nashuaworldcup Chapter 13 Imperial Family's Pig-Raising-Style Support
Chapter 13 Imperial Family's Pig-Raising-Style Support
"Alright, that's about it for Zhu Qizhen, the God of War of the Ming Dynasty. Next, let's introduce our ancestor to the world map!"
The people of Wanchao saw Lin Ke unfold a colorful piece of paper in her hand, on which was drawn a huge map. Even the Xiongnu and the Western Regions were clearly marked. The crowd's breathing quickened, and their eyes followed Lin Ke's finger as she spoke.
"The most expansive territory in history belongs to the Mongol Empire during the Yuan Dynasty, which once reached Europe. Looking across the blue sea, there are also many mineral resources. Your Majesties, what is fighting the Huns? If we are going to do it, we will conquer the world!"
Yuan Dynasty
When Temujin heard Lin Ke's words, his eyes lit up. He thought that this descendant only recognized the dynasty founded by the Han people.
Conquer the world! He's already conquered such a vast territory; he'll conquer even larger ones in the future!
……
Qin Shi Huang period
Ying Zheng stood up abruptly, and because of the large movement, the memorials on the table fell to the ground. Normally, Ying Zheng might have called someone to clean them up, but at this moment he couldn't care less.
The world is so vast, it all belongs to me! All of you, come and work for me! I will make the might of the Great Qin Dynasty known throughout the world!
Emperors like Liu Che, Zhu Yuanzhang, and Zhu Di shared the same idea as Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng. Any emperor who wanted to achieve something would not let such an opportunity pass by!
Big Han Liu Zhuzhu: I want this map!
Zhu Baba of the Ming Dynasty: We need this kind of map!
Zhu Houzhao, the number one mischievous child of the Ming Dynasty: I'm going to grab it, grab it, grab it…
First Emperor: This topographical map is perfect!
Fusu of Qin: Snatch it and give it to my father!
Li Si of Qin: I second that!
Zhao Gao of Qin: I second that opinion!
Da Tang Li Erfeng: @Li Chengqian Look at other people's children!
Lin Ke: I just wanted to say that the world is so big, Your Majesty should go and see it all!
999 System: Host, the world map can only be purchased by emperors with political achievements. Unless an emperor achieves tangible political achievements, he will not be eligible to purchase it.
Upon hearing the system message, Lin Ke hurriedly replied: "The world map will be available in the shop after this live stream, but it's only for emperors with significant achievements. If it shows you're not eligible, it means you haven't done it yet. Please keep trying!"
Ying Zheng and others expressed that they were not afraid, while some emperors who were a little uneasy stopped joining in the barrage of comments, knowing full well their own limitations and that they had no chance of getting the map.
Lin Ke: "While we still have some time, let me tell you about how the Ming Dynasty was almost bankrupted by the imperial clan."
Zhu Houzhao, the number one mischievous child of the Ming Dynasty: This part of our Ming Dynasty isn't over yet!
General Judy: This is my dad's fault @DaMingZhuBaBa @DaMingCrownPrinceZhuBiao Brother, come and see!
Zhu Bajie of the Ming Dynasty: ...
Crown Prince Zhu Biao of the Ming Dynasty: Fourth brother, stop fooling around...
"We all know that the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty was Zhu Yuanzhang, who started with just a bowl. He was the only emperor who came from a commoner background. Because he wandered around and suffered a lot in his early years, he established a system to treat the imperial family well in the early Hongwu period. For example, all of the emperor's sons except the crown prince were princes, and then they were demoted one by one until they were promoted to the rank of Fengguo Zhongwei."
Zhu Baba of the Ming Dynasty: That's exactly what we think!
According to the "Veritable Records of the Ming Taizu Emperor," a prince's annual allowance included 50,000 shi of rice, 25,000 guan of paper money, 40 bolts of brocade, 300 bolts of hemp silk, 100 bolts each of gauze and silk gauze, 500 bolts of silk fabric, 1,000 bolts each of winter and summer cloth, 2,000 liang of cotton, 2,000 yin of salt, 1,000 jin of tea, and 50 horse fodder per month...
"While establishing the imperial clan system, Zhu Yuanzhang also issued an important decree: all members of the imperial clan could only live on the normal imperial clan stipend and were not allowed to be granted any position or engage in any work."
"By the twentieth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to realize that it was too extravagant, so he removed all other things from the prince's treatment, leaving only an annual stipend of 50,000 shi. Eight years later, the annual stipend for his descendants was reduced again, and the prince's stipend was reduced to 10,000 shi."
"During the Yongle era, Zhu Di once again reduced the power of the princes. When his large son Zhu Gaochi ascended the throne, he began to improve the treatment of members of the imperial family. This was followed by the reigns of Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Qiyu, during which the princes began to feel the strain and started petitioning for even better treatment."
"Those who agreed were fine, but those who disagreed started looking for ways to get rich. There were actually people who became wealthy just by having children! One such person was Prince Qingcheng, Zhu Qizhen, who had nearly a hundred children."
"When the news reached the capital, the court and the public were shocked. Everyone was wondering if you were trying to scam subsidies by adopting other children. Later, the court conducted a thorough investigation and discovered that this guy was really after children to make money!"
"During the reign of Emperor Xiaozong of Ming, the lineage of Prince Qingcheng rose to fame in one battle, and the court specifically restricted the number of wives and concubines that princes and other nobles could have."
"As the burden on the imperial clan grew heavier in later years, the lives of the lower-ranking members of the clan became increasingly impoverished. Some begged, some became homeless, some starved to death, and some even committed crimes to save their lives and went to jail."
"I also found something interesting. It turns out that people in ancient times were also owed wages. During the Jiajing period, members of the lower-ranking imperial family went to the capital to demand their wages. When they failed to get their wages, they were demoted to commoners. Such incidents of riots caused by demanding wages were not uncommon."
"In the forty-first year of the Jiajing reign, an imperial censor submitted a memorial stating that the tax burden of the entire empire supplying the capital was four million shi (a unit of dry measure), while the annual stipends for the imperial clan in various regions required eight million five hundred and thirty thousand shi."
"Therefore, in the fortieth year of the Jiajing reign, the court further restricted the regulations for the imperial clan. Although the court's finances were relieved at the time, the number of imperial clan members continued to increase. During the Wanli reign, a permanent quota was directly set, meaning that no matter how many members you had, you could only receive that much each year."
"In short, the Ming imperial family members, although they can only move around in their fiefdoms, have nothing to do every day. They are like pigs being raised. The polarization is very serious. Some are dying of drought while others are drowning in floods."
"I haven't found a standard answer to this question. Perhaps we can learn from the Qing Dynasty's imperial clan system."
"The Qing Dynasty adjusted the system of the imperial clan. Not only did it change the hereditary system of the Ming Dynasty to a system of succession by the eldest son, but it also directly abolished the original system of granting titles with fiefs. Instead, it used more elegant terms, such as 'respect'. The princes of the imperial clan had to live in the capital for their entire lives and could not go out unless ordered to do so."
"There are extremely high restrictions on the titles of royal family members. The eldest son of the legitimate wife must inherit the title by lowering it one by one, while the other sons must pass the examination to be granted the title. The eldest son of the legitimate wife's title is reduced all the way down to the Duke of Feng'en Zhenguo. So what about the other members of the royal family? They can only be called idle members of the royal family and will only receive a small amount of money."
"That's all for the Ming Dynasty part for now! You can explore the functions on the small screen anytime. See you next time!"
Zhu Baba of the Ming Dynasty: See you next time!
General Judy, the Northern Expeditionary Army: See you next time!
First Emperor Qin Shi Huang: See you next time!
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: See you next time!
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty: See you next time!
……