Bringing the Railway to Daming

Liu Kuandao said: "The reason is simple, because people live in reality, not the illusory online world. As long as people need to maintain their lives in the real world, then they must focus on the real world."

“Even if people spend most of their time in the virtual world, it’s just a way of using it, not an addiction.”

Seeing that Zhu Biao seemed to understand, he continued, "In fact, before I came to the Ming Dynasty, although there were no sophisticated virtual reality games like those in the movies, there were many games that relied on devices such as computers, mobile phones, and tablets."

"Some of these games have vast and complex worldviews, which can be called virtual worlds. Other games, while small, have very interesting rules and are so addictive that people want to play them again and again."

"But those who are addicted to games are mostly children and teenagers who lack knowledge. Although there are adults who are addicted to games, they are very rare."

"That's why I feel that even if virtual reality devices and games reach the level of those in movies, or even surpass them, as long as the real world doesn't make people so desperate that they can only escape like in the movies, people will still prioritize the real world and always use the virtual world as a tool."

Zhu Biao nodded, as if he understood.

Zhu Yuanzhang then said, "In my opinion, this game is just like drinking and sex. Whether or not one indulges in it and neglects their duties depends mainly on the individual."

"If one is determined, they can remain indifferent even when faced with fine wine and beautiful women. But if one is weak-willed, they can become addicted to ordinary wine and ordinary-looking women, and harm their body and mind because of wine and sex!"

Liu Kuan immediately praised: "Your Majesty sees it clearly."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and said to the princes, "Now that we've finished watching the movie, let's go to the side hall to discuss state affairs as we do in previous years. However, this year, the rules will be slightly modified. Not only the princes, but also the emperor's grandchildren over the age of twelve may go to the side hall to participate in the discussions."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Yunhuan and several sons of Prince Zhou Zhu Su all showed joy.

Among Zhu Yuanzhang's sons over the age of eighteen, except Zhu Biao, only Zhu Su, Prince of Zhou, Zhu Zi, Prince of Tan, Zhu Chun, Prince of Shu, Zhu Bo, Prince of Xiang, and Zhu Gui, Prince of Dai (who just turned eighteen) did not go overseas to establish vassal states.

But Zhu Zi is only 23 years old and currently has only a two-year-old daughter.

As for Zhu Chun and Zhu Bai, their children are even younger, and Zhu Gui didn't get married until this year.

Therefore, among the princes, only Zhu Su had children over the age of twelve—his eldest son, Zhu Youdun, was already thirteen, and his second son, Zhu Youji, was twelve. His third and fourth sons were still young. (Prince Zhou had the most children among the Hongwu princes.)
Zhu Su himself only wanted to be a peaceful vassal king in the Ming Dynasty, and he didn't care even if he was subject to some restrictions, but his son might not think so.

For example, the eldest son Zhu Youdun was very ambitious and wanted to establish a vassal state overseas. He was even dissatisfied with Zhu Su's unwillingness to establish a vassal state overseas and harbored resentment towards Zhu Su.

Now that they heard that Zhu Yuanzhang allowed them, his grandchildren, to go to the side hall of the Dashan Hall to participate in discussions on state affairs, how could they not be happy?
As for Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Yunhuan, they were naturally very happy.

······
The group came to the side hall.

Many palaces in the imperial palace have been renovated and now have facilities such as floor heating and heating pipes. Therefore, even though there is no charcoal basin in the side hall, it is still very warm.

As usual, Zhu Yuanzhang asked the palace servants to prepare tables, chairs, paper, pens, and many maps in the hall.

After everyone was seated, Zhu Yuanzhang announced: "The greatest military action of our Ming Dynasty this year was the annihilation of Majapahit."

Because they were all family members, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke very directly.

Everyone didn't take it seriously either.

Anyone who has some understanding of state affairs knows that the Ming Dynasty will inevitably take action against Majapahit this year - even if Majapahit really accepted the harsh conditions proposed by the Ming Dynasty when the Ming Dynasty envoys went there last year, the Ming Dynasty would find other reasons to take action.

For example, a Ming Dynasty merchant caravan was robbed and even killed in Majapahit; for another example, soldiers of the Ming Dynasty conspiracy team disappeared after entering Majapahit, and so on.

If a country wants to go to war with another country and has no regard for its dignity, it is easy to find a reason.

As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang signaled Li Gui to move the screen with the map of Nanyang hanging on it to the side so that everyone could see it more conveniently.

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "According to the intelligence gathered by the Guangming Guards over the past few years, Majapahit now has nearly 150,000 elite soldiers, and the next-level local troops are over 300,000, for a total of over 500,000."

"Taking into account the climate and terrain of Southeast Asia, this time we plan to use the Luzon and Hailong Commanderies as the main forces, and then mobilize troops from the three provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan, as well as the Beibei Commanderies, to gather a 100,000-man army to conquer them!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Su couldn't help but ask, "Father, isn't Sixth Brother going to join the court in fighting Majapahit? How many troops can he send?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Sixth Brother has only been in Borneo for a short time. This time, we can send at most 20,000 troops."

"Twenty thousand?" Zhu Su was surprised. "Sixth brother has only been in Borneo for a little over a year, so it's beyond my expectation that he can mobilize twenty thousand troops."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "Originally, he could only send out 7,000 to 8,000 Chu vassal troops, but at the end of last year, he conquered two states in southeastern Borneo and captured many native soldiers. He plans to recruit and train a group of them, which will give him an additional 10,000 native soldiers."

"I see."

After discussing for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "This battle to destroy the Majapahit Kingdom is a rare opportunity to gain experience and also a chance to accumulate military merit. Among you who are adults and have received basic military training, are there any willing to participate in this battle?"

Zhu Su remained silent.

Zhu Zi lowered his head, his expression nervous and slightly ashamed.

Zhu Chun also bowed his head and remained silent. Among the adult princes, only Zhu Bo and Zhu Gui stood up and said almost simultaneously, "Your sons are willing to go!"

Liu Kuan was not surprised that Zhu Gui wanted to go to Southeast Asia to participate in the war to destroy the country - as one of the teachers in the main hall, he knew the personalities of Zhu's sons very well.

Speaking of which, King Dai Zhu Gui and King Shu Zhu Chun were brothers from the same mother and were both sons of Concubine Guo Hui (daughter of Guo Zixing), but his personality was completely different from Zhu Chun's.

Zhu Chun had good academic performance, was gentle and refined, and at the same time had a reserved shrewdness, but was not competitive.

Zhu Gui is completely different.

Not only was he a poor student in the Imperial Academy, he also had experiences of physical fights with his classmates. Furthermore, although he followed the rules set by Zhu Yuanzhang, the palace servants who followed him were still rude and even cruel, practically a miniature "Zhu Chong."

With a personality like his, he must have felt uncomfortable under the many restrictions imposed by Zhu Yuanzhang and the imperial court in the Ming Dynasty.

If you want to be free from control and even release your "nature", establishing a vassal state overseas is the best way.

However, Zhu Bo's personality was similar to Zhu Chun's, though he was more stubborn and obstinate. Furthermore, Zhu Bo and Zhu Chun had previously agreed to remain within the Ming Dynasty, so the idea of ​​establishing a vassal state abroad was naturally quite surprising.

In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were also surprised.

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately asked, "Old Twelve, do you also want to establish a vassal state overseas?"

Zhu Bo bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I do have this intention."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked curiously, "Can you tell me why you changed your mind?"

Zhu Bo said, "Last year, I was ordered to travel north to inspect Mobei and Luohuang. I was deeply impressed by the military and civil affairs, and I have some unique ideas. Therefore, I thought of establishing a vassal state overseas to test my own ideas on state governance."

"I see." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and stroked his beard. "Your ambition to establish a vassal state is indeed more ambitious than those of your brothers who have already gone to sea. Not bad, not bad."

As for Zhu Gui, Zhu Yuanzhang did not ask - he also understood Zhu Gui's general character and could naturally guess his purpose of making achievements and establishing a vassal state.

So he directly ordered: "In this case, after the Lantern Festival, you will go south. Zhu Bai will go to the Luzon Dusi for training, and Zhu Gui will go to the Hailong Dusi for training."

"Now that you are in the army, you must obey orders like other soldiers. You are not allowed to disobey orders or act recklessly by relying on your status as a prince. If you do, we will not let you off lightly!"

Zhu Gui curled his lips slightly and thought to himself: Isn't this a warning to me?

He didn't dare to say it out loud, but instead clasped his fists with Zhu Bo and said, "Your Highness will follow my father's instructions!"

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On the eighth day of the first lunar month, all government offices opened.

Guo Ying came to Fengxian Hall again.

At the end of last year, when he returned to Beijing to report on his work, he and his brother Guo Xing went to Fengxian Hall to meet Zhu Yuanzhang once, all for the matter of his nephew Zhu Tan.

At that time, Zhu Yuanzhang proposed that one of the two brothers lead a fleet to the east of Central America to look for Zhu Tan. Although Zhu Yuanzhang used a negotiating tone at the time, both of them knew that since Zhu Yuanzhang proposed this matter, they would not be allowed to refuse.

His elder brother Guo Xing was already sixty-two years old. He had fought in battles for many years and had suffered many injuries. His health was no longer good. If it were not for the great progress in the medical level of the Ming Dynasty in the past ten years, he would have passed away years ago.

In recent years, Guo Xing has been working as a teacher at a military academy and is basically in a retirement state.

So it was only him, who was five or six years younger than his brother, who had to take on this task.

Besides, Zhu Tan is his nephew after all. He encountered a storm overseas and there has been no news for half a year. His sister (Concubine Guo Ning) almost cried her eyes out, and she cried so hard when she saw him that she couldn't speak. As his brother and uncle, it is impossible for him to remain indifferent.

Moreover, in recent years, the Ming Dynasty had almost no rivals on land, and only occasionally fought small battles with Timur the Lame and the Golden Horde in the Western Regions. Because the court had no plans to march into Central Asia, it did not allow them to expand the war.

It is possible that a major war will occur in the southwest in the future, but it may not happen for a few years.

Today, the greatest achievements of the Ming Dynasty are still on the seas and oceans.

He had spent his whole life in military service, and although he had been granted the title of Marquis of Wuding, he was quite insignificant among the many founding dukes and marquises of the Ming Dynasty, and now he had little use for his military skills.

If I could lead a fleet to America to see the world, even if I couldn't find my nephew, my life would not be in vain.

With these thoughts in mind, Guo Ying bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang on the dragon throne and said, "Your Majesty, I, Guo Ying, pay my respects to you!"

"Flat body."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After the ceremony, Zhu Yuanzhang asked directly: "Guo Ying, your trip to America is full of uncertainty, and it will take at least two years before you can return to the Ming Dynasty. Have you made arrangements for your family affairs?" (End of this chapter)