Yongle Emperor's grandson: Zhu Yuanzhang with cheats, Zhu Di went crazy

Chapter 200 Only the crying child gets the food

With high expectations, Zhu Zhanjun led the fleet and almost never stopped except for leaving Xiaohu and some soldiers in Malacca.

Maritime trade began to develop slowly, and the importance of Malacca also became apparent. Zhu Zhanjun needed someone he trusted to guard there.

Since the ideal candidate has not been summoned yet, Zhu Zhanjun asked Xiaohu to stay there for a while.

After returning to the Qiongzhou Naval Base, Zheng Zilong will send a reliable person to replace Xiaohu and let Xiaohu return with Zheng He's fleet.

Xiaohu was very depressed when he learned that he would have to stay in this remote place for nearly a year.

When Zhu Zhanjun left, this guy was standing at the harbor, just like the Husband-Waiting Rock, and Zhu Zhanjun got goose bumps all over his body.

They rode at full speed all the way and finally arrived back to Ming Dynasty before the monsoon was about to end.

Looking at the Ming Navy flag rising in the distant port, Zhu Zhanjun felt an indescribable sense of intimacy.

You promised me that you would go back the next year, but now you are almost gone.

Counting the time, we have now entered the eleventh year of Yongle.

Zhu Zhanjun sniffed and ordered the fleet to dock.

After inspecting the construction of the Qiongzhou seaport and understanding the current situation of the navy, Zhu Zhanjun returned to the Ming Dynasty with satisfaction, taking the spoils sent by Xu Da.

After destroying so many countries, the treasures obtained from their treasuries are almost innumerable.

Things like jade, ivory and gems were packed in boxes.

The gold and silver melted down from some gold and silver decorations amounted to more than 400 million rubles of silver and more than 20 rubles of gold.

Zhu Zhanjun sighed that if one wanted to get rich quickly, plundering other countries was the fastest way.

After returning to the Ming Dynasty, the fleet was not in such a hurry and arrived at Taicang Wharf on September 27, the 11th year of Yongle.

"Back, back!"

"Crackling..."

As the fleet approached the dock, cheers and firecrackers rang out from the shore, making the atmosphere particularly festive.

"Your Highness, it seems to be His Majesty's guard of honor."

Having followed Zhu Zhanjun for more than a year, the two little girls from Jinxiu Quan and Qiu's family no longer had the childishness of young girls on their faces, but had more of the grace of women.

However, the little girl Qiu Yu is still quite lively.

Seeing the imperial procession on the shore, he couldn't help but point at the shore and cheer.

"Snapped!"

Qiu Xue, who was standing next to her, raised her hand and slapped away her sister's hand that was pointing at the guard of honor.

"It's out of order. Can your Majesty's guard of honor be pointed at with your hands?"

Qiu Yu stuck out her tongue and hid behind Zhu Zhanjun.

"You guys go into the cabin first."

Seeing the welcoming team on the shore, Zhu Zhanjun sent the four women into the cabin first.

Sailing on the ship was boring. Apart from going into the space to chat and being pulled over by Lao Zhu to work, it was these four women who kept him company.

Although she is his woman, in this era of strict ethics, it is still not appropriate for women to show their faces in public.

The four women nodded and went into the cabin, leaving Zhu Zhanjun alone standing on the deck.

"This brat is finally back. He's been gone for almost two years. I thought he was having too much fun out there and didn't want to come back."

On the dock, the old man held his waist and complained dissatisfiedly.

Zhu Pangpang on the side smiled along, but his eyes were fixed on the fleet.

As a father, he also cares about his son.

As the crown prince, he also knew that by the time his son returned this time, the situation in the south had probably been resolved.

When the fleet docked, Zhu Zhanjun was the first to get off the boat and walked quickly towards the old man and others.

When he quickly arrived in front of the old man, he lifted up his robe and knelt down: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. I wish you good health."

"Humph!"

The old man snorted, but then a smile appeared on his face. He walked forward and pulled Zhu Zhanjun up.

Looking his grandson up and down in front of him, the old man's eyes were filled with indescribable joy.

After experiencing the baptism of war, his grandson finally matured.

Looking at that resolute face and sizing up the figure that was half a head taller than himself, the old man felt very satisfied.

Young, handsome and majestic, he looks exactly like he did when he was young.

"Okay, just come back."

After that, he looked at the fleet and lowered his voice and said, "I heard that you made a lot this time. Two plus one equals five. Let's split the profits fifty-fifty as per our old rule."

The smile on Zhu Zhanjun's face froze instantly. This old man was still so greedy for money.

"Grandpa, you are a little too greedy. I sent soldiers, I fought in the war, I took risks, why should it be a 50-50 split?"

The old man squinted at Zhu Zhanjun and said, "Just because I am your grandfather and the emperor, is that enough?"

Zhu Zhanjun opened his mouth, but he was speechless.

He hummed twice as a sign of agreement, but in his heart he was secretly thinking about how to get the money back from the old man.

The old man did not make a big fuss during the welcome this time. Only he, Zhu Pangpang, and Zhu Zhanjun's people came.

Among them were the Minister of Personnel Jian Yi and Xia Laokou who couldn't escape no matter what.

Looking at the old man surnamed Xia, whose eyes were fixed on the cargo ship, Zhu Zhanjun stepped forward and stood in front of Xia Yuanji.

"What are you looking at?"

Xia Yuanji didn't even look at Zhu Zhanjun, and replied calmly: "I'm looking at my money."

Zhu Zhanjun showed a teasing expression on his face: "Where is your money?"

Xia Yuanji then slowly withdrew his gaze, put his hands in his sleeves and looked at Zhu Zhanjun calmly.

"Your Highness, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, all spoils of war and confiscated property must be turned over to the Ministry of Revenue. This is an iron law of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Zhanjun turned his head and looked at the old man.

This old guy definitely did it on purpose.

Zhu Zhanjun planned to secretly dock and not fire his gun just to avoid these things.

I didn't expect that the old man actually brought Xia Laokou here. He seems to be planning to eat it all.

He could see that the old man had no intention of taking the 50% and decided to give it directly to the Ministry of Revenue. In the current situation, if the old man wanted the court to support him to continue fighting in the north, he had to give the Ministry of Revenue and others some sweet treats.

After realizing all this, Zhu Zhanjun looked at the old man with such hatred that his teeth were itching, he wanted to pounce on him and bite the old guy.

The old man pretended not to see it, and looked at the soldiers getting off the boat with his hands behind his back, as if he cared about the soldiers very much.

"Old Xia, are you serious about playing?"

Zhu Zhanjun lowered his voice and reminded Xia Yuanji not to forget their relationship.

Xia Yuanji looked at Zhu Zhanjun, sighed bitterly, and said in an almost pleading voice: "Your Highness, please give me the money. The Ministry of Revenue is really out of money. Your Majesty will have to go to war next year, and the officials' salaries must be paid this year. We also owe you money for the weapons and equipment for Tiangongfang."

"If the Ministry of Revenue doesn't make some money, I'll really have to pawn my pants."

"When I was in court, I saw that every guy looked like a corrupt official, so I wanted to impeach him and then raid his house."

"I understand what Your Highness means, but Your Highness, please understand me. If I really don't care about feelings, Your Highness, do you think that the share you made in the slave house can be put into the warehouse of the Veteran Chamber of Commerce?"

Looking at the other person's pitiful appearance, Zhu Zhanjun also sighed.

Given their relationship, it was obvious that the Ministry of Revenue really had no money that Lao Xia chose to be so shameless.

Come to think of it, it seems very likely.

The old man didn't spend a penny of the gold and silver that the slave house got, he put it all into his own pocket.

Xia Yuanji had never made any plans for Zhu Zhanjun.

Although the Veterans Chamber of Commerce pays taxes every year, the imperial court is too powerful.

The construction of the Forbidden City, the old man's imperial mausoleum, the dredging of canals in various places, the dredging of the North-South Canal, the salaries of officials, the annual salary of the prince, and so on, all required the Ministry of Revenue to pay for it.

Without the main income, where would Lao Xia be able to earn so much money?

What made Old Xia even more uncomfortable was that he knew Zhu Zhanjun and the old man had a lot of income, but he could only watch the money pass by and could do nothing.

Therefore, Zhu Zhanjun was determined to take the war spoils he brought back.

"Okay, I'll give you all the gold and silver, but I'll keep the jewels and various rare gems for myself. Is that okay?"

After all, they were his subordinates, so Zhu Zhanjun felt that he should be more considerate of them.

Besides, it’s just a few million taels of silver. The mountains of gold and silver in the Nufu are enough to be used for cultivation for many years, so this little bit is not a big deal.

"Ha ha…"

Hearing Zhu Zhanjun's agreement, Xia Yuanji, who had been looking distressed, smiled instantly and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Then, with Zhu Zhanjun speechless, he turned around and waved to the distance, shouting at the top of his voice: "Come here quickly, get the money, get the money."

A huge convoy came from afar, and there was the dog with a money bag hanging on it that Zhu Zhanjun was very familiar with.

"You little brat, are you really willing to give him so much money?"

Looking at the Ministry of Revenue staff who were happily moving money from the boat, the old man walked up to Zhu Zhanjun and asked with a smile.

Zhu Zhanjun looked back at the old man and answered seriously, "I am the grandson of the Ming Dynasty."

"Haha, great grandson!"

The old man laughed heartily, put his arm around Zhu Zhanjun's shoulder, and walked towards the carriage in the distance.

Zhu Zhanjun doesn't have to worry about the rest.

Xia Yuanji and Qiu Yuan, who has rushed over, will settle everything.

The carriage was shaking, and the grandfather, grandson, father and son were sitting in it.

The old man took a sip of tea, squinted his eyes and said, "Since the defeat of Bayanchur and Alutai, Mahamu of the Oirat has controlled most of the northern grasslands."

"This guy is quite arrogant and rejected my good intentions."

"I plan to march north next year to teach this disobedient Mahamu a lesson."

Zhu Zhanjun, who was refilling the old man's tea, nodded.

"It just so happens that I have nothing to do next year, so my grandson will go with you."

The old man hummed, then asked, "How many people can you remove from your troops?"

Zhu Zhanjun didn't even think about it and replied directly: "How many more people can we have? I only have that many troops under my command. You know that, old man."

"Haha, that's just a few troops."

The old man chuckled and said, "You little brat, you just want to fool me. You have at least 8 troops under your command who can fight. Don't think I don't know."

Zhu Pangpang, who was sitting opposite and listening to the conversation between the grandfather and grandson, looked at his second son in shock.

He didn't expect that his son had developed so rapidly in just two years and had such a large army under his command.

"About 30,000 troops. Other troops are busy suppressing local forces and cannot be mobilized."

Zhu Zhanjun had no fear of his little secret being discovered and made his decision easily.

The old man smiled.

After returning to Jinling, Zhu Zhanjun first went to pay a visit to Empress Xu, and the family had a reunion dinner.

The next morning, Zhu Zhanjun got up from the imperial farm early and went to Tiangongfang.

Xu Shou reported to him yesterday that the steam engine experimental ship and the generator light bulbs were ready for experimentation.

He also talked about it with the old man. The old man was very interested when he heard that there was a kind of boat that could sail freely on the water without sails or waiting for wind, and there were also lamps that did not need oil or candles.

Said I would go and have a look tomorrow.

However, when Zhu Zhanjun arrived at the place, he was surprised to find that the entrance of Tiangong Workshop was filled with all kinds of carriages.

The old man, Zhu Pangpang, was leading the civil and military officials, waiting there.

"Why did you bring so many people?"

Zhu Zhanjun asked the old man in a low voice.

The old man glanced at the civil and military officials who were standing in line and preparing to follow him in, and whispered back, "These country bumpkins always think that Tiangongfang is a waste of money, and they keep clamoring to shut it down."

"Well, today is a good opportunity to let these guys know what it means that there are always people who are better than you."

"By the way." The old man whispered again: "If it is something confidential and can be seen at a glance, don't take it out. I don't trust these people."

Zhu Zhanjun smiled confidently: "That's not necessary. Let them take a look at the things inside, even if they study them all night, they won't be able to figure it out."

If you are not a professional, you cannot understand the principles of scientific research just by looking at it once.

Led by the old man and Zhu Zhanjun, the group walked into Tiangong Workshop.

Many officials looked at the workshop and sneered in their hearts.

They want to see what is so magical about this legendary Tiangong Workshop that is said to have helped the Ming Dynasty to revive.
(End of this chapter)