Huangming

Chapter 450 Old Feuds within the Prince's Household, Using the Pretext to Make a Scene (Bonus Chapter for 2200 Monthly Tickets!)

Late June of the second year of the Tianqi reign.

Xuanfu.

The provincial capital.

The midday sun shone on the bluestone street, reflecting a dazzling light. Even the wind felt scorching, blowing against one's face like being wrapped in a hot cloth.

Most of the people on the street had changed into shorts and shirts, some were shirtless with coarse cloths draped over their shoulders, wiping away sweat from time to time.

The migrants who used to huddle in street corners are gone, replaced by farmers carrying farm tools.

They were newly gathered refugees, hurrying towards the newly reclaimed land on the outskirts of the city. Their steps were heavy, but their eyes showed a sense of steadiness.

It was cooler inside the main hall of the governor's mansion than outside.

Inside the hall, a worn bamboo curtain hung, blocking most of the scorching sun. On the table was a basin of freshly boiled well water, the steam rising and slightly dispelling the heat.

Xiong Tingbi was dressed in a plain robe, without an official hat, his hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, holding a thick "Xuanfu Refugee Registration Book" in his hand. His fingers traced the densely packed names on the pages, his brows furrowed slightly, but he could not hide a trace of relief in his eyes.

"Lord General, these are the final statistical results."

Ma Shilong stood before the desk, his general's uniform making him appear even more upright, though beads of sweat glistened on his forehead.

"In the six counties of Xuanfu, a total of 600,327 people were registered, including both refugees and existing residents."

"Six hundred thousand..."

Xiong Tingbi put down the booklet, his voice tinged with emotion.

He remembered that when he first arrived in Xuanfu, the official population register only showed 400,000 people, but after the rebellion, the population increased by 200,000.

These hidden people were either farmers evading taxes, or families of soldiers who had fled, or ordinary people who had been displaced by war and were hiding in the mountains and fields.

"With so many hidden, it's no wonder that taxes in Xuanfu are always hard to collect and military rations are often in short supply."

Ma Shilong sighed and added:
“Lord Jinglue, a larger population is a good thing, but problems also arise.”

Most of these newly added people had no land and needed to be allocated land.

The best land in Xuanfu had long been occupied by powerful clans and military garrisons; what remained were either hillside land or sandy soil near the border wall, yielding very poor harvests.

As he spoke, he took out a map of Xuanfu from his pocket, spread it on the table, and pointed to two blue lines on the map.

"There are some good plots of land in the valleys and plains along the Yanghe and Sanggan Rivers, but those areas have already been fully developed. Even the corner plots have been planted, so it's difficult to expand cultivation there."

Xiong Tingbi's gaze fell on the map, and he said:

"The climate in the northern border region is inherently unfavorable for farming. It is cold and dry, and the growing season for crops is nearly a month shorter than that in the Central Plains. Sorghum and millet can barely be harvested for two seasons, but wheat will most likely freeze if planted."

With military settlements taking up 30% of the arable land and horse pastures occupying another 20%, civilian arable land was already scarce. Now, with the addition of 200,000 more mouths to feed, the situation is indeed challenging.

"But there is a way."

First, construct water conservancy projects.

The water from the Yanghe and Sanggan Rivers shouldn't be wasted. We should have people build canals along the riverbanks to divert the water to the nearby sandy land, improve the soil, and eventually create more fertile land.

Second, the exemption of taxes on newly reclaimed land will be determined on the condition that it will never be subject to taxation again.

For any newly reclaimed wasteland by displaced people, no grain tax will be levied for the first ten years, and after ten years, only 30% tax will be collected. This will incentivize them to continue cultivating the land.

"Never give up on the exam?"

Ma Shilong paused for a moment, then nodded.

“This is a good idea! The garrison had tried land reclamation before, but the taxes were too heavy and no one was willing to do it. If we exempted them for ten years, many people would definitely be willing to go.”

“And crops.”

Xiong Tingbi continued, "This strategist had some sweet potato seeds transported from the capital. These are drought-resistant and high-yielding, and can be grown even on hillsides. Moreover, the stems and leaves can be used as fodder for livestock."

Then send someone to Shaanxi to get some drought-resistant sorghum and millet seeds, distribute them to the refugees, and teach them how to plant them.

The land north of the Great Wall must be planted with hardy crops.

He picked up the pen on the table and wrote down several instructions on a piece of paper:
Investigate the lands concealed in Xuanfu, and reclaim all farmland seized by powerful local figures.

The abandoned land in the military settlements was repurposed for civilian use and allowed to be cultivated by displaced people.

Recruit craftsmen to repair the old irrigation canals of the Yanghe and Sanggan Rivers, and then dig two new branch canals.

They transported sweet potato and sorghum seeds and sent agricultural officials to guide the cultivation.

“Lord General, this way the problem of land annexation can be suppressed.”

Ma Shilong looked at the instructions on the paper, his eyes filled with admiration.

“Previously, the powerful families in Xuanfu occupied too much land, leaving the displaced people with no land to cultivate, which is why they followed Wang Guoliang in causing trouble. Now that the land has been investigated and taxes have been exempted, the displaced people have a way to survive, so naturally they will no longer rebel.”

Xiong Tingbi nodded and said with a smile:

"It would be good if it could be suppressed for several decades."

Land annexation is a chronic problem that no dynasty could cure.

All I can do is take advantage of this rectification to establish rules, prevent powerful families from arbitrarily seizing land, and ensure that displaced people have land to cultivate and food to eat, so that Xuanfu can be peaceful for decades to come.

As for decades from now...

That's a matter for future generations; I can't possibly arrange everything for them.

“Solving the Xuanfu matter is already a tremendous achievement, why dwell on it for decades?” Ma Shilong said from the side.

"You're right. If we can do well for these few decades, that's enough."

Xiong Tingbi said softly, his tone carrying a hint of relief.

at this time.

A hurried voice came from behind.

"Lord General! Urgent report from Datong! A secret letter from Eunuch Zhang!"

The guard lifted the curtain and entered, his temples already soaked with sweat, holding an envelope sealed with wax in his hands.

The envelope was stamped with the vermilion seal of "Zhenjianfu" on one corner, clearly indicating that it was delivered by fast horse.

He knelt on one knee, holding the secret letter high, his voice filled with urgency:

"The messenger says the matter is of great importance; please take a look immediately!"

Xiong Tingbi raised an eyebrow slightly and put down the wolf-hair brush in his hand.

He stood up, took the secret letter, flicked off the sealing wax, pulled out the letter inside, and unfolded it to examine it closely.

The handwriting on the paper was slightly hasty and messy, but it clearly described the changes at Willow Creek Manor:
Wang Wei's initiative to inform on the truth, Hei Lian'er's poisoning to silence her, the capture of her two young sons, and news of Wang Wei's frequent visits to the Prince of Dai's residence.

The hall fell silent instantly, with only the intermittent chirping of cicadas outside the bamboo curtain.

Xiong Tingbi's gaze slowly swept over the letter, his brows gradually furrowing, not in panic, but in deep thought.

"General, what has happened?"

Standing to the side, Ma Shilong noticed Xiong Tingbi's solemn expression and couldn't help but ask.

We were just talking about land reclamation in Xuanfu, how come the atmosphere changed so much after a secret letter arrived?
Xiong Tingbi handed him the letter, his tone calm:

"See for yourself. Wang Wei is bolder than Wang Guoliang in Datong."

Ma Shilong took the letter, quickly scanned it, and his expression changed instantly.

"That Wang Wei!"
They dared to collude with the Prince of Dai and even dared to kill someone to silence them!
My lord, this matter cannot wait!
You must lead your troops to Datong immediately; any later, and who knows what trouble he might cause!

Having witnessed the arrogance of the rebels in Xuanfu, he feared that Datong would suffer the same fate, leading to another bloody battle.

Xiong Tingbi suddenly smiled. He walked to the window, lowered the bamboo blind again to keep out the summer heat, and spoke with a confident and composed tone:
"What's the rush? To destroy someone, you must first make them mad."

Ma Shilong was stunned: "What does the Grand Coordinator mean..."

Xiong Tingbi slowly said:
“If I go to Datong now, Wang Wei will definitely back down and hide his true colors when he sees me.”

“He is well hidden, so it will be difficult for us to investigate. At most, we can only charge him with ‘harboring a traitor’ and execute him. But what about the deeply entrenched forces in Datong?”

His son-in-law Liu Zhenbang and the garrison commanders he bribed will remain in their positions, and will continue to be a potential threat in the future.

“But if we wait any longer, Wang Wei will become even more presumptuous if he sees that I am not going and that he has the support of the Prince of Dai.”

He will feel invincible and will reveal more of his true colors.

Perhaps they embezzled more military rations, or perhaps they condoned the riots of displaced people, or perhaps they even had dealings with Mongol tribes.

"Only then can we go and wipe them all out, eradicating the chaos in Datong completely, just like we did in Xuanfu, and thoroughly rectify the situation."

Ma Shilong suddenly realized what was happening, and the anxiety on his face gradually faded, leaving only admiration:

"The Grand Marshal's considerations are indeed thorough!"
My subordinates were only thinking about calming things down, but they didn't expect to eliminate the root of the problem.

"And the Prince of Dai."

Xiong Tingbi changed the subject, his tone becoming more cautious.

"He was a descendant of the founding emperor, a prince of the imperial clan. Although he had no real power, he represented the face of the royal family."

Whether or not we can take action against him, and how we can do so, is not something I, a mere military commander, can decide.

“If His Majesty decrees that ‘it can be investigated,’ then we can investigate; if His Majesty says that ‘it is necessary to avoid suspicion,’ then no matter how much evidence we have, we cannot touch him in the slightest.”

In that case, they might be accused of 'bullying the royal family,' which would be a net loss."

Ma Shilong then realized that Xiong Tingbi wasn't in no hurry, but rather that he was thinking further ahead.

We must both eliminate evil and abide by the rules, and not allow ourselves to fall into a passive position.

"So what should we do now?" Ma Shilong asked.

"Two things."

Xiong Tingbi held up two fingers.

"First, send a secret memorial by fast horse to the capital, detailing Wang Wei's collusion with the Prince of Dai and his murder to cover up the affair, and earnestly request Your Majesty's decision:"

Is it possible to investigate the identity of the Prince of Dai?

How should we handle the situation in Datong?

Second, we should remain in Xuanfu and solidify our foundation.

Xiong Tingbi brought up the county gazetteers of Xuanfu and said:

“Look, there are salt lakes on the grasslands of Xuanfu. They were previously occupied by powerful families, but now they have been taken back. Craftsmen have been sent to refine salt, which can not only solve the problem of salt for the people, but also transport it to the Central Plains to sell and earn taxes.”

The iron and copper mines south of the city, which had been abandoned due to the desertion of military households, are now being mined by recruited refugees. The mined materials are being used to make farm tools, which are then distributed to farmers who are reclaiming the land. Additionally, some weapons are being cast to replenish the border troops.

There are also coal mines in Xishan, which can provide heating for the people in winter and also power the furnaces for iron smelting.

Only by revitalizing these resources can Xuanfu truly become self-sufficient.

"At that time, we will no longer need to rely on the capital's funds to support the border troops, and we can even send silver and grain to the capital."

"This is the best way to repay His Majesty's kindness."

It's not enough to simply quell a rebellion; we must ensure long-term peace and stability in Xuanfu, making it a model for the nine border regions.

Ma Shilong was deeply moved, and his previous worries about Datong had completely vanished.

He straightened up, cupped his hands, and said:
"Understood! I will make the arrangements immediately."

Send a secret memorial to the capital, and also send people to investigate the situation at the salt lakes and iron mines, and recruit craftsmen and displaced people as soon as possible to start construction!

"it is good."

Xiong Tingbi nodded, sat back down at his desk, and picked up the wolf-hair brush.

"Regarding the matter of Datong, we await His Majesty's decree."

We can't wait to deal with the situation in Xuanfu.

You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to go step by step.

"If we handle Xuanfu well, even if Wang Wei causes a ruckus in Datong, we'll have the strength to deal with him."

"The strategist is truly wise!"

the other side.

Capital.

It was already July of the first year of the Tianqi reign.

At this moment, the capital city felt like it had been thrown into a steamer.

The red walls and glazed tiles of the Forbidden City absorbed the summer heat, and even the floor heating in the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace was hot. The ink on the memorials on the table had thickened slightly after only a short while.

Therefore, Zhu Youxiao decisively changed his work location.

The Guanghan Palace on Qionghua Island is surrounded by a pool of clear water. The weeping willows on the shore reach down to the water's surface, and when the wind blows, the cool fragrance of lotus blossoms drifts into the palace's vermilion windows.

At this moment, Emperor Zhu Youxiao of the Ming Dynasty was leaning against a soft nanmu couch in the palace.

He was only wearing a plain white silk robe, with a jade hook belt around his waist. He was not wearing a crown, and his hair was tied up with a red gold hairpin. He looked more relaxed than when he was in the Qianqing Palace.

On a small table beside the soft couch was a bowl of chilled plum juice, with water droplets clinging to its celadon exterior.

The concubines standing in the palace each had their own unique posture.

Consort Liang, Wang Wanbai, dressed in a light pink palace gown, was sitting on a small stool, holding a round fan in her hand, gently fanning Zhu Youxiao. The fan was embroidered with light orchids, and her movements were gentle, as if she was afraid of disturbing him from reading the memorials.

The beautiful Yu Peizhen stood beside the desk, holding a stack of newly opened memorials in her hands. Every now and then, she would use a silver pick to select the important ones and hand them to Zhu Youxiao.

Her pale green palace dress made her skin appear even whiter, and her eyes sparkled with a lively spirit, yet she dared not utter a word.

Even more eye-catching were the two women standing at the corner of the hall. The one on the left wore a dark blue Mongolian robe with silver cloud patterns embroidered on the hem, and a coral hairpin in her hair. Her skin was a healthy honey color; she was none other than Namuzhong.

She was originally a concubine of Ligdan Khan, but later fell into the hands of Huang Taiji. She was then sent to the capital by the Ming army. Because of her stunning beauty, she was kept in the palace without any official rank.

The woman on the right has a gentle and graceful demeanor. She is Su Qin, who was also a former concubine of Ligdan Khan. She entered the palace with Namuzhong.

The two stood there, one radiant and the other gentle, creating a unique scene within the hall.

Zhu Youxiao would occasionally raise his eyes, his gaze sweeping over them, a faint smile playing on his lips.

People say that emperors are fond of beautiful women, and he does not deny it, but he knows his limits.

Keeping Ligdan Khan and Huang Taiji's former concubines by his side may have had some romantic undertones, but more importantly, it was about the emperor's sense of control.

These two women knew a lot about the inner workings of the Mongolian tribes, and by occasionally asking them questions, they could obtain some secret information about the border regions.

As for the thrill of "cuckolding" Huang Taiji and Ligdan Khan, that was just a side effect.

"Your Majesty, the memorial from Jiangnan."

Yu Peizhen gently reminded him and handed over a memorial marked "urgent".

Seeing that Zhu Youxiao's gaze fell on Namuzhong but did not linger, she knew that although His Majesty had the desire to appreciate her, he would never become obsessed with her. At that moment, she felt more at ease to submit her memorial.

Zhu Youxiao took the memorial and quickly scanned it.

Yuan Keli reported that the floods in Jiangnan showed no signs of abating.

The rain keeps falling.

The disaster situation in the provinces south of the Yangtze River has become even more severe.

Zhu Youxiao frowned, put down his vermilion pen, and said to Wei Chao, "Have someone send this memorial to the cabinet and have Ye Xianggao arrange for the allocation of grain immediately."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wei Chao bowed in agreement, summoned a young eunuch, gave him a few careful instructions, and then returned to his desk.

Zhu Youxiao picked up another memorial, which was a report on the military situation in the nine border regions sent by the Ministry of War.

It details the achievements of Xiong Tingbi's reforms in Xuanfu:
Six hundred thousand refugees were gathered, ten thousand acres of new wasteland were reclaimed, and even many deserters from military settlements returned.

His eyes lit up when he saw the sentence, "Xuanfu can be self-sufficient and does not need funding from the capital."

"Xiong Tingbi has indeed not disappointed me."

Finally, Zhu Youxiao picked up a memorial from Tianjin, which was sent by Mao Wenlong.

The memorial stated that he had already led his troops to the Penghu Islands, but encountered a hurricane, which damaged the ships, forcing him to return to Tianjin for repairs.

On the return journey, they encountered pirates. Although they repelled the pirates, they lost several ships.

Even more troublesome was the fact that a merchant ship sailing from Tianjin to Guangzhou was robbed off the coast of Fujian. All the silk and porcelain on board were lost, and only three crew members escaped. They claimed that some of the pirates were dressed in official robes.

Mao Wenlong also said that he had sent people to Fujian to investigate, and if any local officials were involved, they would be brought to justice.

Zhu Youxiao frowned.

"Pirates are already audacious enough to rob merchant ships under the supervision of officials; if officials are involved, they are colluding with the bandits!"

"Order Mao Wenlong to send more men to investigate thoroughly. Whoever is found, whether it's the prefect or the general, should be dismissed and arrested first, then reported to me!"

What he hated most was officials colluding with bandits to prey on the people, especially in the coastal areas. If this was tolerated, it would surely become a major problem in the future.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wei Chao quickly responded and noted down the imperial decree.

Outside the palace, on the Taiye Pond, several water birds skimmed across the surface, creating ripples.

Zhu Youxiao put down the memorial, picked up the plum juice and took a sip. The coolness slid down his throat, dispelling some of the summer heat.

He looked up at the lotus flowers outside the hall, his eyes filled with a sense of clarity.

Although he was surrounded by beautiful women and the palace was cool and refreshing, he never forgot that he was the monarch of the Ming Dynasty.

For him, romantic love was a pastime; the real foundation lay in the floods in Jiangnan, the safety of the nine border regions, and the suppression of bandits on the coast.

The sky was gradually darkening.

Soon it will be time for dinner.

at this time.

A figure walked briskly with a stooped posture.

It was Wang Tiqian, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

He carried a stack of tightly bound documents wrapped in yellow silk in his arms, his steps light and hurried.

"Your Majesty, all the secret reports for today have been presented."

Wang Tiqian walked into the hall, first kowtowed to Zhu Youxiao on the soft couch, and then carefully picked up the secret memorial and handed it to Wei Chao with both hands.

Zhu Youxiao put down his vermilion brush and glanced at the stack of dense memorials.

He picked up the plum juice and took a sip. The coolness had just helped to quell some of the summer heat when he asked:
"Are any of these people from the Nine Borders, Tianjin, or Jiangnan?"

These three places are what he cares about most.

With the floods in Jiangnan just stabilizing, Tianjin is crucial to the coastal defenses, and the Nine Garrisons are the foundation of military power. Therefore, secret reports from other places can be postponed for the time being.

Wang Tiqian quickly looked up and said:

"Your Majesty, yes! There is a secret report from Zhang Wei, the eunuch in charge of Datong, and another from Xiong, the military commissioner of the Nine Borders, who sent it from Xuanfu. They are both at the top."

"Oh?"

Zhu Youxiao immediately perked up and took the two secret memorials from Wei Chao.

He flicked open the sealing wax with his fingertips, pulled out the letter, and quickly scanned it with his eyes.

The text details the murder case at Liuxi Manor, as well as the interactions between Wang Wei and the Prince of Dai's Mansion.

Followed by.

He then unfolded Xiong Tingbi's secret memorial, which not only analyzed the troop deployment in Datong, but also specifically mentioned that "Prince Zhu Naijun of Dai is suspected of plotting rebellion, and His Majesty needs to decide on the matter."

The hall fell silent instantly.

After reading the two secret memorials, Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

The reorganization of Xuanfu went smoothly. He originally thought that Datong was just another "Xuanfu", but he did not expect that it would also involve the vassal kings.

The Prince of Dai was a descendant of Emperor Taizu. Although he had no real power, he held the title of "Prince" and was much more difficult to deal with than ordinary generals.

"The Prince of Dai..."

Zhu Youxiao murmured the two words, his eyes suddenly brightening as if he had remembered something.

He turned his head and looked at Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who was standing beside a pillar in the palace.

Wei Chao was an old palace servant who had served since the Wanli era and knew the most about the past affairs of the imperial family.

"Wei Banban".

Zhu Youxiao's tone carried a hint of curiosity.

"I recall that the family affairs of this Prince's residence seemed to have been somewhat turbulent in the past?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao quickly stepped forward, bowed, and replied in a respectful and cautious tone:

"Your Majesty is wise! The Prince of Dai's residence did indeed have a 'dispute over the succession of the small state,' which caused quite a stir during the Wanli era."

He paused, and seeing that Zhu Youxiao did not interrupt, he continued to explain in detail.

"When the current Prince of Dai, Zhu Naijun, was still the Prince of Xinning, his principal wife, Lady Bian, did not give birth to a son."

In the fifth year of the Longqing reign, he and Pei, a maid who accompanied Bian, had a son, who later became Zhu Dingwei.

However, at that time, the imperial court had new regulations: only concubines in the prince's mansion who were registered were considered "concubines"; those who were not registered were considered "illegitimate concubines." The sons of "illegitimate concubines" could only be considered commoners and could not be granted titles.

The Pei family wasn't registered, so Zhu Dingwei initially struggled to even have his name recorded in the clan register.

Zhu Youxiao paused, holding the plum juice in his hand, signaling him to continue.

"Later, after Pei died, Zhu Naijun favored a woman surnamed Zhang. He even petitioned the court to register Zhang as a 'concubine' and to register Zhu Dingwei under Zhang's name."

Wei Chao lowered his voice even further.

In the thirteenth year of the Wanli reign, Zhang also gave birth to a son named Zhu Dingsha.

After Zhu Naijun inherited the title of Prince of Dai, he bribed the Ministry of Rites to promote Zhang to the rank of secondary consort.

Lady Zhang constantly whispered in Zhu Naijun's ear, persuading him to make Zhu Dingsha his heir.

Coincidentally, at that time, Prince Zhou had just submitted a memorial stating that many members of the imperial clan had falsely reported their offspring. Li Tingji, the Vice Minister of Rites, then ordered the various princes to confess. Zhu Naijun surprisingly volunteered to report, saying that the previous report had incorrectly identified Zhu Dingwei's birth mother; in fact, Zhu Dingwei was born to a concubine, Lady Pei, and should not inherit the title. Zhu Dingsha, on the other hand, was the legitimate son born to a secondary concubine and should be established as the heir apparent.

"Li Tingji still gave his support?"

Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow and asked, his tone tinged with surprise.

"Yes."

Wei Chao nodded.

Li Tingji believed that "there is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children," and Emperor Shenzong also approved that "the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children should be clarified."

In the thirty-fourth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, someone was sent to officially appoint Zhu Dingsha as the heir apparent.

Zhu Naijun felt guilty; even though Zhu Dingsha had been married for several years, he hadn't dared to ask for permission to hold a wedding.

It wasn't until the thirty-ninth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, when Li Tingji became a Grand Secretary and had Weng Zhengchun, the Vice Minister of Rites, urge him, that Zhu Naijun finally sent a young singer named Ye Mei with money to the capital to bribe him.

At this point, Wei Chao's tone became more complex:

"As a result, Ye Mei and her accomplice Zhang Zhengguo turned against each other, and Zhang Zhengguo reported the matter to Peng Weicheng, a censor, and even gave him a thousand taels of silver to impeach him."

Peng Weicheng arrested Ye Mei, confiscated her bribes, and submitted a memorial exposing the secrets of the Dai Prefecture, even mentioning the "Great Power Struggle" during the reign of Emperor Shenzong.

At that time, Consort Wang, the mother of Emperor Guangzong, was of lower status than Consort Zheng. If the Dai family had set a precedent of "a son gaining status through his mother," Consort Zheng might have used that precedent to help Prince Fu seize the throne.

Zhu Youxiao's face gradually darkened.

His father, Zhu Changluo, suffered neglect in the Eastern Palace. If Emperor Shenzong hadn't finally relented, the throne would never have been his.

The "small-scale struggle for the throne" in the Prince of Dai's mansion almost became a stumbling block on the path of Zhu Changluo, the father of Zhu Changluo, to seize the throne.

This personal grudge can be used.

"and after?"

Zhu Youxiao's voice turned colder.

"Later, the court debated fiercely, with most officials supporting the eldest son, Zhu Dingwei, while only two officials supported Li Tingji."

Wei Chao sighed.

Emperor Shenzong kept delaying until Zhu Dingsha died in the 45th year of the Wanli reign, when he finally relented.

Before his death, Zhu Dingsha expressed his willingness to let his brother inherit the title. However, some members of the Prince of Dai's household wanted to appoint another son as heir. After this was exposed, Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe seized the opportunity to request that Zhu Dingwei be appointed as the heir apparent, and Emperor Shenzong finally agreed.

After hearing this story, Zhu Youxiao suddenly sneered, threw the secret memorial in his hand onto the table, and his voice carried a hint of ruthlessness:

"What a fine Prince Dai's Mansion!"

"A mere princely clan dared to meddle in the 'legitimate' and 'illegitimate' conflict, and almost disrupted the very foundation of the imperial court!"

He stood up, walked into the hall, and glanced at the concubines and eunuchs inside, his tone resolute.

"Issue my decree to issue an order to Xiong Tingbi:"

If Prince Zhu Naijun of Dai commits any act of disloyalty, there is no need to report to the emperor; he can be arrested and placed under house arrest first, and then escorted to the capital for trial!

Wang Tiqian and Wei Chao immediately knelt down and responded in unison:

"The slaves obey the orders!"

Yu Peizhen stood aside, secretly alarmed.

Your Majesty's concern is not only for the military power of Datong, but also for the "struggle over the foundation of the state" that the late Emperor faced.

The old grudge of the Prince of Dai's Mansion became the perfect pretext for reforming the imperial clan.

Zhu Youxiao's gaze fell on Taiye Pond outside the window, and his eyes showed a hint of calculation.

This wasn't the only sordid incident at the Prince Dai's Mansion. Over the years, there had been constant reports of them encroaching on farmland and extorting money from merchants, but no one had dared to investigate before.

Now, taking advantage of the opportunity to rectify Datong, we can also clean up the Prince Dai's Mansion.

He has been on the throne for so long, and after dealing with the Prince of Chu and the Prince of Fu, he hasn't dealt with these vassal kings for a while.

These vassal kings seem to have forgotten who the true masters of the Ming Dynasty are.

"besides."

"When Xiong Tingbi inspects the Prince's residence, he should also take stock of their assets."

The princes and nobles of the imperial family were incredibly wealthy, and Datong was short of military funds; their confiscated property could be used as military supplies.

The thought of the gold, silver, jewels, land deeds, and farmland in the Prince Dai's mansion made Zhu Youxiao's hands itch.

This eliminates both the hidden dangers and fills the gap in military pay. Why not do something that kills two birds with one stone?
Wei Chao quickly agreed, but inwardly he was astonished.

His Majesty is serious now; the Prince of Dai's mansion is likely doomed this time.

ps:
Bonus chapter with 7,000 words!
This wave of officials has been diligent in their duties.

I'm righteously asking for monthly votes! And for subscriptions!!!

(End of this chapter)