The First Prince of the Ming Dynasty

"Eunuch Zhang, take care." After leaving the Leopard House, Jiang Bin quickly caught up with Zhang Yong, who was heading back to prepare for the expedition.

Zhang Yong sized up Jiang Bin, his tone tinged with reproach, "Governor Jiang, you've been so eager for quick success lately. Why do you have to push His Majesty to launch a western expedition?"

It's clear that Zhang Yong is blaming Jiang Bin for his trip to the Northwest.

Jiang Bin said with a wry smile, "Can't Eunuch Zhang see that it's actually Commander Qian who's orchestrating all this? We're all in this together now."

At this moment, Jiang Bin was also very afraid that if he went to Xuanfu, he would lose everything he had gained.

"Hmph!" Zhang Yong sneered.

In his mind, he probably already categorized Qian Ning and Jiang Bin as the same kind of people.

Jiang Bin said, "Furthermore, haven't you noticed that Commander Qian has been speaking up for Prince Ning all along? He's probably taken a lot of benefits from Prince Ning behind the scenes, and now he even wants to help Prince Ning's son be adopted into His Majesty's family? Isn't this disrupting the established order?"

"So what?" Zhang Yong seemed unwilling to pay attention to the matter.

Because Zhang Yong also received many benefits from Prince Ning.

Jiang Bin said, "So, does that mean we'll have another young master from now on?"

One sentence brought out Zhang Yong's deepest concerns.

Who would want to find themselves a young master for no reason?

The fact that the emperor hasn't designated an heir is actually a good thing. At worst, if the emperor has another son in the future and suddenly has to adopt a member of the imperial clan, should they choose to be loyal or rebel?

Zhang Yong said coldly, "None of us have ever seen this person, so let's not rush to conclusions."

Jiang Bin suggested, "Has His Majesty already issued an edict to send that child with us to Xuanfu? If that's not appropriate, perhaps we should... strike first?"

"Don't do anything reckless." Zhang Yong realized that Jiang Bin was now even plotting to kill Qian Ning to prevent him from colluding with the Prince of Ning's faction.

Jiang Bin said, "No matter what that child says, he will never be of one mind with us. He is still the son of Prince Ning, and the court will rely on Qian Ning."

Zhang Yong paused for a moment, then said, "Qian Ning himself doesn't want to go to the Northwest, so he's sending us. Once we get to Xuanfu, we'll naturally find out who that kid really is. And that Tang Yin, if he's truly incorrigible, we certainly have many ways to deal with him! As for you… Governor Jiang, stop thinking about having His Majesty personally lead the expedition; it doesn't benefit us at all! You've really had your fill of comfort and don't know your place!"

……

……

At this time, Tang Yin, Zhu Yi, and Gongsun Jin were on their way north to the capital.

That day, Gongsun Jin prepared to bid farewell to the others and ride quickly to the capital. He came specifically to say goodbye to Zhu Yi.

"Young Master, my purpose in heading north is to make preparations ahead of time. Once I arrive in the capital, I will arrange everything you require and be ready to serve you at any time." Gongsun Jin was very respectful to Zhu Yi, clearly regarding him as the leader of the Prince of Ning's faction.

Zhu Yi said, "Is it true that Mr. Gongsun needs to go and deliver gifts and pave the way in advance?"

Gongsun Jin smiled and said, "It was all ordered by the Prince. He hopes to use his connections to get the Emperor to personally lead the expedition as soon as possible, but he doesn't know if there's enough time. It's almost mid-April."

"It's not that easy," Zhu Yi said. "If the emperor wants to personally lead the expedition, many people in the court will oppose it. It's not something he can just do whenever he wants."

"That……"

Gongsun Jin looked confused.

Before setting off, Prince Ning told him to find Lu Wan, the Minister of War, and others, and try to provide necessary lobbying when the emperor intended to personally lead the expedition, so as to clear the obstacles in the court for the emperor's personal expedition.

Now they're saying the emperor can't leave?

Zhu Yi said, "Let me be frank. In history, Emperor Wuzong wanted to go to the Northwest to govern the army many times, but he returned empty-handed each time. Once, he even reached Juyong Pass, but was stopped by the officers and generals guarding the pass. Later, he left without saying goodbye and finally got the opportunity to go to the Northwest, where he stayed for nearly two years."

Gongsun Jin asked, "Young Master, do you mean... we don't need to rush this time?"

Zhu Yi nodded and said, "I'm more interested in what arrangements the emperor will make this time. After all, he's unwilling to accept this. If he had a strategist who could predict the future movements of the Tatars and even make predictions about the Mandate of Heaven, he would be even more eager to act. He would definitely take some action."

"What do you mean?" Gongsun Jin asked tentatively.

"The emperor hasn't issued any new decree to Tang Yin yet, which means the emperor might have special arrangements for Tang Yin," Zhu Yi said. "At the current speed of travel, we should reach Bazhou in another four or five days. If Tang Yin is allowed to detour to Zijing Pass, the decree should be issued in the next couple of days."

Gongsun Jin asked in surprise, "You mean, His Majesty will issue an edict ordering Tang Yin to go to Xuanfu?"

"Hmm." Zhu Yi nodded. "He will likely send a general to assist him and arrange for Tang Yin to go to Xuanfu in advance. When the emperor is going to lead an expedition in person, in addition to the assistance of soldiers, he also needs military advisors and staff. Tang Yin, who is nominally able to predict the future and calculate the secrets of heaven, is his best helper."

Gongsun Jin suddenly realized, "I understand now. The emperor will first send those who can assist him to the northwest, and then when the time is right, he can go to the northwest alone? Should we proceed halfway there...?"

Does that mean we should kill the emperor halfway through the journey?

"Would it be of any use?" Zhu Yi asked. "At that time, would we even be in charge of the world?"

"Yes, I will listen to you." Gongsun Jin immediately realized that he had misspoke.

Assassinating the emperor is inherently a very risky matter. Whether the emperor lives or dies, there will be a thorough investigation. If it is found that the Ning Prince's Mansion is involved, then the Ning Prince's lineage will be in danger of being spared.

After all, Zhu Chenhao is not yet ready to rebel.

Even if Zhu Houzhao were killed, the matter of inheriting the throne would have absolutely nothing to do with the Prince of Ning's mansion.

Gongsun Jin said, "Then we hope to bribe some important officials in the court to recommend the young master to the emperor, so that he can be adopted by the emperor as soon as possible, once you become the crown prince..."

"The emperor will absolutely not make me the crown prince," Zhu Yi said with certainty.

"Why?" Gongsun Jin asked, still curious.

Zhu Yi said, "Historically, emperors have never intended to make anyone else their crown prince. So what if he adopted me as his son? Doesn't he have enough adopted sons already? Qian Ning, Jiang Bin, and others—aren't they all his godsons?"

Gongsun Jin smiled and said, "That's different, you are a member of the imperial family."

Zhu Yi sighed, "Even if the emperor wanted to pass the throne to me, there would be people in the court who would tell him that it was against the patriarchal system and that it would be impossible for the matter to happen."

Furthermore, the emperor is currently in his prime and has no chronic illnesses. He never believes that anything bad will happen to him in his youth. He is not the only emperor in the Ming Dynasty who had children late in life. Would he make arrangements for the succession of the imperial heir in advance?

"Then you..."

"They say they want me to strive to become the crown prince and inherit the throne of the Ming Dynasty, but that has to be done legally, right? My father sent me to the capital more as a hostage and to stir up trouble in the capital! All my efforts are just paving the way for the Prince of Ning's rebellion a few years later! Trying to obtain the throne through normal channels is harder than climbing to heaven!"

Zhu Yi is rational.

He was Zhu Houzhao's uncle, not even a member of the Yan vassal state. Zhu Di's lineage was not supposed to be cut off, so how could he easily obtain the position of crown prince, or even the right to inherit the throne?

Zhu Chenhao seemed to admire him greatly and entrusted him with important responsibilities.

In truth, only he knew that this son who went to the capital was more of a cannon fodder, and that it was only because Zhu Yi seemed to be a bit smarter than his second brother Zhu Gonggui that he was in Zhu Chenhao's interest.

Zhu Chenhao's ultimate goal was to become emperor himself!