The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

Inside Wenhua Hall.

After finishing their business conversation, Tong Biao's father...

Zhu Xiong Ying had an idea.

I recall hearing Empress Ma talk about it about half a month ago.

Zhu Gaochi and his cousins ​​will arrive in Yingtian Prefecture one after another before the Emperor's birthday, which is the 18th day of the ninth lunar month.

As the eldest grandson of the emperor and a good elder brother, how could he not go to greet him?

"Your son has something else to ask you about, Father!"

Zhu Biao paused slightly as he picked up the document, then said gently, "Ying'er, please speak freely!"

Zhu Xiong Ying said, "Grandmother was just mentioning a few days ago that my cousins, Gao Chi and the others, will be arriving in the capital around this month!"

"When Gao Chi and the others arrive in the capital, I plan to take my younger brothers, Yunwen and Yunwen, to the Longjiang Wharf to welcome them..."

Jian Biao's father stroked his beard, looking thoughtful.

He added, "After all, Gao Chi and the others have been away from the capital for many years, and this is their first time leaving their fiefdom. As the eldest son of all the imperial grandsons, I must not be negligent in my duties, and I must protect my younger brothers at all times!"

The following sentence truly captured Zhu Biao's concerns.

The crown prince nodded and smiled, saying, "Ying'er's words are excellent!"

"What your imperial grandfather valued most was harmony within the Zhu family! And as the eldest grandson, you should have set an example..."

"This protective heart towards his younger brother is more precious than anything else!"

"As for your second, third, and fourth uncles, they often say that guarding the borders in places like Beiping and Datong is no easy task! Even Gao Chi and the others, while they are staying in the capital, you should take good care of them, which can be considered as fulfilling the bond between uncle and nephew, and the brotherhood between brothers..."

Like Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao placed great importance on family ties.

In the early years, when Zhu Yuanzhang was on the front lines pacifying the country, Zhu Yuanzhang stayed behind to guard the rear and personally taught his younger brothers to adulthood!

Therefore, over the years, Zhu Di and others have genuinely respected and admired their elder brother, the Crown Prince.

Zhu Xiong Ying listened attentively and understood his father's good intentions. He quickly replied, "Your son will remember your teachings and will take good care of Gao Chi and the others!"

Seeing his son's composed and sensible demeanor, Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Yes, I grant permission for you to go and greet him!"

"As for your imperial grandfather and grandmother, they probably won't object!"

"According to news from the north, Gao Chi and the others should arrive in Yingtian Prefecture within the next three to five days! At that time, I will instruct the officials of the Eastern Palace to take charge of their welcoming arrangements!"

That night, inside the Kunning Palace.

Zhu Xiong Ying told Old Zhu and Empress Ma about her trip to personally welcome her cousin.

As expected, their closest relatives did not object!

After returning to his palace, he ordered Sanbao to bring him pen and ink, and began writing a letter at his desk.

This first letter of appeal for help was written to his second uncle, Zhu Shuang!

"Your nephew Xiong Ying bows and presents this to Your Highness, the Prince of Qin: Several years have passed since Your Highness took up your post in Xi'an Prefecture."

"Whenever I think of my second uncle guarding the northwestern frontier, resisting the remnants of the Mongol Yuan dynasty beyond the Great Wall, and comforting the people of Shaanxi in his fiefdom, working tirelessly day and night, I, your nephew, am deeply grateful!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he continued writing: "I know that my cousin Shangbing will soon be arriving in the capital to congratulate the Emperor on his birthday. Please rest assured, Uncle, I will take good care of him, guiding him in his studies and martial arts training, ensuring he suffers no hardship..."

After appealing to family ties, Zhu Xiong Ying finally got to the point.

"My nephew is writing this letter today not only to inquire after your well-being, but also because there is an important matter concerning you, my second uncle. I dare not entrust it to anyone else, so I can only write it down to you personally."

"However, in recent days, I have been serving by the Emperor's side and have seen that the Emperor often summons officials from the Hanlin Academy, the Ministry of Works, and the Imperial Observatory to the palace to consult on the maps of Guanzhong and the old site of the Chang'an Palace."

"In my opinion, it seems that there is a strong intention to move the capital westward and establish a foothold in Guanzhong. However, for you, my second uncle, this matter is a matter that affects the whole situation."

"I know that since you took up your post, you have worked hard to develop this region, and all your efforts have been devoted to it. If our Great Ming Dynasty were to move its capital here, all your years of hard work would be in vain."

"I am concerned for my second uncle, hence these words. I hope you will not take offense!"

The arguments presented here are not unfounded.

Since that day when Zhu Yuanzhang expressed his intention to move the capital to Biao'er's father, he had already instructed his court officials to begin preliminary research.

He made this clear not simply to scare his second uncle.

"Not only that, nephew, I heard a few other things that really worried you!"

"But since the grain theft case, the court has been rigorously rectifying official corruption. As far as I know, the Censorate has accumulated a thick stack of memorials impeaching you!"

"Some say that while you were in Xi'an, you privately made imperial and empress's clothing and gave it to your concubine, Lady Deng, which violated regulations and showed disrespect for the emperor. Others say that you levied exorbitant taxes and exploited the people of Guanzhong, conscripting tens of thousands of laborers to build palaces, causing widespread resentment."

"Some people also say that you abused palace servants, forcibly abducted women, and disregarded human life. They also said that you treated Wang, the principal wife whom your grandfather personally betrothed to you, harshly, while favoring the secondary wife, thus disrupting the proper order of legitimate and illegitimate children."

In fact, since the middle of the year, censors have filed complaints against the aforementioned crimes.

Old Zhu was completely focused on the grain theft case and paid no attention to any of this.

But as the news spread throughout the palace and beyond, his second uncle inevitably received a reprimand in order to appease the people.

"But rest assured, I am the eldest grandson of the Zhu family, and also your own nephew, Uncle. Blood is thicker than water between us. There is absolutely no reason for me to stand idly by and watch you fall into danger!"

"I will find an opportunity and plead with my grandfather on your behalf..."

Zhu Xiong Ying did everything in his power to make grand promises to his second uncle, Zhu Shuang.

Finally, they revealed their true purpose.

"However, in the aforementioned matters, only by achieving something tangible, Second Uncle, and making amends, can we appease Grandfather's anger!"

"Just recently, with the permission of my grandfather, I am overseeing the construction of a university to teach and learn."

"As you know, building schools, repairing school buildings, hiring famous teachers, and supporting students all require money. And the national treasury's funds must be allocated to some urgent matters."

"After much thought, I believe only you, my second uncle, can lend a helping hand..."

Subsequently, Zhu Xiong Ying followed the same method and sent similar letters to his third uncle Zhu Gang and several other vassal kings.

Indeed, upon learning of the lack of funds from Biao'er's father, his immediate thought was to ask his uncles for help!

Apart from his fourth uncle Zhu Di, who was a man of both literary and military talent and rarely made mistakes, there was no one else among them.

The remaining uncles, Zhu Shuang (second uncle), Zhu Gang (third uncle), Zhu Su (fifth uncle), and Zhu Fu (seventh uncle), were all full of incriminating evidence.

They also oppressed local people and levied exorbitant taxes, causing widespread public resentment.

These letters, seemingly showing concern and care, were actually full of subtle warnings and demands for money...

Even though the contents of this letter were seen by Emperor Zhu and Empress Ma, he was not afraid at all!

After completing these steps, Zhu Xiong Ying inspected and sealed the package, then instructed his trusted eunuch, Lai Shun, to hand it over to the steward of Kun Ning Palace the next day, and then send it out as soon as possible through royal channels…