Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

The army horn sounded, and the exercise officially began. The prince's army quickly formed its camp, and the powerful array of archers, cavalry, infantry, etc. showed the demeanor of a powerful dynasty.

Zhu Biao stood on the command platform, his eyes sharp, looking down at his army like a king.

"Prince's Army, advance! Main attack from the east, feint attack from the west, concentrate your forces to break through the enemy's center!" Zhu Biao issued the order, and his voice echoed throughout the camp like thunder.

The elite troops of the Prince's Army moved out quickly, with the sound of horse hooves and archers drawing their bows and drawing arrows, preparing for the upcoming battle.

Every movement was neat and clean, and the formation was in good order, fully demonstrating Zhu Biao's well-trained command ability.

However, halfway through the exercise, a sudden loud horn broke the silence.

Zhu Biao raised his head, frowned, and looked at the battlefield in the distance, and found that the left wing of the enemy's position began to loosen.

"Why hasn't the West Wing started action yet?" Zhu Biao asked in a low voice, frowning.

Zhu Bin, the deputy general beside him, quickly reported: "Your Highness, the general Zhang Zhong of the west wing is a little hesitant and seems unable to act according to the plan."

Zhu Biao's face darkened. "Order him to attack immediately. Don't delay any further!"

However, what Zhu Biao did not expect was that the hesitation in the West Wing had not ended.

Zhang Zhong and his troops seemed to be slow to move, and at this time, the enemy was taking this opportunity to quickly strengthen their defenses.

Zhu Biao's heart tightened. Such a delay made the entire battle situation dangerous. If the enemy used this time to replenish its forces, the advantage of the prince's army would be greatly reduced.

"Uncle!" Zhu Biao turned and looked at Zhu Han, who was as calm as ever, "The enemy seems to be trying to take advantage of our slow attack to turn the situation around. What should we do now?"

Zhu Han looked at the battlefield in the distance quietly, without any panic on his face. "Prince, there is no permanent advantage on the battlefield. You must learn to respond flexibly. Now is the time for you to show your decisiveness."

Zhu Biao was slightly stunned, then reacted, "Yes, we can't wait any longer. Order the west wing to immediately raid the enemy's left wing, and I will personally lead the attack in the center!"

"The west wing will attack the enemy's left wing!" Zhu Biao gave the order again. His voice was like a sharp sword, cutting through the silence of the battlefield.

Just as the western wing of the Prince's army suddenly launched an attack, Zhu Han's mouth corners slightly raised, his eyes full of confidence.

"Your Highness, there was a conflict between the third and fourth battalions on the west wing, and there was command confusion!" The deputy general came running over, his face full of anxiety.

Zhu Biao's expression changed, and he quickly turned to Zhu Han. "The command of the West Wing is in chaos. Did you...already expect this?"

Zhu Han nodded slightly, his eyes flashing with calmness, "There is never absolute stability on the battlefield. Mistakes are the norm. What really determines victory or defeat is how to find a way out of mistakes."

Zhu Biao frowned, his heart churning. Although his uncle had already warned him, he still found this sudden mistake unbelievable.

"Order the third battalion on the west wing to retreat immediately, integrate with the fourth battalion, and launch another attack." Zhu Biao made the decision without hesitation.

"Integrate the west wing and move forward!" Prince Biao ordered again.

Soon after, with the powerful attack of the Prince's army in the center, the enemy's defense line began to gradually collapse.

Although the chaos in the west wing once affected the entire battle situation, under Zhu Biao's quick and decisive command, the Prince's army successfully turned defeat into victory and broke the enemy's defense line.

"That's your decisiveness." Zhu Han said softly, his eyes full of admiration, "Prince, this exercise is enough to prove your ability."

Zhu Biao took a deep breath, exhaled longly, and looked at the dust gradually dissipating in the training ground.

"Thank you, uncle." Zhu Biao whispered, his eyes full of gratitude, "I know that all this is not accidental, it is you who has been guiding and supporting me behind the scenes."

Zhu Han smiled slightly and patted Zhu Biao's shoulder gently. "If you can understand this, you have already taken the first step to becoming an emperor. The next situation is the most critical."

"I understand." Zhu Biao nodded, his eyes firm, "We must not let our guard down in the next situation. I am ready, uncle."

"Very good." Zhu Han looked at him deeply, his eyes gleaming with confidence, "Then starting from tomorrow, let everyone in the court know that the prince is not just an heir in name only, but a commander who can truly lead the Ming Dynasty to glory."

As the sky grew darker, Zhu Biao's heart still could not completely calm down.

"Prince, it's late at night, why don't you rest yet?" Deputy General Li Zhong asked hesitantly while standing at the door.

Zhu Biao did not answer immediately, but looked out the window with a profound gaze.

"Li Zhong, what did the emperor's uncle say?" Zhu Biao finally turned his head and looked at Li Zhong sharply.

Li Zhong was slightly startled, then he understood what the prince meant: "Replying to the prince, the emperor's uncle Zhu Han said something very meaningful. He said, 'The key to this victory is not your performance in the exercise, but how you deal with the upcoming pressure.'"

"Pressure?" Zhu Biao murmured to himself and chuckled softly, "Indeed, the pressure in the court is much greater than that exercise."

"Yes, Prince." Li Zhong said carefully, "Every voice that supports you will become insignificant in the eyes of the emperor and other ministers. Especially Zhu Di's supporters, the pressure they exert behind the scenes is more deadly than any enemy."

Zhu Biao sighed deeply and looked out the window again. Although Zhu Biao and his nephew Zhu Han had successfully demonstrated the prince's decisiveness through the exercise, greater challenges were still waiting for him.

At this moment, the sound of footsteps outside the door broke the silence again. Zhu Biao turned around and saw Zhu Han slowly walking into the study. Unlike usual, Zhu Han's face looked particularly serious today.

"Uncle." Zhu Biao stood up and greeted him, with a hint of doubt in his eyes, "What happened?"

Zhu Han walked to the table and sat down quietly, his eyes showing no emotion, as if he could always remain absolutely calm at all times. "Biao'er, things are more complicated than you think."

Zhu Han said calmly, "Zhu Di's camp has begun to gradually strengthen their military forces, especially in the southeastern coastal areas. They are taking advantage of some hesitant ministers in the court to secretly accumulate strength."

"Have they made any moves?" Zhu Biao's heart tightened, but he calmed down immediately. "But we have taken precautionary measures, haven't we? The troops on the west wing have been deployed as planned."

“Not all risks can be addressed by simply deploying forces.”

Zhu Han said slowly, "What's more important is the people's hearts behind the scenes. Do you think Zhu Di's supporters only focus on military power? What they control behind the scenes is not only manpower and troops, but also those hidden forces in the court. They have begun to lobby father in various names, trying to weaken your power."

Zhu Biao suddenly felt a chill in his heart and frowned, "If they really have this idea, will the emperor listen to these remarks?"

Zhu Han looked at him calmly, with a complicated light in his eyes. "You can't underestimate your father's hesitation. There is not just one force operating in the court. There are multiple factions competing. Some ministers have even begun to wander between different camps for their own interests. If your father has doubts in his heart, he will listen to those people's misleading of you."

"Then what should we do?" Zhu Biao asked, with a hint of anxiety in his voice.

Zhu Han pondered for a moment, then said: "We must take a series of measures in the next few days to completely dismantle the foundation of Zhu Di's camp. What you have to do is not only to win in the exercise, but also to reshape your image in the court."

Zhu Biao nodded, and a sense of determination gradually emerged in his heart. "Uncle, I understand. We must make it clear to the ministers in the court that the prince is not a cowardly heir as they think, but an emperor who can make decisive decisions at critical moments."

Zhu Han's eyes became sharper. "That's right. You need to use your advantages, especially your performance in the exercise, to transform this power into actual political influence. You must demonstrate unshakable prestige in front of your father."

"But what if... what if father still stands on Zhu Di's side?" Zhu Biao hesitated, with anxiety in his eyes.

Zhu Han smiled slightly, his eyes full of deep meaning, "If the emperor is really like this, then we must learn to find new breakthroughs in the struggle for power. Although the emperor is an emperor, he also has weaknesses. What you need to do is to deeply understand the emperor's psychology, use this to gradually win over those forces that can truly support you."

Zhu Han looked at Zhu Biao with a hint of approval in his eyes. "Biao'er, remember, don't just look at the surface. Even your father has doubts deep in his heart. He may have begun to fear Zhu Di's strength. What you have to do is to let your father see that you are not only a son, but also a strong man who can support the future of the Ming Dynasty."

"I understand." Zhu Biao took a deep breath, his eyes firm, "I will start adjusting my strategy in the next few days."

Zhu Han nodded and slowly stood up. "In the next few days, you will meet the emperor, not the ministers. Only through communication with the emperor can you truly change the situation in the court. Remember, when facing the emperor, you must not appear to be eager for quick success. You must show patience and foresight."

Zhu Biao clenched his fists tightly, "I will keep it in mind."

The night was dark, and the entire Prince's Mansion was still shrouded in an unspeakable atmosphere. Zhu Biao was quietly thinking about the next situation in his study.

Suddenly, there was a crisp knock on the study door. Zhu Biao came back to his senses, frowned slightly, and felt a little uneasy. "Come in."

The door slowly opened, and a guard walked in quickly, holding an urgent memorial in his hand. "Prince, this is a secret letter from Minister Liu Qi of Zhilu." The guard handed over the letter respectfully.

Zhu Biao took the letter, opened the wax seal and read it carefully.

The letter did not reveal any unexpected events, but Liu Qi's last words made Zhu Biao's heart tighten: "Prince, your situation is not as stable as you think. Please be prepared to deal with it."

"What exactly does Liu Qi mean by this?" Zhu Biao whispered to himself, his eyes deep, as if nothing was yet to be revealed.

The night breeze was cool, blowing through the courtyard of the Prince's Mansion, bringing bursts of fresh air.

In the study, Zhu Biao sat at the desk, thinking about everything that had just happened, with a hint of imperceptible fatigue on his face.

"Uncle, every word you say makes me more aware of the crisis we are facing." Zhu Biao finally spoke, his voice low and powerful.

"But have you ever thought that all these changes can really be solved overnight?"

Zhu Han gently put down the teacup in his hand, his eyes deep, and after a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "Biao'er, things in the world are never accomplished overnight. The situation in the court is more complicated than you and I can imagine. Zhu Di's power has penetrated into every corner. It will take more than a day to destroy him. And father, his intentions can never be fully predicted."

Zhu Biao nodded, a trace of deep thought flashed in his eyes: "Yes, my father's hesitation always seems to waver at the critical moment. And this struggle is not only about the wisdom of our uncle and nephew. Behind the scenes, there are countless eyes observing every decision and every detail."

Zhu Han smiled slightly, with an inexplicable ease in his eyes: "So, what we have to do is not to rely on luck, but through precise arrangements and long-term planning. You and I are two chess pieces in this game, but we must remember that the most important thing is how to make father feel that you are the most suitable heir."

Zhu Biao frowned slightly. He was silent for a moment, then whispered, "But I can't get rid of those ministers who doubt me. If my father wavers again, the support of others may become fragile."

Zhu Han's eyes became sharp, and there was a hint of calm determination in his eyes: "So, Biao'er, in the next few days, you must make some moves, not only to gain opportunities for yourself, but also to let father see your decisiveness and courage with his own eyes."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious, "You can no longer rely on others to pave the way for you."

Zhu Biao raised his head, a new flame burning in his eyes: "So, uncle, what do you think I should do next?"

Zhu Han slowly walked to the window, took a deep breath, and looked towards the palace in the distance, as if he was thinking about some far-reaching strategy.

"My brother's mind is not easy to figure out, nor is it easy to change. What you can do is not to challenge him directly, but to set up a chess game in secret and let him decide for himself that the choices he has made all along are the wisest."

"You mean, I should let my father realize that my ability is enough to take on the future of the Ming Dynasty?" Zhu Biao asked, his eyes full of confusion and expectation.

"That's right." Zhu Han turned around and looked at Zhu Biao, with a gleam of wisdom in his eyes.

"You can't just keep showing him a mentality of quick success and instant benefits. You have to let him see that you not only have strong decision-making ability, but also a broad mind and a tolerance that can accommodate the world."

Zhu Biao seemed to be thinking about something, and nodded slowly. (End of this chapter)