Father can be an enemy to the country

Outside Wuying Hall, there were many guards in royal robes. King Tan Zhu Zi personally led his troops to guard the palace, preventing anyone from spying.

In the hall, Boss Zhu completely opened up his chatterbox and said with a proud smile:

"Haha, remember, kid, the bigger the foundation, the better. You have to be able to manage it, and it will be beneficial. We often think about the time when Guangwu of the Han Dynasty, the barbarians from all over the world competed to ask the court to send officials to take charge, but Guangwu refused."

"It is because Liu Xiu also came from a humble background and knew many shortcomings, so he was not allowed to do so. This was the height of Guangwu's knowledge. Later kings were much worse. Just like Goryeo, they were also divided into counties and counties, and officials were set up... The poor people in that wretched place can’t even afford food, the court can’t collect a few taxes, and they have to give money in relief, what do you think you need it for?”

"The untalented person behind him relied on the power of the imperial court and did not do well. As soon as the national power declined, everything changed drastically. As a result, he worked in vain and got the reputation of losing his country. Why did he do it?" Zhu Yuanzhang spat out He took a breath and said decisively:

"So we have made up our mind that, except for the barbarians in the northwest, I will never attack the other small border countries unless they are Chinese patients!"

"Because the country uses troops, just like a doctor uses medicine. He prescribes a lot of medicines with the purpose of treating diseases. You can't just take medicines when you are not sick, otherwise it will damage your body!"

"The same goes for governing a country. If the country is not peaceful, use troops to deal with troubles. When the world is at peace, all you need to do is repair your armor, train your soldiers, and prepare for national defense. You must not imitate Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty who relied on his wealth to show off his strength. He rejoiced in success and caused trouble. Naturally, he would be with others. The country is enmity. But we have to go on an expedition, and the right time, place, and people are not with us, so it is easy for the war to go against us. The court has to increase its troops, and the treasury is empty and it has to increase taxes. Doesn't this just cause trouble? "

"It is too laborious for the people and money, and we must not start a war lightly. Therefore, the ancients said: 'A vast land is not a plan for long-term peace, and the labor of the people is the source of easy chaos'!"

"Wow, my father has become an old scholar!" Boss Zhu made a long speech, which made Zhu Zhen stunned. Unexpectedly, the old man's cultural level was getting higher and higher. He couldn't say such words back then.

"My father gives lectures in the Imperial Academy every morning and evening, all day long." The prince explained with a smile.

"You really have to live and learn." Zhu Zhen hurriedly flattered him.

"You just know?" Boss Zhu said more and more proudly:

"This is the reason why we keep the vassals like Korea and Annan intact, and stipulate that there will be no official posts outside the Three Rivers of Yunnan, and we will only use barbarians to control barbarians. Do you understand, kid?"

"I understand, Father." Zhu Zhen looked stunned and asked as if he didn't understand:

"Just my father, since 'the barbarians in the four directions are all isolated in a corner, separated by mountains and seas, and their land is not enough to provide food, and their people are not enough to command', why do you still worry that the meritorious officials who have been granted these places will one day Will the tail be too big to fall off?"

"Uh..." Zhu Yuanzhang did not expect that Lao Liu would use his spear to attack his shield. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and said, "That's true."

"Then there is the land of Yunnan, which is far away from the mainland. The people are fierce, barbarians are everywhere, and there are many chieftains. If you just send officials for a few years, you will not be able to suppress them at all, and naturally you will not be able to establish the absolute authority of the imperial court—— In the future, once a barbarian strongman emerges from nowhere, Liu Guan, who has a shallow foundation, will be unable to compete, and Yunnan will inevitably be in chaos!"

"Well..." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. With his knowledge, he certainly understood that what Lao Liu said was true. In fact, it was based on this consideration that he named Lao Liu the King of Dian and sent him to conquer Yunnan.

"This is still within Yunnan where there are roving officials, let alone outside Sanjiang where there are no roving officials." Zhu Zhen said in a deep voice:

"Isn't it completely the domain of the various tribal chiefs? Otherwise, how could the Luchuan regime become so big and powerful that it dared to challenge the Ming Dynasty?"

"If we don't change our strategy and still adopt the policy of using barbarians to control barbarians and chieftains to govern themselves, then after wiping out the Luchuan Kingdom, we will definitely leave a huge power vacuum. If we don't fill it, the barbarians will naturally fill it. Whether it's Burma, Siam, or Annan, in short, a new small powerful country in the southwest will rise soon.

"In the process of its rise, the chieftains who were enfeoffed by the Ming Dynasty will naturally become the targets of its expansion. When they ask for help from the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty will also use troops to protect them. This kind of fighting for others is no worse than that of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. Unwise?"

"Hiss..." Zhu Yuanzhang touched his gray short beard on his chin. He had to admit that what Lao Liu said made sense. Indeed, the birth of the Luchuan regime certainly had its origins. If the imperial court does not change its policy, even if Luchuan is eliminated, new troubles will quickly arise.

And Lao Liu's last words were the most heart-wrenching - he had previously thought that as long as the vassals claimed vassal status and paid tribute, he would not attack them, so that they could be at peace with each other.

But he really didn't expect that those vassals and chieftains would be bullied. What would the court do? It is absolutely impossible to leave it alone. Because the core of Ming Dynasty's current vassal system of claiming vassals and paying tribute is prestige.

If the prestige is gone, then the vassal system established purely on prestige will exist in name only.

Therefore, Ming Dynasty cannot afford to lose that person. All I can do is pinch my nose and force it on...

This kind of bad battle fighting for others is indeed worse than Emperor Sui Yang. At least people still fight for themselves...

"Well, it turned out to be some wishful thinking..." When discussing the country's system with his son, he no longer had to take care of his own face. You must seek truth from facts.

"So why not grant outer Yunnan to the vassal kings and nobles and let them govern themselves? In this way, the court can stabilize the situation beyond the Three Rivers without spending money and food. And in the future, if the barbarians in the southwest have trouble, they can also order the vassal kings to lead the nobles to seek peace. , it also doesn’t cost the imperial court a single soldier." Zhu Zhen struck while the railway was hot:

"If they are not qualified, replace them with someone who is. There must be brave men under the heavy reward, and there must be someone who is qualified!"

"Although there are noble fiefs in the vassal kingdom, the nobles are not loyal to the vassal king. Instead, like the vassal king, they are all the emperor's ministers, and they must be loyal to the emperor and obey the orders of the court. So. , vassal kings, nobles and nobles restrain each other, and they will not be too big to lose. Then the southwest will be safe forever!" Zhu Zhen concluded in the end.

After listening to Lao Liu's long speech, Zhu Yuanzhang finally relaxed a little. He looked at the prince and said, "Boss, what do you think?"

"My son feels that Lao Liu is wholeheartedly thinking about the Ming Dynasty, his father, and my old Zhu family." Zhu Biao said without thinking:

"As the eldest brother, to hear my younger brother thinking about me like this, to be honest, I am extremely touched and ashamed."

"Well..." Seeing the prince's agreement, Zhu Yuanzhang finally relented and said:

"Then let's try it out in Luchuan. Of course you have to knock down Luchuan first..."

"Father, look at it, I will destroy this court food when I get back!" Zhu Zhen immediately smiled.

The biggest obstacle to his career has finally been removed...