Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 327 Brothers quarrel! Obsessed!
"Brother, what are you looking at me for? Hurry up and take action. Opportunities are rare and will never come back."

Zhu Gaoxu didn't think there was anything wrong with his plan, and his eyes were shining with excitement.

“If you don’t take what heaven gives you, you will suffer the consequences; if you don’t act on your opportunities, you will suffer the consequences.” Zhu Gaoxu, who had never been fond of reading, also started reading.

He continued, "When you are alive, you should strive to make progress. When you need to do something great, you should risk your life. A real man is born in this world, how can he be depressed and inferior to others for a long time?"

"Brother, you were such a heroic man in the past, why are you so timid now?"

"Has working under Zhu Yunhuan for two years wiped out your ambitions?"

"The King of Chu once said, 'If you don't make a sound for three years, you will be astonished when you make a sound', and then the State of Chu became the hegemon of the Spring and Autumn Period."

"You and I have been dormant for two years, living under someone else's roof, enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens."

"Now, it's time to rise up and spread our wings."

"Brother, spread out your hidden wings, extend your retracted claws, and dig out your buried ambition."

"Let's do a great job today, brothers, to make a name for ourselves through the ages and to establish a great Ming dynasty!"

As he spoke, he was filled with heroic spirit, as if he was brave enough to move forward and kill anyone who stood in his way.

Zhu Gaochi sighed softly and said, "You first worked in the Taxation Department, and now you work in the Ministry of Justice. Don't you know the procedures of the various departments in the court?"

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but be stunned.

Whether he was in the Commissioner of Taxation or in the Ministry of Justice, Zhu Gaoxu never cared about the specific details of the work procedures.

When he was the Commissioner of Taxation, his job was to support the tax officials under him and confront the princes, ministers, high-ranking officials, nobles, and royal relatives.

He takes on all the work that offends people.

But as for the specific procedures and such minor matters, there were people below who would handle them. Why would he, the chief tax commissioner, need to personally inquire about them?
As for the Ministry of Justice, Zhu Gaoxu had already been "sidelined" by those below him, and the details of the working procedures below had nothing to do with him.

Moreover, in Zhu Gaoxu's view, these were things that the unknown minor officials had to do, and were not something that he, as the head of the Ministry of Justice, should be concerned about.

Zhu Gaochi saw his expression and knew that he really didn't know, so he explained, "Since the new emperor ascended the throne and established the Military Affairs Office and the Political Affairs Office, the rules have been set."

"All official documents from the Military Affairs Department and the Political Affairs Department shall be communicated to lower levels through multiple lines."

"That is to say, there are more than one official document issued by the Government Affairs Office."

"In addition to giving it to the Ming Dynasty's Assets Department, we will also give one copy to each of the military factories below."

"Although the Military Affairs Office will not issue a notice to us, it will issue a notice to the troops below and quickly dispatch personnel to enter the military factory."

"It's like the official documents sent by the Administrative Office to your Ministry of Justice. If the matter is related to the provincial censors, a copy will also be sent to the provincial censors."

"This is a clear stipulation by His Majesty the Emperor. It is also to prevent the lower-level bureaucratic agencies from deliberately suppressing and delaying the implementation of official documents after receiving them."

"Although the official document from the Administrative Affairs Office only sets a general direction, the specific implementation details still need to be formulated by the Ministry of Justice and then issued."

"The same thing happened with the military factory."

"The specific implementation details will have to wait for my court assets department to issue them."

"Or they can formulate specific implementation rules themselves and submit them to the Imperial Assets Department for review and approval."

"But there are no specific implementation rules, only a general principle, which is enough for the officials below to know how to act."

"Tell me, at this time, if I issue an order that completely violates the regulations of the Administrative Affairs Office, who would dare to listen to it?"

Zhu Gaoxu was immediately as if poured with a basin of cold water, and his enthusiasm was instantly extinguished. He said in a daze: "There is such a rule, how come I didn't know about it at all?"

Zhu Gaochi glared at him angrily and said, "You just keep arguing with people and offending them all day long, but you are totally hands-off in practical matters. How can you know these things?"

"You may not know that all official documents issued by the Political Affairs Office and the Military Affairs Office are now in triplicate, right?"

"One copy will be kept in the Administrative Office for future reference, and two copies will be sent to each ministry and province."

"One is to prevent it from being lost along the way, and the other is that one copy will also be archived in each ministry and province."

"Each ministry has a time limit for processing official documents from the date they are received."

"At the fastest, it will take three to five days; at the slowest, it will take seventy days."

"The time taken to handle the problem is directly counted into the official's performance, affecting his evaluation, promotion and career."

"If the deadline is exceeded and the matter is still not handled, the offender may be given a warning or even dismissed from his post or even sentenced to prison."

"I have this document in my hand now, and there is another one."

"It's just that the officials who received it have directly filed it into the warehouse."

"But this is not a top-secret document. I am not the only one who has seen it."

"The officials below also knew about it. Even within the Assets Department, I couldn't hide it."

Zhu Gaoxu was stunned when he heard this.

Although he was also the head of the Ministry of Justice, this was the first time he had heard the term "warning and demerit".

He had no idea what official documents were "archived into the warehouse".

I never thought that Zhu Yunhuan would come up with so many things.

It seems that I really should pay more attention to these trivial matters.

In the Ministry of Justice, aren't those abominable clerks using the excuse that they don't understand practical matters and procedures to undermine me?
I was thinking about it, but then I remembered that the procedures and regulations were cumbersome and complicated, which made me feel overwhelmed. I immediately shook my head and stopped thinking about it.

"Brother, is there really no other solution?"

Zhu Gaoxu still did not give up.

Zhu Gaochi shook his head and said earnestly: "Our brothers' current situation is not bad. Father is also in charge of the clan affairs office and is above the other kings."

"Why don't we just be honest and live peacefully?"

"Why bother with rebellion?"

"Besides, do you really think that they can achieve great things relying on those vassal kings?"

"You have also seen the methods used by the current emperor."

"How advanced is that?"

"In terms of talent, he is unrivaled in the world."

"In terms of martial arts, the new army he created is invincible."

"I used to work at the Daming Manufacturing Bureau, and I know how powerful he is."

"Do you know how many of the products produced by the many factories under Daming were produced under his personal guidance?"

"No one has ever seen those things. They have never existed in this world."

"But he can think of it and ask his subordinates to create it."

"Take the steam engine for example. It's so complicated, but he was able to come up with it out of thin air and firmly believed that he could build it."

“I can’t even imagine how he came up with that.”

“There are many, many more.”

Zhu Gaochi's face showed admiration, mixed with a hint of fear and inexplicable complex emotions.

When I think of how powerful Zhu Yunhuan was, and the countless unique, strange, and very useful ideas in his mind, I feel that no one could succeed in a rebellion.

This person can only be described as unfathomable and unreachable.

Who can compare with him?

Zhu Gaochi advised: "You have no idea how powerful, terrifying, and horrible he is!"

"I now feel that many of the things in his mind must have been told to him by God."

"Otherwise, he couldn't have figured it out. It doesn't make sense."

"He is the true dragon emperor who has descended to earth, and is destined to become the emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

"Brother, just stop now and don't rebel anymore."

"It's never too late to turn back!"

He paused, and said, "If you listen to my advice, then go and see the emperor right now."

"Tell him honestly what you discussed with the King of Zhou."

"Report the rebellious intentions of the princes."

"I believe he will be magnanimous and will not pursue your sins too much."

"After all, with so many princes being punished, he would definitely keep one or two of them to show his love to the world."

"Otherwise, if the news gets out, it will be embarrassing for him and his reputation will be bad."

"Brother, let's go now."

Zhu Gaoxu's expression changed drastically, and he suddenly screamed, "I don't believe it." "What do you mean the real dragon emperor descended to earth?"

"Grandpa Huang is the true dragon emperor who has descended to earth. All of our Zhu family's descendants have the blood of the true dragon emperor flowing in their veins."

"But Zhu Yunxun is not the only one who has it."

"What's more, he is now a traitor who has imprisoned Grandfather the Emperor, and he has no affection for his uncles and cousins."

"He has violated the laws of heaven, and heaven will punish him."

"What's the point of knowing poetry and prose? Song Huizong and Li Houzhu, who were both proficient in poetry and prose, didn't they become the kings who lost their country?"

"The emperor's ability has never been in poetry and prose."

"As for his military achievements in building a new army, isn't it all thanks to the muskets and cannons that your Daming Manufacturing Bureau made for him?"

"Without muskets and artillery, the new army is nothing."

"The reason why the Ming Dynasty can have such high tax revenue today is also due to the commercial taxes collected by the Taxation Bureau I founded."

"Otherwise, the expenses of the new army are so high, and he can't afford to support several brigades of new troops."

"When we first founded the Daming Military Academy and seized military power, it was Dad who took the lead in becoming my disciple, which made the generals submit to him."

"Otherwise, everyone will be like Li Jinglong, the Duke of Cao. Can he kill Li Jinglong, all the ministers, and all the nobles and generals?"

"After all, the three of us, father and son, have made great contributions to Zhu Yunhuan's current success."

"If we can lift him up, we can pull him down."

Suddenly, Zhu Gaoxu thought of something, and grabbed Zhu Gaochi's clothes in surprise, saying: "Rules are dead, but people are alive."

"The current military factory chiefs were all promoted and recommended by you."

"Although the Ministry of Personnel will conduct assessments and appointments in the future, the Ministry of Personnel is not familiar with the factory's business, and the first thing they will adopt is the assessment and opinions of your court's Assets Department."

"To put it bluntly, their future as officials is still in your hands."

"I just don't believe they dare to ignore your orders."

"Brother, please issue the official documents immediately. I will go to the military factory to get the muskets and artillery."

"Although the official document from the Administrative Affairs Office has been issued, there are no specific implementation details yet. It is even more impossible for the people sent by the military to the factory to take up their posts so quickly. It will take some time just to select the right officials."

"It's not too late."

"The military factory will not dare to disobey your orders."

"What procedures, what court regulations, it's all bullshit."

"When actually doing things, there are many things that violate the process regulations."

"I just don't believe that those officials would dare to insist on following the procedures in front of you, their immediate superior, and dare to offend you without any compromise!"

He looked at Zhu Gaochi eagerly, his eyes full of hope and extremely excited.

"Brother, my good brother!" Zhu Gaochi was so angry that he said, "Have you gone astray? Why are you so stubborn and stubborn?"

"You used to be such a smart person, are you so confused now?"

"You don't even need to think about it. There are hundreds of thousands of guns and a large number of artillery. Not to mention that the court has now made regulations and the government affairs office has issued an official document."

"Even if the imperial court has no regulations and no official documents, with such a large quantity, how can the military factory dare to open the warehouse to take the goods without asking for an official document and confirming that it is correct?"

"For such a big thing, do you think they will give it to you with just a piece of official document?"

"You don't want the head, but others do?"

These words were like thunder, exploding in Zhu Gaoxu's ears.

Yup!

Hundreds of thousands of guns, what a big deal!

The chief officer of the military factory is not crazy, how could he open the warehouse and take the goods simply based on a piece of official document?

We must ask for review and confirmation to make sure it is correct!
After all, this matter was too strange and completely different from usual.

Even if the chief officer is crazy, the lieutenants under him would not dare to listen.

This matter is of too great importance. I am afraid that the first reaction of officials at all levels after seeing the official document will be to immediately consult their superiors through various channels to inquire about the truth of the matter!
The military factory is just outside the city of Jinling, not far away. It is easy to send people to the palace to inquire about the Political Affairs Office and the Military Affairs Office.

What's more, the dual-chief system is now everywhere. In addition to the chief officer in charge, there is also a supervisory officer.

Even if the chief officer agrees, the supervisor will definitely disagree.

Thinking of this, Zhu Gaoxu's heart completely cooled down, and he murmured, "Is there really no way out? Is there really no way out? Is there really no way out?"

Zhu Gaochi looked at his "devil-possessed" brother in front of him, sighed deeply, and said, "Brother, come with me to see father, and then we will discuss how to apologize to His Majesty."

"I won't go!" Zhu Gaoxu let go of the hand that was grabbing Zhu Gaochi's clothes, jumped back and stepped back several steps.

"There is another way." His eyes, which had darkened, suddenly lit up again: "Brother, first sign the official document and ask the military factory to issue 3,000 guns."

"This is the normal amount of equipment for a new military brigade. The commander of the military factory will not suspect anything because of this."

"Once I get the guns, I will take those people and control the military factory in one fell swoop."

"At that time, all the muskets and artillery will be at my disposal."

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense to him. He couldn't help but laugh out loud and applaud himself.

Zhu Gaochi looked at his brother, shaking his head with a very complicated look.

Why won’t you listen to my advice?

Is the obsession so deep?

"Brother, I will never accompany you in this matter, nor will I give you any official documents."

Seeing that his persuasion was ineffective, Zhu Gaochi could only put on a stern face and refuse sternly.

He was too lazy to say any more unnecessary words.

"Brother, do you really not want to be the emperor?" Zhu Gaoxu pleaded: "As long as you nod and agree, in the future, you will be the emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

"From now on, you will be above all others, and everyone in the world will prostrate themselves at your feet and pay homage to you."

“What an honor this is?”

"This is what a real man should be like when he is born between heaven and earth!"

"Do you just like kneeling in front of Zhu Yunxun and letting him do whatever he wants?"

"If he lets you live, you can live; if he lets you die, you have to die."

"Whether he wants to beat you or kill you is up to him. You have no power to resist and can only obey his orders."

"Brother, does this feel good?"

"Have you forgotten how he deducted your three meals a day and left you hungry every day when you first entered the Wu Wang Mansion?"

"Have you forgotten how he spanked us and made us feel miserable?"

"Brother, please wake up quickly."

"Come with me and do something big."

"Pull Zhu Yunhuan down from the throne."

"Let him kneel before us and confess his guilt!"

"Let him also have a taste of being beaten and hungry!"

Zhu Gaochi listened to him, but found every word harsh and could not help but slowly close his eyes.

After a while, he opened his eyes again and looked deeply at the mad Zhu Gaoxu. His complicated expression slowly calmed down. He said coldly: "Have you finished speaking? If you have, please leave."

"Brother, you..." Zhu Gaoxu's fiery eyes slowly turned into hatred: "Don't you have any regard for brotherhood at all?"

"I cannot go along with the traitors who are plotting rebellion." Zhu Gaochi's voice became colder and colder: "If you don't leave now, I will send someone to see you off."

"Hmph! Okay, I'm leaving!" Zhu Gaoxu was so angry that he stamped his feet repeatedly and his face turned cold.

Then, he left without looking back.

Looking at his brother's departing back, Zhu Gaochi's expression, which had just turned cold, became complicated again, and he whispered to himself:
"My brother is so obsessed that I'm afraid he won't give up."

"We should report this matter to our father immediately and ask him to stop it."

Thinking of this, Zhu Gaochi could no longer sit still.

He left the Imperial Assets Department and went straight to the house where Zhu Di was.

……

(End of this chapter)