For Zhu Sanshun’s worries, Zhu Jinsong almost burst out laughing at the idiocy of the man. Did Zeng Cheng’s shrewd magnates, who were sharper than monkeys with just a puff of wind, really fear that Zhu Erdan and Zhu Sanshun’s enfeoffed kingdoms would become too powerful and affect the safety of the Great Ming mainland?
Shaking his head with a smile, Zhu Jinsong took a sip of his wine and then looked at Zhu Sanshun. "Third brother, I always thought you were somewhat educated. Surely your brain should be a bit better than your second brother's, but…"
Zhu Jinsong put down his wine cup and sighed, "But I never expected your brain to be about the same as your second brother's!"
Hearing Zhu Jinsong say this, Zhu Erdan immediately grumbled in dissatisfaction, "If you're talking about him, talk about him. Why drag me into it? Yes, I admit my brain isn't the sharpest, but precisely because my brain isn't the sharpest, I don't overthink things like that third brother of mine."
Zhu Jinsong nodded with a smile and then looked back at Zhu Sanshun. "Tell me, Third Brother, do you think your abilities in governing the country, the military, and the people are so strong that you can completely unify the continent of Yin Di An and thus threaten the safety of the Great Ming? Or do you think the policy of bestowing favor is ineffective for you? Or perhaps, dare you, Third Brother, to raise the banner of rebellion while I am still alive and reject the policy of bestowing favor?"
Zhu Sanshun's face instantly turned crimson, and he stammered, "I, I'm just planning ahead."
Zhu Jinsong reprimanded him without politeness, "Plan ahead for what nonsense! You're just stupid!"
After scolding Zhu Sanshun, Zhu Jinsong then snorted coldly, "It's better within the Great Ming, as I, your brother, will protect you. But after you go to your enfeoffed kingdom, you must use your brain more. Governing the country, the military, and the people is much more difficult than you imagine."
Seeing Zhu Erdan sneaking a laugh in the corner, Zhu Jinsong immediately glared at Zhu Erdan. "What? I didn't say anything about you, and you think you're in the clear?"
Zhu Erdan immediately cried out with a wronged look, "There's really nothing to do with me. Anyway, my brain isn't very good, so I'll just listen to you, my elder brother, and follow your arrangements. Oh, right, get me a smart prime minister."
Zhu Jinsong was so speechless with anger at Zhu Erdan's blatant shirking of responsibility that it took him a long while to continue. "The continent of Yin Di An, where Sha Ying is located, does not border the countries of Europe, only being closer to the Nurgan region."
"The reason I sent you and your second brother to Yin Di An is because I want to bring Yin Di An under the control of our Central Plains faction. Even if the Great Ming falls again one day, at least we will have opened up a continent for our descendants."
"Or, perhaps, my ambition goes far beyond that."
As he spoke, Zhu Jinsong's expression became solemn. "The Central Plains have civilizations that have lasted for thousands or tens of thousands of years, but there has never been a dynasty that has lasted for a thousand years. Historically, the Zhou Dynasty, which lasted for eight hundred years, was the longest-ruling dynasty in the Central Plains. I don't expect the Great Ming to rule longer than the Zhou Dynasty."
"What I hope for now is that even if the entire little broken ball is plunged into war one day, it will be a war among our own Central Plains people, rather than an invasion by barbarians like the Jian Yi."
"Therefore, I am telling you and your second brother to conquer the entire continent of Yin Di An. Even if your descendants are more capable than mine one day and seize the throne of the Great Ming, I will accept it!"
Was Zhu Jinsong's ambition great?
From the perspective of a Great Ming Prince and a leader of the Five Army Commanderies, Zhu Jinsong's ambition did not seem very great. After all, the Great Ming's strength was there. As long as his imperial brother was willing, the Great Ming's army had the power to sweep across the entire little broken ball.
For example, Jiaozhi, Burma, Siam, and Joseon had all become provinces of the Great Ming.
For another example, India, although not small in area, and the British East India Company earned substantial profits from India every year, it now belonged to the Great Ming because the Great Ming desired India's laborers. The British East India Company had even become a labor dispatch company.
From this perspective, who would dare say that Zhu Jinsong's ambition was too great?
Disagree?
Then fight!
However, from a more rational perspective, one would understand the extent of Zhu Jinsong's ambition.
Although the Great Ming's strength was unparalleled in the entire little broken ball, the distance between other countries and the Great Ming was not like Jiaozhi, Burma, or even Japan and India, which were either close to the Great Ming or bordered it.
Take England, for example, one of the five benevolent nations of the little broken ball.
England was not very large in area, and its military strength was not considered particularly strong in the eyes of Zhu Erdan and Zhu Sanshun. However, the distance between England and the Great Ming could truly be described as the ends of the earth!
If the Great Ming was determined to destroy England, it would first have to prepare an army of no less than one hundred thousand soldiers and corresponding military equipment. Then, it would have to prepare ships capable of transporting these troops and equipment. After that, it would cross the South China Sea, cross the Atlantic Ocean, go around the Western Kunlun Mountains, and only then would it reach England and engage in battle.
Setting aside the risks and dangers involved, how to manage such a distant territory was not even considered. The mere preparation of troops, equipment, logistics, and warships would be enough to cause problems for the Great Ming's treasury. Liu Huaiwen, the stingy Minister of Revenue, would definitely jump up and curse!
A greater problem, however, was the severe lack of population in the Great Ming itself. After conquering new territory, wouldn't it be necessary to migrate people there? The problem was that the Great Ming was already sparsely populated. After two years, when India was completely taken over, the Great Ming would be even more vast and even more sparsely populated.
Therefore, sending troops to engage in battle was not a problem, and eliminating a disobedient country was also not a problem. The only fatal issue was the lack of sufficient population.
This was similar to the migration of retired soldiers to Louisiana this time.
If the population of the Great Ming was sufficient and the population density was high, Zhu Jinsong would not have only migrated one hundred thousand retired soldiers. He would have also migrated tens of thousands of ordinary people, directly using practical actions to puncture the lungs of that despicable eagle.
But the population of the Great Ming was not enough, was it?
Precisely because the population of the Great Ming was insufficient, Zhu Jinsong could only migrate one hundred thousand retired soldiers, allowing these one hundred thousand retired soldiers to serve as both soldiers and citizens.
Therefore, from a rational perspective, Zhu Jinsong's ambition was indeed boundless, even to the point of being a fantasy.
However, Zhu Erdan and Zhu Sanshun had to admit that they were truly moved by the vision Zhu Jinsong painted.
It didn't matter if the Great Ming perished in the future, as no one would live long enough to see it. But to turn the entire world's conflict into a war within the Great Ming itself…
Zhu Sanshun's hands trembled with excitement!
"Therefore, I am telling you and your second brother to conquer the entire continent of Yin Di An. Even if your descendants are more capable than mine one day and seize the throne of the Great Ming, I will accept it!"
For Zhu Sanshun’s worries, Zhu Jinsong almost burst out laughing at the idiocy of the man. Did Zeng Cheng’s shrewd magnates, who were sharper than monkeys with just a puff of wind, really fear that Zhu Erdan and Zhu Sanshun’s enfeoffed kingdoms would become too powerful and affect the safety of the Great Ming mainland?
Shaking his head with a smile, Zhu Jinsong took a sip of his wine and then looked at Zhu Sanshun. "Third brother, I always thought you were somewhat educated. Surely your brain should be a bit better than your second brother's, but…"
Zhu Jinsong put down his wine cup and sighed, "But I never expected your brain to be about the same as your second brother's!"
Hearing Zhu Jinsong say this, Zhu Erdan immediately grumbled in dissatisfaction, "If you're talking about him, talk about him. Why drag me into it? Yes, I admit my brain isn't the sharpest, but precisely because my brain isn't the sharpest, I don't overthink things like that third brother of mine."
Zhu Jinsong nodded with a smile and then looked back at Zhu Sanshun. "Tell me, Third Brother, do you think your abilities in governing the country, the military, and the people are so strong that you can completely unify the continent of Yin Di An and thus threaten the safety of the Great Ming? Or do you think the policy of bestowing favor is ineffective for you? Or perhaps, dare you, Third Brother, to raise the banner of rebellion while I am still alive and reject the policy of bestowing favor?"
Zhu Sanshun's face instantly turned crimson, and he stammered, "I, I'm just planning ahead."
After scolding Zhu Sanshun, Zhu Jinsong then snorted coldly, "It's better within the Great Ming, as I, your brother, will protect you. But after you go to your enfeoffed kingdom, you must use your brain more. Governing the country, the military, and the people is much more difficult than you imagine."
Seeing Zhu Erdan sneaking a laugh in the corner, Zhu Jinsong immediately glared at Zhu Erdan. "What? I didn't say anything about you, and you think you're in the clear?"
Zhu Erdan immediately cried out with a wronged look, "There's really nothing to do with me. Anyway, my brain isn't very good, so I'll just listen to you, my elder brother, and follow your arrangements. Oh, right, get me a smart prime minister."
Zhu Jinsong was so speechless with anger at Zhu Erdan's blatant shirking of responsibility that it took him a long while to continue. "The continent of Yin Di An, where Sha Ying is located, does not border the countries of Europe, only being closer to the Nurgan region."
"The reason I sent you and your second brother to Yin Di An is because I want to bring Yin Di An under the control of our Central Plains faction. Even if the Great Ming falls again one day, at least we will have opened up a continent for our descendants."
"Or, perhaps, my ambition goes far beyond that."