Chapter 4

"The former Song Dynasty did not ban maritime trade for two reigns; the common people were wealthy and abundant, something unprecedented in history!"

"Your Majesty's ancestral edict banning the sea is no different than cutting off one's own arm!"

As soon as these words were spoken.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's old face instantly turned gloomy.

"Are the lands beyond the sea truly as wealthy as you claim?"

Su Qiao helplessly shrugged his shoulders, then looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang with a serious expression and said.

"Whether they are wealthy or not, this student cannot be certain."

"But this student is certain that sufficient grain can be found beyond the sea!"

Having said this, Su Qiao raised his voice and declared.

"South of our Great Ming lies a nation called Jiaozhi, and another called Annan; both of these lands were formerly territories of the Tang Dynasty."

"Does Your Majesty know why these two regions surrendered only to rebel, rebelled only to surrender again, ultimately resulting in the situation of today?"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang asked in confusion.

"Why?"

Su Qiao cleared his throat and spoke with a serious demeanor.

"For no other reason."

"Their nations are rich, while our Great Ming is poor!"

"Therefore, Jiaozhi and Annan surrendered only to rebel again!"

Before his voice had even faded, Huang Huang Zicheng, standing nearby, could not restrain himself; he stepped forward, pointed a finger at Su Qiao's nose, and shouted furiously.

"Audacious! This is the Jinshen Hall; how can it be a place for a rogue like you to spout nonsense!"

"Your Majesty, I submit a memorial requesting that this youth be dragged out to Wumen and executed by lingchi!"

Su Qiao did not care in the least about Huang Huang Zicheng's words.

In his heart, only one thought remained.

Lingchi would work too, wouldn't it?

Otherwise, simply beheading me would make this money feel too uneasy to accept!

The Zhu family's empire must be dyed with the blood of the Zhu family!

"Withdraw!"

Huang Huang Zicheng stepped forward regardless and shouted loudly at the Embroidered Uniform Guards behind him.

"Did you not hear? His Majesty has ordered you to drag this person down!"

The group of Embroidered Uniform Guards froze upon hearing this.

They were just about to step forward.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly slammed his hand on the table and scolded sharply.

"I told you to withdraw!"

Huang Huang Zicheng shuddered and barely managed to retreat.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang then stared at Su Qiao and said expressionlessly.

"Young man, continue with what you were saying."

"The Central Plains are the supreme celestial empire; how could they possibly be less wealthy than Jiaozhi or Annan?"

Upon hearing this, Su Qiao was also momentarily stunned.

Old Zhu, have you taken the wrong medicine?

You're not going to execute me for this?

Su Qiao took a deep breath and sighed helplessly.

"It is not that their nations are less wealthy than the Central Plains."

"Rather, their nations are wealthier than the two Guang provinces and Lingnan, thereby economically severing themselves from the Central Plains."

"Just as Goryeo is wealthier than Liaodong, causing Goryeo to stand isolated overseas, the same logic applies to Jiaozhi and Annan."

"Furthermore, the lands of Jiaozhi and Annan are fertile, yielding three harvests a year, which causes the population to multiply; abolishing the maritime ban, taking the sea route south to Jiaozhi to procure grain—this is an imperative action!"

As soon as these words were spoken.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes immediately lit up.

Although this person before him appeared rash, his words were indeed well-reasoned and evidenced.

The three nations of Goryeo, Jiaozhi, and Annan occupied remote overseas positions, largely because the lands bordering them were barren while their own nations were wealthy.

Moreover, even based solely on this young man's understanding of the surrounding barbarian states.

He was already a talent worthy of employment.

However, at this moment, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang was still watching Su Qiao intently.

"Earlier you said to first confiscate the estates of the scholar-officials; now I ask you, how do you plan to confiscate these estates, and where will you begin?"

"Furthermore, if future monarchs confiscate the estates of the scholar-officials, how will the scholars of the world view the future monarchs of our Great Ming? If no one enters official service, upon whom will our Great Ming rely to govern the world?"

"If so, would this not push all the scholars of the world to the side of the rebels?!"

Su Qiao snorted coldly.

He raised his head, looked at Old Zhu, and smiled.

"Did Your Majesty not just say that formidable enemies surround us beyond the passes?"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang nodded affirmatively.

"Yes, those enemies are far stronger than the Northern Northern Northern Yuan."

"Then may I ask, does the Great Ming truly have no more soldiers available?"

Hearing this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang was momentarily stunned.

Chongzhen had not mentioned this point to him.

But logically, it should be much the same.

If there had been troops available, how could he have been driven to such extremes?

"Yes!"

Su Qiao's expression relaxed upon hearing this, and he said calmly,

"With just one army, the realm can be settled and the state secured!"

In an instant, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang fixed his gaze intensely on Su Qiao and asked,

"Which army?!"

"The Zhu Family Army!"

At these words,

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's countenance immediately turned gloomy.

"What do you mean?"

Su Qiao replied casually,

"The ancestral regulations of this dynasty."

"All descendants of Commandery Princes are granted official ranks."

"Sons are appointed as Generals Who Stabilize the State."

"Grandsons are appointed as Generals Who Assist the State."

"Great-grandsons are appointed as Generals Who Serve the State."

"..."

"May I ask Your Majesty, can a General Who Stabilizes the State merely stabilize the state, and not serve as a general?"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang fell silent.

Indeed!

He had enfeoffed his sons as vassal kings.

For what purpose?

Was it not so that their descendants could, in the future, die defending the Great Ming realm?

In this era, what use was there in bearing sons?

Was it not so that when fighting over water sources or land in the village, one's own large family could gain the advantage?

Governing a family and governing a nation follow the same principle.