The Ming Dynasty: Reshaping the Land

Chapter 27 Zongxun

Li Jinglong was stunned. "Biaozi, can you read minds?"

"You've brought up an idea that I've only just started having. What am I supposed to do?" Li Jinglong chose to remain silent.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Zhu Biao turned to look at Li Jinglong and asked.

"From what we've seen so far, its merits outweigh its flaws!" Li Jinglong glanced around and gave a fair assessment.

Zhu Biao saw Li Jinglong's actions, then shook his head with a wry smile and walked forward. Li Jinglong immediately followed behind him.

Upon arriving at the Wenhua Hall, Li Jinglong was about to take his leave when Zhu Biao stopped him. Helpless, Li Jinglong had no choice but to follow Zhu Biao into the Wenhua Hall.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, the civil officials and scholars who had arrived long ago had already begun reviewing the memorials and drafting preliminary proposals. Zhu Biao glanced at them, then led Li Jinglong into a side hall and dismissed his attendants.

"What's wrong? You don't dare to tell me outside because you have concerns?" Zhu Biao asked Li Jinglong as soon as he sat down.

"This...this, I really can't comment on it!" Li Jinglong said, bowing.

"It's just the two of us here, so please speak freely!" Zhu Biao looked up at Li Jinglong and urged him on.

Li Jinglong was about to refuse when Zhu Biao waved his hand to stop him, saying in an unyielding tone, "Since you can propose the relocation of the town, I don't believe you haven't considered this!"

After weighing his options, Li Jinglong ultimately offered a compliment: "Your Highness has discerning eyes; my thoughts cannot be hidden from Your Highness!"

"I have indeed considered this before. The Zhou dynasty established the world through enfeoffment, but after hundreds of years of chaos during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, it finally fell to Qin. Qin established the world through prefectures and counties, but it perished after only two generations. The Han dynasty learned from Qin's lessons and established both enfeoffment and prefectures and counties, but it also experienced the Rebellion of the Seven States. Later, Emperor Wu granted favors to the emperor, which finally resolved the problem of the vassal states."

Although Emperor Wu resolved the issue of excessive power among the feudal lords, the imperial clan's power weakened under the policy of granting favors, leading to the usurpation of power by the maternal relatives and eunuchs, which could not be stopped despite repeated attempts!

Every system has its own characteristics and limitations in its time. When our Great Ming Dynasty expelled the Tartars, the borders were unstable. Therefore, vassal kings guarded the borders and immigrants were sent to populate the frontiers to ensure their safety! However, the princes of Qin, Qi, and other states oppressed the people, causing widespread resentment!

Seeing that Zhu Biao was listening attentively, Li Jinglong continued his analysis: "Your Majesty's intention is to establish a tripartite balance of power between the princes, military officers, and civil officials, which would not only avoid the situation of the Song Dynasty's emphasis on civil affairs and suppression of military affairs, but also prevent the chaos and turmoil that occurred at the end of the Tang Dynasty!"

However, judging from the current situation, after intermarriage among relatives, clan groups have been formed. Although there are internal conflicts, they are still a unified whole. As a result, civil officials are in a weak position.

"Not bad, Jiujiang sees things clearly!" Zhu Biao smiled and praised Li Jinglong.

"I am merely an outsider, just watching the show!" Li Jinglong said modestly.

"Then you still haven't answered my question: can this process continue indefinitely?"

Zhu Biao looked at Li Jinglong suspiciously. He had asked about the issue of vassal kings guarding the borders, but Li Jinglong had answered about the balance of power in the court.

"Your Highness, not all nobles are good at fighting, nor are all regional kings capable of defending the borders!"

Li Jinglong shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Throughout history, every system was initially established with its own purpose! Over time, its shortcomings will naturally be exposed. As for the matter of the vassal kings guarding the borders, I truly could not foresee what would happen next!"

Li Jinglong did not state his judgment directly, but instead asked Zhu Biao to think about it. However, Li Jinglong's words were self-evident: he was not optimistic about the long-term operation of the feudal prince system.

Putting aside other things, in the later period of the dynasty, when the national finances were struggling to keep up, there were still so many vassal kings to support. Where would they find the money to do anything else?

After the Hongzhi Emperor, which emperor didn't worry about money? The Wanli Emperor didn't, but it depends on where he got his money.

"Jiujiang, what we said today must not be spread, understand?" Zhu Biao snapped out of his reverie and solemnly instructed.

Li Jinglong bowed and said, "These are mere wild words, and they are not to be taken seriously!"

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "You should go back now! I still have official business to attend to. I'll talk to you another day!"

"Your subject will take his leave now!" Li Jinglong cupped his hands in greeting, then took a few steps back and turned to walk out.

Zhu Biao sat in his chair, watching Li Jinglong's figure disappear through the door, and couldn't help but shake his head and let out a long sigh.

After leaving the Wenhua Hall, Li Jinglong headed straight for the Donghua Gate, intending to visit his clubhouse later!

It has been a month since construction last started.

Upon arriving at the clubhouse, Li Jinglong discovered that the place had changed. The main gate facing the street had been demolished and replaced by a three-story building. Passing through the building, one finds winding bluestone paths, exquisitely arranged rockeries, and a gently flowing stream, creating an elegant and gentle atmosphere reminiscent of a classical courtyard.

"My lord, why didn't you say you were coming?" Li Tong, who was in charge of the construction site, greeted him respectfully.

"Come and take a look after court!" Li Jinglong waved his hand and asked, "How much longer until it's completely finished?"

Li Tong replied, "My lord, it will be completed in another ten days or so at most!" He then pointed to a three-story building not far away, "My lord, the only thing missing now is that building. It's mainly because it involves the hot springs, which makes things a bit tricky!"

Li Jinglong nodded and looked around the courtyard again. Inside the garden, besides the five-story main building in the center, there was a two-story pavilion for hot springs. The remaining rooms were the resting places for the servants and maids in the club!

In Li Jinglong's plan, the main building will serve all functions except for the hot spring, including listening to music, eating, drinking alcohol, and drinking tea.

Li Jinglong then asked, "Have the maids sent from Liaodong, Gansu, and Yunnan all arrived?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, they have all arrived, the latest being the day before yesterday. I have made all the arrangements, and as you instructed, I am having them learn etiquette!"

"Hmm!" Li Jinglong responded and began to wander around the garden.

After a tour, Li Jinglong was very satisfied, but he also felt a pang of regret. This garden, which hadn't even opened yet, had already drained almost all of the Duke's mansion's cash reserves.

The renovation of the garden cost nearly 20,000 strings of cash. As for the remaining 30,000 strings, Li Tong used them to buy back several of the most famous courtesans on the Qinhuai River.

After reading it, Li Jinglong also started thinking about the opening date and how to send out invitations as soon as possible.

"Li Tong, go back to the manor later to get the blueprints, and find a craftsman to make the bronze, silver, and gold plaques. Let's get ready, and we'll open for business in half a month!" Li Jinglong thought for a while and finally made the decision.

"Yes, Your Excellency!"

After leaving the club, Li Jinglong went straight back to the Duke's Mansion. He still needed to make good preparations for the upcoming opening.

Unfortunately, there are always people who don't want peace and quiet. Two days before the opening of Heaven on Earth, uninvited guests showed up at the door.

"What did you say?" After hearing Li Yuan's description, Li Jinglong found it hard to believe that a thousand strings of cash would buy 30% of the club's shares.

"Next time you come, give me a beating!"

"Young master, is it...?" Li Yuan had some concerns.

"Ha, does he really think that just because his Lü family has produced a Crown Princess, he can act with impunity? Besides, he's just a cousin!" Li Jinglong said with a look of disdain.

Li Jinglong thought Lü Ping had lost his mind, actually trying to seize power from him, the Duke!