Old Zhu was even happier. Regardless of what others thought, his precious grandson understood his good intentions, and Old Zhu was filled with joy.

Everyone says that Zhu Yuanzhang was tyrannical, but even as a military emperor, he encountered a lot of resistance at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty. If he hadn't been ruthless and tough enough, he might not have been sidelined, but his imperial power would certainly have been significantly constrained.

"We're not just going to control the Maritime Trade Office and the salt and iron monopoly now; our court will be in charge of many more things in the future," Zhu Yunying laughed, saying to Old Zhu. "Those people who want to squeeze us out will be shut out of grain to brew wine, and they'll be shut out of salt to sell!"

These things are actually quite easy to do; all it takes is a slight indication from Joo Yoon-young.

Speaking of this, Old Zhu laughed, "You're the worst one. Let's not even talk about the porcelain and tea being transported out. The big iron pot we promised you earlier, you break it easily if you mess with it."

The strategic weapon, the giant iron pot, is no joke. The Tartars need it, and so do Japan and Southeast Asia.

Zhu Yunying chuckled and said to Old Zhu, "Right? Those people want to melt down the iron pots to make weapons, but they won't succeed. Our big iron pots are quite brittle. They're fine for stir-frying vegetables and stewing meat, but they'll break easily when used as weapons. We're full of bad intentions, so those people will try to take advantage of us."

Old Zhu laughed too. His grandson was indeed full of mischief. Sometimes Old Zhu couldn't understand how his grandson came up with such ridiculous and absurd ideas.

For example, although Zhu Yuanzhang drove the Mongols back to the northern desert, he still needed horses, beef tendons, and livestock from the north. Therefore, trade was never completely cut off; it was just that the restrictions were relatively strict.

However, starting with Xiao Zhu, iron pots and such continued to be sent over, but these pots were truly only suitable for daily use. They were fine for boiling water and stewing meat, but if they broke, they couldn't be melted down into ironware. The nomadic peoples, having eaten a lot of beef and mutton, needed tea to cut through the richness, so strong-flavored tea bricks and the like were shipped over freely. But when it came to salt, it was distributed almost according to the population.

Old Zhu understood this as well; salt caravans often had to investigate the population size of the Tartars, and so on.

"We were quite generous a few years ago, and we lifted some restrictions on Goryeo," Zhu Yunying said with a smile, adding, "And we even sold weapons directly to Fourth Uncle."

Old Zhu pointed at Zhu Yunying and said irritably, "Do you think we can't see it? You're reluctant to part with the good stuff, but you know there are some craftsmen over there. By giving them inferior goods, you've ruined their craftsmen and workshops."

That's absolutely right. It's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.

The logic is essentially the same: Zhu Yunying was allowed to export some weapons. However, the military equipment sent out by the Ming Dynasty was of better quality than that of the vassal states, but it was definitely far inferior to the Ming Dynasty's own.

Moreover, given the Ming Dynasty's domineering power and strength, if any vassal state dares to obstruct the Ming Dynasty's dumping of goods, then they shouldn't blame the Ming Dynasty for getting angry.

Zhu Yunying destroyed many industries in surrounding vassal states. Whenever someone seemed poised to rise to prominence or a technology appeared to be developing, large quantities of Ming Dynasty products were destroyed, leaving many people with a happy but troubled situation.

Zhu Yunying looked at Old Zhu and said, "Fourth Uncle's son, Gao Chi, is capable. He saw through our thoughts. He has been trying to recruit craftsmen all these years, but we have stopped him. Our Fourth Uncle is thinking about fighting a war. If it weren't for Gao Chi, Fourth Uncle would have a hard time."

Old Zhu nodded in agreement; the fourth son's chubby grandson was indeed quite capable.

"He knows what we're thinking, but he can't stop us. In the end, we're still dependent on the Ming Dynasty. Our weapons are in our hands. They're using them now, and they'll have to keep using them in the future." Zhu Yunying looked at Zhu Yunwen and said, "From now on, these people can't do without the Ming Dynasty. We control their weapons, we've destroyed their industries, and from now on, whatever we want to do, they'll have no choice but to obey!"

Old Zhu was even more proud; this was his grandson. Those methods were the best methods an emperor could employ. It doesn't necessarily have to be war; there are many ways to control a small vassal state!