Chapter 1331 Feudal Princes (First update, please subscribe)
If you don't think about the future, you will have immediate worries!
Why did Emperor Zhu think about the future of the empire?
Because whether it was this world or the other world, they all clearly told him that the British Empire would also collapse one day. The huge colonial country collapsed in a short period of time.
The once great empire on which the sun never set became an insignificant second-rate country after losing its colonies.
"History is a mirror. We can see that even the North American colonies, which are the descendants of the British Empire, became independent because of their sense of independence. The dominions of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are essentially compromises made to maintain the colonial empire. They abolished the governor-general dictatorship under direct rule by the sovereign and handed over the power to manage the internal affairs of the colonies to the locals, thus ensuring that they would not become independent by granting them autonomy..."
In fact, in this world, the wave of independence of overseas territories and colonies is not yet obvious, but in another world, the final outcome of the colonial empire is disintegration, and it may even be an inevitable process.
“Perhaps we don’t need to face a similar situation now, but this situation is inevitable. After all, the divergence of interests between the imperial center and the colonies will increase in the future, not decrease.”
After a pause, Emperor Zhu stared into the distance and said.
“And with this division, will the empire be able to cope with external challenges in the future?”
In fact, what was Emperor Zhu worried about?
It’s an external challenge!
Challenges from outside will lead to the collapse of the empire, because external enemies will try every means to induce internal problems to erupt, thereby disintegrating the entire empire.
In another world, all this had happened before. Under the joint efforts of the United States and the Soviet Union, the colonial empires of Britain and France collapsed rapidly.
"Your Majesty, are you worried that other countries will support rebellion within the empire in the future?"
Zuo Zongtang asked.
"The most powerful empires are destroyed from within. The reason why North America gained independence was because of French interference. Now that the empire's colonies are so large, there will only be N Frances in the future. This is extremely disadvantageous to the empire, just like the British colony Canada, which also rebelled with the support of the United States in 1837. If something similar happens, the empire will fall into a dangerous state of being unable to cope with it in the future..."
Emperor Zhu frowned and continued.
"Faced with a similar situation, in order to maintain the existence of colonies, the empire will inevitably need to spend huge amounts of money politically and militarily. Of course, this is not in vain, the empire can get a lot of returns from the colonies, but this will inevitably intensify the confrontation - on the one hand, some people complain about the heavy burden that the empire bears for overseas provinces and colonies. For example, now, the empire spends up to 200 million yuan on colonies every year. On the other hand, the people in the colonies will also complain about the empire's rule over them..."
"Your Majesty, this is actually a common problem in colonies. All officials are sent from the mainland. This is also the reason why Britain began to grant autonomy to major white colonies within the British Empire. Although they have autonomy, they are still part of the British Empire. This not only maintains the vast colonial system of the British Empire, but also meets the interests of the vast colonial forces."
Although he is no longer in the government, Zuo Zongtang is still paying attention to changes in the world. In the past few years, the British Empire has been rapidly adjusting its colonial policies. Why? To put it bluntly, it is to cope with changes in the world situation.
"However, our colonies have only been established for a short time and have not yet formed a stable local power. Moreover, the civil service examination of the empire also faces the colonies. Their upper elites are essentially the upper elites of the empire. The flow of civil servants in the empire is fair. Colonial officials will serve in the empire, and officials in the empire will also serve in the colonies."
The civil service examination, which was derived from the "Imperial Examination System", can suppress the emergence of local forces to a certain extent, but it is only a suppression.
"Their home is in the colonies, and the emergence of local power is inevitable. It is only a matter of time. Colonial plantation owners, mine owners, business gentry and officials are all part of the local power."
Emperor Zhu shook his head and spoke directly.
"So, I have to consider the future positioning of the colonies. Should I follow the example of the British? Should I wait until the future when I have to change it, and then grant autonomy to overseas provinces and colonies, or should I take the initiative to grant autonomy..."
Granting overseas provinces autonomy is a necessary choice, which can not only maintain the empire's vast colonial system, but also meet the interests of local colonial forces.
Having said that, Emperor Zhu pursed his lips and shook his head.
"But I am not willing to follow the British. Instead, I want to find the answer in tradition..."
After he finished speaking, Emperor Zhu stared at Zuo Zongtang and said.
"Therefore, I intend to restore the feudal fiefdom!"
"Restore the fiefdom!"
Zuo Zongtang was stunned at first, then spoke in a rather calm tone.
"Your Majesty, are you going to restore the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty to establish feudal fiefdoms?"
Nodding, Emperor Zhu said.
"Establishing fiefdoms and protecting the central government is the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty and the fundamental solution to the problems of overseas provinces and colonies in the future. However, the "feudal vassalage" I am about to implement is different from the old system. Hmm... dividing the land and dividing the land, and enfeoffment of the princes!"
What is the division of land and feudal lords?
It means enthroning the princes as vassal kings! They are not the kind of vassal kings with a nominal title, but... real vassal kings who own vassal states. Where are their vassal states?
In African colonies and Pacific territories, even overseas provinces in North America... as well as Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela.
Why is it necessary to split... Because Mexico, with its Sinicized population, is also a regional power, and a proper buffer zone is needed between Mexico and the mainland of the empire.
In fact, in Emperor Zhu's mind, of course, parts of the western and central United States in the future are also included.
Divide the land and establish feudal lords!
Surprisingly, Zuo Zongtang was not surprised at all. In fact, he had anticipated this possibility since the second prince was enfeoffed as the King of Qin and married Princess Sofia of the Mexican Empire.
"There is nothing wrong with enfeoffment of princes. Enfeoffment of princes can take advantage of overseas opportunities and eliminate overseas disadvantages. Enfeoffment is also a form of "national defense construction" for the empire. After the princes gain power, they will no longer be very interested in foreign interference, and..."
Zuo Zongtang said again.
"The future princes will be the Chinese of China. At present, the war between the Empire and Britain is inevitable, but in the future... after Britain is destroyed and disintegrated, there may be a "war between China and Europe". The Chinese will develop their national strength under the protection of the Empire, and they will be the biggest help for the Empire to win the war..."
In fact, as early as a few years ago, as the King of Qin went to Mexico, voices about enfeoffing the vassals in colonies were heard from time to time within the empire. After all, the empire's vast and scattered overseas territories were a reality that had to be faced.
Autonomy is not a Chinese tradition, but feudal fiefdom is not only a tradition, but can also effectively solve the problem of alienation between the dominions and the empire. After all... they are all one family after all!
I have set up a book club: 739209015. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.
(End of this chapter)
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