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

One afternoon, the sun shone obliquely on the bluestone road of the military camp. Zhu Biao, wearing armor, walked steadily through the camp. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure - General Zhao was directing the soldiers in daily training, with neat movements and good command.

"General Zhao, you've worked hard." Zhu Biao stepped forward quickly, his tone full of concern, "Is the border peaceful these days? How is the morale of the soldiers?"

Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, Zhu Han gradually recovered under the careful care of the imperial doctors. One morning, when the first ray of sunlight penetrated the gap in the tent and gently brushed Zhu Han's face, the eyes that had been dimmed by pain now sparkled with the light of life.

"Uncle, you're finally well!" Zhu Biao happened to step into the tent at this moment. Seeing this scene, he felt an indescribable joy in his heart. He quickly walked to the bed, squatted down, and asked with concern: "How do you feel? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly. Although the smile was a little pale, it was as warm as spring: "Biaoer, I'm fine. Thanks to these imperial doctors for their miraculous skills, I was able to get a new life." As he said that, he turned his head slightly and cast a grateful look at the busy imperial doctors on the side. His eyes were full of awe for life and admiration for medical skills.

Upon seeing this, the imperial doctors hurriedly bowed and humbly responded, "Your Highness and King Han are too kind. Saving the dying and healing the wounded is our duty as doctors. King Han's recovery is truly a blessing from heaven. We dare not take credit for it."

Zhu Biao turned to look at the imperial doctors, his eyes full of gratitude. After nodding his head in thanks, he turned to Zhu Han and said, "Uncle, the war on the border has been stabilized, and my father in the capital is also worried about your safety day and night. Should we prepare to return to the court?"

Zhu Han's eyes became deep and firm after hearing this. After hesitating for a moment, he slowly said, "Yes, now that the border issue has been settled, it's time to go back and report to my father. However, before I leave, I hope to personally inspect the defense line to ensure that everything is foolproof."

Zhu Biao heard this, a trace of admiration and understanding flashed in his eyes, he whispered: "Uncle Royal is far-sighted, Biaoer understands. I will make arrangements immediately to ensure that everything is in place, and we will set off when Uncle Royal's health allows."

Zhu Han smiled and patted Zhu Biao on the shoulder, his eyes full of trust and expectation. "Go, be well prepared, and don't keep the soldiers waiting for too long."

A few days later, Zhu Han, supported by Zhu Biao and other generals, slowly walked out of the tent, ready to start this extraordinary inspection trip.

Along the way, he inquired in detail about the defense situation of each checkpoint and had cordial conversations with the soldiers. His approachable manner and deep concern moved everyone present.

"General Li, how is the construction of the watchtower here going?" Zhu Han stood in front of a newly built watchtower, examining every corner with sharp eyes.

General Li hurried forward and reported respectfully: "Reporting to King Han, the sentry tower has been built according to the latest blueprints. It has a wide field of vision and greatly increased defense capabilities."

After hearing this, Zhu Han nodded with satisfaction and patted General Li on the shoulder: "Good job, you have worked hard."

The day for the army to return to the capital finally arrived, and there was jubilation inside and outside the capital.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood at the gate of the palace, looking at the dusty road in the distance, feeling both hopeful and excited. He whispered to Empress Ma beside him, "Brother Han and Biaoer are back, bringing news of victory and peace to the frontier."

"Royal brother! Biao'er!" Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was filled with undisguised excitement. He strode forward and held the hands of Zhu Han and Zhu Biao tightly. Those hands seemed to carry thousands of words, conveying endless warmth and strength. "You have worked hard! This trip to Jiaozhi is extremely dangerous. I and all the officials have been waiting here for a long time, just to witness the glorious moment of your triumphant return with our own eyes."

Zhu Han's face was filled with a humble and warm smile, and he gently shook Zhu Yuanzhang's hand. "Your Majesty, this is wrong. As citizens of the Ming Dynasty, it is our duty to defend our country."

As night fell, the palace was brightly lit, and a grand celebration banquet officially kicked off. At the banquet, the clinking of glasses, laughter and joy intertwined into a sea of ​​joy. Zhu Yuanzhang sat high on the main seat, looking kindly at each of the meritorious officials present.

"Zhu Han," Zhu Yuanzhang raised his glass, his eyes full of respect, "You are not only my brother, but also the guardian of the Ming Dynasty. I am deeply proud of your bravery, wisdom and courage. After this battle, you have made an indelible contribution. I have decided to confer you the title of 'Prince of Protecting the Country', so that your generations will enjoy wealth and honor in recognition of your outstanding contributions."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Han immediately stood up and knelt on the ground, saying in a sincere and humble voice: "Your Majesty's grace is so great that I am deeply grateful. But I know that all the glory comes from the trust and support of Your Majesty and the soldiers."

The fourth prince Zhu Di, dressed in gorgeous clothes, showed an extraordinary temperament in his behavior. He stood up slowly, holding an exquisite wine glass, and walked towards Zhu Han steadily. He stopped beside Zhu Han with a gentle and meaningful smile on his face.

He gently touched Zhu Han's glass, his voice low and magnetic: "Uncle, tonight the stars are shining and the feast is joyful. It is indeed a time to celebrate another glorious chapter of our dynasty. Seeing you fight side by side with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and achieve great results together, your nephew is full of respect and admiration."

Zhu Han raised his head and his eyes met Zhu Di's. In his eyes, there was both kindness towards the younger generation and insight into the complex situation. He smiled slightly, raised his glass to greet him, and said in a calm and humble tone: "Your Highness, you are too kind. Han is just a warrior. Fortunately, your Majesty and the Crown Prince trust me, so I can do my best on the frontier."

Zhu Di gently shook the wine glass in his hand, and the wine swirled gently in the glass, as if telling unfinished words. After a moment, he slowly raised his head, looked into the distance with deep eyes, and there was an imperceptible seriousness in his voice:

"Uncle, everyone says that you are both wise and brave. The prestige of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is solid, and your silent support is indispensable behind the scenes. I often think that when it comes to the strategy of governing the country and maintaining peace, your talent is not necessarily inferior to that of the Crown Prince, and may even be better than that of the Crown Prince."

The originally lively atmosphere around seemed to be frozen by an invisible force. The guests put down their cups one after another and looked over here with surprise or curiosity.

Zhu Han frowned slightly, but soon recovered. He raised a faint smile and said calmly, "Fourth Prince, you are wrong. I am just doing my duty. How dare I compare myself with Your Highness? Your Highness is the hope of the future of the Ming Dynasty. He is both virtuous and talented. I am ashamed of myself."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di raised a meaningful smile, his eyes flashed with a gleam, and he lowered his voice: "Uncle, you are too modest.

My nephew believes that truly capable people should not be limited to behind-the-scenes achievements. Our dynasty is in the midst of a period of change, with difficulties both internally and externally, and we need people of insight to step forward and work together to plan national affairs.

If the emperor's uncle has this intention, I am willing to join hands with him to face the difficulties and create a new chapter for the Ming Dynasty. Wouldn't that be a joy?"

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere at the banquet became more subtle. The guests exchanged glances, secretly guessing the Fourth Prince's true intentions. Zhu Han's face looked particularly solemn under the candlelight. He lowered his head slightly, his eyes wandering in the wine glass. After a moment, he slowly raised his head and said to Zhu Di with a firm look:
"Your Highness, you are too kind. As a minister, my duty is to assist the Crown Prince and be loyal to the emperor and love the country. I have never thought of anything else. Your Highness the Crown Prince is both virtuous and talented. He is the hope for the future of the Ming Dynasty. I will give him my full support."

Zhu Di heard this. He gently patted Zhu Han's shoulder, and his tone was a little more intimate: "Uncle, what you said makes sense. It was my nephew who was abrupt. However, as my uncle said, things in the world are unpredictable. There is still a long way to go in the future. Who knows what will happen? Come, my nephew will toast to my uncle. May we all adapt to the times and control our own destiny."

The two clinked their glasses, and the crisp clinking of glasses seemed to contain countless unspoken words. Zhu Han drank it all in one gulp, with a complex look in his eyes, with both emotion for the past years and worry about the uncertainty of the future.

After putting down the wine glass, Zhu Di slowly turned around, his eyes swept around the banquet, and finally fixed on Zhu Han, with a barely perceptible cold smile on the corner of his mouth. Then, he quietly called his trusted adviser to come closer, and the two of them talked in a low voice.

"Sir, what do you think the emperor's uncle's true attitude towards us is?" Although Zhu Di's voice was soft, it revealed unquestionable majesty.

The counselor bowed and replied, "Your Highness, King Han is a cautious and thoughtful person. It is hard to tell his true feelings from what he said today. But judging from his behavior, he is indeed loyal to His Highness the Crown Prince, but keeps a certain distance from us."

Zhu Di nodded, frowning slightly: "This is exactly what I am worried about. The emperor's uncle has a very high prestige. If the prince ascends the throne one day, he may become the biggest variable. We need to prepare for a rainy day and make plans early."

Upon hearing this, the counselor's eyes flashed with ruthlessness: "Your Highness, if King Han cannot be used by me, it is indeed a major hidden danger. But taking direct action is indeed not the best strategy. Why don't we borrow the power of the people and build momentum to do it."

"Oh? What good ideas do you have, sir?" Zhu Di asked with interest.

The counselor lowered his voice and elaborated on his plan: "Your Highness can secretly send people to spread public opinion, saying that Prince Han Zhu Han is the patron saint of our Ming Dynasty, and his merits are outstanding and his prestige is extremely high, to the point where his merits are so high that they shock the emperor.

People have always admired heroes. Once these words are spoken, they will surely arouse the people's infinite admiration and reliance on King Han. At that time, we will guide them in a timely manner and let this admiration turn into worry about King Han's excessive power. In this way, people from all walks of life will stand up and help Your Majesty solve problems."

Zhu Di's eyes flashed with an imperceptible sinister look, but it was soon replaced by a gentle smile. He whispered to his adviser, "This plan is indeed ingenious, but we need to act with caution.

We must ensure that every step is flawless. We must subtly sow doubts in the heart of the Crown Prince Zhu Biao, but we must not let our father, the Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, notice our actions. Public opinion is like a double-edged sword. It can be used for our own benefit, but it can also hurt others and ourselves. We must be careful in controlling it. "

The counselor bowed slightly, his eyes flashing with recognition and admiration for Zhu Di's strategy. He analyzed carefully and said, "Your Highness is right. I have made careful arrangements. The people I have chosen are all tight-lipped and thoughtful.

When they spread the word, they would skillfully combine praise for King Han's achievements with subtle concerns about whether His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could manage such an important official, making it all sound more like the spontaneous voice of the people rather than human manipulation.

In this case, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will naturally be alert, and even if His Majesty hears about it, he will only regard it as a topic of conversation among the people after dinner, and it will be difficult to trace it back to His Royal Highness."

Zhu Di heard this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, and then he changed the subject, his tone became more profound: "Not only that, we also need to make arrangements in the court.

You need to secretly contact several talented scholars and writers, and let them inadvertently express the meaning of "meritorious officials should retire at the right time to maintain harmony between the monarch and his subjects" when writing articles and poems.

These words need to be subtle and profound, so as to resonate with the court officials without being too deliberate, thereby further building an invisible barrier between the Crown Prince and King Han. "

After hearing this, the counselor's eyes sparkled, and he bowed his hands and accepted the order, saying, "Your Highness is very far-sighted. I admire you very much. I will immediately start making arrangements to ensure that every step is carried out accurately according to Your Highness's layout, so that everything seems to happen naturally, but in fact it is all under control."

The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight penetrated the mist and sprinkled on the bluestone pavement of the capital, teahouses, restaurants, and markets opened their doors to welcome customers in the streets and alleys, and the place was bustling with people.

In the midst of this noise, the rumors carefully woven by the Fourth Prince's advisers, like catkins drifting carelessly in the spring, gently fell into every corner and took root.

In an old teahouse in the east of the city, the aroma of tea wafts through the air, and several tea drinkers sit around a table, enjoying the tranquility and leisure of the early morning.

One of the older tea drinkers lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously to his companions: "Do you know that there is a secret circulating in the capital recently?" Upon hearing this, everyone pricked up their ears and came closer curiously.

"Tell me about it," an impatient tea drinker urged impatiently.

"Do you remember Han Wang Zhu Han? He is the patron saint of our Ming Dynasty!" The elderly tea drinker lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming with awe. "Back then, Han Wang fought on the battlefield and turned the tide single-handedly, making the barbarians in the north terrified. Without him, how could we have the peaceful days we have today?"

"Alas, who doesn't know about King Han's deeds?" another tea drinker asked, "But, can Your Highness the Crown Prince really control such a man of great achievements?" There was a hint of worry in his words.

"That's right!" The older tea drinker sighed, "King Han has made great military achievements and has a very high prestige. Although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is wise and brave, he is a rookie after all. If there is a disagreement between the two, I'm afraid..." He didn't continue, but the implication was self-evident.

"Now that you mention it, I'm a little worried." A seemingly frail tea drinker nearby said anxiously, "The Ming Dynasty cannot be in turmoil due to internal strife!"

"Yes, yes." Everyone echoed, and the discussion continued. There was an inexplicable sense of tension in the air. (End of this chapter)