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

At the same time, in an ancient academy in the south of the city, several scholars and literati were sitting together, drinking tea and discussing philosophy. The shadows of bamboos were dancing outside the window, and the fragrance of books filled the air, creating an elegant scene.

A young talent holding a folding fan gently waved it and spoke slowly: "As the ancients said, it is not wise to be so successful that it shocks the ruler. Although King Han has made outstanding contributions, if he cannot retire in time, he may become a big tree that attracts the wind." His tone revealed a bit of worry and deep thought.

"That's wrong." A scholar in Confucian robes on the opposite side retorted, "King Han is a loyal man who is devoted to the country. How can he be a person who is greedy for power? However, as a minister, you must know how to advance and retreat, so as to avoid discord between the monarch and his subjects and turmoil in the country. This is an ancient teaching."

"Brother, what you said is absolutely right." The young scholar nodded in agreement. "As scholars, we should use our pens as swords to not only praise the virtues of meritorious officials, but also warn the world that the loyalty between the monarch and his subjects is heavier than Mount Tai and must be kept in mind at all times."

Several scholars continued their in-depth discussion. Every word they said was like a stone thrown into a lake, causing ripples. Although silent, it was powerful, quietly influencing the thoughts and opinions of the people around them.

All of this was part of a careful plan by the Fourth Prince's advisers. Rumors and gossip were intertwined into a web, quietly changing the atmosphere in the capital.

A few days passed quickly. In Zhu Han's mansion, in the dead of night, the lights in the study were still bright. Zhu Han was sitting around the desk with several of his trusted aides, and the atmosphere was solemn and tense.

"Everyone," Zhu Han spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful, but he could not hide his worries. "Although I, Zhu Han, do not have the ambition to be an emperor, my loyalty to the Ming Dynasty is evident to all. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is now in his prime, with a benevolent heart, and is the hope for the future of the Ming Dynasty. I swear to help him stabilize this country."

An elderly staff member with a kind face stroked his gray beard, his eyes sparkling with wisdom: "King Han is right, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a descendant of the royal family, benevolent and virtuous, and will surely lead the Ming Dynasty to a more glorious future.

However, there have been rumors in the capital recently, pointing directly at Prince Han, and the real intention is to alienate the relationship between you and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Such a conspiracy must be guarded against."

Zhu Han nodded slightly, his eyes showing a hint of coldness: "Rumors have existed since ancient times, and it is nothing surprising. But this time is different, it is like an invisible knife, trying to sever the trust and friendship between us. We must find the black hand behind this and bring it to justice."

At this time, a young aide stepped forward, his eyes flashing with passion and determination: "King Han, I have a plan. We can invite His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to participate with you by hosting banquets, hunting and other activities. In such occasions, you two will have more opportunities to interact with each other, and let the world witness the deep friendship between you and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The rumors will naturally be broken."

Zhu Han heard this and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes: "This is a very good plan. It can not only enhance our understanding and trust, but also show our unity and harmony to the outside world. However, this is only a temporary measure. In the long run, we still need a more thorough layout."

Seeing this, the staff member who was good at strategy stepped forward and lowered his voice, revealing an unquestionable firmness in his tone: "King Han, I have a plan that may be able to help you.

We can secretly support those talented but under-appointed officials who are loyal to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. By promoting them, we can gradually make them stand out in the court and form a powerful force to support the Crown Prince.

At the same time, we can adopt a strategy of division and disintegration for those princes and ministers who have ill intentions. We can use the contradictions and conflicts of interest between them to gradually weaken their power, so that they can no longer take care of themselves and pose no threat to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. "

After hearing this, Zhu Han's eyes flashed with admiration. He patted the table lightly, and his tone was full of determination: "This plan is great! It is both morally correct and can achieve our goal.

However, this matter must be kept extremely secret and not leaked out at all. You go and prepare, and be sure to act with caution. We must not only protect the Ming Dynasty, but also the safety and dignity of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Everyone followed the order and left. The study room returned to silence. Zhu Han sat alone at his desk, staring at the flickering candlelight, with a myriad of thoughts in his mind.

When Crown Prince Zhu Biao learned that Zhu Han was caught in a vortex of rumors, he became extremely anxious and decided to go to Zhu Han's residence immediately to express his firm support and trust in his uncle with practical actions.

When the door was opened, a faint scent of books and a quiet atmosphere came towards him. Zhu Han was sitting at his desk, frowning slightly, as if he was deep in thought. When he saw Zhu Biao coming in, a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes, which then turned into a warm smile. He quickly stood up to greet him: "Biao'er, why did you come in person? Please take a seat."

Zhu Biao walked quickly forward and took a few steps in front of Zhu Han. Their eyes met in an instant. Without words, the deep friendship between uncle and nephew was conveyed vividly.

"Uncle, Biao'er is very uneasy to learn that you have been trapped in rumors recently. Biao'er is well aware of your loyalty and dedication to the Ming Dynasty, and I don't want to hurt the relationship between us because of these nonsense." Zhu Biao's voice was a little choked, and his eyes flashed with sincerity and eagerness.

Zhu Han felt a warm current in his heart when he heard this. He gently patted Zhu Biao's shoulder, his tone full of love and comfort: "Biao'er, uncle understands your intentions.

These rumors are nothing but baseless speculations by those scoundrels. We are not afraid of our own shadows if we are upright. If we do our own things well, those rumors will naturally be dispelled.”

The two sat down side by side, and the atmosphere in the study became particularly solemn and warm. Zhu Biao began to ask Zhu Han in detail about his views on the current situation and his plans.

"Uncle, Biaoer believes that we should not only strengthen the intelligence network in the court to ensure that we can grasp the dynamics of all parties in a timely manner, but also focus on cultivating a team of loyal and reliable officials." Zhu Biao said in a firm tone, "Only in this way can we remain invincible in the complex situation."

Zhu Han nodded in agreement: "Biao'er is right. The situation in the court is complicated and cannot be reversed by one person. We need to unite those loyal people more closely and jointly pave a solid path for His Royal Highness to ascend the throne. But before that, we must first consolidate our foundation to ensure that we can stand firm when the storm comes."

As the conversation deepened, the atmosphere in the study became more solemn and hopeful. Zhu Han said slowly: "Biao'er, you must remember that as a future monarch, you must not only have a broad mind to accommodate all rivers, but also have profound wisdom to see through people's hearts.

The power structure in the court is complex and intertwined. We do not need to rush for success, but should take it step by step. First, we can set up a mechanism to encourage officials to speak freely and put forward their insights; at the same time, we must strengthen supervision to ensure the stability and order of the court. "

"Uncle, how was this 'Council of Advisers' that you just mentioned conceived?" His tone was full of curiosity and thirst for knowledge.

Zhu Han smiled slightly, and he tapped the table lightly, as if he was organizing his thoughts. "Biao'er, what I'm thinking is that we can learn from the wisdom of ancient sages and set up such an institution. It is not only a place to discuss state affairs, but also a platform to gather wisdom from all sides and work together for the well-being of the Ming Dynasty. We can invite the respected officials in the court and those knowledgeable people in the local area to gather together regularly and speak freely. Whether it is the gains and losses of the government or the sufferings of the people, they can all become topics of discussion."

Zhu Biao's eyes flashed with excitement when he heard this. "Uncle, this plan is really brilliant! This way, not only can more voices be heard, but also the reputation of the Crown Prince's benevolence will spread far and wide, attracting more knowledgeable people to come and pledge their loyalty." He paused, and added, "Moreover, this is also in line with my father's consistent open-minded policy, and will definitely gain his support."

Zhu Han nodded slightly, but then changed the subject, revealing a bit of deepness. "However, Biao'er, setting up the Remonstrance Bureau is only the first step. More importantly, we need to set up a few clear examples in the court.

We should give due rewards and promotions to those officials who are loyal, upright, diligent and serve the people, and let their deeds become a model to inspire future generations. Only in this way can we guide the atmosphere of the entire court, let more people see hope, and be willing to serve the Ming Dynasty. "

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment, frowning slightly, obviously considering Zhu Han's words seriously. "Uncle, what you said makes sense, but there are many treacherous villains in the court. What should we do if they obstruct our plan?" His tone revealed some worry.

Zhu Han smiled slightly, with a sly look in his eyes. "Biao'er, we can't fight these people head-on. We have to outsmart them. We have to find their weaknesses, or take advantage of their conflicts and let them mess up first.

Of course, we must also prepare legal means. Once the time is right, we can expel them from the court and restore order to the court."

Zhu Biao's eyes flashed with enlightenment when he heard this. "Uncle, what you mean is that we should be like playing chess, taking every step carefully and winning by wits?"

"That's right." Zhu Han nodded in approval, "Biao'er, as the crown prince and future monarch, you must learn to use wisdom and strategy. Only in this way can you truly control the Ming Dynasty and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. Remember, power is not for showing off, but for benefiting the people."

Zhu Biao nodded heavily, his eyes gleaming with a more determined light. "I will remember your teachings, uncle. From now on, I will study harder and live up to the expectations of my father and uncle."

The next morning, before the sun completely dispelled the shadows in the study, Zhu Han was already sitting at his desk, frowning, thinking about national affairs. The study was quiet, with only the occasional sound of turning pages breaking the silence.

At this moment, the door of the study was gently pushed open, and a confidant in casual clothes hurried in, with an eagerness that was difficult to conceal on his face.

He walked quickly to Zhu Han's side and lowered his voice, with a bit of tension and worry in his tone: "King Han, there is urgent news. I'm afraid the situation is not good."

Zhu Han looked up when he heard the voice, his eyes as sharp as an eagle, shooting straight at his confidant: "What are you so scared about? Tell me in detail."

The confidant bowed and spoke in a low but clear voice: "Reporting to Prince Han, according to reliable information, the Fourth Prince Zhu Di has been unusually active in the court recently. Not only has he frequently met with several important officials in private, but he has also made some arrangements in the local area. His intentions do not seem to be simple."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Han's brows furrowed even deeper, and a trace of solemnity flashed in his eyes. He was silent for a moment, as if he was digesting this sudden news, and then he slowly spoke: "Zhu Di? He couldn't hold it back after all. Go on, what is the specific situation?"

The confidant nodded and began to report in detail Zhu Di's various actions, from the details of each meeting to the specific content of the local layout, without omission.

After the confidant finished his report, the study fell into a brief silence again. Zhu Han turned his head and looked out the window at the dark night sky. The stars were twinkling, but they could not illuminate the haze in his heart. "Zhu Di is ambitious and acts very secretly. He should not be underestimated." He muttered to himself.

At this time, an aide interrupted and broke the silence in the study: "Prince Han, since Zhu Di has made a move, we can't just sit there and wait for death. Perhaps, we can turn the tables and use his ambition to our advantage."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Han's gaze instantly turned to the aide, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and anticipation: "Oh? I'd like to hear more about it."

The aide stepped forward, his tone full of confidence and determination: "We can deliberately spread some rumors to make Zhu Di mistakenly think that we have let down our guard against him.

For example, in some matters that do not affect his fundamental interests, we can give him some convenience so that he mistakenly believes that his plan is going smoothly.

At the same time, we will secretly strengthen our surveillance of him and collect evidence of his crimes. When the time is right, we will be able to expose his true colors in one fell swoop and let everyone in the government and the public see his ambitions and conspiracies clearly. "

After hearing this, Zhu Han's eyes flashed with approval, but then he showed a hint of caution. "Although this plan is ingenious, it is also like walking on thin ice.

We need to proceed step by step and ensure that every step is accurate, so as not to alert the enemy and not to let His Royal Highness suffer any harm." His words revealed his careful consideration of the overall situation.

Another aide nodded slightly and added: "King Han is right. We need to act with caution. At the same time, I think we can do two things at the same time.

On the one hand, we secretly plan to guard against Zhu Di's conspiracy; on the other hand, we need to vigorously publicize the benevolent government and virtue of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in public, so that the people of the world know the Crown Prince's wisdom and ability, so as to consolidate his reputation in the court and the public."

Zhu Han's eyes lit up when he heard this, as if he saw the dawn of hope. "That's right! We must let the Crown Prince's benevolent rule be like spring rain, deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. At the same time, we must also let those who have evil intentions understand that the future of the Ming Dynasty cannot be shaken by them." His words were full of firmness and determination.

Everyone nodded in agreement, and the study room was filled with an atmosphere of unity and sharing the hard times. Zhu Han stood up, glanced at everyone, and said in a loud and powerful voice: "Okay! Then we will act separately and make sure that every link is foolproof!" (End of this chapter)