Chapter 56: The Ming Dynasty’s War Potential

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“Is thirty million really that much?”

The corners of Zhu Yuntong’s lips lifted slightly, but his tone remained calm and unhurried.

Yet it was as though Mount Tai rested upon his shoulders; no amount of wealth could make him feel at ease.

Lan Yu swallowed. “But... but thirty million taels is already more than the Great Ming collects in taxes in an entire year. And that is merely the daily income of Heaven on Earth.”

Rich enough to rival an empire!

No... This was no longer a matter of being rich enough to rival an empire.

“Uncle, when you followed Imperial Grandfather to conquer the realm, what was it for?” Zhu Yuntong suddenly changed the subject.

As he spoke, his gaze fell sharply upon Lan Yu.

Lan Yu answered almost without thinking. “Naturally, it was so that the people of the realm would no longer suffer beneath the oppression of the brutal Yuan, so that everyone might have food to eat and clothes to wear.”

“But do you believe that, twenty-five years after the founding of the Great Ming, the people of the realm are eating their fill and keeping warm?” Zhu Yuntong’s voice was mild and even, as if he were merely chatting with an elder.

But he was now the soon-to-be enthroned sovereign of the Great Ming. How could his words be nothing more than casual conversation?

Lan Yu’s heart trembled. He slowly shook his head. “No! Even now, there are people throughout the realm starving or freezing to death. But...”

Zhu Yuntong raised a hand and cut him off before he could continue.

“If even the people of the Great Ming cannot eat their fill or dress warmly, how can we speak of the realm as a whole?”

After a brief pause, a look of emotion crossed Zhu Yuntong’s face.

“Uncle, how vast do you think the realm is? And how many foreign peoples live beyond our own?”

“I do not know. I have spent my whole life at war and crossed the northern steppes from end to end, yet I still do not know how large the world truly is.” Lan Yu shook his head.

After drawing a deep breath, he continued, “As for the foreign peoples of the realm, I estimate there must be at least several hundred, perhaps even a thousand. But what does that have to do with our Great Ming?”

“Heh.”

Zhu Yuntong gave a soft laugh and suddenly rose to his feet.

He slowly walked to the window on the fourth floor and gazed out with a sigh.

“Uncle, the realm is vast—far vaster than you can imagine. And the foreign peoples are even more numerous than you can imagine. Every one of them watches our land of Huaxia like a starving wolf.

“Even if you have driven the Northern Yuan from the northern steppes, how long can you guarantee peace for the Great Ming?

“To the north, besides the Mongols, there are the Tatars, the Oirats, and even the Jurchens. If they are given the chance to grow, there is no guarantee that they will not become another great enemy of our Great Ming.”

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“So how could a mere thirty million taels possibly be enough? To deal with these foreign peoples and truly save the people of the realm, even three hundred million—or three billion—would not be enough. The Great Ming needs a great deal of silver. A great deal.”

“Only by wiping out all those foreign peoples and bringing the entire realm beneath the banner of the Great Ming can we truly fulfill the oath made by Imperial Grandfather and all of you when you first rose in rebellion.”

“So, Uncle, I have one question for you: Are you still fit to eat?”

...

Are you still fit to eat?

Lan Yu suddenly felt as though every drop of blood in his body had been set ablaze. His spirit surged, and in an instant he rose from the Myriad-Year Cold Jade Bed, his face alight with excitement.

“Yes! I am barely past fifty. If you need me, Yuntong, I can still take the field and slay the enemy even in my seventies.”

“Hahaha! As expected of my uncle! As expected of the future Grand Marshal of the Great Ming! As expected of one of the great war gods of our dynasty!”

“If Uncle possesses such ambition, then the Great Ming will surely one day bring the entire realm beneath its banner. All under Heaven will speak the Han language, wear Han garments, and study Han rites. From this day forth, no foreign people will dare cast covetous eyes upon the territory of our Great Ming.”

Zhu Yuntong suddenly burst into loud laughter, praising Lan Yu three times over with the words “As expected of you.”

Lan Yu was stunned at first, but then an intense delight spread across his face.

Grand Marshal!

Grand Marshal of Military Affairs!

“Yuntong...”

“Uncle, I imagine you came to the palace today chiefly because of the reforms to the Five Military Commandery Commission that I proposed the day before yesterday, did you not?”

Once again, Zhu Yuntong interrupted him and stated his purpose plainly.

At those words, a trace of shame appeared on Lan Yu’s face, and he lowered his head.

“Yuntong! I... I meant nothing else by it. Whatever decision you make, I will support you without condition. It is only that you know the Five Military Commandery Commission is not...”

“Uncle, I know. But if the army is not reformed, how much capacity for further foreign conquest do you think the Great Ming still possesses?”

Zhu Yuntong posed the question directly.

Lan Yu pondered for a moment, then shook his head. “None. The war with the Northern Yuan has nearly exhausted all of the Great Ming’s capacity for expansion. Even after all these years of fighting the Northern Yuan, I have often felt that our strength was insufficient. As for continuing to expand beyond our borders, that would be even more impossible.”

“Exactly. The Great Ming is still capable of defending itself, but expansion is utterly out of the question.”

Zhu Yuntong nodded with absolute certainty. Then he narrowed his eyes.

“That is why the army must be reformed. Anyone who dares obstruct my reforms will be sent below to keep Imperial Grandfather company.”

“Alas...!”

Lan Yu let out a long sigh.

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His eyes remained fixed upon Zhu Yuntong’s not particularly imposing back, yet he seemed to see the shadow of Zhu Yuanzhang within him.

“Uncle, once the cabinet is established, the Ministry of War will have a seat. You may discuss among yourselves who should assume the position of Grand Secretary. As for military reform, do not bring it up again. We are bound by blood. I do not wish to... nor am I willing to. Do you understand?”

Zhu Yuntong left him with those words. By the time Lan Yu recovered from his shock, Zhu Yuntong had already departed the private room.

“Duke of Liang, His Highness says that you may spend freely on the fourth floor. The other nobles happen to be on the third floor as well. If you wish to discuss matters with them, I can have someone bring them up,” Shen Fei said with a light smile.

Lan Yu replied, “Then I shall trouble you, Manager Shen. Have them all brought up.”

Third floor.

Ma Sanbao strode ahead and pushed open the door of a private room.

Zhu Yuntong stepped inside.

The moment he entered, a figure rushed toward him. Then Li Jinglong’s boastful voice rang in his ears.

“Hahaha! Yuntong, how was my performance just now? Do you think I can win that award you mentioned?”

With some distaste, Zhu Yuntong pushed Li Jinglong away and laughed as well.

“Cousin, if you keep this up, I really will have Ji Gang give you a proper workout next time.”

“You...” Li Jinglong clutched his chest and pretended to look deeply wounded. “Yuntong, you have truly broken my heart. Whatever else you say, I helped you earn an extra five million taels just now.

“And instead of thanking me, you treat me like this...”

“Enough. Stop acting in front of me. You will receive your share, down to the last penny.” Zhu Yuntong curled his lip disdainfully.

“Hehe! That is good to hear.” Li Jinglong immediately broke into a grin. “Now I will finally have enough money to buy Ya’er’s freedom.”

...