Going north and south, they fought for living space for the people of the Ming Dynasty, created wealth for the Ming Empire, successfully overcame major disasters, and won the pride of the Han and Tang Dynasties with continuous victories.
This is the emperor's established policy and cannot be changed. The only difference is the speed.
Of course, including Xiong Tingbi, all the ministers were worried and concerned about the emperor's increasingly revealed desire for expansion.
The extreme expansion during the Chengzu period placed a heavy burden on the treasury, and the complex border affairs also made it difficult for the court to cope.
For example, the voyages to the West cost more than 40 million taels in seven years, which was indeed a huge pressure on the Ming Dynasty treasury with an annual income of about 10 million taels.
Even Zhu Di was "afraid" every time Zheng He went to sea. Many ministers even risked being beheaded and wrote letters to dissuade him, calling the voyage to the West a "bad policy."
In fact, judging by the circumstances at the time, it's reasonable to call the voyages a "bad policy." We can't judge the thinking of the people at the time from the perspective of later generations, because the huge costs and heavy burdens were indeed real.
The key lies in the issues of ideology and tradition. The Ming Dynasty at that time did not consider making money. The so-called "giving more and receiving less" and "valuing righteousness over profit" were the style of the Celestial Empire.
The voyages to the West, as a way to flaunt national power, were essentially a display of generous rewards. The tributary system also adhered to this principle, leading to a rush of foreign states to come, putting the Ming Empire at a disadvantage.
Zhu Youxiao's expansionism was certainly different from that of Emperor Chengzu, and even from that of previous emperors. To put it bluntly, it was all about profit: he wouldn't fight a war without benefit, and he would only occupy fertile territory or something else of value.
According to the terminology of later generations, output must be greater than input to form a virtuous circle, so that one can become richer and stronger.
However, treating war as a business, and not engaging in it unless it made money, was a loss of dignity for the Celestial Empire. Therefore, the emperor could not openly announce this to the outside world, and his ministers were unaware that the emperor was only interested in making money through expansion.
Of course, sometimes profits are long-term, and sometimes they are immediate. For example, relying on the Liaodong River to advance northeastward, in a bitterly cold land, how much money can be made? The investment is not small.
Compared to Mekong Province, which produces two or three crops a year, this was certainly true. But the emperor knew the riches hidden in the black soil. Even in the bitter cold of Siberia, the underground black gold couldn't be measured by immediate profits.
There's no point in saying it, the emperor just has to do it. It's okay to do it within your ability, after all, he makes so much money!
It was the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, just a few days away from the Lunar New Year. A festive atmosphere had already permeated the capital. With the successful pacification of the Liaodong region and the return of peace, everyone, from officials to the common people, felt a sense of relief.
"father--"
"Emperor——"
The two little princesses each said a word to complete the word "father emperor". Then they opened their little mouths and giggled happily.
The emperor was very happy. He picked up a little cotton-padded girl with each hand and kissed her left and right, making loud "pop" sounds.
Yu'er smiled happily, both because her daughter was growing up and because the emperor's favor continued to decline.
After playing with his two daughters for a while, the emperor let them go and watched the two little girls walk away on their short legs under the careful care of the palace servants.
"Your Majesty." Yu'er couldn't change the address, but it sounded intimate. She peeled an orange and handed a slice to the emperor.
The emperor opened his mouth and ate it, savoring the flavor and nodding softly. He said, "It's still possible to grow oranges in the south now, but in a few years it will be difficult."
Zhang Yuer didn't know that the emperor was talking about the great disaster of the Little Ice Age. She blinked her big eyes and carefully peeled the meat and fed it to the emperor.
There were not many official duties before the New Year, especially after the pacification of Liao. The emperor felt relieved and relaxed involuntarily.
The biggest worry has been eliminated. Even if the peak of the Little Ice Age comes, the emperor believes that he can survive it, at least it will not endanger the country.
After eating a few orange slices, the emperor waved his hand to indicate that he didn't want to eat anymore. He lazily fell on the couch and patted his side, letting Yu'er lie down next to him.
Yu'er was the most obedient, doing whatever the emperor asked her to do. She snuggled up to the emperor, holding his arm in her arms, and said softly, "I've made up my mind. Let's put the cat thing aside for now."
The emperor was not surprised and said, "Let's wait until the child is older!"
Children don't know the seriousness of the matter, and cats are just as ignorant. If they scratch something and it gets infected with a virus, it can be a serious matter.
Of course, a mother will give up some of her hobbies for the sake of her children. Yuer likes cats, but she loves her daughter even more.
"I received a letter from home, and everything is fine." Yu'er closed her eyes slightly, sniffing the emperor's scent, and said naggingly, "I planted several acres of potatoes this year and harvested several thousand kilograms! Mother said that roasted potatoes are also delicious."
A potato yield of 1,000 kilograms per mu wasn't considered a lot, the emperor estimated roughly, but in that era, it was considered a very high yield.
"French fries are delicious too." The emperor pursed his lips slightly and said, "I'll ask the imperial kitchen to make some for everyone in the harem to try. Mm, baked potatoes are good too."
Cold-resistant and high-yielding, it was another powerful weapon against major disasters. Although it couldn't be promoted a few years earlier, starting now gave the emperor a lot of confidence.
"Wan'er did well in her final exams. She's said to be taking the junior high school entrance exam next year. I think it's enough for a girl to go to junior high school."
The emperor hummed in agreement. He had no objection. She wasn't meant to be a scholar; she could read books and newspapers after graduating from elementary school. Among ancient women, she was considered well-educated and well-mannered.
Yuer was still talking, they were all small things, somewhat trivial.
But the emperor did not show any impatience. From these trivial matters, we can also see some of the current social conditions.
Yu'er is the least likely to lie to himself. He says whatever he hears, without hiding anything or exaggerating.
"A few days ago, Doctor Yang came to perform a routine checkup on me and the two princesses. She said she was busy with medical school matters and was a few days late... That medicine girl named Tao Yan also said she had some questions for His Majesty!"
I know so much, but it's rare for me to have some free time.
The emperor felt somewhat helpless, but he didn't think of refusing. Improving medical skills would benefit himself, his concubines, and even his children.
It should be about surgery. I wanted the soldiers on the front line to receive the best possible treatment after being injured, so I compiled a booklet, which includes simple knowledge such as suturing wounds and disinfection.
This should save many soldiers' lives, which is better than nothing. The emperor thought, comforting himself and feeling a little proud.
Treating human life as worthless is a bad habit that must be changed. Although I am the emperor, I am not a feudal emperor in history.
What the superiors like, the subordinates must follow. I have set an example, so there will probably be no more idiot officials who say, "Why not just live in peace and starve to death?"
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