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

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with a complicated light. He was silent for a moment, and finally nodded gently, "Very good, Biao'er. In this case, you will continue to perform the duties of the crown prince. I will trust you."

Zhu Biao was slightly stunned, and an invisible pressure surged in his heart. Although his father's trust came slowly, it finally gave him the motivation to move forward.

Zhu Han watched all this quietly from the side.

He bowed his head and saluted, saying, "Father, your son welcomes you respectfully."

Zhu Yuanzhang was still sitting on the dragon throne, his eyes as sharp as knives, sweeping across the ministers in the court, and finally stopping on Zhu Biao.

He was silent for a moment, then said, "Biao'er, you have shown extraordinary courage today, but there are many forces in the court, and the threat from the enemy has not dissipated. How are you going to deal with it?"

After hearing this, Zhu Biao was slightly stunned, but soon, the coldness and determination in his eyes burned like flames.

He straightened his back and said in a steady tone, "Father, I know that the situation in the court is ever-changing. Although I have achieved initial victory, as you said, the potential threat from the enemy is still huge. I will continue to show courage and decisiveness to safeguard the future of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Zhu Biao in silence, as if observing his every expression. Finally, he nodded slowly: "In this case, Biao'er, I will give you a chance. You must lead the prince's army to meet the next challenge and show your true strength."

Zhu Biao's eyes sparkled, and he bowed his head and replied, "I will not disappoint my father's expectations."

The court suddenly became quiet, and the eyes of all the ministers were fixed on the conversation between the Crown Prince and his father, and many people had complicated expressions on their faces.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave, leaving only Zhu Biao and Zhu Han. The atmosphere in the hall became more solemn, and Zhu Biao's every bit of mind was tense.

Zhu Han stood aside with a calm look, seemingly unshaken by the current situation.

Zhu Biao turned around and looked at his uncle, and asked softly, "Uncle, how should we plan next? Although my father's support is firm, many ministers in the court still have doubts about me."

Zhu Han smiled gently and said in a steady tone: "Biao'er, every decision in the court depends not only on your military courage, but also on how you control the situation and how you make these ministers realize that you can truly lead the future of Ming Dynasty. Although the attitude of the emperor is important, he also needs to see that you can surpass the prince of the past and become an emperor with decision-making power and strategy."

After hearing this, Zhu Biao's eyes flashed with doubt, "Then how can I make them truly believe in me? In addition to military strength, tactics and wisdom are obviously the key to determining the situation."

Zhu Han nodded, "You are right. In the court, intelligence and caution are the most important. You must learn to manipulate the minds of every minister through subtle means, and these are some of the resources I obtained through the 'sign-in system'."

Zhu Biao was slightly stunned, then turned to look at the emperor's uncle: "You mean, the sign-in system?"

Zhu Han took out a gleaming golden seal from his bosom and slowly placed it on the table: "Exactly. This seal can not only give you an advantage in military strength, but more importantly, it can give you an advantage in strategy and political power in the court. Through the sign-in system, you can obtain the most in-depth psychological analysis of the enemy, and even manipulate these analyses to plan the most accurate strategy for you."

Zhu Biao took the seal, his eyes flashing with excitement and anticipation, "Can this really allow me to know the enemy's movements in advance? Just like seeing into their weaknesses?"

Zhu Han nodded, his tone profound: "Not only that, the 'Intelligence Simulator' can also help you simulate every possible situation, allowing you to predict various changes in the court in advance and be prepared for any eventuality."

Zhu Biao held the seal tightly, his eyes full of determination and desire. "So, what is the next step?"

Zhu Han pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Next, we must continue to increase the pressure on Zhu Di's camp and gradually weaken their power. But the most important thing is that you must take this opportunity to show your deep understanding and foresight for the future of the Ming Dynasty in the court."

Zhu Biao nodded, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes, "I understand, uncle. We must gradually win the trust of our father and at the same time eliminate the interference of Zhu Di's camp."

"That's right." Zhu Han's eyes flashed with a cunning light. "Every step you take is not only for yourself, but also paving the way for the future of Ming Dynasty. The game in the court is never a simple confrontation, but a silent contest. You must learn to handle every opportunity calmly and avoid being too eager for quick success."

Zhu Biao took a deep breath, his eyes more determined, "I will handle it carefully and think carefully about every step."

"Prince, Minister Zhilu came to see you again today. He seemed to have something to discuss with you." Li Zhong walked into the study and reported nervously.

Zhu Biao stopped writing, a look of scrutiny flashed in his eyes, "Minister Zhilu? He came to visit suddenly, he must have something to say." He pondered for a moment and whispered, "Get ready, I will go to see him in person."

"Your Highness, I came to visit you today because I have something to discuss." Minister Zhi Lu went straight to the point, with a hint of tentativeness in his tone.

"The situation in the court is changing. Although the prince has performed well, the current situation cannot be underestimated. The struggle between my father and Zhu Di is intensifying. Whether the prince's decision is enough to support the future of the Ming Dynasty remains unknown."

Zhu Biao stared at Minister Zhilu deeply and nodded gently, "Minister Zhilu is right. In the current Ming Dynasty, there are struggles in the court and threats from enemy countries. Every minister should think carefully and make decisions that are in the best interests of the Ming Dynasty."

Minister Zhilu smiled slightly and nodded: "The prince's words make me feel at ease. I know that the prince is not only talented and ambitious, but also able to see the future of Ming Dynasty. In fact, I came here to discuss a cooperation plan with the prince."

"Cooperation?" Zhu Biao raised his eyebrows slightly, "Minister Zhilu intends to cooperate with me?"

"That's right." Minister Zhilu's eyes flashed with a complicated emotion. "Now Zhu Di's camp has already formed a climate, and some ministers in the court have begun to doubt the prince because of their own interests. I hope to form an alliance with the prince and use his power to fight against these potential threats together."

Zhu Biao's heart moved slightly. He understood that although Minister Zhilu was old, he had a deep foundation in the court. If he could win him over to his camp, it would greatly consolidate his position.

He nodded, speaking in a steady tone, "In this case, since Minister Zhilu is willing to cooperate with me, I will definitely live up to your trust."

Minister Zhilu's eyes flashed with relief, and he bowed his head again and said, "Prince, if we can work together with you, we will surely make the Ming Dynasty more stable and the people will live and work in peace and contentment."

Zhu Biao took a deep breath and thought to himself. Zhu Biao smiled and said, "In this case, I agree to form an alliance with Minister Zhilu. But for the future of Ming Dynasty, I hope we can be more cautious and ensure that everything goes in order."

Minister Zhilu nodded gently, "Your Highness is wise, I will definitely cooperate with your plan."

Zhu Biao stood in the courtyard of the Prince's Mansion. Night had fallen and the palace wall in the distance was glowing with a thin layer of silver light under the moonlight.

"Prince, the public reaction after today's inspection seems to be less than expected." Li Zhong's voice broke the silence of the study. He walked into the study with a complicated expression.

“Although the people expressed support for the victory of the Prince’s Army, public opinion in some places was not what we expected.”

Zhu Biao turned around, his face calm, "What do you mean? What are those people talking about?"

Li Zhong was silent for a moment before continuing, "It is said that some people are beginning to worry about the Crown Prince's control over political power, especially the expansion of the Crown Prince's Army. Some people even think that the Crown Prince is too young and lacks sufficient adaptability to cope with more complex situations in the future."

Zhu Biao's brows were furrowed, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

"The people's concerns are obviously not unfounded. Although the prince's army has won many victories in battle, if the people still have doubts in their hearts, that will be my biggest weakness."

Li Zhong nodded and said, "Prince, shouldn't you visit the people in person and listen to their voices? Through direct interaction, perhaps some unnecessary panic can be eliminated."

After hearing this, Zhu Biao was silent for a moment, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes.

So he turned around and said to Li Zhong: "Make arrangements. Tomorrow I will personally go on a tour and visit the people to see what they are worried about."

Li Zhong was slightly stunned, then he said respectfully: "Your Highness is wise, I will ask him to make the arrangements tomorrow."

Zhu Biao turned slowly and stared at the bright moon outside the window. "If the people don't trust me, even if I use political tricks, it will be difficult for me to gain a firm foothold. Father may be able to give me power, but if I can't win the hearts of the people, how can I truly control the Ming Dynasty?"

The next morning, Zhu Biao and Zhu Han set out together, leading several attendants and officials, and quietly headed to a village outside the capital.

When they arrived at a place called "Chunhui Village", Zhu Biao dismounted and walked into the village. He was wearing a simple robe and his face was not deliberately concealed.

When the villagers saw the prince, they stopped what they were doing, with a little curiosity and awe in their eyes. But Zhu Biao did not give orders immediately, but walked towards an old man who was chopping wood.

"Uncle, the weather is nice today. Thank you for your hard work." Zhu Biao spoke with a smile, his voice gentle and his tone kind.

The old man was stunned for a moment, looked up at the young man in front of him and blinked, "Are you... the prince?" He asked hesitantly, but he was not respectful like most officials, but looked a little doubtful.

Zhu Biao smiled and nodded, "Exactly. I just want to understand the people's voices and see how everyone is living."

The old man looked at him, as if thinking, "The prince's army won a great victory. Although the people are happy, they are still a little worried. It's a good thing that you won the battle, but after all... after all, the world is changing too fast. Who can guarantee that the prince can always keep the world stable? The people always feel that they have to rely on themselves to do things."

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment and whispered, "Old man, are you saying that the people don't trust the prince?"

The old man shook his head slightly, "Not entirely. It's just that the changes in recent years have been too fast. The previous princes, my father's princes, all lived a stable life. It's not like now, the situation in the world is turbulent, and the people are afraid that the world will change again in the future. You say that you can win the war, but can the people's jobs be secure?"

Zhu Biao listened silently, feeling guilty. The people's worries were indeed not groundless. He lowered his head and said softly to the old man: "I understand your concerns. I will do my best to provide a stable life for the people and eliminate these anxieties."

The old man nodded slightly, "Well, my words are just a piece of advice to you, Prince. If you really want to do well, you have to take it step by step and let the people see it."

Zhu Biao bowed deeply to the old man and said, "Thank you for your guidance."

He stood up and turned to look at the villagers around him, with a determined strength in his eyes.

"Uncle, did you hear that?" Zhu Biao turned to Zhu Han, a trace of contemplation flashing in his eyes, "The voices of the people are more real than any political contest. What the people need is not just victory, but a stable life. They need to see that the prince can not only lead the army to victory, but also solve the difficulties in life for the people."

Zhu Han smiled slightly and nodded, "Biao'er, you finally understand. You can use tricks and strategies in the court, but the most important thing is always the people's hearts. If you can't win the trust of the people, then even if you win power for a while, it won't last long. Your visit is an opportunity to let the people know that the prince is not a castle in the air far away from the people, but a real emperor who cares about the world."

Zhu Biao took a deep breath and said, "I will work harder to let my father, the court, and the people see that the prince can create a more stable future for the Ming Dynasty."

One day, Zhu Biao and his entourage came to a poor village. Most of the villagers were old and poor. Seeing the arrival of the prince, they gathered at the entrance of the village with expectations and doubts in their eyes.

"The prince has arrived!" The village chief stepped forward and saluted respectfully. "The prince has come to visit us. Our people are truly flattered!"

Zhu Biao smiled and patted the village chief on the shoulder. "Don't be polite, everyone. I'm not here to inspect you today, but to understand your lives, to see if you have any difficulties, and if you need help."

The village chief's eyes flashed with excitement, and he said hurriedly: "Prince, our village is poor, with constant wind disasters and poor harvests every year. The villagers have been relying on growing wheat and soybeans to make a living, but now even these fields are almost abandoned. If we can get help from the court and distribute farm tools and seeds, I'm afraid we can live better."

After hearing this, Zhu Biao frowned slightly, "Storm disasters, wasteland, and the people's difficulties cannot be just talked about. Can your harvest problem be solved by properly allocating water resources?"

The village chief hurriedly replied: "This..." He was speechless for a moment, "It's just that we farmers don't understand these things and can only rely on the weather for our livelihood." (End of this chapter)