King of Han Dynasty of Ming Dynasty

The palace of the King of Han.

The breeze floats over the tender green willow branches and ripples in the air, and the sunlight shines through the green leaves, leaving spots everywhere.

In the familiar pavilion.

The two brothers Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaochi sat opposite each other, sipping the tea in the cups in their hands from time to time.

No one took the initiative to speak.

The scene seemed particularly solemn and silent.

"call"

After a long time.

Zhu Gaoxu let out a long breath, put down the teacup in his hand, raised his eyebrows and looked at the prince who was close at hand, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and asked with a smile:

"Boss"

"I saw the new equipment made by the weapons workshop today. What do you think?"

“Are there any different feelings and opinions?”

Zhu Gaochi was stunned when he heard this, then he looked up and glanced at Zhu Gaoxu who was staring at him with a smile on his face, then he slowly put down the teacup in his hand, unconsciously showing a happy smile on his face, nodded in satisfaction and said:
"good."

"good."

"To be able to make this national sacred weapon, the craftsmen of the weapons workshop and the person in charge, Zhang Shangyun, all have made great contributions."

"You deserve a reward!"

"but."

Having said this, he paused, then suddenly changed the subject, revealing sincere admiration in his words, and continued:

"This matter."

"Second brother, you have also made great contributions."

"If you hadn't reformed the weapons workshop, if you hadn't improved the treatment of the craftsmen, given them enough space, mobilized their enthusiasm, and let professionals do professional things and manage professionals."

"I'm afraid such a national treasure will hardly appear in the world."

His words were sincere and admiring, and he was generous in praising him and everyone in the weapons workshop.

However, this was not the answer and result that Zhu Gaoxu wanted.

Zhu Gaoxu slowly raised his head upon hearing this, half-closed his eyes and looked at the Crown Prince with interest for a long time, a hint of disappointment flashed across his face, and he asked:

"Is this gone?"

"This is the only feeling this shocking thing gives you?"

"Is there nothing else?"

"Or don't you have anything else to say?"

talking.

Zhu Gaoxu's expression changed involuntarily, and his look became cold unconsciously, completely different from his enthusiastic attitude just now.

At the same time, he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed with this man, who was called Emperor Hongxi in later generations. He was smart, strong-willed, and intelligent. Although he was emperor for less than a year, he left a deep mark in history.

but
While feeling disappointed, he couldn't help but stare at it meaningfully for a long time again, feeling somewhat confused.

Boss, this bastard.

Is it that she really didn't realize the profound meaning of his words, or is it that she clearly knows it better than anyone else, but is deliberately playing tricks on him, pretending to be ignorant even though she knows the truth?
Or rather, seeing through his caution.

He is unwilling to intervene, chooses to protect himself and does not want to contribute.

Do you want him to be a pawn and do those thankless tasks?

Although I have doubts and suspicions about this.

But Zhu Gaoxu did not intend to delve into it further or get entangled in this issue.

He has his own plan and I have my own way to get over the wall.

I believe that as long as the benefits are big enough and attractive enough.

No matter whether the prince knows the truth but pretends to be ignorant, or really does not understand, he will definitely not be able to help but take action and join forces with him.

"Boss"

"Didn't you discover something after this incident?"

"Our Ming Dynasty has been here since Taizu overthrew the brutal Yuan Dynasty."

"Are many things actually still using the systems left over from past dynasties?"

"Even the fire gun is almost like the Mengyin of Bao Yuan."

"It has been several decades since the founding of the Ming Dynasty."

"Although we want the court to become better and the people to live better as much as possible."

“But it always goes against our wishes.”

“No matter how hard we try, or how many ways we think of, the results we get are minimal, not even one-tenth of what we expected.”

"With your intelligence, I don't believe you can't feel or perceive these things."

"certainly."

"I'm not saying that everything left behind by the courts of past dynasties is useless."

"but"

"As superiors, we all hope that the Ming Dynasty will become better and better, whether we say it or not."

"But we keep using things that were once used by the overthrown court."

"Have you ever thought that the path we are taking is the same old path that the imperial court once took?"

"To that."

"Don't you think we should make some changes to certain things and systems?"

This statement came out.

Zhu Gaochi's face changed drastically in an instant.

Afterwards, he suddenly raised his head, his half-closed eyes suddenly widened, and he looked straight at Zhu Gaoxu who was close at hand. His expression suddenly became extremely serious, and his face was no longer as calm as before, but became extremely gloomy, and he asked solemnly:
"Second child"

"Do you know what you are talking about?"

"Such words."

"If outsiders, censors, or the Inspectorate heard this, they would definitely impeach you again."

"They will definitely take the opportunity to accuse you of not respecting the ancestral system and violating the etiquette."

"Have you thought about the consequences?"

This statement is true.

That's true.

The censors, those civil officials and censors whose thinking was fixed by Confucianism, could actually do such things.

but
A reminder to the prince.

Zhu Gaoxu turned a deaf ear to it and did not take it seriously at all. He looked around and gently pressed his hand towards the excited Zhu Gaochi, signaling him to calm down, and said:

"Why should I be afraid of this?"

"This is my residence, and in this entire courtyard, when I am here, no one except the housekeeper dares to approach."

"And there are only two of us in this pavilion."

"So it is impossible to spread it outside. And I am not telling these words to others. Only the two of us know them."

"Impeachment bashing?"

"impossible."

As he spoke, he paused, as if he had thought of something. A playful smile appeared in his eyes as he looked at Zhu Gaochi. He suddenly changed the subject and continued:
"If...someone really impeached this matter."

"Boss"

"You said this."

The rest of the words are unfinished.

But everyone is not a fool and naturally understands what he means.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi glared at him fiercely, his expression suddenly changed, and he stood up from his chair and shouted angrily:
"Second child"

"You're a piece of shit."

"What the hell are you talking about." "Am I that kind of person?"

Seeing the prince jump up and down.

Zhu Gaoxu chuckled, waved his hand, and said:
"Okay, okay!"

"I know, I know. I know your boss wouldn't do such a thing."

"Isn't this... a joke to you?"

"Moreover…"

"You are the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty."

"From now on, the Ming Dynasty will be yours."

“It can get better, it can get stronger.”

"You naturally want to see it more than anyone else."

"That's absolutely impossible. You're shooting yourself in the foot and making things difficult for yourself."

"After all, it wasn't you who did the offending."

"Right!"

Zhu Gaochi: "..."

See, is this human language?
No!

Even if he thought so in his heart, isn't this something that everyone knows?
Is it necessary to say it directly?

The second bastard...

Really are!
"no……"

"Second brother, you don't say that..."

The words have not yet fallen.

Zhu Gaoxu just waved his hand at him again, and then spoke back to suppress the words he was about to use to argue and explain himself.

Afterwards, it was clearly seen that Zhu Gaoxu's expression became extremely serious, and the teasing tone in his words disappeared instantly. He said:
"Boss! Boss!"

"No more words."

"But there are some things that you and I both know."

"Some things in the current Ming Dynasty really need to change."

"While the old man is still young, you and I are still young."

"If anything happens, the old man can still take care of it."

"If we don't act now, or if the result of acting is not ideal."

"In the future, when you ascend to the throne, or in other words, no matter who the ruler of the future generations is."

"If you want to remove certain stubborn diseases and abscesses, I'm afraid it won't be as easy and simple as it is now."

"And as for the benefits of change."

"From the perspective of the weapons workshop, I think you should also see the benefits, right?"

"You also said just now that if it weren't for the restructuring and reform of the weapons workshop, such a national treasure would not have been possible."

Having said this, Zhu Gaoxu paused, looked at the Crown Prince deeply, his expression became extremely serious, and continued frankly:
"Even a small weapons workshop can produce such a national weapon after such a simple transformation."

"Then if there are other places, we will implement some changes and reforms."

“Will there be, or be produced, unexpected gains for us?”

Say it.

He half-closed his eyes and stared at the prince who was so close to him, waiting for his reply.

of course
In fact, he didn't say all the things.

Because many things, even if everything is said, many things, if one has not experienced the prosperity of the future, even the most wise and powerful people will have no way to understand them.

In Zhu Gaoxu's view, the entire Ming Dynasty wanted to become strong, to become a powerful country, to allow its people to live a prosperous and healthy life, and to create a prosperous era.

In fact, it is not just the selection of officials and the system that require tough action and determination to make improvements.

Another more important point is those who were previously ignored by the court, such as craftsmen and capable and talented people in all walks of life.

These people may not be worth mentioning in the eyes of the court.

But in Zhu Gaoxu's eyes, they are more valuable assets than officials, and even better than good officials.

Because only by valuing these people and giving them opportunities.

Only by giving these people enough space and support, these talents, can they continue to innovate. Only by continuous innovation can new things and technologies, as well as unimaginable new things, be born.

Talent and creativity are the foundation of a country's strength.

It is also the primary productive force.

Why didn’t Zhu Gaoxu mention these words before?

Why didn’t you say it in front of Emperor Yongle?
The reason for this is that in this era, people's habitual thinking is restricted by certain solidified things.

There is no substantive content or interest trend.

Can't see anything beneficial.

Absolutely no one is willing to break the almost entrenched thinking and class.

Just like he proposed before, he would appeal to people's emotions and reason, analyze the pros and cons, show his support for Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, and break the inherent monopoly of reading and class.

Although Emperor Yongle and the Crown Prince both agreed on the surface and seemed extremely positive, giving him some seemingly supreme powers and so-called "frankly" letting him go and do it, in the final analysis, these were nothing more than verbal promises and efforts, without any substantial content.

Why?

Don’t you see the benefits?

But now it's different
From the time he started to renovate the weapons workshop and made plans until now, the people in the weapons workshop have not disappointed him. In addition to the simple lathe used for polishing and straightening arrow shafts, they also made a flintlock rifle that is more powerful than a musket and is lighter and simpler.

The benefits of change, restructuring and transformation have already occurred.

For this reason, he took the initiative to bring up this matter.

Based on what was happening and what was in front of him, he didn't believe that the prince was not tempted by such benefits.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu bared his fangs and bluntly revealed his purpose.

The Crown Prince, who was sitting next to him, was instigated by his words, frowned and fell into deep thought, with a struggle in his mind. At the same time, he also understood Zhu Gaoxu's real purpose this time.

That's it.

I do not know how long it has been.

Zhu Gaochi came back to his senses from his daze, took a few deep breaths, calmed down his slightly agitated emotions and the heaving chest, then raised his eyebrows, half-squinted his eyes and looked straight at Zhu Gaoxu, his expression became particularly solemn, and his voice became increasingly low, he said in a deep voice:

"Second child"

"Is this the real reason why you hurriedly asked me to participate in the flintlock rifle test firing today and laid the groundwork for all this?"

After hearing this.

Zhu Gaoxu did not shy away from it. He raised his head and looked at him. He neither denied nor admitted it. He asked:

"Boss"

"Is it important?"

"Just talking about this matter, what do you think?"

“To do or not to do”

"It's that simple!"

"There's no need for us two brothers to go through so many twists and turns."

"After all, now that we have come to this, there is no need to say anything else."

"Isn't it?"

Facing persecution.

Zhu Gaochi felt a little unhappy at the words, and then he half-closed his eyes and stared at him for a long time. His solemn expression instantly subsided, and a hint of intriguing meaning flashed across his face. He shook his head slightly at Zhu Gaoxu and continued:
“If that’s all, it’s not enough.”

"This little bit of benefit is not worth it. The old man and I will end up together."

"Unless there's something else."

"After all, you know that once this happens, it affects the whole body."

"How great is the danger!" (End of this chapter)