The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 708 Exile Across Ten Thousand Miles Brings Peace to the World
Emperor Wanli's tactic of luring the princes into a trap left the vassal kings and princes utterly helpless.

Once these guys enter the capital, they're like turtles in a jar; none of them can escape.

Especially when the entire north is covered in ice and snow, they can't even send messages out.

At this time, Wanli could easily send the message out because he still had trains.

The princes and dukes had no idea that trains could run even in freezing weather. As long as it wasn't an extremely cold place like the northern desert or Nurgan Commandery, the ice and snow on the tracks were easy to clear.

Moreover, he had already prepared his manpower in advance. As soon as he obtained the list of the three major powerful families in Puzhou and the imperial edicts issued by the princes and dukes, he could take action.

After dismissing the princes and dukes, he returned to the Qianqing Palace with Crown Prince Zhu Changxun, Eastern Prince Zhu Changluo, and Northern Prince Zhu Changxu, and went to the Military Affairs Hall.

At this time, Luo Sigong, Li Hualong, and a group of Shenwu Camp generals were already waiting there.

The list of the remnants of the three major powerful clans in Puzhou and the imperial edicts of the princes and dukes have been sent over, and the twenty-two guerrilla generals of the Shenwu Battalion are being distributed there.

After they finished dividing the spoils, Wanli asked, "Sigong, have your secret guards thoroughly investigated the fiefdoms of the vassal kings?"

They've been living in the fiefdoms of various princes for several years now, and they know those places like the back of their hand.

Luo Sigong nodded repeatedly and said, "They have thoroughly investigated them. They have been secretly investigating every fiefdom of the vassal kings, every city, and every place for several years."

well.

Wanli nodded slightly, then said to the twenty-two Shenwu Camp guerrilla generals: "You will take the train and set off later, carrying the list and imperial edict, to the vicinity of your respective vassal states. Take the troops that have gone ahead and find the secret guards in the vassal state to lead the way."

Remember, first arrest the remnants of the three powerful clans of Puzhou, then confiscate their land deeds and property. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy.

The twenty-two generals of the Divine Martial Camp responded with a resounding "Your humble servant obeys the order."

Each of them commanded ten thousand men, who had already sailed to the vicinity of their respective vassal states and hidden themselves before the ice even froze over.

At this moment, 10,000 Shenwu Camp cavalry would be enough to deal with a vassal state.

Wanli thought about it carefully again, and then decisively said: "Bangping, you lead a thousand personal guards and their mounts to Xuzhou by train, and then take the navy's flying dragon ship to the fiefdom of the Prince of Lu, arrest the entire Prince of Lu's family, send them to Fangzhang Island, and hand them over to Banghan."

Upon hearing this, Qin Bangping replied without hesitation, "This subordinate obeys the order."

Wanli then instructed in detail: "Yu Ye, order your subordinates to follow Bangping and the twenty-two guerrilla generals to these vassal states and register all the common people in these vassal states."

Remember, before the New Year, we must complete the "Tax and Labor Registers" for all ordinary people and allocate resources according to the registers so that they can have a good New Year.

After the New Year, you still need to have them work with the soldiers of the Divine Martial Camp to survey the land. All the vassal states, regardless of whether their land was affected by the disaster, must be surveyed.

After the land survey is completed, we will consider relocating the civilians there. Anyone who is willing to relocate will be converted into a garrison household and given ten mu of land, as well as oxen, farm tools, houses, courtyards, etc.

This also needs to be tallied up as soon as possible. We'll begin relocating civilians once the ice and snow melt in the north.

Upon hearing this, Li Hualong nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Wanli thought about it carefully again before waving his hand and saying, "Alright, everyone go and make your preparations."

Everyone hurriedly bowed and took their leave.

Next came the real preparations for Crown Prince Zhu Changxun's wedding.

Because the wedding was held in the freezing cold, not many ordinary people traveled to the capital to attend the celebration.

Emperor Wanli simply ordered every household in the capital to put up large red "double happiness" characters, and then arranged for soldiers from the Beijing garrison to prepare banquets and deliver them directly to the homes of the people in the capital.

The banquets for the princes and dukes who came to "drink the wedding wine" were also delivered to the Ten Princes' Mansion.

As for the kings of vassal states, he arranged for them to stay in the Wanshou Palace, and the banquets were also arranged for them there.

While the capital was bustling with preparations for the Crown Prince's wedding, the various vassal states were also in a frenzy of activity.

The Shenwu Camp cavalry arrived suddenly, arresting the remnants of the three major powerful clans in Puzhou. They then produced an edict from the princes and dukes, ordering all the princes and their relatives to hand over their land deeds in exchange for land.

There was also the Ministry of Revenue official, who began to mobilize people from local government offices to create the "Yellow Register of Taxes and Labor" for the common people enslaved by the princes and royal families. After the Yellow Register was completed, they even distributed New Year's supplies to them.

The common people who had been enslaved by the princes and royal families were overjoyed. They had all thought that they would be enslaved by the princes and royal families for generations to come. They never expected that they would have a day when they could turn their lives around.

The remnants of the three powerful clans in Puzhou cried out in despair, terrified. They knew what they had done and were well aware of the consequences of being caught by Wanli: the execution of their entire family would be the least of their worries!
As for the princes and royal families, they were all somewhat bewildered. They did not understand why they would suddenly receive an imperial edict from the princes and dukes, ordering them to exchange all their land for land in Southeast Asia.

Why go to that godforsaken place, Southeast Asia, when the world here in the Ming Dynasty is so wonderful?

Emperor Wanli naturally wouldn't explain to these guys.

He intended to use the Crown Prince's wedding as an opportunity to completely resolve the issues concerning the princes, the royal family, and the three powerful clans of Puzhou.

The wedding of Crown Prince Zhu Changxun had barely ended when the officials in charge of the Ministry of Revenue from each of the vassal states sent the completed "Yellow Register of Taxes and Labor" to the capital. These vassal kings and members of the imperial family were truly lawless; the twenty-two vassal states had enslaved tens of millions of households and over forty million commoners!

Just after the New Year holidays, the officials in charge of the Ministry of Revenue from each of the vassal states sent the results of the land survey to the capital.

These princes and royal family members indeed annexed more than 200 million mu of land through various means!
In early February, before the snow and ice in the capital had even begun to melt, the soldiers of the Shenwu Camp escorted the remnants of the three powerful clans of Puzhou back to the capital one after another.

Emperor Wanli issued a decree ordering all these traitors to be taken to the West Market execution ground and beheaded!
This cutting lasted for more than ten days.

He even made all the princes and dukes attend the ceremony, which made them feel extremely disheartened.

At the end of February, just as the snow and ice in the capital were beginning to melt, the officials in charge of the Ministry of Revenue in each of the vassal states reported the number of commoners willing to migrate.

These commoners, who had been enslaved by the princes and royal families, were probably so badly bullied by them that the vast majority of them wanted to become garrison households!
They probably thought that becoming a garrison household would prevent them from being bullied.

In other words, almost all of these tens of millions of households and more than forty million ordinary people want to migrate.

This is a good thing; the Ming Dynasty's overseas territories need a large population to develop them.

However, migrating so many people is not a simple matter.

Moreover, he had to first exile the princes, royal families, and their in-laws overseas before he could relocate the population of his vassal state.

On the first day of the third month, Renwu, the ice and snow in the capital region had completely melted, and the waterways were open again.

Early that morning, around 7 a.m., Wanli summoned Qin Yiming, Li Rusong, and Yu Zigao to the Grand Council Hall.

After the emperor and his minister exchanged greetings, he solemnly said, "Yiming, we will exile the princes, their relatives by marriage, and all their in-laws to Fangzhang Island. You will be in charge of this matter."

Uh, why am I in charge again?
If I'm in charge, then I'll have to go to Fangzhang Island.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yiming cautiously said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, but I'm afraid Her Highness the Princess will insist on going along again."

Alright, you two can go together, so that Rongchang won't come looking for trouble with me.

Wanli nodded without hesitation and said, "Yes, exile is not a war, so it's fine if you take Rongchang with you."

Great.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yiming nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Wanli nodded slightly and then instructed, "This time you will lead 500,000 garrison troops to play the bad cop. First, lead the garrison troops to help the princes, royal family members and their in-laws move."

Once you arrive at Fangzhang Island, lead the garrison soldiers to help them build the royal palace and houses. In short, pretend you're there to help.

Fangzhang Island hasn't even built a royal palace or any houses or courtyards yet!

Upon hearing this, Qin Yiming nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Wanli then instructed, "Rusong, you will lead your 100,000 Shenwu Battalion soldiers to play the bad cop. Anyone who dares to cause trouble during the relocation and construction of the Prince's Mansion and its courtyards will be executed without mercy!"

what?
Why do I always have to do this kind of thing?
Those are all members of the royal family!
Upon hearing this, Li Rusong nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Wanli then instructed in detail: "Kemai, leave your thirty Weiyuan warships at the port of Haihekou."

The other Weiyuan warships, shuttle ships, and dragon ships were divided into twenty-three groups, each carrying soldiers from the Shenwu Battalion and the Garrison Battalion to help the princes, royal families, and their in-laws move.

Tell them to speed things up; the move must be completed within ten days. Once all the princes, royal family members, and their in-laws are on board, assemble the fleet at the mouth of the Yangtze River, and then head straight for Fangzhang Island.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Zigao nodded repeatedly and said, "This subordinate understands."

Wanli thought for a moment, then carefully instructed: "Yiming, tomorrow morning you will take Rusong and your personal guards to escort all the princes and dukes to the Haihekou Wharf, put them on twenty-two Weiyuan warships, and then lead the fleet to the Yangtze River Estuary to wait."

After you send all the feudal princes, royal families, and their in-laws to Fangzhang Island, tell them to choose for themselves whether to farm or herd livestock.

If they choose to farm, you buy them farm tools; if they choose to herd livestock, you let them pay for the cattle and sheep from Bonham themselves.

Tell Banghan that if he doesn't sell the horses, he should sell the cattle and sheep at double the market price. Furthermore, at most half of the cattle and sheep in Datong Town should be sold to these princes and royal family members.

Uh, you're making me do this again!
Fine, those guys have plenty of money anyway.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yiming nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

The princes, their royal family members, and their relatives by marriage were thus exiled to Fangzhang Island, 20,000 li away.

The remnants of the three major powerful clans in Puzhou have also been basically eliminated.

From then on, the entire Ming Dynasty enjoyed peace.

(End of this chapter)