The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

Boom boom boom!

Zhu Xiong Ying's order had just been given.

A series of footsteps came from the direction of the execution ground.

"Get out of the way! Everyone get out of the way!"

Amidst the cursing and swearing, the crowd split in two.

Lan Yu's figure then came into view.

His great-uncle, wearing a black gauze hat, a bright red round-necked robe, a sword at his waist, and black boots with pink soles, led a large group of officials and strode forward.

Such a stance is far too high-profile!

If you didn't know better, you'd think Old Zhu had come.

"Your subject, Lan Yu, greets His Highness the Crown Prince! May Your Highness be well!"

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Zhu Xiong Ying had no choice but to get out of the sedan chair, and with a smile, helped him up, saying, "Uncle, please rise! Everyone, please rise!"

"Gentlemen, you have worked hard here to oversee the executions!"

He said a few polite words.

Zhu Xiong Ying pulled Lan Yu aside and said sincerely, "To be honest, Uncle!"

"We just visited the Duke of Wei and the Duke of Han, and happened to pass by this place, so we turned back to the palace gate!"

"Who would have thought that I would run into my great-uncle here, overseeing the execution of a wanted criminal, and that before his death, Censor Wu, Xiong Ying had promised him something..."

Lan Yu was very pleased to find that the imperial grandson was so kind and considerate.

Upon hearing the name of the Korean general, General Lan frowned.

His eyes couldn't hide his contempt and disgust!

The reason for this is not only because they look down on Li Shanchang's character and personality!

More importantly, he belongs to the iron-fisted princeling faction and the eldest grandson faction.

From a personal standpoint, there are numerous conflicts with Li Shanchang's faction.

But after learning the reason why his nephew had helped the censor collect the body, he immediately felt deep respect!

Lan Yu hurriedly said, "This execution ground is filled with a chilling aura, and Your Highness is of noble birth. I will send some men to escort Your Highness back to the palace via Zhengyang Gate!"

"As for Wu Yong, who should be executed according to the law, if Your Highness trusts us, then let us handle the matter and find him a good burial site..."

Upon meeting his maternal uncle, Lan, he resolved to help his grand-nephew!

They are not afraid of getting into trouble at all.

Zhu Xiong Ying thought for a moment, then did not refuse the offer, saying, "Then I thank you, Uncle!"

Upon hearing this, Lan Yu laughed heartily, "That's right! Your Highness's affairs are my affairs..."

"However, I have something to say, and I'll be frank: that Duke of Han is not a good person..."

Li Shanchang had a good meal of crickets.

Only after his nephew left did Lan Yu feel satisfied and return to the high platform.

He took the list of those to be added from the clerk, glanced at it briefly, and said with a cruel smile, "Guo Heng and Zhao Mao were the ones who brought the prisoners..."

"Verify its identity, peel off its skin and stuff it with straw!!"

……

Inside the warm pavilion of the Huagai Hall.

Since the morning court session, Zhu Yuanzhang had been sitting at his desk, receiving one group of officials after another.

Some had heard rumors that a group of high-ranking officials from the Six Ministries who were imprisoned were to be executed today, and rushed over to plead for their lives!

Some reports were given in person, including details of investigations and arrests in various locations...

Regarding the former.

Given Zhu Yuanzhang's temperament, he naturally ignored it.

However, regarding the latter, he considered some of the advice given by Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

He was in a dilemma!

Because it started a month ago, in order to crack down on the gentry in Jiangnan.

As a result, in less than a month, a total of 10,000 people were arrested.

This has led to widespread overcrowding in prisons across the country!

Among them, wealthy households and clerks from the Zhili and Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commissions accounted for the vast majority!

We cannot kill all the people here, nor can we keep them under guard indefinitely, and we certainly cannot release them directly!

How can we intimidate the court and the public, strengthen imperial power, and benefit the country and its people?

This is indeed an urgent problem.

Snapped!

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the memorial on the table and sneered, "What kind of nonsense did those good-for-nothings in the Hanlin Academy write? Are they trying to fool us like this?"

Having said that, he ignored the trembling eunuchs.

Old Zhu glanced out the window and saw that it was getting late.

At this time of year, our eldest grandson always returns from the main hall.

I haven't seen anyone today, no wonder I feel restless and a bit uneasy!

"Hasn't our eldest grandson returned to the palace yet?"

The emperor uttered a single, casual remark.

In an instant, no one dared to be the first to answer.

Remain silent; at worst, you'll get a beating!

However, in the past month, the emperor was in a bad mood and dared not say the wrong thing.

They'll be chopped up and fed to dogs.

"Grandpa, your grandson is here!"

Upon seeing the eldest grandson of the emperor, followed by several junior eunuchs, they entered together.

Everyone seemed to see a lifeline, their eyes filled with tears of gratitude.

As Zhu Yuanzhang's expression softened, he frowned and said, "Judging from what I see, our eldest grandson will be back from outside quite late today. Could something have happened?"

Old Zhu was in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

To find out his whereabouts, just ask Mao Xiang.

By then, nothing will be able to be kept secret!

Zhu Xiong Ying walked over and stood beside the dragon throne. She first poured tea for her grandfather, then helped him remove his winged crown and massaged his head, saying, "Grandfather, this matter is quite a long story!"

"Take a rest, relax, and let your grandson tell you all about it..."

But I felt my grandson's little hand circling around my temple.

As usual, the headache and fever all disappeared.

Zhu Yuanzhang, marveling at the sight, lay comfortably on the dragon throne and waved for the others to leave.

However, her phoenix eyes lingered for a moment on the cloth bags that Sanbao and the other eunuchs had put down, a thoughtful look appearing in her eyes. She smiled and said, "Oh? What trouble has our eldest grandson run into?"

Zhu Xiong Ying took his time and started by talking about visiting Li Shan Chang.

Hearing his former strategist admit his inadequacy and lack of ability to teach his beloved grandson anything more, he was deeply moved.

Old Zhu's expression kept changing as he said, "The Duke of Han is indeed intelligent. You know what, this is the first time we've met him, and he's already willingly admitting defeat..."

"He really is our eldest grandson!!"

After patting his head, Zhu Xiong Ying hurriedly patted his back, saying, "Of course! Doesn't the Duke of Han even realize that his grandson grew up under his wing?"

"Those are my imperial grandfather and imperial grandmother!"

This made Old Zhu happy.

They talked about Xu Da, the Duke of Wei, and everything that happened inside and outside his mansion.

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, "For decades, Tiande has remained unchanged!"

"I still remember when he came to join us during the recruitment season. His manner of speaking and making a sound surpassed all others; I felt he had the talent of a great general!"

"And Tiande has never let us down. If it weren't for his illness, we would have liked to let him lead the northern campaign..."

After Lao Zhu finished expressing his feelings.

Zhu Xiong Ying raised a question.

"Grandpa, do you think smallpox can be cured completely?"

Why is our grandson asking about this?

Anyone with eyes can see that...

Zhu Yuanzhang paused, then suddenly remembered.

My eldest grandson seems to have gone to the Imperial Hospital today!

He paused for a moment, then sighed, "From ancient times to the present, smallpox has been considered a divine punishment! Since the Qin and Han dynasties, countless renowned doctors and sages have been helpless against it..."

The Guoyu states: "If the ruler's actions are not in accordance with the laws of Heaven, the virtues of Earth, or the principles of the people... then those who act in such a way will surely be unrestrained."

The so-called divine punishment is precisely the punishment sent down by Heaven.

For example, during the Eastern Han Dynasty, under the influence of Dong Zhongshu's theory of the interaction between Heaven and Man, when a large-scale epidemic occurred, not only did the emperor have to issue an edict of self-reproach, but the three highest officials, including the Minister of Works, also had to resign to take responsibility.

However, after the Song Dynasty, with the rise of Neo-Confucianism, the binding force of this concept and theory was much weaker than before.

When the Ming Dynasty came to power, Zhu Yuanzhang believed that he was the one destined by Heaven and abolished the position of prime minister.

You want us to punish ourselves?

joke!

He placed more emphasis on practical implementation and established a complete set of disaster relief systems, such as public pharmacies and reserve warehouses.

They noticed that Old Zhu had turned his head to look at them, his expression full of inquiry.

Zhu Xiong Ying didn't keep them in suspense and said, "Grandfather, what if there were a way to prevent smallpox?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's breath hitched as he stared at his beloved grandson's face.

He tried to calm himself and said in a deep voice, "Really?"

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded and said, "Grandpa Emperor, it couldn't be more true!"

"This matter is of great importance; how could your grandson dare to lie?"