Daming: I became Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest son

Zhu Tao was a little helpless. He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said such a simple thing, why didn't he make it clear?
"If each of these forty people has ten sons, the number will be four hundred in the second generation, and four thousand in the third generation. Is there any problem with this calculation?"

Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it, this is indeed a very accurate calculation method, of course there is no problem.

"So what? For these four thousand clans, one Yingtian Mansion's taxation can handle it, and each of them can at least live a life no lower than that of a fourth-rank official!"

Zhu Tao nodded, didn't say anything else, but continued to settle accounts.

"Then we still need to continue to calculate. If it reaches the fourth generation, it should be 40 people, and by the fifth generation, it should be [-] people. What about the sixth generation?"

Zhu Yuanzhang really didn't dare to count any more. If this was the case, wouldn't the population of the Ming clan directly expand.

If that was the case, it would be very difficult for them to live the lives of ordinary people even if they exhausted all the power of the whole country, and it would also put a huge burden on the Ming court.

This is a very simple truth, but it is difficult to notice without thinking about it.

Zhu Yuanzhang is really a talented and generous monarch, but he can never get rid of that kind of small family spirit.

He really can't forget the scene when there were only a dozen grains of rice in a bowl of porridge, and he really can't forget that his family members starved to death.

When he became emperor, he naturally wanted to provide the most affluent life for his descendants. Therefore, the salary of the lowest lieutenant of Fengguo would be as much as [-] shi, and regardless of marriage or funeral, all would be rewarded by the imperial court.

But if Zhu Tao continues to calculate according to this account, he will be frightened. This kind of thing must be curbed, otherwise, the future will be like a cancer, and it will directly bring Daming into an incurable disease. situation.

"Tao'er, since you raised this problem, there must be a solution to this problem, so just say it, dad will listen to you."

Zhu Tao shook his head and said helplessly.

"You wrote this in Huang Ming's ancestral precepts, and you can't change it. It's useless for me to say it. Anyway, I've come to greet my mother. Now we should go back and take a nap."

After speaking, Zhu Tao turned around and wanted to slip away, but was dragged back by Zhu Yuanzhang again.

"You stinky boy, throwing such a big problem for us, turning around and wanting to run, isn't it too inappropriate?"

Empress Ma came over, patted Zhu Tao's shoulder lightly, and said.

"Tao'er, look how anxious your father is. If you have any ideas, you should speak up quickly, otherwise your father will get angry again."

Zhu Tao nodded. He respected Empress Ma enough, and he was unwilling to joke with his mother.

"Actually, there is a way, and this way is very simple. It can be summed up in four words, descending to the title!"

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't understand, he stared at Zhu Tao and asked.

"You boy, tell us clearly, what is demotion and conferment, can this matter be resolved by relying on this?"

Zhu Tao nodded, he said.

"In fact, this matter is very simple. The reason why everyone is willing to have more sons is because as long as a child is born, they will be able to receive a share of money and food, and the amount is not cheap. However, if all the treatment is lowered, I am afraid that no one is willing to have more sons. In other words, the son of the prince is the king of the county, the son of the king of the county is the duke, and the son of the duke is the king. Marquis, the son of a marquis is an earl, the son of an earl is a viscount, and the son of a viscount can only be a commoner."

After hearing this strategy, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up first, then suddenly dimmed.

"But after all, they are descendants of the royal family. If they become commoners after a few generations, wouldn't it be embarrassing for the royal family? Besides, they are descendants of dragons and phoenixes after all. If they are asked to farm land and open up wasteland, they will not know."

Zhu Tao thought about it, knowing that Zhu Yuanzhang loves his children and grandchildren, which is understandable, so he said.

"Then set a minimum limit, which is called the idle clan. The treatment of the idle clan is comparable to that of seventh-rank officials. That is to say, even if it is reduced to the lowest level, it is only the idle clan and will not be lower."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang breathed a sigh of relief. After all, although the treatment of the idle clan is low, it is still much better than that of ordinary people.

"Well, although this strategy can be regarded as a good one, it will definitely offend many people, so we must say that I came up with the idea myself and only consulted your opinion."

As soon as these words came out, Zhu Tao was immediately moved. He was an unusually lazy person, but he was extremely intelligent. Knowing that Zhu Yuanzhang was protecting himself, his eyes suddenly became moist.

You must know that this system of conferring nobility and conferring feudal titles can protect Daming's financial and tax revenue to the greatest extent, and it will also prevent these princes from having children so presumptuously, but fundamentally speaking, it is reducing the treatment of the clan.

He has already received the treatment in his hand, and if you have to forcibly deprive part of it, that is an errand that offends people to death.

If it is declared to the outside world that this policy was proposed by Zhu Tao, it will instantly make him a target of public criticism, and these vassal kings and clans will make him enemies.

Naturally, these people did not dare to do anything to the iron-fisted emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, but it would be too easy to deal with Zhu Tao secretly.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang added this strategy to himself, naturally out of the idea of ​​​​protecting Zhu Tao.

He also declared to the outside world that this matter was the opinion of Zhu Tao who had been consulted for thousands of years. When it is left in the history books, it is naturally a word of praise for Zhu Tao.

Being a father can be considered very competent for this role.

Zhu Tao knew it in his heart, but he didn't want his father to take the blame for him, so he said.

"My boy is already very grateful for the kindness of my father. Let me take the blame for this matter. You are the founding king of the Ming Dynasty, and future generations should look up to you. There should be no criticism."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, and he said to Zhu Tao.

"Forget it, this matter is no longer controversial. You must know that as long as I live for one day, I will naturally protect you for one day. The prince Zhu Biao and you are like brothers, so naturally I will not make things difficult for you, but if the prince dies too How will the emperor's grandson and great-grandson treat you after that? Have you ever thought about it!"

But Zhu Tao thought to himself, he is not an old turtle, so how could he live so long, but his father Zhu Yuanzhang's love for him is really rare.

In this case, he didn't say anything more.