I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 477 Do you deserve the surname Zhu?

Hearing Zhu Yijun complaining, Zhu Youfu quickly explained: "Your Highness is benevolent and kind, and treats the vassal clans well. But these people live in luxury, and they think they are the descendants of Taizu. They don't farm, and they are either merchants or workers. Naturally, they only want to enter the officialdom and do easy things."

"Haha, to enter the officialdom and do easy things? They also have to have this ability. Just give them an official rank and pay them a salary to support them. Why should I go to great lengths to reform the feudal system?
It is becoming increasingly difficult to be an official in the Ming Dynasty. You need to do practical work and compete with your colleagues. Do they have the strength to do so? "

Zhu Yijun paused and continued, "I have investigated the current situation of the various clans. Only one or two out of ten live in luxury and enjoy a life of luxury. More than half of the rest have no worries about food and clothing, and nearly half are in poverty.

When I reformed the system of vassal clans, I never thought of changing it all at once and without caring about the lives of a hundred thousand clan members.

I summoned the chief officials of the Shaofujian, Taifu Temple, and Taipu Temple many times, and also called the owners and managers of industrial and commercial enterprises such as Wells Fargo Bank, Huijin Bank, SF Insurance, Ping An Marine Insurance, Xingruixiang, Deshengmao, Lianshengxiang, Bohai Steel Company, Taiyuan Steel Company, and Luanhe Coal Mine to Xiyuan.

Together we discussed the resettlement of the clansmen. They were told to support themselves and reduce the burden on the people, but I had to find a way out for them and keep the whole family safe.

The results of it?
I turned my heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon only shines on the ditch!"

Zhu Youfu also knew that all the relatives of the various vassal states had bad habits and no abilities at all, but they relied on the fact that they were the sons and grandsons of the emperor and that they would definitely be the pillars of the country. It was already unfair to them that they had to pass examinations to become officials.

But they don't think about it, what are you good at, studying or being an official? Just because you were born into a good family, you forget everything.

Although he knew it, Zhu Youfu still said some good words on behalf of these clan members.

"Your Highness is kind and virtuous. These clan members have many problems, and many of them do not know what is good for them. Please be patient with them. They will always understand your painstaking efforts."

Zhu Yijun shook his head and said, "My patience requires money and food. Originally, the rice was only distributed for three months, but because of the petitions of the ministers, it was extended for another three months. So the various vassal clans felt that they were in control and thought that the court was just pretending to scare them.

Haha, the treasury has limited money and grain, and my patience is also limited. Since you won’t listen to my reasonable talk, I will try another way to reason with you.”

Zhu Youfu felt a chill in his heart when he heard this.

He had been in Beijing for some time and had heard about the Crown Prince's novel way of reasoning.

I wanted to persuade him again, but I didn't dare to open my mouth.

Since those clan members are so confident, let them have a taste of the power of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

People can't teach others, but things can be taught by others.

The guard Fang Liang came closer and reported to Zhu Yijun in a low voice.

Zhu Yijun smiled, "What a coincidence, then please come over, we are all relatives, it's rare to meet here."

"Yes!"

After a while, the two were led over and saluted in the pavilion.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, Zhu Jingrong, the Prince of Longde of the Qin vassal state, and the Lieutenant General Zhu Shenjing of the Jin vassal state, pay their respects to His Majesty the Crown Prince."

"Please take a seat, my two clan members. Do you know the Prince of Yongding, the Rong clan?"

Zhu Yijun pointed at Zhu Youfu casually.

Zhu Jingrong smiled and replied, "I know him. I have met His Royal Highness Prince Yongding several times in the Imperial Academy's clan study class. We were in the same class twice and attended two criticism and self-criticism summary meetings together."

Zhu Shenjing laughed along absentmindedly, then glanced behind him and saw that he and the dozen or so guards brought by Zhu Jingrong were led to another place to rest, which was blocked by a wooden house and could not be seen.

it is good!
When the time came, these guards attacked as planned, creating chaos, and Zhu Jingrong and he fanned the flames on the side, adding to the chaos. The ambushers lying in ambush on the periphery took the opportunity to charge in.

Great things will be accomplished!

His eyes swept over Fang Liang and the other ten or so guards around the pavilion.

Prince Wude is really as fearful and cautious as the legend says. He has done too many bad things! But it doesn't matter. When his ambush troops come in, the resistance of these guards will be in vain.

Zhu Shenjing calmed himself down and turned his attention back to Zhu Yijun. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he looked very confident.

Zhu Jingrong continued, "Today, I made an appointment with Old Nineteen to play in Nanyuan. I didn't want to see Your Highness here, so I hurried over to pay my respects."

Zhu Yijun laughed, "It's a rare opportunity for me to come to Nanyuan today. I didn't expect to meet two clan members. What a coincidence."

Zhu Jingrong pointed at the hot air balloon rising high in the distance and asked, "Your Highness, what is this?"

“Hot air balloon.”

Zhu Yijun replied calmly.

Zhu Shenjing suddenly said, "Such a big thing must have cost a lot of money and food."

"Prince Yongding, do you know how much money you spent as the head of the balloon group?"

Zhu Youfu quickly replied: "Before I took over, the project had been in place for eleven months, and cost 6,756 silver dollars. I took over for three months, and spent 3,116 silver dollars, of which the largest expense was the replacement of the balloon material. Expenses..."

Zhu Yijun waved his hand to interrupt him and said with a smile: "Prince Yongding, I didn't ask you to report the account here for settlement."

Zhu Jingrong took out his beloved Western pocket watch, checked the time, and gave Zhu Shenjing a wink.

Zhu Shenjing said quickly: "I have a suggestion to make. The national treasury is in a tight spot, and the rice salaries of the vassal states and royal families have been reduced again and again. However, Your Highness has spent a huge amount of money on this strange and lewd trick. I am extremely saddened.

I earnestly implore Your Highness to understand the ancestral teachings, follow the ancestral system, respect the principles of heaven, honor the orthodox teachings, practice benevolent governance, and spread moral governance. Be close to virtuous ministers and stay away from treacherous and flattering people. Naturally, the government will be stable, the world will prosper, and the four seas will be peaceful. "

Zhu Yijun listened carefully at first, but after hearing a sentence, he couldn't help wanting to laugh, but he held it back. When Zhu Shenjing finished speaking solemnly, he really couldn't help it and burst into laughter.

Zhu Youfu said indignantly: "Hot air balloons are very useful. They can be used for marching, fighting, and patrolling borders. They can see thousands of miles away and gain insight into the enemy's situation."

Zhu Jingrong said on the side: "The security of a country lies in virtue, not in danger! How can we preserve the Ming Dynasty forever by resorting to war?" Zhu Yijun laughed even more happily and burst into laughter.

Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing were stunned. We were giving you such serious advice, but you were laughing so happily.

A tyrant, indeed a tyrant!

The foolish and immoral Crown Prince!

Our action of deposing the crown prince and returning power to the emperor is in compliance with the will of heaven and is a good deed that benefits the country and the people!

Zhu Youfu was also confused by Zhu Yijun's sudden smile and looked at him in surprise.

Zhu Yijun waved his hands and said with a smile: "I usually don't laugh, but I can't help laughing. It's too funny. Watching you two say the words that Hai Gong should say seriously, I think it's too funny.

It was as if two evil wolves with blood dripping from their mouths were telling me, “The lamb is so cute, how can we eat it!” Haha, so funny!

What's the funny part! Your Highness!
Your sense of humor is really unpredictable to us!

Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing looked at each other. This immoral prince was not only incompetent, but also a fool.

How did he come to dominate the country?
Such people can even undermine the emperor and suppress all the officials. It seems that all the civil and military officials in the court are just a bunch of good-for-nothings.

We are all descendants of Emperor Taizu. If Zhu Yijun could be a powerful crown prince, we may be able to be princes who rule our own country!

Furthermore, his family seized the throne from his nephew, so we, who are virtuous, may be able to take it!
There is more and more hope!
After Zhu Yijun finished laughing, he looked at Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing seriously.

"I know you two very well. The files on you two from the Imperial Guard and the Eastern Depot are so thick that they are taller than you two are.

He robbed people of their wives and daughters; he forced people to break up their families by lending money at high interest rates; when he couldn't buy people's houses, he set fire to them, which spread to the whole street and killed hundreds of people.
You have done so many evil things that it is hard to list them all! It can be said that you two, apart from looking somewhat human, have done nothing human at all.”

Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing's faces changed, and fierceness appeared in their eyes.

"Do you two have the nerve to talk about justice, virtue, and virtue? When these words come out of your mouths, it is simply an insult."

Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing's faces turned pale, especially Zhu Shenjing, who was violent by nature. When Zhu Yijun exposed his ugly deeds, he got hot-headed and stood up suddenly, wanting to commit murder.

Just as he stood up, a big hand pressed down on his shoulder, pressing down like a mountain, causing his legs to go limp and he sat back on the chair.

He turned around and saw four guards standing behind him and Zhu Jingrong. The guard who pushed him down was a bearded man, who was strong and muscular. He smiled at him, which was uglier than crying.

"You two, and those fellows in your clan society party, are a den of snakes and rats, working together for evil, and are truly the scum of the clan. It is a great misfortune for your family that you were reborn with the surname Zhu."

Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing's faces turned pale.

Damn, I've been discovered.

But we did it so secretly, how did we get discovered?

Is there a traitor among us?
Zhu Yijun seemed to see what they were thinking from the expressions on their faces and laughed: "You two still suffer from the lack of education. Read more serious history books and listen to less storytelling.

Do you really think that closing the door means holding a secret meeting, and that no one else will know if you hide in the room and discuss things? Do you really think that the only way to usurp power is to smash a cup as a signal?
History books have all been whitewashed by later generations, and what is written and said in them may not be true. What's more, you believe in the scripts that only serve to please people and stir up emotions!
It seems that you are not only poorly educated, but also have a problem with your IQ. Looking at the things you have planned, in order to cooperate with your rebellion, Jinyiwei and Dongchang, there are so many smart and capable people, look how they are embarrassed. "

Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing were still a little confused. What did the Crown Prince mean by these words?
Zhu Youfu's heart was moved when he heard this.
I gave them a chance, but they didn't cherish it!
Since you won't listen to my nice explanation, I will try to explain it to you in another way.

The two sentences that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said just now are still fresh in my ears.

Zhu Youfu had also heard rumors about the various actions of the Zongshe Party, but he never imagined that they would go so far!
He recruited assassins and hid ambushes, smashed cups as a signal, and plotted treason and regicide!
Now Zhu Youfu understood even more clearly that without the secret instructions of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the secret cooperation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, the bunch of useless people of the Zongshe Party would not be able to stage such a big scene.

Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing also realized that something was wrong and began to prepare a plan. They knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly to beg for mercy.

"I am ignorant and was coerced into doing this by Zhu Yuntan, the Prince of Baoding. I lost money in gambling and was coerced into committing this heinous crime by Zhu Yuntan. Please forgive me, Your Highness."

"Do you know why I chose you two?"

Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing raised their heads and shook their heads suspiciously.

"You two changed your ways and got the throne by chance. The other princes have been taught by the masters in the palace since they were young, and they know that there are some things that they must never do.

You are different. In your ignorant minds, you think this conspiracy is just a game. You kowtow and beg for mercy, and then I will let you go because you are all descendants of Taizu?"

As Zhu Yijun finished speaking, he heard the sound of muskets firing around him.

They rose and fell in unison, yet were perfectly aligned, like rows of soldiers calmly firing at the enemy.

As the dense gunfire rang out, the flesh on Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing's faces kept shaking.

"Did you see that balloon? It's the trick you all talk about. There are three people on it, holding telescopes, and they can see the entire Nanyuan clearly. They can see clearly where your ambushes are hiding, and then pass the information down.

The Jinyiwei and the soldiers of the Beijing Camp have already quietly separated and surrounded your ambush troops."

It's all over!
Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing sat limply on the ground.

Half an hour later, Song Gongliang came over with a team of military officers and reported: "Your Highness, 146 rebels were killed, 213 were injured, and 357 were captured. No one was left out."

"Okay, this play is over, and it's time for me to go back." Zhu Yijun stood up and took two steps. He turned around and saw Zhu Jingrong and Zhu Shenjing being held by four military academies. He couldn't help but walked forward and poked them hard on the forehead with his right finger.

"How dare you be called Zhu? You have pig brains!"

(End of this chapter)