"Your Highness, there are too many applications to go to Japan now. Almost all of them want to go to Japan."

"Fortunately, His Highness has now introduced a system to limit the qualifications for traveling to Japan, otherwise it would have been overcrowded a long time ago."

Uncle Zhang said cheerfully.

It is the Spring Festival now, and a large number of officials and visitors have gathered in the capital.

When officials from other places came to the capital to report on their work, they could also give gifts to their superiors to establish good relationships.

Even if there are performance appraisals, work efficiency, etc., it will be very uncomfortable if the relationship is not in place.

To put it simply, your boss may not be able to help you get a promotion directly, but if he tries to make things difficult for you and put obstacles in your way, he will not give you a promotion even if you achieve the goal.

I still have this ability.

I can't make your life better, but I can make it worse.

This is probably the current official environment.

No matter what system it is, it is always people who operate these things and there are loopholes that can be exploited.

There is no absolutely perfect system.

Those who want to be greedy will always find ways to be greedy.

It doesn't mean that if you live a good life and have enough food to eat, you won't be greedy.

As for greed, it has never been lacking in all dynasties, from ancient times to the present, even in later generations.

During the Spring Festival, if you send gifts or something, the Jinyiwei will not interfere with these matters as long as it is not too excessive.

Officials who accept gifts do not have to worry about being reported for taking bribes. This is a custom in the Ming Dynasty, a form of personal exchange.

Both Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Ying tacitly agreed to this point.

The same is true for businessmen.

As the current leader of the Ming Dynasty's business community, Zhang Bo has an endless stream of businessmen sending him gifts.

The most common question asked by businessmen now is how to go to Japan.

After the propaganda in the imperial gazette, Japan gave people the impression that silver was everywhere and that one could get rich by going there, as if money was just dropped on the ground and could be picked up at will.

Who doesn’t like white money?

In response to this, Zhu Ying issued an order early on to severely punish any merchant caravan that went to Japan privately.

If you want to go there, you must obtain the qualifications to go to Japan.

Speaking of making money, there is no way Zhu Ying would miss this opportunity. Not to mention how much the caravan earned, just the sale of qualifications has increased the taxes on the coast several times.

By now, merchants in the Ming Dynasty are no longer surprised by these things. As long as the business is particularly hot, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will definitely come to manage the order and help eliminate those who are unqualified.

For many powerful businessmen, this is a good thing, so as to avoid a situation where good and bad are mixed together.

If some messy people come along, it will easily lead to bigger problems.

In this way, everyone will abide by some implicit rules, and it doesn't matter if you earn a little less. With the participation of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the advantage is stability.

"You should postpone the qualification to go to Japan recently, so that more people can follow."

"At the same time, you have to give them a hint that Japan might not be very peaceful this year. Ask them to hire more guards when they go there, so that the Jiangnan Mercenary Guild can generate more benefits."

Zhu Ying gave the order after pondering for a while.

Zhang Bo heard this and subconsciously asked, "Your Highness, are you planning to attack Japan again this year?"

Zhu Ying had no intention of hiding it: "Yes, now we are familiar enough with Japan. Whether it is the garrison or the people, we have accumulated enough."

"If we want to provoke conflicts, it will probably happen to these caravans. We can't let the Ming government or army take the initiative. It's not in line with justice."

"When a small conflict arises, don't rush to resolve it peacefully. Instead, push the conflict step by step to a point where it cannot be reconciled. You can inform the big families in Jiangnan about this and let them take action."

Uncle Zhang hesitated and said, "I'm afraid they will want more benefits."

Zhu Ying waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter if they get a few benefits. Just give them. As long as we can stir up a conflict and get our army involved, it won't be a problem."

"Although the population of Daming has not been censused this year, you can see from the situation in the capital that the population has been increasing."

"As life gets better, people are having more children. The population of Ming Dynasty will double in the future, so we need more land to develop."

"It's too slow to just fix our own situation. The best approach is to divert internal conflicts and introduce them to other places."

Zhang Bo bowed and said, "I understand. I will act according to your Highness's wishes."

Zhu Ying nodded slightly.

In fact, the current Ming Dynasty is still far from being overcrowded. Even if the current population increases several times, there is still room for people.

But in today's era, purely internal development is unnecessary, and a vigorous expansion is the key.

When the country is prosperous and the people are strong, there will be enough military strength and power to wage wars in all aspects.

For example, Timur is now also expanding rapidly.

For the Ming Dynasty, there are now three directions that are very worthwhile.

The first is naturally Japan, which needs a large population to engage in mining labor.

The second is the Nanyang region.

Annan will definitely be conquered this year, but Annan alone will not be enough to satisfy Zhu Ying's appetite.

He wanted to use Annan as his base to educate the entire South Seas region.

There is also a third direction, which is in the Western Regions.

The situation in the Western Regions had already caused the Northern Yuan Dynasty to get involved.

Zhu Ying had been in the Western Regions for many years and was very familiar with the situation there. Now the large and small forces in the Western Regions were in a mess, and they had to be cleansed first before the Ming Dynasty could intervene.

At present, Zhu Ying has secretly invested 200 million treasure notes into the Beiyuan Mercenary Guild.

It is equivalent to purchasing the military strength of the Northern Yuan cavalry and using it to conquer the Western Regions.

Although it is only preliminary, the feedback we received is very good.

Facing the Mongolian cavalry, the combat effectiveness of the Western Regions was far inferior, and they had no ability to resist at all.

All you need to do is sit back and reap the benefits.

…

During the New Year holidays.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very happy.

On the palace side, Zhu Ying invited a large number of folk groups to perform.

As the Ming Dynasty's economy became more prosperous, various folk artists also began to rise.

To be able to enter the palace to perform, money is secondary; the key is reputation.

After this, the value of these performance teams will naturally rise to another level.

For example, if an actor received a reward from Zhu Yuanzhang during his performance, he would surely become the top star in the future.

Zhu Ying is very fond of these cultural heritages that have been passed down through the ages and finds them very exciting to watch.

Nowadays, there are a large number of people from overseas in the capital.

The collision of cultures makes art spark stronger.

This can be described as a golden age. The Ming Dynasty was constantly absorbing foreign essences, and because of internal circulation, inheritance in all aspects became more rigorous.

…

"Mom, seeing the current state of the capital, I don't want to leave anymore."

The performances in the palace will be scheduled until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. No matter whether they are concubines, princes and grandchildren, or officials, palace maids, and eunuchs, they can all come to Fengtian Square to watch in their spare time.

Zhu Yunwen looked at the bustling palace and couldn't help but sigh to Lu beside him.

It is conceivable that the Champa we visited years later was a completely desolate place compared to the current capital.

Mrs. Lu sighed slightly: "Mother also wants to stay in the capital, but you can't just think about yourself, you also have to think about the future."

"Champa is a good place. Now Annan is about to be taken by the crown prince. Mother, looking at the current situation, the crown prince will definitely not just take Annan. Maybe the entire Nanyang will be under the rule of the Ming Dynasty."

"At that time, the Nanyang region will also become lively. You see, the Ming navy is now constantly expanding and recruiting new soldiers. According to the habits of the crown prince, he must have some ulterior motives."

"For our Ming Dynasty, there are only two directions for the navy: Japan and Southeast Asia."

"Where does Japan need so many naval forces? The South Seas are the key."

"That's fine. We mother and daughter won't be in any danger if we go to Champa. You are the grandson of the Ming emperor, and you can still rely on the Ming navy in the future."

Zhu Yunwen nodded, not quite understanding: "Mother, I understand."

Lu smiled and said, "I understand."

She didn't care whether Yunwen really understood it, and after arriving in Champa, she would help in most areas.

Thinking of this, Lu's eyes sparkled with brilliance.

In the Ming Dynasty, with His Majesty and the Crown Prince around, she was completely suppressed and dared not show it.

But in Champa in Southeast Asia, there is no such thing as the harem not interfering in government affairs.

By then, whether it is the imperial court or the army, the Lu family will be involved.

Just like the empress during the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

…

"Hey, isn't this our fourth brother? He seems to be in a good mood today and has come to Fengtian Square to watch the show."

Zhu Gang walked towards Zhu Di with a smile on his face.

Zhu Gang is now in high spirits.

On the Japanese side, Zhu Gang's army was undoubtedly the strongest in terms of combat effectiveness. Even though there was not enough space, he still controlled five mines.

These five mineral deposits are all medium to large-scale. Although most of them have to be handed over to the capital, even the little that is left is enough to make a fortune.

With enough money, the morale of the soldiers was naturally higher, and Zhu Gang's territory was constantly expanding.

After returning to the capital, he soon learned that the fourth prince Zhu Di had been captured on the grassland.

Come over here and make some sarcastic remarks.

Zhu Di felt very unhappy when he saw this uninvited evil guest.

But the reality is that Zhu Gang is doing better than him in all aspects today.

Zhu Di also had some understanding of the situation in Japan. Although his eldest son Zhu Gaochi managed Yancheng well in Japan, Zhu Gaochi could only govern.

Japan can gain more by expanding now.

Although Yancheng has also been searched, there is only a small or medium-sized silver mine nearby, which is far inferior to Zhu Gang or Zhu Yu.

Naturally, Zhu Di and Zhu Gang would not take these matters seriously.

"Third brother, you must know that Elbek on the grassland is Mailibala, who once lived in our Ming Dynasty for several years and was conferred the title of Chongli Marquis by His Majesty himself."

"Third brother had a good relationship with him back then, right? When our Fourth Master arrived there, he naturally treated him with great courtesy. It can be said that we are meeting old friends."

"Now that the Northern Yuan Dynasty is negotiating with our Ming Dynasty, and with the Crown Prince's Northern Yuan Mercenary Guild, the story between the Fourth Master and the Northern Yuan Emperor can be said to be a good story."

Xu Yihua sat next to Zhu Di and said with a smile on her face.

When Zhu Di was unable to respond, Xu Yihua certainly did not want to be outdone.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gang also paused.

He smiled bitterly and said, "This is a matter between me and the fourth brother. Sister Yihua, why bother getting involved?"

Zhu Gang is actually very familiar with Xu Yihua.

Xu Da followed Zhu Yuanzhang in his campaigns and rarely returned home. Xu Yihua grew up in the palace and was considered Empress Ma's personal maid.

He has been familiar with princes such as Zhu Di and Zhu Gang since childhood.

Moreover, Xu Yihua was very arrogant and was unwilling to be outdone by the other princes. In the end, under the arrangement of Empress Ma, she married Zhu Di.

Speaking of which, when they were young, both Prince of Qin Zhu Chong and Prince of Jin Zhu Gang had some thoughts about Xu Yihua.

It is natural for men and women to have some affection for each other at the age when they first fall in love.

At that time, people like Zhu Gang in the palace had little contact with women of marriageable age.

Of course, those were all childhood things, and now they are all a thing of the past.

But when facing someone I once liked, I can't say bad things to them.

At this time, Zhu Gang was also defeated.

"I am the princess of the Fourth Master, why can't I participate?"

"Third brother, you have already gained so many benefits in Japan, why do you still want to mock the Fourth Master? Is it true that you brothers have to target each other all the time?"

"The Crown Prince has also given us a promise that the Fourth Master will be allowed to go to Japan after the new year. We will all be in the same place from now on, so why bother with some brotherly affairs?"

Xu Yihua spoke bluntly, without giving Zhu Gang any face in her words.

"Okay, just you protect him, just like you did in the beginning." After Zhu Gang said this, he didn't have the heart to say anything else, so he turned and walked away.

When he was a child, Zhu Di was not liked by his father Zhu Yuanzhang for some reasons.

The names were given when they were seven years old.

Therefore, Zhu Chong, Zhu Gang and other brothers naturally had some bullying intentions.

It was Zhu Biao who stood up and protected his fourth brother at that time. This is why Zhu Di always respected Zhu Biao very much.

At that time, Xu Yihua couldn't stand it anymore and stood up to stop Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang.

Empress Ma was also aware of these circumstances at the time, and it was for this reason that she betrothed Xu Yihua to Zhu Di.