Chapter 30 The biggest difference between the Central Plains and the grasslands (Please read, please vote for the monthly ticket, please vote for the recommendation!)
"That's a whole prairie. How can you not be tempted?"

The corners of Zhu Gang's mouth slightly raised again.

"No matter how big it is, it is not the territory of our Ming Dynasty. So even if I am tempted, what's the use?" Zhu Biao said with a curled lip.

"I will give you an imperial decree. You are to take the Ming army and crush them to the ground and conquer the grassland."

"Once you conquer it, the vast grassland territory will belong to you."

"And you only need to pay tribute to the court every year. Are you willing?"

In response, Zhu Gang's eyes remained gentle, but there was a hint of playfulness in his smile.

"The feudal system of the Zhou Dynasty."

In just a moment, Zhu Biao understood what Zhu Gang meant and blurted out what he meant.

"You are worthy of being my elder brother, the most stable prince in the Ming Dynasty."

"You are right, and the correct way to open the feudal system is the external seal system."

As soon as Zhu Biao finished speaking, Zhu Gang patted Zhu Biao on the shoulder and said with a smile: "That is to say, all the territories that are not under the control of our Great Ming will be incorporated into the territory of our Great Ming."

"So you want to send all the vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty to foreign lands to continue expanding the territory of the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Biao thought for a moment, then looked at Zhu Gang and asked.

"That's about the same idea." Zhu Gang nodded.

"The Ming Dynasty conquered the Northern Yuan Dynasty in order to consolidate the borders, protect the people living in the border areas, and also to destroy the Northern Yuan Dynasty."

"This is a war that must be fought, so the Ming Dynasty cannot and will not avoid it."

"But if you want to annex the grassland, I'm afraid it's wishful thinking."

"After all, throughout the dynasties, no dynasty has been able to completely conquer and rule that vast grassland for a long time."

"Especially for the nomadic tribes on the grasslands, they had no fixed whereabouts, which made it difficult for dynasties with fixed borders to completely assimilate them."

Zhu Biao hesitated for a moment before looking at Zhu Gang with a profound gaze.

But in fact, this is not the point that Zhu Biao wanted to say. What is more important is that war is extremely costly, and food and fodder must be sent before troops move.

Even if the Ming treasury was full, years of war would cause great damage to the national strength and exhaust the people.

What's more, the Ming Dynasty had only been established for nine years, so let alone a full treasury, as long as the treasury was not empty, Zhu Yuanzhang could be secretly happy.

Where would we get the money to support Zhu in his war?

After all, since the second Northern Expedition of the Ming Dynasty in the fifth year of Hongwu, the Ming Dynasty’s treasury no longer supported Zhu Yuanzhang’s Northern Expedition.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to issue Ming Treasure Notes to expand his military and continue the Northern Expedition.

But now that Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao have realized the advantages and disadvantages of the Ming Baochao, they naturally cannot abuse it, so they cannot use it to conquer the grassland.

"The time has not come yet. We are just discussing it. After all, our brothers are still young and cannot take on such a big responsibility."

Zhu Gang shook his head and looked at Zhu Biao and said, "As for me and my second brother, are you willing to let go?"

"Reluctant to part with it."

"Without you and the second brother, it's like losing both my arms."

Zhu Biao shook his head without even thinking about it.

Zhu Chong was extremely brave, and Zhu Gang was both civil and military. They would definitely be Zhu Biao's right-hand men in the future, and they were also his brothers, so of course Zhu Biao would be reluctant to let them go.

"Besides, the Ming treasury is empty and there is simply not enough to support the expedition to the grasslands, let alone conquer the grasslands."

In response, Zhu Gang nodded again and looked at Zhu Biao and said, "So the only plan for now is to vigorously develop people's livelihood, enrich the country and strengthen the army, and wait for the day when the national strength is strong, then we can incorporate the grassland into the territory of our Ming Dynasty."

"But have you ever thought that the grassland is extremely vast, unless we can wipe out all the nomadic tribes."

"Otherwise, even if the grassland is incorporated into the territory of the Ming Dynasty, it will eventually plant hidden dangers."

But Old Zhu, who was sitting next to them, looked at Zhu Gang and Zhu Biao and spoke again.

What Lao Zhu said was true. The problems on the grassland have always been complicated and cannot be completely resolved by force.

The nomadic lifestyle, in particular, determines their desire for freedom and their need for mobility over land.

Therefore, forcibly assimilating nomadic peoples or destroying them would only lead to more intense resistance, which would be detrimental to the Ming Dynasty.

"Old man, you are wrong." But Zhu Gang simply shook his head.

"Were we wrong?"

Hearing this, a look of surprise flashed across Lao Zhu's eyes.

"Ah."

Zhu Gang nodded slightly.

"Then tell me, what did we do wrong?"

A hint of curiosity appeared in Old Zhu's eyes and he looked at Zhu Gangdao.

As for why Lao Zhu is not angry?

Haha, in Zhu Gang’s eyes, when has Old Zhu ever been right?

So if he were still angry about this, Lao Zhu might really be angry to death.

After all, although Zhu Yuanzhang was the emperor, an emperor above all others, he could not help but feel that Zhu Gang was his son. He could not hang Zhu Yuanzhang if he wanted to.

Unless Old Zhu was really willing to kill Zhu Gang, to be honest, he was still a little scared when facing Zhu Gang.

Thinking of this, Lao Zhu couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.

Because he was originally henpecked, and now he was also afraid of his children.

I think this kind of weird emperor should be the first in history, right?

"Brother, what are the advantages of the Central Plains compared to the grasslands?"

However, Zhu Gang ignored Old Zhu and turned to Zhu Biao and asked.

"The biggest advantage of the Central Plains over the grasslands lies in the profound heritage and stability of its agricultural civilization."

"We have strong cities, dense farmland, prosperous towns, and a complete bureaucratic system, which are not available in the grasslands."

In response to Zhu Gang's question, Zhu Biao thought for a moment.

"Yes, Zhongyuan's advantages lie in stability and concentration."

"Determined by the land, gathered by the people's hearts."

"The grassland tribes are nomadic all year round, but they are like rootless duckweed, floating around and lack a centralized political core and economic foundation."

Zhu Gang nodded slightly at first, but then looked at Zhu Biao and shook his head, saying: "But it's only one point, and what you said is not comprehensive enough."

"Not comprehensive enough?"

Zhu Biao frowned slightly, not quite understanding what Zhu Gang meant.

“Culture, inheritance.”

Zhu Gang still nodded, and then spoke slowly.

"boom--"

Just these words exploded like thunder in the hearts of Old Zhu and Zhu Biao, and then they all nodded and said, "Indeed."

"Cultural inheritance is the fundamental reason why the Central Plains has been able to survive through the changes of dynasties."

"Whether it is Confucianism, poetry, the imperial examination system, or even the ritual and music education in daily life, they have formed a strong cultural cohesion and social stability."

Zhu Gang's words were light, but every word was powerful: "And these are what the grassland tribes lack."

"You mean to assimilate the grasslands through cultural heritage?"

Zhu Biao instantly raised his thoughtful eyes and looked at Zhu Gang.

"Yeah." Zhu Gang nodded.

"How can the stubborn grassland people accept the assimilation of cultural heritage?"

Compared to Zhu Biao, Old Zhu, who had dealt with the Yuan people for half his life, shook his head and said, "Barbarians are barbarians after all."

"You have fought in wars for half your life, why do you need your son to teach you this?"

"If the grasslands don't obey? Then we'll beat them until they obey! We'll kill them until they're terrified!"

As he spoke, a hint of coldness flashed in Zhu Gang's eyes again!
　Please read, please vote for me, please recommend me, thank you
　　
　
(End of this chapter)