My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 132: Lao Zhu said Lao Li was terrible
“Therefore, the reasonable distribution of benefits is the basic prerequisite for ensuring that a group can continue to operate in a cooperative manner.”

Zhu Yuanzhang deeply agreed with this point. It was indeed a headache to figure out how to reward the brothers who had fought with him to establish the empire.

Not only do we have to take military achievements into consideration, we also have to consider things like seniority and closeness. Although absolute fairness cannot be guaranteed, at least we won't let others stab us in the back.

Of course, he doesn't care if someone stabbed him in the back, because the Jinyiwei are not there to eat for free.

However, Li Han's next sentence made him drop his jaw!
“A reasonable distribution mechanism is not an absolutely fair distribution mechanism, but it should make everyone who participates in the distribution feel that they are being treated fairly!”

This……

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes widened, this sentence almost burned his brain out.

This statement was too mysterious and he was unable to understand it.

In his opinion, fairness is fairness, and it is a very real thing.
Just like after the Qin State's reform, rewards were given based on military merit. Whoever chopped off more heads had greater merit. This was fairness. If anyone tried to steal the credit, it would be unfair!
What secret is Lao Li up to? However, once he starts to see sentences that he can't understand, it means that Lao Li is going to come up with some new ideas that will subvert his own concepts.

Zhu Yuanzhang became more and more curious about what it took to make people feel that they were treated fairly.

"Since the Han Dynasty, the ancients have divided the family property according to the principle of equal distribution among all sons. The Household Order formulated during the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty clearly stipulated that 'all the land, houses and property that should be divided should be divided equally among brothers', which means that all sons, regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate, can obtain equal amounts of property.

Doesn’t that seem fair?”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded unconsciously, and then suddenly came to his senses. He almost fell into Lao Li's language trap again.

Lao Li is like this. He will earnestly lead himself into a certain language situation, and when he thinks he is about to get the correct answer, he will suddenly pour a basin of cold water on him to completely sober himself up from head to toe.

Lao Li is not talking about what fairness is, but teaching himself how to make others feel fairness!
“But fairness in law is just a piece of paper. Fairness is reflected in the specific distribution process.

For example, during the Song Dynasty, a landlord in a certain place had two sons. After his death, he did not leave a will on how to divide his property, which led to the two brothers arguing over the property at the local county government.

The county magistrate also had a headache. The landlord was very wealthy. He owned hundreds of acres of fertile land, numerous properties, antique paintings and calligraphy, and countless silver and money.

The county magistrate was extremely troubled by how to achieve fair distribution.

Moreover, the clan of this landlord was very powerful in the local area, and his uncle was an official in the court. No matter how the county magistrate distributed the land, he would offend people. Because of this, the county magistrate lost his appetite and could not sleep at night, which was a real headache for him.

It was his wife who was smart. She gave the county magistrate an idea, saying that no matter how they divided it, it would offend people, so it would be better to let them divide it themselves.

The county magistrate was puzzled and asked his wife, "It was because they themselves could not tell the difference that they came to the county government office for making a scene."

The lady whispered a few words in the county magistrate's ear, and the county magistrate clapped his hands and exclaimed, "What a wonderful idea!"

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately became very interested. What method could make the two brothers feel fair?
“The next day, the county magistrate personally led people to the landlord’s house and summoned all the elders in the clan, asking them to be witnesses. He wanted to distribute the property fairly and impartially in front of everyone.

Everyone looked at the county magistrate as if he were a joke, and the two brothers did not believe that the county magistrate could convince them.

The county magistrate was not in a hurry. He first asked his elder brother to divide the family property into two parts. His elder brother immediately smiled and said that the county magistrate was fair.

But the younger brother cursed the county magistrate, saying that the county magistrate had accepted bribes from his brother and wanted to report him.

However, just when the elder brother was eager to divide the family property, he heard the county magistrate say that after his elder brother had divided it, the younger brother would be the first to choose!
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned, and the two brothers were even more dumbfounded. It was not until the people watching the excitement shouted that the county magistrate was fair that everyone reacted.

But no one could find fault with the county magistrate.

Finally, the two brothers were convinced by the county magistrate and divided the family property according to the county magistrate's method. "Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but applaud. The county magistrate's wife's idea was really amazing!
At this point, he also fully understood the true meaning of making others feel treated fairly.

These are all wisdom in dealing with people!
"The county magistrate's method seems to have done nothing, but it has done everything. Old Zhu, you see, fairness is sometimes so simple. Just let the nobles and princes feel it for themselves.

Once you understand this principle, let's look at how to organize the nobles.

First of all, there is no doubt that the distribution of shares is based on capital contribution, but the share of the court, that is, the public, should account for more than half, because maritime trade is one of the basic national policies of the Ming Dynasty.

The imperial court is the main body and its endorsement is the only way it can serve as a role model, while the rest of the share will be divided among the noble princes.

The remaining shares will be distributed among the noble princes according to the amount of capital they have contributed. Everyone who has contributed capital is a shareholder, and the court is also a shareholder. The court and the noble princes form the shareholders' meeting.

After deducting costs and funds for continued investment in construction and expansion, the remaining profit from ocean trade each year is reduced by 30%, and the rest is distributed as dividends in proportion.

Seeing this, Lao Zhu, you might say, isn’t this the same as the example of Xu Da just now?

Don't be impatient, please continue reading, the next part is the killer move!"

Zhu Yuanzhang touched his nose and became more focused, wanting to see what Old Li was up to!

"This trump card is called performance appraisal. It is actually very simple to understand. It is the combination of imperial inspection and reward according to merit. The objects of performance appraisal are the noble princes who have contributed both money and effort.

The secret of performance appraisal lies in that it allows people within this system to constantly motivate themselves!

Like the Beijing Examination, performance appraisal also requires the formulation of detailed assessment standards, such as how many goods were sold, how much profit was earned, how much territory was expanded, how much market was occupied, etc.

According to the assessment standards, different levels of honors will be formulated, and those who receive the highest honors will receive the highest rewards, which will be presented personally by you, the Emperor of the Ming Empire, Zhu.

As for the rewards, they are of course real money, which is taken from the 30% of the deducted profits. Similarly, different levels of honor will receive different levels of rewards.

Now the highlight is coming, who will judge? Hehe, naturally the prince will leave it to the nobles to judge, and the nobles will be judged by the prince!

Of course, if they are allowed to judge each other, there will definitely be some problems. But if there are no problems, what excuse do you, Lao Zhu, as the supreme arbitrator, have to intervene and balance?

As for those noble princes who do not want to contribute or invest, I think they will participate obediently after seeing the huge benefits of maritime trade.

I have attached the details of the specific organizational form and assessment standards to the letter, you can refer to it, Mr. Zhu."

After reading the letter, Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned. He felt his scalp tingling and he took a few long breaths before he recovered from the shock!

Before he knew it, he was already covered in cold sweat.

Wow, this is exactly the same as how the two brothers divided their property in the Song Dynasty!

Old Li is so terrible. He plays with human nature to an unbelievable degree. Fortunately, this guy is not an enemy but a confidant. Otherwise, whoever becomes his enemy will be sold out by him and have to help him count money.

On second thought, if Old Li implements this method, doesn't it mean that all the princes and nobles are under his control?

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(End of this chapter)