It was not uncommon for factions within the Central Plains' households to engage in internecine conflict. For instance, during the Zhou Dynasty, when the Son of Heaven lost control over his subordinates, the resulting chaos among them was quite the spectacle. The Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period essentially saw one power group after another taking the stage. Initially, there was a semblance of civility, but after a certain individual penned a treatise on warfare, the various participating households began to discard rules and sentiment.
Peace was finally achieved when Qin unified the six states, but Emperor Ying the Fat failed to choose his successor wisely, allowing the unscrupulous Liu Bang to establish the Han Dynasty in place of Qin. Even the Han Dynasty's reign was fraught with problems; not long after its founding, it faced the Rebellion of the Seven States. Had a certain unfortunate individual not been held under house arrest by his kingdom's minister, the Liu family might have experienced their own "Rebellion of the Eight Princes" centuries before the Sima clan.
Following the Han, the tumultuous period of the Three Kingdoms emerged, succeeded by the Jin Dynasty (both Western and Eastern), and then the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Essentially, if they disliked each other, they fought. One day you attack me, the next day I attack you. Eventually, they stopped bothering with pretexts altogether, brazenly declaring infamous maxims such as "How can one sleep soundly with a neighbor snoring at his side?"
The Ming Dynasty, even more so, witnessed a series of familial betrayals, starting with the foolish Zhu Yunwen provoking Zhu Di. Later, Zhu Zhanji barbecued Zhu Huang, the Prince of Han, and then Zhu Houzhao intended to personally lead an expedition against Zhu Chenhao, the Prince of Ning.
However, it must be said that while the Central Plains' households had a history of infighting, with the exception of the Liu and Zhu families whose conflicts arose shortly after their dynasties' founding, most others only began to fight after a century or two.
The Silly Eagle, on the other hand, had barely been established for how many years? It likely hadn't even fully shaken off the influence of England, yet the Southern Eagles and Northern Eagles were already clashing over Kunlun slaves.
What was even more absurd was that this conflict between the Southern and Northern Eagles had exceeded the expectations of the Ming Emperor, the Ming Cabinet, the Grand Secretariat of Military Affairs, and a host of other powerful figures!
Emperor Zhu and dignitaries such as Zeng Cheng and Liu Hemming had unanimously agreed that the Silly Eagle family would not initiate conflict easily. Even if they did, it would likely be directed outwards. To the north lay the Maple Leaf Country, colonized by England; to the south, a myriad of small, disorganized nations; and to the west, Louisiana, the fiefdom of Prince Qin, Zhu Erdan. The Silly Eagle's environment was essentially surrounded on three sides by enemies.
And the remaining side?
The remaining side was the ocean!
Under such circumstances, the Silly Eagle's best option should have been to expand southward. They couldn't defeat Zhu Erdan to the west, nor Canada to the north. Their only remaining path was to head south and contend with those disorganized small nations.
After all, the strength of those small nations did not match that of the Silly Eagle. Even the European nations that colonized those small countries were hardly great powers. They were essentially the Silly Eagle's easiest targets.
But who could have possibly imagined that the Silly Eagle would actually fight amongst themselves!
The reason for their conflict was even more laughably extreme: the Northern Eagles believed that the lives of Kunlun slaves were also lives, while the Southern Eagles believed that the best fate for Kunlun slaves was the cotton fields, perhaps with a few pieces of watermelon as a reward.
And then, they fought.
First, there was the abolitionist movement ignited by John Brown.
This white farmer, John Brown, influenced by his father from a young age, had always advocated for the Kunlun slaves in the South.
This was the premise, because regardless of John Brown's efforts, abolition was not mainstream in the Silly Eagle. Even the Northern Eagles, who leaned towards abolishing the system of Kunlun slavery, lacked a complete theoretical framework, merely wishing to promote the matter from the perspective of industrial development.
This continued until John Brown came across an article titled "The Lives of Kunlun Slaves Are Also Lives" in some Ming newspapers.
With the Ming newspapers providing theoretical backing, John Brown went directly to the South, personally visited numerous plantations, and discussed survival and freedom with a large number of Kunlun slaves.
Then, John Brown, leading a group of Kunlun slaves willing to follow him, revolted. As a white farmer, it was not difficult for John Brown to purchase a few Kunlun slaves from the Southern plantation owners, nor was it difficult to acquire a batch of flintlock firearms.
Having Kunlun slaves meant having soldiers, and having flintlock firearms meant having equipment. The consequence of having soldiers and equipment was that John Brown directly declared war on the Southern plantation owners.
...
Emperor Zhu tapped his fingers on the table, saying slowly, "The Silly Eagle has suddenly initiated conflict; our Great Ming cannot afford to stand idly by."
The problem lay in how to respond. Since the Silly Eagle was fighting amongst themselves, how should the Great Ming interfere? Should the Prince of Qin send troops to intervene?
Zeng Cheng, Liu Hemming, and the other dignitaries also wore expressions of consternation. Liu Huaiwen, with a frown, said, "Currently, the national treasury..."
Zhu Jinsong waved his hand, interrupting Liu Huaiwen, who was about to lament their financial state, "Whether the national treasury has money or not, let's not discuss that first. The crucial point is that these scoundrels, time and time again, are wantonly initiating conflict. Is this not a bit unreasonable?"
Liu Huaiwen was momentarily stunned and, after a while, finally understood. What did he mean by "whether the national treasury has money or not, let's not discuss that first"?
Just as Liu Huaiwen was about to retort, Shen Yongfu, the head of the Ministry of War, chuckled, stroked his beard, and said, "Your humble servant believes that the Silly Eagle fighting amongst themselves is also a good thing—no matter how they fight, they are not violating the principles of the 'Little Broken Pot,' are they?"
Emperor Zhu was also taken aback and asked, "Minister Shen's meaning is?"
Shen Yongfu said, "Your humble servant believes that we can let His Highness Prince Qin seize the opportunity to sell all the decommissioned firearms and artillery to the Southern Eagles, and let His Highness Prince Jin sell the decommissioned firearms and artillery to the Northern Eagles. The more fiercely they fight, the more firearms and artillery they will consume, and the more money Prince Qin and Prince Jin will earn. The national treasury..."
Liu Huaiwen's eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately bowed, saying, "This minister seconds the motion!"
Liu Hemming also bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister believes Minister Shen's words are reasonable."
Only Zeng Cheng glared at Shen Yongfu, Liu Huaiwen, and Liu Hemming, then frowned and said, "You are all thinking about selling firearms and artillery, but have you considered what impact these recurring troubles will have on the 'Little Broken Pot'?"
Liu Hemming blinked and replied, "What impact could there be? The core of the 'Little Broken Pot' is our Great Ming. Even if the other four great benevolent nations are ruined, the 'Little Broken Pot' will still be the 'Little Broken Pot,' and no one will dare to provoke our Great Ming."
Zeng Cheng let out a scoffing laugh and said, "That's what is said, but what about in reality? Will other countries think that the 'Little Broken Pot's' Five Benevolent Nations are a scattered mess? Who will take the 'Little Broken Pot' seriously in the future?"