Chapter 82: To Fight or Not to War?

He Xi said: "The country's top priority is the remnant yuan, although Java is strong, but it is far away in the sky, and it will not be angry and prosperous." It's the same now, we can't challenge the Nanyang hegemon because of this one thing, and we are not ready in all aspects. If the troops are dispatched now, it is likely that the troops will be defeated in the southeast, and the imperial court will be damaged in vain. Therefore, Erchen felt that in this matter, he should not be hasty and patient. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Don't you do anything?" ”

He Xi said: "Naturally not, we should send envoys to announce the South Seas, tell them the intention of the imperial court, and also buy time for the imperial court. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang was expressionless and said, "Who is the country?" ”

He Xi was stunned for a moment, and suddenly didn't know how to answer Zhu Yuanzhang's question. This is a clear thing, the country is the country, where is the country who is it? Is the country still a one-man one?

When He Xi thought of this, his heart suddenly burst and said, "The country is Your Majesty." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said, "I don't dare to be greedy for the merits of heaven for myself. In fact, you have already said that the state is an instrument of class rule by the ruling class. So who is the state? ”

He Xi said: "Is it the ruling class? ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Then in Daming, who is the country? ”

He Xi said: "The nobles and the gentry, as well as Your Majesty and the princes? ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Haven't you thought about yourself? ”

He Xi said: "Me? ”

Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Aren't you a country?" ”

He Xi suddenly broke out in a cold sweat and said, "The minister doesn't dare to have such a greedy heart. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said, "This is where I am disappointed in you." Have you only thought about the so-called country, haven't you thought about what kind of situation you will have? ”

He Xi said: "Myself? ”

"Yes." Zhu Yuanzhang said: "You led the expedition, and you also participated in bringing Xungui to the sea. But now, after you avoid Majapahit, what kind of changes will there be in the attitude towards the ships of the Ming Dynasty in the South Seas? Can those nobles make money? Will your set of policies continue to work? ”

He Xi broke out in a cold sweat for a while.

He never imagined that this incident would have such serious consequences.

Zhu Yuanzhang still said slowly: "Sometimes, I can't go against the minds of the ministers, since you messed up this matter, you will naturally have to bear the consequences, although I have protection, sitting on the cold bench for several years, it is inevitable." ”

"Now tell me, what do you think is in the South Seas, to fight or not to fight? With the Majapahit, to ask or not to please? ”

He Xi's expression was a little dazed, he didn't expect to encounter such a problem today, how to choose when his own interests conflicted with the interests of the country.

He Xi was silent for a while and said; "The minister thinks that the overall situation should be the priority, and Nanyang should not move troops rashly, and if it moves, I am afraid that there will be a big defeat."

Zhu Yuanzhang was still expressionless. said: "The big picture, what kind of big picture?" ”

He Xi said: "Naturally, it is the Northern Expedition to Mengyuan, sealing the wolf Juxu, and destroying the overall situation of this dynasty food?" ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Have you ever thought about whether this matter is really important? ”

He Xi was almost confused, and said, "Isn't this matter the strategy of the imperial court all along?" How is it not important ? ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "This is what I decided, and I can change it." ”

He Xi didn't know how to face Zhu Yuanzhang for a while. From Jiangnan to Liaodong, from northwest to southeast, I don't know how many people are fighting for this goal, but this grand goal is a fluttering sentence in Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth, which can be changed?

He Xi had an incomparable sense of absurdity, and he felt that the world seemed unreal.

"Have you only thought about you, have you ever thought about the nobles who you have guided you to the sea? For example, Lu Zhongheng, he borrowed an unknown amount of money and threw it at sea, and it was just a matter of making money. If you don't make money, but lose money, Lu Zhongheng is estimated to even have to lose his pants, and this embryo, I know best, he is the first to meddle at sea for money, and he will not hesitate to kill people for money. It can be said that it was decided not to fight Java. Lu Zhongheng's life has already counted down. I won't let him break my law. ”

"Something like this won't be alone. Most likely a group of people. ”

"A purge is about to begin. Are you ready? ”

He Xi's nerves were very tense, although he felt that there were some problems with Zhu Yuanzhang's derivation, but he had to admit that this was a high probability event. Fang Guan's matter can't be hidden. The forces at sea have always bullied the weak and feared the hard. If the Ming Dynasty does not react, then these pirates will also despise the Ming merchant ships.

Of course, this kind of contempt will not go unprofitable.

If they can't make money, there should be a big intervention of the Hui merchants, in this case, the Ming merchants can only be suppliers, transshipment goods from land to sea. Although there are profits, more profits are snatched away by others.

Previous expectations were not met.

Many times if you don't meet your expectations, you lose money.

This will also lead to these nobles having to find compensation in the Ming Dynasty. How to make up for it, it is naturally an illegal means, and Zhu Yuanzhang's law is so strict, it is likely to collide, and Zhu Yuanzhang's suspicious mind is enough if he doesn't do it, and once he does it, he is likely to be unable to stop it.

It is likely that the Great Purge will have been earlier in history.

This is what He Xi never wants to see. This hurts the vitality of the country.

He Xi said: "Your Majesty, this matter must not be allowed. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Many things are not indispensable, and they are not even willing or unwilling. Rather, it has to be done. Do you understand now? What is the country? ”

He Xi didn't expect that Zhu Yuanzhang would turn this question out again. He was already in a mess at the moment, and he didn't know how to deal with it.

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said: "For Xiaomin, the country is the country. For us, the state is a place of national policy formulated by a group of people. And the order that occupies the imperial court is the decree of the state. It is also the most critical power of the state. It's also the power you have to fight for. ”

"Is this what disappointed me in you?"

"I want to reform, I want to change the law, and I don't want to fight for national power, but what?"

"Now I ask you again? For Java, to fight or not to fight, to attack or not to attack? ”

He Xi said: "But the attack may not have a chance of winning? ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly; "There is no need to have a chance of winning, all those who have a stake in the sea go. They are not good at war. If they win, Nanyang will be their home in the future, and if they lose, even if they don't die, the prestige since the founding of the country will be swept away, and it is not worth worrying about me. ”

He Xi was suppressed by Zhu Yuanzhang's cold calculations.

You must know that between these words, it is the lives of tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of sailors that are decided. When He Xi thought of this so many lives and deaths, it was as if a stone was pressed against his chest, and he was a little out of breath. He is not Zhu Yuanzhang after all.

It's impossible to look at so many people as numbers.

"Of course." Zhu Yuanzhang's tone was a little softened, and he said, "I still hope to win." And in whom is this hope of winning the war? I thought that in you, my old brothers were all good at the battlefield. But the national strategy. Combining vertical and horizontal, but it is not what they are good at. ”

"However, I have a choice for you. Are you involved in this battle or not? ”

He Xi was silent for a while and said, "The minister is ignorant and is willing to serve His Majesty in Nanyang." ”

Although He Xi knew that if he refused, the dangers of this time would have nothing to do with him. But he couldn't bear to see a big defeat, and tens of thousands of soldiers died in the belly of the fish. He also admits that if he doesn't get involved, he may not necessarily lose. But he is confident that when he gets involved, his chances of winning will increase a lot.

And these are related to his painstaking send, the matter of maritime trade. How he willingly stood by and watched.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Okay, since you have the heart to participate, go back and rest." Let's prepare well. The news was kept secret for long. Then it will be another storm. ”

He Xi's controversy here today is actually a rehearsal for the future.

After all, in the eyes of many people, the war in Java is just an extraneous branch, and the victory or defeat is unknown, and there should be no nameless fire and unprepared army. There will certainly be opposition in the DPRK and China.