Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

"Of course it's true."

Jiang Xinghuo faced the bearded man's question and said firmly: "It doesn't matter. If you think about the example I'm going to talk about, you will definitely understand why I said, 'Manufacturing power determines the manufacturing relationship, and the material foundation determines the top-level structure. ’ ”

"Mr. Jiang, please tell me in detail." Zhu Gaoxu also listened with interest and wanted to continue listening.

"Still following the timeline, we just mentioned that starting from the Zhou Dynasty, the form of the dynasty gradually changed from a slave dynasty to a feudal dynasty, and the inevitable result of the feudal system was the annexation war of the feudal lords."

"With the promotion of iron farm tools and cattle farming, well, that is to say, the manufacturing power has improved again, and fields that can produce a lot of wealth have begun to become the core interests of the princes."

"The princes with more fields can support more people, obtain more soldiers and tax bases, and then gain greater advantages in feudal annexation wars. With the King of Chu's ascension as the symbol, the feudal dynasty is moving towards unification. The transformation of the dynasty is in fact irreversibly underway."

"It is precisely because of the advancement of manufacturing power that the well-field system began to collapse. After Shang Yang's reform, the idea that 'the whole world is not the king's land' was legally denied. Taxation per mu made the land officially become exclusive property at the legal level. The Qin State comprehensively Transitioning to a 'farming war' system, manufacturing capacity once again determines the manufacturing relationship."

"At the same time, the material foundation also began to determine the top-level structure. After Qin unified the world, it abolished feudalism, established prefectures and counties, and established a central centralized system with the prime minister and the three ministers and nine ministers as the core."

"So that's it. Do you understand?"

Zhu Gaoxu suddenly realized.

"Because iron plows and oxen plowing replaced cooperative farming, manufacturing power improved, so the manufacturing relationship changed. The slaves who farmed the land for the emperor and the princes became farmers with a higher status. This time, they even had the materials to produce food and the right to distribute food. !”

"As more food was produced, the Qin Dynasty, which was based on farmers' 'farming wars', had to abolish feudalism and establish counties and counties, because farmers no longer belong to feudal princes!"

There was complete silence in the secret room.

Zhu Di was stunned for a moment and then asked.

"Master, you said that a silly boy like Lao Er can use these two principles to deduce the root cause of Da Qin's reform system after learning it. Isn't this the art of slaying dragons?"

Dao Yan's expression changed from disbelief to self-doubt.

Dao Yan shook his head and said firmly: "Jiang Xinghuo is still talking about 'current situation', not 'luck'."

"Is there any difference?" Zhu Di couldn't help asking.

"There is a difference. The 'current situation' can be grasped by mortals, while the 'luck' can be understood by true gods."

This is very mysterious.

However, Zhu Di already believed most of it.

This is not surprising, because Jiang Xinghuo's knowledge is so profound, and his words are so well-founded that it is difficult for people to disbelieve him.

Jiang Xinghuo's so-called "On National Destiny" is obviously inconsistent with the history Zhu Di is familiar with, but it points directly to the essential truth behind the fog of history. It is so intertwined that it even makes Zhu Di feel that Jiang Xinghuo is really standing in the long river of time. Overlooking the immortals with thousands of years of history!

"In the final analysis, I don't believe that there are real immortals in this world."

"And if the latter speculation comes true, does Your Majesty think we heard these words on our own initiative?"

Zhu Di's expression also became serious.

Zhu Di has read the folk stories. Immortals cannot take the initiative to reveal secrets to mortals, otherwise they will suffer divine punishment.

If Jiang Xinghuo was really a banished immortal, then in other words, did the other party know that he and Dao Yan were eavesdropping next door, so he deliberately revealed the dragon-slaying technique?

"Hiss~"

Zhu Di and Dao Yan looked at each other, and it was obvious that they thought of something together.

Jiang Xinghuo, who was on the other side of the wall, certainly didn't know that Zhu Di and Dao Yan had already started thinking crazy.

However, it is not an exaggeration to say that these two principles of human beings taught by Teacher Ma are dragon-slaying skills.

The bearded man seemed to be extra smart today, and he actually asked another question.

"Mr. Jiang, I believe it, but I suddenly have a question."

"Let's talk." Jiang Xinghuo encouraged students to ask questions actively.

Zhu Gaoxu asked in a deep voice: "According to what you said, 'Manufacturing power determines manufacturing relationships, and the material foundation determines the top-level structure.' If one day agricultural technology advances again, will it be time to change dynasties and the Ming Dynasty will perish? "

After hearing this, Zhu Di also thought deeply.

Zhu Di thought about it according to Zhu Gaoxu's thinking and felt that it was very possible.

Slash-and-burn farming turned into cooperative farming, which led to the demise of the Shang Dynasty of slavery, and the establishment of the feudal system, patriarchal system, and well-field system in the Zhou Dynasty.

Collaborative farming turned into farming with iron plows and oxen, which led to the demise of the feudal Zhou Dynasty, and the establishment of the prefecture and county system, central centralization system, and exclusive land ownership in the Qin Dynasty.

So once the Ming Dynasty's agricultural technology made breakthrough progress, would it be a good thing or a bad thing for the Ming Emperor?

After all, if more grain is produced per unit of farmland, Ming Dynasty will certainly be able to gain more tax base and population within a period of time, but there is an upper limit to the total amount of farmland.

As Jiang Xinghuo said, whether it was the Xia that turned from a tribe to a dynasty, the Zhou that turned from slavery to a feudal system, or the Qin that turned from a feudal system to a unified state, it was all due to advances in agricultural technology that increased food production and population explosion. increase, leading to the change of dynastic system.

"What you are considering makes perfect sense."

Jiang Xinghuo paused for a moment and said helplessly: "But have you ever considered that based on the lifespan of the Ming Dynasty, it may not be able to survive the next advancement in agricultural technology?"

What? !

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu froze on the spot.

"Mr. Jiang." He opened his mouth with difficulty, "Are you saying that the Ming Dynasty will fall before the next advancement of agricultural technology, so there is no need to consider the advancement of agricultural technology that will lead to the country's demise?"

Zhu Di, who had just had a hint of joy on his brow because his second son had awakened, instantly became gloomy.

Jiang Xinghuo actually said that the Ming Dynasty would perish if it could not survive the next advancement in agricultural technology?

If you say it in front of him, the emperor, isn't this a curse to his face?

Zhu Di looked back at the secret room where he and Dao Yan were alone, waved his sleeves in displeasure, and continued to listen.

"Indeed."

Jiang Xinghuo thought about his words and said: "Originally this was the content of the second class, but since you asked about it, I will continue to tell you. I still remember that I asked you before I talked about "The Theory of National Destiny" Two questions?”

"I remember."

Zhu Gaoxu repeated it.

"Why is it that at the beginning of a dynasty, the kings are always wise, and after two or three generations of emperors, they can often reach the peak of national power, but then there are several generations of kings who are ignorant and incompetent, and ultimately power is in the hands of relatives, eunuchs, harems, and powerful ministers until the country is destroyed?"

"Why is it that the phenomenon of 'the world must divide if it unites for a long time, and unite if it divides for a long time' repeats itself over and over in the land of China? Why do dynasties in the past generally have a lifespan of no more than three hundred years? Is it really the cycle of the five virtues that restrain each other as dynasties change from generation to generation?"

"Then I'll tell you the answer now."

"This is the second lesson of "On National Destiny" - what is the life span of a dynasty."

Zhu Di and Dao Yan looked at each other and sat upright in unison.

If what Dao Yan said is true, and Jiang Xinghuo can really speak out accurately about 'luck', then the probability of Jiang Xinghuo's identity as an immortal will be greatly increased!