Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 288 Zhu Di Opens His Office! Qi Tai Zi Cheng [Request Subscription]

Zhu Xing, Zhu Di and others imagined the appearance of the mammoth described by Liu Kuan, and suddenly came up with the idea of ​​sending people to the Far North to look for it.

Zhu Ying then asked, "How far is the far north that my brother-in-law mentioned? Are the mammoths in the ice easy to discover?"

As soon as Liu Kuan heard it, he knew that Zhu Ying was planning to take over the mammoth.

He smiled and said, "The term 'the Far North' isn't quite accurate. The real Far North is the Arctic Ocean, which is covered by glaciers. It used to be an ocean, so there weren't any mammoths there."

"The place I'm talking about is actually the northern part of Siberia on later maps, where the wasteland meets the glacier."

"But I don't recommend sending people to look for this mammoth. First, it's of no use to the Ming Dynasty right now, and second, it's difficult to find and excavate."

After Liu Kuan finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang also said, "Third brother, don't think about the mammoth anymore. Think about how to make more contributions so that you can be granted an overseas vassal state as soon as possible."

Zhu Yuanzhang then stood up and left his seat, saying, "All princes over ten years old, as well as Xiongying and Liu Kuan, come to the side hall to discuss matters."

"Yes."

Liu Kuan and others followed Lao Zhu to the side hall of Dashan Hall.

The seats are still arranged here, and there are many maps hanging on the screens.

"Is this the Zhu family's annual party?"

This is what Liu Kuan thought in his heart.

After everyone was seated, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke loudly, "First of all—Last year in Japan, Fourth Brother supervised the 'conversion of rice to mulberry' and 'immigration' policies, and did a very good job. Earlier this year, he inspected the Beiyang Military Commission, and was also tireless in his efforts."

"Adding to the merits he achieved in the Northern Expedition against Nahachu, his accumulated merits are already not far from being a Commanding General."

"Therefore, we will issue an edict after the Lantern Festival, allowing you to establish a government office and prepare for your overseas vassalage."

"Of course, before you can take up your post as a feudal vassal, you must continue to oversee Japanese affairs, and you must also find time to pass the examination required for an overseas vassalage."

"So, after a few years, when your achievements are sufficient and the time is ripe, you can go directly overseas to establish your fiefdom!"

After hearing this, Zhu Di was overjoyed and stunned for a moment.

Previously, Liu Kuan had released videos and movies, causing Zhu Yuanzhang to vent his anger on him several times. He had been prepared to be scolded or even beaten in private, but he did not expect to hear such great news first.

After coming to his senses, he immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Thank you, father, for your grace!"

Old Zhu waved his hand as if he didn't care. "Whatever grace you receive, it's all you deserve. I just hope you won't slack off when you're supervising Japanese affairs."

"Your Majesty, I will not neglect Japanese affairs." Zhu Di promised, and returned to his seat. However, he could not help but ask, "Father, what are the standards for the establishment of a vassal state?"

"Also, what preparations can I make for my vassalage? Can I recruit immigrants now? And how many Ming citizens can I recruit as immigrants?"

After hearing Zhu Di's series of questions, Zhu Biao and Liu Kuan couldn't help laughing, while Zhu Ying and others showed envy and jealousy.

Zhu Yuanzhang also shook his head and laughed, "You kid, just now you said you wouldn't neglect Japanese affairs, but now your mind has gone to the matter of establishing a government and establishing a vassal state. How can I trust you?"

Zhu Di smiled awkwardly and touched the back of his head.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "The standards for establishing a vassal state need further discussion. As for the necessary preparations for becoming a vassal, haven't you heard Liu Kuan explain this before? Do you still need me to teach you?"

"As for immigration, whether it's you or any other vassal kings who come to the vassal state, we will only allow 5,000 households to be relocated."

Only five thousand households?

Zhu Di was stunned after hearing this.

Then he couldn't help but ask, "Father, isn't 5,000 households too few? Some large counties now have more than 5,000 households, right?"

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted, "I allow you to relocate 5,000 households of civilians, plus 3,000 families of the guards, that's 8,000 households, which is already a lot."

"You must know that it's not just you who wants to be a vassal state overseas. Most of your younger brothers also want to go overseas. If each of them sends 5,000 households, the total number may exceed 100,000 households."

"The Ming Dynasty is in urgent need of population right now. Giving each of you 8,000 households is already quite good. You should be content!"

"Father," Zhu Di called out first, and then winked at Zhu Ying, Zhu Zhen and others.

Zhu Ying immediately said, "Father, five thousand households is indeed a little too few. Can you add a few more?"

"Yes, father, please add some." Zhu Tan also began to plead.

Before the other princes could speak, Old Zhu said with an unhappy look on his face, "Do you think this is a vegetable market? You're still bargaining with us. If you piss me off, you won't even have 5,000 households!"

As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang got angry, the princes became silent.

Then, Old Zhu said in a soothing tone, "It's not easy for you to be willing to go overseas and establish a vassal state. So, if you still need it in twenty years, you can come back and recruit another 2,000 immigrants."

"Remember, whether recruiting immigrants this time or twenty years from now, the people must volunteer. If you recruit fewer than 5,000 households, we won't help you."

Zhu Di and his companions were initially pleased to hear that another 2,000 households could be recruited in 20 years. However, upon hearing the following words, they suddenly became depressed. The Han people were deeply attached to their land; who would be willing to migrate overseas unless they had no other choice?
The several large-scale immigrations carried out in the country during the Hongwu Dynasty were all enforced by the imperial court, and few households participated voluntarily.

Therefore, if they want to recruit 5,000 households willing to migrate overseas, it would be extremely difficult!
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang said: "The second thing is that next year we will once again attack the Northern Yuan Dynasty and make sure to destroy the Northern Yuan Dynasty in one fell swoop."

"Therefore, the four provinces of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, and Liaoning, as well as the two major military prefectures of Gansu and Jilin, must all be prepared..."

···
After Zhu Di left the palace and returned to Prince of Yan's Mansion, he went to the courtyard where Daoyan lived and told him that Zhu Yuanzhang had allowed him to open a mansion and prepare to establish a vassal state overseas.

Finally, he talked about the trouble of having to recruit immigrants on his own.

Daoyan laughed after hearing this.

Zhu Di asked, "Master, why are you laughing?"

Daoyan said, "Recruiting immigrants is a problem that Your Highness cannot avoid. Why bother with it?"

"how do I say this?"

Daoyan said, "If the imperial court forces the people to emigrate, they will be unwilling to do so. How can they unite with Your Highness once they are overseas? Therefore, I originally wanted to suggest that Your Highness recruit immigrants, rather than let the imperial court divide them."

"As for the people being reluctant to move, that depends on who Your Highness chooses to relocate and what conditions he offers."

"For example, south of the Yangtze River, especially along the coast, there are many boat people. They own no land and are considered untouchables. If Your Highness could recruit immigrants from these people, grant them a certain amount of land in India, and promise to guide them to achieve success, how could they not be tempted?"

"For example, those who have been demoted to criminals by the imperial court, if Your Highness promises to remove their criminal status, they will not only follow Your Highness to go overseas, but will also be grateful."

"There are a number of people in the Ming Dynasty who are easily able to migrate overseas. Your Highness has a great advantage by being able to establish a government and establish a fiefdom overseas first. You should be happy, but you look so sad. This poor monk is now laughing."

After listening to Daoyan's analysis, Zhu Di was stunned at first, and then he burst into laughter.

"It seems I was wrong—establishing a vassal state overseas is certainly not easy, but my situation is very good!"

At this time, Daoyan said, "It is easy to recruit ordinary immigrants. In fact, the most important thing for Your Highness to pay attention to after opening a government is how to recruit scholars and craftsmen."

Zhu Di nodded. "Scholars and craftsmen are indeed important for establishing vassal states overseas. Master, do you have any suggestions for this?"

"I have some ideas."

"Oh? Master, please tell me quickly. I'm all ears!"

···
···
After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Zhu Yuanzhang indeed issued an imperial edict allowing Prince of Yan Zhu Di to establish a government and prepare to establish a vassal state overseas.

For a moment, everyone in the government was paying attention.

The day after the imperial edict was issued, the "Recruitment Order" of the Prince of Yan's Mansion was posted on notice boards inside and outside the capital, attracting many people in the capital to watch, especially frustrated scholars.

Outside a bulletin board somewhere in the outer city, a group of people gathered and listened to the government official announce the contents of the notice.

Soon, two young men dressed as scholars came out one after another.

As if drawn together by fate, the two glanced at each other and a desire to become friends arose. The younger scholar bowed first and said, "I am Huang Zicheng from Fenyi, Jiangxi Province. I am a candidate here to take part in the Spring Examination."

The older scholar returned the greeting formally, saying, "My name is Qi Tai, from Lishui, Yingtian. I have also come to Beijing to participate in the Spring Examination."

Huang Zicheng was surprised when he heard this. "Lishui is so close to the capital, why did Brother Qi come to the capital so early?"

Qi Tai sighed, "Last year's provincial exam not only had a larger proportion of math and natural science questions, but they were also much more difficult than three years ago. I'm average in math and even worse in natural sciences, so I barely passed the exam."

"This year's spring exam also increased the weight of math and science questions. I really don't have the confidence to pass it."

"Lishui is a small place, with few people who can discuss mathematics and natural sciences with each other. However, the Imperial College is the birthplace of natural sciences and a gathering place of outstanding talents. So I wanted to come to the Imperial College in advance to see if I could improve my mathematics and natural sciences."

After hearing Qi Tai's words, Huang Zicheng suddenly felt that they shared the same fate.

He was born into a prominent family in Jiangxi Province. Since childhood, he studied the "Book of Changes" under the famous Neo-Confucian scholar Ouyang Zhen, studied "Shangshu" under Zhou Yu, and studied "Spring and Autumn Annals" under Liang Yin. He mastered the essence of Confucian Neo-Confucianism, wrote outstanding articles, and his virtues were spread throughout the village. He became famous at a young age!

He originally thought that if the imperial court did not hold the imperial examination, he could enter the officialdom through recommendation; if the imperial examination was held, he would definitely be on the list, or even take the top spot!
Who would have thought that after the imperial court reopened the imperial examination, the content of the examination was quite different from that of the Song and Yuan dynasties. It even required tests on mathematics and natural sciences!
Mathematics is easy, but he has never heard of natural science before, so how can he pass the exam?
Thus, in the provincial examination of the 15th year of Hongwu, Huang Zicheng, who prided himself on being a young genius, failed!
After that, he studied mathematics and natural sciences for three years, but his talent was in Confucianism. He only barely passed the provincial examination last year and was at the bottom of the list.

He also has no confidence in this year's Spring Examination.

Therefore, after hearing Qi Tai's words, he sighed and said, "To be honest, Brother Qi, it's actually quite fast to travel from Fenyi to the capital by water. I also want to improve my mathematics and natural sciences, so I came to the capital early."

Qi Tai nodded, "The level of mathematics and natural science in the capital is indeed higher."

Huang Zicheng stepped forward, took Qi Tai's hand, and said, "Brother Qi and I hit it off right away. Why don't we go to a teahouse, have a cup of tea, and discuss Confucianism, mathematics, and the natural sciences?"

Qi Tai pulled his hand away awkwardly at first, then bowed, "I had the same idea."

　Second update.

　　Good night~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)