Chapter Twenty-Six: A Rule

This essay question essentially boils down to asking the students: Should one choose to cease hostilities and focus on recuperation and development, or continue to confront the enemy head-on until they are utterly defeated? If one opts for peace, what happens if the currently weak enemy grows stronger in the future? If one chooses relentless warfare, then the people at home will never truly enjoy rest and prosperity.

In the understanding of the ancients, to develop the people's livelihood, one must stop waging wars; if one desires war, then recuperation and development become a false proposition. War and recuperation are fundamentally contradictory, incapable of coexisting.

Take, for instance, the Western Han. At first, Liu Bang hoped to resolve the Xiongnu threat while the Han dynasty was newly founded and its military was at its peak, but the reality was that he himself was besieged for seven days and nights at Baideng Mountain. Afterwards, Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang and his successors refrained from confronting the Xiongnu; they even executed officials who advocated military action against them and steadfastly adopted policies of peace and recuperation. When faced with Xiongnu incursions, the Western Han either defended passively or sent princesses for political marriages, trading women's happiness for national stability.

It was only when Emperor Wu, Liu Che, ascended the throne that the Han retaliated against the Xiongnu.

Similarly, when Li Shimin first assumed the throne, he endured several years of humiliation in the face of the formidable Turks, quietly focusing on development. Only after accumulating wealth did he reveal his fangs, crushing the Turks.

Though the current Ming situation is not identical to those of the Han or Tang, it bears similarities.

The Ming dynasty is only a little over twenty years old; internally, it is still rebuilding from chaos. Though repeated wars have nearly eradicated the remnants of the Yuan in the north, border raids persist.

Historically, after the twenty-fourth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang chose war, especially after the death of Zhu Biao and the massacre of the last capable generals led by Lan Yu. Even then, he did not cease his northern campaigns.

Later, Zhu Di ascended the throne. To resolve the northern threat, despite a lack of capable officials, he resolutely led five campaigns north himself against the Oirat and Tatar tribes. Though victorious, the cost was steep: from the beginning of Hongwu to the end of Yongle, internal unrest and peasant uprisings were constant due to various issues. It was only when Zhu Gaochi succeeded and halted the large-scale military campaigns of the Yongle era that the celebrated "Reign of Benevolence and Enlightenment" was ushered in.

...

Zhu Yang held his pen, gazing at the essay question before him. Unlike most students, he did not make a simple choice.

To the ancients, war and recuperation were opposing forces, but to him, they were not.

For the examples from later ages proved that war could indeed bring wealth—when the cannons roar, gold flows.

The northern nomads have cattle and sheep; the southern tropical nations have grain; overseas, there are endless mountains of gold and silver. All these could foster domestic development. Why limit oneself to internal affairs? If one casts one's gaze across the world, not only can Ming win its wars, but its people can prosper, perhaps even surpassing any era that came before.

Zhu Yang bent over his paper, writing swiftly, painting Ming as a gluttonous beast, ready to open its bloody maw to devour the world.

...

Not far from the examination hall, Chief Examiner Liu Sanwu and the ministers of the Six Boards were seated, brows furrowed as they regarded the essay question.

This time, the exam topic had been set personally by Zhu Yuanzhang, and only now did they see it, along with the candidates.

"His Majesty is truly muddle-headed. Why would he pose such a question?" Minister of Revenue Zhao Mian whispered to his colleagues.

The debate between continuing warfare and focusing on recuperation had already been ongoing at court, and since Lan Yu annihilated the Mongol Yuan court led by Toghus Temur in the Battle of Lake Buir in the twenty-first year of Hongwu, calls to halt hostilities and focus on domestic development had grown ever louder.

...

They felt that the current Ming was already enough; any further warfare would only exhaust the people and resources—a case of reckless militarism.

Now, presenting this essay question made it clear that Zhu Yuanzhang still harbored thoughts of war.

"Alas, it seems His Majesty has never truly heeded our advice!" Minister of War Shen Jin echoed.

"We must redouble our efforts!" Shen Jin sighed. Though he was Minister of War, he disliked military men and had little affection for warfare.

Seated at the head, Liu Sanwu, who had been resting with eyes closed, suddenly opened them and looked toward the students, saying, "In that case, let us set a rule: those who advocate for military action shall not be given priority in ranking!"

"Agreed!"

"It should be so!"

"Indeed!"

All nodded in agreement, except for Minister of Justice Yang Jing and the sycophantic Zhan Hui, who liked to guess at imperial intentions.