Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 198 Cao Zhengchun Faces the Saint

"If this matter is not handled properly, I am afraid that other vassal kings will"

At this point, Zhu Houzhao was even a fool and would understand what they meant.
"I asked you to come here, not to listen to your nonsense, but to listen to your opinions. Didn't I consider the consequences of improper handling?"

The sound of scolding filled the entire Hall of Mental Cultivation, and Li Dongyang and Xie Qian fell silent for a moment.

After a long time, Li Dongyang raised his head and said: "Your Majesty, please appease your anger. The ministers and others are incompetent. The rebellion incident of King Lu is indeed a great lesson. I think that whether it is a gradual reduction of the feudal clan or a drastic reform, it is not advisable. "

After finishing speaking, Zhu Houzhao's face softened a little, his eyes slowly fell on Li Dongyang, and he said to Li Dongyang: "Well, continue talking."

"Returning to Your Majesty, I have two opinions regarding the vassal king incident. One is that more officials can be sent to various places to strengthen supervision, and the officials sent by the imperial court can be changed every year. phenomenon, and the supervisory role of local officials has been more effectively played.”

"Secondly, strictly manage the firearms and guards of the local vassal kings. The number of guards owned by the local vassal kings shall not exceed 6000. This will also fundamentally curb the momentum of the vassal king's rebellion."

"Furthermore, publicize the evidence of King Lu's rebellion to the world, so that more vassals will know the consequences of rebelling. This time it can be regarded as a negative teaching material, which is enough to deter some vassals."

"I think it's perfectly fine to use these three methods, if you don't rush to cut down the feudal clan now."

After Li Dongyang finished speaking, he raised his head and glanced at Zhu Houzhao. He saw that Zhu Houzhao's face was extremely ugly. He was thinking carefully about Li Dongyang's words. What he said was not unreasonable.

"Using these three methods alone is not enough to deter the feudal lord. I have another method. Let's see if it works?"

Li Dongyang raised his head and said: "Your Majesty, I would like to hear more about it!"

Zhu Houzhao cleared his throat and said: "Based on using Aiqing's three methods, I propose to abolish the hereditary system of vassal kings. For hundreds of years, if they have not made any contribution to our Ming Dynasty, they should do their best to serve the people. "

After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian expressed shock on the spot, because they had not thought of touching their fundamental interests at all.

Zhu Houzhao's words are like a strong medicine blindly. What Li Dongyang said earlier is just to prevent the vassal kings from all over the world from taking more actions during the safe period.

However, the meaning of this article proposed by Zhu Houzhao couldn’t be more obvious. No matter whether you have the blood of the royal family or not, if you have not made any contribution to Ming Dynasty, you will not be allowed to enjoy all the glory and wealth, and take Daming’s salary for nothing.

If they confronted each other bluntly, neither Li Dongyang nor Xie Qian dared to imagine what would happen?
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid there is something wrong with this?" Li Dongyang immediately asked back.

"Not right? Then do you think there is any better way than this?"

When Zhu Houzhao asked this question, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian had nothing to say for a while, because they really couldn't think of a more cruel method than this trick.

Zhu Houzhao said firmly: "The matter of reducing the vassal is urgent, and King Lu is the most typical example."

"Immediately pass on my will and announce that the vassal princes from all over the world will enter the palace immediately."

When the imperial decree was sent out, the vassal kings everywhere immediately panicked.

King Lu subdued the law, King Huai, and King Yi were stabbed to death, and all the property in the family belonged to the royal family.

At this time, the emperor announced that he wanted the vassal kings from all over the country to come to the palace to meet the saint. Even a fool would know what it meant?
Logically speaking, without the emperor's decree, the vassal princes from all over the world were not allowed to enter the capital, but now that the emperor has issued the decree, they dare not enter the capital.

Of course, this is not the case for all the vassal kings. After all, Zhu Houzhao has never worried about those vassal kings with foreign surnames.

Titles and fiefdoms are all given by the emperor, but now the emperor wants to take it back, how can they not obey?
For a time, the entire capital was extremely lively.The vassal kings from all over the country rushed towards the capital from all directions with their attendants.

Although some vassal kings also brought soldiers, the number of vassal kings in Ming Dynasty is really hard to figure out.

Tens of thousands of people poured into the capital together, and the capital became lively all of a sudden.

Under Zhu Houzhao's arrangement, the subordinates of King Xie Fan were all stationed at a post station thirty miles away from the capital.

Selecting a day to go to court, Zhu Houzhao is calling them to meet, and now they are guarded by people from Shenjiying.

It was night, and Wang Shouren, who had rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation overnight, reported to Zhu Houzhao, bowed to Zhu Houzhao and said, "Your Majesty, King Fu, and King Shu have all arrived at the designated inn one after another."

"Well, I see."

Without even raising his head, Zhu Houzhao calmly agreed and carefully flipped through the books in his hand.

"You entered the palace late at night, is there anything urgent?" Zhu Houzhao asked.

Wang Shouren said: "Your Majesty, there are probably hundreds of thousands of vassal kings from all over the country who come to Beijing to face the saints. If they want to be incited by the surrounding vassal kings, it will be easy for them to rebel. Therefore, the minister has always Worried about His Majesty's safety."

"Chente hereby asks for orders. Please His Majesty dispatch the capital army to station in the capital to stand by in case of accidents!"

To be honest, Zhu Houzhao really didn't take this matter to heart. Seeing Wang Shouren say this, he just smiled lightly and said, "Isn't this better?"

"In this way, I don't have to cut down the feudal clan, but I want to see who dares to rebel under my nose."

"Besides, besides Shen Lian's Jinyiwei, there are nearly [-] elite officers and soldiers in this capital. What else should I worry about?"

As he spoke, Zhu Houzhao looked at Wang Shouren carefully.

Wang Shouren looked a little embarrassed, his thin body seemed to be seen through by Zhu Houzhao.

"Aren't you a rare general?"

"With Qing here, what else am I afraid of?"

Wang Shouren hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I must serve Your Majesty with due diligence."

"Stay flat! Ai Qing doesn't have to worry about other things. After the vassal princes from all over the country arrive at the station, I want them to come and see me one by one!"

"If any of them has a different heart, take it down immediately, and they will not be spared!"

"According to the order!"

After Wang Shouren withdrew from the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Cao Zhengchun happened to be waiting outside.

"Your Majesty, Eunuch Cao of Dongchang please see me!"

"Let him in!"

Cao Zhengchun quickly walked into the Hall of Mental Cultivation and greeted Zhu Houzhao.

"What happened to what I asked you to do?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, King Huai and King Yi were very happy, but their wives and children wanted to resist one by one, and they were all killed by the minister."

After hearing this, Zhu Houzhao pondered for a long time before saying to Cao Zhengchun, "Well, you did a good job in this matter. Don't all rebels deserve to die."

"Return to Your Majesty, I will definitely do well what your Majesty has entrusted to me." Although Zhu Houzhao did not give him much reward, this sentence was more precious to Cao Zhengchun than the reward, at least he got Zhu Houzhao praise.

"Well, did you bring the expense manuals of King Huai and Wang Pingli?"

Cao Zhengchun hurriedly took out a booklet from his sleeve, handed it to Zhu Houzhao respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, all of them are here. Their family property has also been confiscated by the minister, and they are now on their way to the capital."

Zhu Houzhao flipped through the pamphlet presented by Cao Zhengchun, his face became more and more gloomy.

"It's really courageous. Not only are they not grateful for the privileges their ancestors gave them, but they even intend to rebel against them. I really don't know how powerful they are!"

(End of this chapter)