Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 1006: The Rise of the Poor
Listening to Old Zhu's complaints, Zhu Su felt a little ashamed.

Considering the great talent and strategy of Emperor Yongle Zhu Di in history, it is estimated that in this world, only his father, Emperor Hongwu, could despise Emperor Yongle for his rash behavior.

Zhu Yuanzhang was indeed qualified to criticize Zhu Di. Not only did he criticize his son as a father, but when it came to expanding territory, Zhu Yuanzhang's methods were indeed more than one dimension higher than Zhu Di's.

Zhu Di recovered Annan, and Zhu Yuanzhang also recovered Yunnan. In theory, Yunnan was independent from the Central Plains dynasty earlier and had been isolated from China for a longer time. In addition, the ethnic groups in Yunnan and Guizhou were complex and the terrain was rugged. Few Han people migrated here. In the early Ming Dynasty, the local area was not deeply influenced by Han culture and its development was relatively backward.

On the other hand, Annan was ruled by the Han Dynasty during the Qin and Han Dynasties, and the fertile Red River Plain in Annan attracted a large number of Han people to migrate here. After the development of the Han, Wei and Jin Dynasties, it was once an important agricultural area in China. The Han Dynasty established a complete administrative system in the Annan region and exercised direct rule here. Confucianism and Chinese were spread here through official schools. In fact, the culture of Annan has been integrated into China. The speed of integration and the degree of development are unmatched by the Yunnan region.

Moreover, during the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Central Plains dynasty still controlled the Annan region, but failed to control Yunnan and Guizhou. The Yunnan and Guizhou regions were first ruled by the "Six Zhaos", then by the "Nanzhao" supported by the Tang Dynasty, and then by the Duan family of Dali. It can be said that before the Ming Dynasty, the Central Plains dynasty's control over Yunnan was far behind that of Annan.

However, under Zhu Yuanzhang's management, the Ming Dynasty, with its weak national strength at the beginning of its founding, conquered Yunnan, a place with weak foundation of Chinese civilization, and successfully incorporated Yunnan into its territory. Then it formulated strategies and operated in many ways, making Yunnan and Guizhou eventually become an inseparable part of China.

As for Annan, where the foundation of Chinese rule should have been stronger, although Emperor Yongle once successfully established Annan as a county, rebellions broke out one after another during this period, and Annan became a black hole for the Ming Dynasty's national strength. Finally, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, it was reluctantly abandoned...

Both are great emperors, and both have made great achievements. However, when compared with Laozi and Hongwu Emperor in terms of expanding territory, the Yongle Emperor is indeed much better.

It’s not unfair for Lao Zhu to say that he is impetuous.

"Father, is there anything you want to tell me?" Zhu Su asked.

Zhu Yuanzhang was a pragmatic emperor. He analyzed the "failure experience" of Emperor Yongle not just to complain about his son. He must have something to tell his son.

"Could it be that you hope that your son can win over the people in Annan in the name of new learning?"

"The situation in Annam is not chaotic yet. Winning over people's hearts at this time will only make them alert." Old Zhu shook his head and said.

"However, in the past few years, we have also asked the Royal Guards to collect a lot of intelligence about Annan. The Annan nobles are in power, and the common people have no chance to make a living... Although it's not chaotic yet, it's almost there."

"When Li Jili seizes the throne, Annan will really be in chaos. According to your previous plan, you hoped that we would do the same as the fourth brother in history and send troops at this time to swallow up the entire Annan. But after thinking about it, I think it is not appropriate to do things according to the fourth brother's method."

"You just need to pretend to be friendly with the Annan nobles. The main targets are the many local tyrants and children from poor families in Annan."

"Poor family children?" Zhu Su was stunned and asked puzzledly: "Why win them over?"

"Why win over the nobles if not them?" Old Zhu glared at Zhu Su, and then explained in a persuasive manner: "The government of Annan is controlled by the nobles. Even if these nobles help our Ming Dynasty deal with Hu Jinyi in the future, what they hope is that our Ming Dynasty can help them get back their benefits."

"Only if Annan becomes an independent country can they benefit greatly and generously. If the Ming Dynasty wants to swallow Annan, they will immediately turn against the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Su thought about it and nodded in agreement. What Zhu Su said was exactly the actual situation encountered by the Ming army in history: when the Yongle Emperor's army first attacked Annan, the Annan nobles gave great support to the Ming army and helped the Ming army overthrow the Dayu regime of Le Qui Ly.

However, when the Ming Dynasty chose Annan as a county instead of returning power to the descendants of the Chen family of Annan, these aristocratic families who had previously supported the Ming Dynasty immediately turned against the Ming Dynasty. They used their deep-rooted influence in Annan to oppose the Ming Dynasty everywhere, causing the Ming Dynasty to fall into the quagmire called Annan. The Ming Dynasty had no choice but to send large armies to conquer Annan several times, but all of them were just drinking poison to quench thirst.

Finally, in order to prevent the empire's finances from being dragged down by Annan, Xuanzong had no choice but to withdraw the Ming army, announce a heroic measure and abandon Annan... causing Annan to once again split from China and never return to China's embrace.

"Instead of winning the support of the nobles, it is better to win the support of the powerful and the poor. They have been suppressed by the nobles for a long time, and they hate the nobles and the Annan court even more." Old Zhu continued to analyze. "As long as you can stir up their hatred for the nobles, when Annan is in chaos, they will definitely seize the opportunity and jump out to resist the Annan nobles and the court."

"Don't think that these wealthy and poor families are weak. Those noble families who hold official positions have been arrogant and extravagant, and have been decadent for a hundred years. They are all just dogs guarding their homes... They are not as brave and daring as these poor and powerful families."

"Zhang Shicheng was a salt merchant, and Liu Futong's family was just a landlord... When we were fighting for supremacy in the world, in the end, the most powerful forces in the world were all powerful merchants. Where have we ever seen those so-called wealthy families?"

"In my opinion, even if the Ming Dynasty does not intervene, Annan will eventually fall into the hands of these poor and powerful people. In this case, why not first win over the hearts of these poor people in Annan? When the war breaks out, they will naturally think of relying on the Ming Dynasty and asking the Ming Dynasty to do justice for them."

"Let them clean up those corrupt and bastard nobles in Annan, so that we can save more effort in the future."

"Besides." Old Zhu smiled confidently. "These people are easier to satisfy than the nobles. After all, they need more help, and..."

“It’s easier to be grateful!”

Zhu Su was somewhat shocked, shocked at Zhu's insight into the situation and his analysis and control of the situation in Annan.

Indeed, in history, after Annan experienced the usurpation of the throne by Le Qui Ly, the conquest by the Ming Dynasty, and the rebellion of the aristocracy, in the end, it was a man named Le Loi who came from a small noble family who became the ultimate winner. After the Ming Dynasty withdrew from Annan, he unified all the forces in Annan and established a new independent small court.

Both the Annan nobles, who now have all-powerful power, and the gigantic Ming Empire, became losers in Annan. Instead, the local tyrants and poor families, who are still inconspicuous now, became the final winners.

Zhu Su actually did not tell Zhuge Liang about the follow-up of Annan... Zhuge Liang had deduced all of this himself!
He keenly realized which force the Ming Dynasty needed to win over the most.

It makes sense... Zhu Yuanzhang, who had experienced the chaos at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, rose from the most vulnerable to the bottom and gradually became the leader of China. He naturally knew what the real key was to overthrow a regime. He also knew that the long-term stability of a place could not be separated from the support from the grassroots.

Compared with him, even the wise and capable Emperor Yongle could not help but appear a little narrow-minded.

Zhu Su had to agree that compared to Zhu Di's intervention in Annan's government under the banner of justice and his attempt to subdue Annan with his powerful military force, Zhu's plan to win over the poor and powerful people in Annan and use them to cleanse the gentry and govern Annan was more conducive to the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty counties in Annan.

The establishment of the "Government Academy" and the confinement of the children of the gentry and the children of the poor in the same place, where they became fed up with each other, was the first step to intensify the conflicts between the gentry and the poor and powerful, and to win over the poor and powerful by the Ming Dynasty.

Not everyone has Zhu's vision. His experience of rising from the top down enabled him to see the blind spot that even the ambitious Emperor Yongle could not see... It is much less likely to attract the attention of others to win over the weak and humble than to win over the powerful nobles. After all, it is an insult to Zhu to compare Zhu and Li Jizhen on the same level. Zhu could find the blind spot of the humble, but Li Jizhen would definitely not.

Of course, the blatant means of winning over are too low, and the academy still has to maintain fairness on the surface. After all, only after experiencing fairness in some areas can they feel the injustice of the overall environment outside of the local area.

When they begin to feel dissatisfied with the general environment, they hope that the fairness brought to them by the Ming Dynasty can spread to the entire Annan area...

……

It has been a month since Zhu Su opened the academy. During this month, Zhu Su still gave lectures to the public. Many children of the Annan nobles flocked to these lectures to try to get some "reputation" from the Ming Dynasty. However, the bigwigs who really held power in the Annan nobles had already set their sights on the children of the families in the academy.

The reputation gained by auditing lectures was very weak, and even the reputation gained by enrolling in Wuqu Academy and becoming a disciple of His Majesty the King Zhou of the Ming Dynasty was also very weak. Only by becoming a disciple of His Majesty the King Zhou and receiving His Majesty the King Zhou's true inheritance could one gain unparalleled reputation to the greatest extent.

After all, this was His Royal Highness King Zhou from the Ming Dynasty! Not to mention that he was the founder of the new school, becoming his disciple in Annan would allow one to become a great scholar of the new school. When King Zhou returned to the Ming Dynasty, his disciples would be the masters of the new school in Annan who had the final say and could not be refuted by anyone.

For example, with the identity of the prince of the Daming Dynasty, Zhou Wang could even be his disciple and receive the golden light from the Daming Dynasty. If there was any disaster in the family in the future, this golden light from the upper country would be more useful than the iron certificate of immunity from death. Even the Emperor of Annan would never dare to provoke the disciple of the prince of the Daming Dynasty!
With so many benefits, how could these Annan nobles not flock to it?
Therefore, the sons of the noble families in the elite section of Wuqu Academy, urged by the letters from their own family masters, began to roll up their sleeves. Among them, Li Cang from the Li family rolled up the most desperately. Li Cang knew very well that his father sent him here for this disciple quota. Moreover, becoming a disciple of King Zhou had a deeper meaning for the Li family than for others.

If the Li family wants to become the leader of the new learning in Annan, they must become the leader of the new learning in order to best realize their ambitions.

In order for the Li family to take the lead in the new school of Annan, it was necessary for them to become disciples of the King of Zhou. And his father probably could not tolerate other noble families leading the new school of Annan over the Li family.

I think if there really was a son of a noble family who became a disciple of King Zhou before Li, then that person would definitely die inexplicably at some point in the future...

But that's all for later. Li Cang knew that if he wanted to win his father's favor, he had to work harder. They brothers knew a little about their father Li Ji's ambitions, and as long as their father's ambitions were fulfilled and they could surpass their brothers and become the heir of the Li family, he, Li Cang, would gain a status that ordinary people could hardly imagine.

When he thought of this, Li Cang's heart was burning with enthusiasm, and his motivation to involute became even stronger.

Time passed like this, and it was time for the monthly Academy Examination. It was still held in the same large parade ground, but this time, the general and elite subjects were no longer seated separately, but mixed together.

This arrangement once again made many elite science students dissatisfied. They covered their mouths and noses with their sleeves, as if the ordinary science students in simple clothes had some unpleasant smell on them, which tarnished their nobility.

"But I know a few words, and I have the dignity to take the exam... If I were an ordinary student, I would have covered my face and gone back to study hard behind closed doors, and would never dare to embarrass myself here."

"A bunch of peasants, you want to be accepted as disciples by His Majesty King Zhou? Don't you even consider your own abilities..."

Insults against ordinary science students continued to come one after another, like poisonous snakes, burrowing into the hearts of ordinary science students. A few ordinary science students glared at the rude elite science students, but more ordinary science students pulled their classmates and advised them to be tolerant.

The students of the elite department not only come from noble families, but also study the classics since childhood. Whether in terms of family background or academic achievements, they cannot compare with them.

Just tolerate.

Li Cang also thought so. He firmly believed that the so-called ordinary students were just tools used by the Ming Dynasty's Prince Zhou to demonstrate his "education for all". The only people who could really stand out were the elite students from the aristocratic families. Therefore, he did not take these ordinary students seriously from the beginning.

Instead, he was focused on his own efforts and was determined to get first place in the test among so many elite science students.

He was very confident about this. Firstly, his Li family was the most powerful official in Annan, and the scriptures and teaching materials in his family were more complete than those in other families. He, Li Cang, had also been taught by a famous teacher since he was young.

Secondly, when he was in Thang Long City, he was used to seeing what the children of other noble families were like. Compared with those playboys from other noble families, the ambitious Li family and Li Cang were undoubtedly more enterprising and studied harder. Li Cang did not think that these playboys from other families had the strength to compete with him.

Then, two days after the exam, the Education Bureau released the list of exam rankings.

(End of this chapter)