dig up Chengzu's Changling! Because he founded the cabinet. Then what? Dig up Jingling? Because Xuanmiao allowed eunuchs to study! Then what? Skin and stuff more than 90% of the officials in the country? And finally kill all the merchants in the country? Because they are now dressed better than you!"
After the young emperor roared, the princes remained silent for a while. But there was no doubt that they were dissatisfied in their hearts.
Yes, it has been more than 200 years. Although sometimes I feel that because the country's output is limited and the descendants of the Zhu family are endless, this royal family policy may not be able to be maintained one day. However, when it really happens to me, I still can't accept it.
"I have inherited the mandate of Heaven and hold the power of the Ming Dynasty. I will make change the norm, follow the way of Heaven, and enlighten the Ming Dynasty! Therefore, even if the royal family members from all over the country want to rebel, and want to go to the Xiaoling Mausoleum to cry at the grave, or even if you run to the West Garden or the Cining Palace to find my elders right after the meeting, I will accept them all. Come on! Let me show you whether I will take back what I just said!"
Rebellion? Are you kidding? Even if the princes were treated like pigs, they still had to read the six major newspapers every day. Who doesn't know that the emperor has firmly controlled the army of the whole country and suppressed the civil officials? Rebellion? With the guards in the palace who have difficulty catching thieves?
As for crying at the grave, some stupid princes had thought about it. But there were also smart princes present. They thought for a moment and realized: public opinion is in the hands of the emperor. Even if all 250,000 men went to the Xiaoling Mausoleum to cry at the grave, the emperor could still prevent the whole country from making any waves.
As for asking Wanli? Well, that's even more useless. Because Wanli was famous for being stingy! During the 46 years of Wanli's reign, the royal family never received a full salary. People didn't want to support this bunch of relatives anymore!
Therefore, people have already made full preparations. If we act recklessly now, there is really no way we can do anything about it.
"certainly……"
Just when the princes were all somewhat devastated, Zhu Youdong spoke again.
"As a person, I will not go too far. Therefore, starting from June of this year, I will allocate funds from the inner treasury to every male member of the Zhu family below the rank of general, regardless of whether they are adults or have separated from the family. For seven consecutive months, five silver dollars will be given every month."
Seeing the disapproving expressions of the many princes present, Zhu Youdong sneered: "Don't think that 35 yuan is too little. This is 70 dan of fine rice. In the north, you can buy nearly 10 mu of fertile land, and in the south, you can buy more than 2 mu of irrigated land. If you use this money as capital to buy a store and do a small business, it is more than enough! I just said that there are 253,000 male members of my Zhu family! After removing the 28 present and the more than 900 county princes scattered all over the country, I will have to pay nearly 9 million for this money alone! Before I became regent, this was the country's fiscal revenue for three full years! You tell me, what else do I want?"
The prince's face looked a little better, but Zhu Youdong roared again: "Go back and tell your descendants and relatives that starting next year, there will be nothing! I will cancel the employment restrictions for my descendants below the rank of general. If you want to survive and live well in the future, you have to fight with your own hands! You can take the imperial examination to become an official, buy land and collect rent, do business, work, or even sign up to join the army and make achievements on the battlefield to restore your title! I only hope that my descendants of the Zhu family, who have been raised for more than two hundred years, are not all waste. Among the more than 200,000 men, there will always be a few with blood and can finally achieve something!"
Seeing the princes all lost in thought, Zhu Youdong's tone softened a little: "I will go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple in person to apologize to my ancestors. If my ancestors blame me, I will take the blame. But, elders, ask yourself, is my handling of this matter a good thing for the country and for all of you relatives?"
