Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 52 Night Talk!

Prince Wu's Mansion.

The candlelight flickered, but Yang Shiqi's voice was steady and firm.

Zhu Yunhuan sighed and said, "Mr. Yang, that's a good idea. I will write a letter of apology tonight."

Yang Shiqi picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and said with a smile: "Your Highness not only has to write a letter of apology tonight, but also another article."

Zhu Yunhuan looked at him.

Yang Shiqi smiled and said, "I just went to see the newspapers and magazines that Your Highness wants to publish, as well as the roller mimeograph machine that Your Highness invented."

"Your Highness is a man of great talent. The mimeograph machine he made is truly an ingenious work of art."

"This move has far-reaching influence, and all the scholars in our Ming Dynasty will benefit greatly."

"On behalf of all the scholars in the world, Yang would like to thank His Highness!"

He bowed deeply.

Zhu Yunhuan did not pretend and accepted it very calmly.

Yang Shiqi said, "I have already arranged the printing and distribution of newspapers. I will write the article and print it tonight. Before the court tomorrow morning, the printed newspapers must be delivered to the palace and the princes and marquises in the capital, as well as all the civil and military officials in the capital."

Is everything ready so soon?
Zhu Yunhuan was a little surprised.

Yang Shiqi had just arrived at his house this afternoon.

Although Zhu Yunhuan had already completed all the preliminary preparations.

A sufficient number of cylinder mimeograph machines have been manufactured and printing workers have been recruited.

He had even decided how the newspaper should be laid out.

After all, these are ready-made experiences for later generations.

The only thing he was still undecided about was how to write the article and what to write about.

"Mr. Yang, there is no need to rush. There is no need to rush to publish newspapers and periodicals in just one or two days," said Zhu Yunhuan.

"No!" Yang Shiqi shook his head and said, "This matter is urgent and cannot be delayed."

"If the newspapers can be successfully printed tonight and delivered before the court tomorrow, then Your Highness will have a better chance of winning the struggle in the court tomorrow."

Is it also related to tomorrow's court dispute?

Zhu Yunhuan immediately became interested.

Yang Shiqi said: "When Your Highness first requested to start a newspaper, he clearly stated that this newspaper was to publicize Your Majesty's great achievements and prevent Your Majesty's holy name from being tarnished by incomplete historical records in the future."

"Therefore, the first edition of the newspaper will of course record the past events of your Majesty's youth to highlight your Majesty's achievements."

"Your Majesty is now old, and it is inevitable that he will reminisce about his youth. Writing these things can also win your Majesty's favor."

Zhu Yunhuan nodded and said, "This coincides with my thoughts."

"This should be a serialized special topic, starting from our ancestors of the Zhu family."

"There is no need to shy away from the fact that the ancestors of the Zhu family were all poor and came from humble backgrounds."

"One edition a day, continuous series."

This kind of detailed biography of the emperor not only pleases Zhu Yuanzhang, but also is very popular among common people.

Everyone has a gossipy heart.

Ordinary people should not be too curious about the secrets of the royal family and the experiences of the founding emperors before they became powerful.

In the past, the imperial court was always secretive and the common people didn’t know much.

But this cannot stop their raging fire of gossip.

Even though spreading the news privately carries the risk of losing one's head, people still enjoy doing it.

Various bizarre legends about the emperor have never ceased to exist among the people.

Of course, because there is no reliable source of information, the content of many legends can only be described as "outrageous".

Now that it has been serialized in newspapers and widely circulated, it is bound to spark a new wave of discussion.

And for Old Zhu, this was just the right way to flatter him.

What Old Zhu desired most was reputation among the people and a name that would last for generations to come.

Yang Shiqi said: "The second page of the newspaper will be used to publish the Imperial Edict."

The Great Edict was compiled by Zhu Yuanzhang with great effort.

Zhu Yuanzhang put a lot of effort into it and even issued an order that every household must have a copy of the "Great Edict". Anyone who had a copy of the "Great Edict" at home could have their punishment reduced by one level, as long as they had not committed a crime punishable by death.

On the contrary, if there is no "Great Edict" at home, the punishment will be increased by one level.

However, because the regulations of the "Great Edict" are too strict and the clauses are too complicated, many of the regulations are very difficult to implement in practice.

Therefore, in the 30th year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang re-edited the Ming Dynasty Law and stipulated that all future judgments and convictions should be based on the Ming Dynasty Law.

The Great Edict thus disappeared from the stage of history.

Zhu Yunhuan heard this but shook his head and said, "I think we should publish the Great Ming Law, not the Great Edict."

Both "Da Ming Code" and "Da Gao" are laws, but "Da Gao" is much stricter.

Looking at Yang Shiqi's gaze, Zhu Yunhuan explained, "To govern a chaotic world, severe punishments are used. Grandfather the Emperor learned the lesson of the Yuan Dynasty's laissez-faire approach, and therefore compiled the extremely strict imperial edict."

"But now the Ming Dynasty has been established for more than 20 years, the country is stable, and the people from all over the world are united."

"The terms of the Great Edict are too strict and difficult to enforce. Grandfather Emperor has actually wanted to change them a long time ago."

"It's just that the ministers don't dare to advise on this matter, and the emperor can't easily take back his original order."

"After my father passes away, if we want to punish the nobles and generals in the court, the Great Edict will still be of great use."

"Now that I have saved my great uncle and others, the Great Edict is no longer necessary."

"Reprinting the Great Edict at this time will only lead to misunderstanding."

"I thought that if I took charge of government in the future, I would implement harsh laws and bloodbath the court. This would scare others and make them oppose me more strongly."

"It is extremely disadvantageous to my fight for the position of crown prince."

"Besides, Grandpa Emperor also hopes that the future successor to the Ming Dynasty will be a benevolent monarch."

Zhu Yunhuan understood Zhu's thoughts very well.

After all, the fact that Zhu Yuanzhang chose Zhu Yunwen as the crown prince to inherit the Ming Dynasty is the best proof in history.

Since ancient times, people can conquer the world on horseback, but cannot rule the world on horseback.

The King of Jin and the King of Yan were all generals who commanded troops.

If I pass the throne to them, they will inevitably continue to fight.

Zhu Yunwen obviously wouldn't do that.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang was wrong. Although Zhu Yunwen was not like Zhu Di, who was obsessed with continuing the northern expedition against the Northern Yuan Dynasty and expanding the territory, his reduction of the power of the feudal lords led to the "Jingnan Campaign".

Four years of civil war exhausted the Ming Dynasty's elite troops and also gave the grassland tribes a chance to rise again.

After Zhu Di became emperor, although he led his army to conquer the northern desert five times, he was never able to eliminate the remnants of the Northern Yuan Dynasty.

During the Ming Dynasty, peace and stability on the northern border has always been a major concern for the imperial court.

This was certainly due to the various stubborn problems that were difficult to conquer in the grassland tribes in the feudal era, but the serious depletion of the Ming Dynasty's national strength caused by the Jingnan Campaign was also a very important reason.

At this time, in Zhu Yuanzhang's mind, after him, the Ming Dynasty would also have to go through another reign of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing, just like the Han Dynasty, to recuperate.

"Okay, then I'll listen to your Highness and publish the Ming Dynasty Law on the second edition."

Yang Shiqi did not object anymore.

In fact, he wanted to publish "The Great Edict" from the perspective of pleasing Zhu.

In Yang Shiqi's mind, he also believed that the "Great Ming Code" was more reasonable than the "Great Edict".

Imposing punishment outside the law is not a good thing for the governance of a country.

Since Zhu Yunhuan believed that the Ming Dynasty Law was actually more in line with Zhu's wishes, he had no reason to object.

"On the third page, I would like to publish some opinions on government affairs and suggestions on how to govern the country."

Zhu Yunhuan directly expressed his thoughts.

Many of the systems established by Lao Zhu are good, but still not perfect.

Some of them have even greater disadvantages.

As a time traveler, he certainly knew many ways to improve things.

This can also prove to Zhu Yuanzhang his ability to govern the country.

Unexpectedly, as soon as this was said, Yang Shiqi immediately objected: "Your Highness, this is absolutely not allowed!"

"Under the current circumstances, Your Highness must not rashly express any opinions on state affairs, let alone discuss how to govern the country!"

(End of this chapter)