The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 378 Zhu Yunwen, the Thick-skinned

"Now is the time when their national strength is weak."

However, a massive mountain range separates us. If our army were to advance unimpeded, logistical support would likely be insufficient. But the situation is different from the sea. From the sea, we not only have logistical support, but we can also completely blockade their naval forces, making it easy to deal with them then!

"Once we've taken them down, we can then head north and directly attack the territories of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate and the Timurid Khanate!"

"Then we can attack the Byzantine Empire, and further west are places that even Genghis Khan couldn't conquer. We just need to conquer these places!"

"It will surely create an achievement that is unprecedented and will never be repeated!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang burst into laughter, feeling extremely pleased.

This grandson indeed shared many of his own ideas. Compared to his eldest grandson, he did many things that satisfied him more than Crown Prince Zhu Biao. However, if Crown Prince Zhu Biao had not been stationed in Yingtian Prefecture, he probably wouldn't have been able to do so easily.

"These things may not be done in a short time, so let's not rush them and wait a bit!"

Zhu Yunwen's eyes were full of incomprehension as to why he couldn't understand what these people were saying at all.

His teachers had told him that he must treat others with benevolence and righteousness in order to educate all ethnic groups. However, whether it was Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao, or Zhu Xiong Ying, all they thought about was how to conquer other countries and make the Ming Dynasty strong. They did not take those wise and prosperous emperors of the past as their role models, which made him quite curious.

At this moment, Zhu Yunwen came out and looked at these people and said.

"Grandpa, I have a different opinion!"

"Now the countries to the south are on edge and see threats everywhere because of our Ming Dynasty's attack. If this continues, the reputation of our Ming Dynasty will be completely destroyed. They now harbor endless hatred towards our Ming Dynasty. To damage the image of our Ming Dynasty for such petty gains is like drinking poison to quench thirst!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yunwen in front of him with indifference.

"So what do you think we should do?"

Zhu Yunwen was extremely excited, believing that Zhu Yuanzhang had adopted his suggestion.

"In my opinion, we should return those southern lands to those countries and establish Da Yue and Da Li as our vassal states in the south."

Furthermore, we will seek out the descendants of the former Kings of Yue and Dali, apologize to them, and promise to allow them to restore their kingdoms. They will surely be grateful to our Great Ming Dynasty!

"The prestige of our Great Ming will surely reach an even greater peak, and the southern countries will also respect us!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's lips twitched. They had initially thought Zhu Yunwen would say something nice, but his words in front of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang startled them. If he had said such things in private, it wouldn't have been a big deal. After all, these scholars didn't care about the wars outside. On the contrary, they would have preferred it if there were no wars.

When there is no war, those military generals will have no way to get promoted.

In just a few generations, their civil officials will be able to completely suppress the military generals.

Although this was the era they had always dreamed of, they couldn't say these things in front of so many people, especially Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang fought his way to power on the battlefield, so how could an emperor possibly agree to such a thing? Perhaps it would only happen after Zhu Yuanzhang passed away.

There is such a possibility now, and these words have led them all astray, especially Zhu Yunwen's masters, who were quite frightened.

At this moment, they all knelt down on the ground, fearing that Zhu Yuanzhang would hold this matter against them.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang was no longer bothered with such matters. He knew all too well what these civil officials were thinking. He simply let them ponder their own ideas. He knew perfectly well what Zhu Yunwen was like, and he would have been out of his mind to choose him as his successor.

At this moment, he looked at Zhu Xiong Ying and said with a smile.

What do you think about the U.A. situation?

What do you think of your brother's suggestion?

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and said after hearing this.

"That's certainly an interesting idea!"

At this moment, his eyes were filled with disdain as he looked at Zhu Yunwen in front of him!

Because you're still young, these kinds of words are just for family members to hear. Please don't tell anyone outside, or it will bring shame to the Zhu family!

Zhu Yunwen's face turned ashen, and he questioned Zhu Yunwen angrily.

Is there something wrong with what I said?

Zhu Xiong Ying said with a smile.

"No problem, that's a good suggestion. Don't bring it up again next time. Don't worry, although you don't have the ability to expand, you're still good at maintaining the status quo!"

"The struggles in the West are too brutal and not suitable for you. There are many islands in the southern ocean. I will pick a relatively large island for you to go up and educate the people there!"

After saying that, he turned around and left the matter. As he passed by Fang Xiaoru and the others, he looked at them and said something.

“It’s fine for you to teach Yunwen things, even how to fight for power, or even how to fight for the position I hold in my hands. But there are some things that can be said and some things that cannot be said!”

“Once these things are brought into the open, you may not be able to handle the consequences!”

Fang Xiaoru, being of a strong and unyielding nature, snorted coldly upon hearing this.

"We will say what we mean, and we will admit whether what we say is right or wrong. This is what we think. Is there any problem with that?"

"What His Highness the Crown Prince is doing in the south has truly tarnished the reputation of our Great Ming Dynasty. Everything in the world should be managed with a balance of tension and relaxation!"

"If everyone were like you, what would be the point of all the scholars in the world reading so many books by sages and worthies?"

At this moment, he glared angrily at Zhu Xiong Ying in front of him, as if he wanted to fight Zhu Xiong Ying to the bitter end. Everyone who saw this scene felt a chill down their spine. Fang Xiaoru was really too stubborn.

Where is this place? What kind of occasion would allow someone to say such a thing?

Both Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Xiong Ying had countless corpses in their hands.

Saying such things would probably warrant the execution of nine generations of one's family.

As expected, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were filled with rage, and everyone was terrified, fearing that he would kill them all.

(End of this chapter)