Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"Big sister."

"Are you really going to marry that Prince Yan?"

At the Duke of Wei's residence, Xu Yungong circled around Xu Miaoyun for a while before finally asking a question.

"Yun Gong".

Xu Miaoyun's beautiful, watery eyes rippled, and she said in a clear voice, "He is a prince, born into the imperial family."

"No need to do anything, just wait, and you'll have everything: wealth, honor, fiefdom, and military power."

"If that's the case, I naturally won't agree to his running away from the wedding this time."

"Even if I had to become a nun in a temple, I would never marry him."

"Big sister."

Xu Yungong's lips moved, but he didn't know what to say.

"But he didn't choose the path everyone thought he should take."

"He chose a perilous path filled with thorns, where life and death were uncertain."

Xu Miaoyun recalled that night when Zhu Di rushed into her boudoir in a panic, said a lot of things, and even talked about predestined fate.

Thinking of this, her cheeks felt slightly hot, and before she knew it, the image of that roguish boy had taken up residence in her heart.

"The Prince of Yan has always been unruly."

"If he were to follow the rules, that wouldn't be his style."

Xu Yungong plopped down next to Xu Miaoyun, his words filled with prejudice and dissatisfaction towards Zhu Di.

"Just being naughty?"

Xu Miaoyun's beautiful eyes were fixed on Xu Yungong.

Xu Yungong felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze and simply said, "Elder sister, this is a matter of great importance in your life."

"That's right."

"This is indeed a matter of great importance to me."

"So, I have plenty of time to settle this score with him slowly."

Xu Miaoyun gracefully stood up, her back to Xu Yungong, a subtle and intriguing smile flitting across her exquisite face.

.............

West Street, Beijing.

A group of imperial guards escorted the imperial carriage as it slowly moved forward.

"Boss."

Zhu Yuanzhang leaned back on the dragon bed and called out softly.

"father."

Zhu Biao looked up at him.

"That fourth son of a bitch has quite the ambition."

"The power to act expediently is granted to establish the Prince's Three Guards."

"Apart from Tiande, who else could subdue him during his trip to the northern desert?"

"His skills are something no one knows where he learned them from."

"father!"

Zhu Biao wanted to speak up and explain for Zhu Di.

"I am not so afraid of such a trivial matter."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his right hand, interrupting Zhu Biao: "The fourth son is our son. We are not worried about what he does."

"Judging from today's situation, if he can achieve great success in the army, he will surely become a pillar of our Great Ming Dynasty in the future."

"If used well, he can be your powerful assistant; if not used well..."

"Father, your son can control the fourth son."

Zhu Biao spoke solemnly.

"it is good."

Zhu Yuanzhang patted him on the shoulder, feeling very pleased.

As the saying goes, "Like father, like son," and with such harmony among brothers, how could the Ming Dynasty not prosper!

"father."

"The Marquis of Yongjia colluded with the Duke of Han and a group of nobles."

"I'm afraid the fourth prince will be impeached at tomorrow's morning court session."

Zhu Biao brought up the matter of Zhu Liangzu secretly advocating for his son, intending to take revenge on Zhu Di.

"That idiot."

A flash of murderous intent crossed Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, but he said expressionlessly, "We were just worried about how to place the fourth prince in the army."

"The impeachment by Xun Gui has given us a convenient excuse."

"I want to see how many people will join forces to deal with the fourth prince, and with my son."

"Yes."

Zhu Biao was startled.

These people were pretending to oppose Zhu Di, but their real intention was to oppose Zhu Yuanzhang. I'm afraid none of them wanted to see a prince leading troops.

Zhu Yuanzhang was not like the weak emperors of the former Song Dynasty. He was an emperor who fought his way out of the bloodshed. If you angered him, the Ming Dynasty would surely be plunged into bloodshed.

.............

The first day of the second month of the fifth year of Hongwu (1372).

The grand court assembly held once a month on the first day of the lunar month is held in the Fengtian Hall.

Around midnight, the officials had already gotten up and headed to the Meridian Gate, where they waited early.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The dull drumbeats sounded three times in succession, and the civil and military officials lined up in formation.

Li Shanchang, the Duke of Han, and Xu Da, the Duke of Wei, stood at the head of the left and right sides respectively.

"clang!"

At dawn, the bell tolled, and the city gates slowly opened to both sides.

"Tap tap..."

Civil and military officials passed through the Jinshui Bridge in two rows, with censors on the side to supervise whether the officials behaved improperly.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

In front of the Fengtian Hall, the Imperial Guards cracked their whips in mid-air, and after three loud bangs, the officials fell silent and straightened their clothes.

Wearing a winged crown and a bright yellow dragon robe, Zhu Yuanzhang strode up to the high platform and sat on the dragon throne. Crown Prince Zhu Biao stood on the steps with his hands behind his back.

"Announce!"

"Yes."

The eunuch in charge of ceremonies, serving before the palace, announced loudly: "His Majesty has decreed that all officials be summoned to court for an audience!"

"His Majesty has decreed that all officials be summoned to court for an audience!"

"His Majesty has decreed that all officials be summoned to court for an audience!"

When the message reached the Hall of Supreme Harmony, an official from the Ministry of Rites repeated it in a loud and solemn voice.

The civil and military officials advanced in two parallel groups, with the civil officials heading north and west, and the military officials heading north and east.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Civil and military officials entered the hall in turn and bowed three times at the osmanthus tree.

"All of you, rise!"

"If you have something to report, do so now; otherwise, the court may adjourn."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked down at the people below, his dragon eyes deep and unfathomable, and the oppressive aura of a superior unconsciously spread out, enveloping the Fengtian Hall.

Most of the officials present bowed their heads, not daring to step forward, in fear of the emperor's might.

"Your Majesty!"

Li Shanchang, the Duke of Han, took three steps to the right, holding his tablet, and said loudly, "Your subject reports that His Highness the Prince of Yan acts improperly and oppresses the good people."

"I second that proposal!"

Hu Weiyong and others stepped forward one after another.

"Zhu Liangzu".

"What did you say?"

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes and looked down at Zhu Liangzu, the Marquis of Yongjia.

"His Majesty."

Zhu Liangzu gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with ruthlessness, and said loudly, "This subject's quarrel with the son of the Duke of Wei is nothing more than a verbal dispute."

"His Highness the Prince of Yan is ruthless, causing the innocent deaths of his subjects."

"Your Majesty, I beg you to make the decision."

"Please, Your Majesty, make the decision."

At least half of the nobles in Huaixi stood up and impeached Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan.

This scene completely stunned the civil and military officials present. What heinous crime had the Prince of Yan committed?

"it is good."

Zhu Yuanzhang said expressionlessly, "Issue an imperial decree: The Prince of Yan has acted improperly, indiscriminately harming the sons of nobles."

"He is hereby exiled to the front lines to serve the country and defend its borders."

What?

Upon hearing this, the entire court was in uproar. A prince was being exiled to serve in the army—this was something unheard of in history.

"Your subject, Xu Da, obeys the decree."

Xu Da, the Duke of Wei, who had remained inactive, stepped forward to receive the imperial edict.

'Thump!'

Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong couldn't help but glance sideways; everything seemed to be going too smoothly, so smoothly that they couldn't believe it.

"Zhu Liangzu".

Are you satisfied?

"Thank you Lord for your kindness!"

Zhu Liangzu's eyes still held resentment and unwillingness, but he could only grit his teeth and express his gratitude.

"Your Majesty is wise."

The nobles expressed their gratitude and returned to their respective positions.

"Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, bandits have frequently emerged in Guangdong, causing local unrest."

"The Marquis of Yongjia was well-versed in military strategy, renowned for his bravery and fierceness. When he was appointed to govern Guangdong, he brought peace and tranquility to the region."

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice rang out in the Fengtian Hall.

"hiss!"

All the officials gasped in shock.

What kind of place is Guangdong? It's a Lingnan region teeming with miasma and venomous insects and snakes. This isn't just leaving the town; it's practically being exiled.

"This humble general obeys the order."

Zhu Liangzu had no choice but to accept the imperial edict.

The people of Huaixi Xungui were filled with fear, and even the Duke of Han, Li Shanchang, was somewhat intimidated.

Everyone knows that Zhu Yuanzhang was avenging Prince Yan, Zhu Di. Zhu Liangzu was the instigator, and they were all accomplices.