After several days of circulation, Zhu Ying's letter, with expedited delivery, soon reached Zhu Yuanzhang's hands.

Looking at his eldest grandson's handwriting, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled as happily as a child.

For Zhu Yuanzhang now, how to deal with the wealthy businessmen in Suzhou is just a trivial matter. The news about his eldest grandson is the most important.

And joy, of course, needs to be shared.

After Zhu Yuanzhang finished reading it, he asked Liu and Jiang Lin who were beside him to have a look as well.

Liu and Jiang Li had been with Zhu Yuanzhang for many years, so they naturally understood that this was the time to praise the crown prince.

After Liu He and Jiang Li looked at each other, Liu He spoke first: "Your Highness the Crown Prince is truly doing extraordinary things and is not bound by the mundane world."

"Those merchants can only be manipulated by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"In my opinion, it won't be long before those wealthy merchants in Jiangnan will only follow the lead of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"The hidden dangers in Jiangnan should also be gradually eliminated."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly.

The Jiangnan region has always been a thorn in Zhu Yuanzhang's side. Although there have not been many uprisings or rebellions there, Zhu Yuanzhang paid special attention to Jiangnan.

The "Great Edict" promulgated stipulated that scholars who refused to serve the monarch would be sentenced to death.

This one is aimed at Jiangnan.

The property of a large number of wealthy people was confiscated and many intellectuals were persecuted.

It seemed to be a problem of low-level officials, but in fact it was Zhu Yuanzhang who secretly instructed it.

It was still the same routine. When local public grievances became too great, those officials who persecuted literati would become scapegoats and be executed by Zhu Yuanzhang to appease the people.

However, among them, many officials who were sincere in their work were affected.

For example, the previous Suzhou prefect Wei Guan, and the literati Gao Qi and Wang Yi who were friends with Wei Guan were like this.

When Zhu Yuanzhang was fighting for territory with Chen Youliang before he became emperor, Wei Guan joined Zhu Yuanzhang's camp and was a founding hero with considerable experience.

He was born into a scholarly family. After Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, he served as an assistant professor at the Imperial College, a bachelor of imperial studies, and a director of the Ministry of Rites. He also served in local positions. Later, he retired because he was too old.

Shortly after Wei Guan retired, Chen Ning, the prefect of Suzhou, was dismissed by Zhu Yuanzhang for excessive taxation.

Zhu Yuanzhang re-employed Wei Guan and appointed him as the prefect of Suzhou.

After Wei Guan arrived in Suzhou, he abolished Chen Ning's harsh policies.

Later, the court wanted to transfer Wei Guan to Sichuan. The people of Suzhou wrote to the court, requesting that Wei Guan continue to serve as the prefect of Suzhou.

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't think of a suitable candidate to replace Wei Guan at the moment, so he agreed.

Cai Ben, the commander of Suzhou, had a conflict with Wei Guan. He wrote to Zhu Yuanzhang to attack Wei Guan, pointing out two of his crimes:

One is to build a government office on the site of Zhang Shicheng's palace.

The second was to conscript farmers to build water conservancy projects, which did not comply with Zhu Yuanzhang's instructions to show consideration for the people's strength.

Cai Ben said that Wei Guan did these two things because he had the intention of rebellion.

After receiving Cai Ben's petition, Zhu Yuanzhang did not punish Wei Guan immediately. He had always trusted Wei Guan, and Wei Guan was already 69 years old at the time, so it was unreasonable for him to rebel.

Moreover, the army of Suzhou was controlled by the commander Cai Ben. As the prefect, Wei Guan could not mobilize the army, so what could he use to rebel?

In order to find out the truth, Zhu Yuanzhang sent an imperial censor named Zhang Du to Suzhou to conduct a secret investigation.

Zhang Jiayou disguised himself as a migrant worker and participated in the construction of Suzhou government office.

At first, Zhang Du did not notice anything unusual until the main beams were installed in the government office. Wei Guan held a beam-raising ceremony and invited his old friend, the great Suzhou writer Gao Qi, to write an article called "Beam-Raising Essay".

The fate of Wei Guan and Gao Qi was thus sealed.

However, in the Jiangnan area, which is constantly experiencing turmoil, the hidden dangers have not been officially and completely eliminated up to now.

There is no problem on the surface, but there are dangers lurking in secret.

For Zhu Yuanzhang, the kingdom he wanted to leave to his descendants was a solid and peaceful kingdom.

This problem must be solved during our lifetime.

Therefore, Da Sun’s actions at present are very important.

Seeing that His Majesty did not speak, Jiang Li pondered for a moment and then turned his gaze to him. He knew that he wanted to hear what he had to say.

After all, the letter from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is not something that can be read for nothing.

However, Jiang Li already had an idea in his mind.

Judging from some files conveyed by the Jinyiwei, Jiang Lin had a deeper understanding of the actions of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

"Your Majesty, I feel that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince may have a more ambitious goal in establishing a shipyard in Jiangnan."

As soon as these words were spoken, they naturally attracted Zhu Yuanzhang's attention.

"Tell me about it."

Jiang Li clasped his fists and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I think that although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince seems to be building a shipyard in the Jiangnan region and seems to be engaged in business, in fact, in my opinion, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's goal should be far overseas."

"If His Royal Highness wants to improve the trade routes, there are actually many options in Jiangnan. The breweries, garment factories, textile factories, icing factories, and porcelain factories in the capital can all help His Royal Highness expand the trade routes."

"But His Royal Highness chose a shipyard that had never been opened."

"This is naturally related to the recent lifting of the maritime ban. In fact, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to use the maritime trade as an excuse to migrate the wealthy merchants in the entire Jiangnan region across the sea."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, his eyes suddenly became serious.

Zhu Yuanzhang always attached great importance to shipyards.

Although a strict maritime ban policy was implemented to prevent overseas invasions, stipulating that "no piece of wood is allowed to go to sea" and "anyone who dares to trade privately with foreign countries will be severely punished."

However, in reality, while the "sea ban" was implemented, the "tribute" trade still continued and became more prosperous.

Shipyards were also established in various places.

The "Treasure Ship Factory" was established on the Shangxin River in the suburbs of the Japanese capital, and the ships built there were called "Treasure Ships".

Those built in Fujian are called "Fuchuan" and those built in Guangdong are called "Guangchuan".

The characteristic of the Guang ship is that it is made of "iron chestnut wood", which makes it even bigger and stronger than the Fujian ship.

The materials are of high quality, using chestnut wood which is as hard as iron. The hull structure is solid, the scale is huge, and the navigation ability is strong.

The foreign ships that sailed out to sea from Guangdong were all built by wealthy businessmen.

They colluded with officials, purchased commercial goods, and smuggled them out to sea.

"The giant warships are defended together, one hundred and twenty steps square, and can accommodate two thousand men. They are made of wood for the city walls and towers, and have four gates on top, through which horses can come and go."

It can be seen that in the smuggling industry, the profits are huge and the relationships are complicated.

"You mean, Da Sun's idea is to bring all the big merchants in the Jiangnan area into the maritime trade, and compete with the smuggling merchants in Guangdong and Fujian."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

This is a good idea. From this perspective, when merchants in the south of the Yangtze River start to use sea transportation, their grain transport will naturally become weaker.

It will be easier to control the wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan.

The most important thing is that when the fleet is formed, the background of these wealthy businessmen will gradually be revealed.

"Your Majesty, that's a good idea, but I think that Your Highness, the Crown Prince, may also want to relocate the wealthy families in Jiangnan."

"It's just like Japan."

Jiang Li said in a deep voice.

This sounded a bit strange at first, but Zhu Yuanzhang could understand it.

Because the eldest grandson had already revealed this idea before.

Rather than using the word migration, a better interpretation is actually foreign colonization.

"Zi" means reproduction and multiplication.

Colonization refers to a powerful country immigrating to a conquered area and plundering the interests of the local people.

It is a process in which a major power seeks and obtains possession of economically, politically and culturally underdeveloped areas abroad.

The main manifestations are overseas immigration, pirate robbery, slave trade, capital export, commodity dumping, and raw material plundering.

As for these, the current Ming Dynasty has almost met all colonial needs.

When Zheng He sailed to the West, his fleet of 20,000 people had the power to destroy many Southeast Asian countries. However, the strong military force and the self-sufficient material conditions of the fleet did not lead to the development of a large number of colonies. Zheng He used a completely different, ancient way to deal with the relationship with those local kings.

The establishment of a large number of tributary states and the establishment of diplomatic relations with friendly countries replaced armed colonization, and the colonization of the Americas caused by Columbus's great geographical discoveries brought huge wealth, which led to a leap in Western politics, military and science. The Ming Dynasty's non-colonization policy is even seen as a turning point in the transformation of the superiority and inferiority situation between the East and the West in history.

Well, in ancient and modern history, apart from the Mongols who loved external expansion the most, other dynasties almost never had the idea of ​​colonization.

It's mainly a cultural issue.

In Chinese culture, the confidence in one's own superiority has caused the people to view other regions as barbaric areas, and those who leave their homes are those who cannot survive.

Being thousands of miles away and unable to return to one's roots after death is simply a sentence of exile, which is incompatible with Confucian culture.

The Ming Dynasty was a feudal dynasty that traditionally attached great importance to agriculture, and its expansion of territory was also based on traditional garrisons and official jurisdiction.

Especially for the centralization of the royal family.

In the administrative system, the jurisdiction of the colonies was thousands of miles away, and its philosophy was in sharp conflict with centralization.

The changing of dynasties and the circulation of the five virtues are part of China's unique culture.

Qin Shihuang established the basic foundation of China long ago. The Ming Dynasty had a vast territory, and many places had the potential to be further developed during the Ming Dynasty.

In terms of land and food production, the Ming Dynasty had no intention of opening colonies, and the logistics cost of transferring food from the colonies far exceeded the food itself. From an agricultural perspective, opening colonies was extremely ridiculous.

However, as far as Zhu Yuanzhang is concerned, there are many differences.

Because of profit.

In Zhu Yuanzhang's view, this could not be considered colonization, but rather the exile of all the wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan.

Let them be there and become an indirect spread of the Ming Dynasty.

This is almost the same as Da Sun's current policy towards the vassal kings.

Zhu Yuanzhang also felt this point very well.

You know, the descendants of the Zhu family will naturally flourish and branch out.

As of now, the descendants of the Zhu family are already very numerous. It is conceivable that in another one or two hundred years, the descendants of the old Zhu family may number in the tens of thousands.

The arrangement for descendants becomes a problem.

According to the current system, they are naturally supported by the royal family and receive salaries.

But who would want their descendants to be mediocre people who only know how to inherit and reproduce?

The eldest grandson has opened up a very good path.

Let the wealthy businessmen expand the business first, and when the time is right, let their descendants inherit it.

In this way, the territory of the Ming Dynasty will only become more and more vast.

Even if it is out of jurisdiction, it doesn’t matter much.

After all, the meat is rotten in the pot.

…

In Suzhou City, the shipyard had already begun construction in just ten days.

For the current Ming Dynasty, this is an incredible speed.

Normally, after a shipyard is opened, it is unlikely that there will be any movement within half a year.

This actually has little to do with the Ming Dynasty. Whether in ancient or modern times, government officials have always followed a set of rules when doing things.

Report to higher levels and then get approved at lower levels.

This is unavoidable.

Considering the current communication time in Ming Dynasty, it is considered very fast to open a shipyard in half a year.

But all this became much simpler for Zhu Ying.

As for Yang Youwen, after Zhu Ying showed up, the truth of the matter came to light.

After all, he is the crown prince, and Zhu Ying has no interest in playing hide-and-seek. After finding out the ins and outs of Suzhou City, he wants to cut the Gordian knot quickly.

This caught the big merchants in Suzhou off guard.

Mr. Li was released after being detained for less than two days.

He also successfully acquired a stake in the shipyard.

But Mr. Li's mood did not become relieved because of this.

"Brother Shuming, this time, I'm afraid there is no other way to go. Who would have thought that it would be the rumored Crown Prince who would come to Suzhou in person."

In the Suzhou Restaurant, Tongzhi Song Xin said somewhat helplessly.

When he saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince at the Public Security Bureau and learned of his identity, he was already filled with despair.

He even felt that even the black sand on his head might be lost.

However, what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said next was beyond Song Xin's expectations.

At this moment, there was a bitterness on Li Shuming's face.

"I have lived in Jiangnan for my whole life. Even though I have achieved the title of a scholar, I have not chosen to be an official. Instead, I have taken up a lowly job that others look down upon."

"After so many years, I never thought that something like this would happen again."

"Since His Royal Highness is willing to spare my life, I can only go forward with gritted teeth."

Li Shuming picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, as if what he swallowed was not wine but sorrow.

Zhu Ying naturally would not have the good intention of letting Li Shuming, the leader of the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce, stay in Jiangnan.

There is only one condition for releasing him, and that is to open up new territory for the Ming Dynasty.

In other words, colonization.

But in Li Shuming's view, it is naturally exile.

Song Xin took over the conversation: "Brother Shuming, there is no need to worry too much. Going to sea is also a way to survive. It is better than losing your life."

"Besides, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also said that as long as Brother Shuming has made enough contributions, he will allow him to return home."

At this point, Song Xin picked up his glass:

"Brother Shuming, please take care of yourself when you go to Southeast Asia."

"If you can really make great contributions, perhaps Brother Shuming will have a strong presence in history."

After saying this, Song Xin suddenly felt a little envious.