Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

After listening to Jiang Xinghuo's words, everyone in the secret room had different reactions.

Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi felt strange and even a little surprised, while Dao Yan and Xia Yuanji fell into deep thought.

As for Li Zhigang and Li Shangshu, he had no reaction. He didn't care what the people on the other side of the wall said, as long as he was not implicated in prison.

This information was too unfamiliar to Zhu Di and others. At least Zhu Di had never considered that a horse made of steel could have such powerful functions. It could weave cloth, pull goods, carry people, and push people. Boat.

Whether it was the Ming Dynasty or the previous dynasties, humans at this time could never realize the power of steel machines.

After all, this is something that has never been seen before.

Since Jiang Xinghuo seemed to have never boasted about anything that could not be achieved, Zhu Di also briefly imagined that if the iron horse really appeared, his first reaction would be - the pattern of war has been changed!

Yes, iron horses pulling people and real horses can fly on fixed rail roads. You only need to feed the iron horses coal, and then people and real horses can have a good rest. In this way, even if they are mobilized over long distances Soldiers and horses can also "wait for work", which was unimaginable before.

Secondly, it is easier to transport logistical supplies. As long as there is such a thing, civilians and auxiliary soldiers no longer need to work hard pushing carts and driving mules and horses to transport food and baggage. They only need to throw in iron horses. The truck will do.

And if all this is really realized, Zhu Di is keenly aware that the intersection nodes of these fixed roads will become battlegrounds for military strategists in the future.

The future battles will probably be fought around the nodes of these iron horse roads.

The Iron Horse Road is very likely to overlap with the existing traffic arteries!

On the other side, Zhu Gaoxu's reaction was even more exaggerated.

"How can it be?!"

Zhu Gaoxu was stunned, opened his mouth wide, and even forgot to say anything.

The "iron horse" in Zhu Gaoxu's concept is nothing more than the so-called "armored horse" of the king of the battlefield. That is, since the rise of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Tang Dynasty declined for a time, and then flourished in the Song, Jin and Xia eras such as the Iron Pagoda and Iron Kites. Armored cavalry.

But that kind of "iron horse" also needs grass, water, and even beans and eggs. It is much more valuable than a person. It is impossible to use it as a means of transportation, let alone use it to propel ships into the sea. , or replace human hands in spinning and weaving.

The "iron horse" in Mr. Jiang's words can actually do so many things, and only needs to burn coal, which makes Zhu Gaoxu unbelievable.

But this was what Mr. Jiang said after all. Previously, Jiang Xinghuo's invention of a chemical fertilizer elixir that would double crop yields was still in sight, so Zhu Gaoxu didn't dare to question it, but it was just too unbelievable.

Zheng He naturally knew this truth. With the elixir of chemical fertilizers and gems ahead, who knew whether the "iron horse" Jiang Xinghuo mentioned really didn't exist?

If this thing existed, sea transportation alone would probably undergo earth-shaking changes, if nothing else.

The reason is also very simple. Ships no longer need to rely entirely on smooth winds and currents to determine their speed!

"What is the 'propeller' that Mr. Jiang mentioned?" Zheng He couldn't help but ask.

This was Zheng He's biggest concern, and he stared at Jiang Xinghuo closely.

Jiang Xinghuo waved his hand.

"do you understand?"

Zheng He shook his head.

Jiang Xinghuo picked up three more tough dead leaves from the ground, separated them and wrapped them around a small branch.

"Whoosh!"

As the twigs rotated with their hands, the three dead leaves also rotated, gradually forming an afterimage.

Zheng He tugged on the fake beard and almost pulled off the long beard stuck to his chin.

"Isn't this just a stern rudder oar that becomes three pieces?"

Jiang Xinghuo was startled and said, "Yes, that's probably what it means. If the iron horse drives this branch, which is the rudder oar, won't the ship be able to move forward?"

In an instant, Zheng He fell into dull thinking and deduction.

And Zhu Gaoxu also began to become suspicious. As a professional soldier, his duty was to fight on the battlefield and defeat the enemy. He usually didn't care about this. This was the first time he had come into contact with the so-called "iron horse" that could move by eating coal.

Jiang Xinghuo looked at them with a smile, waiting for their reaction.

After a long time, Zhu Gaoxu hesitated and said, "Mr. Jiang, are you sure?"

Jiang Xinghuo nodded: "Of course I'm sure, but this kind of thing won't be available for a year or two now. It needs to appear at a more suitable time. The reason why the existence of this thing was mentioned in advance was because of the chat discussion about moving the capital. I am just providing you with a feasible idea. Regardless of whether it is feasible or not, it is just a boring chat, don’t take it seriously.”

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but interjected: "What if you can't build an iron horse?"

Jiang Xinghuo said calmly: "If it doesn't succeed, just think of me as bragging."

Zhu Gaoxu was immediately speechless.

Jiang Xinghuo continued: "You can think about it. This is the second difficulty in moving the capital. I have done some thinking. Assuming that iron horses and tracks are established as transportation tools, then Beijing, as the transportation hub for Shanxi coal and Liaodong iron ore, Naturally, it has the ability to trade grain, silk, tea, porcelain, etc. with the South on a reciprocal basis. The coal, iron, or smelted steel from the North is transported to the South, and the cheap yarn and cotton produced can be further exported overseas. For trade, it can even be sold to Yinggelan, Falangxi and other countries in the far west."

"Sea power never refers to the navy or the control of sea routes. It refers to the ability to effectively transport goods, personnel and other resources through the controlled sea routes!"

In fact, although Nanjing does not have the unique conditions in the north that require a large amount of coal and iron for industrial development. Strictly speaking, Ma'anshan Iron Mine and Huaihe Coal Mine cannot support the first industrial revolution. However, Nanjing also has a condition that compared with the north, What can't be solved is wealth and population!

Without sufficient wealth and population, the industrial revolution could not be started at all. After all, the Ming Dynasty did not start by plundering, and it could not use external wealth. The initial driving force could only rely on internal wealth.

The North is now destitute of ten houses and nine empty houses. Its original vitality has never been restored. How can it have enough wealth and population to promote industrialization?

"In this way, wouldn't the economic status of the North and the South be basically equal?"

Jiang Xinghuo continued, "Economic equality means the emergence of two economic centers. Either one of them assumes the responsibilities of the temple center, or it is not enough for both economic centers to assume some of the responsibilities of the temple center. Surprising."

The next 'emperor-prince' decentralization of the northern and southern capitals was Jiang Xinghuo's idea based on the historical facts of the early Ming Dynasty in his previous life.

In the history of Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, in order to bridge the division between the north and the south, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty carried out the de facto "emperor-prince" decentralization of the northern and southern capitals for decades.

In order to defend the north and control the south, the three generations of Zhu Di, Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji adopted the strategy of governing the country in which the emperor and the prince divided the south and the north.

Since history has proven that it is feasible, it can be improved.

Moreover, Jiang Xinghuo also had another meaning, which was to draw a reasonable picture and test the attitude and tolerance of the high-ranking officials of the Ming Empire towards his proposal.

After all, this proposal involves the emperor's core interests.

--imperial power!

The emperor's reverse scale!

Anyone who touches it will die!

Since Jiang Xinghuo plans to reform the Ming Dynasty after he is released from prison, there will undoubtedly be many new ideas, policies, and tools. Even if they can enhance the national power of the Ming Dynasty and bring great benefits to the emperor, they will still inevitably come into contact with them. The taboo of imperial power.

If he were not in prison now, he would have tested the emperor's tolerance for him in advance.

Then after he is released from prison, he prepares for a big fight, but it turns out that in order to defend the imperial power to the death, all the actions of the emperor to transform the Ming Dynasty have become impossible this way and that way. Then won't he just feed the dog with his passion?

After all, in the Yongle era, if you wanted to break away from the highly centralized imperial power to carry out social transformation, it would undoubtedly be a fantasy.

In other words, without knowing the emperor's tolerance and acceptance of him, Jiang Xinghuo must take the initiative to test this out in order to determine whether the emperor can tolerate and accept his various actions after he is released from prison.

If even the current 'emperor-prince' decentralization of the northern and southern capitals, a reform proposed based on the actual historical experience of the Yongle era, is because Zhu Di intends to kill him because it touches the imperial power, then the future transformation of the Ming Dynasty will naturally be out of the question.

In other words, if Zhu Di could endure this method of decentralizing imperial power, he could transform the Ming Dynasty.

Even if Zhu Di disagrees with this and thinks it's a fantasy, it doesn't matter.

The proposal itself is for testing purposes, not for practice.

Because as long as Zhu Di did not punish him, it meant that Zhu Di's tolerance and acceptance of him were enough to transform the Ming Dynasty.

And will this count as actively seeking death?

Jiang Xinghuo doesn't think so, because his starting point is not to seek death, but to propose something. Whether Zhu Di accepts it, whether he is punished or rewarded or turns a blind eye, is all Zhu Di's business. Being killed is not a subjective motive but a passive realization.

"Two temple centers?" Zhu Gaoxu's breathing became more rapid, and he asked repeatedly: "Mr. Jiang, you said that we should prepare borders, but the army is worried about being far away from the core of rule, and the suspicion caused by the decentralization of power, how to solve it?"

Jiang Xinghuo replied: "The troops drawn from the north to relieve Jingnan will definitely need to return to the north. The soldiers are generally not used to the food of the south and cannot tolerate the heat. But the army is far away, and the emperor is worried."

"The solution is simple, too."

"oh?"

Zheng He was refreshed. Military power was the most difficult point. Jiang Xinghuo actually said that the solution was simple?

Jiang Xinghuo said first: "Let's talk first, today we are just talking casually, chatting with inmates, it can't be true."

The two nodded naturally.

"The solution is that the emperor with military power sits in Beijing and still has the power to make decisions on government affairs and judicial decisions. The law stipulates that all princes of the past dynasties need to sit in Nanjing to maintain the balance between the north and the south, and at the same time learn and experience government affairs instead of Make the final decision.”

"That is, the 'Emperor-Prince' divides power between the northern and southern capitals."

In fact, this is also the historical decentralization model of Ming Dynasty General Zhu Di and Executive Deputy Emperor Zhu Gaochi, and even Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji.

Jiang Xinghuo made reference to the separation of the north and the south in the special period of the early Ming Dynasty in history. As a result, the two generations of emperors and princes in history had to work together to rule the world with one south and one north without fast communication. He dared to propose This model.

Special period and special policies are aimed at bridging the division between North and South within a hundred years.

Otherwise, there is no other way.

"The center of the temple is divided into two, and the 'Emperor-Prince' divides power between the northern and southern capitals. I think it is unlikely, right?" Zhu Gaoxu frowned.

Zheng He also asked: "How to solve the problem of communication? If the center of the temple is divided into two, I'm afraid the bickering will go crazy!"

In fact, this is also the most critical issue.

"If there are no unexpected changes, then splitting the center of the temple into two is indeed an unsolvable operation. After all, too long a communication delay will cause misunderstandings, and decentralization will further lead to suspicion."

Jiang Xinghuo's eyes flashed with a strange light.

"Based on the current communication situation, it is indeed difficult to solve, but it does not mean that it cannot be solved in the future."

"Future?" Zhu Gaoxu was a little confused.

Jiang Xinghuo first asked: "How long do you think it will take to build the palace city of Beijing, then immigrate to enrich the population, and finally meet the basic conditions required to move the capital?"

"As little as twenty years, as much as thirty years." Zhu Gaoxu replied affirmatively.

Just the expansion of the palace will not be completed in ten to eight years.

Not to mention the supporting facilities required by other capitals, as well as the population, agriculture, water sources, roads, etc. that match the capital.

"So, it's still a long time. If communication can't be solved now, it doesn't mean it can't be solved in the future."

The assumptions Jiang Xinghuo made next can only be realized in the future and cannot be verified now.

In other words, in order to test the tolerance of the imperial power, Jiang Xinghuo began to draw a big picture.

As for the next technological points that Imagination will focus on, that’s just imagination.

Jiang Xinghuo lowered his head and picked up a few small branches from the ground, inserted them into the soil one by one, and connected the branches one by one with the stems of the leaves.

"Then if I say that in the next twenty or thirty years, there will be something called [Qianli Chuanwen]. All you need to do is drive the wooden stakes into the ground and pull the thread in the middle. In this way, the north and the south will be Real-time text transmission can be achieved in Beijing. Can it meet the communication conditions required by the 'Emperor-Prince' to decentralize power between the northern and southern capitals?"

Twenty or thirty years was the time when industrial reform established the foundation of the industrial system, which was the prerequisite for the technological point of "wired telegraphy".

In fact, radio stations are easier to build than wired telegraphs. Radio is something that a junior high school student can make with his hands. Jiang Xinghuo can naturally do it. But for now, he is just imagining it. Naturally, he has to talk about something that people in the Ming Dynasty can understand. At least wired telegraphs. Is there another entity?

How would people in the Ming Dynasty understand if they directly said that they were sending messages through the air?

Wouldn't that be like the immortal's magic of sound transmission for thousands of miles?

After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu and Zheng He were doubtful.

[Qianli Chuanwen] is just like [Iron Horse], it is all Jiang Xinghuo’s dream. I don’t know if it can be realized, but now that chemical fertilizers have been realized, there are still so many incredible things, such as Guano Island, Jinshan and Silver Mountains Even if it was realized, they couldn't guarantee that Jiang Xinghuo wouldn't be able to get it.

The reason why they feel that the "Emperor-Prince" decentralization of power in the northern and southern capitals is unreliable is because they cannot solve the problem of rapid communication, and they cannot rush 800 miles a day.

If, twenty or thirty years later, something like this magical weapon appears, it seems that it is not impossible to decentralize power between the ‘emperor and the prince’ in the northern and southern capitals?

After all, we can all achieve real-time communication. There is not much difference between arguing thousands of miles away and arguing now just a few streets apart.

Of course, the premise is that [Thousand Miles of Documents] can be developed in the future.

"With the real-time communication of [Qianli Chuanwen], the emperor still controls the power of government affairs. The emperor knows the affairs of the world without leaving the palace. You should be able to understand this. The emperor handles the government affairs of the world through the memorial, [Qianli Chuanwen] is also a memorial. Or to put it more bluntly, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty will definitely live in the palace for decades and not come out. So for the emperor, there is actually no difference in the distance of the source of information, as long as he has it in his hand. Military power, judicial decision-making power, and government decision-making power will suffice.”

"The [Qianli Chuanwen] can also partially solve the problem of suspicion between the emperor and the prince. At the same time, it can also establish a system for the prince to return to Beijing regularly, such as how many times a year, to further prevent problems before they occur. This way, a balance between the north and the south can be achieved. , will not delay the processing of government affairs, and will also avoid suspicion caused by decentralization of power."

"Although this method has some flaws, if it were not so, the North-South balance would never be cracked!"

"Without this method, if the Ming Dynasty moved its capital to Beijing, the south would inevitably lose its tail. The two sides would be at odds with each other, laying the foundation for the country's subjugation!"

Zhu Gaoxu's leopard eyes widened completely.