Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

The execution lasted for two hours.

Blood flowed like a river at Caishikou, and it took three trips of water trucks to clean it up.

The people gradually dispersed, discussing among themselves as they went, all saying that His Highness the Crown Prince had rid the people of a scourge, which was a blessing for the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Li returned to the backyard of the government office.

Zhao Zhen was already waiting at the door, holding a thick booklet in his hands.

"Your Highness, this is the list of items seized. Please take a look."

Zhu Biao took it, casually flipped through a few pages, nodded and said, "Pack it up, escort it back to Yingtian, and remember to set aside some to purchase local grain and medicine to distribute to the poor people of Yangzhou."

"Yes!" Zhao Zhen accepted the order and withdrew.

Zhu Hui looked at his elder brother and suddenly said, "Brother, you've killed so many people, won't Father scold you when we get back?"

Zhu Biao put away the list and said calmly, "No, Father will only complain that I haven't killed enough."

He paused, then looked at his younger brother: "Second brother, do you know why twenty-seven people were beheaded this time, not twenty-six or twenty-eight?"

Zhu Li shook his head.

"Because the Ming Dynasty law stipulates that anyone who embezzles more than a thousand taels of silver shall be executed. These twenty-seven people have all embezzled more than ten thousand taels. I am acting in accordance with the law," Zhu Biao said calmly.

"What about those who were exiled?"

"One hundred strokes of the cane and exile for three thousand li are also provisions of the Great Ming Code. I, your elder brother, am a stickler for rules," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

Zhu Li nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

He felt that his older brother's eyes were a little cold when he said those words, but also seemed very warm.

It's quite contradictory.

In the afternoon, the flying boat stopped outside Yangzhou city.

The confiscated valuables filled fifty large carts and were escorted by the Imperial Guards overland to Yingtian.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Li then took a flying boat and left first.

As the airship ascended, the city of Yangzhou gradually shrank beneath its feet.

Zhu Li peered out the window and saw that the market area had been cleaned up and the crowd had gathered again, as if nothing had happened.

"Brother, those people are dead, what will happen to their families?" he suddenly asked.

Zhu Biao was drinking tea when he heard this. He put down his cup and said, "The family members of the ringleader, males over the age of fifteen, will be exiled, while female relatives and young children will be returned to their place of origin. The family members of accomplices will not be prosecuted."

"Oh... what if someone comes to seek revenge?" Zhu Hui said after thinking for a moment.

"Yes... so we must nip it in the bud." Zhu Biao nodded.

He spoke casually, but Zhu Hui understood.

Those who were exiled probably never reached their place of exile.

But he didn't ask any more questions.

The flying boat pierced through the clouds at a great speed.

From Yangzhou to Yingtian, the flying boat only takes one hour.

Zhu Hui looked at the scenery for a while, then felt sleepy and leaned back in his chair to doze off.

Zhu Biao continued reviewing memorials, occasionally glancing up at his younger brother's innocent sleeping face, a slight smile playing on his lips.

……

It was already evening when the flying boat landed outside Yingtian City.

Zhu Yuanzhang sent eunuchs to greet him outside the city.

"Your Highness, Your Highness Prince Wu, His Majesty is waiting for you to have dinner at Kunning Palace."

Zhu Biao nodded, exchanged carriages with Zhu Hui, and entered the palace.

Inside the Kunning Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang, Empress Ma, and Zhu Xiong Ying were all present.

Zhu Xiong Ying rushed over to Zhu Hui as soon as she saw him, crying, "Second Uncle! Second Uncle!"

Zhu Li picked him up and chuckled, "Xiong Ying, did you miss your second uncle?"

"Yes! Did my second uncle bring me anything delicious?"

"Uh... I forgot." Zhu Li scratched his head.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly, "This kid, all he knows is eating! Just like your second uncle!"

Empress Ma glared at him and said, "What are you saying? Li'er is just being honest."

The family sat down to eat.

During the banquet, Zhu Yuanzhang inquired about Yangzhou.

Zhu Biao gave a brief report: "One hundred million taels of silver were seized, twenty-seven ringleaders were executed, one hundred and forty-three accomplices were exiled, and the rest were not prosecuted."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Well done! These parasites deserve to be killed!"

Empress Ma said softly, "Biao'er, you must be feeling bad after killing so many people, right?"

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Mother, I'm just following the law. There's nothing to feel bad about."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted, "Your mother is too soft-hearted! If it were up to me, all those accomplices should have been executed! And they think they can justify embezzlement?"

Zhu Biao placed a piece of meat on his father's plate and said, "Father, only by acting according to the law can we win people's hearts. If we kill too many people, they will say that the court is tyrannical."

"So what if we're tyrannical! Are we afraid of what people will say?" Zhu Yuanzhang glared.

"Father, I am not afraid, but I must consider your reputation," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

Zhu Yuanzhang was finally satisfied and ate the meat heartily.

Empress Ma looked at her eldest son with eyes full of satisfaction.

Zhu Li buried his head in his food, occasionally picking up food for Zhu Xiong Ying.

After the meal, Zhu Yuanzhang took Zhu Biao to his study to discuss matters, while Empress Ma took Zhu Xiong Ying for a walk.

Zhu Hui strolled out of the palace alone and returned to the Prince of Wu's residence.

Inside the Prince's mansion, Guanyin Nu was waiting for him.

When she saw him return, her eyes lit up, but then she noticed the bloodstains on his boots and paused in surprise.

"Husband...are you injured?"

"No, it's someone else's blood. I killed twenty-seven people today, and the blood splattered there," Zhu Hui said honestly.

Guanyin Nu remained silent for a moment, then asked softly, "What happened...?"

Zhu Hui nodded and said, "My elder brother said that they stole money from the imperial court and also killed thirteen salt farmers."

"Oh..." Guanyin Nu didn't ask any more questions.

She grew up on the grasslands and knew that sometimes, killing was the most direct solution.

"Have you eaten?" she asked.

"We ate, we ate in the palace, wife, we found 100 million taels of silver in Yangzhou!" Zhu Li grinned.

Guanyin Nu stared wide-eyed and said, "So many?"

"Yes! My elder brother said it's enough to buy all the sheep in the entire Ming Dynasty!" Zhu Li was very excited.

Guanyin Nu chuckled, pulled him down to sit, and poured him tea.

Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing the two of them.

Outside the window, the night in Yingtian Prefecture was very quiet.

Zhu Li yawned and leaned on Guanyin Nu's shoulder.

"Honey, I'm sleepy."

"Then go to sleep."

The candlelight went out, and the room was filled with moonlight.

In the distance, in the imperial palace, the lights were still on in Zhu Yuanzhang's study.

Zhu Biao was reporting more details of the case, and Zhu Yuanzhang listened with frequent nods.

"Biao'er, you handled this matter brilliantly! You eliminated the corrupt officials, won the hearts of the people, and brought back so much silver!"

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "It's all thanks to Father's good teaching."

"Stop flattering me! But... twenty-seven people, isn't that a bit too few?" Zhu Yuanzhang said with a laugh, then paused and added.

Zhu Biao, his smile unchanged, said, "Father, twenty-seven heads are enough to intimidate the officials in Jiangnan. As for the rest, I will make my own arrangements."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him and understood.

My son is playing the long game, trying to catch a big fish.

Yeah.

He patted Zhu Biao on the shoulder and said, "Go on, get some rest. You've been tired these past few days."

"Yes, Father, you should rest early too."

Zhu Biao left the study.

Walking along the palace path, a night breeze blew by, carrying the coolness of early spring.

He looked up at the moon in the sky, then looked in the direction of the Wu King's Palace.

My second brother should be asleep by now.

I'll bring him some pastries I brought back from Yangzhou tomorrow; he loves sweets.

Zhu Biao smiled and walked towards the East Palace.

The moonlight stretched his shadow very long.

The night in Yingtian Prefecture remained quiet.

But some people will never see tomorrow's sun.