Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Climbing to the summit calmly

Although it is the first time to become a great treasure, Zhu Di is calm and unhurried.He is like a skilled driver, sitting on a high seat, skillfully manipulating the reins and whip in his hand.The rein is profit, the whip is violence.The king of Yan has long been known for his kindness and meritorious deeds.After becoming Emperor Yongle, this tradition was carried forward even more. Zhu Di rewarded the meritorious officials, and the generosity was astounding.Those who were originally the chiefs of the royal family, the lowly officers, have now become the upstarts of the empire, conferred dukes and marquises, and risen to the top of the noble class.Zhu Neng, the original guard of Qianhu, was granted the title of Duke of Cheng, and Zhang Yu, a minor commander, was posthumously titled Duke of Rong.There are more than ten people who conferred the title of Marquis and Boss, and the descendants of these people also enjoy privileges.

The imperial court originally stipulated that the descendants of meritorious officials must pass the examination of martial arts.The emperor issued an edict full of emotion: "I saw the sons and daughters of the heroes who took the exam, and I didn't feel sad. At the beginning of the righteousness, their father and brother endured hunger and cold, fought hard, and unfortunately died for the country. Looking at them today The children are all immature and weak, and they may not be familiar with martial arts. If their salary is cut off because of this, how can they survive! You can let them take up their jobs first, and then take the exam when they grow up."

This kind of very humane approach has effectively deepened his relationship with the upstart he cultivated.Zhu Di knew that this was an important basis for his rule. Zhu Di's repayment of kindness is not limited to those who are in need.He will never forget the humble generation. He made a special decree to praise ordinary people who have contributed to the war.The women who assisted the Yan army to defend the city in Beiping, Baoding and other places, some transported bricks and stones, and some transported water to pour the city, played a great role in the process of defending the city, and Zhu Di gave rewards in different levels.For example, "Women transporting bricks and stones in Baoding, each rewarded with one hundred banknotes, one bolt of silk, and three catties of cotton."Zhu Di never forgets even a small boatman.When crossing the river, Zhou Xiaoer was the boatman who sailed the boat for him, and he only served him for less than an hour. For ingots, you have to pay for three years."

Zhu Di is well aware that his dramatic approach has a propaganda effect.They will quickly spread to every street and alley of the empire in the form of anecdotes and anecdotes, and establish the image of the emperor's loyalty that "a drop of water will surely be repaid by the spring".The general public must know that allegiance to the emperor will inevitably bring benefits. This is an unshakable principle, and it is related to the stability of a monarch's rule. For those Jianwen survivors who surrendered to him, he also showed a very magnanimous demeanor, and never blamed the past.Zhu Di is very clear about the principle of "eat what you want and do what you want".In order to appease his subjects, he ordered that more than a thousand memorials collected in Emperor Jianwen's Palace be burned, to show that they would never be held accountable for opposing him.This move made people very moved.Most of Jianwen's survivors quickly changed their positions and became Emperor Yongle's most powerful ministers.

The emperor used all means to convey the important message that "as long as you stand on my side, you will have a bright future."The criterion for a politician to judge a person is not his moral quality, but his position.To those who are firmly on his side, he is as warm as the sun; to those who are firmly against him, he is more ferocious than a beast.