It's acceptable to privately complain about the retired emperor or the new emperor, but one doesn't dare to raise one's voice, or simply keep it to oneself.
Zhu Yunying did indeed reclaim some of the privileges afforded to members of the imperial clan. After all, without restrictions on them, unrest was bound to ensue. However, in the early years of the Ming Dynasty, only Zhu Yunying's children fared somewhat better.
At that time, it seemed that the total number of scum was small and wouldn't cause too much trouble. In Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, although he cared about his people, he definitely cared more about his offspring than his own. Therefore, when some princes broke the law in their fiefdoms, Zhu Yuanzhang actually turned a blind eye.
However, the imperial clan is constantly expanding, and allowing them to continue acting recklessly is not a good thing. The resulting chaos will likely only grow larger.
To standardize it, we need to consider standardization from all aspects. The imperial system needs continuous supplementation and improvement; this is obvious, and it's something Zhu Yunying felt he, as emperor, had to do.
Old Zhu actually harbored some resentment, always feeling that his grandson was too harsh on his own family. However, after discussing these matters for so many years, and considering the events that had occurred over the years, Old Zhu had come to realize that the original policies might not have been comprehensive enough.
This is one of the reasons why, despite his complaints, Lao Zhu had no choice but to agree.
Zhu Yuanzhang naturally hoped to see his descendants live a better life. However, he also understood that the Ming Dynasty needed long-term stability and peace, so he had to be ruthless when necessary.
Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang was not unaware of the hardships of the world. Even if his descendants received some reduced treatment, they were still among the wealthiest people in the world. His descendants remained the most respected people in the Ming Dynasty.
Since Lao Zhu understands these principles, he can do some things with ease and without much resistance.
What Zhu Yunying needed to do was to use Zhu's name as a shield; with such a powerful figure as Zhu Yunying around, no evil spirits would dare to cause trouble. At this point, Zhu Yunying could then leverage Zhu's authority and implement many policies.
Reforming the system requires changes in all aspects. Zhu Yunying had a lot to do; he not only needed to reform the imperial clan, but also to bring about many changes to the court and the country.
"We will have someone explain this to the members of the imperial clan regarding the Maritime Trade Office," Zhu Yunying said slowly. "Members of the imperial clan must also know that, apart from the court, only members of the imperial clan and nobles are allowed to engage in maritime trade."
Old Zhu looked at his grandson with a smile, thinking that his grandson was full of ideas.
Zhu Yunying continued, "The imperial court takes the lion's share, followed by the imperial family, and even the families of meritorious officials can get a share. Local gentry and merchants may get a share of the profits, but it's all just something that leaks out from the majority."
The imperial family naturally understood that maritime trade was highly profitable, and everyone knew that. Therefore, some people from coastal areas nowadays also go to sea privately, mainly for profit. This is especially true in places like Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian, where there is a long-standing tradition of going to sea.
"From now on, when members of the imperial family and nobles receive goods, they must follow the regulations set by the court." Zhu Yunying said with a smile to the members of the imperial family, "Our Ming court and the imperial family shall set rules. We shall decide how many good goods to sell and at what price. Remember, we must not fight among ourselves and let outsiders benefit for nothing."
Monopolistic businesses are the best businesses, and Zhu Yunying is blatantly setting the rules. Such monopolistic businesses do indeed allow many people to reap substantial benefits, rather than engaging in price wars, at least for some products that are unsuitable for price competition.
Although the royal family members had grievances, they were powerless to change the current situation. They appeared noble, but they held virtually no real power.
Even if the retired emperor were no longer there, the imperial clan would have no power to struggle or resist in the face of the current emperor. This is the most direct reality.
Zhu Yunying needs to continue his work; the affairs of the Maritime Trade Office need to be standardized. This huge trade market must be controlled by the imperial court, and the court must set the rules and distribute the profits.
Of course, the greatest benefit must also be brought under the control of the imperial court, so that the country can become prosperous and the people strong!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
