Zhu Di listened to Rosen's narration, his emotions very complex.
He could tell that Rosen's words came from the heart.
"Great kindness leads to great enmity… Haha…" Zhu Di's laughter was somewhat desolate: "Why did you give me ten million taels back then? If you had only given me one million taels, I wouldn't have been so wary of you."
"Because I knew you wanted to launch a Northern Expedition. After your success in the Jingnan Campaign, you would be unable to launch a Northern Expedition in the short term due to lack of money. So I wanted to support you, to make you a Great Admiral who conquers the North, to let you achieve your goal of watering your horses in the Han Sea and sealing the Wolf Residence Mountain earlier. However, when you attacked Yingtian Prefecture, I also realized that I had given you too much. So for twenty years, I have been reflecting on myself: too much is as bad as too little, and great kindness leads to great enmity."
That night, Rosen and Zhu Di spoke many heartfelt words.
"If you ever take control of the Central Plains in the future, please preserve a lineage for my Zhu Family."
"I will not actively kill your Zhu Family members. This is the last bit of friendship between us," Rosen said.
On the horizon of the Grasslands, a rising sun appeared. The fiery red morning sun dazzled both Rosen and Zhu Di.
Zhu Di slowly lowered his head and never managed to raise it again.
Leaving the Grasslands, they returned to Kaiyuan County.
As soon as he returned home, Luo Mingyue emerged.
"Father, you went on a long trip without telling me. There are so many things happening in Kaiyuan County now, and you still have the leisure to go see old friends." Luo Mingyue immediately came out with an aggressive Aura.
"A small Kaiyuan County, where do so many things come from?"
"Father, we don't have enough meat."
"How can it not be enough? Didn't we open ten pig farms? Is that not enough to provide meat?"
"Our goods have begun to impact the commerce of nearby cities, causing many people to lose their livelihoods. I had people bring these people to Kaiyuan County to make a living. Now the population of Kaiyuan County has reached 200,000."
"Organize a team of four thousand people, two thousand assault troops, and two thousand logistics soldiers, to raid the Grasslands. Seize all their people, cattle, sheep, and horses. Oh, and bring the armed helicopters too. They're very effective for intimidation."
Kaiyuan County is just over a thousand kilometers from the Grasslands, and there are no major passes along the way. However, they need to pass through many forests along the way and cannot use direct routes.
"How much can four thousand people seize?"
"Didn't I say? We need their people too. Let the Grassland people be responsible for herding the cattle, sheep, and horses."
"Why don't we just take Taiyuan?"
"It's not suitable to expose ourselves yet. What we need is a complete Central Plains, not a fragmented Divine Land."
"No, what I mean is, disguise it as an attack by the Northern Yuan. As long as Taiyuan City is controlled, then Kaiyuan County and the Grasslands can be connected by a line, and it will be much more convenient for us to transport meat then."
"No, the Central Plains and the Grasslands are ancient enemies. Once Taiyuan falls, the Great Ming Dynasty will definitely send its entire national force to conquer it. We are not ready yet to go to war with the Great Ming Dynasty. It will be very tragic."
Their plan was to expel the Confucianists and establish a new Dynasty, so they needed enough time to cultivate talents.
"Moreover, the current Great Ming Dynasty is in its most resolute period. Even if Zhu Di passes away, the Great Ming Dynasty will still be the most powerful country in this World. Going to war directly with the Great Ming Dynasty at this time will result in mutual destruction, and our plan will be delayed."
"When will we launch it then?"
"Once we get enough meat from the Grasslands this time, we will control Kaifeng and the surrounding areas. The surrounding areas have at least a million people, which is enough for us to digest for several years. As for when to launch it, we need to cultivate at least ten thousand students, so they can replace the Confucian scholars and occupy most positions," Rosen said.
"Is that enough?"
"Of course not. We also need to control more than 20% of commercial activities to ensure that we are not helpless when the Confucianists retaliate."
Confucianists were able to control the Dynasty's power structure for a long time largely because they themselves represented the gentry class. And once the Emperor tried to weaken the Confucianists' power, the gentry class would control commodity prices, such as the prices of rice, salt, and iron.
Even someone as powerful as Zhu Yuanzhang had to compromise with the Confucianists and re-enfeoff the Kong Family as the Duke Yansheng.
This was the Confucianists' consistently effective Sharp Weapon. If their Luo Family were to seize the World in the future, but the prices of rice, salt, and iron were still controlled by the Confucianist gentry class, then their Luo Family would repeat the same mistake and have to compromise with the Confucianists.
Therefore, to break free from the Confucianists' constraints, three conditions must be met.
First, there must be sufficient talent reserves, which is the basis for replacing the scholars.
Second, they must be able to stably supply rice, salt, and iron. As long as the prices of these three remain stable, the Confucianists and the gentry class will not be able to threaten the new Dynasty.
Third, and most importantly, absolute military power must be controlled.
When the Confucianists discover that conventional means cannot fulfill their wishes, they will inevitably incite the common people to overthrow the rule of the current power holders, so military force is the prerequisite for everything.
Furthermore, Rosen was also preparing for a bloody purge of the Confucianists and the gentry class, and he looked forward to this happening.
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