Chapter 5: Jin Wang Zhu Gang stayed in Beijing to assist the country and reconsidered the national policy of the Ming Dynasty (Please read it again, please vote for the monthly ticket, and please vote for the recommendation ticket!)
"Whether it was the chaotic times at the end of the Yuan Dynasty or the current world, people are still selling their land to survive."

Then, Zhu Biao turned around and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang.

This is the way the world is. People sell their land for food in order to survive, so who actually benefits from the light taxes and levies?

Can it really improve people’s lives?
It can’t, and that’s the truth.

After all, after the chaos at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, there were not many people who owned land, and most of them were tenants of wealthy businessmen.

Coupled with the head tax and labor tax, the people's lives were still very difficult, so light taxes and levies were actually dispensable for the people.

But for the nobles and wealthy, light taxes and levies were definitely a great blessing.

"We understand."

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting on the chair, clenched his fists tightly and sighed, "My parents, that is, your grandparents, were tenants. When I was a child, I also herded cattle for the landlords and begged for food to survive. In addition, the heavy taxes imposed by the court made it difficult for me to survive."

Because he had no money to pay the rent, Old Zhu even had no place to bury his parents. If others had not felt sorry for him, he wouldn't even be able to get those two tattered straw mats.

Therefore, most of the land is either controlled by wealthy businessmen or by noble families. What does it have to do with the common people?
In addition, Zhu's old brothers had only recently put an end to the seizure of people's land in the early years of Hongwu.

Even so, there are still people who sell their land at low prices. Why is that?
It's still about survival! And if you can't survive, what good is having land?
"If that's the case, then what the Third Brother said is true. You really don't know how to govern a country."

"But really speaking, there are very few emperors throughout history who know how to govern a country."

Empress Ma, who was sitting next to Zhu Yuanzhang, also raised her head and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao.

"Humph! This brat is blaming us for a problem that no dynasty has been able to solve."

In response, a hint of anger flashed across Zhu Yuanzhang's face again.

But the anger he had towards Zhu Gang had mostly dissipated, and now he was just a person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

After all, any father would be unhappy if his own son treated him like this, not to mention that Zhu Yuanzhang was the emperor.

"Then have you ever thought that your son had his own ideas and wanted to share your burden, but you scolded him without knowing the truth?"

Empress Ma still glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Don't forget, our third son is recognized as a man of both civil and military talents. Even Master Li Xiyan highly respects him."

Master Li Xiyan is one of the great Confucian scholars of our time who can be ranked alongside Song Lian!

"There was also a military competition. The Third Brother defeated all your generals, and you said that the Third Brother was just an armchair warrior."

Zhu Chong also looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "But since the Third Brother took charge of Taiyuan, he has absolutely achieved victory in every attack and every battle! He even once trampled the Northern Yuan Dynasty under his feet. Even Wang Baobao, who was able to fight with Uncle Xu, did not get any benefits from the Third Brother."

Wang Baobao, a famous general, returned in defeat, and lost to Zhu Yuanzhang's son. How could he not die in depression?

"That's exactly the character of our brat."

Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it and a smile appeared on his face.

"Father, I, your son, please play."

Zhu Biao's eyes moved, and he looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and bowed.

"Father, I, your son, would also like to make a request."

As expected of brothers, Zhu Chong understood Zhu Biao’s meaning instantly and stood up and bowed.

"Play it."

Although a little confused, Zhu Yuanzhang still waved his hand.

"I request Your Majesty to keep Prince of Jin Zhu Gang in the capital to assist the country and reconsider the national policy of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Biao and Zhu Chong looked at each other, then bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang again and said.

"Boss, do you really want to recall the third brother?" Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang did not give an answer. He just looked at Zhu Biao and after a long silence, he spoke.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Jin is my son's younger brother. It would be my honor if he could return to the capital to assist the country!"

Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with the same expression and spoke.

With Zhu Biao's intelligence, it was not difficult for him to guess Zhu Yuanzhang's intention. If Zhu Gang was really left in the capital, Zhu Gang's talents would inevitably threaten Zhu Biao's position as crown prince.

Even the imperial court would turn into a storm.

And Zhu Yuanzhang also understood that among his many sons, only Zhu Gang could compete with Zhu Biao.

This is why, when Zhu Gang left Beijing to become a fief in Taiyuan, not only was it opposed by court officials but also by Empress Ma, but Zhu Yuanzhang still issued an imperial decree for Zhu Gang to become a fief.

After all, they are all brothers, and Zhu Gang and Zhu Biao are brothers. Zhu Yuanzhang really couldn't bear to see them fighting and killing each other for the throne.

But Zhu Gang was so dazzling that Zhu Yuanzhang felt that if Zhu Gang wanted to rebel once he passed away, Zhu Biao would definitely not be his opponent.

After all, Wang Baobao, a famous general in the late Yuan Dynasty, was defeated by Zhu Gang and died in depression.

"Biao'er, you really need to understand that this is not because mother is partial, but because mother..."

Queen Ma also sighed softly, and the words she wanted to say came to her lips, but she couldn't say them.

As Empress Ma was Zhu Yuanzhang's virtuous wife, it was natural for her to not understand what was going on.

But who can be so cruel to his own son?
They are also the children that she and Lao Zhu love the most.

Therefore, if Zhu Biao showed any reluctance, then for the future stability and prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, even if Empress Ma loved Zhu Gang very much, she would not let Zhu Gang return to Beijing.

After all, they were not brothers from an ordinary family. Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma had to consider the Ming Dynasty first, and then Zhu Gang and Zhu Biao.

"Mom and Dad, we are brothers."

In response to this, Zhu Biao put his arm around Zhu Chong's shoulders and said with a smile on his face.

"Yes! We are brothers."

Zhu Chong also nodded heavily.

"Issue an order to order Prince of Jin Zhu Gang to stay in the capital to assist the country and to assist in the administration of the country."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma finally breathed a sigh of relief. Zhu Yuanzhang smiled again and looked at Zhu Biao and said, "I'll give this imperial edict to you, and you'll give it to the third brother. After all, the future world belongs to you. Whether you can control your brother is also your business."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I understand."

Zhu Biao bowed and said.

Control Zhu Gang?

Don't make trouble.

Zhu Biao lowered his head, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

How can I control my own brother who has been trying to rebel against me?

But there was one thing that Zhu Yuanzhang never understood. Perhaps Empress Ma was also a mystery to the authorities, but Zhu Biao understood it.

That is, from the beginning to the end, Prince of Jin Zhu Gang was an unwavering member of the prince's party.

"Sister-in-law."

At this time, in the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, as soon as Prince Jin Zhu Gang stepped into the courtyard, he shouted, "Where's my nephew!"

(End of this chapter)